Turns out, yes, he does have magazines.
The problem is they definitely weren't there before Momo asked for them, meaning one of a couple things.
First, he is extremely unobservant. A strong possibility but considering that he's had nothing to do but sit here and count product, daydream and debate snatching up a water, not likely.
Second, this shop knows what people want and delivers. Makes sense to an extent, though why his concentrated thought of 'Big Buster Sword' wasn't working was anyone's guess.
...
Ok, it probably doesn't work for him since he's the 'owner' or whatever but come on! A sword would be cool, even if he couldn't lift it.
"Hey, you dozin' off there?" Momo snapped him out of his thoughts, a magazine sitting on the counter.
"Sorry, debating the ramifications of this stores existence." He bluntly states, picking up the magazine. "How much was this?"
"It didn't have a price, figured you knew." She leans on the counter, holding her cheek in her palm. "Don't suppose I could have it for free~"
"Unless you wanna trade, no." He shot down quickly. "How much does a magazine typically cost you?"
"Uh, about ¥200." She lies, looking away with puffed cheeks.
"Sure, why not. I'll give it to ya for ¥50, deal?" He boredly asks, holding out a hand.
"Sweet! Hell yeah deal!" Momo quickly slaps a small coin in his hand, only for it to disappear.
...
"No take backs!" Momo yells, snatching her magazine up and holding it close.
*Objective Complete*
*Upgrading Inventory*
'Huh?'
The store shakes for a second, a light beaming from the shelves as everyone closes their eyes. After a few seconds it thankfully dies down, everyone opening to see the shelves changed to different types of makeup here and there, a different shelf with alien books, one about psychic powers.
The whole inventory felt different, but not like an upgrade.
"What the hell?" Momo's voice shakes a bit, wide eyed at everything. "What just happened? Did, did I, or you-?"
"Miss Ayase! Look!" Okarun shouts from behind, both turning to see him rapidly flipping through a book. "This isn't supposed to come out for another month! It's the new edition on alien sightings and paranormal activity!" He excitedly holds open a page to her, one talking about reptilians and the illuminati.
"Yeah, not touching that." Alex mutters, before raising his voice a bit. "Oi! This isn't a library, sorry to say but if you want to read it, you gotta buy it."
"Right. Sorry, of course." He bows a few times, bringing it over and setting it on the counter. "H-How much?"
"How much you got?" Alex bluntly asks, raising an eyebrow.
"O-oh, uh-" He begins checking his pockets as Momo slams her hand down on the counter.
"Hold up! You ain't robbin' Okarun here, got it?" She demands, steel in her eyes as she glares the owner down.
"It's alright Miss Ayase, really." He carefully pulls her back by her arm. "This is invaluable, it's from the future! I can get a head start on any new locations and possible alien or ghost spots."
"Plus," Alex interjects, "I'm not robbing him, just wanted to know what the budget was looking like."
"I got about ¥2000 or so on me." Okarun answers, Alex looking taken aback.
'Note to self, conversion rate is more than I thought.' He thinks, glaring a bit at a smug Momo, cradling her magazine.
"Screw it, ¥150 I guess?" He holds his hand out again, Okarun looking shocked.
"I-I can't take it for that cheap! This isn't even out yet, it looks brand new, the cover is shiny!" He begins arguing in favor of paying more. "It isn't fair to the author."
"Okarun~" Momo pulls him back, not realizing they're still in hearing range. "What are you doing? Get the book for cheap and let's go."
"It's not right." He defends his actions. "To sell it at the price of a used book isn't fair to who wrote it, no matter where we get it from. This is a quality book, I can't pay that little for it."
They stare at each other for a minute, before Momo sags a bit, leaning back with a groan. "Fine, go bankrupt! See if I care when you got no money and can't get anything else about aliens!" She storms off to the other side of the store, huffing as she looks at some different brands of makeup.
"S-Sorry about that." Okarun adjusts his glasses, staring at Alex. "So, how much now?"
"Look, I understand you're issue with this and if the shop was normal, I'd agree with you. But that money isn't going to the creator, ok? It's fine to pay a bit less on something you like, alright?" He reassures Okarun.
"If you really want to support the author, creator whatever, then buy it cheap now to support them later, alright?"
They stared at each other in silence, before Okarun relented.
"Fine. But ¥150 is still too low."
With a sigh, Alex relents too. "Ok, how about ¥300?"
"Deal."
Okarun drops some coins into his hand, each of them disappearing after contact.
"Pleasure doing business with ya. Anything else to help you with?" He grins at the two, Momo still a bit upset.
"No thank you." Okarun bows, turning to leave.
Before pausing, turning back around hesitantly.
"Uh, do... do you know anything that could help with control? Like, over a power or something?" His voice quiets near the end, barely audible.
...
'System? You wanna help for once?'
*To unlock spiritual medicine, sell at least 100,000 MC of product or trade in value equal to it*
'MC?'
*Multiversal Credits. The currency the Yen has been exchanged to*
'...why are you being helpful right now?'
Silence.
"Figures." He whispers, before locking back onto Okarun. "Sorry, but we're out of stock for the moment. In the future when this place has grown a bit more, then I should be able to help you out."
Okarun's face has initially dropped at the start, only to brighten up with stars in his eyes near the end. "Really? You can help?"
'Yeah, but try to learn to control it yourself first alright? I'm not sure what my help will look like, but shortcuts are rarely a good first option."
"Right!" He nods, before they leave the shop, a small ding on the way out being the last sound echoing through the store.
*New Objective: Sell or Trade 100,000 MC worth of value*
"Huh." Alex looks at the new message. "Back to the same old then?"
He was met with silence.