Chapter 6 Posted
Jiro Tanaka, 28 years old, single, no girlfriend, occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time Employee).
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class).
Role: Warrior.
“They’ve added way too many facilities!”
The entrance ceremony was over, and we were told we could move freely, but it was definitely still working hours. I had returned to my room for “preparation” in the form of information gathering, and that’s when I noticed a strangely thick booklet in my mailbox. I vaguely recalled them mentioning opening some facilities during the entrance ceremony, and this must be it. I quickly flipped through it, and the result was my previous exclamation.
Starting with restaurants, there were medical facilities, weapon shops, armor shops, general stores, training facilities, entertainment facilities, and so on. Just listing the types of stores would take all day. If I were to list the store names, it would take all day. If these were simply facilities provided by the company for conquering dungeons, they were so well-equipped that I felt no need to go outside. Towards the end of the booklet, I saw what looked like bars and other establishments serving alcohol, and establishments that clearly didn’t allow minors. Normally, a man might react with a snort at this point, but I compartmentalize my work and private life. I decided to enjoy those things in my private time and, after neatly folding the booklet, I put it away as I switched gears.
“For now, this is what’s important.”
“This puts those historical villages in modern times to shame!”
Everything on display was fantasy-themed. The food samples looked like nothing I had ever seen before. The clothing was somewhere between cosplay and everyday wear. To top it off, there were swords that seemed to be openly challenging the prohibition of firearms and blades. The prices varied wildly, but there was a wide selection. It made me raise an eyebrow that shopping was done in Japanese Yen, but if that’s how it was, then so be it. Understanding this and accepting it, I began to walk towards the commercial facility complex spreading out beneath the company building, like a subterranean shopping mall.
Considering the number of stores, the customers seemed to be just us Testers and employees, as the shops were sparsely populated. This was probably an investment, anticipating crowds later on, but honestly, it felt like the shop was practically empty. I began my first-ever fantasy window shopping experience.
“…It’s surprisingly expensive.”
The double-edged sword in my hand was made of iron and was meticulously crafted. This single sword cost 140,000 yen. I wasn’t sure if that was expensive or cheap by market standards, but it was definitely a bit pricey even for someone who’s been saving money. Glancing at the items displayed in the show window, the cheapest ones were at least an order of magnitude more expensive than this sword, and that was just the beginning.
“Haa, I guess I’ll have to make a decision.”
I resigned myself to dipping into my savings and thought about areas for improvement. What I acutely felt during training was my lack of attack power. It’s a funny story now, but I remember being overwhelmed after managing to barely defeat one Komodo without a king cobra, only to be swarmed by several more. That memory is deeply ingrained as a lesson. It’s possible that the result was simply due to my stats being insufficient. Instructor Kio, with a laugh, had once disintegrated metal armor with a “Chambara Blade.” However, stats can’t be improved overnight. Therefore, if I were to improve, it would have to be with equipment. Even a wooden sword with an iron core might be effective as a blunt instrument, but it felt inadequate for killing living beings. My physical toughness has improved thanks to the instructors, so I’m confident in that area. That’s why I’m prioritizing a weapon over armor. I’m looking around at various weapon shops just in case, but I haven’t found anything that truly fits.
“Excuse me, can I try out any of these?”
“If you break or chip the blade, you’ll have to buy it.”
“Are you a demon?”
“Regrettably, I’m a Giant.”
“That’s why you’re so big.”
“Even so, I’m considered short.”
“No way.”
Thanks to the lack of customers, I could casually chat with the store clerk sitting at the counter. Standing over two meters tall, he certainly looked imposing to me, but I was curious about the average height of Giants who considered him short. But for now, it’s all about the weapons.
“Clerk, do you have any recommended weapons?”
“I have a magic sword you can buy for thirty million yen.”
“Don’t recommend something that’s way over my budget!”
“It’s a magic sword at a surprising 60% discount! Of course, you can get it on a payment plan.”
“Even at a 60% discount, it’s still that price. I can tell the original price must have been astronomical. Just based on that, I can see why it’s recommended. I’m not sure if the performance is as amazing as the discount, though.”
Unfortunately, what I need is a weapon that suits my abilities. No matter how high-performance a weapon is, if I’m constantly relying on it, it’s like wasting a treasure and eventually leads to self-destruction by mistaking its power for my own. It’s better to gradually upgrade to better weapons. To use a car analogy, I’m not looking for a high-spec F1 car, but a mass-produced passenger car.
“Its performance is guaranteed! The problem is that with a superhuman body enhanced by the magic sword’s power, you’ll wield master-class swordsmanship indiscriminately, whether the target is friend or foe.”
“As expected of a magic sword, it comes with a fatal flaw. Even a random attacker would be ashamed.”
These specs are definitely not found in Holy Swords or Divine Swords. In a negative sense, of course.
“So, it’s no good, huh? I thought anyone who wanted to get stronger would want one.”
“Only ruin awaits them. Oh, clerk, what about this one?”
“Huh? That’s one our youngsters forged. I think it’s usable to some extent.”
“To some extent, huh.”
From its appearance, it looked like something from a clearance sale. It was casually stuck in a sake barrel, indicating rough handling. The length, shape, and type of sword varied. However, the price was the lowest in the store.
“Unbelievably, 19,800 yen.”
The price was a flat 19,800 yen. They say not to skimp on tools, but I still wanted to look for a bargain. Whether I buy it or not, I’ll decide after I look. I started rummaging through them.
“As expected, no hidden gems.”
But reality isn’t that kind. And cheap prices have their reasons. There’s no convenient plot device that hides a hidden gem among them. According to the clerk, none of these were dull, but they couldn’t be called masterpieces. I picked one up for a test swing; it was the same model as the iron sword I held earlier. However, I could immediately feel the difference. The grip that felt right before felt only “okay” with this one. I certainly couldn’t entrust my life to something like that. After looking through them all, I didn’t feel like I would find any better swords, so I decided to move on to another shop.
“I’ll check out the others. Thanks for the explanation.”
“Yeah, come back anytime for some window shopping, I’m too bored.”
“It’s okay to just browse?”
My luck was bad this time, but I quite liked this friendly clerk. I thought I’d come back again. But then I wondered if I should at least look at some high-end weapons, so instead of heading for the exit, I walked towards the glass display cases and looked inside as I made my way out.
“These are all orders of magnitude more expensive.”
As expected, everything displayed in the glass cases was top-notch. The description plates, written in Japanese, included prices and brief explanations. The content was like something out of novels or manga, and I could have looked at them for hours. I started mentally comparing them to my remaining savings, contemplating whether I could afford them or not. Just as I was trying to suppress my material desires, it appeared before me.
“What is that, a slab of iron?”
It was just a flat piece of iron, shaped like a single-edged longsword. There was no intricate craftsmanship, and the handle-like area was simply wrapped in cloth. It certainly didn’t look like something that belonged in a glass display case.
“That’s an Ore Tree sapling.”
“A sapling? So, it’s a plant then?”
After a moment of gazing at it, the shopkeeper who had been sitting at the counter earlier appeared beside me.
“Ah, yes. If you stick this into land rich in magic power, it will absorb the magic and grow roots and flourish like a plant. Its material is undoubtedly metal, but it’s a rather special kind. After a thousand years of growth, it becomes high-quality steel, you know?”
In short, it’s growing metal.
“So, this is for materials then?”
It wouldn’t be strange to find it in a weapon shop if that were the case. It’s probably for making custom-made weapons.
The price is about the same as buying a new passenger car, but it must be a very high-quality material.
“No, this is definitely a weapon.”
“Huh? Isn’t it a sapling?”
“It has another name: the blacksmith’s bane.”
“Blacksmith’s bane?”
“Yeah, when you stick it in the ground, it grows like a tree and produces seeds. See that round thing on the hilt? That’s it.”
I looked where the shopkeeper pointed. A black sphere was indeed attached to the very end of the hilt.
“Normally, it would be buried in the ground and become a new Ore Tree, but if you don’t bury it and keep supplying it with magic power, it turns into something like a long, thin iron plate. Someone then shaped and processed it into something like a sword.”
“From what you’re telling me, how is it a blacksmith’s bane? Is it incredibly hard to process or something?”
“No, at the sapling stage, it’s only slightly harder than iron.”
“Then what is it?”
His explanation is far too roundabout. If there was something difficult to say, they wouldn’t be displaying it so prominently and trying to sell it.
“Well, the reason it’s called the blacksmith’s bane is… if you fight with it without sticking it in the ground, it gradually grows into the shape of a sword.”
“It grows? This thing?”
“Yes.”
It looked like a dull sword, declaring itself to be ineffective.
“It grows according to the user’s magic power. It doesn’t need the hammer or fire of us blacksmiths, and doesn’t even need to be struck; it grows on its own. Some Ore Trees have even become legendary swords.”
“So that’s why it’s called the blacksmith’s bane.”
A material that can become a legendary sword on its own. It’s certainly a material that would make blacksmiths weep, as they wouldn’t be needed.
“…By the way, does it definitely become a legendary sword?”
“No, most of them end up being dull.”
“Hey!”
“Didn’t I tell you? ‘Blacksmith’s bane’ also means it can move you to tears with laughter.”
So, it’s just a rare material that brings in money and makes you all giddy. That’s how I figured it would turn out.
If there were a material that had a high probability of becoming a legendary sword on its own, then blacksmiths, as weapon artisans, would be unnecessary. And the stores would be stocked with Ore Trees, not weapons. I had never seen an Ore Tree before, and even though this one was in a glass case, it was in a rather inconspicuous location. In other words, it’s high-class gambling. A dull sword with the potential to become a legendary sword at a bargain price if you’re lucky.
“Well, it’s about one in ten thousand for this thing to become a legendary sword. I’ve been a blacksmith for a long time, and I haven’t heard of such a thing recently.”
It would be wise to follow the shopkeeper’s advice and buy a proper sword. But I found that too boring. I was already nearing the end of my twenties, with no time left, and even if failure was a foregone conclusion, I felt that taking the royal road was somehow wrong.
“Shopkeeper, I’ll buy this.”
“…Did you have an ENT appointment today?”
“I didn’t mishear you.”
“Oh, come on, you should have at least considered my feelings when I didn’t mention your hearing just because you’re a customer. Are you sane? Did you hear what I just said? Are your ears for decoration? This thing is just a money pit. Even if you plant it in the ground later, it won’t become a proper weapon for a thousand years. You’re human and will live at most another sixty years, so you’ll never recoup your investment!”
“I don’t care. If it fails, it fails. It’ll just be a funny story to tell over drinks.”
“If you’re in debt, it won’t be a funny story.”
It seems this shopkeeper is a good giant for worrying about me. Then, I’ll show him my fearless smile, enough to dispel his concerns.
“Fortunately, I’ve saved up enough to buy this. Naturally, I’ll pay in full.”
“…Hah! What an idiot! Alright then! If that’s the case, there’s no reason to stop you!! As long as you pay properly, you’re a customer! Unlike some stubborn dwarf, we Giants give weapons to those who seek them! Hoarding is out of the question! We’ll give it to anyone who pays the price! We don’t care about your skill! A weapon is a weapon! A weapon is meaningless if it’s not used!! So, if you’re a customer, hurry up and pay!!”
“You’re really enthusiastic.”
“Of course! It’s been a while since I’ve had a customer I can laugh at! Someone who wants to nurture a legendary sword with a slim chance from a weapon that might just end up dull. In a way, we’re in the same business! If we don’t enjoy this, what’s the point of being Giants!”
Who’s calling me an idiot? I might be an idiot for shopping far over my planned budget, and I couldn’t think of a retort. I withdrew money from an ATM that I didn’t know existed and placed it on the counter.
“By the way, how are you going to transport the weapon?”
“Uh… by hand?”
“You idiot! You’re going to carry it around all the time? Here, this is a weapon holder. It’s magic stone-powered, so you can fix it when you want to attach it, and release it when you want to take it off. It’s a superb item!!”
“Whoa!!”
I thought he was a good giant, but he’s more like a kind giant. This unexpected bulk purchase has a bonus, like negotiating to get a car stereo thrown in when buying a car.
“I’ll sell you this for 100,000!”
I take back my words. He’s not a kind giant, but a shrewd businessman giant.
“You’re going to charge me for it!!”
“Hah! Of course! Giving away your own creation without compensation is like smearing feces on your own work!!”
Life isn’t all that easy. I understand what he’s saying, but after spending a fortune, I can’t agree with it. I look up at the shopkeeper’s stern face with a sideways glance, but he just sways the good-looking belt-style holder with a smile and says nothing. The Ore Tree is in the shape of a long sword, slightly longer and twice as heavy as the wooden sword I used before. Even with my enhanced body through stats, it’s naturally impossible to carry it around constantly in my current condition.
“Thanks for your patronage! If you polish your Ore Tree properly and channel magic into it, it will grow! If you have any questions, come back!”
In the end, I ended up buying the holder too, and my savings took a serious hit. Even the maintenance tools I bought as an extra extra were a painful expense.
“Next, I need armor and medicine.”
For now, I’m wearing a suit with a flat-bladed long sword on my back, like an iron plate. Naturally, I can’t dive into a Dungeon dressed like this, and the issued gear was long ago torn to shreds by the instructors. During training, Suella always arranged for repairs for the issued armor, but just recently, on the final day of training, it finally gave up the ghost. It was shattered by a “Chambala Blade” (magic sword). Instructor Kio said I had become strong enough to make him misjudge his strength slightly, but being forced to pay for destroyed armor made me feel a pang of sadness despite my growth. And the results of that growth were reflected in the armor.
“Excuse me. Do you have any armor that allows for easy movement and protects key areas? My budget is on the lower side.”
With that basic plan in mind, I entered the store.
I remembered how I was the type to buy a strong weapon in an RPG and postpone buying armor, while being told by the Giant race female store clerk, who was two heads taller than me and had a model-like figure,
I wandered through several stores comparing prices.
Honestly, I had browsed a few stores while pondering that I couldn’t make the same purchases as before.
However, I didn’t have what I didn’t have (money).
That’s why it’s necessary to examine them carefully, but
“Honestly, I don’t get it.”
“If you got it, we wouldn’t be necessary.”
The store clerk, who seemed concerned about me struggling to make do with a limited budget, spoke to me.
“Is that how it is?”
I decided to be honest and ask for help.
I’ve seen it in games, anime, and novels.
There are protagonists who easily choose equipment, saying things like, “This metal is strong,” “This monster’s leather is rare,” or “This jewel has such-and-such an effect,” but they must have an excellent eye for it.
All I have is an eye for whether the price is cheap or not.
For a single leather armor, there’s armor for the same Flying Dragon that costs nearly double, and conversely, there’s full body armor that looks like it’s barely worth anything, like a cosplay outfit. Honestly, I can’t even tell here if the armor’s performance is at an appropriate price or if it’s good.
“Most of what’s here is made from materials not found on Earth, you know? Well, there are many parts I referenced for the manufacturing method, technology, and design, but in terms of materials, your judgment criteria are completely unusable.”
No wonder they had clothes that looked like special forces gear.
If that outfit on the mannequin were within my reach, I would have definitely bought it.
Given the nature of my work, even if I could dismiss it as cosplay, I still want to dress as conventionally as possible.
Why, at nearly thirty, should a man who was a Salaryman until recently wear conspicuous, fantasy-like clothing like in a game?
That would be on the level of banquet entertainment.
The reason I chose this store is that compared to the previous three, it had more relatively modern clothing.
Some of my colleagues were happily choosing equipment at the previous store, but seeing them, a mix of what looked like University students, a mix of youngsters, or maybe I should call it a “Challenger spirit,” having fun like a cosplay show, I felt a generational gap, so let’s put that aside.
“At least you should stop thinking that price equals strength. Some equipment is rare and effective for a certain species, but completely useless for others. Honestly, asking a professional is best.”
What this store clerk is saying is probably true.
But if I just blindly accept it, it’s like shopping like a sucker with a leek on my back.
Price comparison and knowledge from independent study are necessary.
“Don’t worry. Unless you’re a particularly difficult customer, we don’t rip people off.”
“…Was it that obvious?”
“So that’s your true self. I prefer that, so you can speak in that tone. Rest assured, you seem to have some experience, so it wasn’t obvious on your face. From next time, pay attention to your eyes too.”
The store clerk pointed to her right eye and smiled.
Whether she cut her hair short for work or for fashion, I don’t know, but her personality, like her neatly trimmed short hair, seemed straightforward.
The weapon store clerk from before and the store clerk in front of me are good at interacting with people.
It’s easygoing for me, but
“Looking at the weapon on your back, you’re a front-liner, probably a warrior at the start. Can I see your stats?”
“Well, I can, but…”
“Protecting customer secrets is part of the job. Besides, if I see your stats, I can recommend equipment more accurately.”
I was honestly confused because the weapon store didn’t do that, but I could understand it if they explained it.
However, I still felt resistant to revealing information as much as possible.
“Please wait a moment.”
“As you can see, it’s our opening day and we’re not getting any customers, so please take your time.”
Seeing the store clerk leisurely waving her hand, as if truly bored, it was up to me whether to trust her or not.
Besides, this is a store under the umbrella of an organization. It might be pointless to think about whether extracting my information would be of any use.
“It’s like this.”
After hesitating and pondering, I decided to show it.
I activated the diagnostic App on the device I brought, used the function to hide the “skill” part of the displayed stats, and decided to show the rest.
“Oh, these stats without even entering a Dungeon? You must have been thoroughly trained during your training. Okay, okay.”
After carefully memorizing the numbers and looking away from the device screen, her movements were swift.
“This one, this one, and this one, I guess.”
She moved around efficiently, her knowledge of the items’ locations from one end of the store to the other allowing for no wasted movement, and before I knew it, a pile of equipment sets had formed on the counter.
“I can’t buy all of it?”
“I know. These are my recommendations, and I’ve put together sets that match your preferences.”
The fact that she then presented an estimate showed considerable efficiency.
“The performance improves from left to right, so I’ve matched the colors with the concept of being light, sturdy, and easy to move in.”
However, regrettably, even if I could afford it, I could only buy up to the third set from the left.
Even that would be the result of severely depleting my living expenses, which are my lifeline, so it’s no exaggeration to say I couldn’t even afford the third one.
“Based on your stats, you seem to have a good balance of endurance, mobility, and attack power. You can move, have a certain amount of defense, and I’ve tried to make it so your vision isn’t obstructed. Oh, and judging by your weapon, if you’re going to use a shield, it would be on your shoulder, so I prepared one just in case, do you want it?”
Indeed, my durability is exceptionally high, followed by stamina and strength.
On the other hand, my agility stat is low, so equipment that relies on evasion might not be suitable.
Looking at the shoulder shield she held up, I shook my head after seeing the price tag, and I don’t think I did anything wrong.
The equipment concept was a set of long-sleeved shirts and pants, gauntlets, greaves, a forehead guard, and torso armor, all made of metal and covering the essential parts.
“I’m sure you understand, but there are no enchantments on these. If there were, they wouldn’t be this price.”
Enchantments, in other words, magical support.
This means that only the materials have been forged into equipment here.
The equipment on the far right alone costs as much as a new car, making me curious about how much real equipment would cost.
“Can I try them on?”
“What else would you do?”
“That’s right.”
For now, I’ll try them on starting from the cheapest.
Besides the size issue, ease of movement and usability will also be guidelines when buying.
And then, a fashion show for a single audience member began.
“As expected, the more expensive ones are easier to use.”
“The amount of force you need to put in is different, and there’s a difference in materials in the first place. That can’t be helped.”
Although price isn’t always a good indicator, good things naturally tend to be expensive everywhere.
“How far can your budget go?”
“Barely, up to here.”
The desire that naturally arises in someone who wants to use good things and the rationality called budget are in conflict, making it impossible to decide.
Therefore, I pointed to the borderline, the truly affordable level, as if asking for advice.
“In that case, this might be the best option,” she said.
“?”
The shopkeeper’s suggestion prompted an involuntary question from me. The equipment she pointed to was the cheapest option among those available. She was a shopkeeper, a merchant. Wouldn’t a merchant try to sell the most expensive items if possible?
“If you buy good quality items from the start and get used to them, it will be difficult for you later. It’s not good to be stingy and wear shoddy equipment, but it’s also not good to have equipment that’s too good.”
Thinking about it that way, it did seem to be the case. Humans tend to avoid inconvenient things if they get used to good ones.
“Besides, if I sell you expensive items from the beginning, you won’t buy expensive items later.”
“You should keep that to yourself.”
“It’s fine, we of the Giant race hate secrets. We can get closer by cursing each other with abusive language than by keeping secrets.”
“That’s why we’re often called quarrelsome and barbaric,” the shopkeeper said with a mischievous laugh.
Come to think of it, the employee at the weapon shop where I bought the ore tree on my back seemed quite frank as well. Perhaps they were skilled at making things like this, but maybe their personality was clumsy as a race.
“Then, I’ll take this.”
“Thank you for your purchase!”
I bought a set of gray clothes, gauntlets, greaves, a forehead guard, and a chest piece with iron plates. Although the area covered by metal was small, they were all well-crafted items as armor.
“If you’re going to buy, become a regular so you can negotiate discounts with me.”
“You should keep that to yourself.”
“I won’t.”
I paid and received the items, which were packed in a large paper bag. Was it because I was a resident of another world that I found such interactions with the shopkeeper, with whom I could exchange jokes, so fresh and felt a sense of familiarity? I decided I would shop at this store again for a while.
“When you get some good materials, bring them to me. I’ll make them cheaper than what’s on display in the store for you.”
“Alright.”
I waved goodbye to the shopkeeper, who saw me off at the entrance. I realized I had metal armor on my back and a large paper bag in my right hand. In terms of weight, in the past, I would have immediately thought of going home. However, unfortunately, I still had things to buy. With my remaining balance in mind, I opened a booklet with my only free left hand and started walking towards my next destination.
“Welcome, what can I get for you?”
The first thing I wanted to say was that her complexion was poor, and I wondered if she was alright. I had come to a tool shop. In the dungeon, there were many materials that could be picked up, which would then turn into money. Knowing this, I couldn’t imagine going out with just a weapon on my back. I came here hoping to find a sturdy bag for materials, perhaps even a magic bag that ignored weight. However, the moment I opened the door and entered the store, I was speechless when I was greeted by a girl who looked so frail that she seemed about to collapse while organizing the items. I had heard of albinism, but unlike that, her eyes were purple, and her hair, styled in twin tails, was a pale gold, but her skin was not just pale, but almost translucent. For a typical human girl, she would not be in a healthy condition to carry heavy cardboard boxes.
“Are… are you alright?”
“? What about it?”
“No, you just look unwell.”
“Ah, I am a vampire, so this is normal. I am perfectly healthy, so please don’t worry. The only thing that bothers me is perhaps the glare from the LED lights. However, these glasses with blue light cut help a lot.”
She said, putting down a cardboard box, and then stretched her lips horizontally, revealing sharp fangs. Seeing that, I was slightly uncomfortable with a vampire being in bright places, but decided she was fine since it wasn’t direct sunlight.
“Now, customer, what can I get for you? If you’re just browsing, please go elsewhere, as I’m quite busy right now.”
I wondered why the shopkeepers, both at the weapon shop and then at the armor shop, and now this tool shop, could all speak so directly to their customers. However, as she said, she did seem to be busy stocking shelves. Cardboard boxes were piled everywhere in the shop. Although the products were arranged on the shelves, it was barely in a state that could be considered open for business.
“Ah, yes, I came to buy a bag for materials and some healing potions. Is that alright?”
“Yes, a bag for materials and healing potions. A normal bag will do?”
“No, what kind of bags do you have? Are there any unusual ones?”
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘unusual,’ but we do have what are called magic bags. They are enchanted with weightlessness and expansion, so they are convenient for dungeon exploration. Unfortunately, I haven’t finished stocking them yet, so I’ll have to retrieve the valuables from the warehouse.”
Was she indirectly telling me it would take time? Without looking at me, she moved a cardboard box aside and brought another one to the counter. The vampire shopkeeper busily took out what looked like ointments, which seemed to be healing potions, and bottles with a black, opaque color, which were likely potions, and arranged them on the counter.
“May I confirm, what is your budget? Our shop’s magic bags, the waist-pouch type with a storage capacity of one cubic meter, start at two million.”
It seemed she was the type who would cut corners wherever possible. She had presented a price that not only exceeded my budget but was also something I couldn’t afford for a long time. My faint hope was instantly shattered. Even so, this girl didn’t seem very business-minded. At first glance, this might seem strange for a merchant, but it was a reasonable action for someone who prioritized efficiency in their work.
“Ah, in that case, I’ll take a normal bag. Do you have one that won’t interfere with this sword?”
“…Ah, is that the equipment purchased from the Giant race’s Hands shop? If you combine that with this, it should work.”
It seemed the giant shopkeeper’s name was Hands. The girl glanced at it and quickly disappeared into the back of the store. She returned in no time.
“A backpack?”
It looked like the kind you sometimes see at home improvement stores for carrying firewood or other items.
“Materials come in various sizes. Smaller items can be put in small pouches, and larger items can be carried by securing them. A normal bag would fill up quickly, but with this exposed frame, you can carry more than with a regular bag, depending on how you load it.”
She showed me small leather pouches and ropes that were laid out alongside it.
“You secure it to your waist and shoulders, so you can attach that sword to your side by adjusting the rigging. And if you attach the included case to the other side, you can easily access and carry your medicine.”
Let me correct myself. This vampire girl was definitely a merchant. She had quickly assessed my needs and budget, efficiently presented the necessary items, and was pushing them at a price that was just within my reach. Being able to present such a range of items for a bag and healing potions was, in a way, amazing. At the very least, I hadn’t even thought of separate pouches, securing ropes, or a case for the healing potions.
“We’ll deal with the price of the healing potions later. The total will be around this much.”
And then, just in time, a number appeared on the calculator, a price that could be accepted as necessary expenses.
“Then, I’ll take it.”
I decided to make the purchase, but the sound of the cash register, which made an unusual jingle, made me feel a little down as I realized my savings had decreased. Unconcerned with my mood, the vampire shopkeeper, who was diligently working, moved the backpack aside and pushed the potion she had previously brought out towards me.
“I understand. And what kind of healing medicine would you like?”
From what I could see, there were liquid potions and ointment-type salves.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know the difference.”
“The effects aren’t significantly different, but potions are more expensive. The difference is in ease of use. You can drink them during combat, or even sprinkle them on wounds. Ointments, on the other hand, are literally applied. So, they’re difficult to use during combat.”
“I see.”
As expected, the liquid medicine was called a potion, while the ointment was just that.
It seemed like one was for use during combat and the other for after.
“By the way, what about expiration dates?”
“Here.”
Looking at the lids, both the potions and ointments had clear dates written on them.
Comparatively, the potions had shorter shelf lives, but they still lasted about as long as a nutritional drink.
So, if I bought them in bulk and didn’t forget to use them, there wouldn’t be any worries.
Another thing to compare would be portability.
Potions seemed fragile, while the ointment containers were thick and likely to break less easily.
Both had their advantages, and I was struggling to decide.
“We also have dedicated cases and holders for each.”
For potions, there was a belt-type holder that could secure about three bottles around the waist with a band near the chest. For ointments, it was a small first-aid kit that could hold bandages and other medicines along with the ointment.
Incidentally, both were quite expensive.
They were consumables, and while they were mass-produced, they weren’t absurdly priced like in fantasy novels. However, they weren’t cheap enough to buy on a whim either.
The prices for each set were displayed on two calculators. I debated whether to consider them necessary expenses or to try and save money by not buying any wound medicine, figuring I could ignore injuries and just die if it came to that.
“If you buy both now, I can give you a discount on the set price?”
While I was hesitating, a whisper came, and another calculator displayed a total amount with about ten percent shaved off.
“If I die and get traumatized, that would be a waste, wouldn’t it?”
I knew I was weak to pressure. Acknowledging that I was a Japanese person who couldn’t say no, I loosened my purse strings.
Even if they said I could revive, I had never experienced the pain of dying.
Even if I died and came back to life, there was no guarantee that my mental state wouldn’t be scarred. Besides, it wasn’t even guaranteed that I would die. There were countless injuries, far from fatal, that could still impede my fighting ability.
Telling myself this justification, I decided that this expense was a necessary one.
“How effective are these medicines?”
“For something like a fracture, both will provide complete healing in a few seconds after use. However, they only have a hemostatic effect at best for severe injuries like a hole in the body or a severed limb, so please be careful.”
I judged that to be sufficient. If I could move at a minimum with only a few seconds of delay, it was effective enough for emergencies.
“Three potions, and a holder for them. For the ointment, one unit with a case and bandages.”
“Thank you. I’ll pack them up for you.”
With that, all preparations were complete.
Now, all I had to do was return to my room and delve into the dungeon.
I checked the clock; it was just past eleven.
If I had lunch and then went, I could meet my daily quota.
“Thank you for your patronage. Please come again.”
As I was about to leave with my purchases in a paper bag, I saw her finish her greeting and return to stocking shelves. A question suddenly popped into my head.
“You seem busy, but are there no other employees?”
She was the only one bustling around. The store was about the size of a regular convenience store, so it must be tough for her to handle it all alone.
“No, there aren’t.”
“What?”
I was undoubtedly wearing a foolish expression.
“My predecessor got angry at the last minute, saying he couldn’t stand doing business with humans, and went back to his country with all the other employees. So, I’m the only one running this store.”
I couldn’t help but think, “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I was suddenly assigned here a week ago. For some reason, nothing was prepared. I tried to postpone the opening date, but it seems the supervisor is a relative of the previous employee and wants to hide his failure. So, the opening date couldn’t be moved, and all the material procurement was dumped on me. As a result, I’ve been working for six straight days without sleep.”
I thought it again. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Standing there dumbfounded, she continued to walk around the store and restock shelves as if I were merely a conversation partner to keep her awake.
“…I’ll help. Where does this go?”
“? Uh, over to that shelf, but what are you doing?”
“I’m helping.”
After hearing her story, I immediately put aside what I had bought, took off my suit jacket, and started carrying cardboard boxes.
“No, there’s no reason for a customer to help.”
“You may not have a reason, but I do.”
I didn’t work for a black company for nothing.
I had countless instances of working overtime for free due to my superiors’ unreasonable demands.
I remembered my old boss, who would give me vague instructions, tell me to figure it out myself if I asked for clarification, and then leave shortly after clocking out, leaving me to clean up his messes while his subordinates, who did little work, went home on time or even early.
I felt a connection to her situation, not just her current predicament but because I had experienced my old boss’s unreasonable demands. My actions stemmed from empathy.
I knew it was hypocritical, but I hated turning away from and ignoring unpleasant experiences I had personally gone through.
I diligently stocked items, looking at the invoices attached to the cardboard boxes.
“Um,”
“Yes?”
“That goes two shelves down.”
“……Please give me instructions.”
“Understood.”
Whether she didn’t say anything because she truly needed the help or because arguing was pointless, I didn’t know. She silently continued her own work while giving me instructions.
“Well, that’s done.”
“Is it?”
After we finished stocking everything, the cardboard boxes that had been piled in the corner were gone.
There were no more gaps on the store shelves, and it finally looked like a proper store. Now, only the valuables in the glass cases remained, so my help was no longer needed.
The vampire girl, the employee, was organizing invoices behind the counter.
Having finished my task, I untied my tie, rolled up my sleeves, and looked at my device’s clock.
“Ugh, it’s already four o’clock.”
“As I said, there’s no reason for a customer to help.”
“Well, yeah, but… Haa, overtime on my first day. This company has no overtime hours, you know.”
Without even looking at me, she replied while diligently continuing to organize invoices.
With a minimum daily quota of five hours, even if I started now, I wouldn’t finish until after nine.
My own fault.
That’s all there was to it.
“Well, I’m sure it’ll work out. Sorry for the disturbance.”
“No, you did it on your own, but it was helpful in the end.”
“As the store employee said, I did it on my own. Well, I can’t stay any longer, so I’m off. I’ll be back to shop again, so please take care of me then.”
I had to leave quickly, or I might even miss the next day.
I picked up my belongings and left the store.
However, the sound of paper invoices being neatly stacked stopped me.
“Information gathering on-site is a common practice there. Therefore, I will teach you a little about the dungeon.”
I turned back to see her looking intently at me from across the counter.
Jiro Tanaka, twenty-eight years old, single, no girlfriend, profession: Dungeon Tester (full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude 8 (General Class)
Rank: Warrior
Thought for the day:
“Seize the day.”
I believe preparation is important.
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