26 - Adopted by the Villainous Noble Family

Nobelpia - A World of Dreams Through Web Novels! - Adopted by a Villainous Family The market was bustling with people as usual today. A middle-aged woman, dressed neatly, gazed up at the sign hanging in front of the shop. "A discount for a week at 40 Rune?" "Yes, starting next week, it will rise to 50 Rune." I concluded that spreading the word about my herbs was the top priority. Therefore, I reduced the price to 40 Rune and advertised a discount to draw attention. The woman raised an eyebrow, expressing her dissatisfaction. "50 Rune? That's more expensive than incense." "Well, it's much more effective than incense!" Though it might seem insignificant, these herbs were once sold for 500 Rune, considered quite precious. However, perhaps because I looked young, the woman seemed reluctant to believe me. "You could use it and decide for yourself." "Hmm..." After pondering for a while, she finally pulled out four silver coins from her purse and handed them to me. "Your face is likable, so I'm trusting you this time. Got it?" "Thank you, ma'am." I smiled brightly as I saw off the last customer of the day. Then, I pulled aside the black cloth nearby and looked at Sierra. "Sierra! We sold everything today." "Good work." Although Sierra's response was unenthusiastic, I felt nothing but joy. It's been a week since I started at the market. Today was the first time I sold all of the herbs I had prepared. "Soon, when word of mouth spreads, more customers will come. Then it won't take as long as it does now." Humming a tune, I neatly packed away a magical tome into my bag. Sierra helped organize the items with a gentle smile. "Oh, by the way, is there any shop nearby that sells magical tools?" "Magical tools, you say?" A hint of surprise flickered across Sierra's usually impassive face. "Yes, there’s something I want to buy." "There is one nearby, but magical tools can be quite expensive." "It's fine. I'm not planning to buy the tool itself." Sierra blinked a few times, puzzled. Going to a magical tool shop without buying magical tools seemed incomprehensible. But in my current situation, buying such expensive items was impossible. However, I could afford one of the materials used to create these tools. The material used as fuel for magical tools. Refined mana. *** In a store displaying expensive magical tools, far out of reach for someone like me. "Three... three hundred Rune..." The shockingly high price left me muttering quietly with my mouth agape. "For a magical tool, that's a pretty standard rate." The shopkeeper regarded me with a look of curiosity. He was holding a glass bottle filled with a blue-tinted liquid. Just as Earth has oil, this world harnesses energy derived from processed mana. That liquid, known as refined mana, is the primary fuel used to operate magical tools. It's also a key ingredient for crafting mana potions in games. "May I ask what you intend to use it for?" I hesitated briefly before deciding there was no need to hide it. I pulled out some parchment from my backpack and handed it over. It displayed a complex circuit diagram that looked like an intricate maze. "A disposable circuit diagram." The shopkeeper, quickly understanding the content, tilted his head. "The material isn't noteworthy, and the circuit itself is a mess. It's virtually unusable..." His blunt assessment made me involuntarily flinch. "Who on earth gave you such a shoddy circuit diagram?" At his genuinely baffled question, I lowered my head. "I... I made it myself..." For three seconds, a stiff silence enveloped the shop. The air inside the store felt dense. "Haha! What matters is taking on challenges when you're starting out!" The shopkeeper soon burst into hearty laughter, offering a few words of encouragement, but the bead of sweat on his forehead betrayed what he really thought. It's alright, sir. I'm aware that my circuit diagram is rather crude. "Anyway, I'm here to buy mana to use with this circuit diagram." "Hmm... Indeed, given the quality of the circuit, you won't need much. A few drops should suffice." The shopkeeper stroked his beard in thought, then retrieved a small vial from the drawer and carefully filled it with mana. "How about fifty Rune for this amount?" A vial about the size of a fingertip, though the quantity was scaled down, it was sufficient for the ten circuit diagrams I crafted. Fifty Rune was a sum I could afford. "Alright, I'll take it." I handed the money to the owner and carefully secured the vial of mana liquid. "Do you need anything else? We also sell nodes." The shopkeeper gestured to a corner of the store where variously shaped metal pieces were displayed. Nodes. They were items that appeared in games too. They were materials used primarily for crafting magic scrolls, and the type of node embedded in a circuit could alter the nature of the mana. It was a crucial technology that enabled scrolls to manifest magic with different elemental properties. "Not right now. I don't need nodes yet." My studies had only covered the basics of circuit concept and simple design. It was too soon for me to make use of nodes. "I see? I could offer a discount to such a lovely young lady, you know. Haha." At his jest, Sierra, who had been quietly standing in the corner, furrowed her brows slightly. Noticing her gaze, the shopkeeper awkwardly laughed and waved his hands in apology. "Ahaha, please don't misunderstand. I meant nothing inappropriate." While I was here, I decided to look around the store. The shelves were lined with magical tools that could make one's eyes widen with their high prices. Armor and blunt weapons emanating mana, and gear engraved with refined runes. Amid all this, what caught my attention was an object encased in a cabinet at the center of the shop. Covered with red cloth, its identity was unknown, yet it gave off a strangely familiar aura. "What is this?" "Oh, you have a keen eye." The shopkeeper gave a knowing smile and pulled out a small key from his pocket. "Normally, I wouldn't show this to just anyone... but I suppose I can make an exception for you." The shopkeeper unlocked the case and carefully unveiled the mysterious item covered by the red cloth. With confidence, he removed the cloth, revealing an object both familiar and strange. It was a plant. Its roots resembled ginseng, and above them bloomed a blue flower that seemed to glow with light. Its distinct appearance immediately revealed its identity to me. "A Ma-Magic Herb?" "Ah, you recognize it. I decided to splurge and acquire one." With wide eyes, I stared intently at the rare plant before me. The Magic Herb. A plant that grew, absorbing mana and vitality from the earth over a long period. The brighter the blue glow on its petals, the more mana it supposedly contained. In the game's world, consuming a Magic Herb increased the maximum mana and mana power. Initially, it provided a remarkable 5% boost, but as a character's stats grew, its efficacy gradually diminished. By the time you were ready to face the final boss, it no longer held much practical value. However, that didn't diminish the Magic Herb's worth. It remained a rare and sought-after herb. "And... how much is it?" The shopkeeper solemnly raised a finger. "Ten thousand Rune." "Te-Ten thousand..." That was equivalent to a semester's tuition at the academy. It would require earning five times what I had saved to afford it. "...That's expensive." "It's a Magic Herb, after all." Indeed. Even at ten thousand Rune, there would be plenty of buyers in the Mage Tower. However, for someone like me, saving up for academy tuition, it was entirely out of reach. 'If only I could cultivate a Magic Herb myself...' That would change everything, but I still didn't know the conditions needed to bloom one. Despite several experiments, the only plant I had successfully cultivated was a Silverflower. Investing ten thousand Rune in a single Magic Herb posed an enormous risk in a situation like this. "I'll come back to buy it when I've earned more money." "Haha, if it’s still available then, I'll gladly sell it to you." Even though I had given up for now, my gaze remained fixed on the enchanting blue glow of the flower. Knowing it was an object beyond my means, I still couldn't easily turn my eyes away. And somehow, from the moment I saw the Magic Herb, an inexplicable sense of déjà vu haunted me. [I want it.] "Huh?" Startled by the sudden voice, I shuddered and looked around. It wasn't the shopkeeper's voice. I glanced at Sierra, but she returned my gaze with puzzled eyes. '...Was it a hallucination?' After nights spent pouring over mana circuits, it seemed my body was more worn out than I'd realized. To be hearing voices at my age—perhaps I had pushed myself too hard. "Thank you for showing me. I'll be going now." I bowed my head in thanks to the shopkeeper for showing me the Magic Herb and turned to leave with Sierra by my side. Was it just my imagination? I had the sneaking suspicion that Sierra's gaze lingered on the Magic Herb for quite some time. Author's Note To my anonymous patron, thank you so much for your generous support! I'm in a great mood because of the holiday tomorrow, and I hope you have a wonderful day as well. Read the Next Chapter