Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 146: Bookshop and Answers

I sigh as I follow Xiri and Zale from behind. I wish I could try going back to the inn and logging out for the day. But it seems like I don't have a chance to back out now. After my bad encounter with those strange mages and the players who allied with them, I doubt I can go home with those said players and mages possibly chasing me down for the book. While I've given the book to Xiri for safekeeping, he fears they will track me down so they can find it again. As much as I want to go home immediately, he has a point and I don't want to get abducted while Wind is still busy in real life.

So here I am, following them back to my inn with Xiri and Zale wearing their hoods from their robes, which I guess is for hiding their identities from the public. I wish I could ask them about it along with their work. But I know better than to expose them by asking questions out loud and in public. Besides, I have a feeling they're not leading me back to my inn so soon.

[Here we are!]

I stopped walking and looked up at where we were. "A...bookstore?" I ask while I stare at the sign that says, <House of Scribes>. "Why here?"

[You said you have a lot of questions about us and what better place to do that is stopping by at my favorite shop in the neighborhood,] Xiri answers. [Besides, high-quality homemade stationery is much better than buying those cheap mass-produced copies at those high-end boutiques on the central street.]

We enter the establishment and to my surprise, the bookstore itself is not like I imagined. Rather than being an old dingy store with its rustic exterior, it's surprisingly spacious as I see wooden walls around us with several plant decorations hanging around the windows and several shelves of books as well as rows of tables displaying several pencils, quill pens, and inks available. At the counter itself is a young woman with long black hair and an old man with dark brown hair bowing to us with a smile, both wearing aprons over their green dress and white shirt and brown pants respectively.

[Welcome to our shop, Mr. Tazoru!] The young woman greets. [I didn't expect some new customers with you today.]

[The young man right here is Zale, one of the assistant teachers of the academy, and Mr. Kazu, the young mage who will be participating in the upcoming entrance exam,] Xiri then turned to us after our introductions. [This is <Epone> and her father, <Leslie>. They're the owners of this store. If you need anything from them, don't hesitate to ask.]

The woman nods to us next. [It's very nice to meet you. We mostly provide commissions related to [Magical Tools] and custom stationery. My father also provides any enchantments to your equipment if you want.]

[Yep! Whether it's a ring, armor, or a simple dagger, I can give them any kind of enchantments you want,] Leslie declares. [It's a bit pricey, but it's worth every [Lapi]. We promised.]

Whoa... So they're not only selling books, but also enchantments and [Magical Tools], too. I'm surprised the players haven't found this place yet. Then again, it's not much like every general store I visited so far in the game since they tend to be more spacious than this one.

"I wish we could, but we can't be hasty with our purchases," Zale suddenly says. "Before we do though, can we speak to each other in private for a while?"

[Sure. Just let us know if you need anything.]

Both father and daughter leave us for Xiri who gets a few books from the shelf. I appreciate him for making me avoid choice paralysis, but I feel like there's something more to his actions and I have a guess what it is.

"So... How long?" I ask after a few seconds of silence.

"Huh?"

"How did you get a job at <Crystal Academy> so soon? It's barely been a few days since the expansion was released and you need to have about an in-game week to become a teacher or something."