NOVEL NEXT Chapter 67
Huuton led me to a table near the counter.
“Alright, before we check out what you brought, let’s start with some adjustments. Since this is a custom job, we gotta put in some work.”
Huuton clapped his hands once and began firing off questions.
“How about the helmet? Looks fine, but is it safe to assume we’re just changing the armor for now?”
“Yes. The armor is wrecked from close combat, but surprisingly, I haven’t been hit in the head at all. It’s still intact.”
“Well, saying the helmet is alright means you’ve protected your head, a crucial target, well during battles. That’s a good sign.”
“Haha, I’m confident in my dodging skills!”
Nodding, Huuton tapped the table with his index finger.
“Next question then. You said you’re confident in dodging? And you mentioned that avoiding equipment that hinders your vision and movement is the most important, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Prioritizing dodging over defense… so, based on your speed check, you seem to have some traits related to your eyesight. Would you sacrifice some mobility for increased defense?”
“Hmm, could you clarify what you mean by sacrificing mobility? To what extent would I be slowed down?”
Huuton rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“Simply put, would it be alright if we added joint protectors or metal armor on top of just raw leather?”
He continued, mentioning how often thieves and archers struggle when their armor gets even slightly heavier.
“Sometimes, those who only wear leather armor lose their touch if it gets any heavier.”
Thinking hard, I finally replied.
“I’d be fine with that. While agility is my highest stat, I focus more on precise movements after observing rather than prioritizing speed.”
“Then we have more options than I initially thought.”
Huuton carefully selected several scrolls from a pile on the table and moved them aside.
“You don’t plan on using a shield anytime soon, right?”
“Given that I switch between a one-handed sword and a great sword, using a shield seems impractical. The great sword can be considered a substitute for a shield anyway.”
“Got it. That wraps up my questions. Ah! I forgot the most important one. How much are you willing to pay?”
I had about 6 gold coins and a few silver coins left. Since I hadn’t yet received the payment for the Grielops and golem carcasses from the Adventurers Guild, I could splurge a little, right?
“I’m budgeting around 4 gold coins.”
“What?”
Huuton raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Well, I’m amazed you’ve saved that much, but you’re not seriously thinking of spending all your savings on just one piece of armor, are you? Alright then.”
Clap. Thud.
“Choose wisely from these.”
Even though I had crossed out a few options, there were still plenty left.
I nodded and began examining them one by one closely.
‘This one looks too bulky, and this one is too fancy. Ah, brigandine! It looks decent, but should I go with this or take a better look?’
After flipping through the designs calmly, I finally found the one that stood out.
“Oh.”
It was based on a hard leather armor but had additional metal plates, enhancing defense without sacrificing mobility. The metal shoulder guards hugged my shoulders just enough to not hinder sword-swinging movements, and there was a decorative protection in the back for further defense.
Huuton peeked at the design and said, “You’ve got a good eye. This is top-tier among the light armor designs. Are you going with this?”
“Yes, I like it. How much will it cost?”
“Even if we build according to the design, the price will vary based on materials, but if you hand over all 4 gold coins you just mentioned, I promise to deliver something even better.”
He said the price was set at 4 gold, but I worried he would take it all.
Shaking, I dug into my pouch and handed over the gold coins.
[Chaos says it’s just money; you can earn it again! Don’t hesitate, it’s an investment in yourself!]
“Haha! Looks like there’s more to you than meets the eye! I understand you’re a newbie, but don’t worry!”
Seeing my shaky hands, Huuton burst into laughter.
“I wasn’t going to mention it, but making the armor according to the design with proper materials will have to cost you at least 10 gold coins. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else!”
Bang!
He slapped me on the back and said merrily, “Don’t be surprised when you see the finished product! Go measure your dimensions quickly!”
Thankful, I rubbed my back as he left for the forge.
Then, I followed Huuton to a small room attached to the Armory to take my measurements.
“I just went through it hastily last time, but doing this in regular clothes makes a world of difference. Do you do any workouts outside of your training?”
“Of course! Haha! No doubt about that.”
‘It’s true my stats have changed a lot thanks to my traits, but I also train often.’
After about 20 minutes, just as I thought we were done, Huuton seemed to have more on his mind.
“By the way, what part of the conversation with that elf did you overhear?”
You mean the talk with Rasheon? Hmm.
“Well, it was my first visit, so I remember you saying you’d take good care of me and asking how long it would take to finish. Why do you ask?”
Huuton scratched the back of his head.
“Since you started from there, I guess I can make this quick. Typically, it takes around 1 to 2 weeks to finish the armor, but that guy earlier requested something a bit outrageous.”
Curiosity piqued, I wondered what he had asked for, especially since he brought up the cost of platinum coins.
‘Forget it. No matter how curious I get, asking directly is crossing a line.’
“So, it sounds like the crafting might take a little longer.”
How long?
“Honestly, it would be easier if I just let my underlings handle it, but being Ivelyn’s disciple, how could I?”
“Is there a specific timeline on how long it’ll really take? I need it before the next portal opens…”
Missing even a single entrance into the Labyrinth because of one set of armor was beyond absurd; how could I, a lowly adventurer, afford such a thing right now?
‘That would just waste a month for me. It would inconvenience the others too.’
“I’ll put in my best effort to complete it before then. Let’s say around the 28th sounds good.”
Since today was the 6th, that means roughly over three weeks. Cutting it close, huh?
“Understood. I’ll see you then.”
“Right, I need to get started right away. I’ll be busy for a while! Take care!”
Ding.
With that, I watched Huuton head toward the smithy and wandered aimlessly for a bit.
Maybe it was because I hopped on the carriage right after breakfast?
Looking at the clock, it was just around noon.
Even though I had been in the Armory for quite a while, it seemed like I just stepped into the noon hour.
Now it was time to decide where to go next. Heading straight back to the Inn seemed off.
‘First things first, let’s grab a quick meal. There should be an inn nearby.’
After wandering around for about ten minutes, I spotted a large inn nearby.
Golden Apple Inn?
The place was so well-maintained that the door creaked open smoothly.
“Hahaha! So yesterday, I forgot a scroll. I tried a potion, and the damn cloak turned out to be B-grade! I just tossed it on without a second thought!”
“Damn it. This exploration completely bombed. What a mess after climbing up a level. Guess I’ll have to stick to simple repeat quests until next month.”
“Really, Judecca! You can’t just keep drinking! Put that drink down!”
Stepping inside, I couldn’t tell if the inn was just popular or if a flood of adventurers had come out of the Labyrinth recently.
The spacious inn buzzed with the chatter of countless adventurers.
“Oh dear! Welcome! There’s no room at the tables, so if you’re alone, you’ll have to share with another table. Is that alright with you?”
While I was scanning for a table, a waitress approached me.
“No problem, but if possible, could you put me at a table with fewer people?”
“The numbers are about the same, but please come this way!”
“Sharing? I should’ve guessed it’d be busy. If I’d known, I would have opted for a street vendor instead.”
‘Well, I’ve already made my mark here; there’s no choice. Eat quickly and leave.’
Following the waitress, I found a table where a party of four—two guys and two girls—were chatting.
“We’ll have the lunch special for one! It’ll be out in a moment!”
I decided on the few dishes that came with the lunch special.
“…”
As the waitress left, awkward silence struck me hard, and I could only sit there fidgeting.
‘What’s with this awkwardness? Can’t they keep talking like they were before I showed up?’
The quiet atmosphere made it hard not to notice that all eyes were on me.
“Ahem.”
Clearing my throat sheepishly broke the ice, prompting them to engage me once again.
“So, Edwin, what you’re suggesting is that we all take about three months off to regroup?”
“Yeah. We’ve been together for already a year since we came up to Labyrinth City from that backwater village.”
Wow, four friends stuck together for a year in Labyrinth City without a hitch totally screams adventure!
‘That’s just poetic, isn’t it?’
At that moment, I was merely listening to how the other adventurers lived their lives over a meal, but I had no idea I was in for a shocking revelation.