"Good morning sir, how may I help you today?"
"Good morning. I'd like to make a deposit to my savings account"
"Thank you for your trust in us. How much will the deposit be?"
"Eight-million rune. No, wait, make that seven-million rune, and can I get smaller change?"
"....Fufufu. That's a good one sir. We do ought to have big dreams. I also dream to deposit that kind of amount someday"
The teller thought Alfraed merely spouting crude joke. She encountered many similar depositors throughout her career, and in her personal opinion, they really needed to face reality soon to avoid confusing other people with their misleading claims.
"...True. But, is not a dream, though?"
"Persistent are we. That's a good trait sir. Now, let me help counting the money before the deposit is.....completed?"
The teller froze, blinking her eyes continuously for ten seconds when discovered the inside of Alfraed's presented leather pouch was hundreds of ten-thousand rune coin. Suddenly, she felt dizzy seeing that much money that was outside her expectation this early in the morning.
"Sir, please come this way"
Fortunately for her, a man who most definitely be her supervisor came in immediately to assist and handle the situation. Then, Alfraed and the twins were ushered to a private room where the counting would be conducted by other staff as to not disturb other queueing customers.
It took more than half an hour to count all the coins and confirm the amount, as well as finalizing his deposit transaction. While watching the process, Alfraed and the twins were served drinks and cakes. Furthermore, he received preferred membership.
"That's nice service..."
Next time, there would be a personal assistant that would help any of his transaction in any branch, whilst he could leisurely wait in this kind of room enjoying prepared snacks.
Now, time to go to the next place he had in mind.
-------
The interior of the second place they visited was filled to the brim with colourful books staring at them from their orderly shelves.
Each book was a preserved legacy of the author's thought and idea that would otherwise be as fleeting as the song of a bird. In this form, they silently waited for readers to open their pages and speak their words, their ink on papery leaves that would always stay even though centuries may passed. They invited a conversation with curious minds, one unspoken and kind, for one could always walk away from a book if one chose, and returned when ready.
"Please leave"
However, before they could venture deeper into the magical mountains of books, someone drove them out with rude tone and condescending gaze, causing Emma and Evan to hide behind Alfraed in fright.
"...Why? We come here to buy"
Alfraed hated every bit of how the person talked to him, especially since he unnecessarily scared the twins, and this visit should had been a valuable experience for them.
Nevertheless, the three of them might also accidentally did something improper and incurred his irritation. So, he suppressed his swelling anger, and politely asked for the reason.
"Obviously you are in a wrong place. This is a book store!"
"...I know...?"
Alfraed was at a loss, he was unable to comprehend the person's given reply at all. Anyone could see that this was indeed a book store even before entering. So, why the attitude?
"No, you obviously didn't know. This is a book store! A place where only those with privileges can enter and appreciate! People from the bottom like you are not worthy to come! No way you can afford any of the book anyway!"
"Hey, you! Lower your voice! That remark went too far!"
"..Bu-but, owner..."
"...Ah, I see now..."
A bearded man with glasses came to scold the arrogant man who could not stop sermonizing him with negativities. But, he did not ask the previous person to apologize. The scolding was mostly because his loud voice could disturb other customers. At that time, Alfraed finally understood what was going on.
Reading and writing were privilege, not right. Few people had the opportunity or the necessary financial capability to learn them, because education was, truly, expensive in this age. Alfraed knew that, and he loathed that fact. Yet, he missed out that books, an object related to those skills, were equally high-priced.
Alfraed was allowed to visit and borrow any book from his master's library anytime he wanted that he forgot about this common matter.
He took a glance at Emma and Evan, noticing their clothes were old, wrinkled, and had patches. That being said, his outfit was jusy slightly better, as he was someone who indifferent about appearances. Maybe he should change the way he dressed to avoid being looked down upon by others? Alfraed could not decide on an answer.
Despite of this, that person, whoever he was, had no right whatsoever to behave and talk like that!
"...Excuse me, we're in a hurry, here, can I buy books now?" Alfraed tossed a ten-thousand rune coin to the owner as if the coin was of little value to him.
It was an act, of course. For Alfraed that amount was indeed valuable.
"..."
"Certainly! We truly apologize for our staff's behaviour just now, a strict warning will be given to him. I'll personally guide you around the store"
The arrogant man could not processed what Alfraed just did. He did not want to process it. On the contrary, the owner swiftly recognized him as a valuable customer, and acted accordingly.
"Do you have anything in mind sir?" asked the owner politely while they were touring the store.
"...Is there a new volume of the monster encyclopaedia?"
All of a sudden, Alfraed remembered of a baleful existence that once gave him tremendous trouble, and wanted to know whether there was information about it.
"Aside from the already published three volumes, there is no news of a another volume"
"Nothing, huh. Then, I'm looking for picture books, do you have any in stock?"
"Certainly! We regularly update our collections, what you are looking is in this corner"
In that area Alfraed stood books whose size were larger than average, designed with gorgeous art, artistic letters, and captivating layer of colours. Yup, Emma and Evan instantly mesmerized by them. Actually, he too was in the same state of mind.
In total, there were thirty titles, including classic titles like 'The Ice Queen', 'The World's Chronicle', 'The Accidental Hero', and other popular titles.
"The price ranged from three to four-hundred rune per book. However, to commemorate your first purchase in our store, any of this book is three-hundred rune"
"That's good bargain. Hmmm, I'll take them all"
"T-thank you for your purchases! I'll tell my staff to wrap each book properly and prepare the change"
"Much obliged. Emma, Evan, I'm going to put this on the second floor, you can read them anytime you came to visit"
""T-thank you brother Alf! We promise to take good care of them!""
Until now, Emma and Evan were reading the basic of potion. The two did not understand the content, but quite entertained because they could put their reading lesson to practice. With the books Alfraed just bought, he hoped it would develop their imagination and encourage them to dream big, the sky was the limit, no matter what anyone else might said.
"By the way, you do have a delivery service, don't you?"
"Yes, it's free of charge, do you want the books to be delivered to your address?"
"Yes, I want them to be delivered properly by that person, alone, without any helping equioment"
Alfraed decided to mess with the person who welcomed them with scorn a bit, and showed a mischievous grin.
"...I understand, it's a good opportunity for him to understand the saying 'don't judge books by its covers'. I'll tell him to prepare as it will be quite heavy"
Their journey in the book store ended when Alfraed gave them his address and received the change from his purchase.
Emma and Evan saw another side of Alfraed that they never knew, and, took note it was best not to make him angry.
Since lunch time had arrived, the three went to Alfraed's usual diner to order meals so that the three of them, as well as Elise and Lisa, could eat together in the store.
Another issue was already waiting patiently for Alfraed back in Herb & Lotion...