"We're here, in Haven's Marketplace!" Anna announced as she twirled around with her arms open.
Simon looked around with an awed expression on his face. It was bustling with people and hundreds of food stalls offering different cuisines. Not only food stalls, there's also jewellery, ornaments, clothes, shoes, and other household things being offered.
It was lively, like a night market in his previous world.
Anna wrapped her arms around his and said. "Let's go brother, the crepe stand is way over there!"
She pulled him through the crowd without hesitation.
Simon adjusted his footing as people brushed past them.
Anna dragged him toward a stall where a man was spreading thin batter over a flat iron plate.
The batter sizzled as it touched the surface.
"Two strawberry crepes!" Anna announced proudly.
"That would be 20 kinah," said the vendor as he flipped the crepe.
She handed him twenty copper coins. The vendor counted the coins quickly and swept them into a small wooden box beneath the counter. He folded the crepes with practiced hands, spreading bright red strawberry preserve over the surface before rolling them neatly.
"Careful, it's hot," he said as he handed them over.
Anna took both, then passed one to Simon with a grin.
"See? Worth it."
Simon accepted the crepe and examined it briefly before taking a bite.
Sweet. Slightly tart from the fruit. The dough is thin but unevenly cooked at the edge.
"It's good."
She smiled in satisfaction and took a large bite of her own.
"So delicious!" she said in a dreamy sigh. "Let's go grab a juice brother!"
She didn't wait for an answer.
Anna grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward another row of stalls where large wooden barrels were stacked behind a long table. A man stood there pressing fruit with a manual lever press. Purple liquid flowed into a clay jug beneath it.
"Fresh berry juice!" the vendor called out. "Sweet and cold!"
"Two cups!" Anna said cheerfully.
"That'll be 6 kinah each," the vendor replied.
She reached into the pouch again and handed over twelve copper coins. The vendor poured the juice into two wooden cups and passed them across.
Anna handed one to Simon.
He took it and tried.
Anna watched him expectantly.
"Well?"
"It's refreshing," he simply commented.
He looked around again, there's so many people around, he wondered how many people lived in this capital.
He searched his memories for that information and what came up is that there are 750,000 people living in the capital! That's so huge and impressive for a medieval city. He'd expected it to be lower due to the life expectancy in such a period.
Also, the fact that there are many people in this marketplace means the economy is strong. He already imagined building a business here that would dominate the market share. After all, a new place meant a new opportunity.
"Maybe it's time to find my niche here," he mumbled.
"What did you say?" Anna asked.
"Oh nothing," he waved his hand dismissively. "Just me mumbling about. So, tomorrow is supposed to be my first day as a librarian huh?"
"Yes brother! It's a blessing that you were accepted! I knew you could pass the interview! I am so proud of you!"
Simon laughed, her enthusiasm was so out of this world when it comes to him.
"Yeah, but a librarian huh…the pay is modest but I don't think I'll spend the rest of my life doing a clerical job."
"Eh?" Anna tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean brother? Don't tell me, you don't actually want the job?"
"No it's not that. What I am saying is that I want to be rich."
"Rich huh?" she stroked her chin as she contemplated. "Well, you can enroll in a Hero Academy of Lagendia, graduating there means you can become a court mage and a strong adventurer and earn a lot of money."
"Hero Academy," Simon repeated. It's an institution in the capital city of Lagendia where it teaches young mages and warriors how to refine their mana, control spells, and fight monsters. Graduates become knights, court mages, or high-ranking adventurers. They earn a lot. But of course, the admission was not easy, not to mention the tuition fee and the talent one must have.
The rich of course have an advantage as they have their own tutors that would teach them since their childhood.
But when he thought about it, it's just a glorified military academy, where students learn how to kill using magic and swordsmanship.
In this world, there are otherworldly threats, specifically the demon race, and dungeons where monsters lived.
He doesn't want to risk his life fighting a strong enemy like demons and monsters. He'd rather get rich by doing business which he planned to do knowing that there is a market in this place.
Not only that, like he had told himself before, he needed to understand magic as it could be a potential money-making machine that he could utilise. Fortunately, the library that he was working at has books about magic. He could browse for it.
He'll do it tomorrow. For now, they have to return home. It's getting dark…
He noticed something. Along the streets, there were light poles but they were not gas or oil powered lamps like in history. Inside, there were stones that glowed brightly, lighting up the marketplace with different hues of colors.
"What's that?" Simon asked.
"That? You don't know that. It's a nightstone, it only lights up during night time."
"Nightstone, what an interesting name," Simon said. "Well, it's getting dark and we should return back home. Mother and father must be waiting for us."
Anna nodded in agreement. "I will be the one telling mother that you were in an accident and that we have balance left to pay for hospital expenses."
Simon smiled. A lot of things happened today. He was reincarnated with a chatbot and a little sister who dotes him. This is his new life now, a second chance in life. He will enjoy it while fulfilling the unfulfilled desires from his previous world.
Tomorrow, it's going to be a long day. The agenda would be learning about this world, training as a librarian staff, and exploring around the city. It's going to be exhilarating.