Conclusion

Mallory woke up bright and early as she went out to purchase some things.

She arrived at a tailor where she looked at everything within the store which ranged from normal designs to more traditional clothing from the east which had been imported.

Due to her growing influence and customers, she had to look the part all the more so she had decided to invest in her own outfit.

If she continued to dress in hand me downs, rags or ordinary clothes then her image as a warder would be less believable to many.

She had been lucky due to the gain in popularity she had recently thanks to her talismans effects but eventually she would have to act and dress according to the role that she was playing. 'I need a mix of different types of shrine or church attire for priests or clergy. Something that can be used during my daily life but also for future combat. I will also be wearing light armour over it so it must not be overly baggy or tight.'

The tailor came forward and asked. "Do you need anything in particular?"

Mallory answered right away. "For my top I would like set of sleeveless, long-sleeved and short-sleeved tab-collar shirts in white, emerald green, dark green and black. They must fit my body shape but not be restricting to my movements. Over the top I want a set of vests and kimono (haori) which will not go down as far as my thigh area. I want them all in the same colours while I would like a set of matching pants, socks and underwear."

The tailor frowned and asked. "We have all you are looking for but we do not make the shirts you are asking for, could you show me what you mean?"

Mallory was handed the brush and paper so she sketched a rough version of the shape of a clergy shirt. "On the neck area there is a small part inside which has enough room for a collar to be put through. If you happen to have any leather then I would also like some collars in each colour I asked for before. Preferably ones that are thin and if possible have a metal hoop on it to attach charms or accessories. If you sell belts too then I want them in the same colours as the collars. A pair of shoes which add not too heavy but protect my feet would be good too."

The tailor looked at the designs and nodded. "This should be possible so just leave it to me. First we need to take your measurements, see what your spending range is and know what materials you wish to have them made from."

Mallory put her hand on her chin and said. "Cotton and linen should be acceptable, my limit for spending will be six thousand Valis. Just remember that the lower half must be adjusted for my tail."

The tailor looked excited as she started to take the body measurements of Mallory. "Do not worry customer, all I need to do is make some adjustments and everything will be prepared according to your needs. Is there anything you will be using them for?"

Mallory smiled. "The darker clothes will be most likely be used for work and combat in the future but the lighter ones will be used in my everyday life. I can always mix and match the colours."

The tailor started to write down the measurements and was very serious as Mallory sat there quietly.

Mallory's idea for a costume or regular wear for herself was inspired by different cultures and thrown together but it was quite simple and the materials used were easy to manage.

Instead of a cloth or plastic collar inside her shirt collar of the clergy shirt, she had chosen to instead go for a cat collar design which had a section to attach a charm or accessory of some kind.

The haori or vest that she would be wearing over her shirt would be the same colour as her collar and belt so if she was wearing a white or emerald green shirt then her collar and other parts would be black or dark green.

Although she was feeling a little down over putting her hard earned Valis towards clothing, she knew that it was a worthy investment.

The tailor was finished with her work and asked. "Is there any patterns or prints you want done to any pieces of clothing?"

Mallory replied. "I had not really thought about it. Perhaps a leopard print pattern around the sleeves and bottom of the kimono."

The tailor was quick to carefully take down some sketches of the shapes of the leopard prints on the back of Mallory's ears and tail then smiled. "It should not be difficult to do. Do you want to pick them up or do you want them sent to you?"

Mallory replied back immediately. "Send them to the Seshat familia and address them to my name."

The tailor nodded. "Of course but are you sure you do not want anything made of higher grade materials or monster parts?"

Mallory shook her head. "No thanks."

While armour and weapons were needed to survive and make a living as an adventurer, she did not wish to live as an adventurer so soon because jumping right into combat with monsters out in the wild was much too risky.

If she was in Orario then she could have gone into the dungeon on the beginner floors to gain experience and gradually go to more difficult floors once she adjusted to her status updates but Mallory was instead in Vista City which she did not know about from the original story.

As she left the tailors, she could feel the loss of the Valis right away so she returned back to the familia and took out the talismans.

Mallory went to her usual spot where she started to call out to each passerby that had something unusual about their aura. "Sir, you are fated for a great misfortune in the near future. Please purchase this talisman and you may be able to avoid or overcome it."

While she was busy with her own things, several people related to the Seshat familia entered an antique shop one after another as they browsed the antiques in the shop and purchased what the man at the counter recommended.

Before long, several antiques were sold and among them were several dangerous antiques which had not been checked or properly cleaned according to the proper safety standards.

Oars met with them and asked. "How is it?"

An expert on antiques and old ruins looked over and held a cloth over the lower half of his face. "This is a good catch, who exactly spotted this? If they are selling antiques like this to just about anyone who can pay for them then the damage to the city could be massive unless the victims are able to identify the cause."

Oars replied. "It is the new familia member."

The antique expert rolled his eyes. "Oh.. so it is the slave the goddess brought in. How did she spot this?"

Oars shrugged. "She has been selling some strange warding and detection talismans to help protect people from harm. Among her customers was a family affected by and has some connection with the antique store. I believe that they are business partners. Do we have enough evidence yet to search the store and arrest him?"

Another man was dressed in light armour and said. "This should be more than enough to prove the wrongs he has committed and we have had one family come forward already thanks to that new kid."

Back in the shop, the co-owner was closing the shop with a smug grin on his face and was about to head home to his family but he was suddenly grabbed by his arms and dragged away. "What are you? Get off me!"

A cold voice answered. "You are being arrested by the city law department. We have reports that you are involved in some criminal activities. Follow us and you may have a chance to prove your innocence but if you resist.. then do not blame us for being rough."

The old man in his seventies was terrified and gave up resisting as the grip on his arms was much too tight. "Ah.. I will follow."

He remained quite confident in himself that everything was some misunderstanding but he quickly found himself very wrong.

He never expected that someone would notice his deeds so soon and that there had been a team which had been working to compile the evidence against him which would seal his fate.

He tried to argue his case but as he was kept in the interrogation room and the cell, more evidence was piled up after the shop had been searched.

The sales of the store were recorded so the team started to work together to find the other victims while the many antiques were given over to the antique expert to process and document as additional evidence.

The co-owned of the antique store was thrown into jail and would await his punishment while he was stripped of his belongings which made the old man of the family Mallory visited as the sole owner.

Not only had the warning helped to save the family but further action had lead to the families fortune as they gained full ownership of the store to pass down for each generation.

The villain behind the events was punished and the victims were saved one after another, the family of the old man were investigated too and the cause behind his actions were brought to light.

Without the Valis to pay for their everyday life, they would soon struggle to find a way to live as they had done before and that in a way was a form of punishment because they were also partly to blame for everything.

Oars told Mallory and Seshat the details when he returned. "The person behind it seemed to have no problems in the past apparently but his son had gotten addicted to gambling, the daughter in law spent money recklessly to show off her wealth then

there were the grandchildren which expenses needed to be paid.

While antiques do usually sell for a lot, when the store is owned by two people from different families there will be less of a family income for each. While one family was able to support themselves, the other had its fair share of problems and could not avoid falling into debt a while ago."

Seshat frowned. "So you are saying that he resorted to such methods to gain more Valis through unfair means? It is not like his partner had noticed anything so why target him and his family too?"

Oars replied. "We have concluded from our interrogations that he started off small and started buying antiques from people he used to reject in the past because they are grave and tomb robbers but with his need for Valis rising, he had to reconsider. Once the profits were up again, he could have stopped but he got a taste for the extra wealth and for getting away with tricking people.

As you can imagine, his greed was not satisfied and he became more brazen in his actions as he targeted his partner and the family so he could not only gain the store for himself but also remove his partner before his partner started to notice something wrong with how the store was being run."

Seshat nodded. "Is there anyone who is involved in this or is it just him acting alone?"

Oars sighed. "We have put an end to the source of the trouble but those who are supplying the antiques cannot be located at the moment so they may be from outside the city.

It is not yet known if they had sold those items to the store with the intent to create such problems or it was just them simply selling them to make some quick Valis. So long as this is kept quiet and the store remains open then we can wait to see if they show up again."

Mallory smiled as she listened to the conclusion of the events. "I am just glad to be able to contribute to the city and its people."

Seshat looked over and patted her head. "Good job but you should rest up for tomorrow."

Mallory looked confused but did not ask any questions before she left the room.

Oars looked over in confusion. "Tomorrow?"

Seshat put on a calm look as she said seriously. "A child like her will make many enemies if she keeps meddling in their business so I need you to put her through training. Only you can do this for me, as for those talismans that she is selling… she no longer needs to sell them at such a low price or out in the market. We need to make arrangements for her in the familia."

Oars looked over with wide eyes. "So you have decided then?"

Seshat nodded. "Yes I have. The child needs support right now so we must give it, perhaps one day she will be the one supporting the familia in return. So tell me what do you think of her and what have you seen when following her around?"

Oars let out a sigh. "If you are so determined then I cannot argue with you but I have yet to be proven completely whether she will be able to support us. Mallory is hardworking and serious towards her studies and training so her desire to grow is strong.

She usually stays in her room making those talismans or in training then makes trips to the market to sell them. One thing that I have noticed is that she seems to have a very keen sense which allows her to spot a persons incoming misfortune and her talismans are very unique items too."

Seshat smiled as she gazed outside of the window up towards the dark sky. "Would you say that it was some kind of sense which was like astrology or a form of divination?"

Oars nodded. "From her warnings to people, she cannot determine the cause, place and time of the misfortune they will experience but it is more like she can sense it on them and knows it will soon be approaching.

The most clear warnings that she had given were her warnings of impending death, I had followed some that ignored her warnings and it happened just as she had warned so I have been kept busy saving those she has warned but they have failed to listen."

Seshat sighed. "Whatever that power she holds is… it is something that not everyone would be willing to believe in even if they had heard the stories. What I am worried about is others taking a liking to what she is capable of and that they will try to exploit her. Protect her well."

Oars knelt down and kissed Seshat's outstretched hand. "I will carry out your will goddess."

Seshat looked very grateful. "Oars, train her well!"

Mallory did not know that not all of her talismans which were sold had been used so her gain in points during her status update had come from her previous warnings which had been ignored then Oars helping out the ones that were destined to die.

When her next status update came and everything from the left over talismans, the events of the antique shop and many others were put together along with the results from the talismans sold before then, she would be very shocked at the Excelia gained.

Mallory was also not aware of the changes she would have to face in the future and how it would affect her as she would have to change her way of selling her talismans and undergo training by a level three spear user.

Although she was not Bell who was undergoing constant beatings and knockouts by Ais who had a large level difference between them, Mallory was still a beginner compared to most adventurers and a level three was enough of a gap to put her through a hard time.

As she returned to her room, she was surrounded by all kinds if books related to making moulds for items, weapons and accessories then there were books on the basics of architecture, astronomy and astrology. "I need a symbol… something only for me."

She then sketched a couple of things down and among them was the Seshat hieroglyphs with a crescent moon shape as the pointed ends were facing downward and the seven petalled flower was connected underneath.

Mallory started drawing up some combinations of the crescent shape along with some leopard shapes in different angles, sizes and placements. "This way I will not be forgetting my connection to my familia but I will also be including the source of my power which comes from the leopard."

After it was completed, instead of there being a seven petal flower underneath the crescent shape with the pointed parts facing downward, there was a shape of a leopard prowling forward.

All of it was coloured in black ink but that was the overall design she had in mind which could be made into moulds to make some charms or other accessories but it could also be used for a wide variety of things which could be used later.