Early morning, Nero carried his backpack, and Lion took care of some of the more valuable things in his possession. The flocom, apparently using its own mana, projected a barrier, a spherical cap of diameter around 2 meters, which it then used to act as a cart, to put as many of the items that they intended to sell. They went down the market, with Rius walking besides him and Lion following them from behind.

Earlier, when they were putting his properties on Lion’s “cart”, it asked him, “How do you intend to sell all these things here?”

“I’ll just sell as much as I can,” Nero said. “The remaining, if there’s any, I’ll just donate to the town hall. I’ll do the same with everything else.”

“You seem to not really worry whether you profit or not with these.”

“I’m not a merchant, Lion,” he said. “I’m a healer. I should only concern myself with healing people.”

The flocom didn’t answer and just continued helping him with putting the things on its cart.

After which, they went down the market. When he picked a spot, he laid down two sheets of cloths—one small and one big; he sat down on the small one and put his items on the larger. Lion floated beside him; Rius just lay down near the smaller cloth. Then they waited.

Although Nero didn’t really bother making profit, with his reputation among the townsfolk he expected he could sell some of his items.

But no one even bought anything from them. People would greet him of course, pat his dog here and there, and some would ask what he was doing down the market (sometimes, they also asked about his “odd” flocom). But after stating he was selling all his things, they’d just wish him luck and go away.

I think I’m doing something wrong…

Was it because he couldn’t look at them well due to his poor eyesight? Maybe he needed to recognize them to make some sort of connection which would enable him to sell and them to want to buy? Or, maybe, he’s not just suited to be a merchant… Should he just donate everything, then? But, he also needed some money. If he was to travel, he needed some cash, at least just before he could secure his healer’s signet.

“Hey, Lion,” he told his flocom, who was just staying afloat beside him, “can’t you tell me how to sell?”

“Sorry, sir,” it said. “I don’t have any manual in my Library regarding selling.”

“’Library’? What Library?”

“Call it my long-term memory; it’s its function. Unfortunately, I have no book or even any record regarding selling.”

“What’s in your Library, then?”

“Just some manuals regarding my functions. Then, my memories since yesterday, when I woke up—”

A mother interrupted their conversation, at first thanking him for healing her son (apparently; but he couldn’t recognize her face, partly due to his blurry vision, partly due to his indifference), then asking him what he was doing in the market. When he said he was selling the items laid there, she asked what’s the prices for those.

He looked at Lion. It’s our first customer! He almost screamed his excitement. But then…he didn’t think about pricing his items! So, he just said that he’d be willing to sell anything at any price—which sounded good in his mind. But then the mother just smiled and wished him luck, then went away. Just like everyone else.

“I need to change something,” he mumbled. But what could it be? Maybe it’s a bad idea not to tag any of his item any price? Then, how could he price them?

Just as he was pondering what to do (and almost giving up), out of nowhere a man wearing a cloak, black and of the business type, underneath were a brown vest, black pants, and a pair of black boots, with his black hat covering half of his face (at least from the Nero’s view) approached him; a black glossy flocom floating beside him.