The adventurer at the bottom is fantasizing again.

"Herbal medicine? This is a pharmacy, of course we accept all kinds of herbs. Fresh hemostatic herbs and calendula cost 5 copper coins each, while calming flowers, sage, and mugwort cost 1 silver coin each."

If you're lucky, you might find silverleaf. Remember, don't pull it up by the roots; just pick the leaves. I'll buy one leaf for 2 silver coins.

The dwarf swayed back and forth in his deckchair, giving them a long-winded introduction in a strange tone.

"Can you show us what the herbs look like?" Lorraine asked.

The dwarf glanced at him, yawned, and slowly stood up from the recliner.

"Wait," he said.

The two waited patiently at the door.

Having just eaten too much and seeing the dwarf old man's lazy appearance, Lorraine felt a little drowsy.

Not long after, the dwarf came out of the grocery store's cubicle, holding a scroll in his hand.

"Look for it yourself, it's all there. Remember it and then return it to me."

He tossed the reel into Piper's arms, then sat back down in the recliner, half-closing his eyes.

What a strange old man.

Lorraine muttered to himself, then squatted down to examine the scroll more closely.

It contains detailed illustrations of many kinds of herbs, outlined in colorful paint, along with corresponding descriptions.

These simple patterns were easy for Lorraine, who had experienced exam-oriented education, to memorize; he did so in a short time.

"Thank you. We still need to prepare a few things. Do you have any recommendations?"

He very tactfully placed the scroll on the counter in the shop, preventing the old dwarf from getting up again.

"There aren't many mosquitoes in winter, so just make sure to keep warm. The rest is up to you."

The old dwarf opened one eye, saw Lorraine's actions, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Go inside and get a booklet, then get a bigger bag, and remember to bring plenty of torches."

Lorraine quickly found the tent the old dwarf had mentioned; it was a cylindrical canvas tent with several buttons that could be fastened to a backpack.

"1 gold and 10 silver? How come this shabby tent is so expensive?"

He smacked his lips twice, suspecting that the old dwarf was trying to trick him.

Piper believes that there is a reason why something is expensive.

The short guy came over, stood on tiptoe to look at the price tag on the tent, and clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Lorraine felt that he was subtly criticizing her. He had forgotten to buy a tent when they went to the mine, and the two of them had to huddle in a tree hollow at night, freezing like dogs.

"Okay, you have a point."

Then he went back to the other side of the shelf and took out a herb-gathering knife and an oilcloth bag for storing herbs.

The water bottle got shot and destroyed by the kobolds last time, so I have to buy a new one, and also some dry food and jerky...

After carrying a bunch of things back to the counter, Lorraine realized she really needed a new bag; the old one simply couldn't hold all her stuff.

So he went back and took the largest travel backpack from the shelf, the kind that could almost stuff Piper inside, for a full 15 silver.

The short man also came over carrying six torches and a small light green bottle, which was clearly the weak antidote that Lorraine had bought earlier.

"There must be quite a few poisonous things in the forest. We should bring another bottle. Anyway, we won't lose anything if we don't use it."

He shook the small bottle in his hand.

Brother... medicine has an expiration date!

However, he thought the short guy was right; it's always good to be prepared.

"How much is it in total?"

Piper frowned and started counting on his fingers.

"7 gold, 11 silver, and 8 bronze," Lorraine said irritably.

"Wow, humans are really good at math."

After paying, Lorraine carefully packed the items she had bought into her new backpack, arranging them neatly.

The herb-gathering knife was tucked into the side pocket, the oilcloth bag was placed on top, and the torch was inserted into the gap between the backpack and the tent, which could be pulled out with a reach.

Finally, I tied the rolled-up tent to the top of my backpack, fastened the straps, and lifted it up to weigh it.

It feels like it weighs about ten pounds, but it won't affect your movement at all. With his expert-level load-bearing ability, Lorraine might be able to carry it even better than a donkey.

"I need to go back and catch up on some sleep. I'll practice my swordplay a bit more when I wake up. What should we have for dinner...?"

Lorraine yawned as well. These past few days, he had been practicing swordsmanship and running around, which had exhausted him.

"Pip thinks roast lamb leg is a good choice, along with a freshly baked bread and meat sauce, and it must be paired with chilled ale..."

"That's a good idea."

......

The next morning.

Lorraine rechecked the equipment and supplies, and after confirming that everything was in order, the two left Shallow Beach Town.

They followed the directions marked on the old dwarf's map and headed towards the Misty Forest.

The sun had just risen, and the light was not yet glaring; the air carried a dampness from the river.

Not long after leaving the town, the man-made road turned into frozen wasteland, with clumps of weeds scattered here and there.

Lorraine stopped and held the map up to her eyes.

"This should be in the northwest direction."

He squinted, looked around, and then turned around to confirm his location and that of Shallow Beach Town.

Piper glanced at the compass in his hand, carefully compared it with the map, gave him a thumbs up, and said, "That's right, this is the location on the map."

"How did you figure out the location?"

Lorraine was astonished. This guy could actually understand such an abstract map. Could it be that different heights make the maps look different?

He crouched down to take a look, but nothing had changed; it was still just a circle with two crosses.

"Isn't it clear? Starting from where we are, the outline of the forest that Mr. Tom drew is quite obvious. We need to enter from here (he pointed to a spot on the distorted circle), and then head northwest..."

Piper was pointing and gesturing, speaking with great confidence and authority.

Looking at the simple sketch on the scrap paper, Lorraine felt more and more like a fool for believing that this little dwarf could understand a map.

"I see..." he murmured, folding the map and stuffing it back into his bag, giving up the struggle.

Oh well, it's all about fate anyway, it doesn't matter which direction I go... he comforted himself.

Shallow Beach Town is not exactly close to the Misty Forest. Based on their experience escorting the caravan last time, this trip will take them at least two days.

Fortunately, Piper was a restless man, and Lorraine listened to his rambling as they walked, so she didn't find it boring.

"Lorraine, what do you want to do in the future?"

"Let's travel to different parts of this world." He wasn't entirely sure himself. "And if possible, become a great mage?"

"Pip wants to be a savage."

"I know that...you already told me."

"Do you think goblins will come to rob us again on the road?"

Lorraine placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his thumb rubbing the rough scabbard, and chuckled softly.

"I'm really looking forward to it."