NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89
Haaam.
I definitely woke up refreshed after a good night’s sleep at the inn, so I should be kicking off the day right, but something felt off.
[Chaos asks why.]
“Well, I think I’ve done most of what I need to do, but something’s nagging at me. Did I forget something?”
Training? I’ve been doing that hard without skipping a beat for weeks.
Sena’s lecture? I told her in advance that I wouldn’t be able to attend for a couple of days.
I successfully recruited party members, and I received armor beyond my expectations, so everything should be fine.
‘Armor? …Ah!’
Repairs! Damn it.
“Ugh. I missed one thing. I didn’t think I’d make such a foolish mistake.”
[Chaos wonders what it is.]
I pulled out Rehagen from my backpack.
It looked fine on the outside…
When I blocked Shurika’s flames at the Coliseum, the system message clearly indicated that the magic core was damaged.
“I was so excited about my new armor that I didn’t even ask if it could be repaired before I left.”
The information panel for Rehagen boasted that it was crafted by a Dwarf Master Smith. It looked like it would be tough to leave it to an ordinary blacksmith just by glancing at it.
Not to mention, I couldn’t exactly go shop-hopping at different armories or blacksmiths, and I obviously wouldn’t be able to meet Huuton before the deadline, so I had forgotten about it for a while.
‘Anyway, I have to stop by the general store to restock supplies, so I might as well ask about it while I’m at it.’
Seriously. I feel a bit embarrassed thinking back on how excited I was yesterday, thinking I’d wrapped up everything perfectly.
Since Rehagen isn’t a unique item, it’s likely that it wouldn’t be off-limits just because I registered it at the armory. Now that I think of it, I should just go right away.
“El. Are you going to sleep more?”
I gently stroked El, who was soundly asleep by my pillow.
Piiiii…
It looked like she was about to wake up for a moment, but she flew over and snuggled back into my arms to sleep again.
“Yeah. If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep.”
I placed the now-sleeping El back on the bed, went into the bathroom to wash up, and got ready to head out.
Click.
First things first, I should grab some food and head to the 4th District.
*
After finishing my meal, I took a carriage and arrived at the armory.
‘Wow, it’s already daytime. I always think this, but the time it takes to move between districts is such a waste. Ever since I tried out a warp gate once, I’ve been feeling a bit spoiled.’
As I opened the door and stepped inside, Huuton, looking notably better than yesterday, greeted me warmly.
Hrm hm.
After leaving to take care of things yesterday, and then immediately having to hand him another task, it felt a bit awkward.
Clearing my throat unnecessarily, I got straight to the point, and he said not to worry about it.
However, there was a bit of a problem, regardless of his mood.
“This… repairing this will cost quite a bit, you know? The good news is that this type of core damage can be fixed immediately on the same day.”
Of course, Huuton added that if it weren’t for his skill level, it would have taken at least a week for a typical blacksmith.
Money really is always the answer. How much will it be this time?
“If you can fix it, I was thinking of handing it over right away, considering I can’t take it with me this time, but since it’ll be done in less than a day, that’s a relief. How much will the repair cost?”
“Even if I try to reduce the amount of magical stones needed for the repair, I’ll need to charge you two gold coins. I understand you’re a beginner, but I can’t lower it any more than that.”
Two gold coins?
“Of course. I’m very grateful for the discounts you’ve given me so far.”
“Thank you for noticing. Of course, I do have to charge you a bit for this big job, but as you know, it’s more about the business and trust than just making a living, right?”
Sigh. That’s true. Trying to be too clever here would be downright shameless.
I sighed inwardly and calculated the money I had left.
Having already split the gold coins I received from the corpses a few weeks ago into thirds, my total wealth now consists of three gold coins, a bit of silver and copper.
Two coins gone from that?
…Hah! Earning is tough, but spending is so easy. It feels like every coin I get just slips away.
‘What can I do? After all, it was a gift from the guild leader who sees potential in me. I have to repair it and use it.’
Just looking around a little, it was clear that adventurers struggling even for a C or D-grade weapon were abundant.
“Ugh. Here you go.”
“Whoa! You’re burning through four coins on armor, have you struck it rich on your last expedition or something? Are you sure this isn’t pushing it?”
Huuton accepted the gold coins and said that while he couldn’t offer a lower price, he could occasionally let some things be put on credit, scratching his head.
I was momentarily tempted but shook it off immediately. I have the money to pay, so getting into debt isn’t smart.
After receiving the great sword from Huuton, he told me to come back in an hour or two, patting my back with a hand the size of a pot lid before I left the armory.
Ding.
“Why does Master suddenly want me to look at the counter? Why not just hire regular staff at the armory? Who will ever change that stubbornness?”
As soon as Huuton left, a store employee came in to take over.
Watching him grumble with cold eyes, I stepped outside.
‘He said one or two hours, right? I can make a quick stop at the general store in that time.’
Pii. Pii!
“Hey, you little one. I said you’d be in my arms until you’re sleepy, but isn’t this a bit much? Do you feel cramped? Shoulder good? Or better on my head?”
El, who had climbed onto my shoulder, chirped loudly.
I carefully stroked El’s head as I walked forward.
Creeeak.
After about 30 minutes of walking, I arrived at the biggest general store nearby.
The items I needed for the trip this time… I have plenty of ropes and flint but might be short on torches.
Sleeping bags and blankets aren’t expensive, so I should grab a few extras just in case they get dirty, and I should also replace my old wristwatch.
‘I can skip getting bedding for Veronica this time, right?’
She’s more of a veteran than any of us, so if I forget something, she’s likely to bring it along herself.
“Here are the torches and some low-grade potions. You can pick the sleeping bags and blankets from over there, and for a watch, hmm… should I go with this one?”
“Is it sturdier than the one you’re wearing now? This string tends to fray pretty easily.”
“Definitely! This is a budget new model from a famous workshop. As long as it doesn’t directly take a hit from a weapon, you can use it roughly for quite a while!”
Cheap wristwatches tend to be about the same everywhere. But it’s a new model, so I’ll buy one.
‘They have mid-grade and high-grade potions at the general store, but the money situation… isn’t great.’
With a party of four now, and expenses piling up, it’s getting tough just for me to cover all the supplies.
I should tell everyone that from now on, I’ll buy supplies with my own money this time and start saving up the party funds separately.
“Alright, that’s a total of 45 silver coins. It was originally 47, but I gave you a discount for being a nice young man!”
“Haha… thank you. Take care!”
“Alright. Be careful out there!”
Now my remaining total is around 70 silver coins.
It feels quite empty to see all those gold coins disappear. I can only hope to earn a lot during this trip.
After stuffing all my purchased items into my backpack, I turned to leave.
‘30 minutes to get there. If I leave now, I should make it just in time.’
I thought about if there was anything else I needed as I left the general store, but nothing else came to mind.
Food is handled by Rotten, so I don’t need to worry about that, and there’s no need to buy magical tools either.
Honestly, I don’t have the funds to buy magical tools or scrolls.
I hurried back to the armory, and Huuton and Rehagen were leaning against the counter, arms crossed.
“Oh! You made it back just in time. The magical core is restored to its original state, so go ahead and check it!”
I didn’t really need to look, but trusting his words, I took the great sword from him and opened the information panel to scan it.
…Perfect!
As expected, it was repaired flawlessly, just like when I first received it from the guild leader.
“Thank you. Now I can enter the labyrinth without forgetting anything. I’ll come visit again next time.”
After expressing my gratitude, I waved back at Huuton, who dismissed it as no big deal, and headed toward the carriage stop.
“The fare is 5 copper coins, my guest!”
I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they see my newly upgraded gear.
Inside, I chatted with El and Chaos as we made our way back to the inn.
*
“The portal is open!!!”
The street buzzed with excitement about the entrance portal opening.
Since it opened a day later than scheduled, it’s bound to generate some buzz, right?
I secretly hoped it’d open up for next month too, as I wondered when it would be opened, feeling a bit anxious.
“Seriously, there are always those amusing adventurers. So, everyone ready?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, we are all set!”
“Good to hear. As the party leader, it’s reassuring.”
Thanks to Rotten supplying the food at such a reasonable cost, I didn’t have to bother with that.
By the way, where’s Veronica? She said she’d come as soon as the portal opened—
Bam!
Talk about timing! She opened the door and approached with a neutral expression.
“Sorry I’m late. As you can imagine, it’s been months since I last entered, and the inspections held me up, so I appreciate your understanding.”
She certainly has confidence in herself.
“Hehe. Just one more person has joined, and it’s already bustling!”
Having been a bit down recently due to Ivelyn, today’s lively voice from Yeriell really lifted the party’s atmosphere.
“Yeah, definitely.”
Maybe it’s because Lumia has psychically grown a bit? She certainly seems more confident than a few months ago.
‘Shall we check out if both of them have improved from their training?’
────
[Yeriell]
[Strength: E+] [Agility: D-] [Durability: D-]
[Health: D] [Magic: D] [Luck: C-]
Mastery of Holy Law
Born Luck
Devoutness
Overcoming Weakness
Touch of Light
Silver Cross Holy Combat Technique
────
‘Wow, how many rolls have you done to have all your stats besides luck increased by a rank…? Maybe she’s been wearing the defender’s armor?’
Seeing she has also grasped the basics of the Holy Law hints that she hasn’t only been toughening her body.
“You’ve really worked hard, Yeriell.”
“Hehe. Did you notice? I’ve been rolling around in heavy gear, and my sister brought me potions too. It’s nice to have you recognize my efforts!”
Not only that, but she’s also been faithful in her daily prayers and practicing divine power conversion, claiming she’s learned new Holy Laws.
This was something I absolutely had to praise her for.
Next up is Lumia.
────
[Lumia]
[Strength: E+] [Agility: D-] [Durability: E]
[Health: D-] [Magic: C-] [Luck: E-]
[Traits Owned] (Fold)
Punishment of Darkness
Mastery of Dark Magic
Sense of the Demonic Race
Burning Fighting Spirit
Fear Infection
Balanced Step
────
Balanced Step? That’s a new trait to me.
────
[Balanced Step (D)] [P]
With the combination of inherent demonic race agility and the training methods of seasoned explorer Geila.
Her hidden talent has blossomed as she learns to tune her body to move a bit more sensitively and nimble.
─If agility is below D rank when acquired, it increases by two stages.
─It increases the chance of identifying physical traps instinctively.
─When overcoming obstacles, a slight speed adjustment is granted.
────
So that’s why her agility jumped up a level. Looks like Lumia has some unusual talent as well.
“Lumia! You’ve brought back a trait from the exploration school, huh? It really seems like I struck gold finding you as a party member.”
“Y-yeah. I worked hard too! I feel so much lighter mentally and physically since that incident.”
“Good to hear. I can breathe a little easier.”
Lumia, who exaggeratedly claims she feels as if she’s been reborn, is really fortunate that disabling effects have gone away.
Just when I thought I was wrapping up the checks and our conversation was coming to a close, Veronica quietly spoke.
“You all seem to be getting along very well. I hope I won’t feel sidelined.”
“Hey! I want to get to know you, Veronica! Can I call you ‘sister’ while we’re at it? Veronica sister!”
“…I think that kind of title is a bit premature.”
“Sniff. Alright then.”
From her first impression, she praised her like an angel, and perhaps it’s because they’ve been bonding over the week, she really seems to like her now.
────
[Aren]
[Strength: C-] [Agility: C-] [Durability: C-]
[Health: C] [Magic: EX] [Luck: D]
[Traits Owned] (Open)
────
I didn’t see any changes in my traits, but thanks to my physical training at the Swordsmanship Guild, my strength has risen to C rank now.
With the added durability and stamina from the Silver Radiance, my durability also went up a rank.
It’s going to be tough to independently grow my stats significantly from here on out…
‘But this much should still be enough to set meaningful records in this exploration.’
Pii!
Do I even need to mention El? She’s still as cute as ever.
No matter who her master is, since the Elder of the Magic Tower has specifically asked me to take care of her, I can’t just leave her at the inn for over a month.
‘Veronica hasn’t changed at all. Guess it’s only normal to not expect much movement in just one to two weeks from her level.’
With that, I wrapped up my observation of her, concluding the checks.
Tap.
“If we don’t hurry, we’ll be stuck in line for quite a while, so let’s gradually get ready to head out. Everyone ready?”
Having finished all the preparations before our meal, all that’s left is to head to the plaza where the portal is opening.
“Be careful and come back safe. I’ll be wishing you all good fortune!”
With Rotten’s warmth in my heart, I stepped out of the inn.