As it turns out, Tael has just about no money at all. According to Tael, this quest will take at least an entire day and we will have to spend the night outside of the wall. Since we're going to be spending a night outside, we need some supplies like food.
Thanks to the fact that Tael has no money, I have to pay for our supplies. Tael a.s.sured me that I would make my money back and more if we do well on this quest.
I paid an additional 40 juns to the guild to keep my room for another 2 days on top of my current investment since I need to keep my stuff somewhere. I went to my room and got my new rucksack and other supplies I purchased earlier today. Before I left, I put my hand inside of my money pouch and felt my remaining funds. I'm now sitting on a measly 210 juns. I have spent over a months worth of funds and I haven't even gone on a quest yet. I need to be careful from now on.
"Hey come on! You're rich, right? Only a rich person would have that much money on them! Come on you can spare the money! Pleeeeaaa.s.sseee?"
Eventually, I acceded to his constant begging and decided to pay for our supplies for the trip. Since it would only be 1 day, it shouldn't cost too much and I will be getting my money back from him once we get the payment for the quest.
"Oh, I walked here automatically."
"Hm? What is this place?"
I am standing outside of Reese and Biar's shop. I suppose coming here every day has programmed the directions into my mind so that I will now come here without thinking. I walked up to the front door and opened it with Tael in tow. The familiar ringing noise of the bell on the front door chimed with my entrance.
"Welcome! How may I…"
Terry trailed off as I entered the store and Tael began looking around quickly like a child in a candy store.
"Oh, how are you Kenji-san?"
"I'm alright, I'm just-"
Suddenly the side door opened and Biar came out.
"Hey Reese! You owe me 50 juns! Kenji-kun's back!" Biar shouted out the side room.
I heard a m.u.f.fled "d.a.m.n!" from the side room after Biar shouted out.
"So, here to get your job back? Reese and I had a bet, you see."
Despite what Biar was saying, I smiled and spoke through gritted teeth.
"h.e.l.lo Biar-san. No, I'm not here to get my job back. I'm here to shop for supplies. You see, Tael and I are going to be adventuring until tomorrow so I need some supplies for an overnight trip."
"Oh is that so? Reese, scratch that, he's here for supplies!"
I could hear an "Alright!" come from the side room once again.
"Well, take your time. I know I don't need to show you around."
With that, Biar went back into the side room. It's good to know that he hasn't changed at all since I quit.
"Kenji, what was that about? Do you know that guy?"
"I used to work here."
"Woah! That's awesome! Someone like you held a job like this at your age!"
"Hey, you and I are probably the same age. I'm 18 so I'm not a kid or anything."
"Fufufu! Kenji it seems you don't know something about half elves! We may resemble humans, but thanks to our mixed biology we actually age slower than them! I am older than you!"
Wait, I think I remember something like this from my games. Elves live for thousands of years and half elves live for a comparable time. Could it be that Tael is actually over a hundred years old?
"How old are you Tael?"
"I'm 19! Oof!"
After he made his declaration I punched him in the stomach. He led me on just to have such a s.h.i.tty payoff. I shouldn't be surprised by how much he's already done this, but I can't help it.
"P-please don't fight in the store, Kenji-san!"
"Don't worry, I just had to vent my frustration for a moment."
"Alright…"
It seems that Terry is scared of me now. I didn't mean to get violent in front of him but I just snapped suddenly. I should apologize before I leave.
As he was climbing back up from the floor, Tael saw something on the lower shelves.
"Hey hey, Kenji, let's get these! They're called 'tumric' and they look cool!"
"Tumric takes a long time to cook, so no. Let's get some rudvisk and a bit of meat to mix together. Oh also, Terry-san, I need 2 water skins filled with water. Can you go get those for me?"
"Um… Where are those, Kenji-san?" Terry asked me.
"Oh, they're in the side room."
"Alright I'll go get them! Thank you Kenji-san!"
With that, Terry went to the side room and left Tael and myself in the shop alone.
"While he's getting the water skins, let's gather the supplies. Only get what I say we get, alright? I'm the one paying for it after all."
"Are we going to steal anything while he's gone?"
"Eh?"
"Well I've read this in books before. You send the employee to the side room and steal something while they're gone! Honestly Kenji I never expected this from you!"
"I'm… not… stealing anything."
"Oh… alright. Yeah, now that I think about it, it's probably a good idea that we don't."
Despite that awkward interaction, we gathered our supplies and went up to the register. Terry soon returned from the side room with 2 full water skins.
"Thank you for telling me where they were, Kenji-san. Let me tally up your total."
After a moment of checking the ledger, Terry told me the price.
"Your total will be 56 juns."
"I don't get a former employee discount or anything?"
"h.e.l.l no!" I heard shouted from the side room.
Instead of causing problems, I pulled out the 56 juns that were requested and handed them to Terry.
"Here you go."
"Ah, thank you Kenji-san." Terry said as he sheepishly took the juns I was handing him.
We left the shop and Tael hopped up and down excitedly.
"Alright! Supplies acquired! I can't believe I'm going on a real quest today! I knew that today is the day!"
With that, we went towards the city's drawbridge.
