136 The Compound
<Author's 10 Thoughts: This is an extra chapter this week for reaching more than Power Stones. Thank you, Higime142, LeonidasCSNeto, Leitor_Morto, DARKNESS457843 and FosNeki! Really appreciate the support!>
Day of Tuar, 1:15 p.m.
Vivian entered the Blacksmith Shop located inside the compound where the members of the Temple of Priests reside.
She saw the clerks, Sike and Grace, behind the counter and immediately headed straight to them.
"Hello sister, how may I help you?" Sike asked with a kind smile on his face.
"Hi brother, I'm here to pick up the poleaxe I had repaired here the other day ago."
"Please wait for a moment," Sike said before turning away and entering a door behind the counter.
Vivian turned her gaze to Grace.
"Sister Grace," she said and greeted with a smile.
"Sister Vivian," she replied and returned the gesture.
Given that Vivian told her that she was a secret agent on a secret mission working for the Temple of Priests to fish out if there were demon-worshipers and traitors within their Temple, they made an agreement with each other that in order to not blow Vivian's cover, they would act normal whenever they cross paths, like how a White Cloak should treat a Brown Cloak or whatever that means.
"Sister, I have a question," said Vivian. "Do you sell her weapons with elemental effects?"
"Yes, sister. We sell Elemental Weapons here."
"I've heard that Elemental Weapons can open Affinities but I've never met anyone who opened theirs using that method. Is it true?"
Vivian lied.
The truth is, she has never heard of such a thing and simply wanted to know. But given her "secret agent" identity, she deliberately worded her question in such a manner.
In her mind, what kind of secret agent would she be if she didn't even know such basic things?
"Yes, it is true. But most people, at least outside of our brothers and sisters, would rather just pay for an Awakening Ceremony because it comes with healing magic and it only costs 50 gold coins. Compare that to the Elemental Weapons, the lowest price is 80 gold coins, you have to recharge it for 20 gold coins and also provide your own healing magic or potions."
I have to recharge it…?
With every use or after a couple of uses…?
"I've also thought about that, sister. But as you know, given my OTHER job, I have to be meticulous with every detail. I can't afford to make any wrong judgments."
A serious expression appeared on Grace's face and she leaned over.
"Sister, does this have anything to do with your OTHER job?"
Vivian didn't respond and simply smiled at her.
"If you want, I can lend you some Elemental and Magic Weapons. I have quite a few."
Vivian ignored the Magic Weapon part.
"It's fine, sister. As you know, this position I'm at isn't exactly something our brothers and sisters would look kindly at. I can bear my own reputation to be tarnished, but I can't bear to have other people's reputation, especially yours, be tarnished because of my actions."
"But sister, it's not like I'm directly helping you. What if I accidentally dropped them and you accidentally picked up it and planned to return it to me but you got busy with other things so it took a while before you gave it to me?"
Vivian let out a chuckle and shook her head.
"I appreciate the offer, sister. I really do. But like I said earlier, I can bear my own reputation being tarnished, but to have other people's reputation, especially yours, be tarnished because of my actions is something I can't live with."
Grace was about to open her mouth when the Sike returned.
"Sister, I have your weapon here."
"Thank you, brother," Vivian said and smiled as she received her poleaxe. "By the way, brother, do you sell normal gloves here? Something that can't be affected by Physical Arts, like [Power Fist]."
Based on Vivian's experience, despite using [Power Fist], her fingerless gloves didn't get destroyed. They only sustained cracks from daily normal usage.
"Yes, we do, sister."
"Is there color black?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"The lowest is 5 silver coins."
"May I see them?"
***
Vivian entered the Apothecary shop within the compound.
She headed straight to the counter where there was a woman behind it wearing a White Cloak clerk and reading a book.
"Hello sister, do you sell shaving cream and sunscreen here?"
The woman put down her book and turned to Vivian.
"We have shaving cream here, but I don't know what is a 'sunscreen'."
"Sunscreen is something like a lotion or cream to protect your skin from the sun."
In Vivian's mind just because she was abnormally pale now, that doesn't mean she would neglect the health of her skin. After all, beauty is one of the most expensive social currencies in the world. To her, anyone who says otherwise is a fool.
"You mean a whitening cream?"
"Yeah, but not exactly a whitening cream. It simply protects my skin when I'm out in the sun. Also, if possible, I want something that I can use while doing physical activities."
"We have a day whitening cream and it doesn't make your face look oily."
"I want that and a shaving cream. Do you also have body cream and also something like a tool that trims finger and toe nails?"
"Yes."
"I also want that. How much for all?"
The woman thought about it for a moment.
"It would be 20 silver coins."
20 silver coins...?
Well, like they say, the price of beauty doesn't come cheap...
Vivian took out 2 gold coins she earned from killing the lesser demon bandits and placed them on top of the counter.
She was able to earn 6 gold coins in total. Technically, she only killed 5, while the other 1 was killed by the driver. But the old woman insisted on giving all of the rewards to Vivian because if not for her, they wouldn't be able to escape from the bandits.
The woman took the coins and then gathered the items Vivian ordered.
"By the way, I'm just curious because I don't know much about potions. Is there a potion or something that can increase someone's height?"
Despite Vivian's strength, she still longed for her original body's height. After all, she lived in that body for 24 years so she was used to navigating the world through that body's height.
The woman stopped and looked at Vivian. She gave her a good look, especially her height before answering.
"I don't know if there is such a thing. But you can try to ask at the Temple of Thieves or the Temple of Herbalists."
Temple of Herbalists…?
"I see. Thank you."
The woman resumed gathering the items that Vivian ordered.
Once she was done, she gave them to Vivian.
Vivian exited the Apothecary shop and stared blankly at her surroundings.
As far as I can remember, a Brown Cloak can borrow up to 100 gold coins, while a White Cloak can borrow up to 1,000 gold coins…
If I buy the cheapest Elemental Weapons through a loan, each would cost me 60 gold coins…'
Just like this Earring of Spirit of mine…
Although the bank of the Temple of Priests doesn't have a monthly interest in keeping her coins and items in the bank, there also won't be any loan sharks to hound her about her loan, and the loan can only be paid through the rewards of the Holy Missions, there was an interest fee when buying items with a loan.
I didn't want to change into a White Cloak right away in order to not attract that much attention from my explosive growth...
But I have no choice...
Based on what Ezekiel from the Mission Room has told her, only Brown Cloaks are allowed to participate in the teaching and feeding Holy Mission that will be conducted within the city, but they don't get any bonus pay. Meanwhile, the rest will have to join the groups that will conduct a teaching and feeding Holy Mission outside of the city, but they will get a bonus pay.
Tch…!
Not only do I have to worry about the [Nemesis of Beasts], but I also have to worry about my blue blood…
On top of that, if what Ezekiel said is true about the outside team returning home late, I wouldn't have time to do quests or level up my Physical Arts…
I can't even join the Ranking Match anymore to earn that full set of mithril armor…
She let out a sigh.
It's as if with every problem I solve, it only gets replaced with another problem…!
Hmm...
Now that I think of it…
I guess that's the reason why someone like that Melissa was placed in charge of managing the teaching and feeding Holy Mission here in the city…
But still…
"Ah, fuck it!"
She began walking and headed back to the dormitory to drop off the items she bought.
Wait…!
She suddenly stopped.
What if I also buy a magic item that gives me nightvision…?
But if I did that I wouldn't have time to level up my Magic Art…
No…
She shook her head.
I think it's better…
I can probably find a cave and train there in peace with my [Greater Origin Enchant]…
Yeah, yeah…
I won't have to waste money anymore in renting a room…
She resumed heading back to the dorm.
