That morning, the streets of the shopping district in the capital city of Burgovin were bustling with life. After their massive success in defeating the Metal Monk and receiving a fantastic payment, Keyzier walked with a much lighter step. The coin pouch at his waist jingled with every stride, a very melodious sound for former poor adventurers like them.
However, Keyzier had a new problem. He was tired. Tired of carrying goods, tired of dragging monsters, and also tired of seeing Donovan feeling exhausted when carrying large monsters. It was this feeling that made Keyzier really want something that could facilitate their mobility when carrying out missions or hunting monsters.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up when he saw a shop with a sign reading "Magic Emporium."
He pulled Donovan's sleeve enthusiastically.
"Novan, I want a magic bag!" he exclaimed suddenly.
Donovan stopped walking, staring at his best friend with a confused frown. As a village boy who had spent his entire life practicing swordsmanship at the foot of a mountain, urban magical terms still sounded foreign to him.
"What exactly is a magic bag?" asked Donovan, knowing nothing.
Keyzier tapped his forehead dramatically, as if Donovan's ignorance were a grave sin. He really didn't expect that his childhood friend knew nothing about life in the village.
"Why is your knowledge so lacking, Novan? Did you only focus on your sword without seeking general knowledge while you were still in the village?"
Donovan shrugged, not offended. "Of course not! You know yourself that in our village we only use gunny sacks or rattan baskets. No one uses magic bags there!"
Keyzier sighed deeply, unable to deny his childhood friend's words. Then, he began to explain like a professor, complete with exaggerated hand gestures.
"Listen, a magic bag is a portable bag enchanted with spatial magic. It's a bag that can carry heavy and large items as if you're carrying nothing! We could put a whole monster carcass inside, and the bag would remain as light as a feather. And the best part is, when carrying food, it doesn't rot or spoil because time stops inside!"
Donovan's eyes widened. The memory of dragging the Metal Monk carcass with great difficulty yesterday flashed through his mind. If they had that bag, their lives would be much easier.
"Oh... is that so? How practical!" mumbled Donovan in awe.
"Yep! It's every adventurer's dream." added Keyzier.
Donovan started to get interested. However, his instincts for caution and frugality immediately kicked in. He looked at the luxurious shop in front of them warily.
"So, how much is the bag?" asked Donovan.
Keyzier pointed to a merchant's carriage nearby. "The one that can hold contents the size of that merchant carriage costs 60,000 Zol. While the one that can store as much as that house over there," Keyzier pointed to a two-story building across the street, "costs 110,000 Zol."
Donovan's jaw dropped. He almost choked on his own spit.
"That's incredibly expensive!!" he shouted. "That's almost all the money we have!"
"Because the bag is very practical, that's why the price is very expensive! It's an investment, Novan!" explained Keyzier, trying to seduce his best friend. "Imagine we don't need to go back and forth to the guild to deposit goods."
Donovan fell silent, weighing his options. Keyzier saw the crack of doubt and immediately struck.
"Let's buy it!"
"What about the money?" asked Keyzier teasingly, even though he knew the answer.
Donovan sighed deeply, surrendering to the logic of practicality. "Use the money we got from the Metal Monk earlier! We got around 120,000 Zol, right? There's still a little left for food."
"Van, are you sure?" asked Keyzier to confirm his friend's words, his eyes twinkling slyly.
Donovan nodded firmly. "Yes, I'm very sure so that we can carry our hunting results more easily! Even a hardworking donkey needs good equipment."
"Okay, in that case, let's go to that shop!" invited Keyzier, excitedly.
They stepped into the shop with full confidence. The scent of incense and old paper welcomed them. However, hope remained just hope. After asking the shop assistant, their faces turned sour.
It turned out that the medium and small-type magic bags were out of stock because they had been bought up by a large party going on a distant expedition.
When they arrived at the magic equipment shop, they looked for a magic bag, but the only ones sold in the shop at that moment were premium quality magic bags costing up to 500,000 Zol.
Their money was clearly not enough to buy that magic bag. They were just two village boys who had just held a lot of money, not nobles. Finally, they decided to leave the shop with heavy steps.
They stood on the side of the road with dejected faces. The dream of a practical life had just been shattered.
"What do we do, Novan? Where else should we look?" complained Keyzier.
Donovan scratched his head, which didn't itch. "I don't know. I just arrived here, so surely I know nothing! Maybe we should just use sacks again?"
While they were confused, a heavy voice greeted them from the side.
"Are you looking for a magic bag?" asked a man who appeared to be a merchant.
The man was dressed neatly in a maroon velvet robe. Gemstone rings adorned his fingers, and he had a friendly but calculating smile.
"Yes, that's right, we are looking for a magic bag!" answered Keyzier reflexively.
They were shocked after answering the person who had just asked them. They realized they had been talking to a suspicious stranger.
"W-Who are you?" asked Donovan warily.
The man bowed slightly, in a gentlemanly style. "I am Rommy. Are you adventurers?"
Keyzier nodded. "Yes, we are adventurers. My name is Keyzier and this is my friend, his name is Donovan!"
"Nice to meet you!" said Donovan, introducing himself politely, though his hand remained ready near his sword.
Even though they had already introduced themselves to each other, the atmosphere felt a little tense after the arrival of an old man named Rommy.