09 – Shopping in the Castle Town

I poured the Holy Water into the gem of the Legendary Sword, starting with the Poor Quality to the High Quality.

I unlocked several new variations and then checked each detail.

[Holy Water Sword I (C) (0/10) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Increases Light Element Effect (Small)]

[Holy Water Sword II (C) (0/10) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Increases Dark Element Resistance (Small)]

[Holy Water Sword III (UC) (0/15) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Increases Light Element Resistance (Small)]

[Holy Water Sword IV (R) (0/25) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Holy Slash]

[Holy Slash: Deal a mix of Holy and Slash Damage to the target. Damage: 150% of the Magic Attack. Cost: 50 SP]

[Holy Water Sword V (SR) (0/45) (UM) | Equip Bonus (UM): Holy Aura | Unique Ability: Endow Holy Aura]

[Holy Aura: Clad oneself in the holy aura that passively damages undead and dark creatures; damage; 10% of Magic Attack/second. Increases Light Element Effect by 25%. Increases Dark Element Resistance by 25%. Increases Light Element Resistance by 10% Cost: 2 SP per second]

[Endow Holy Aura: Endow Holy Aura to the target. Duration: 5 minutes. Cost: 250 SP]

I strengthened each Holy Sword to the maximum. After that, I turned my attention to the nuns, who were quietly watching me with a perplexed expression, and spoke to them, "How much?"

They blinked, still perplexed. After they recomposed themselves, they exchanged a glance with the other one.

Nun A stepped ahead and spoke to me in a hurry yet still polite tone, "No need to pay, Sword Hero! The Church is obliged to assist you in your sacred endeavor."

"I see..." I nodded. I would not say no to free stuff. "...I will leave now."

They respectfully lowered their heads. After that, I exited the church and went to the apothecary.

※※※

"Do you sell tools to create medicine and potions and recipe books? I need them for my Legendary Sword," I said to the pharmacist behind the counter. I shamelessly advertised my status as the Sword Hero to smoothen our transaction.

By the way, this pharmacist had the same characteristics as the one that assisted Naofumi in anime.

"Hohoho, I never expected the Sword Hero to visit my humble apothecary." The man said joyously. "So, compounding tools and recipe books, right? Well, I have one for 75 pieces of silver. I also have a copy of recipes for low and intermediate medicine and potions. I will give you a good deal, Sword Hero! 125 pieces for everything; how is it?"

"Can you show me the items?"

He grinned and nodded. "Of course! Wait here! I'll come back soon!"

He left for somewhere and soon returned with the compounding tools, which I inspected. He immediately left again to get the book. When the pharmacist returned, he carried two thick books.

"How is this read?" I pointed at the incomprehensible scrawlings on the cover of the book.

"Hm? It read; Compilation of Low-Quality Medicine and Potions," said the pharmacist.

[Learned: Melromarc Language – Level 1]

"Forgive me for being impolite, Sword Hero, but are you illiterate?" The pharmacist had a doubtful gaze.

I did not immediately answer and accessed [Skill]. I raised the level of [Melromarc Language], one by one, until I could read the scripts at level 5. I did not raise its level anymore.

"I am literate, though I did not understand this world's scripts before."

"Before?" the pharmacist raised his brow, bewildered.

"Yeah. I can read this world's script now."

"Really?" the pharmacist stared at me in bewilderment.

"Think of it as the power of the Holy Heroes."

"Oh! Of course! Legends stated that Holy Heroes have a mysterious power. Even so, it is hard to believe that you can read and understand a new language and writing system just like that," said the pharmacist in an amazed tone.

"Anyway, here is the money. You can count them." I put exactly 125 pieces of silver.

When the pharmacist counted the count, I fed the Legendary Sword with the compounding tools and the recipe books. After I unlocked the new variations, I checked the details.

[Mortar Sword (C) (0/15) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Solid Compounding Bonus]

[Beaker Sword (C) (0/15) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Liquid Compounding Bonus]

[Pharmacist's Mortar Sword (C) (0/20) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Compounding Bonus]

[Pharmacist Book Sword I (C) (0/10) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Low Medicine and Potions Recipe]

[Pharmacist Book Sword II (UC) (0/20) (UM) | Unique Ability locked: Equip Bonus: Intermediate Medicine and Potions Recipe]

[Compounding Bonus] increased the potency of the compounded drugs, no matter the shape. For the 'Solid' and 'Liquid' bonuses, they only affected the specified type. The recipes were obvious.

"Do you need anything else? Maybe some drugs for your travel?" asked the pharmacist.

I shook my head. "No. I am done here."

The pharmacist nodded and sent me off. "It is a pleasure to have a transaction with you, Sword Hero."

"Same here, thanks for everything."

After that, I left the apothecary.

※※※

Soon, I arrived at the magic shop. I entered and silently inspected the interior.

The shelves were lined with old, dusty books, and there were some crystal balls lined up behind the counter. There were some staves and wands around… pretty much what you would expect for a magic shop.

"Welcome, dear customer! What could I do for you?" The chubby witch welcomed me with a smile.

"Could you help me to test my affinity? Also, I would be grateful if you tell me how to use magic."

"Oh?" The witch was intrigued.

She inspected my appearance until her gaze stopped at my sword. Recognition flashed in her eyes.

"My word! Pardon me, Sword Hero! I do not know that it is you!" said the witch, abashed.

"Never mind. Just treat me as a normal customer."

"Oh, my, a humble and polite young man, are you not? Anyway, you are here to check out your affinity, no? Come here, come here! I will check it for you!" The witch waved her hand and urged me.

I approached the counter. She went behind the counter, took a crystal ball off of the shelf, and began chanting a spell over it.

"Yes. Now then, Sword Hero, please look deep into the ball," said the witch.

"…Okay."

I followed her instruction and looked deep into the ball. It shone, but I could not see anything definite in particular. Also, I sensed something that I couldn't put in words.

[Learned: Magic Detection – Level 1]

(Is that mysterious sensation magic power, I wonder?)

"My word!" The witch shouted, dumbfounded.

I blinked and stared at her blankly. "Er, what?"

The witch forcefully regained her composure and gave me a stare as if she was seeing a freak of nature. "I suppose I should not have been surprised. Holy Heroes are beyond the common sense of this world since they came from a different world, after all."

My gaze turned quizzical. "Sorry. I do not understand."

She cleared her throat and began explaining. "It looks like you have all affinities for magic. That is truly unprecedented. Even the Holy Heroes summoned in the past only have one or two affinities they excelled in!"

(So, I have all affinities for magic, huh? I suppose it's due to my unique skill.)

"Now," the witch continued, "About teaching you the magic of this world, I think you should learn it from Grimoires. Would you like one? I have Grimoires from low to high-level magic here."

"How much are they?"

I was ready to buy one. I didn't have a problem with Melromarc Language anymore.

"A piece of gold for a low-level grimoire, five pieces of gold for intermediate level, and lastly ten pieces of gold for high level," she listed off with a sweet smile.

I stared at her blankly. "How much is testing my affinity?"

"That's free because you've pleasantly surprised me with your special aptitude," she replied.

"Then, give me those Grimoires."

"Of course! Please wait here for a few moments, dear!" She went behind the counter to get the grimoires from the shelf.

She returned with three thick and old books.

"By the way, can someone else use this after I finished with it?"

"Yes." The witch nodded.

(So, it's reusable. That's good. When I have traveling companions in the future, I can use these grimoires to teach them magic.)

"All right, 16 pieces of gold in total, yes?"

"Indeed, Sword Hero," the witch replied.

16 pieces of gold were equal to 1600 pieces of silver. Fortunately, I obtained three times this number last night, and I got 600 pieces of silver today.

"Here, ma'am, the money. Please count it."

"No need! I have good eyes to see people's character, and I can see that you're a good lad. You won't cheat me," said the witch while shoving the coins into the money drawer under the counter.

Inwardly, I wryly smiled.

(You're wrong, ma'am. I'm not a decent sort of a guy. It's just that my [Acting] is maxed out, so it looks so natural.)