"Before I treat your son, I need to know… how long do you think he has left?"
Alex spoke firmly, locking eyes with the noble.
The noble's lips pressed into a thin line. "Three days at most. Would that be sufficient?"
"More than sufficient," Alex replied without hesitation.
The noble studied him warily before turning his stern gaze toward Cynthia. "Help this man get whatever he needs. I'll pay for everything."
Then, glancing back at Alex, his tone carried both weight and warning. "As for finding me once you are prepared, have the girl escort you to my estate."
Alex tilted his head slightly. "May I ask for a name?"
It wasn't just curiosity. His memory sync hadn't provided it, which bothered him. If the sync was designed to make him blend into this world, then missing the name of a noble could only mean one thing—the people in the slums were far less educated than he thought. Their lack of information had carried over to him.
"You may have it after you save my son."
The noble's words were cold and deliberate. He turned toward the door, cloak swishing as he walked. "I must depart. I need to check on my son's condition. For your sake—and mine—I hope you are not a fraud."
CLING.
The bell above the shop's door rang as he left.
Alex let out a slow breath and turned back toward Cynthia. His mind was already working overtime. He needed to be efficient—not just in preparations, but in gathering more information. Before setting foot in any noble's estate, he needed to understand this world better.
'I need to know if plants from my world exist here. If they do, it'll save me months of blind experimenting.'
He tested the waters carefully, muttering aloud as if to himself:
"Shepherd's purse… Comfrey… Yarrow…"
If Cynthia knew these plants, it would be his best outcome. If she didn't, then he'd just look like some idiot making up names on the spot.
Cynthia's ears perked, her expression shifting as recognition crossed her face. "I've got some of those in the back. Need 'em?"
Alex smiled faintly. That was the best answer he could've asked for. Not only do those plants exist here, but it was also plants he needed for the medicine.
"Yes. That would be most desirable."
Cynthia laughed at his odd choice of words.
"Pfft—'most desirable'? What are you, a wandering noble trapped in rags?" she teased, her gaze flicking again to his ragged clothing. Still chuckling, she disappeared into the back.
Alex's smile lingered. 'Perfect. Supply and information secured. And better yet, I don't need to rely solely on fantasy herbs. I can actually use my own knowledge here.'
His thoughts drifted back to the noble's name. He could easily just ask Cynthia and get it now. But strangely… he didn't.
'No… this time, let's make it a challenge. I don't always have to take the easy road.'
While waiting, Alex wandered through the shop. Shelves stretched around him, filled with plants—some familiar, others defying all logic.
[Eye of Ophiuchus: Ability]
Herbs lit up with glowing words only he could see, their effects spilling into his mind. The longer he looked, the more baffled he became.
"This is insane… most of these plants shouldn't even exist in any evolutionary timeline I know," Alex whispered, laughing softly in disbelief.
Once again, he was reminded—this was a fantasy world. Anything was possible here.
CLING.
The bell rang again. Another customer entered.
This time it was a petite woman in a huge gray witch's hat, with flowing robes to match. She adjusted her glasses, her scholarly air so distinct that Alex couldn't help but smile faintly. It was refreshing to see someone who gave off the same aura as an academic, even if her field was completely foreign to him.
"Excuse me, is the shopkeeper around?" she asked politely.
"She—" Alex began, but before he could finish, Cynthia reemerged from the back. She carried a basket brimming with the requested plants, and a few extras she thought might help.
"Not today, Viana," Cynthia said, setting the basket down. "Got something urgent, life-or-death stuff."
"Oh? I see. I'll come back tomorrow then." Viana smiled understandingly, but then paused mid-step, her eyes flicking toward Alex. "Wait. If you're busy with an important job… then why is someone else here?" She pointed directly at him.
"Oh, him?" Cynthia said casually. "I'm working with him."
Viana adjusted her glasses, her gaze sweeping over Alex's ragged clothes. She only nodded. "I see. Well… I suppose it's none of my business."
Without further fuss, she left. Her oversized witch's hat bumped against the top of the doorway on her way out.
"Pleasant company, isn't she?" Cynthia commented with a small smile, flipping the shop's sign from open to closed.
"Well, she does make a good first impression," Alex replied lightly.
"Is this all you need?" Cynthia gestured at the basket.
"Yeah. I've got the rest sorted," Alex confirmed.
"Good. Then follow me."
With that, Cynthia led him outside, the basket in hand. She locked the door, and the two of them stepped back into the bustle of town.
The air was fresh—so much fresher than the slums. Alex still wasn't used to it.
"Don't get distracted!" Cynthia called out, already several steps ahead.
"I'm not. Just… appreciating the scenery," Alex laughed, jogging to catch up.
Their path took them deeper through the streets, past rows of lively shops and stalls. And their Alex got a second glance at the Adventurer's Guild, but this time with more detail than before.
It was a large wooden and stone hall, with giant mission boards posted out front. Groups of armed adventurers—beastkin, elves, humans, even a dwarf or two—crowded around, chatting, laughing, or boasting about quests.
The sight stirred something inside Alex. A childlike excitement he hadn't felt in years.
"This is surreal…" he whispered.
"We should be close now," Cynthia said, breaking him from his thoughts.
And she was right.
The change in scenery was immediate.
Crossing through a massive stone gate, Alex felt like he had stepped into another world entirely. From a humble medieval town… into something that almost reminded him of New York.
Mansions lined the streets, with elegant establishments in between. Expensive clothing shops, glittering gambling halls, carriages pulled by beasts he'd never seen before. Wealth was everywhere, and the crowd was different too—nobles, merchants, and even commoners who had somehow found their way here to shop or entertain themselves.
The wealth gap was staggering.
'The slums feel like they're on another planet compared to this place…'
Alex's awe grew with every step. From a beggar in the dirt to walking the streets of the wealthy, his journey had already taken him so far in so little time.
"This world really is different," he whispered to himself. "It's not like Earth, where you go from childhood to work and then die."
His eyes burned with determination.
"I'll make sure to use this life well."