The Magic Scroll

I walked the same market street with Riana that I once strolled with Isabel. An hour and a half. That was how long it took us to complete every single request.

Magic scrolls weren't cheap. The paper from Alfheim had an exceptionally high mana affinity, which allowed it to hold rune characters. That was why we rushed to finish more than five requests as quickly as possible. If Riana hadn't gone full berserk, we could've saved at least twenty minutes.

The way she would spot any humanoid monster and throw her arms wide open, practically begging to get beaten up, was honestly embarrassing as hell.

She was putting on a real show. The cheers from the surrounding adventurers only made it worse.

Sorry, Riana, but I secretly stood among the other adventurer parties and pretended I didn't know her. Not that it matters anymore.

We sold the magic stones from the hobgoblins and void orc soldiers and collected our quest rewards. In the end, we had gathered eighty shillings. That was more than enough to buy plenty of magic scrolls and potions.

Earning money without relying on anyone else's help felt incredibly satisfying.

Unlike usual, the market was surprisingly quiet today. That didn't mean it lacked energy though. Plenty of transactions were still taking place. Merchants and customers exchanged shillings for fruit, while blacksmiths hammered away at their anvils. We walked past the constant clang clang and headed toward the place where ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blue runes flickered brightly.

[Rynor's Magic Shop]

A simple, straightforward name. Must've been taken from the owner's own name.

Before I could even open the door, Riana slammed it open with a loud bang! She shoved it so hard with both hands that the wood cracked with an audible crunch.

What the fuck? That's all money, you know...

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Opening the door. Is there a problem?"

The sincere look in her eyes made me let out a deep sigh.

...Yeah, why am I even trying to talk sense into a barbarian? After spending two whole years with Ragner, how am I still surprised? I knew better than anyone that these people were completely lacking in common sense.

I sighed again. At the same time, the shop owner—who had been dozing off in the corner with his face buried in a stack of papers—jerked upright. The snot bubble that had inflated like a balloon popped with a wet burst.

"W-What the hell was that noise?!"

"Oh, he's awake, he's awake."

Riana giggled. I awkwardly waved at Rynor, someone I hadn't seen in a while.

Rynor the mage. An elf and a wizard from Alfheim. He looked like a kid on the outside, but he was actually an old man well over three hundred years old. As much as I hated to admit it, he was also the former master of the Magic Tower.

Rynor rubbed his eyes and stood up. His brows were slightly furrowed in irritation, but his eyes widened in surprise when he saw us. He scratched his head and muttered,

"The hero brat and the crazy bitch. What kind of combination is that?"

"Ufufu. Uncle, I'm not a crazy bitch."

"Crazy bitch."

Did she just call herself that? Has she finally lost it completely? he grumbled under his breath before brushing off his knees and standing properly. His signature long ears stood out clearly.

I placed my hand on the back of Riana's head and pushed down.

"Hyaang!"

"Gramps, I wasn't the one who broke the door. So make sure you charge her for it."

"...Tsk. It's fine. It's not like this is the first or second time."

This old man knew Riana? And not just once or twice? I pressed down on Riana's head even harder.

"B-Bondage play...♡"

"Taesik. Stop that. You're only making her enjoy it."

"Oh, you're absolutely right."

I immediately pulled my hand away from her black hair. She looked back at me with a disappointed gaze. Ugh, don't make that face.

"So why did you two come together?"

"Hmm... We needed to get out of there first."

Because I couldn't take it anymore...

"Get out? Were you locked up somewhere or something?"

"Something like that... or maybe not quite..."

The argument between Seria and Isabel had caused quite a stir. It was entertaining to watch, but for the people involved, it was complicated. Do you know how painful it is to not be able to embrace the woman who loves you?

And then those two women started saying things like that right in front of everyone... those kinds of things...

"Aaaaaaaaagh!"

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

I clutched my head and collapsed to the floor. Their voices kept echoing in my ears. The things they had said swirled around in my mind.

And the finishing blow came from Isabel.

It was perfect. The way she tried so hard to hide her embarrassment but couldn't quite manage it. The way her cheeks flushed red as she leaned in and whispered.

It was a complete victory for Isabel. Her calm voice tickling my ear, the slight tremble in it. The way her pink hair had brushed against my cheek was still vivid. Her embarrassed expression combined with that adorable whisper. She was like a gentle version of a little devil.

Maybe that was why. Just thinking about it again made my face burn.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!"

"Hey, what the hell is wrong with you?! Why are you throwing a tantrum in someone else's shop?!"

"Grr! Old man, don't touch me!"

Please... please... I don't know how I'm supposed to face them anymore.

"You. Get out. Get the hell out right now!"

Even at Rynor's shout, I didn't budge. Don't underestimate the mental fortitude I built fighting the Demon King's minions! The ones who drove me to this state were truly impressive.

Gaaaaaaaaah!

Shiiiing—

A sharp, stinging noise like a blade slicing through the air slammed into my ears. I covered them for a moment and stared at Rynor's hands. He was chanting runes, and the mana flowing through his fingers glowed brightly.

The paper made from Alfheim timber was light yet sturdy. Blue letters were carved into the yellowish scroll. Tap tap tap! He hammered down the runes that tried to burst out, suppressing them. It sounded almost like gunshots. He fired mana bullets, and soon the scroll was complete.

There was a reason they were so expensive. The difficult process was what created scrolls of perfect quality.

I was mesmerized by the magical sight I hadn't seen in a long time. Well, it literally was magic.

I placed the potions into the basket. They were of the highest quality. They looked like the ingredients had been thrown in carelessly, yet you could feel the precise control of heat. Yeah. These were what people called premium goods.

Thump thump thump! The runes began embedding themselves into the scroll.

I didn't want to interrupt, but I had to ask. It was for dealing with that guy living in the abyss of Helheim, where we were headed.

"Gramps. Is there a magic that blocks the opponent's sound?"

"Hm?"

The sweating elf reacted to my question. Personally, I was jealous of elves who could live over three hundred years without aging and still maintain the appearance of a boy. He kept gripping his staff and hammering runes into the scroll as he answered.

"Of course there is."

"Oh, is that a scroll? Or a potion?"

He made a circle with his empty hand and showed it to me.

Fuck...

"So it's all about money in the end."

"Brat. The world runs on money. You know that better than anyone."

I knew it all too well. I'd gone hungry and even lived as a beggar for a short while. My hero days were a complete mess.

"I can just learn it."

"That sounds like a huge pain in the ass."

"...I heard you were pretty studious back in your original world."

"Just because someone went to a good university and got a job at a good company doesn't mean they're good at studying. Drop that prejudice."

Though it was true in my case.

"University... company? I don't know what those are, but..."

"What am I even doing trying to talk with people from this world..."

"Anyway, either learn it yourself or hire a sorcerer. One or the other."

"...I guess that's how it is, huh?"

This was bad. There hadn't been any decent sorcerers on the recruitment form.

"We're fucked."

A brief silence fell. Riana seemed fascinated and was focusing on the scroll-making process. The runes—said to be the language of the world that Odin had realized long ago—settled into the paper.

How much time had passed? Rynor reached out his hand.

"Kuh, done! What are you doing just watching, brat?"

"Tsk, an old man with no patience."

The way he was pestering me for money made him seem like some kind of mage from somewhere.

"I'm still young by my standards. Also, I'm charging extra for the potions, so keep that in mind."

It was a declaration. My opinion didn't matter. I trusted he knew exactly whose fault this was without me saying anything.

"I told you Riana broke it!"

"You're the party leader. It's called joint responsibility."

"Dammit!"

This wasn't the military. The phrase brought back some really shitty memories. The two years I spent there felt exactly like the two years I'd spent in this other world.

Rynor held out his palm. My brows twitched.

"What are you waiting for? Pay up."

"Old man. It's not that I don't have money, but can I ask you one—"

"Three hundred shillings flat."

"Please stop with the bullshit."

Rynor, who had read my mind faster than anyone, spoke up. Oh please. That was enough money to eat and play for days on end. For an old man who'd lived hundreds of years, he sure loved money like a damn miser. Lunaris was the same. Were all mages from the Magic Tower like this?

Ptui.

"...As if I'd ever come back here."

"Hero brat. I've heard that line more than ten times already."

The way he smirked was so infuriating. It reminded me of someone from EnXsoft who treated users like pigs and dogs. Just you wait, Kim X-jin.

Rynor, now holding my money pouch, grabbed his staff and began chanting runes. The jewel glowed.

With the sound of a clock ticking, the cracked and broken door began to reverse. The debris flew through the air and reassembled like building blocks, restoring the door to its original state.

Wait a second.

"Stop right there."

It was ice cold. Like a dagger had been driven straight into my chest.

Fuck. He took my money and now he's doing this?

"Do I look like some pushover to you, you bastard?"

"Throwing another tantrum, I see."

"The one throwing a tantrum is you, old man. Give me back my money. Return the shillings you made me pay for Riana!"

"Grr! I only asked for a fair price!"

Hah. If you knew how to fix it, you should've just fixed it from the start. You didn't even need the repair money! I feel like I've been scammed. Well, they do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠say the victim is at fault. But this is a new kind of scam I've never seen before.

"Let go. Let go of it, I said. Let go!"

"I absolutely won't!"

Grr! This was all-out war now.

"Riana! Don't just watch, help me!"

"...I'll be expecting proper compensation."

"I'll do whatever you want, so hurry!"

"R-Really?! You promised, Hero!"

Something like Riana's madness began to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stir. Her breathing grew ragged, and pink hearts started appearing in her eyes. Rynor sensed the coming 'misfortune'.

"Haa... haa... Being insulted and stepped on by the Hero...♡"

What the hell are you even imagining?

"I can die without regrets... now!"

"D-Don't come near me! Leave me alone!"

Not a chance. Don't underestimate Riana's muscles.

"If you don't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like it, give me the money!"

"You piece of trash! Who gives money and then takes it back?!"

"Trash?! Who's the one who scammed me?!"

"This feeling of being pushed back... it's the best...!"

Fuck. This wasn't normal. I was dead serious.

"Heheung~"

How much time had passed? In the end, I got the repair cost back.

"D-Damn it..."

"I'm not the kind of guy who lets things like this slide."

It wasn't just once or twice that I'd been screwed over. I wasn't the same person I used to be. I crossed my arms and savored the sweet taste of victory. I'd gotten it back. My hundred shillings!

"Don't look so smug. You still paid for the potions and scrolls."

"...Tsk."

"Besides, I didn't do anything wrong in the first place."

"You broke the door and you're saying—"

When I gestured, Riana lifted her axe.

"...That's not what I meant. Haha. I fixed it myself, didn't I?"

Her instant attitude shift was so ridiculous I almost laughed. It was on par with Udyr's stance dancing.

"Gramps. No discount for acquaintances?"

"Get lost!"

"Tch, so cold."

Ptui.