"Two hundred thousand?"
Rowan's eyes lit up.
He hadn't expected a bag enhanced with a modest Extension Charm, barely two square meters of internal space, to fetch that kind of price. In this world, two hundred thousand J was serious money. Most items in the shop didn't even break one hundred thousand, and anything above fifty thousand was already considered expensive.
With that amount, an ordinary person could live comfortably for years.
For a brief moment, Rowan entertained a reckless thought. If he wanted to, he could mass-produce bags like this without much effort. Hundreds a day, easily.
Then he dismissed it just as quickly.
Scarcity created value. Flood the market and the price would collapse. Worse, it would attract attention he didn't want. Money only needed to be sufficient. At this stage, staying quiet and studying magic mattered far more.
Still, he had to admit it. Some spells from the wizarding world were absurdly practical. One simple Extension Charm had effectively granted him financial security in this world.
"Two hundred thousand," Rowan said calmly, pulling the bag back toward himself. "Less than that, I'm not selling."
The shopkeeper didn't hesitate.
He bent down, retrieved a lockbox from beneath the counter, and began counting out thick stacks of notes with practiced speed.
"Deal. Two hundred thousand," the old man said cheerfully. "I've added an extra twelve thousand. Please count it."
Rowan accepted the money.
"You didn't even try to bargain," he said, feigning mild annoyance. Internally, he already knew he'd probably undersold it. But it didn't matter. That bag was something he could recreate whenever he wished.
Seeing the exchange completed, the shopkeeper quickly added, "If you buy anything else today, I'll give you twenty percent off."
"That's more like it."
Rowan left the bag on the counter and began browsing.
The shop wasn't large, but it was densely packed. Enchanted blades, armor, trinkets, spell tools, books, and stacks of magical journals filled every shelf.
He ignored the weapons outright. This body wasn't suited for them, and even in human form he preferred distance and control. Close combat was messy and unforgiving. He was a mage, not a brawler.
What interested him were books, journals, and magical tools.
The journals detailed guild activity across the kingdom, invaluable for understanding the broader magical landscape and, in particular, Fairy Tail. The books covered foundational magic theory, classifications, and historical development. Useful, even if basic.
Then one item caught his attention.
"Wind-Singer's Glasses," Rowan said, tapping the display card. "How much?"
According to the description, wearing the glasses allowed the user to process up to five pages per second while reading, dramatically accelerating learning speed.
That alone made them priceless.
Rowan needed to absorb an entirely new magical system from the ground up. If the glasses worked as advertised, they would multiply his efficiency several times over.
"You've got a sharp eye," the shopkeeper said, hurrying over with renewed enthusiasm. "One of the finest items in the store. Fifty thousand J. With your discount, forty thousand."
Rowan nodded once. "Add that, and the books and journals I picked out. Bundle everything."
No haggling.
Ten minutes later, a neatly wrapped package nearly half Rowan's height sat on the counter.
"Total comes to eighty thousand. After discount, sixty-four thousand. If you'd like, I also sell—"
"No need."
Rowan paid, cast a Levitation Charm on the bundle, and hooked it with his tail as he spread his wings and exited the shop.
On the street, passersby glanced at him with mild curiosity and kept walking. A flying, talking cat barely registered as unusual here.
He found a comfortable inn, paid for three days in advance, and settled in.
He could have slept outdoors without issue, but there was no reason to. He had money now. Comfort was affordable. Hot food, a proper bed, and quiet space beat survival living every time. His body might be feline, but his mind was still human.
Over the next few days, he planned to study this world's magic while learning more about Fairy Tail through journals and casual conversation. Joining a major guild wasn't something to rush. Understanding their culture and methods came first. If Fairy Tail turned out to be unsuitable, there were other powerful guilds to consider.
No need to cling to a single option.
That night, Rowan decided to test his new purchase.
Sitting on the bed, he slipped on the Wind-Singer's Glasses. The fit was awkward, but workable.
He opened a thick tome detailing the classification of magic in this world and fed a trace of mana into the glasses.
Small magic circles flickered to life.
As he read, the text flowed directly into his mind. Not memorized mechanically, but understood. Page after page followed, each absorbed effortlessly as long as his hands kept turning.
An hour later, he closed the book.
His head felt slightly light, a dull pressure behind the eyes. The shopkeeper's warning came back to him. Prolonged use caused mental fatigue.
Even so, the result was undeniable.
A book that would normally take days was finished in under an hour.
"That's worth it," Rowan muttered.
Even if he could only use the glasses once per day, the efficiency gain was staggering. The rest of the time could be spent practicing spells, refining control, and consolidating what he'd learned.
He removed the glasses and set them aside.
"When I've mastered enough magic," he thought, "this is the first item I'm reproducing."
With something like this back at Hogwarts, he could have read the entire library before graduation.
The thought made him smile.