The Verdant Merchant

Talia spock "Two low-grade mana stones for three? Rowen… You're underselling yourself. Potions with this kind of effect fetch far more."

Rowen only inclined his head slightly. "It's enough."

Alric cleared his throat, his earlier smugness gone. "Hmph. Seems… we may have been too quick to judge." His words were stiff, like each one cost him effort.

Cedric's expression was tight. "Your… claims hold up. I shouldn't have spoken so carelessly." He glanced at Rowen, then away again, unwilling to meet his eyes for long.

For a moment, both men looked out of place, teachers from a prestigious academy, forced to acknowledge that a shopkeeper boy from a border town had made them look foolish.

Rowen only inclined his head slightly, as calm as ever, offering no satisfaction or mockery in return.

Alric exhaled through his nose, then reached into his coat. A small pouch of stones clinked as he set it heavily on the counter. "We'll take some, then. Pack up plenty of tomatoes and potatoes as well." He counted them out with deliberate care, the faint blue glow of ten low-grade mana stones lighting the wood.

Cedric followed suit with a curt nod, clearly not wanting to speak further.

Marn, still marveling at the clarity running through his mind, placed ten low-grade mana stones beside theirs. "I'll stock up too. A chance like this doesn't come often."

Finally, Talia stepped forward. She gave Rowen a small, knowing smile before adding four low-grade stones of her own to the growing pile. "I will take some for myself."

Rowen counted the mana stones carefully, then packed the tomatoes and potatoes into cloth sacks. He handed them over one by one.

Alric and Cedric each accepted their share without another word. Neither of them bothered to carry the bundles; both simply raised their hands, and faint glimmers of light flickered as their storage rings absorbed the goods in an instant. They turned and left soon after. They don't want to linger in this shop for another moment for now.

Talia and Marn also drew out their storage rings, slipping their share inside with a faint shimmer of light. Watching the effortless way they used the artifacts, Rowen couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

Talia and Marn, however, weren't in the same hurry.

Rowen then looked at the remaining few tomatoes and potatoes on the wooden shelf. After some thoughts, they packed them.

then pushed them across the counter toward Marn.

"Take these," Rowen said. "There's no point keeping so little. They'll only spoil."

Marn shook his head, reaching for his pouch. "I'll pay. I don't take handouts."

Rowen's expression softened. "I won't take your stones. Consider it repayment for the times you helped me when I was still in your class."

Marn studied him, then slowly nodded. He pressed his ring against the bundle, and the bundle vanished into storage in a faint shimmer of light.

Rowen's eyes lingered on the rings each teacher wore. So casual, so convenient.

After that moment.

Marn spoke first, his tone steady but carrying weight. "Rowen, do you realize what these vegetables of yours have done? Because of the tomatoes and potatoes you're selling, the poorer students at our border town school are earning more during hunts and studies. Their focus and stamina have noticeably improved. That's why we came here to investigate the results ourselves."

He paused, then added with a faint smile. "This year, thanks to that, our border town school might actually rank higher in the annual examination conducted by the federal government. If so, more of our students will have a real chance at entering good universities."

Talia nodded in agreement. "You may not see it, Rowen, but you've given many of them an opportunity they wouldn't have had otherwise. For that, you have our gratitude."

Rowen only shrugged lightly. "I'm just running my shop, that's all."

The two teachers exchanged a look but didn't press further. After a moment, Marn inclined his head, and Talia gave Rowen one last approving smile before they both took their leave.

Once the shop was quiet again, Rowen sat back down behind the counter and counted the total low-grade mana stones in front of him. Sixty-five low-grade mana stones in total. For a single day's sales, he had earned around 40 low-grade mana stones; it was more than he ever imagined possible.

Before much time had passed, there was a satisfied nod before the doorbell rang once more.

The door opened, and a group of students entered, chattering among themselves as they made their way to the counter, ready to buy the next batch for their next hunt.

The students stepped up eagerly, their eyes bright with expectation. But Rowen glanced at the wooden shelf behind him, bare, every last tomato and potato already gone.

He checked the clock on the wall. The hands pointed just past five. Outside, the border town's streets were already beginning to quiet, shops pulling shutters down as the day wound to a close.

Rowen looked back at the students and shook his head. "I'm sold out. Come by tomorrow morning if you want some."

Their shoulders slumped with disappointment, but after a few murmurs among themselves, they nodded and filed out.

When the door shut behind them, Rowen finally let out a slow breath. The fatigue of the long day pressed down on him all at once. He reached for the wooden sign hanging by the door, flipping it to "Closed."

After shutting the shop, Rowen didn't head upstairs right away. Instead, he walked out the back door into the small yard behind the building.

The cool evening air carried the faint scent of soil and greenery. Near the wall, the Shade lay curled in her usual spot, silent and still. Her breathing was steady, almost like she was in a deep sleep. Rowen paused, watching her for a moment. He decided not to disturb her.

His gaze shifted to the patch of ground where he had sown the new seeds tomatoes and potatoes, carefully planted after the last harvest, each one carrying the subtle strength granted by his space. This seed was unique from what he purchased from the shop.