Chapter 34: Preparations Complete

After making a decision and paying with the account tied to his ID card, Kain didn't immediately leave. He had an idea to deal with Bea's other limitation—a water gun!

After explaining his idea to the Blacksmith, he gave him a strange look. "It's not too difficult to make what you asked. However, most people that order a projectile weapon want it to shoot arrows or bullets, not water. Is this for a child to play with?"

Kain coughed, "My contract is poisonous"—not, technically true but that's the easiest way to describe Bea—"I was hoping to shoot the poison at targets from far away"

The man stroked his beard, contemplating the feasibility of the idea, but looked skeptical. "Is your poison able to exert an effect once it makes contact with the skin?"

"No…"

"I see. So it needs to be ingested or get in through some other opening in the body. Do you have an aim good enough to hit rapidly moving targets from far away and aim precisely at the eyes, nose, or open mouths or wounds?"

"….No…." Realizing that most spiritual creatures are significantly more quick and agile than him. He also doesn't have any experience holding a gun from his past life or in the combat training he received in this life.

"…I think I have a better idea." The man brought Kain to the back of the store. The weapons and armor here were all of a noticeably higher quality than the ones at the front. They also all had markings of abstract symbols.

They stopped before a dark red spear with intricate markings all along the shaft. "One of the apprentices in my shop designed this spear recently. It is enchanted with a sigil meant to inject a stored poison into the stabbed target once infused with spirit power"

An enchanted weapon! Armors and weapons sigils that can exert a variety of effects when triggered by the user's spiritual power. The effect described for this spear seems quite simple, but making even the simplest enchanted weapon takes a huge amount of talent and skill. A mere apprentice made this one?

Unfortunately, considering Kain could just barely afford an ordinary soft armor, there's no way he'd be able to purchase the spear, no matter how appealing it is. 'But it really is perfect for me! Although I mostly use knives, I have some experience with spears from class, I can become more proficient with practice in time for the entrance exam. Also, being able to directly inject Bea into the target is a much more foolproof method than a water gun. Especially since I would only need to cut them and not fatally wound them to achieve victory'

Perhaps seeing Kain's awkward expression, he guessed the problem. "I assume you are going into the wilderness soon, correct?"

Kain nodded.

"Then I will give this spear to you as an advance payment if you can complete a task for me."

Kain wanted to immediately agree and grab the precious spear, however thankfully he was able to calm down and hear the conditions beforehand. After all, this sounds way too good to be true. What task can be worth an enchanted weapon?

"I need you to hunt Armordillos for me, at least 3 in order to make an armor I'm planning"

"Why would you be asking a high school student like me, rather than hiring a mercenary?"

"Well as I'm sure you know Armordillos have a defense that's pretty impenetrable by attacks at the same level. Heck, even a orange-grade attack will likely not even leave a scratch on an Armordillo when it's curled up. Therefore, to hunt one of them requires a decent poison that is also not corrosive and will weaken the shell. You happen to meet both conditions."

Kain contemplated. Armordillos are a Bronze-quality beast, and typically have condensed red-grade spiritual power by the time they've reached adulthood. However, despite being a whole grade above him and Bea, Kain wasn't too threatened. Despite their incredible defense, even adult Armordillos don't normally have any attack skills, preferring to just curl up when they see a predator. Therefore, Kain wouldn't likely be in any danger when facing them.

The only issue is that Armordillos are pretty rare and there is no guarantee he can even find one, much less three of them.

"I wouldn't know where to begin looking…" Kain began hesitantly.

"Don't worry about that," the Blacksmith said waving a hand nonchalantly, "I have pretty accurate intel on where a family of 5 of them were recently spotted. I'll even let you borrow a space ring from me. It doesn't have much space, about 1 cubic meter, but it should be able to squeeze in 3 fully grown 'Dillo shells plus whatever basic supplies you bring"

"Deal!" Concerns all taken care of, Kain excitedly agreed. 'I even get to rent a space ring for free!'

After they signed a contract with the terms of their agreement, Kain was then handed the ring already containing the spear, and the map with the location of the Armordillo family. Before being escorted to the door.

"Hmmm…." Kain said while looking at the map, "they are on the other side of the river…"

"Yup! It's your responsibility to figure out how to get across"

Bang!

The door was slammed inches from Kain's face before the 'Open' sign was flipped to 'Closed'

"I guess I should be happy to even receive an enchanted weapon, map, and space ring. If he had to provide me with any more help then he really would probably just be better off hiring a professional mercenary" Kain ran his hands through his black hair in embarrassment before turning to head back home.

'I wonder what's for dinner…'