Chapter 6: …Charm?

Wrapping my cloak tightly around me, I stood timidly in front of a rundown herb shop, eyeing the tattered sign before swallowing hard and mustering the courage to push the door open with my small hand.

“Welcome.”

A lifeless male voice greeted me, and I saw a middle-aged man behind the dim shop’s counter.

“H-Hello…”

I glanced at the gloomy man, swallowed again, and cautiously greeted him—naturally, with that cute voice.

“…What can I do for you, miss?”

The shopkeeper looked at me, pausing before speaking softly, his tone less dead than before.

…It’s a bit gross, but I guess acting cute… does work?

I thought to myself.

“Um… I’d like to see some herbs… and… could you gather the materials for a basic healing potion?”

“Of course, miss. How many sets do you need?”

“T-Two sets… the price… is two silver coins, right?”

“Yes, one set of herbs for a basic potion is one silver coin, so two sets are two silver coins.”

“Are there… other basic tools for making potions?”

I blinked, asking further.

“Yes, a set is three silver coins.”

“…”

I clenched my teeth, feeling a wave of frustration.

A set of potion-making tools costs three silver coins… one copper more than everything I have!

I can afford the two sets of herbs, but not the tools!

This is ridiculous!

“Um… I only have… two silver coins and nine coppers…”

I lowered my head slightly, speaking softly, “Uh… could I possibly buy on credit? I-I can make potions and pay you back tomorrow!”

“…Sure, that’s fine.”

I waited nervously for his reply, but to my surprise, the shopkeeper agreed without hesitation.

“??? That was too easy?”

His quick response stunned me—I’d expected a flat rejection. Who lets a stranger buy on credit, especially in a rough place like this? But he agreed so readily.

I thought it seemed fishy. Maybe he’s like that landlord, with ulterior motives.

I looked up at the shopkeeper and noticed something off.

He was staring at me, eyes glazed and dazed.

“???”

Seeing this, I made a quick judgment—did I just… charm him?

I blinked, then caught sight of a mirror beside him.

My reddish-orange eyes had turned pale purple, and even I felt a captivating allure, almost lost in my own beauty.

“!!!”

Thankfully, my willpower was strong. I snapped out of it, breaking free from my own charm.

“I’ll get your items, miss. Please wait.”

As I came to, the shopkeeper, still under my charm, respectfully turned to fetch the goods, leaving me with twitching lips.

What the h*ll? I have a charm ability…

I smacked my lips, muttering.

While this charm solved my money problem, I was still a man before… Using this ability unconsciously feels so awkward.

Worst of all, I almost charmed myself… How embarrassing.

I hugged the backpack with my two egg babies, feeling a bit glum.

While I stood there, puzzled, the shopkeeper soon returned with two sets of herbs and a set of basic potion-making tools.

“Two silver coins total. The tools are on credit.”

“Thank you. I’m Su Mengmeng… I’ll come back tomorrow to pay.”

I nodded, grabbing the two packs of herbs and the tools, stuffing them into my bag.

Then, a thought struck me. Looking at the still-charmed shopkeeper, I asked, “Oh, by the way… can I sell my potions here?”

“Of course.”

“What’s the buying price for a basic healing potion?”

“Three silver coins, but inferior ones are only two.”

“…Got it.”

I blinked, exhaling.

“Thank you, sir. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

I smiled lightly at him, then turned and left without another word.

Three silver coins for buying? Better than I expected.

I blinked, heading home with the herbs and tools—on the way, I used my last nine coppers to buy five slices of black bread and some vegetables to stave off hunger.

I’d eaten the last slice of bread already… With so little money left, I figured I’d buy food to fill my stomach first.

I thought I’d get dirty looks for my appearance while buying bread and vegetables, but surprisingly, I didn’t… I was just quickly handed my wrapped bread and veggies and shooed away.

Looking around, I understood why.

It’s simple—there were plenty of people like me on the streets, looking poor and shabby, like beggars.

The streets were littered with trash, clearly a slum-like area. Many, like me, traded a few coppers for the cheapest black bread… Some moldy ones were sold too, two for a copper.

For my stomach’s sake, I stuck to slightly stale but unexpired bread and some yellowed vegetable leaves—not fresh, but not harmful. Expired stuff was out of the question; a stomachache would ruin my chances of making money.

But I quickly regretted buying “so much” food at once.

People noticed I bought five slices of bread and picked out vegetables. For a grown man, it’d be fine, but with my frail body, I looked like an easy target. In an instant, I felt several malicious gazes on me.