Sword Art Online: Moonlight Swordman.

After lunch ended, the group cleaned up and prepared to set off. 

Ren felt a sense of relief, not just because of the satisfying meal, but also because of Klein's words. 

Now, he could look forward to getting a better set of armor, something that would give him more confidence in the upcoming hunts. 

Klein led the way, walking briskly with an easygoing demeanor. Issin, Dale, and Dynamm followed behind, their conversation now revolving mainly around their plans for hunting monsters in the afternoon. 

Ren walked at the back of the group, his legs slightly sore but his mood surprisingly light. It felt like things were starting to become clearer in this game. 

For the first time, he felt like he could blend in and find his place. 

They arrived at the blacksmith's shop, the same place Ren had visited early in the morning. 

'Twice in one day at the same place, huh?' 

The interior was simple yet filled with all the necessary tools and materials. The scent of heated iron and burning coal lingered in the air, carrying the essence of hard work and craftsmanship. 

The wooden walls were adorned with an array of metal equipment, sharp swords, sturdy armor, hunting tools, and various support gear. 

"Welcome, customers!" 

The same elderly blacksmith with silver-white hair stood behind the counter, his burly frame exuding strength. 

This time, he greeted the group with a warm smile, a stark contrast to the reaction Ren had received in the morning. 

"How can I help you?" 

Klein nodded and stepped forward. "We're looking to buy some good leather armor and possibly repair a few pieces of gear." 

He then turned to Ren. "You should look around for a set of armor here. They've got plenty of options." 

Ren hesitated for a moment, standing still as his eyes scanned the armor displayed around him. 

Everything looked high-quality and clearly, the prices weren't cheap either. 

"10,000 cor for a set of armor? What the hell?" Ren's eyes widened at the price tags of the gleaming steel sets. 

How many boars would he have to hunt? How many meals would he have to skip just to afford one of these? 

He moved to another section, searching for a while before finally finding a rack of leather armor similar to what the others were wearing. 

Cautiously, he stepped closer and began inspecting each piece. 

"You might want to take a look at this one....oh, it's you?" 

The blacksmith gestured toward a dark brown leather armor, finely stitched with small metal reinforcements at the shoulders and back. 

He seemed surprised to see Ren again, though there was something different about the boy this time. 

But that didn't stop him from making a sale. 

"This is a standard piece, durable and well-suited for beginners." 

"It's in a completely different league from the tattered mess you had me fix this morning," the blacksmith added, throwing in another jab at Ren's starting gear. 

"You've been here before?" Dale asked. 

"Uh… I came to get my gear repaired..." Ren hesitated before answering. 

"Bringing in that heap of trash for repairs?" The blacksmith snorted. "It would've been fine if it was just regular wear and tear, but the state of what you handed me… It looked like it had been through absolute hell." 

"You're lucky you made it out alive." 

Before Ren could respond, the blacksmith cut in again. 

'What the hell did he go through?' 

That thought crossed everyone's mind, but none of them dared to ask when they saw the look on Ren's face. 

His expression faltered, and for a brief moment, the terrifying memories of the dungeon came flooding back. 

But he quickly shook his head, pushing them away. 

Ren reached out, running his fingers over the leather armor, feeling its sturdiness and reliability. 

It wasn't the most expensive, but it would definitely provide the protection he needed for upcoming battles. 

Klein watched him with a smile, noticing his slight hesitation. 

"Don't worry. Go ahead and take it. It'll give you a lot more confidence in battle." 

Ren nodded, feeling both nervous and excited. This was his first step toward becoming a stronger player in this world. 

But… the moment he saw the price, he immediately put the armor back. 

500 cor. 

"I've got a long way to go," Ren muttered. 

Klein glanced at Ren, then shifted his gaze toward the katanas displayed on the racks. 

He let out a sigh. 

"I'll take that armor," Klein said. 

"But...." Ren looked at him, surprised and confused. He had noticed Klein eyeing the katanas ever since they entered the shop. 

Those had to cost at least 5,000 cor. 

"It's fine… You can pay me back later," Klein waved it off casually. 

Ren stared at him, unable to believe what he was hearing. 

He had never expected Klein to help him like this especially in a situation like this. 

Although a part of him felt uneasy about not being able to pay immediately, a warmth spread in his chest at the gesture. 

"Thank you… Klein, but I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back…" Ren hesitated, gratitude evident in his eyes, but so was his concern. 

Klein patted his shoulder, smiling as if it were no big deal. 

"Don't worry, I know you'll earn enough money soon. For now, just focus on preparing for the battles ahead. A good set of armor can help you survive in more dangerous situations," he said, then turned to the blacksmith. "I'll take that armor, thanks."

The blacksmith smiled and nodded, quickly retrieving a leather armor set from the shelf and handing it to Ren.

"This one suits you. Take good care of it, don't let it get damaged. Treat it as if you're protecting your own life."

Ren took the armor, feeling the weight and cool touch of the new leather. His hands hesitated for a moment, but the sturdy and solid texture gave him an indescribable sense of reassurance.

He ran his fingers over the rough leather surface, tracing the fine stitching and the small metal reinforcements on the shoulders and back.

Without hesitation, Ren equipped the armor. The grayish-brown leather quickly wrapped around his chest, legs, boots, and arms.

The armor fit snugly against his body, not too tight, but just right to avoid hindering his movements.

When the leather hood covered his face, Ren flinched slightly as darkness clouded his vision.

But then, a strange sense of security welled up inside him.

No one could see his face… No one could recognize him as weak anymore.

'Perfect... this way, no one will see my face.' A faint smile flickered across Ren's lips, but he quickly clenched his fist, reminding himself that this was only the first step on a long journey ahead.

Though he was far from being a true warrior, this armor marked an important milestone in his path.

"We still have a few things to prepare," Klein said, pulling Ren out of his thoughts. "Are you ready for this afternoon's hunt?"

Ren nodded, a little nervous but also eager.

He felt like he was slowly growing stronger in this world.

The challenges ahead might be tough, but with this new armor, Ren felt more confident than ever.

The group headed toward the exit, preparing for the hunt.

However, Ren couldn't help but glance back at the katanas on the shelf one last time.

He wasn't sure if he would ever be able to pay Klein back. But… maybe soon.

"Hey… Ryoutarou…" Dynamm scratched his head, his brows furrowing as if trying to recall something. "I have this feeling… like we forgot something..."

Klein tilted his head, looking slightly confused.

He glanced around before turning back to Dynamm. "Everyone's here, right? We didn't leave anyone behind. Our gear is all set, nothing left at the blacksmith's."

Dynamm crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in deep thought. "Not a person… not an item…"

"The church." Issin's voice cut through their thoughts.

He crossed his arms and sighed, leaning against the wall with narrowed eyes as if he had just pieced everything together.

"We forgot to go to the church."

"Oh, crap… I completely forgot!" Dynamm smacked his forehead, his eyes widening in realization.

"Let's hurry up and head there first before we go hunting!" He urged, bouncing on his feet, ready to sprint off.

Klein laughed, looking relieved. "Right! Now I remember. Without the church's buff, hunting would be way harder. I almost forgot."

Ren blinked, looking puzzled. "The church? What for?"

Dynamm, who was about to rush out, suddenly stopped and turned sharply toward Ren as if he had just asked something utterly absurd. "You don't know?"

Ren took a small step back under Dynamm's bewildered gaze, shaking his head slightly. "I… have never heard about that."

Dale burst into laughter, clapping Ren's shoulder in a friendly manner. "Are you actually clueless, or just pretending? Praying at the church gives us temporary buffs! Some even boost healing speed or damage output. If you donate money, the buffs get stronger."

"I see..." Ren nodded, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He hadn't expected this world to have such a feature. "So… everyone prays before going hunting?"

"Of course! The church's buffs help a lot in battle," Klein said with a grin, puffing out his chest. "Thanks to the buff, I almost took down the Giant Boar boss in the grasslands last time."

"Almost…" Dynamm snickered. "You mean when that giant pig nearly chased you to death?"

Klein's face turned red as he scratched his head awkwardly. "Well… at least I survived… Besides, how was I supposed to know… it would spawn right next to me?"

The group burst into laughter, the atmosphere suddenly lively.

Ren stood there, quietly observing, slowly feeling more at ease around them.