*Applause!!!!!*

"Thank you for the help miss healer."
"Don't mention it. As a healer, it is my duty to tend to the injured."

How do I get this feeling off? I don't feel any mana from it. Maybe this is more of the guardian paying attention to me? Just looking at someone causes this much of a pressure? A predator's fierce aura to a prey, I guess. The only way I won't be affected is if I am stronger than the guardian.

"Sorry for the wait, Mr. Smith. That was a big event just now and it even involved the guardian, luckily no one was hurt too badly."

Maybe in the future but I don't really have the intention to fight gigantic beast like that. Power will come to me naturally along with multiple reincarnations. I can take my time.

"Mr. Smith? Excuse me?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Is something wrong? You were spacing out a moment ago?"

So she doesn't notice the 'mark'?

"I'm digesting my food. Leave me alone for a while and shut up."
"Wow, I'm amazed that you finished eating all that food so quickly. Too bad, I wanted to buy the food storage device."
"Then why don't you buy it yourself if you wanted it that badly?"
"It's one of the latest model of the demon continent, well latest in what they brought in this island at the very least. The price is too expensive for my allowance. I was thinking of buying it so I can bring some souvenirs for my family when I get a vacation."
"I see, isn't that too bad. Think of a different souvenir then. One that doesn't spoil so you don't need to buy a preservative that cost multiple times higher than the souvenir."

I feel that she opened up to me way too quick. She went on friendly and relaxed mode after the prince and princess left. Is this an act or is she so strung up being with royalty all the time that she vented all that nervousness on me?

"Mr. Smith. You didn't seem that interested in what happened outside? Are you used to such happenings? Is that normal in the dwarf continent? Do they have a lot of such accidents?"
"What's this? Curiosity? Want to know what happens in other continents?"
"Yeah, I barely left home and as soon as my parents found out that I have talent for healing, they sent me to the academy at the capital. They aren't that rich so I worked hard to get a scholarship. I even found work for my living expenses and sent the extra back home to help. School, work, and studying kept me busy even during vacation so I never really traveled."
"I don't need your life story! Keep that to yourself. Haaaaah, I'm saying this for your own good. Don't ask questions like that anymore. Each continent are wary against the others so they won't tell you anything about their own continent, no matter how trivial the detail. You might find a few oddballs who tell tales of their own continent but I can guarantee you that most of them are lies. If you want to know about other continents then go to a library and search your history. It might be heavily biased to your own continent but you get the general idea of what other continents are like."
"Those books are restricted for researchers and high ranking teachers. I don't have the privilege to access them."

I read those when I was helping the princess study for her lessons though. I guess I have the princess' servant access pass.

The fact that they restrict history access is worrying though. It has all the makings of a mass propaganda. They won't even need to do that since most of the heroes stayed at their continent. They already have complete control in that continent. In fact, the only conflict they have is against themselves, even though the whole continent is only for their kind.

"Then find a library here on the island. They should have something of a basic library here. They might even have a simple history book from every continent. Block out all the insults, praises, positive, negative, and look only at the main subject then you can see the most basic description of each continents."
"I see, I will look into it on my next day off. Thank you Mr. Smith."
"Good, I'm now full and satisfied. Tell your boss he did a good job but I won't accept the deal with him. Good bye, I still have to look for things I might need."

*Stand* *Leave*

I can finally start practicing my magic here. No one would interrupt my morning exercises too.

"...W-wait Mr. Smith!!!!! Ah! Waiter please give me the total bill."
"...The total comes to 25 gold coins."

Hahaha, that is expensive. Around 250k in earth currency? I wonder how they calculated that much for just food? I did order everything in the menu, not to mention the seconds I did every time I tasted something I liked. It's not my money this time, so it's all good but I won't dine in this restaurant again.

Now then, Where should I go now? Most of the blacksmith related things are found in our continent so I would get a better deal if I buy it there rather than here on the island but I have a free walking wallet here so maybe I can shop for a bit.

No, I will do that last. I don't want a rumour to spread that I'm some kind of spy for the human continent. I will just receive the money and buy them cheap in the continent, I could even buy those through chatterbox at a discounted price.

For now I should look at magic related stuff.

Hmmm.

*Run*

"There ...hah... you ...hah... are Mr. Smith. You ....hah haah haaaah......"
"If you want to follow me then be quiet. It isn't that far from the restaurant, even if you ran you shouldn't be this exhausted! Are healers from the human continent this fragile? Come one, breathe calmly. You are a human not a coyote!"

Maybe she would know?

"Sorry ....haaah... about ....haah... that ....haah. Huuuuuuuuuuhhhhh!!! Haaaaaaaah!!! I'm okay now."
"You tire out way too easily. Hey, do you know which place sells the best magic related materials and tools?"
"Magic items? Wait a minute."

*Pulls out* *Rummage* *Rummage*

So she doesn't have her own storage device. I saw her use healing magic a while ago but she used that crystal bracelet she has on instead of the common weapons of a healer in the human continent, the light mace. She does dress the part with that white hoodie that looks like a robe.

The blue and white bag is cute too but the inside looks like a mess. No wonder, she can't find what she's looking for.

"Found it yet?"
"Wait a while..... not this one, not that, I need to throw this out and here!! The island guide leader gave me!!"
"Your bag is leaking."
"Aaaaah!! My juice! That's too bad but it's okay! That pocket is on the outside so my things won't get wet. This was originally a water bag so each pocket can hold their own liquid without mixing with the others."
"Then why is that leaking?"
"I tore through that pocket on the journey to the capital. I tried to sew it back but it sometimes come loose."

You should have a professional fix that. The head maid could repair something of that level easily. You are part of their party now so I imagine your 'allowance' went up by a lot. Unless you give 90% of your salary to your parents, you should have enough to fix or buy a new one.

"Elf continent and demon continent are the best place to purchase anything related to magic, followed by dwarf and beast continent. What type of magic materials do you want?"

What I get from that is that humans suck. Beast continent and dwarf continent are better than magic? What rules is this fantasy following? Hmm, maybe their continent is overrun by a particular element too, like how our dwarf continent is dense with earth mana. I imagine the human continent has a balanced state where no one element is stronger or weaker than the other, which makes them have a jack of all trades kind of situation.

"Does it say where they sell books for natural magic theory?"
"A blacksmith needs natural magic theory?"
"Of course I need it. Do you think I just hammer metal and mold them into a weapon's shape? There are metals that have been soaked with other elements and I need to know how it reacts whenever I hammer them so I can ensure the weapon I created is the best."
"Ooooh! Amazing! If that is what you want then I recommend an elf continent bookstore. According to the guide, they are the most in tune with nature and they recorded most of the teachings from every continent. The scholar hero often visited their grand library during his research."

She is too easily impressed. My plan to frustrate her won't work! I should just skip to impressing her to high heavens so they would be blinded with my value.

"Go on, lead the way."
"Yes!"

'Fairy's Branch'. I guess this is it. This is what I expect a store in the elf continent would look like. A big wooden store that has a tree growing at the top and roots growing at the bottom.

"You go first missy."
"Shy?"
"Hmmp! The relationship of our two continents isn't the best. It's been a long time but the strain is too awkward for both parties. If I see something I don't like, I won't be going in. I leave the purchase to you."

It might not be my money but I don't like the feeling of the other party one-upping me. I don't want to see the victory smirk they have when they fooled someone. This is why I hate merchants.

*Cling* *Cling*

"Welcome little human and wary dwarf. Don't worry, those of the fairy clan doesn't concern themselves with the quibbles of any particular race. Can I help you with anything?"

She heard me, huh? I guess I don't have to hide now.

"I want a book on natural magic theory. A compendium of ores, plants, herbs, and minerals. If you have a [Master Element Mastery] book then I would also like it."
"Hmm, hehehe, it looks like we have a studious dwarf here. All that books that cover a lot of knowledge, are you starting a school?"
"Is that a requirement to sell your books?"

I can't see her! She sounds like a sultry temptress bored in the afternoon that decides to have a casual conversation on a passer-by.

"Looking for me? I won't greet you at the door if that is what you want. Come inside the store. Don't worry, how could I do you harm in this island. Don't get any ideas though, I'm already married."
"You like her, Mr. Smith?"
"That is not what I was thinking!"
"Oh, and here I thought you fell for the sound of my voice. I sense you were charmed at the very least. Looks like I still have it. Come in already, I have all those books. They are pretty expensive so I hope you brought enough."

The inside of this store is even more tree themed. Leaves and branches decorate the store instead of bookshelves.

"I'm over here."
"huh?"
"Whaa! How cute!"
"I prefer beautiful if you don't mind."

A real fairy! Just like the store's name, this really is owned by a real fairy. I thought it was just some kind of theme. She is a bit bigger than a plastic water bottle. She is right that she is more beautiful than cute. She looks like a miniature version of a glamorous woman.

"How is it dwarf kid? Fell for me all over again?"
"I didn't fell for you in the first place and certainly not now."

If I did a size ratio, she certainly has a big breast but I don't go for those smaller than me, especially this small!

"Do you have the books or not?"
"I do, the total would be 150 gold coins. It was supposed to be 162 gold 75 silver and 67 copper but you amused me so I gave you a discount."

*Rustle* *Rustle* *Grow*

"Whoaaaa!! Amazing!"

No wonder the store is full of branches. The books are actually the leaves. The branches stretch out as the leaves grow bigger to turn into a book. Nature magic, huh.

"Stop being amazed and pay for the things."
"Ah, yes!"
"Heeh, This is the first time I saw a dwarf having a human as an assistant. You must be from some rich family. Did you hire her from a helper agency? Like a guide of some sorts?"
"I didn't, her leader wants to build a good relationship with me so they could request custom weapons. This is them trying to win me over."
"Greedy humans as always. They already have the means to battle their own kind yet they want something that could make them invincible. Don't they know skill and technique would win against any weapon if you don't know how to use them effectively. Are you going to help them?"
"No! Leader isn't like that! He just wants to advance the blacksmithing skills in our continent."
"I haven't decided yet. It depends on their effort and sincerity."
"We are well worth it Mr. Smith. Ah here is the gold, could you please prepare me a receipt."
"Thank you for the business. I hope you decide wisely young dwarf, it might affect their whole continent if you chose wrongly. Here is your receipt."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"You don't have to worry, leader is smart and responsible. I am sure he already took all of that into consideration."
"Yeah, yeah, Thanks for today. It's getting late now so I will return to my inn. Good bye!"
"Yes, good bye. I will see you tomorrow."
"Good night, young dwarf. Use those books well."

*Smirk*

*Cling* *Cling* *Close*

That, I hate that! Especially when she did it after leaving me with that sentence. It could either be some hidden message in her parting words or she ripped me off for the books. I mean she ripped off the prince but her victory smirk is aimed for me!!

She didn't find out that I am the hero, right? There are a lot of legends that the fairy tribe are the one's guiding the hero during their travel. Could that mean that they have some kind of skill to tell who the hero is?