Chapter 3 Part 5
Side: Anastasia
A place where the commoner’s hard-earned money was squeezed out of them and used to decorate with luxurious and dazzling items ── the Portes family’s mansion.
I don’t know how many times I’ve been here.
I always feel guilty and nauseous when I come here after finishing my task or when I’m here for a progress report. As I thought, I still can’t get used to it.
In one of the many rooms of the mansion, I was talking to Abe-san, the representative of the Portes family.
“Still, I was surprised when you came in as a transfer student”
“Um… er… m-me too. I didn’t expect that one of the head family’s lineage is enrolled in Altena Magic Academy…. What’s more, a mock battle was carried out to deliberately make you two fight… it’s unbelievable…”
“Wasn’t that a splendid performance, did you know about that?”
Master… no, I think he’s talking about Ephthal-sama’s power.
Of course, I knew about it. I also indirectly imply it several times, “It’s better not to fight”.
However, he didn’t listen to me and was the one who forced the mock battle to take place.
“…I didn’t expect that… humans to have that much power…”
That being said, I don’t know what kind of resentment Abe-san would feel if I were to tell him I knew about it.
That’s why I think it’s safer to say it this way.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Still… to give that person the Raikiri, that damn old hag, Merlin, sure took a liking to him, huh?”
“Um, uh… is this really the last time?”
“You make it sound like you are reluctant to obey us?”
“…I’m sorry…. It’s not pleasant to be in thievery”
“The curse of the special slave crest… the thief of our Portes family, huh. Haha, well, it’s all your guys’ fault for losing the war against our family three hundred years ago”
“…We will obey the Portes family in exchange for not beheading my family and retainers… that has been the special contract between my family and yours since way back then…”
“So, as a family of magic swordsmen, have you got what we wanted?”
I then presented the Raikiri that I had stolen from Ephthal-sama.
“…I was sent to the Edwards household and was unable to carry out the task of stealing the former Demon King’s equipment. I’m sorry”
“Oh, I don’t care about that. So long as we get what we want, we have no complaints”
So I asked Abe-san again.
“…Is this really the last time?”
“Yeah, that’s the arrangement. Five artifacts per generation… for the time being, the contract is remitted”
“Finally… finally, this is the end of it…”
“However, the slave crest implanted in your lineage will not disappear. It’ll be the same thing again in the next generation. Anyway, you have done well. I will report to Father and discuss with him how you will be treated in the future. Wait until tomorrow morning… also, as a reward, I’ll let you stay at this mansion today”
“Me…? Is it okay… for me to stay in this mansion? I’m lower than an ordinary slave in this mansion… no, in the first place, I’m a sinner in the eyes of the world, right? Even the fact that I have a connection with a special slave crest should not be known to other families…”
“Yeah, that’s right. So if you want to stay, you’ll stay in the stables”
“…Ah, yes. I knew it”
“Haha, I’m just kidding. Now, don’t get me wrong here. It’s true that’s how we’ve been treating you until now… but we can’t treat the person who brought us the Raikiri the cold shoulder. Just for tonight, we’ll treat you as a guest”
“…Thank you very much”
“But can’t you do something about the way you talk? Also, your timid attitude irritates me, you know?”
“…I’m sorry”
How can I have confidence in myself?
Even though it’s coercion, I’m still a thief…. But saying that will make him even more irritated.
“I’d like to hit you like I usually do, but I’ll be nice to you today”
I was then led into a luxurious guest room.
I sat on the fluffy bed and saw some fresh fruits served on a nearby table.
This is also the result of the five artifacts that have been presented to the Portes family, my quota, in accordance with their order.
My older sister presented three, and I presented the remaining two. All of those items were stolen over the time after risking our lives.
“I have betrayed Ephthal-sama…”
It’s always been the case that the rich are good-for-nothings.
That’s why I hadn’t been feeling so guilty before, but this time I have betrayed a decent person.
I felt so bad that not even the black tea and the tea cake that the maid had left for me earlier are going down my throat.
To think that today’s stay in this luxurious room is the price for betrayal… it only makes me feel depressed.
But still, this was the only choice I had.
So, I lay on the bed, turned off the lights… and slowly closed my eyes.
── I’m sure I’ll have that dream again today.
But this is the last time.
After all, my atonement is… over now.
And so I fell into a deep sleep.
── I had an older sister.
She was ten years older than me. When I was little, she was always hard on me.
And that’s because my elderly parturient mother gave birth to me, and a few days later ── she passed away.
“You caused our mother’s death. I wish you had never been born”
For as long as I can remember, I was always hurt by those words.
Naturally, as I learned to understand more and more, I began to hate my sister.
── When I was seven years old.
My sister left the village and went to work in the outside world.
We used to be a noble family, but now it has fallen into ruin. We are not affluent, too.
And so, about every six months… my sister would come back home, but she didn’t seem to bring any money back home.
However, her clothes were always pretty, and her hair was properly maintained.
Even though our father works every day from morning to night on the farm, so I thought she was really a shameless and foolish sister.
As a bonus, she would always find fault at me by saying, “You caused our mother’s death. I wish you had never been born,” to me.
Then one day, when I was twelve years old… as my sister accosted me as usual ──
“I hate you. Please don’t come back home ever again”
I said to my sister.
My sister was a strong-willed person, so I thought we would get into a huge fight. But, she only said gently with a sad tone, yet still looking glad ──
“…Don’t become someone like me”
I felt refreshed when I said that, but at the time, I didn’t think that my sister would never come back alive.
As it turned out, a few months later, my sister’s corpse was sent back home.
It was then that I learned the truth from my father.
One, that my sister died from being tortured in retaliation for the failed theft of an artifact.
Two, our family was once the royalty of a small country and was cursed with a special slave crest as war responsibility.
Three, we must decide who among the direct descendants of the current generation will receive the curse of the special slave crest. It doesn’t matter if they’re the eldest daughter or the younger sister.
In short, not only did my sister never tell me, but she took the brunt of the family’s curse alone without letting me know anything about it.
She was deliberately making me hate her… so that I wouldn’t be saddened by her constant absence or shocked when she was caught as a thief.
With pretty clothes and great hair care, for the task of stealing artifacts… it was inevitable to use women’s beauty as a weapon.
When I heard the truth, I had a thought.
── She really was a shameless and foolish sister….
If her younger sister will eventually find out the truth….
── Just how much regret and sorrow does she think there will be for those that were left behind?
I cursed my sister one last time without realizing that I was surrounded by deep, profound love.
I can no longer take back… the last moment abusive words that I spat up.
All I could do was just shed tears for my sister’s corpse.
── The next day.
After breakfast, I was called to Abe’s room.
As one would expect, it’s a uselessly luxurious room, decorated in poor taste. I even felt slightly nauseous.
“I didn’t know this either, so it’s no wonder you didn’t know… that if you present five artifacts in one generation, you would be let go in that generation, right?”
“Er… I’m pretty sure my sister has presented three, and I have presented two. We should have finished the quota now”
“Sure, some people have won their freedom by doing just that, but it’s actually just a private promise between individuals in the past generations”
“……?”
I titled my head, whereupon Abe’s lips twisted into an amused smirk.
“According to my father, don’t let someone so outstanding that they can bring the Raikiri to you end right there”
“…What do you mean…?”
“What I mean is that you’ll be doing the same thing for a while”
“…Then… what did my sister die for?”
“Huh? I don’t even know your sister”
“…We have presented five artifacts in our generation. Three of them were presented by my sister”
“So? What’s your point?”
“Er… I think my sister… stole for me with no regard to how it is done ── and died as a result”
Hearing that, Abe just keeps on smirking.
That’s right, even though I told him my sentiment on the dead, this man just….
“Um… uh… er… I’m sorry. I’m going to ask you again, okay? What did my sister die for? How do you think my sister would feel when she believed that meeting the quota will bring us closer to freedom…?”
When I grabbed Abe’s shoulder and tried to question him again ──
“Hell if I know!? Get off me, you dog!”
He kicked me in my stomach, and I collapsed to the ground.
“N-… no way…”
“Regardless. You will present the remaining five artifacts, and when you bear the next child and engrave the slave crest on the next dog, I’ll release you. I really do promise you this”
Finally, with a mocking grin on his face, Abe said ──
“And with that, you can get started with the next task”
A bunch of paper with a list of artifacts that the Portes family wanted was thrown down in front of me as I crumbled down to my knees.
“………”
“What is your answer?”
“…Um, er… er… I… I…”
“What is your answer?”
“Er… uh… um… I… my sister… uh…”
“I’m just going to say this one more time, okay? What is your answer?”
The slave crest is absolute. If I oppose it, death awaits me.
But….
At that moment, hot, burning emotions started to flare up inside me, deep in my heart.
From the very depths of my heart, I felt it, “── !!”. The voiceless wailing, the cries of my soul, were about to flood up from my throat.
“Oh? What’s with the defiant look?”
“…U… u… u! *Growl* ── !”
But my anger didn’t translate into any meaningful words, it was just a… soft growl.
“Oh? What, are you going to cry? Why are you blushing? Ah, you are crying?”
Just as he said, I noticed that tears were endlessly running down my cheeks.
“Haha! This is seriously funny, you know?”
All I could do was a scowl.
All I could do was cry.
I couldn’t talk back.
I couldn’t hit him back.
“Wait! Hey!”
── I just had to get out of here.
“Whatever. You can’t escape. As long as you still have the slave crest, you have to come back soon, or you’ll die. The time limit is three days. In the meantime, cool your head”
As soon as I finished listening to the words that were hurled at my back, I opened the door and left.
After leaving the mansion ──
I was wandering in a half-dazed state.
I couldn’t put my thoughts together. All I could see in my hazy state of mind was a sepia-colored landscape.
Before I knew it, I noticed the time was well past dusk.
At a water fountain in the middle of the main street in a park.
I sat on a bench and looked up at the starry sky.
── Even though I thought I was going to be free, he easily reneged on his promise….
Without single care of how my sister… and I felt…!
They don’t think of us as people. No, I doubt that they even treat us like dogs.
I could feel my tears ready to burst out.
“It’s not safe for a woman to be alone this late at night”
Before I knew it, three men had surrounded me.
“……”
With a flicker of a knife, the man grabbed my shoulder.
“Too scared to speak?”
“……”
“Hey, we’re not going to kill you. Just have fun with us for a couple of hours, and then we will let you go”
Hearing that, I laughed to myself.
“…Um… er… you will let me go? Where’s the guarantee that after those couple of hours… I’ll really be free?”
That’s right.
If I continue to listen to them, I still have no guarantee of freedom.
The only thing I am sure of is that if the slave crest is passed on to the next generation, my children will feel the same way.
── In the end, as long as we have this ancestral special slave crest… there would be no future for us.
“Well, anyway… let’s have you head to the back alley for a bit”
He grabbed my arm and dragged me halfway into the back alley.
I didn’t even have the energy to resist.
I felt like anything, and everything was too bothersome and ambiguous.
It’s like I’m not in control of my own body. I feel like… I was standing on the sidelines somewhere far away like a stranger.
It doesn’t matter what’s going to happen anymore.
── I might as well just go with the flow.
Feeling desperate, I also know that I’m not in a good situation right now.
But I just ── felt weak and exhausted.
And so, after being dragged into the back alley, they started unbuckling their belts.
“We are so lucky to have such a beauty walking around by herself”
“You’re right. I guess this is what happens when you’re always well-behaved…!”
“No, no, I’m pretty sure we’re always ill-behaved! Well, anyway, we’re lucky!”
The world is full of malice.
The irrationality of this world is that… time changes and places change, but malice is surely still there, unchanged.
While still deep in my thoughts ── the face of that person came to mind.
He was the only person who could brush away the malice that had appeared before me.
That’s right, only that person… had the power to blow away all the irrational things in front of me.
If I had that overwhelming power of his… I could… no, or if I had told him everything and relied on him….
However, it’s all too late now.
I have betrayed him, and I don’t deserve it anymore.
When one of the men started trying to forcefully tear off my clothes ──
Chapter 4
Chapter 4 – Game Of Tag
Now, it’s been a few days since I was reincarnated into this world.
Until today, I haven’t been involved in any huge events, and I’ve been able to spend my days in a meaningful way.
In the morning, I had breakfast with Lilith, and at noon, I studied magic in the library.
After eating a pre-made lunch, I took a short break.
When I woke up, I shut myself in the library and studied some more while waiting for Lilith’s return. This is my daily life at present.
After all, I’ve been sleeping for the past two hundred years.
So I have a lot of work to do.
However, there is only one compelling event in the early afternoon that cannot be avoided.
“Heh heh! I’m here again today, you chicken!”
The person who burst through the door with a ‘bang’ was a neighborhood brat with burnt amber blond hair.
Ever since that day, this rich kid of nobility (younger brother) has been coming here almost every day to interfere with my studies.
Well, I can’t help but understand Ted’s feelings here.
He probably wants to have someone his age to play with.
I close my book with a ‘thwomp’.
However.
Naturally, I have no obligation to go along with Ted’s games.
“H-Hey! Wait! Er, commoner!”
I’m sorry. Rich kid of nobility.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the time to be bothered with a child, I’m afraid.
I used body strengthening magic to strengthen my legs and jump out of the window, landing on the roof of the house next door.
“Ehhhhh!? W-What’s with you! That move!?”
I’m still far from my top form, but I’ve gotten used to dealing with a child’s body.
The body strengthening magic was less than 1/100 of what it had been during my prime, but it looks like that was enough to surprise Ted.
“Damn it! I’ll do it, too!”
Ted imitated my movements and jumped out the window.
Hmm.
Tentatively, it seems that he can use body strengthening magic, too.
However, the speed at which the magic power flows was too fast. He’s not doing the basics at all.
Body strengthening is magic that clads your body in magic power like armor.
And magic power is like water that is released from the body.
This is a mischievous waste of magic power.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
That’s what I mean. Now, do you see?
Ted tried to imitate my movements with his immature magic, but he didn’t gain enough distance to jump over and ended up falling into a nearby bush.
“…Hey. Are you okay?”
I don’t think that it is the case, but he’s not dead, is he?
Give me a break.
One can’t avoid trouble if something happens to a noble, no matter how much the other party is at fault.
“Come on! Wait! You chicken!”
Oh? I think I may have underestimated Ted a bit.
This rich kid of nobility is surprisingly tough.
With a blade of grass on his forehead, Ted emerged from the bushes and charged straight at me like a wild boar.
Now. What should I do?
I can avoid him, or I also can make him fall, but it’s troublesome.
Without saying a word, I lightly jumped over Ted in the manner of a horse vaulting or a leapfrog.
“AAHHH!”
Ted lost his balance and fell flat on his face.
It seems like he has taken a nasty tumble, but I showed restraint, so there’s probably not much damage done.
“W-What the hell! You’re just a chicken! I’m pissed off! I’m so pissed off!!”
You should learn a little more vocabulary, don’t you think?
In a fit of rage, Ted rolls around on the ground, throwing tantrums.
“Don’t worry about it. If you train diligently for another twenty years or so, you’ll be able to become good, won’t you?”
I’m dealing with a child here. So let’s console him a little.
If I think about it, the average skill level of the magicians in this era is not known to me.
“You! You!! You’re supposed to be my underling!!”
Ted is getting more and more vexing.
No, no! I don’t remember being your underling.
Oh. I know.
I might have come up with a good idea.
“Hmm. Ted. I can be your underling”
“Oh! Ooh! Did you finally feel like it!? I’ll compliment you!”
“Yeah. However, on one condition”
I closed the book I had opened earlier and looked at the muffler around my neck.
Ever since Lilith taught me how to use this muffler, I have come to like it as a cold-weather protective gear.
By nature, this area is at a high altitude and is surrounded by snow for about half the year, so I was thankful for the convenient cold-weather protective gear.
“Let’s see. If you can take this muffler away from me by sunset, I’ll become your underling”
At any rate, this rich kid of nobility would come to interfere with my studies.
In that case, I think it would be better to use him as a workout partner to both spend worthwhile time together.
I was just looking for an opportunity to find out how talented the magicians of this era are.
“Alrighty! I just have to take that muffler, right!? Easy peasy!”
Ted looks like he’s up for it.
But where the hell does his confidence come from?
“Well then, get set ── go”
“Here I come!!”
When I used body strengthening magic to jump onto the roof of a private house, Ted followed me up through a nearby wooden crate.
Thus, the game of tag on the roof with Ted began.
～～～～～～～～～～～～
Apparently, Ted has realized his inept use in body strengthening magic.
After that, he didn’t use much magic and hops around like a rabbit to chase me.
Hmm.
This surprised me a little.
I guess everybody, no matter who has at least one merit.
In Ted’s case, he doesn’t look like he has any talent for magic, and his face doesn’t have the most flattering of features.
On top of that, he is dumb.
Even if you take away the fact that he is a child, he doesn’t seem to have a shred of intelligence at all.
But….
Somehow, he seems to have a ‘reasonable’ level of ‘stamina’.
Even though he is a child, I have to give him some credit for not giving up and continue chasing after me this far.
“Why…why…. Why are you so calm!?”
Well, that’s because I was trained differently than an ordinary child.
Even two hundred years ago, no magician could keep up with my speed when I went all out.
At best, Roy, the Hero of the Wind, might be able to put up a good fight.
“There’s still time before sunset, but do you want to give up?”
“Da-mn it!! Damn you!!”
Ted reached straight for my muffler.
Slow. It’s already too late.
There is no way a direct attack without a feint could reach me.
With one hand, I toyed with him and took a step back.
“AAAHHHH! No more! I can’t take it…anymore…!”
With a strange cry, Ted fell flat on his face with a thud.
Hmm. So this is where Ted’s limits are.
To be honest, I thought it would take at most five minutes, but I think he stuck it out for about 20 minutes.
This was an unexpected result.
Even if he is spoiled, he’s still a noble after all.
I guess he had been doing some basic fitness training regularly.
“R-Remember this…! Someday…! Someday I’ll definitely…!”
In any case, Ted seemed to have already given up.
It can’t be helped
It’s about time that I stopped exercising and headed back to the library.
Just as I turned on my heels and was about to head back to the house.
Hmmm?
What’s that?
Looking out over the scenery from the roof, I could make out the familiar figures of my neighbor in their large mansion.
“Bass, was it? That child”
The rich kid of nobility (older brother), Bass, seems to be talking to Lilith about something.
What are they talking about? I’m curious.
<<Body Strengthening Magic, Enhanced Hearing>>
After my ears perked up slightly, I could hear the conversation very clearly.
Change of scope, extremely small.
I used to use <<Body Strengthening Magic, Enhanced Hearing>> to listen in on the enemy’s operations, and while I was thinking about it, I focused on their conversation.
“…Like I’ve said many times. I can’t go out with you, Bass-sama”
Hmm. It seems to be a bloodbath.
But. I see.
Well, Lilith has become quite beautiful, hasn’t she?
He may look composed, but Bass is a boy at that age, too.
If a beautiful woman like Lilith is working close by, it would also be understandable that he would feel curious about her.
“What are you not satisfied with me!?”
If I had to say it, deep down, I think it’s probably that attitude of his, feeling just a little sorry for him.
It must be hard to be rejected by a woman, even if he’s just a child.
Even more difficult for a proud noble like Bass.
“No. It’s not that I’m dissatisfied. I already have someone else in my heart”
“…You mean that guy called Abel?”
“Yes. That’s right. Anyway, I’m sorry, but I’m not thinking of going out with Bass-sama. Please give up”
Come to think of it, I read that in a book on miscellaneous topics recently.
That there’s no better moment for a woman to become cruel than when she’s being courted by a man she doesn’t like. I feel like that’s exactly what’s happening right now.
“I-I can’t believe you’re in love with your blood brother! You are immoral! You should be ashamed of yourself!”
He shouted. Bass, who had been rejected, was running away in defeat with tears in his eyes.
It’s unfortunate.
It’s not like I’m Lilith’s younger brother, but it’s probably easier to be consistent with that setting.
Lilith also looked a little troubled. Then she went back to her work.
Now.
Let’s pretend that I didn’t see this incident and forget about it to the best of my ability.
It seems like it’s time for me to get moving, too. I don’t need to look back to know that.
“Great・Ted・Kick!”
I casually dodged the dropkick from Ted, who was shouting the name of his technique.
“Damn it! J-Just how did you manage to avoid my attack!?”
I can grasp the actions of this rich kid of nobility perfectly, even with my eyes closed.
If you want to get behind me, you’ll probably have to start by learning how to remove your presence.
“Ugh. N-No more…! I’ve reached my limit…”
In the end, that kick was Ted’s last attack.
Having exhausted all of his magic power, Ted faints with his eyes rolled back into his head.
Was it a failure?
I might have gone a little too hard on him, being that it’s only his first day.
But surprisingly, Ted seemed to like this game.
As a result, the game of tag between Ted and me would continue as part of our daily routine from the next day onwards.
As for me, it’s part of my training to move my body, not just reading books in a library.
It can also be said that I have a convenient pastime (workout partner) now.
Chapter 5 Part 2
◆ ◆
“Now then…. I’ve finally gotten some money. With this, hopefully, I can get a good sword”
I murmured after leaving the guild.
“Three hundred gold coins is just…some money!? Kurt, just how rich are you!? You must have lost your sense for money”
No sense for money, huh?
Three hundred gold coins is a lot of money.
It seems that the monetary value hasn’t changed much since my previous life, so I can understand that much.
However, if I really want to buy a good sword, then three hundred gold coins just isn’t enough.
For example, a thousand years ago, the ‘Magic Sword, Riadojiku’ had a value of two hundred million gold coins.
It is said that a single swing with that magic sword can destroy a country, though that’s only limited to places that do not have a decent barrier.
…Well, I did make that magic sword myself.
“Kurt. It’s a silly question, but didn’t you think of making one yourself?”
asked Marise.
“Marise-chan! There’s no way a sword can be made that easily!”
“That’s true…but somehow I feel like Kurt can do it”
“That’s just impossible! After all, Kurt is a mage, remember? He is not a blacksmith ──”
“I can make one”
“Ehh!?”
Lara widened her eyes.
Hmm. Lara’s reactions are so amusing that I never get tired of watching it.
“I’ve had swords before, but they never felt right. So I learned that it’s faster to make one myself”
Of course, this is a story from my previous life.
“It’s faster to make one yourself…. I don’t think that’s normal”
“It is said that one will require more than twenty years of rigorous training to become a full-fledged blacksmith”
Marise replied with her arms folded.
“I can also make it now. But there isn’t enough material. To create a sword that can satisfy me, I might need to at least dive through one hundred layers of the <<Treasure Labyrinth>>”
But then again, it’s a small labyrinth, so it is a question of whether there are materials that I need even if I go up to a hundred layers.
Buying a sword now is just a means to an end.
“So…do any of you know of a good weapon store in the royal capital?”
When I asked, Lara and Marise almost simultaneously replied.
“I know! It’s No.1 in the royal capital…no, the weapon store is said to be the best in the world!”
“That weapon store is famous. That’s why people from all over the world came looking for their weapons there”
Oh?
That sounds promising.
“Then, let’s get going, shall we? I’m counting on you two to guide me there”
We arrived at the weapon store they had mentioned, but I was shocked when I walked into the store.
“This is the best weapon store in the world…?”
From my point of view, none of them look like much.
“As expected of the work of the famous craftsman, Vera-san”
“These are all magnificent items”
Lara held a sword, and Marise held a bow. Their eyes were sparkling.
Do they really think that the weapons are good?
…Neither of those two weapons has been enchanted with magic, you know?
“Doesn’t this armor look amazing?”
As we walked around the store, Lara spotted a piece of armor.
“Even if a Behemoth were to trample it, it wouldn’t budge”
Marise is also admiring the armor.
Indeed, the iron armor is so sturdy in appearance that it seems capable of withstanding attacks from all sides, too.
However.
“That armor is nothing much, you two. This one over here is much more impressive…than that”
I picked up the armor on the opposite side of the iron armor.
“Huh? That’s…”
“I-It’s just a swimsuit, isn’t it!? You can’t defend against an attack with that…. Kurt is ecchi!”
“What are you talking about?”
This is the protective gear known as ‘bikini armor’.
“Don’t be fooled by its appearance. It seems that this bikini armor has been enchanted with magic resistance. This armor will protect you from attacks better than that merely heavy and hard to move armor over there”
However, the magic that it has been enchanted with has many defects and far from useful to me…but still, it is somewhat more useful than the armor that Lara and Marise focused on.
“Really? You are not just distracted by ecchi thoughts, are you…?”
“In that case, you should try it on. Because then Marise might understand, too”
“Eh…? W-Well, easier said than done now, isn’t it…?”
I’ve heard that it takes girls a long time to get dressed. So let’s use magic to get her changed in an instant.
Without waiting for a reply from Marise, I snap my fingers.
Then, Marise was enveloped by light in an instant, and there she was, wearing the bikini armor.
“Whoa, Marise-chan! It looks good on you!”
Lara got excited.
“What just happened!? Ugh…it feels drafty here, I’m feeling a little restless”
For some reason, Marise, with tears in her eyes, tries to cover herself with both of her arms.
As Lara said, the bikini armor looked good on her with her good figure.
She has slender white limbs and small but well-shaped twin hills. Her buttocks are firm and supple.
Hmm. Not only magic, but I can see that she also trains her body. She really does have a good body.
“So, what do you think?”
“…It’s amazing. Somehow, I can feel the magic power all over my body. It’s like I’m getting warm…aah, the feeling is kind of addicting”
“I see. If you like it, shall I buy it for you?”
“B-But it’s still embarrassing after all! Besides, I don’t want to rely on Kurt all the time. If I want to buy one, I’ll save up and buy it myself!”
“That’s the spirit”
With another snap of my fingers, I returned Marise to her original dress.
Now, I’m not here to buy protective gear this time. I came here to buy a weapon.
I look away from Marise, who is blushing with embarrassment, and walk around the store again.
It was hard to find anything good, though.
“Do you have any weapons that…oh?”
Still looking for a weapon, I found it in an inconspicuous corner.
“Oh…? This seems to be serviceable”
I held the sword and was about to use my analysis magic, Analyse, to find out more when ──
“Mm, the boy over there. You’ve noticed that sword?”
I turn around.
Before I knew it, there was a girl with a striking pair of big, round eyes standing in front of me.
“Oh, just now, you must have thought I was a child, didn’t you!? That’s not true. I’m the owner of this store, you know?”
The girl puffed with pride.
However ── perhaps because I’d just met Angelica ── I couldn’t believe that the petite body, flat-chested girl was telling the truth.
“It’s Vera-san!”
“Hm, Lara. Is this child the one you called the famous craftsman?”
“She’ll get angry if you talk like that. She has been out in public a lot, so I know her face”
Hmm, it seems that this girl ── Vera, is telling the truth.
“Do you believe me now?”
“Yeah”
“Then that’s good! Well, let me tell you something…. That’s the best weapon in the store. I’ve been keeping it out of sight for a while now…, but how did you notice it?”
The store owner looked at me suspiciously.
“First of all, processing the material Orichalcum is good, and that must have taken a lot of time. It’s been done with such care that it’s still eighty-seven percent pure, and it’s clear just by looking at it that every micrometer of it has been taken care of”
“Boy, you know your stuff! I’ve heard your earlier exchange about the bikini armor, too. Most people only look at the armor on the other side. However…, you’ve found a really good piece of protective gear out of all of them. I thought it was just a coincidence when you noticed the bikini armor, but it looks like that wasn’t the case”
Vera was all smiles.
“I like you! I didn’t expect you to see through it so much at a mere glance. If it’s you, I’ll sell you that sword!”
As she clenched my hands tightly.
This sword is definitely the most decent thing I have seen so far after I have reincarnated.
This gave me a sense of Vera’s ability as a blacksmith.
And so I asked her.
“Yes. Then I’ll buy this one. What’s the price for it?”
“Don’t be surprised when you hear it. It’ll cost…a hundred gold coins! Not a cent less!”
“Here’s one hundred gold coins. Please check to confirm”
“Fufufu, was a hundred gold coins a little too much for you? But do continue to work harder to buy this sword, boy! As for you who have seen my excellent sword, you should be able to buy it if you work hard as an adventurer for three years…no, one year…wait, eh!?”
Vera, who was talking pleasantly, suddenly looked surprised when she saw the pile of gold coins in the bag.
“A-Are you a child of nobility…? In that case, that makes sense. You have received special education ever since you were a little boy. So that probably explains why you were able to see right through the weapons I’ve made. Haha, hahaha!”
Vera gave a nervous laugh and stepped back.
I’m not a noble, though. She seems to be mistaken.
“Well then, from now on, that sword belongs to you! Take good care of it”
“Thank you very much”
I bowed.
I gripped the sword again and held the blade up to the light.
“Kurt, good for you! It really suits you!”
“Yes, it sure is cool…, rather than that, Lara! You don’t need a cool weapon! Functionality is more important!”
“Ehh…, isn’t it better to be cool or cute?”
While Lara and Marise were fussing about something, I had finished analyzing it.
“All right, let’s go work on this sword at once”
“Hmm?”
“I’ll improve it”
When I said that, Vera’s eyes couldn’t have been more widely opened.