This town was not here before the changes occurred. It is a new town built in a location that became more livable after the terrain had shifted.
The mana here is neither too thick nor too thin. Just the right amount of mana lingers, ensuring that it doesn’t have a drastic impact on people or objects.
The buildings in the center of town are mostly four stories high. Apparently, the mana accumulates up to about that height, seemingly flowing from somewhere unknown.
If the mana is too thin, magical devices malfunction, so rent is higher on the lower floors. In some cases, the second floor, where fewer people are around, is more expensive, depending on the height of the mana accumulation.
However, the mana accumulation is not because of a basin-like terrain. It’s more like clouds lingering in the air, unrelated to the landform.
Most buildings in this town are made of stone.
There’s a rocky mountain nearby, and they cut stone from it to use as building material. The architectural styles are mixed—some buildings are like straightforward high-rises, some have a Japanese style, and others are more European. But since many of the buildings use the same stone and materials, the townscape feels unified and quite pleasant.
Most travel is done on foot, or by using monsters equipped with control devices known as “binders.” However, the town also has a tram system. Quite a few Enchantors work early in the morning, enchanting the rails to keep the trams running smoothly.
All in all, the town’s environment isn’t bad. If you’ve got money, life isn’t terrible—though, as my financial situation is unstable, I’ve settled in a cheap inn while frequenting a tool shop.
At first, I stayed in a bare-bones inn that offered the bare minimum of safety, but I quickly switched inns. Although I had to pay extra, I moved to a place where I could use a bath!
There are public baths, but going every time is a hassle. And well, communal baths have their own issues—this era has a lot of manual laborers, and men’s hygiene standards seem to have plummeted even further. Even as a fellow man, I sometimes find it a bit shocking.
Please, cut me some slack. It’s not that I’m a germaphobe—it’s just that I’m used to a different standard of living, waking up and sleeping surrounded by mana.
The tool shop buys materials and distributes them to Enchantors who can work with them. After learning the basics of enchantment, I’ve been consistently making Recovery Potions, which Arisa recommended.
I’ve been getting materials from them regularly, but apparently, it’s not that easy to establish such connections. Usually, you’d have to hire adventurers to gather materials for you.
Having a Holy Mark is convenient—just by looking at the materials, I can tell how to extract, infuse, and alter the mana. Of course, having more knowledge helps, and it’s always better to know what you’re capable of making.
In that sense, the tool shop that Conten-sensei introduced me to has been handling quality goods, and I’ve learned a lot from them. I’ve borrowed books for research, examined magical devices in inns and other accessible places, but most of my knowledge comes from this tool shop.
Once I had saved up some money, I quickly made a transformation magical device. It’s not for my own home yet, but I didn’t want to keep borrowing one forever.
I adjusted my appearance to resemble my original Japanese self—well, I made myself a bit more handsome. Just a little, I swear!
“You looked good before, but I understand—it must’ve been a hassle to live a normal life like that. You look good with this face too,” Arisa said to me.
The borrowed magical device made me look like an utterly average, nondescript person, but apparently, it didn’t work against Arisa’s appraisal glasses.
So, I made a high-performance transformation magical device that could nullify appraisals. It seems to have successfully fooled the appraisal glasses, thankfully. After all, I used some expensive materials for it!
I diligently make Recovery Potions, scout for potential homes on the map, and gather information about towns that seem like good places to live.
To earn money and collect information in town, I’m considering running a tool shop part-time. If I can find a house on the outskirts, where the mana is dense, I could make magical tools and laze around. Maybe even get a cat to laze around with me—a magical cat, perhaps? A Familiar? If it’s a familiar, I should capture one that can help with production, like harvesting medicinal herbs, or maybe help with cleaning, laundry, and preparing baths.
Time flew by as I prepared and fantasized.
“Hello.”
“Hello. Here to make a delivery?”
I lined up the Recovery Potions on the counter. They’re fantastical potions that heal wounds instantly.
They’re expensive, and they’re consumable. No wonder Arisa recommended them as a way to make money.
Recently, a minor monster outbreak occurred near town, and the Recovery Potions were bought in bulk by the town and the Adventurers’ Guild at a reduced price. Afterward, there was a shortage, and the prices shot up. Thanks to the high prices, I was able to save money faster than I expected.
“I’d like to ask—”
“Ah! Arisa, my beautiful one!”
Just as I was about to ask, a sparkling man with green curly hair came up from the stairs leading to the storeroom, smiling brightly.
“Madi, did you deliver?”
Arisa, as usual, kept her usual expression and tone.
“Of course, I’ve stocked the shelves as always,” Madi answered in his sweet voice.
Madi is a plant-based being—his hair is green. His skin, well, if I had to describe it, has a slight green tint as well. As you can guess from the term “delivery,” he’s an Enchantor.
It seems Conten-sensei picked him up as well and left him in this tool shop. He’s been constantly flirting with Arisa, but she doesn’t give him the time of day.
We’ve run into each other a few times at this tool shop, but every time, he completely ignores my existence.
