Aozaki Aoko Case File [213]

Apart from selling goods, Aoko also purchased a batch of materials for making spellbooks and some magical components that, in her judgment, could serve as spellcasting materials from the magical items shop on Lina's behalf.

Making spellbooks typically requires special paper for drawing scrolls, as well as a cover and binding with some magical conductivity. The paper was not a problem—this shop had plenty of it. After Aoko explained her requirements to the shopkeeper, he skillfully helped cut the paper into the appropriate sizes and sold it to them.

However, there was an issue with the spellbook covers. The covers in the shop weren't quite suitable. After thinking for a moment, Aoko pulled out a piece of salamander hide she had previously swiped from the Clock Tower and decided to use it as the spellbook cover.

Of course, she wasn't about to give it to Lina Inverse for free. No matter how wealthy Aoko was, generosity wasn't her style (besides, most of her money and her treasure were left at the Kuonji estate). However, she did offer Lina a discount, since having a skilled mage like her teaching Aoko how to use this world's magic was a relationship worth nurturing.

Using the tools in the magical items shop, Aoko finished binding the blank spellbook on the spot. However, she left the enchanting process for later, planning to complete the enchantments back at their residence and use the opportunity to teach Lina the relevant knowledge.

Judging by Lina's progress, she wouldn't take long to learn her first level-1 spell. Aoko figured she'd be able to manage it soon. Aoko also planned to gift her a few scrolls as a reward.

With that, Aoko and Lina returned some of their newly acquired gold to the shopkeeper, gathered their purchased materials, and left the shop with Gourry. They planned to find a restaurant on the street to solve their lunch problem, as it was already close to the afternoon (around 1 PM).

As Aoko and Lina strolled through the streets, they chatted about magic-related topics, while Gourry seemed much more interested in the street food being sold around them. In no time at all, his arms were full of various fruits, bread, and some peculiar street snacks.

Gourry was also generous when it came to food. As he bought more, he shared some with Aoko and Lina, giving Aoko her first taste of otherworldly street food.

After wandering for about an hour, the three of them finally found a restaurant attached to an inn and sat down for a meal. However, none of them were the type to lose their appetite from eating snacks, so they still thoroughly enjoyed this late lunch. (Aoko may have cheated with some special tricks, but Lina and Gourry were genuinely big eaters.)

But trouble has a way of coming in waves. Just as Aoko was halfway through her meal, a strange figure wrapped in bandages and wearing a black cloak barged into the restaurant with a group of misfits in tow.

"Trolls?" Lina asked curiously, setting down her knife and fork. "Gourry, are these people your acquaintances?"

"How could they be!" Gourry replied innocently. "The only mages I know are you and Aoko."

"It's her!" The bandaged man shouted, pointing at Lina.

"Oh my~ You've got the wrong person~," Lina said in a sugary voice that sent shivers down Aoko's spine, causing goosebumps to rise. "I'm Sofia, not whoever you're looking for~"

"I don't care what your name is!" The bandaged man yelled angrily. "You're the one who completely trashed the thieves' treasure vault, aren't you?"

Ah, so that's what this is about—some underworld figures turning on each other.

"No choice then. Gourry, Miss Aoko, we'll deal with these guys first…"

Aoko sighed, glancing at the half-eaten food on the table. She stood up from her chair and gripped her staff, facing off against the remnants of the Dragon Fang Bandits.

Gourry and Lina drew their swords (it turns out Lina knows swordsmanship too) and got into fighting stances. Aoko, however, stood there rather casually, clearly not taking these overgrown thugs seriously. Or perhaps, compared to the trolls, she was far more interested in the mage leading them.

The black-cloaked bandaged mage looked like a practitioner of black magic, much like Lina.

The innkeeper hid behind his reinforced bar counter, while the other diners had already bolted out the back door with practiced efficiency. This wasn't the first time they'd dealt with such incidents. The level of public safety in this world seemed remarkably rustic.

"Trolls are very strong and durable, with decent agility, and they have powerful regenerative abilities," Lina whispered to Gourry and Aoko. "So it's best to take them out with a single decisive blow. If that's not possible, we should move to a more open area…"

"Hand over the stolen goods, and we'll let this matter go. How about it?" The bandaged man said surprisingly calmly to Lina.

Something felt off, Aoko thought. This guy didn't seem like a typical bandit. Or maybe he was posing as a bandit to look for something. Could it be that Orihalcon statue?

Aoko wasn't the only one thinking that. Thanks to her reminder, Lina also realized that the statue might contain some sort of secret. There was no way the average intelligence level of the Dragon Fang Bandits could attract a mage to their ranks. Something fishy was going on.

"You've got to be kidding me, robbing someone in broad daylight like this. You are a mage among bandits, aren't you?" Lina's tone sounded particularly sarcastic, making the bandaged man hop up and down in fury.

"Since you won't take the easy way, then you'll take the hard way!" The bandaged man barked, no longer wasting words. He ordered the trolls to attack. "Get them! Take all three of them down!"

The trolls grinned viciously as they charged, looking like they intended to crush the three of them into pulp.

Just as Lina and Gourry were about to strike, a crisp sound echoed through the room. It had an eerie quality to it.

Lina turned her head and saw that the sound came from Aoko tapping her staff lightly against the floor. Lina was 100% sure magic was involved here because she noticed Aoko's lips twitching slightly as she rapidly chanted a spell.

An invisible wave spread out toward the trolls and the bandaged mage. The trolls collapsed one after another midway through their charge, their thunderous snores filling the room.

The bandaged mage was dumbfounded. Normally, trolls, with their strong life force, were resistant to sleep magic (at least according to the sleep magic of this world). This woman with the wooden staff was a serious threat. If not for the magical item gifted to him by his superior, he would have succumbed as well!

Seeing the situation, Lina immediately raised her right hand. A bright, blue-white glowing orb began to grow larger as she chanted.

"You're using a fireball in a place like this?!" The bandaged mage's eyes widened in disbelief. However, judging by his nimble retreat, it was clear he had decided to flee the moment the trolls went down. In the blink of an eye, the black-cloaked bandaged man had vanished from sight.