Once the door had finally finished opening, I saw the room I will be staying in for the foreseeable future.
In front of me there was a single nightstand, a dresser, and a wooden bed. The room is made of wood and there is a very small window at the end. Albeit this room is fairly bleak, it is not much of a step down from my previous lodgings.
I placed my clothes inside of the dresser and sat down on the bed. It isn't even 7 A.M. yet, so people are still probably asleep. I wonder how Biar and Reese are doing? I hope Terry will adjust to his job smoothly.
Putting aside my worries as I began to unfocus my eyes.
"Status."
I saw my status screen open in front of me. The faint green light from this prism illuminated the room around me. After I brought the prism up, I released it. I repeated this action around 30 times.
"Magic is cool." I said out loud to the empty room.
Albeit I'm acting like a child that is enamored with their new toy, I can't help it. This is simply too intriguing. Summoning this prism is not draining, so I'm wondering where exactly the energy comes from. The prism isn't something only I can see since Yimmie was able to see it as well and I was able to see hers. I wonder how bright this prism actually is. Can I use it while moving?
I began to test my questions and discovered a few things. First: I cannot move once I have summoned the prism or else it will dissipate. I can move my arms and legs, but I cannot walk around. Second: The light from the prism is very faint. Even inside of the room while the curtains were drawn, it was hard to see the inside of the room, though the light was constant instead of wavering as a flame would.
After trying this new ability out several times, I feel like I have a solid grasp on how this ability feels and I can naturally handle it. I probably need more practice, but currently this ability isn't a big deal when it comes to my ability to adventure. I will push aside the practice for myself in the future.
I stood up from the bed and grabbed my remaining 1680 juns.
"Alright."
I stepped back out of my room, locked the door behind me, and headed back outside. It's time to shop for equipment.
The current time is about 7 A.M. I don't have a clock so I don't know the exact time, but my biological clock is fairly accurate so I have no reason to doubt myself. I went to the market district and found a gear supply shop. I grasped my juns by my waist and stepped inside.
"Welcome. What do you need?"
Inside of the store on several racks there are various items including travel gear, backpacks, cooking supplies, and a large a.s.sortment of tools for camping. This shop is the exact place I need to stop by first.
There is a man standing at the counter. The man is notably plump and is bald but has a big bushy beard. His clothes are b.u.t.toned up, but his stomach is bulging out enough to strain the b.u.t.tons.
"I plan on doing a bit of adventuring so I need some supplies."
"Ah! A new adventurer. You're welcome to this shop! Take a look around, don't be shy!"
I took the shopkeeper's request and began to look around. I need a few items, so I began listing each item out loud.
"I need a rucksack, a sleeping bag, a flint stick, a couple torches, some dinnerware including something to cook on, and some rope. Do you have pitons too?"
"aah I see you know what you're talking about… Yes I'll help you get those items."
The shopkeeper waddled out from behind the counter and led me through the shop.
"This rucksack is made of solid material! It will last under tough conditions for at least a year without major wear and tear or your money back! This rucksack also has a strap to place your sleeping bag on it and has plenty of storage s.p.a.ce. It even comes with a flint stick like you wanted! I guarantee your satisfaction!"
"Alright! Let's get this then."
"Very good sir! I'll bring it to the front."
The shopkeeper took the rucksack down and brought it to the front.
"Alright, and you said you needed a sleeping bag, some dinner wear, a few torches, and some rope and pitons? Do you want a hammer to go along with that?"
"Yes please."
"Alright. This sleeping bag is well insulated. It's not the softest one we have but it will keep you warm in the cold and it will keep the bugs out. In my opinion this is the best quality for price."
"I'll take your advice then!"
"Very good!"
Once again, the shopkeeper took the items to the counter.
"Now about that dinnerware… Let's see…"
The shopkeeper paced between aisles of items. He stopped at a set of pans with a few bowls and some cutlery.
"Ah. This is perfect. This set contains four plates, four bowls, four sets of utensils, and a steel pan to cook with. This should work perfectly on your travels!"
"Add it to the pile!"
"You got it lad!"
The shopkeeper happily hummed as he brought the items to the counter.
"And your final items… Some torches, some rope, pitons, and a hammer… How much rope do you need?"
After taking a moment to do some rough math, I decided on a number.
"At least 40 feet of rope. I also need 4 pitons as well. The hammer can be made of anything as long as it's durable."
"Wonderful. I'll have that settled for you as soon as possible. Come up to the counter while I get your materials sorted out!"
The shopkeeper went into the back room and I stepped up to the counter. I waited for a moment before the shopkeeper brought out the items I had requested.
"Alright! Let me just total up all of your items…"
The shopkeeper looked gleefully at the listing of items that I had requested and after a moment gave a big toothy smile.
"I'll throw the hammer in for free. Your total comes out to 400 juns even."
400 juns. A whole week of work in a single purchase. Not even having a life altering spell cast on me cost that much.
"All together this is 400 juns?"
"Yes. Each item here is of guaranteed quality or your money back… except for the hammer of course since you got that for free! Haha!"
This is a lot of money to spend all at once. Though I know I can handle spending this much, I also know that spending so much so quickly will only result in my ruin. I can't depend on this money forever so I need to stretch it out as much as possible.
I'm weighing my options.
"May I ask how often people come in to purchase things like this?"
"Well, usually people don't buy them all at once. Most new adventurers have barely even a single jun to their name. 400 juns is quite the sum for your average person so I can't be surprised when they save up for a while to purchase the items… No we do not do layaway either."
Maybe I overdid it on the saving? I'm sitting on over ten thousand juns in my bank account at the moment and according to what this man said, I am sitting on the equivalent of a small fortune. Perhaps I don't need to worry as much as I am.
After a bit of hesitation, I pulled out 5 coins out of my hip pouch and handed them to the shopkeeper.
"Here's the 400 juns. Can I give you this extra 20 so that you have this delivered to room 4 on the third floor of the adventurers guild for me?"
"Certainly, I'll make the arrangements right now! Thank you for your purchase!" the shopkeeper said as he clapped his hands together and gave a big toothy smile.
Although I had just spent over a week's worth of earnings, I felt a sense of relief for having gotten the equipment I would immediately need for adventuring.
I examined the remaining juns in my hip pouch by putting my hand inside and feeling the value.
"1260 left. I have more in the bank, but it would be irresponsible to spend more than what I have right now without any income.
The next order of business is to get some weapons. I have the adamant.i.te dagger, but I can't rely on only that. I need another weapon that I can use for more general combat.
I began to search for a smithy.
After roughly thirty minutes of walking, I finally found what appeared to be a smithy. Smoke was billowing out of the top of it and I could hear the sound of clanking from inside. My stomach began to growl from hunger so I can surmise that It's now around 8 A.M. People have begun to wander the streets.
I went inside of the alleged smithy.
"Be with you in just a second! ♥"
That voice sounds familiar…
Despite the sound of the voice, I went further into the smithy. Along the walls there were tools and equipment that had been made of various metals. Swords, helmets, shields, and other instruments of violence were placed along walls and on display stands. The sound of a hammer against metal echoed throughout the building.
Suddenly, the echoing stopped and I heard someone walking. Out of the side room, a man with a hunched back, one large eye, and an unforgettable face emerged.
"Hm? You look familiar but I can't place you. You're a cutie though! ♥"
Oh no.
"How can I help you out, cutie? ♥"
This is the man that tried to do disgusting things to me while I was incarcerated 7 months ago. This man is named Tunne. I will never forget the nightmares he gave me.
I did an about face and began to walk out of the smithy.
"Oh no! Wait just a moment cutie! I guarantee my items are high quality and are well priced! No, don't go~!"
As I began to open the door to leave, a hand firmly grasped my wrist to stop me.
"Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with whipped cream on top?"
"Please leave me alone."
"That voice… That cold dismissal of my affection... I recognize it…"
Oh no.
"You're the cutie from the prison cell all that time ago! ♥"
I have a dagger this time, I'm not afraid of you. Bring it on.
"I'm so glad you found my shop! I'll give you a special discount! I call it the 'cuties cut-off' discount!"
Though I should forgive people if they're willing to change their ways. I think the Buddha said something like that once. Maybe it was Jesus. I'm not sure.
"I need a weapon that I can use as my main item. I don't plan on using anything heavy or bulky yet so a spear is out of the question. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Hm… A man like you… I would say a steel broadsword would do the trick!"
"A broadsword?"
"Yes! They're designed like a longsword but are intended to be used with only one hand. They're ideal for someone that plans to avoid attacks as opposed to withstanding them through something like armor."
What Tunne is saying makes sense to me. Ideally I will avoid attacks instead of getting hit by them. I don't know how much armor costs, however, so I should learn that before I try anything else.
"Do you sell armor?"
"Yes we do. I have all types ranging from basic leather to plate armor."
"How much is the plate armor?"
"A set of steel plate armor will run you 5000 juns with my cutie cut off discount."
"Nevermind."
"Have it your way!"
I can't just head out to adventure in my regular clothes but I can't drop that much money on a set of armor I don't even know if I can wear just yet either. What should I do?"
"How much is a leather cuira.s.s?"
"That would cost 100 juns. The broadsword will cost you 900 juns. In total you would be paying 1000 juns thanks to my cutie cut off discount! Is that okay with you?"
A leather cuira.s.s is superior to nothing. I also need something like a broadsword to fight with. I don't plan on using a shield since I like to keep a hand free, so this is probably the best course of action.
"Alright, I'll take those then. 1000 juns, correct?"
"Yes, 1000 juns. Not only are you a cutie, but you also have deep pockets! I'm falling for you more and more! ♥"
Despite being disgusted by this man, I put my hand into my hip pouch and grasped my hand tightly while thinking about 1000 juns. Another aspect to the currency of this world is that one can condense money into larger amounts by crushing coins of a set value together. After a moment, I pulled out a single 1000 jun coin and handed it to Tunne.
"Oh my~" he said as he took the coin from my hand.
"Now that I've been paid, it's time to fit~ you~! ♥"
Oh no.
Tunne pulled out a measuring tape and licked his lips as he got very close to me. I am going to keep my hand on my dagger just in case.
After a measurement that took far longer than I felt was necessary, Tunne went into the side room and procured a leather cuira.s.s and a steel broadsword for me. The cuira.s.s fit like a glove while the broadsword came with a sheath and a strap to keep around my waist. Despite the person running the shop, I cannot deny the quality of the items here.
"Come again cutie! ♥"
I held back the vomit in my mouth as I exited the store. I felt the remaining juns in my side pouch. From my starting 2000 I had, I have reduced it down to 260. I have spent the equivalent of a month's work worth of money in less than 3 hours. I took a deep breath and rationalized it as a starting investment. I'll be alright.
It's time to return to the guild. I bet there will be people there now.
