*ring*
"Welcome, ~!"
As the bell above the door announced the arrival of the customer, a violet-haired man who looked as if he hadn't slept a day in his life sprung up from under the massive counter and cheered out, smiling from behind the grid of sturdy bars.
"Hello, mister."
"Oh? If it isn't my favorite customer and patron, the young master of the lower district~! What can I help you with today?"
A black-haired boy hurriedly closed the door as if he was cautious about being followed or chased, which picked up the pawnshop owner's interest – although that was primarily because of the sachel the boy was sporting.
"Mister, I will have to disappear from Daakvillan for a while. Do you have a pellet casket that binds with the owner and is bigger than this one?"
Medea went right to business and leaned against the counter while taking out a metallic box the size of two matchboxes stacked on top of each other and shook to get the violet-haired man's attention.
"Hmm? It sound's like you trusted the wrong person, young master... Hmmm... let me check. I should have something fitting."
The pawnshop owner furrowed his brows and looked almost worried for a moment before smiling dismissively and walking off toward the rows of shelves behind him.
"Actually, I am not sure. But even so, I am not going to hang around to confirm it."
The black-haired boy looked to the side and grumbled.
"Oh? It sounds like you wouldn't mind being able to trust them~ Luckily, you also seem to be smart~"
"Well, in case I messed up, I would like to learn about it from a safe distance."
The violet-haired man nodded with approval while picking up a key from a keychain so big it should be a keybelt, while the boy sighed more to himself than to be informative.
"True, you can't learn from your mistakes if you are dead, after all, ~"
The man snickered with a hip-flask-sized metallic box.
"This beauty can fit four times the pill your old one did – if you trade in your old one, I can lower its price to eight big silver coins."
The man offered, showing off the pellet casket from behind bars.
"Too much. Give me a better offer."
The boy scoffed, shaking his head.
"Young master – I am lowering the price. Originally it is supposed to be a small gold coin."
The pawnshop owner rolled his eyes while shaking his head.
"Because I appreciate your continuous support, the price of this one is nine big silver coins and three small silver coins with no trade-in, or eight big silver coins and your old pellet casket."
The pawnshop owner leaned back and offered, making the expression as if he thought of himself as an icon of generosity.
"No trade-in and five big silver coins."
The boy scoffed and smirked at the violet-haired man.
"Young master! I take back what I said before – you aren't smart. You straight up lost your mind! This is a binding item! Once it is yours, only death will do you part - or you give it away willingly! Tsk. If you don't want to trade-in your old one, then I guess I can sell this one for nine big silver coins and two small silver ones."
The violet-haired man gasped, acting all offended but going along with the haggle.
"I'll take it for five big silver, two small silver, and I even throw in a big copper one just for you."
"Young master... I am the one selling, don't use the seller's tone on me! Nine big silvers!"
Medea shrugged his shoulders and leaned back frivolously, seemingly angering the pawnshop owner but still somehow shaving off the price successfully.
"You're the person I learned the art of haggling from, so if you have complaints, say it in the mirror, mister! Six big silvers."
The black-haired boy wasn't bothered and continued the trade.
"Young master Medea! You have enough money in your account! You said that you are leaving the city for a while, don't be difficult and just spend it! Eight big silvers, four small silvers, and nine big coppers."
The violet-haired man put his hands on his hips and declared with authority.
"You dropped the price for one big copper and acting as if you are cutting me a deal?! You are trying to bleed me out of all of my hard-earned money!"
"Pfft! You are the person who tries to ruin my business! Do you want to take away my livelihood?!"
The black-haired boy scowled and leaned towards the bars with the annoyed violet-haired man mirroring his actions.
"Who's ruining what? I know you do business with some lower nobles from time to time – you probably bought it off of one of them for like a big silver or two because they were desperate and would not be able to afford the miraculous tonic otherwise!"
"..."
The boy pointed out, making the pawnshop owner go silent.
"Hmph. So you are smart, after all. Seven big silvers. And I guess you want to buy more magic pellets too?"
The violet-haired man let out a tired sigh and waved his hand dismissively before asking as if the pellet casket's purchase was a done deal already.
"Oh, nice. So it will be five big silvers when I trade in my old pellet casket?"
"...you little shit...!"
Medea straightened his back and nodded his head before emptying his old pellet box into his pocket and putting it on the counter, making the pawnshop owner hiss in disbelief.
"Hold on with the anger. I have more things I want to trade in."
"..."
The black-haired boy grinned and shrugged his shoulder, making the content of his sachel jiggle, to which the violet-haired man crossed his arms and waited with a sour expression.
Treating his silence as permission, Medea took out six bottles full of translucent white liquid and lined them up beside the small pellet casket.
"Ohoo~?"
The violet-haired man's eyes lighted up the moment he saw the medicine.
He instantly opened the small hatch and grabbed one of them, and carefully inspected it in front of his tired eyes.
"It's a real deal... The miraculous tonic that I've heard do much about!"
"How do four small silvers for each one sound?"
The man marveled, and Medea threw in a high offer.
"Did you know? Even after taking the tonic, the possibility of contracting the Foul Reaper again still exists, and another dose would be needed - and so on and so on. It's best to gain immunity to it by diluting the medicine so instead of getting rid of the illness altogether. It will only aid the body with defeating, gaining a resistance."
The violet man said casually, acting as if he didn't hear the black-haired boy's offer.
"..."
Medea tensed up for a moment before looking down with concern.
"...are you telling the truth...?"
He asked with a serious expression.
"You know that I know a lot of things, young master Medea."
The violet-haired man shrugged his shoulders lightly without even glancing at the black-haired boy because his eyes were glued to the bottle he was still holding in front of his face.
"..."
Medea bit his lips deep in thought, then he ended up reaching out his hand and...