The Mercenary Guild Hall in Stan City was a striking edifice, its grandeur evident even against the backdrop of the city's government buildings. Designed to mirror the renowned Mercenary General Union , its architecture had once been the pride of the town. However, recent revelations suggested that its design closely resembled a less celebrated building nearby, diminishing its reputation among the locals.
Despite this, the Mercenary Guild Hall held a significant place in the heart of Stan City, serving as a central hub for mercenaries across the continent of Aegandas. Here, warriors, priests, and mages reported in regularly to accept and complete missions, with the guild's operations contributing a substantial portion of the city's tax revenue.
As the early morning sun filtered through the hall's grand windows, a fourth-order swordsman named Damon perused the task board. His brow furrowed in concentration as he struggled with the terminology. Yet, the words "dark forest" stood out, and he felt a familiar dread. After twenty years of mercenary work, he understood all too well what those words entailed.
"Hunt a second-order Lesunx cat in the dark forest and return with the fur, flesh, and blood intact…" he read aloud, his voice laced with concern.
The dark forest was infamous—a sprawling wilderness teeming with dangers that even seasoned mercenaries feared. Lesunx cats, known for their cunning and aggression, were particularly troublesome prey.
"I can't fathom why a magician needs to study these creatures," Damon muttered, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. "If I'm going into that forest, I'd better gear up. I need some magic scrolls for self-defense and a solid set of armor."
Just then, a scruffy little boy approached him, clutching a stack of colorful leaflets. Damon felt a flicker of annoyance at the interruption, but curiosity got the better of him.
"What do you want, kid?" he asked, taking one of the leaflets from the boy's outstretched hand.
The flyer was unlike anything he had seen before.
"Mr. Mercenary, are you ready to save your life while saving money?" it proclaimed in bold, fancy lettering. "Take advantage of our incredible offer at Anthony's Magic Store! Low-end magic scrolls for just forty-eight copper coins! Fire, lightning, water, levitation, and wind scrolls—each for an unbeatable price! Plus, buy ten and get one free!"
Damon couldn't help but chuckle at the enthusiastic pitch. While he usually purchased scrolls from Morgan's Magic Store, the price difference was hard to ignore. "Forty-eight copper coins, huh? That beats fifty anywhere else. I can't let this opportunity slip by."
Feeling invigorated, Damon glanced at the boy, who beamed with pride after delivering the flyer. He tossed a copper coin to the child, who caught it carefully as Damon made his way toward Anthony's magic shop.
Nearby, the boy—James—gazed at the coin in wonder, his heart racing with excitement. He quickly grabbed another stack of leaflets and approached the next mercenary he spotted.
Meanwhile, similar scenes unfolded throughout Stan City. Around the Mercenaries Guild, the Swordsmen Guild, and bustling marketplaces, eager children distributed the flyers, each one aiming to entice adventurers with promises of unbeatable discounts. The captivating language on the leaflets inspired many to head toward Anthony's shop in search of bargains.
Not long before, Martin had been pondering how to boost the sales of his magic shop. After witnessing Debbie's frustration over her recent purchases of seemingly useless magical tomes, he was struck by an idea: why not employ flyers to promote his business? It was a simple concept, but no one in their world had attempted such a marketing strategy before.
Given that magic scrolls were some of the most coveted items in his store, Martin decided to create an engaging flyer highlighting their value. He printed hundreds of copies and enlisted children like James to distribute them in exchange for a copper coin each.
The results were immediate and exciting. As word spread, customers flocked to Anthony's Magic Store, eager to take advantage of the discounts.
Around noon, the sound of the shop's doorbell jingled, announcing Debbie's arrival. Her face lit up as she entered and spotted Martin, who was deeply engrossed in a book titled "Intermediate Magic Language."
"Martin! You won't believe it! The business is booming! People are coming in left and right!" she exclaimed, her energy contagious.
"That's great to hear!" Martin replied, glancing up from his reading. "I think we're onto something here."
Debbie's smile faltered as she noticed the book in his hands. "But, Martin, Dad always says you need a teacher to learn intermediate or high-level magic. You're still a second-order magician. Why rush it? Let's focus on making some real money first."
"It's just a bit of reading," Martin insisted, brushing off her concerns. "I'm curious about it."
Debbie shook her head, but before she could respond, the door jingled again—this time signaling a customer. "I'll be right back!" she called, rushing to serve the new arrival.
Martin returned to the pages of his book, but the words began to blur before his eyes. "This is harder than I thought…" he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
He knew he had to balance his ambitions with the realities of his current skill level. But with the surge of customers and the thrill of new ideas, he felt a spark of hope for the future of Anthony's Magic Shop.