Chapter 7: White’s Bookstore

As a side note, regarding the currency of Shimriel, the unit is called the Kohr.

The smallest denomination is one Kohr, made from copper coins—one copper coin equals one Kohr.

Above that are silver coins made from the more valuable metal silver, each worth one hundred Kohr.

Higher still are gold coins made from the rare precious metal gold, each valued at ten thousand Kohr.

It’s worth noting that these currencies are not issued by the Pasara Empire but by the authoritative organization spread across the continent known as the Seven Days Church.

In the past, some nations tried to issue their own currency to seek huge profits, but their prestige couldn’t compare to the Seven Days Church, which had existed for countless years.

As a result, many people in those countries, even their own citizens, refused to accept those currencies, and before long, such currencies disappeared.

The most important reason for these countries’ failure was that the ancient Morra copper used to mint the most widely circulated copper coins was almost entirely controlled by the Seven Days Church.

This copper has a distinctive bluish-purple sheen under sunlight, making it very easy to identify and extremely difficult to counterfeit.

Without ancient Morra copper, but wanting to issue their own currency, almost every country had to resort to substitutes.

However, these substitutes failed to solve the rampant counterfeiting problem, leading to frequent economic collapses, and eventually, those countries had no choice but to abandon issuing their own currency.

Ding-ling~!

The wind chime at the door jingled.

In the dim corner of the bookstore, the owner, an old man known as Old White, who was dozing off on the counter, turned his head toward the entrance.

Upon seeing it was a little girl, he instantly lost interest.

“Hey, kid, this isn’t a place to play hide and seek. If you want to play, go outside!”

Hurim looked around the bookstore with curiosity.

The entire shop was located on a shadowy street corner where sunlight barely reached.

Inside, only a single old desk lamp flickered with unstable magical power, giving off a faint, almost meaningless glow.

Such a gloomy environment was hard to imagine in a place meant to expand one’s knowledge and insight.

Hearing Old White’s voice, Hurim looked up at the counter.

“I’m not here to play. I want to buy a book.”

“Buy a book?”

Old White was momentarily stunned before taking a closer look at Hurim.

“Oh, you’re from the Hayeral family?”

Judging by her clothes and appearance, Old White roughly guessed she was from the Hayeral household, though he couldn’t identify exactly who she was.

“That’s right. I’m Hurim. Hurim Hayeral.”

“Hurim, yes, that’s right—the youngest of the Hayeral family is named that.”

Old White confirmed her identity at last.

Immediately, he stood up from behind the counter.

His wrinkled face brightened into an enthusiastic smile, which ironically made the wrinkles even more prominent.

“What kind of book do you want? A storybook? You’ve come to the right place! Although my bookstore is small, I have all kinds of books. I dare say even some noble families’ collections can’t match mine. Oh, sorry, I forgot your family is noble too…”

Hurim ignored his enthusiastic but rude remarks and spoke directly, “I want to buy a magic book that can teach me magic.”

Old White’s voice faltered, then his eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement.

“A magic book? Y-yes! Of course, I have those!”

He started rubbing his hands excitedly, feeling lucky that although it was only the afternoon when he opened shop, this first transaction was a big one.

“Miss Hayeral, please follow me!”

Hurim followed him.

Old White led her to a locked bookshelf deep inside the store, unlocked it, and revealed a whole row of magic books displayed neatly.

Seeing the shelves full of magic books, Hurim’s eyes immediately lit up.

Hurim’s expression made Old White even happier.

He rubbed his hands and excitedly introduced, “What kind of magic book are you looking for? We have every elemental type here! I recommend this series. It not only contains some second-tier magic but also covers a lot of knowledge about magic circles.”

Old White pointed to the bookshelf in front of them.

“Really? Magic circle knowledge too?!”

Hurim was moved at once and wanted to buy it immediately.

“Of course! Though this shop is small, its reputation in Ment Town is well known. There’s no way there would be…”

Old White patted his chest, guaranteeing.

“You only need to pay two gold coins, that is twenty thousand Kohr, to take any one elemental magic book from this series!”

“Two gold coins…” Hurim’s smile slightly tightened.

She silently weighed her small pouch—twenty thousand Kohr minus one thousand nine hundred fifty-two Kohr… It seemed she was still a bit short.

“…Are there any other magic books?”

Hurim looked up and asked.

“Of course.”

Without hesitation, Old White kept walking forward.

“Don’t need books on magic circles right now? No problem. Then I recommend this one! Although this series doesn’t cover other knowledge, it includes magic from first to third tier for every elemental type. With these, learning third-tier magic won’t be a problem at all!”

Old White pointed to another shelf.

“First to third tier, all included?!”

Hurim was tempted again and wanted to buy it.

She also thought to herself, she was just about to start learning first-tier magic, so if she got these books, she could study for a long time.

“That’s right, all included! This series is so suitable for a noble household’s collection that it’s almost a must-have! And it’s only five gold coins per book!”

Old White spoke loudly.

Hurim’s smile tightened once more as she again weighed her pouch.

This one seemed to be short as well… “Anything else?”

At Hurim’s question, Old White raised his brows.

“Oh? Not satisfied? Looks like I need to bring out the heavy hitters.”

“Hmph, since you say that, I’ll have to bring out the real deal!”

Saying that, Old White went to the last bookshelf and solemnly took out a box.

Hurim watched curiously.

Old White returned with the box, carefully opened it, revealing a gorgeous magic book with a glowing fiery red cover.

“What’s this?”

Hurim asked, puzzled.

“This,” Old White answered solemnly, “is a fourth-tier magic book.”

“What!? Fourth-tier magic!”

Hurim was shocked.

She was no longer a beginner from a few days ago, so she knew very well that although the difference between third and fourth tier was just one level, they were worlds apart because fourth-tier magic was advanced magic.

“A fourth-tier magic book, really? Amazing! You actually have such a powerful magic book!”

Meeting Hurim’s sparkling gaze, Old White felt a bit embarrassed.

“Um, well… although this is indeed a fourth-tier magic book, it has a bit of a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Uh… how to say this… This book records a fourth-tier fire-element self-detonation magic…”

“…”

Hurim’s eyes lost their light.

“—Isn’t that basically a useless book?”

“No, no, no, how could it be useless!”

Old White strongly objected, “Although it’s… that kind of magic, you can’t deny it’s definitely fourth-tier magic!”

“Oh, I see… Are there other magic books?”

Hurim had already lost interest.

Seeing the rare big spender about to slip away, Old White steeled himself and said, “Alright! If you’re willing to buy this book, I’ll sell it to you at a super low loss price! How about that?”

“Sell it cheaply?”

This caught Hurim’s attention.

She silently weighed her pouch again—if it’s cheap, maybe she could buy it… “A normal fourth-tier magic book would cost at least dozens to hundreds of gold coins, but this one I only want ten gold coins for! How’s that for cheap?”

Cheap…?

Hurim froze.

After a long moment, “Are there any other magic books?”

Looking into Hurim’s eyes, Old White sighed regretfully.

Catching a big spender isn’t that easy, huh?

“Of course, there are other magic books, but what exactly does your family want to buy? I can look for it for you directly.”

“Hm? It’s not my father or mother who wants to buy the magic book,” Hurim shook her head, “it’s me.”

“What?”

Old White’s eyes widened, staring fixedly at Hurim, then asked uncertainly, “Are you sure it’s you, not your father?”

“Yes, I’m the one buying. What’s the problem?”

“Problem…” Big problem!

Old White exhaled heavily, trying to soften his tone, “Did you bring money?”

“Of course I did!” Hurim took out her small pouch and showed it to Old White.

The clinking of copper and silver coins echoed clearly.

Old White’s eyes brightened, beaming happily as he took the pouch.

“Good, you brought money!”

However, when he opened the pouch, his smile instantly froze.

“…Is this all the money you brought?”

“Mm-hmm!”

Hurim nodded confidently.

“You want to buy my magic books with this little money?”

“Mm-hmm!” Hurim nodded again.

The wrinkles on Old White’s forehead twitched continuously as he took a deep breath.

*Click!*

Then he forcefully shut the box containing the self-detonation magic book.

*Thud, thud, thud!*

He hurried back to the last bookshelf, his footsteps pounding heavily on the wooden floor as if about to break it.

After putting the box back in place, he walked to a cluttered corner.

After some noisy clattering, Old White returned with a worn, yellowed old book, expression cold and indifferent.

“This is the magic book you can afford.”

Saying this, he reached into Hurim’s pouch and quickly picked out nineteen silver coins.

“That’s nineteen silver coins in total! Your money’s only enough to buy this.”

“Wait, this book…”

Hurim looked at the battered old book in her hand, so far from the exquisitely packaged magic books, and couldn’t help but protest.

“Enough, kid, this isn’t a free consultation service. Any questions, go ask your parents! And—”

“Take your candy money and leave my bookstore!”

“…”

*Bang!*

The door slammed shut behind her.

Hurim was driven out.

She glanced resentfully back at the bookstore, then looked down at the magic book in her hand—*Seven Element Basic Magic Explained*, with even the cover’s text partially faded.

Well, although the process was unpleasant, Hurim had finally obtained what she most wanted for now.