The man did a double take as to who asked the question, and when he saw it was just some kid, he said, "What are you even doing here brat? The bartender doesn't sell drinks to little boys who don't have any pubic hair yet."

To say wasn't Melvin offended by this brazen drunk fellow would be a lie, 'What the hell is wrong with this guy?' He thought after swiftly averted his gaze, no longer paying attention to him. Taking a deep breath, he began approaching the bar. He had to get his hands on some alcohol.

When he reached more than half the distance, he stationed himself behind a table filled with armored strong men and yelled to the bartender from there, "Bartender, I am not young, I just look young. Can you sell me a bottle of spirits?"

He tried to use the word he had heard often used to refer to drinks to appear more "in the know".

The tough bartender bellowed with laughter and asked, "But why are you speaking from there."

Melvin's smile stiffened and awkwardly replied, "Well, I am allergic to bears", as he kept stealing terrified glances at the sleeping giant whose breath could be felt from there.

Both the bartender and the group in front of him started to laugh as one of the armored men said, "This isn't helping your case either."

Melvin smiled, amused by the whole situation, and more so because he agreed with him. How would someone believe he was indeed older than what he looked like if he was hiding behind a group of men and unable to even approach?

He steeled his heart and thought, 'Animals are predictable, just look at how he is sleeping and isn't bothering anyone.' and he began slowly approaching the bar.

When he saw a woman going to the bar and bringing some big jugs of beer, in front of the bear, he became even unafraid and continued his approach.

Step by step, he walked so close to the bar to the point that the bear's warm breath could be felt in his ankles, and turned to look at the bartender, "Bartender, please here look."

He then very quietly put his bag over the counter whilst making sure that most of his attention was still on the bear and started explaining, "Look, candles, gum, quill, and parchment. All of these are because I am a writer and I need a bit of alcohol to create the ink."

Feeling intrigued, the bartender asked puzzled, "Oh? And how do spirits help with that?" with a knowing smirk he questioned, "To get a light buzz and enjoy the process?"

"No, no, I am serious." Melvin said with a serious face, "I need to mix the alcohol with the ink so that the parchment would be able to soak it up. Otherwise the ink would just stay as a bead on top of it."

He then remembered something and decided to add it, although it was true indeed it wasn't something that concerned him much, "Moreover, the first ingredient in creating the ink is water, and the alcohol helps kill the germs there, if not, mold will grow."

The bartender seemed to have bought his explanation as an understanding expression appeared on his face, and he said, "Alright, brat. I'll trust you. But if I hear in the news board that a mother whopped her kid's ass because he got drunk, it won't be my problem. Deal?"

"You got yourself a deal," Melvin said with joy, before his gaze habitually moved to the right and his whole body tensed up.

The black bear had woken up and was looking straight at him, 'Oh fuck', he thought.

Melvin felt his heartbeat racing, and then blood began rushing through his body as his legs tiptoed in an attempt to put more distance between him and the beast. Although he knew that eye contact was a sign of provocation, he just couldn't help but keep staring, afraid that the bear might pounce if he dared to look away.

*Roaar*

The bear stood up with a roar, and Melvin could feel his bladder threatening to loosen its hold, but the bear merely walked past him and went to sit somewhere else.

When the bartender came back with a very short and thick green glass bottle, he was shocked to find that the previously lively young man was pale with fright, his body visibly shivering.

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Noticing that his friend's beast had moved to a new place, he easily connected the dots and began loudly laughing once again, "Take it easy on yourself young man, you'll die early at this rate. Haven't you heard what the royal scholars have said, fear and stress wreck the body from the inside."

"Yeah, yeah. I was just taken by surprise that's all, I am not usually afraid of bears." Melvin replied after he calmed himself a bit, not wanting the bartender to tease him even more as it was making him feel embarrassed. He quickly interjected, "That's not wine is it? I don't want any fruits on my parchment."

"No, it's distilled from rice, don't worry. I am not that stupid." The bartender replied with a smile, "Here, it's on the house."

Hearing that, Melvin was naturally surprised, "I'll leave you to it, have a good day, and Thank you!" Nodding toward the other group of armored men that had been watching him, he turned around and left.

In front of the tavern, he opened his money pouch took out 20 copper coins, and put them in his left side pocket.

Stepping to the edge of the sidewalk, he paused, his gaze scanning the bustling street. Soon, he spotted an approaching red carriage, drawn by a towering brown horse. With a sense of urgency, he tip-toed and raised his hand, signaling for the carriage to halt.

The coachman quickly caught his hand, and made the horse stop in front of him. Without saying anything else he climbed to the seat next to the coachman, and sat after giving him the money. On one hand, he would avoid getting too close to the people in the back as he doesn't like getting touched by strangers, and at the same time he would have a better view of the city from the seat above.

'Maybe this isn't the wisest choice as I am still after all, a wanted man.' Melvin thought with some apprehension, but by then the carriage had already started, and it would be too awkward to ask the coachman to stop it and get back down. Not that he couldn't do it, it was just an excuse for him to continue enjoying the show from above.

'I'll remember to buy a black cloak to keep my head somewhat covered.' He thought after encountering this issue several times now.

The city had already gotten back to its usual momentum with stores opened all around and people coming and going. Some wore simple clothes whereas others were armored to the brim, and Melvin knew that they weren't guards.

'They must be the adventurers,' He reasoned, at the same time there were also two words that kept popping up several times, which puzzled him quite a bit, "The Bamboo Forest, and the Fiendish Cemetry Dungeons. Just from the name, I know it's nothing good."

The fact that he saw several armored people missing legs, arms, and some of them were dead along the way, only carried by their friends, made him even more intrigued about these dungeons.

One of his friends on Earth was obsessed with video games, novels, mangas, and so on... Thus, he had somewhat of an understanding of what a dungeon was, but what it was in this world remained a mystery.

Along the way several people who were sitting behind them stopped the carriage to get down, and others got in. Slowly, but surely, the carriage reached the plaza, and so following a narrow path it continued encircling the giant dome-shaped building in the middle until it reached the northern main road and continued advancing.

Melvin told the coachmen to stop after a short while, and he asked him about where was the closest magic enchanter shop before paying him 20 copper coins and getting down.

With directions in mind, he continued walking on the main northern road with his gaze fixated to the right. Soon, a very big banner in front of one of the stores caught his attention and he stopped, 'Maverick The Enchanter, this is it.'

Step by step, Melvin walked inside and was greeted by one of the two young women who managed to shop, and directly got to the point because he had wasted enough time that day, and he was dying to begin.

The young woman quickly brought him a device that consisted of two interlocking hoops, crafted from a shimmering, iridescent material that seemed to pulse with a faint magical energy. Each hoop was adorned with intricate symbols, and Melvin knew that this was something good just from that sight.

"To activate it," The young woman explained, "you must place your thumb in one hoop and your index finger in the other to establish a connection between the two. Then, you need to manipulate your mana through your fingers and a small flame will ignite in the empty space between the hoops."

Melvin excitedly stretched his hand when he heard that, indicating if he could try it, and she indeed gave it to him.

The moment he put both of his fingers where they should, he felt something happen to the mana inside of his body. For the very first time, it felt under his control, and he felt like he had the capability to do something with it. Thus, a process that felt completely strange to him unfolded, and he gently controlled the flow of that mana to move through both of his fingers. The moment it reached the two hoops, the device absorbed it, creating fire, much to his amazement.

'I just did magic!' He thought with disbelief, mind completely blown, and then he repeated it again and again. From time to time a primitive laugh would escape his mouth, scaring the young attendant.

He then briefly glanced at his interface.

Mana Points, MP: 28/30

After nodding at that, he asked the woman how much it was. After finding that it was only 4 silver coins, he sighed in relief as he expected it to be way more.

He quickly paid and put it in his pocket, then he took another carriage and returned to the southern part of the city.

Melvin made sure to stop when he saw the first clothing store close to there, and he bought a black hooded cloak for 2 silver coins.

Putting the black cloak and especially the hood over his head, made him feel much more comfortable as he made his way back home.