Very few exams had caused Mina to be as nervous as she was now. Even if she knew the end result already, she still wished that the owner of the most ill-reputed alchemist shop in the slums would at least see some value in her creations. But as countless shops had already rejected to buy the barely functional trinkets even for parts, the borderline sickening tingling in the financially troubled student's stomach was mostly anticipating her last death blow.
"Humble Runk can't offer even a copper for things of this quality," the goblin in black robes voiced. His yellow eyes tried to pierce through the faceless gray mask that Mina wore. It was a common sight in these parts but the creature was clearly curious to inspect the half-elf's features in greater detail.
"Just the materials are more than ten coppers at the junkyard," Mina protested. She crossed her arms under her breasts to cause them to press through her green alchemist apprentice robes but the moment the goblin's eyes trailed down from her eyes, she let go to place her gloved hands on the table.
"Then pretty-voiced-woman can sell them to the junkyard," Runk retorted. Despite the green robes now mostly hiding Mina's mounds, the goblin kept staring at them like she would push them forward again at any moment.
"These are functioning alchemy tools, can't you just buy them for parts?" Mina flared and she lifted one of the cylinders on the table. It began blinking with a dim pale light that was a clear indication that the supposed lamp did not even have enough power for continuous use. Though as it used parts the alchemy student had found in a garbage pile, it was a miracle it worked at all.
"If pretty-voiced-woman needs to earn money, Humble Runk has a job," the goblin offered. Just the lecherous tone he delivered the words caused Mina to swallow with a nervous tremble. But even as she was mildly disgusted just by looking at the goblin's green wrinkly face, she still had a moment of hope that the job would be at least something half-decent.
"And that is?" Mina asked despite already having a feeling that she could guess pretty close to what kind of special job offer was going to be given to her. It would not have been her first that day and none of the ones giving them had even seen her face. Like her being a woman with a tall and slender body was enough for them to start giving questionable suggestions.
"Humble Runk has gotten new goods, need help in demonstrating for customers," the goblin nodded. For a moment Mina got excited as it sounded like an actual job but then instinctual alarm bells in her brain caused her to get suspicious.
"What kind of tools?" Mina asked. She looked around the shop and there was nothing that unique being displayed. If anything the place looked like a rundown version of the academy's supply storage. The main difference being that some muddled official had given a license for this creature to hang on his wall as proof of his ability to inspect and sell magical goods safely.
"Tools meant to pleasure women," Runk nodded. It took longer than Mina would ever admit for her to realize just what kind of a tool the creature had meant. Though when she realized it, her mind was momentarily haunted by an image of her being surrounded by masked women as she was trying to sell them dildos.
"Right, I will be going then," Mina voiced and she quickly bagged her few barely functional magic tools. The goblin stared at her hands move like he was trying to think what his next offer should be.
"Humble Runk can offer ten silver," the goblin exclaimed and Mina stopped moving for a moment but then she shook her head. There was no way she could be bought to demonstrate some sex toys of questionable origin in a slum shop, or anywhere else for that matter. Even for a price that was more than one day's salary in most places.
"Twenty silver, one night of demonstrating for customers," came the goblin's next offer. But Mina just ignored it as she rushed out of the shop. Even if her noble status had been revoked due to her parent's fraud, she still had some pride left in her.
"Damn goblins," Mina muttered as she hastily walked down an alley while clutching her bag. But even then she could not stop thinking about how twenty silver could easily pay months of rent for her shitty apartment. And it could maybe even be enough to convince the headmaster to give her more time to pay her tuition.
"Great tools for cheap, you can't find greater tools for this price anywhere," was a shout that jolted Mina out of her thoughts. Then she realized that she had wandered on a really shady street that was filled with vendors who looked like they were ready to bag their goods and run at any moment. And since they were clearly selling magical objects without a license, they definitely had a reason to be afraid.
Mina watched the relatively large group of vendors peddle their goods for several minutes. Some people were even buying them despite not having guarantees they would not explode on their faces or do something even worse. And as the apprentice alchemist watched it, she began thinking why could she not do the same. She could definitely peddle her useless goods to some fool. Maybe if she really got lucky she could even earn twenty silver without taking part in some deranged dildo demonstration.
It took a moment but eventually, Mina found a free spot that was close to the crossing of five alleys so she could escape with ease in case any authorities came. Though despite the relative alertness of the peddlers, nobody seemed that concerned and there even were others in the green robes of the alchemist academy.
Once on the spot, Mina placed her bag on the ground to spread her goods on top of it. But when she was about to open her mouth to suggest someone nearby to come and take a look, her tongue froze. The other supposed students nearby would definitely be able to hear her. And some might even recognize her voice if they actually were her peers. And as she listened to them speaking to someone, their rough hushed male voices could have been almost anyone from her class.
Only passing glances visited Mina's goods while she coughed a bit in an attempt to get her borderline melodic and very instinctive voice different. But even as she did it, she considered going somewhere less crowded to practice.
"Pretty-elf wants to trade goods?" came a rough goblin voice that jolted Mina. Her hands immediately moved to her mask but it was definitely still there.
