Alex couldn't help the grin permanently affixed to his face. Magic, real actual magic! Even if he didn't have it completely down right now, he had time to learn, to get better.
He just needs to get the Grimoires back on the shelf.
Yeah, Ubel was great for sure, but her tastes got rid of all the magical books he could learn from, leaving behind different types of poisons and small weapons here and there. It wasn't the best quality stuff, too low level for that, but it could still cause some serious harm.
"Ugh, I need another mage in here." Alex lamented into the counter as he held his head, knowing the likelihood of getting a mage so soon was incredibly unlikely-
*Ding*
With a slow look up, he almost couldn't believe his luck as the inventory of the store changed.
"Hmm, it looks just the same as when I left it." Frieren comments, looking at the closest Grimoire. "Though, you appear to have better control over your Mana."
He bolts up straight on the stool. "Yeah! I meant to ask you while you were here, but thankfully someone else came and helped me learn about magic."
"Oh? So, you haven't been using it for long then." She casually says, still looking through the books.
Alex looked at some of the Grimoires on the shelf, a bit of disappointment at the simplicity of some of them. Sure, he'll learn the clothes cleaning spell and other useful utility ones, but when will he need to turn a red apple into a green apple?
He needs something more... grandiose maybe? Something more...
'Fun.'
"Hey Frieren?" He calls out to her, head swirling with ideas. "Gotta question for ya if you don't mind."
"Oh? What is it?" She doesn't even turn my way, barely making a point to pretend to listen.
'Ok, play it cool. Explain first or after? ...hmm, after is fine.'
"Was curious to know if you could get Serie to drop on by the-" He cut off as Frieren just looked at him.
And stared.
No emotion, no facial expression, not even a noise of any sort. Just a look that stretched endlessly. Froze him in place as he now had time to officially actually think about what he just asked.
Serie. The most ridiculously overpowered elf herself, who has a complicated relationship with Frieren to say the least.
Serie, who's most notable thing about magic was how she didn't want humans to have it, wanted to hoard it for herself at best and keep it from everyone at any means necessary at worst.
And Alex had just asked Frieren to bring her here, for what? To buy Grimoires casually? Maybe level up his inventory a bit so he could get some slightly better items?
"S-sorry. Forget I asked." He quickly apologized, Frieren's stare still pinning him in place.
"...at least you seem to realize now what you asked for." She coldly stated, calmly shutting her book with a disturbingly loud thump. "Even if I could convince her to show up, if I wanted to see her, you realize that there'd be no benefit."
She wasn't questioning him, merely explaining how stupid an idea it truly was.
"Tell me, why did you even entertain such an idea when you clearly know exactly who she is?" Frieren asks, attention fully focused on him, blinking a thing of the past.
"Uh..."
'How to explain without sounding like an idiot...'
"When I told you I get better stuff through selling, I wasn't lying or trying to upcharge or anything." He started the explanation quietly. "Every sale I make goes to an overall goal, when I meet it, my inventory upgrades automatically. I don't know exactly what it'll go to, but higher-grade items, or at least more mystical ones are the next tier."
Silence...
"I suppose the requirements get more and more difficult over time?" She asks, less cold and more back to her usual calm state.
"Yeah, got an upgrade at my first sale, now I need to make 100,000 through selling or trades."
"Hmm, steep indeed." She pauses for a second, considering something. "How does it determine the value of a trade?"
"Honestly? Don't know. Haven't traded an item for another item yet." He easily admitted.
With a small hum, Frieren turned to leave the store. "I'll be back later."
With that, she left.
...
'Dammit, I'm an idiot.' Alex slammed his face on the counter, ignoring the pain. "I really asked her to grab Serie for me. What's wrong with me?"
Ugh.
Shaking his head a bit as he sits back up, he takes a deep breath. Nothing to it anymore after all, the request was asked and quickly both denied and taken back, which is all there is to it.
Whatever happens now, happens.
*Ding*
Another customer so soon?
"Welcome to the Multiversal Pawn Shop." He casually greeted with a wave.
The girl walked in with an almost excited look on her face, glancing around as the shelves changed to small vials of... dust? Some orange, some blue, purple, red, etc.
The black-haired girl seemed drawn to some of the new weapon accessories that appeared on the wall, only to dash over to the other side as she noticed different sweets. Particularly, cookies and strawberries.
Mainly strawberries.
"Hey, sir!" She almost appeared in front of him, her red cape draping nicely over her black shirt and skirt combo, going down to similar colored combat boots. There also seemed to be some sort of box like thing on her hip.
But he wasn't about to pry into anything.
"How can I help ya Ruby?" He casually greeted with a warm smile.
"Oooh, how'd you know my name, mister?" She asked, looking at him with wonder. "Was it a magic trick? Wait, I don't have my name on me, do I?" She frantically searched herself, stopping as he chuckled a bit.
"Nah, 'Mutiversal' means I know more than I should." He gave a half answer. "Anyway, what's up?"
"Right!" She brightened, softly slamming a strawberry on the counter. "How much for this? There's no price."
The conversion rate went through his head quickly. "How about 50 lien each?"
"REALLY!?" She turned into petals, dashing over and snatching as many of them off the wall as possible. She returned with several baskets full. "All of these please!"
He held out his hand to her as she put a card in it. It disappeared immediately.
"Magic~" She looked at him with stars in her eyes. "Can I learn to do that?"
"Ah, a different day maybe. You're not keeping friends waiting or anything, right?" He distracts her as she stiffened.
"Right! I'm shopping with Weiss. Thank you, mister!" She dashed out the door with her load of strawberries.
'Well, she's still happy at least.'
He really hoped things went better for her this time. If not, maybe he could at least help a little?