The Achievement Junkie

While Zariff, Marisha, and Maura were enjoying a meal with Martha, Jack was sitting at the side inspecting his system.

Another achievement had been completed without Jack knowing, but it made him laugh as he read it.

[Survive the Shark Tank: completed]

[Hold your own in a major transaction with the creator of a financial superpower. Special reward: 35 skill points.]

Happy to have sixty-five skill points, Jack opened his skill list. Though Jack wanted to eventually buy all of his inheritor's skills, there was something else that was more important. Since he had already bought the best skills, Jack knew that he would also need more mana now that he was starting to depend on those skills.

If Jack didn't have enough mana, then future fights would be far harder. Up to that point, he had mainly fought low-level monsters and enemies. But what about mid-level or high-level opponents?

The further up in level you go, the more important skills and mana become. Jack can get away with it since he's still low-leveled, but he wouldn't be so lucky for long.

He spent a moment thinking and making a list in his [Journal] tab. There, Jack made note of everything that needed to be done before reaching Trodar. It read like this:

[Have to complete before Trodar:]

[-Everyone reaches lv. 35]

[-Alter Inheritor Pact]

[-Get disguises for everyone]

[-Find hidden temples and shrines for each party member.]

[-Find beast companions]

[-Find a way to store beast companions]

[-Learn bestial seals]

Considering everything Jack wanted to do, he knew that Federal City was the perfect place to find most of what he wanted. And now that he was rich, he could afford to spend his money.

"What's on your mind, Jack?" Maura saw that Jack smiling while he stared off into space.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking about what needs to be down before I can enter Trodar. Which reminds me, where can I find the best market in town and a good auction house?"

"That's easy, just let Maura take you around town," Marisha chimed in and gave them both a meaningful look. "Just ask Zariff, gathering supplies for an adventure is a great first date."

"Mom!"

"She's not wrong, sweetie. That's how your grandfather and I got so close," added Martha. "If you prepare together, it will help you communicate better and you'll get to understand each other in no time."

"Grandma!"

Jack coughed to clear the air. "Actually, Maura, I am going to need a guide in the city. Even though you've been gone for a few years, you grew up and know where the best and most notable places are. It'll take all day, but can you please show me around?"

Not sure how to respond after his mother and grandmother tried to hook them up, Maura hurried through her last few bites of breakfast. "Then let's go now before it gets too crowded and before they say anything else."

As they darted out of their private booth, both Marisha and her mother shouted, "Bye, sweetie!"

"You two… You're not giving that brat a chance to say no, are you?" Zariff laughed, but he wasn't sure if it was at Jack being manipulated or him having no say in Maura's future relationships.

"Of course not, why should we," giggled Martha. "Someone's got to help those two out, otherwise they'll take too long and I'll have to wait for my great-grandbabies."

"Pfffffffew!!"

All the ale in Zariff's mouth was sprayed out like mister. He coughed and tried to regain his composure after hearing his mother-in-law's bluntness.

Marisha laughed with mother, happy that she wasn't the only thinking like that.

*****

Thanks to their early start, the wide city streets weren't too crowded yet. Maura and Jack were hurrying and running toward the city's central square.

There, as in Reinolt City, was the main marketplace. Hundreds of tents and pop-up shops filled the square, and all the major stores had a property either inside the square or just outside of it. That was also where the biggest auction houses were found.

After an hour of walking, it was still morning as they reached the central square.

"Here it is, Federal Marketplace. Where do you want to go first? Normally, the auction houses don't open till afternoon and evening, so let's get everything else first," explained Maura.

"Okay, then do you know where a good bookstore would be?" asked Jack.

"Sure, my mom's friend runs one just outside the square."

It wasn't long before they had arrived in front of a good-sized book store. On the front was a sign saying "Lillith's Literature," but it wasn't too extravagant like others. Jack felt that it was very much like a mom-and-pop shop, and he liked that.

Maura took Jack inside to find that the shop was about to open and no other customers had entered yet. "Lilly, it's me, Maura! Where are you?"

"Maura? Marisha's little girl?!"

A shout came from a back room from behind the counter. In seconds, a slim woman entered the room and jumped over the counter. "Maura, it's been so long!"

The two of them hugged each other like long lost friends. In the meantime, Jack was scoping out the shop with his system.

Surprisingly, a lot of the bookshelves were filled with spell scrolls and spellbooks of all kinds. Jack was guessing that there weren't many peak-level spells, if any, to choose from, but it was still quite the collection. Then Jack looked behind the counter and found what he was looking for.

"Lilly, this is Jack. He's the summoned hero that just entered the Adventurers Association."

Lilly went wide-eyed when Maura introduced the young man behind her. "Really? You're the famous new hero we've been hearing about?"

"I wouldn't say I'm famous. I'm just--"

"What do you mean? Of course, you're famous! You were the reason why the Chaos Syndicate failed to take over Reinolt. If that doesn't make you famous, what will?"

Jack laughed when he heard Lilly explain it like that. "I guess you're right about that. I'll have to keep a lower profile in the future, I guess."

"Anyway, what brings you two here? Are you running an errand for your mom, or is she trying to set you up with this handsome young man?" asked Lilly.

"Lilly, not you too!" whined Maura. "I'm here because Jack was wanting to visit a book store, so I recommended yours."

"Maura, you'll need to find some spells too. You should pick out a few too, you'll need them," Jack said as he stepped closer to the two of them. "Since you have so many spells, I'll take a look through them, but what I'm really after is arcane ink and various magical quills."

Giving Jack a strange look as she reevaluated Jack, Lilly smiled. "Interesting… Are you trying to write your own spell scrolls?"

"No, I need the best bestial ink pen you have and the finest bestial ink. Also, I need books about bestial seals, pacts, and how they're both created. Do you think you can help me?"

"Wow, you're different. I've never met a summoned hero before, but aren't they supposed to have a normal subclass like everyone else?"

"I'm a special case," answered Jack with a smile.

Lilly had realized that Jack was different than most people because it should've been impossible for Jack to use those items regularly. Rumors said that Jack used both a bow and swords, which was already abnormal. But for Jack to use magical quills and spells should've been impossible, but here he was asking for those items.

"Fine, I'll help you," replied Lilly. "But only if I can advertise that you're exclusively shopping here. I'll even give you a store-wide discount. What do you say?"

"I'd be happy to." Jack shook her hand, figuratively sealing the deal. "Then I'll browse your spells while you get my stuff."

Winking to Maura, Lilly returned to the backroom to gather what Jack requested.

Maura turned to Jack with a surprised look. "You can use spells and magic too?"

"Yeah, why not? Remember, I'm a hero, not a warrior or a mage," Jack reminded Maura of his peculiar class that she had once made fun of.

"That's amazing! Then you'll be even more powerful than a spell sword!"

"Shh, keep it down and go look for a few spellbooks. I'm paying, so don't worry about the price. Just get the best, most suitable spells for you, okay?"

"Alright, thanks, Jack!" She gave him a quick hug and hurried over to the area filled with water spells.

Jack chuckled to himself and looked back to the many bookshelves in front of him.

Most people in Kartonia were warriors while some were born with some magical affinity. It was common to be born with either or a strong physique or what they called a magical constitution, which allowed people to wield magic. Maura was lucky to inherit both of her parent's body types, allowing her to become a spell sword. However, her constitution only allowed her to cast water type spells and not any others.

Assuming that everything was thanks to him being a chosen champion, Jack had discovered that he could wield all types of magic without external stimulus. That was something that not even his past in-game character could do.

He still had to learn spells from spellbooks, but how could he not take advantage of his perfect magical constitution and his recently increased mana capacity?