---

The room filled with rings and necklaces showcased a variety of magic items, ranging from plain to extravagant.

I was delighted to see many simple items designed to be easily worn on the neck or finger.

As someone who didn’t even know how to properly use magic items, these complex devices with intricate mechanisms and odd energies seemed like they might threaten my life.

In that sense, the magic items displayed in this room looked at least somewhat reasonable.

They didn’t emit any freezing air nor moved on their own. I could excuse a necklace with a mouth as a quirky feature.

‘No, that’s just fundamentally absurd.’

Do real wizards lack any sense of aesthetics? Did all the parents forget to pass down the element of aesthetic sense when they birthed their wizard children?

I admit that was a bit harsh, but these items were repulsive enough to spark such thoughts.

Sure, there were pretty necklaces and rings adorned with suitable jewels…!

‘But why does a laser come out of a jewel…?’

There was nothing but confusion everywhere…!

Even the sight of Skylar, gazing admiringly at spectacles that shot laser beams, was utterly incomprehensible to me.

“Wow…!”

“Indeed! I thought you were just a penny-pinching scroll-user, but your insight is quite impressive! You recognize the true value of that item!”

“It’s magnificent.”

“The circuits and engravings on this magic item—”

Wait, he was a guy. I understand that one can appreciate a bit of romance and dreaminess, but can he really not see that it obstructs his own view? How can he aim lasers without seeing the front?

And more importantly, why the need for such an old-fashioned horn-rimmed design? This is the medieval era, right? Isn’t slim-frame eyewear in vogue now?

Let’s get back to the main topic. Get it together.

“Are there magic items that enhance health, strength, or intelligence?”

“Oh, of course! That’s a basic type. Do you not need any additional features?”

Upon my question, the shopkeeper’s attitude shifted completely to a friendly one as he began to answer with sincerity.

I didn’t quite feel at ease, but he seemed to regard Skylar positively for recognizing the value of his goods. Perhaps this showcased the peculiar artisan spirit of a magic item creator.

Since I didn’t need any additional features, I shook my head in refusal.

The shop owner dragged his robe along the floor, suddenly disappearing into the corner of the barrier and then popping back out like before.

“Those basic magic items are a bit too good to display on a shelf, so we keep them in storage. Let’s see them for now.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“…You’re welcome.”

I expressed my gratitude while smiling at him, and he hesitated for a moment, briefly catching my eye.

Yeah. I’m kind of cute.

He carelessly dropped a few rings and necklaces into my hand without a case.

The sound of metals clinking together rang clear and pure. A few blue sparks flew up onto my hand, and my skin felt a slight sting. The spot where the spark brushed against me turned red.

I didn’t think it would leave a burn mark, but a few tears did escape, which I couldn’t help.

He looked at me with a worried expression—and though he couldn’t see, Skylar also stopped fiddling with the magic items and approached me.

After examining the wound for a moment, he promptly returned to inspecting the magic items again.

A bit disappointing.

Anyway, it’s time to check out the magic items.

–

An ordinary ring.

Boosts strength slightly.

+2

–

‘…Hmm, next.’

–

An ordinary ring.

Boosts health slightly.

+2

–

‘Is there no +3? Please.’

–

A while passed.

I couldn’t find a strong magic item among the rings and necklaces he handed me that could solve my penalty.

Health +5.

Strength +3.

These were the numbers I needed to resolve my penalty.

I might be able to implement +3 by wearing several +2 rings, but +5 would remain out of reach.

I didn’t want to die just like this.

I had forced down the blood that had refluxed in my throat countless times. I had come this far pushing my rebellious body to obey my commands.

Dying like this was the worst.

So, I would struggle until the very end.

“Is there a stronger magic item available?”

“…Can you recognize the strength of the circuits and engravings inscribed on a magic item? Bard?”

“I have good eyesight.”

“Is that so?”

The shopkeeper, scrutinizing me with suspicion, couldn’t find any concrete proof and threw himself back into the corner of the barrier.

Just like before, he popped up from the corner of the barrier this time with multiple items made of gold.

I remembered something Skylar had mentioned earlier.

The magical circuits and engravings are better when they’re small and can hold more. Thus, from iron to silver, silver to gold, and gold to platinum.

Magic is both balance and trade, and contracts.

That’s why the gods of magic designed the world so that more magic can be inscribed with rarer and more expensive materials.

Since the magic item he handed me this time was gold, if I couldn’t find what I wanted, the next time would be with platinum.

“I hope you find the item you seek this time.”

“Yeah. If not, I might be a bit disappointed. About this shop’s standard.”

“Is that so?”

I provoked him slightly.

Perhaps my provocation hit the mark, as I felt him hesitate in his words a little.

I bet being dismissed as ignorant about magic by a mere bard stingingly hurt his pride.

It also indicated that he was quite proud of his goods to fall for such cheap provocation.

There was no need to roll dice or drench magic into my eyes.

From the start, persuasion comes naturally when your mouth moves. It’s automatically determined what kind of reaction will follow from what you say or do.

Just like my intelligence naturally diminishing and my body straining, actions spontaneously rise to the surface without intention.

I slowly examined the magic items again.

–

Superior ring.

–

The name alone felt good. There’s an undeniable difference between ordinary and superior.

Now it was time to see the effects.

–

Boosts strength.

+3

–

…Good.

I had enough funds.

Excluding what I’d spend on travel, if I account for the emergency money I’d kept aside, I could use around five gold coins right now.

This amount could buy me about two luxury items crafted personally by artisans in this world.

I hadn’t just been lazing around since I arrived in Regan. I solved requests, sang, played music, and earned money. Now I was a proper adventurer.

“I’ll buy this. How much?”

“Please just give me two ducats. I can’t accept more than that for this item.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be alright to sell it for a slightly lower price?”

“……That’s precisely the right price for this item.”

“It’s just a simple gold ring with circuits and engravings—nothing special. It might not be something you can find in a rural village, but it’s the kind of standard you can easily come across in Regan.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m asking if you really think two gold coins is a fair price.”

“Do you think this place is a local market? Are you trying to haggle in a magic item shop? Are you out of your mind?”

Yeah. Until now, most of the shops I had haggled with were in rural or small towns. It was almost shameful to even call it a shop.

Thanks to that, I had gained quite a bit through persuasion and options, rolling dice.

I certainly didn’t deny that fact.

But still, I wanted to see if my persuasion and negotiation skills worked properly in a place where prices were already set, like a department store or jewelry shop.

That was it.

I didn’t come to this magic shop just to find a ring that boosts strength. I had bigger goals in mind.

The three things I wanted to resolve through magic items were health, strength, and intelligence.

Naturally, the priority was health.

I wanted to resolve my narcolepsy, but for now, it’s safer to tackle what I can realistically resolve one step at a time.

‘So, there’s no reason to spend too much money.’

This is just an experiment. An experiment that started with the question of whether my strength penalty would disappear.

I didn’t doubt the state window nor my own eyesight.
I was just doing this for precautionary reasons.

“If you give me a discount, I’ll buy one more item. How does that sound?”

“……Alright.”

After a long hesitation, the shopkeeper agreed to lower the price on the condition that I buy two magic items.

However, I get to choose the other one.

While my proposal was advantageous for me, thinking about the shopkeeper being a tradesman first and foremost, wouldn’t this be a true mutually beneficial relationship?

That guy could turn the lingering dead stock in the warehouse into gold coins, and I could resolve my status penalty.

Now it’s time to find that health +5.