Anselm City Market

The carriage went through the main gate and went straight through the main street to the market area. The coachman parked the carriage in a specially designated area for it. And when Leta came down from it, she turned towards Ethan.

"It looks like the ride was too exciting for the young master. But we already reached our destination, so why don't you come out and see it yourself?"

Ethan returned to his senses. Though his cheeks were slightly red, he managed to hold himself together and came out of the carriage.

Leta begin her explanation about the market.

"If you look straight, you see the main entrance of the market. And after you go through it, you will find shops and stalls with magic-related stuff, weapons and armor, and luxury things. If you go further down the path, it will eventually be divided to the left and right. The right side is where you can buy clothes, shoes, fabrics, and other related things. The left side is where you can buy groceries and spices. And if you want anything from me, I will be there. Do you understand, young master?"

"Um, yes."

Ethan wasn't able to look at her without embarrassment; after all, every time he tried to look at her, he started to remember her kiss.

"Fine, then I excuse myself, young master."

She gracefully bowed and left. And after saying that he would be around, and if something happened to activate an artifact that the Count gave Ethan, the young knight Pablo left too. He followed straight after Leta. Seeing this, the coachman said,

"Younglings these days only know how to follow after skirts; they don't even think about their duties."

And gulped something from his flask with a "Huah" sound. The smell of alcohol assaulted Ethan's nostrils. So he wrinkled his face. And seeing his reaction, the old coachman smiled with a one-teeth smile.

'Isn't it you who don't know about your duties?'

Thinking so, Ethan went to the market.

The Anselm City was well maintained, and everywhere were multi-story buildings made from stone with red roofs.

After Ethan passed through the entrance of the market, he was met with countless stalls and people. Merchants were calling clients, and passersby that were interested in goods went towards the stalls. And after some time, heated barter might start, or clients might just walk away after buying things in which they were interested or without buying them because the price was so high that they couldn't afford to buy them.

The merchants were different; some were from nearby towns, and some were foreigners. It was obvious because of their skin color and the clothes they wore. Ethan even saw a dwarf who was selling weapons and armor.

And like every dwarf, he was stubborn. Every time someone tried to lower the price for his goods, he would just shout "Buy it or get lost!". Though it was rude, the crowd that was gathered near his stall didn't thin out. Most of the people that were gathered near his stall were adventurers, judging by the weapons that they carried with them.

Besides merchants and passersby, there were guards who patrolled the market. And when the heated barter turned into a fistfight, they would interfere. After all, it was a common thing. Ethan wasn't long inside the market, but he'd seen it a couple of times already.

He wanted to buy some mithril for start. But he didn't see anyone who was selling it on the stalls, so after some searching, he managed to find a building with the sign 'Cromwell's artifacts and potions' and went inside.

The interior of the store was made from red wood, and everywhere were neatly placed enchanted weapons, armor, other useful artifacts, and potions. Behind the stall was a short, skinny old man in good clothes, with neatly combed gray hair and a well-trimmed beard. And seeing Ethan walking in, he turned his attention towards him.

"A little kid. But judging by your clothes, you must be a client. So welcome. Though it might look expensive, you can be sure that everything in this store is of high quality. And if you don't find things in which you're interested, then just ask me."

Ethan looked around but didn't find mithril, so he went straight to the owner.

"Um, do you sell mithril?"

"Mithril?"

The old man peered at Ethan curiously.

"Hm, you are young, but already at the first circle. Though it's impressive, but do you know how to handle it?"

"It's not for me, but for my teacher."

"Hm, I see. So how much does your teacher want?"

It was usually sold in plates, with a width of two centimeters and a length of five centimeters.

[How much should I buy, teacher?]

[Four plates.]

"Four plates."

The old man immediately took out four plates and placed them on the counter.

"Thirty gold coins."

'So expensive? But it's for teacher, so I can't be stingy.'

Ethan counted the gold coins inside the ring, took them out, and placed them on the counter.

"It's a deal then."

The old man took all the gold coins after counting and put them away, and he moved the mithril plates to Ethan, which he immediately put inside the ring.

Only Ethan managed to put the mithril inside his ring when the door of the store opened and an adventurer-looking young man came inside. He had blonde hair, and he wore a white shirt under a brown leather vest. He had a cheap-looking sword hanging from his belt. and the store owner wasn't happy to see him.

"If you're not buying, get lost."

Ethan saw a strange familiarity in this old man and dwarf. 'Maybe they were brothers in previous lives.'

"Don't be so harsh, old man. I brought something that you might find interesting."

He came towards the counter and took out a bronze-colored cube that was carved with unfamiliar symbols.

"Hm, let me see."

The old man took the cube from the man's hand and started to peer at it with utmost concentration. And Ethan saw how colorless mana was seeping from his fingers towards the cube.

"Though it has good craftsmanship, it's not an artifact. The symbols didn't have any meaning. I can give you five silver coins for it."

[You need to buy it.]

[But the old man said that this thing is useless.]

[Useless or not, I will find out myself.]

And the young man wasn't satisfied with the price.

"Only five silver coins; at least give ten."

"If you are not selling, get lost."

[You can buy it for ten silver coins.]

"Um, can I buy it?"

And the young man turned toward Ethan.

"Kid, this thing is useless. You should know how to conserve your money."

The old man was concerned about Ethan.

"Thank you, but it's fine."

Ethan again turned towards the young man.

"I can give for it ten silver coins."

The young man scratched his head for some time.

"Okey, I agree with your price."

Ethan started to count the silver coins in his ring, but they were too many, so he had no choice but to count them again after he took them out. He wasn't able to see a dangerous glint in the young man's eyes.

After Ethan finished counting coins and the sum was right, he gave them to the young man and received a strange cube, which he put inside the ring. He said his goodbyes to two men and left the store.

He was able to walk away for only a couple of steps when the young man rushed out of the store.

"Heya, kid. I want to talk with you."

Ethan stopped and turned toward him.

"Um, about what do you want to talk with me?"

The young man looked at Ethan studying.

"Name's Brick. And what's yours?"

Brick extended his right hand.

"Ethan."

And Ethan shook the young man's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Ethan. Are you perhaps a noble?"

Technically, Ethan was noble, but remembering that most common people don't like nobles,

"Um, my father is only a knight."

"Knight's son. I see."

The smile on Brick's face became thicker.

"So, Ethan, let's celebrate our deal. I know one nice place here."

"Thank you, but I'm busy right now, so I can't join you."

"It's a shame."

Ethan saw how Brick's good mood plummeted at the moment. And Ethan felt a little guilty for it. Though he can spare some time for him, he can't return the words that were said.

"Oh, I remember that I need something to do too, so good bye for now, Ethan."

Brick walked away quickly.

'What a nice person. He even lied to me, so I don't feel guilty.'

[What do you think about that young man?]

[About Mr. Brick?]

[Brick? What a talking name. So what do you think about him?]

[He's a nice person.]

[Why?]

'Why?' Ethan pondered for some time.

[Because he treated me nicely. He was friendly. And even want to treat me.]

[So the reason why you think that he was a nice guy is only because he was friendly to you?]

[Um, yes.]

[You shouldn't assume that someone is nice just because they are friendly. Sometimes people act friendly only to lower your guard, so it would be easier to stab you in the back.]

Though Ethan thought that his teacher might be right, he continued to believe that Mr. Brick was a good guy.

But Ethan doesn't have much time to think; after all, he was here to prepare some gifts.