Chapter 12
The next morning, Felicia and I were walking down Belgrant's main street, not heading to the Adventurers' Guild.
Just as we'd discussed yesterday, we planned to look at weapons today.
Weapon shops lined both sides of the street. Some displayed swords and spears outside, while others sold only armor or staves.
"It's completely different from Valdis territory."
"It's a trading city, after all. And there are a lot of adventurers, too."
After walking a little farther, we spotted a sign above an entrance depicting a sword crossed with a shield.
"Shall we go in here?"
"Let's."
We went inside.
Swords lined every wall.
Daggers, longswords, greatswords. They came in all shapes and sizes.
I looked at a nearby price tag.
【Iron Sword: 28,000 Jenny】
【Steel Sword: 98,000 Jenny】
【Reinforced Steel Sword: 320,000 Jenny】
"Ninety-eight thousand..."
We went farther inside.
【Flamefang Sword: 1,280,000 Jenny】
"One million two hundred and eighty thousand?!"
Felicia's eyes widened beside me, too.
"That's expensive..."
"That one's made with Fire Lizard fangs."
The person who spoke to us was a middle-aged man wearing a leather apron.
Judging by his thick arms, he was probably the shopkeeper.
"A Fire Lizard?"
"It's a monster hunted by adventurers ranked B or higher. The materials themselves are expensive, and there aren't many craftsmen who can work with them."
I looked at the price tag again.
One million two hundred and eighty thousand Jenny.
It was far beyond what we could afford right now.
"Is this the most expensive sword you have?"
"In my shop, yeah."
"Are there even more expensive ones?"
"As many as you want."
The shopkeeper pointed outside.
"Go a little farther along Central Avenue, and there's a shop specializing in high-end gear. They only carry stuff used by high-ranking adventurers and nobles."
"How much do those cost?"
"If you're curious, go have a look. They've got swords that cost over ten million."
"Ten million..."
Felicia's voice grew quiet.
Even I couldn't imagine it.
"Are there adventurers who can afford something like that?"
"The shops wouldn't exist if there weren't."
The shopkeeper laughed.
"Once you reach A or S rank, some people delve deep into dungeons,
and bring back materials worth hundreds of thousands—or, if they're lucky, millions—from a single expedition."
"That much..."
The Western Dungeon we'd entered yesterday came to mind.
The magic stone and scales from the Stone Lizard we defeated on the third floor had sold for nine thousand Jenny.
It seemed the numbers changed completely the deeper you went.
"Shall we go take a look, then?"
Felicia asked.
"I'd like to see."
"We can't afford anything, though."
"Looking's free, isn't it?"
◇
Following the directions the shopkeeper had given us, we soon found a shop that looked like the one he meant.
Its exterior was completely different from the weapon shop we'd just visited.
Swords and armor were displayed individually behind large glass windows, and even a uniformed shop attendant stood at the entrance.
"...Are we really going in?"
"We've come this far."
We went inside.
It was quiet.
Instead of lining up lots of swords on shelves, they gave each weapon plenty of space.
I looked at the price tag on a nearby sword.
【Silver Sword: 2,450,000 Jenny】
"Two million four hundred and fifty thousand..."
Next to it was another sword.
【Thunder Crystal Sword: 5,800,000 Jenny】
Farther in,
a black sword sat alone on a separate stand.
【Black Dragon Sword: 12,800,000 Jenny】
"..."
"..."
Felicia and I stared at the price tag in silence.
"Twelve million eight hundred thousand..."
Felicia finally spoke.
"You could buy a house with that."
"You probably could."
A nearby shop attendant smiled.
"It's made using Black Dragon materials. It's currently the most expensive sword we carry."
"Do people actually buy it?"
"Of course."
The answer came without hesitation.
Felicia and I looked at each other.
"Shall we go back?"
"Yes."
We didn't belong in a place like this yet.
◇
When we returned to the first weapon shop, the shopkeeper looked at us and grinned.
"How was it?"
"They had swords that cost over ten million."
"Told you."
"The prices are on a completely different level."
Felicia gave a wry smile.
"So, what are you looking for, kid?"
I took the sword from my waist and handed it to the shopkeeper.
"I want a sturdier sword than this one."
"Let me see."
The shopkeeper drew the sword and examined its blade.
"It's pretty beat up."
"I've fought a few tough monsters."
"It's chipped here, too."
He pointed to the edge of the blade.
"You fought something hard yesterday, too, didn't you?"
"A Stone Lizard."
"That explains it."
The shopkeeper slid the sword back into its scabbard.
"You can still use it if you have it maintained, but if you're going to keep exploring dungeons, you'd be better off replacing it.
If you keep fighting hard monsters with it, it'll break sooner or later."
"What do you recommend?"
"From what you're using now, something around here."
He took a sword off the wall.
It was the Steel Sword we'd seen earlier.
【Steel Sword: 98,000 Jenny】
"It's a little heavier than a regular iron sword. Give it a try."
I took it.
I gripped the hilt and gave it a light swing.
"...This is what you call heavy?"
The shopkeeper's eyebrow twitched.
"You've got more strength than you look like, kid."
"I've been training a little."
When I glanced over, Felicia looked like she wanted to say something.
I swung the sword once more.
The blade was thicker than my old one, and it felt sturdier, too.
"I'll take this one."
"That'll be ninety-eight thousand."
"That's fine."
Since leaving Valdis territory, we'd earned money not only from extermination requests but also from escort requests on the way to Belgrant.
Paying nearly a hundred thousand would take a big chunk out of it, but not enough to leave us short on lodging or food.
Besides, I was more worried about my sword breaking in the middle of a fight.
"Then it's settled."
I paid for it and hung the new sword at my waist.
I decided to have my old sword maintained and keep it as a spare.
"Next is you, Felicia-san."
"I have my staff, though."
"What about armor?"
Felicia looked herself over.
She only had a minimal set of leather guards over her travel clothes.
"The Stone Lizard went after you yesterday, remember?"
"But I dodged it."
"You won't always be able to dodge."
"...That's true."
We headed to the armor shop next door.
◇
Felicia chose a lightweight leather breastplate and arm guards.
"Thirty-six thousand Jenny..."
She hesitated a little as she looked at the price tag.
"There are sturdier ones, too."
"I don't want anything heavy. It might get in the way when I use magic."
She put on the breastplate and twisted her body.
She moved her arms around a few times, too.
"This seems like it'll work."
"Looks good to me."
"Then I'll take it."
We paid and left the shop.
"I thought we'd been saving up money, but it disappeared all at once."
"We can earn it back."
"I knew you'd say that, Allen-san."
"It's the only thing we can do, right?"
"Well, that's true."
◇
Next, we headed to a supply shop.
Since we planned to enter the dungeon again tomorrow, we wanted to get everything we needed.
The shop was stocked with healing potions, antidotes, bandages, rope, lanterns, preserved food, and more.
Felicia picked up a small bottle filled with red liquid.
"Healing potions cost five thousand Jenny each."
"That's quite a lot."
A shop attendant nearby explained.
"They can do a lot for shallow cuts and bruises. But they won't heal deep wounds or broken bones."
"I see."
Even so, it was worth having some on hand.
I had Recovery, but it cost 50P to use once.
There was no need to use it for minor injuries.
Besides, Felicia might get hurt, too.
"Shall we buy two each?"
"Let's."
In addition to the healing potions, we bought bandages, rope, and preserved food.
"Being an adventurer costs quite a bit, doesn't it?"
Felicia said as we left the shop.
"Weapons and armor wear out, after all."
"And healing potions cost five thousand each."
"I guess that means we have to spend money if we want to earn it."
Our purses were considerably lighter.
In exchange, we were better prepared than we'd been yesterday.
◇
"It's still early afternoon."
Felicia looked up at the sky.
"Shall we take a nearby request?"
"Sure."
I wanted to see how much difference the new sword made, too.
We returned to the guild and looked for a request we could take in the afternoon.
【Exterminate Four Goblins】
【Location: Northwest Belgrant】
【Reward: 8,000 Jenny】
"This one's nearby."
"Let's go."
◇
It didn't take long to find the goblins.
They were in a grove a little way off the highway.
"Gigi!"
There were four of them.
They were carrying rusty swords and clubs.
"I'll take the front."
"Okay."
I drew my new sword.
One goblin approached, raising its club.
I stepped in.
"Hah!"
I swung my sword diagonally downward.
"Gah!"
It felt different.
With my old sword, I could feel the resistance when it hit bone, but this time the blade went straight through.
【You acquired 10P】
The second goblin came at me from the side.
I turned and swung my sword.
【You acquired 10P】
I took down the third one with a single blow, too.
【You acquired 10P】
The last goblin ran toward Felicia.
"Magic Bullet!"
The first shot hit its shoulder.
It still didn't stop.
"Magic Bullet!"
The second shot hit.
The goblin staggered and swung its sword.
"Ah!"
Felicia jumped back.
The tip of the sword grazed her chest.
There was a rasp as it scraped across the leather.
"Felicia-san!"
"I'm all right!"
Felicia pointed her staff at it without letting up.
"Magic Bullet!"
The magic shot hit it at point-blank range.
"Gah!"
The goblin fell.
No P appeared.
Because Felicia had dealt the finishing blow.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
There was a shallow scratch on her breastplate.
"...I'm glad I bought this."
"Me too."
Felicia traced the scratch with her finger.
"I feel like it's already paid for itself, even though it was thirty-six thousand Jenny."
"It's only the first day."
"That's exactly why."
◇
In the evening, we returned to the guild.
We handed over the four goblins' right ears we'd brought back.
The receptionist checked them one by one.
"That's all four. The request is complete."
We received the eight-thousand-Jenny reward and split it evenly between Felicia and me.
Then a display appeared in my field of vision.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P acquired: 2,330P】
【Your points: 220P】
As we were about to leave the counter, I heard a voice from the next one over.
"We'll pay seventy-two thousand Jenny for the magic stone and materials."
"That'll do."
A group of three adventurers had set a large magic stone and some fang-like materials on the counter.
Felicia was looking over there, too.
"Seventy-two thousand..."
I asked a nearby receptionist.
"Are those from the Western Dungeon, too?"
"Yes. Those materials came from the fourth floor."
"They got that much from the fourth floor..."
"They don't always earn the same amount. But the deeper you go, the more magic stones and materials there are that fetch a high price."
"I see."
I remembered the price tags I'd seen at the weapon shop that morning.
Swords worth over a million Jenny.
At the high-end shop, there had even been ones worth over ten million.
"Shall we take another look at the third floor tomorrow?"
I asked Felicia.
"Sounds good. Yesterday, we came right back after defeating the Stone Lizard."
"Let's explore the third floor, and if we still have the energy, I'd like to go as far as the entrance to the fourth."
"All right. But if it looks dangerous, we're turning back."
"Of course."
◇
That night.
In my room at the inn, I drew my new sword from its scabbard.
It had cost nearly a hundred thousand Jenny, and it had felt completely different from my old sword when I used it today.
Healing potions and rope were laid out on the table, too.
Tomorrow, we'd explore the third floor again.
We could decide there whether to go any farther.
Total P acquired = 2,330P