Miss Witch, even if we're poor, we can't sell ourselves!

Miya stood there holding two bottles of jam, her mind racing with calculations that were louder than the shaker when she was mixing Zimi Delight cocktails.

Money that isn't your own is considered consumption.

The wishing well will accept the money as long as it passes through her hands.

If we let her go shopping, wouldn't she get a free chance to win a prize?

Without spending a single penny of your own money, you can still accumulate enough for a ten-pull. Is there any better deal in the world?

"Korika".

"Um?"

Korika was looking down at the labels on the jam jars, muttering, "This strawberry one is also super delicious, I can try it next time."

"Where is the store manager?"

"Sister Flores? I think she was at the base liquor area just now."

Korika looked up, blinked her yellow-green eyes, and then saw Miya carrying the jam and running out, the hem of her pleated skirt fluttering in the sunlight, her two short legs moving incredibly fast.

Flores was standing in front of the base spirits stall, holding a list in her hand, confirming the last few items with the stall owner.

She heard hurried footsteps behind her, turned around, and saw Mi Ye standing in front of her, panting, carrying two jars of jam. Her short, light-gold hair was messed up by the wind, and her cheeks were flushed pink from running, but her light-colored eyes shone with a lightness she had never seen before.

"Store Manager—"

"What's wrong? Why are you running so fast?"

"I think--"

Miya took a deep breath, trying to sound less excited.

"I want to try shopping! Let me do the shopping! I think I can do it!"

Flores raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic?"

"Because I want to improve myself!"

Miya said without changing her expression or skipping a beat.

"Since I'm going to work in sales at a bar, I need to overcome my social anxiety. Isn't purchasing the perfect opportunity to practice?"

"Besides, I gained some experience while buying jam earlier. Although I didn't perform very well, I learned a lot. I think if I had another chance, I could do better!"

These words were spoken with righteous indignation, fervor, and deep emotion. If Flores hadn't lived so many years and seen more cunning people than Mi Ye had eaten instant noodles, she would almost have believed them.

However...

Flores' lips curled up slightly.

Whatever this kid's plans, it's always a good thing that he's motivated.

"Okay."

She turned the list over from her hand.

"Then let me see how you do it."

Miya's eyes lit up, she nodded vigorously, and turned to look for her next target in the market.

My gaze swept across the rows of stalls and finally settled on a shop that specialized in high-end cocktail ingredients.

The shop was tucked away in a corner of the market. It wasn't big, but it was decorated very nicely.

The dark wooden shelves are neatly arranged with various bottled wines, each one polished to a shine, and the labels are all handwritten in cursive script.

The shop's sign reads "Scarlet Moon Wine Shop," with a line of smaller text below.

【Imported base spirits, rare spices, custom-made formula】

The shop owner was a witch who looked to be in her early fifties. She wore a dark red apron and had long, dark blue hair piled on top of her head and secured with a silver hairpin.

With refined features and a mature demeanor, he was wiping a bottle of amber-colored wine with his head down.

It's her!

Miya took a deep breath, tugged at her skirt, and took a step forward.

Korika followed behind, jam in her arms, her face saying, "I want to see what this little girl who was so socially awkward just now is up to."

Flores followed at the back at a leisurely pace, her deep purple eyes gleaming with anticipation for a good show.

Hearing footsteps, the shop owner looked up, gave a gentle and polite smile, and was about to say "Welcome" when Miya suddenly turned her head, leaned close to Korika's ear, covered her mouth with her hand, and spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft.

"Wow, Korika, look how beautiful the owner of this shop is! And she has such a great presence."

"Look at how she styled her hair up, it's so elegant! And the color of her apron matches her hair so well, her taste is amazing!"

Korika was stunned.

The shop owner's smile froze on his face, and his hand, which was wiping the wine bottle, stopped in mid-air.

Miya seemed completely oblivious to her utter failure in "whispering." She turned to face the shop owner with an expression so sincere it was almost infuriating.

"Hello! Excuse me, we saw your shop over there and wanted to come and take a look."

"Because my companion said that the wine in your store is the best in the whole market, and now that I'm closer, I see that the owner himself is also very good-looking, no wonder the store is so stylish."

"Ah—no, no—"

The shop owner put down the wine bottle in his hand, subconsciously raised his hand to touch his hair bun, and two faint blushes appeared on his face.

"Young lady, you're quite the talker. What kind of wine would you like to see?"

Miya approached the shelf, tiptoed closer to a bottle of deep red wine, and took a deep breath.

The aroma of the wine wafts from the bottle opening, rich and mellow.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, then she turned her head away.

"This smells so good! What kind of wine is this? I've never seen such a beautiful color before, it's like a ruby!"

"And this aroma... I don't know much about wine, but it smells like a kind of berry I ate when I was a child, sweet and sour, with a hint of wood. It's amazing!"

The shop owner's blush deepened.

"That's Crimson Moon Estate's cranberry vintage, our shop's signature product. It uses Northern cranberries and has been aged in oak barrels for a full three years. Only one hundred bottles are produced each year. What you smell is indeed the aroma of berries, but there's also a hint of vanilla and caramel in the dry down because the oak barrels are toasted—"

"Wow, shop owner, you know so much!"

Miya's eyes sparkled.

"And this one over there, this bottle is so long and slender, and it's amber in color, like honey!"

"That's Golden Amber Whisky, produced in the south. It uses local peat, so it has a strong smoky flavor and isn't really suitable for beginners."

"Then what would be suitable?"

"Suitable for experienced drinkers who enjoy strong spirits; we usually recommend adding ice."

"Do you need special molds for the ice cubes? I saw a star-shaped ice tray before, and the ice made from it looked so pretty in the drinks! Do you use those here?"

The shop owner had completely forgotten that he was a businessman who was supposed to haggle, and began to seriously educate Miya about the types of ice, the impact of different ice shapes on the taste of the liquor, and professional topics such as "which is better for whiskey, large ice balls or small crushed ice?"

As Miya listened, she nodded, occasionally exclaiming "I see" and "Amazing!" Her face was full of "This is the first time I've heard such interesting knowledge."

Korika stood behind, holding the jam, her mouth agape in a small "O" shape.

Is this really the same socially awkward person who stammered and couldn't utter a single word in front of that college student vendor just now?

This is absolutely outrageous!

No, this is even more powerful than Sheniu!

Flores leaned against the shelf next to her, one hand covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

She was really about to break down.

The performance at Miye continued.

"Shopkeeper, after all you've said, I really want to try some! But we can't drink alcohol yet; we're buying from a bar, the one called Nightingale's Nest, you know?"

"The Nightingale's Nest?"

The shop owner's expression changed slightly, and then his gaze toward Mi Ye became more serious.

"That bar is really famous, you just started working there?"

"Yes! Today is my first day at work!"

Miya scratched her head sheepishly, her ears turning slightly red.

"The boss asked me to do the purchasing, but actually it's just to give me practice... I don't know anything, I only recognize pretty things and nice-smelling things."

"That's why I said, 'Shop owner, you're so pretty, and the wine you chose is so beautiful.' I'm the kind of person who can't resist buying things I like."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and gently kicked the ground with her toes, looking both shy and cute, like a little sister being affectionate with her older sister next door.

The shop owner was completely overwhelmed by her barrage of attacks.

"You little girl."

She took a deep breath and placed her hand on her chest.

"Alright, since you're new to Nightingale's Nest and know so much about wine, what do you want? I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you a discount."

"Really!"

"Hmm, three bottles of cranberry vintage, two bottles of golden amber, plus two cases of base spirits for cocktails. Take a look at this list."

Miya took out the shopping list that Flores had given her from her pocket; it was what she had asked Flores for before she ran over.

The shop owner took it, glanced at it, picked up a pen from the counter, circled a few prices on the order, and then pushed it over.

That price was almost 30% lower than the market price.

"Shop owner, you're so kind!"

Miya clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with stars.

The shop owner waved his hand, smiling sheepishly.

"Just come often from now on. Seeing you like this makes me happy."

Flores finally couldn't help but let out a snicker.

Miya took the bottle of wine from the shopkeeper, paid, and then turned to look at Flores.

She returned the remaining funds with both hands, her expression innocent and adorable, but deep in her eyes lurked a hint of smugness, like a fox stealing a chick.

"Manager, I've finished shopping. I saved a lot compared to my budget."

Flores took the money pouch, weighed it in her hand, and then smiled and gently patted the top of her head.

"You're really something!"

Miya chuckled twice and buried her face in her shoulder.

Korika finally recovered from her petrified state and rushed forward to hug Miya's arm.

"Miya, damn it, weren't you just acting all socially awkward?!"

"I—I just have a special attraction to good-looking people!"

"What kind of reason is that! What about me! Am I not pretty?! Why didn't you treat me like this when I talked to you this morning? Waaaaaah!"

"Because, because you're the cute type, Korika-senpai! Cute and pretty are different!"

"Is this a compliment?"

Flores let the two children make a fuss, flipped through the bill, and then looked at Miya.

She knew the prices at this liquor store well; her long-term customers would only get a 10% discount at most.

The shop owner just gave Mi Ye a discount of almost 30%, and he was probably so flattered that he was completely out of his mind.

Flores put away the bill, her smile deepening.

This little guy is much more interesting than he appears.

Then, with Korika watching in disbelief the whole time, Miya went to several more shops.

At the spice stall, she praised the shopkeeper's potion-making skills and keen sense of smell, and the shopkeeper, pleased, gave her an extra small bag of rare vanilla pods.

At the food shop, she said the shop owner's apron was pretty and her chopping technique was skillful, so the shop owner was persuaded to pay her at the wholesale price.

Korika followed behind her the whole time, her expression changing from shock to bewilderment, from bewilderment to self-doubt, and from self-doubt to a deep sense of frustration: "Have I been doing this job for nothing all these years?"

"How could this happen? Why...?"

She was talking to herself.

Flores patted her on the shoulder.

Everyone has their own strengths.

"These advantages are just too many!!"

Korika had nothing to say.

Throughout the morning, Mi Ye spent nearly 10,000 Loren's worth of purchasing funds.

Base wine, juice, spices, snacks, treats, new wine glasses, spare meals, decorative flowers...

Flores handed her most of the items on the shopping list.

Every time Mi Ye made a payment, the number in the wishing well in her mind would jump once.

After settling out at the last shop, she loaded the last batch of goods onto the delivery cart that Korika had ordered in advance, then stood still, closed her eyes, and let her consciousness sink into her body.

The wishing well floated quietly in the darkness, its waters shimmering with a faint light.

The lottery button by the pool lit up, and a line of text appeared on it.

[Cumulative spending has reached 10000 Loren; a ten-pull is ready. Shall we draw?]

Miya took a deep breath.

coming.

She used public funds to get a free 10-pull.

She decided not to smoke yet. She wanted to wait until she got back to her room, lay on her bed, calmed down, and ideally washed her hands and burned some incense before pressing that sacred button.

Although it is called metaphysics, metaphysics is also a part of luck.

"Miya! Are you done yet? Sister Flores said we can go back after we finish shopping."

"Hey, hey, did you hear me? What are you doing standing in the middle of the road, spacing out?"

Korika's voice pulled her back to reality.

Miya opened her eyes and found herself standing in the passageway at the market exit, her hands still in the posture of holding something, attracting the curious gazes of several passing witches.

"It's nothing! Let's go!"

She caught up with Corica, her smile brighter than the sunshine in Bellavita.

Korika tilted her head as she looked at the wide grin that stretched from ear to ear.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing much! I just really enjoyed shopping!"

"...You're the first person to say you enjoy shopping. Sister Flores always says shopping is hard work."

"That's different! I just love shopping!"

Korika nodded, somewhat doubtful.

Miya followed behind, holding a copy of the purchase order in both hands, already planning her next move.

If we can get her to be in charge of purchasing for a long time, she can get several free 10-pulls every month.

By then, let alone the Radiant level, even the Dazzling level, or the Supreme level, with a probability of seven in a thousand, as long as she draws enough, she will eventually encounter it.