Vivian was sitting on her bed and staring blankly at the floor.
A million things were running around inside her head, jumping from one topic to another.
Knock.
Knock.
"Your fresh damp cloth and a bucket of hot water is here," said a female voice behind the door.
Vivian snapped out of her trance and got up to answer the door.
Ka-cha.
When she opened the door, there was a bucket of water with a white cloth hanging on its side at the entrance of the door. She also saw a woman with red hair dressed in civilian clothing climbing down the stairs.
Vivian picked up the bucket and placed it on the side inside her room before grabbing her satchel and stepping outside of her room. She then locked the door as she closed it behind her and headed for the stairs.
***
"Hi, can I ask for directions?" Vivian asked.
The black woman sitting behind the counter from earlier turned around and looked at her.
"Directions?"
"Yes. Is there a store nearby where I can buy soap and shampoo?"
A confused expression appeared on the woman's face. "Shampoo? What's that?"
This time around, it was Vivian who had a confused expression on her face.
"Um... Something like a soap to wash your hair with?
"I see. Never heard of it. But if it's soap, there's an apothecary's shop right across the street."
"Thank you," Vivian said and then left.
***
When Vivian stepped outside the tavern, the sky was already getting dark and she could see people lighting the lamps.
She looked around for what looked like a pharmacist's shop.
I can't tell…
When the woman told her about the pharmacist shop, in Vivian's mind, it would look like a shop where it showcases a lot of medicine on their window and their buildings are usually painted white.
At least that's what they looked like in her original world.
But here, she couldn't tell. On top of that, she couldn't read the words.
Vivian looked around to ask for directions and noticed an old couple preparing to close their shop so she immediately rushed towards them.
"Hi, excuse me."
The old couple was startled and then quickly looked at her.
"W-What do you want?!" said the old man.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm looking for an apothecary shop. I was told that there was one around here."
"That third shop over there," the old man said and pointed.
"Thank you," Vivian said before heading to the pharmacist's shop.
She could hear the old couple talking about her but she ignored it.
Motherfucker…
I didn't expect that the shops here closes at night…!
Vivian finally arrived in front of the apothecary shop and immediately entered.
A small bell chimed as entered and she was immediately surprised.
If no one told Vivian this was the apothecary shop, she never would've guessed it. In her eyes, the place looks like it sells spices, vegetables, seeds and other questionable plants -- basically, it looked like a vegan's shop but managed by a witch doctor because she could see some large jars with grotesque-looking plants floating inside them with different colors of liquid.
A man in his 30s with an elegant mustache was arranging some bottles on the shelves stopped and turned to Vivian.
"Good evening. I'm very sorry, but we're already preparing to close."
"Please, I just want to buy soap. Do you have soap here?"
A boy in his late teens carrying a large box suddenly appeared from the corner.
"Master, should I put this in the storage room as well?"
The man turned to the boy.
"Put it in the corner near the stock of Sunkiss leaves."
"Yes, master," the boy said and then disappeared to the corner.
The man returned his gaze to Vivian.
"Soap, right?"
"Yes."
"What scent?"
Scent...?
Back in Vivian's original world, when buying soap, as a man, it wasn't that she didn't care about the scent. She simply chooses soap based on brands and how it makes her skin feel or look. After all, there were deodorants, perfumes and lotions.
"Any scent."
The man turned around and began searching among the bottles on the shelves.
He picked one. It was a small vial about 5 inches long and 1 and a half fingers thick with a pink-colored liquid inside.
"This one is one of our best-sellers. It has the scent of a rose but isn't too strong, just the right amount."
'"How much is it?"
"5 silver coins."
Vivian's face fell.
After renting a room from the tavern and availing the fresh damp cloth and bucket of hot water service, her remaining money was only 2 silver and 5 copper coins.
She still needed shampoo -- if there was one.
She still needed a toothbrush and toothpaste -- again, if there was one.
She still needed to eat.
And she also needed clothes because her clothes were dirty and she didn't have any extra.
"Is there anything cheaper? I mean, what's your cheapest soap?"
"My cheapest? It's 3 silver coins."
"I see. Do you have a toothbrush and toothpaste?"
"Toothbrush and toothpaste?" the man asked and a confused expression appeared on his face.
"Um... Something like a teeth cleaner."
"Oh yes, I have one. How many do you need?"
"How much is it?"
"1 copper coin."
"One please," Vivian said and took out her coin pouch.
"Okay," the man said and grabbed a thin green wooden stick that was as thick as an infant's finger from one of the shelves.
As Vivian was about to give her coin, the man gave her two items: the thin green wooden stick and the liquid soap.
"I don't need the soap, just the stick."
The man flashed a warm smile at her.
"It's fine. Many of my suppliers and customers are adventurers and they've helped my shop grow. And plus, I've never seen you before and you're a Copper Rank so I'm guessing you're new around here. So please accept this as a token of my appreciation for your profession."
"Um... I-I see. Thanks…"
Vivian looked at the green wooden stick on her hand.
This is a toothbrush…?
There was no brush. It was simply a stick or thin branch and the color was green.
"Um… Can I ask how to use this properly? I keep hurting my gums whenever I use it."
"First, you bite the tip off, make sure that it's even and then you rub it against your teeth gently."
"I see, thanks," Vivian said and then left the shop.
Outside the shop, Vivian found herself under the night sky and the city lamps lit.
I want to buy clothes...
But aside from it's probably close already, I don't even know if I'll even have enough money for food…
And plus, although I plan to take a quest tomorrow to earn money, it's not a 100% guarantee I will be able to earn money…
Vivian decided to head back to the tavern.