Chapter 59: Read The Sign Before You Can Enter
Returning after finishing another quest, Makoto and his group are turning in the materials needed for the quest to be done.
"You're moving up the ladder so quickly! Guild Master will probably announce your promotion soon."
After gaining much-needed fame and qualification during the invasion of Phasmid, Makoto didn't stop there and went on with their momentum. They even hunted a Lesser Dragon of the higher kind, making their case for the becoming the fourth Orichalcum party to be formed in Soliel.
Since they were the only higher-ranked party to visit the Guild often, people would flock them every time they visit. Yet Makoto is already accustomed to such reception that he doesn't see the joy of celebrating anymore.
Ever since the Avian Royal Knights have visited, the only thing on his mind right now is to get stronger and stronger.
"Our armor starts chipping. Let's go and get it to check before it turns to worse."
"Should we visit Boss Bry's shop again? Maybe there would be something for Little Alette this time."
"Stop calling me Little… But I doubt a blacksmith will have anything for a mage like me."
The only member of their group who practices mage diligently, Alette, doesn't feel as excited compared to the men of their group. She bought some pretty silver leggins from that place, but she stopped using them after they became more of a liability rather than help her.
She was one of the few unsatisfied customers Nova Initita had. It's not the shop quality's fault, but it's not for her in nature. Mages look for their equipment in different places compared to warriors who fight with physical weapons.
Not to mention, slime girls like her need customized apparel a steel armor cannot do.
"Don't worry, we'll visit District 1 soon after. I'll treat you to the famous pastry shop after."
"Thank you, Caerwyn."
So that's how a dragonling, giant, elf, and a slime went together to District 9.
******
Brian was carrying a hammer and a signboard looking for the right place where to put it. Why he was doing this is so because after formulating many plans on how to promote his alchemy shop, the most straightforward yet may seem stupid idea seems to be the most effective in his mind.
"Oh, what are you doing outside, Boss Bry?"
"Hmm? Oh, the Makaze guy."
"I'm Makato… But what is that thing between your arms"
"Since now you're here, can you help me set this up." Brian greeted the group with a request for physical labor.
The ground was too hard for his weak body to dig the signboard into. So the likes of Makoto and Atlas will be very good for the job. It was not a difficult request so Atlas didn't mind pounding his fist to bury the signboard on the ground.
Now the front of his blacksmith has another sign at the doorstep besides the repair promotion.
[Nova Alchemy Shop ~~>]
[Get your Magical Potions and Scrolls right next door. Just believe there is a shop then it will appear]
This is the amazing plan he formulated after brainstorming for a long time. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution even though it's the weirdest-- It's not stupid if it works since the effects are showing as Makoto and the group were curious about what is written.
"Alchemy Shop? Where?"
"I see nothing. Are you lying to us Boss Bry?"
He got the same response from the four, but the first one to change their response was the slime girl. Brian knows she's a practitioner of magic so he expected she would be the one to see under the concealment magic. It was then followed by the elf then Atlas. Only Makoto was left not able to see the building the three were staring at.
"Wait! There's a really a shop!"
"You also Caerwyn? Why am I the only one who can't see it?"
"Maybe because you're an idiot that's why." The elf named Caerwyn didn't forget to diss her leader.
The real fact why Makoto wasn't able to see the alchemy shop as quickly as his three teammates, is because he has the lowest aptitude in magic. He never tried to learn how to manifest mana.
But that doesn't mean he will never see the shop. It just takes more convincing, and the sign Brian made is for that very reason. The spell the System has placed is strange, but not unbreakable.
Like an illusion, if you believe it's an illusion, most likely you won't be fooled. That is how the concealment magic of his alchemy shop works. If you know there is a shop, then it will reveal itself. Brian knew all of this because Samon told him so.
"Oh! You're Right! Nova Alchemy Shop… Is this also yours Boss Bry?"
"Yeah, you can go in and check since it is open. You'll be the first customer ever."
The yellow theme stayed the same for the blacksmith. It gives the identity of uniqueness and friendly shop only Nova aesthetic provides. Once the magic of the alchemy shop loses its effect, you're left with a friendly house in the neighborhood.
This is a concurrent idea people had when they first saw what Nova is. The only giveaway that these houses are actually selling something is the name signs above the doorsteps.
*Ring* There was a small bell attached that would give away a customer had entered. Although it's useless because the person who should be working here is absent- Or better to say, his clone is the only one behind the counter.
"Such a beautiful and calming place!"
"You should be a designer of houses, Boss Bry. I bet you'll be successful in it."
"I'll think about it…"
A clone with a similar appearance to Samon was just waiting and standing on the other side of the room ignoring the boss and their first customers. This clone is not as amazing as the System's avatar since all it can do was the simple task of receiving coins and giving what the customers want.
It can't talk, yet it can understand what they were talking about since it's connected to the mind of the original Samon. The free-spirit mage can choose to ignore or listen to whatever feedback comes from his clone.
Brian would never approve of this way of handling the shop, but the original Samon can no longer be found when he expected him to be here. He can only sigh in dejection and accept the fact he hired some troublesome guy.
"This is a clone from a great mage! The man behind this is working for you?!" Alette was shocked to her core when she noticed the other entity besides them inside the shop has no life essence emitting from it.
"He's not that great, but yes-- this guy is just a clone."
While the mage of his group was having a chat with the boss, Makoto saw some familiar red potion bottles elixirs behind the man they said was a clone. He didn't notice it was a clone since he was more focused on the goods the shop is selling.
"Are you selling some High-grade healing potions?"
"…"
"Excuse me- Are you selling some High-grade healing potions?"
"Ah! I forgot to put a notice… That clone doesn't talk." Brian felt more stupid when his customer looked stupid for asking a wall, basically. He noted to smack the bald head of the gargantuan when he returns.
Fortunately, Makoto is on good terms with the boss so it didn't offend him that much. Accepting he made a laughingstock of himself, he made sure to ask everything before trying to purchase something again.
"Everything available is written on that catalog book. Once you've decided, just say what you need and pay upfront."
An automated machine would probably be better compared to this high-ranking mage. He'll swap for one any time of the day.
Makoto didn't mind it that much and reach out for the book. But before he got it, Caerwyn was a step faster than him. The elf was simply waiting for Makoto to ask all the questions she wanted to ask herself before swiping in. There were a lot of things that look promising behind the shelves.
"Oi Caerwyn! I was first!"
"Just go ahead and buy your healing potions. You probably can't read half of the contents of this book." The elf shared the reading space with Alette who is also curious.
Makoto wanted to dispute but realized she was right. Taking 3 gold coins, enough for five High-Grade healing potions, he handed it to Samon's clone after stating what he wants.
"Excuse me- You forgot to take everything." Makoto knew the clone won't reply, but it was in impulse because the fake Samon only took half of the coins Makoto placed on the counter.
As expected, fake Samon ignores what the other side was saying and just handed him the bright crimson potion bottle he requested. It was a quality not less compared to the best potion shops of Soliel.
"Boss Bry, I think this thing is having malfunctioning. It didn't take all my payment… That's nice but you'll probably don't want that."
"No, the price is for one bottle is sixty coppers each!" The one who replied Caerwyn, reached the page where healing potions are listed.
"So cheap! Are you sure this isn't a medium-grade healing potion?"
"Let me smell it, I know the difference between the two."
Giving the bottle to the slime girl, she took a good sniff to see if there is the medicinal aroma a High-grade healing potion should have.
The bitter and strong smell is still there yet there was a citrusy aroma that came along with it. She doesn't remember any alchemist daring to add flavor to their potions because it will most likely decrease the effects or fail the concoction all in all. A very unnecessary thing to add for a big risk.
Yet there is this potion.
Only the most daring and most skilled alchemist could create a potion such as this. Good thing Alette doesn't know the reason why Samon learns and chooses to do so since the reason wasn't really something noble.
It's just Samon's way of sneaking a drink in the presence of Steron's lessons before.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone