Chapter 25 - 25: Gift of Life (1/2)
Now then, what's next?
I remember the leftover potions from the wave.
Even though I had them prepared beforehand, I never used them in the end. It might be better to just sell them to a medicine shop.
”Let's go to the medicine shop and then, the blacksmith.”
”Naofumi-sama, we won't be receiving any more aid so we need to be more careful with our money. We should refrain from what we've been doing up until now.”
”Understood.”
”Right now, we'll be fine with out current equipment. Let's consider buying them only when we really need them.”
”...”
However, we only have cheap goods compared to the equipment of the other Heroes.
I think it would be a good idea to get Raphtalia a better weapon when we start fighting stronger enemies.
”It has only been a few days since we got new weapons. Imagine what Oyaji would think.”
”Yeah...”
The Oyaji from the weapon shop has given us various services. Although he allows us to trade in our equipment, we won't be able to afford better gears with our current funds...
”Alright, let's save up then.”
”Yes!”
Well it isn't a bad idea to be frugal with your money.
”Then, let's go to the medicine shop.”
”What? What's going on?”
Normally, he has a sour look on his face when he sees us, so seeing him smile sent a shiver down my spine.
”Nothing much. I just wanted to thank you if you came.”
”Huh?”
We're both confused.
”I heard that you guys saved my relatives in Riyuuto Village. They told me to help you out if possible.”
”Oh... I see.”
When the wave ended, everyone from Riyuuto Village got together to thank us. It seems like his relatives were among them.
”So, thank you for that.”
”What's this?”
”You've been making beginner level medicines, this book has a bunch of recipes for mid-level medicines. This will be a good time for you try them out.”
”...”
I gently open the book of mid-level recipes. The binding is in bad shape but the letters are printed clearly.
Yup. Can't read it.
”T-thanks. I'll try them out.”
I should show him some gratitude for helping us out.
Recipes for medicines with higher sale value should probably be found in here.
”I'm happy to hear that.”
I already gave up reading the language of this world... but it might be a good idea to learn.
”The owner of the magic shop also tells you to drop by.”
”Magic shop?”
”Naofumi-sama, it's the shop that sells magic books.”
”Oh, I see.”
I thought it was just a bookstore... but now that I think about it, they had things like crystal balls at the back.
”Where is that?”
”The big store along the main road.”
... Ahh. One of the biggest bookstores in town.
”So, how may I help you today?”
”Ah, today's--”
I sold my potions for higher than the usual amount.
I also bought new tools using that money before heading to the magic shop.
”Oh, you're the Shield Hero. You've been a great help to my grandchild.”
”Uh...”
I have no idea who she's talking about but it's probably someone from the village. The old lady at the magic shop politely greeted us.
The old lady was a bit plump and wore witch-like clothing.
”So what do you need?”
I look around the magic shop that I thought was just a bookstore.
Along with stuffs like staffs, it definitely felt like a magic shop.
Anyway, how do you use magic in this world?
”Is that young lady over there your companion?”
”Hmm? Ah.”
I nod at Raphtalia.
”Please wait a moment.”
The old lady said and retrieved a crystal ball from behind the counter, then she began to chant some sort of spell.
”Okay, now then Shield Hero-sama. Can you take a look at the crystal ball?”
”Ah, sure.”
What's going on?
Is what I thought as I gaze into the crystal ball.
... It's shining a bit but I didn't notice anything else.
”Hmm... it seems that Shield Hero-sama is suitable for support and healing magic.”
”Eh?”
I'm suited for magic!?
Hurry up and teach me then... well I can't really complain since I wouldn't understand.
”Next is the young lady there.”
”Ah, okay.”
I step to the side as Raphtalia looks into the crystal ball next.
”Hmm. As expected, the young lady of the Raccoon race is suited for light and dark magic.”
”'As expected', as in that's normal?”
”Yes... her race is skilled at illusions using light distortion and darkness concealment.”
I see. So the Raccoon race is similar to Tanukis. It seems that even in Japan, Tanukis are a sort of creature that can transform into humans.
”So what now?”
”Here, just something from this old lady at the magic shop.”
The old lady then hands us three books.
Books again! Even though I said I can't read, why are you also giving us books?
”I actually wanted to give you a crystal ball, but this old lady's livelihood would be endangered if I did.”
”What do you mean?”
”Doesn't Shield Hero-sama know that you can learn a spell by releasing compatible magic from a crystal ball?”
What!? That means that I can use magic even though I can't read?
”The country recently made a large order... of crystal balls for the Heroes. A lot of them were delivered, does Shield Hero-sama not know?”
”I had no idea.”
Because of that trash king. They were probably given to the other heroes.
Geez, they left me out to die.
”Although magic books are a bother, one could learn 10 spells in a single month with dedicated studying.”
So, 1 spell with the crystal ball and around 3 spells per magic book; though I still can't read it yet. No, since she said a month maybe there's something more to it.
”My apologies.”
”No no, these magic books are more than enough.”
Raphtalia answers while smiling. I nod along.
”So how much magic will we be able to use?”
”These are all beginner level. For higher level... please buy them.”
”Ah- Ah.”
It is a shop. So we shouldn't be ungrateful since she is hurting her own business by giving these books away.
”Thank you.”
It was hard to express but we accepted the magic books from her.
”Ha...”
I let out a sigh.
I don't really like studying. What could someone with low grades like me do with these?
Fine. I'll definitely decipher the recipes and spells in these books.
Is what I want to say.
I kind of wish my shield had a 'written language translation' ability.
There's a high chance that my shield has recipes for various medicines. I should be able to use them if I try.
However, I wonder which option would be better, spending the effort to search through the branches of my shield or learning the language to understand the medicine recipes from the books?
With the latter, I would have to deal with costs and other problems.
Still... just thinking about the possibility of my shield having a way to translate this world's written language makes me lose my willpower.
”Let's learn magic together.”
Raphtalia happily says to me.
”But I can't read the language of this world...”
”Eh, that's why we should learn it together.”
”Well... I guess that's fine.”
Well, it doesn't hurt to study while making medicine.
”Anyways, when is the next wave?”
”Hm? Ah, one moment.”
I look at the icon in the corner of my vision and check the menu for the next scheduled wave.
Next: 45 days and 14 hours.