Little Incident

We were able to secure our accommodation for the night on Flower Garden Street.

'Why is it called Flower Garden, honestly?'

I couldn't see anything that even remotely represented its name as I explored the street.

Either way, the inn we were staying in was adequate for a long stay. The building had two floors, with a total of three rooms. The first floor was built as a bar of sorts, and the lodging rooms were above, connected by a wooden-floored hallway. Apparently this place was new, too. I'm glad I could secure it as quickly as possible. It looked like a very comfortable place to live, after all. That being said, however---

"Oh, Kiyotaka, isn't it?" A buzz-cut guy went into my way, circling his arm to my shoulder in a friendly manner. It's Ron. "How's it going for you people? Are you guys living in this inn, too? Damn, what a great coincidence!"

Yes, Renji's team is also with us. We're going to be neighbors.

Ron wore gear that was safe to consider him a warrior. That said, where did he get that broadsword that was almost as long as his body?

Adachi the bespectacled man appeared to be a mage, from his appearance alone which was lacking in protection. In his hand was a staff that I usually saw held by the assumed mages on the streets. He nodded silently at me.

Renji, however, didn't even give me a look. Chibi, who is hiding behind him, is pretty much the same. She's a priest, much like Sasha.

'Where did he get that gear?'

He had on blood-dark armor that was clearly of high quality. It protects almost his entire body. The weapon was not what you would see from a 'second-hand', either. It looked perfectly suited to Renji. Was it all a result of being given away? Or did he get them from a certain location?

However, unless he's as lucky as we are in Old City, there's no way he could get all that equipment within their first day of work. Cyrene Mines, which was only second after that, was also unrealistic to think about. The bipedal canine-like creatures that inhabited there barely used enough protection on their bodies. There were some, of course, but they wouldn't return alive if they did encounter them.

'Are they...?'

I had one more location in mind.

'Isn't that too rushed?'

For some reason, Sasha was hiding behind Moguzo's large body. The man in question made an awkward face, and I can understand why.

"Yeah, let's get along." I gave him an apathetic response.

Shortly after, Renji proceeded to enter his room with Chibi and Adachi in quick succession.

"How about some drinks tonight?" Ron didn't let go of me immediately.

"Sure,"

It could be used as an opportunity to find out more about why his team could get loots that were almost as luxurious as ours. Renji's display was terrifying enough to intimidate Moguzo and Sasha.

"That's great to know," he laughed out loud. "I mean, my team members are so quiet. They can't even take a joke, you know?"

'Hey, do I look like I can take a joke to you?'

I, for one, had a hard time thinking so.

"Anyway, you should come, okay? I'll knock on your door when the time comes."

"I'll pay attention to that."

We went to our respective rooms a moment after.

As we enter the door, we are greeted by a short hallway that leads to a room that can be used for several functions in one go. A living room, a kitchen, a private bathroom, and even a lounging deck. On either side of the hallway are doors to our respective rooms. Both are gender-specific, and according to the innkeeper, have four rooms each.

"Three silver a night total, and that's not even caring about how many people lived in it. It's worth the price, I guess?"

"Very much so,"

Inns were usually no more than one silver per night, and that was per person. They only gave what they needed to give, that is, a room for sleep. Considering our income after mowing down the goblins in Old City, our average income could be at least ten to thirty silver at most. Daily meals only cost one silver a day, so with that in mind, finding an inn with all these necessities provided for three silver a day is a blessing. Well, our income won't be that much if you think of all the equipment and maintenance that will have to be taken by then, but we can take it slow and steady. There is no need to rush. Nothing good comes from rushing, anyway.

"Ungh, I'm stinking," Sasha complained, looking at us she did. "Can I take the bath first?"

Moguzo and I didn't mind. While she's at it, I told her that I'll go to Craftsman Town in the Southern District to check on things.

I specifically wanted to take a look at the equipment prices there, and if appropriate, even buy them on-site. I especially needed a solid shield.

"I-I'll go, too." Moguzo expressed.

Needless to say, Craftsman Town was filled with all sorts of craftsmen in various fields. For now, blacksmiths were what I wanted to visit first.

"Sorry for the shield," Moguzo scratched his head apologetically.

"That's already in the past," I responded. "Besides, that shield was terrible to begin with, and I was going to replace it sooner or later."

"Still, it's because of my carelessness that that happened."

"But you're reflecting on that mistake, aren't you?"

"...yes."

"Then don't think about it much. Nothing good will come from it."

Either way, the full body protection I had seen all had prices above forty silver. Their quality is at least sufficient for what I need right now. I won't complain as long as that is achieved. I mean, there is one that even has up to thirty gold for it. The quality seems warranted, however, so I suppose it's reasonable.

"I think I'll buy the helmet first," Moguzo stated.

"Right," I agreed.

The part of the head was the most vulnerable to attack, especially for Moguzo, who was a frontline guard.

'I wonder about his strength when he got fully geared.'

In some parts, he is visibly hesitant to be on the attack, scared that if he did, he'll get pretty serious injuries because of how little his protection is. It would certainly help him if he got more things to cover those downsides.

Before long, I found a helmet that was just right for me.

"What's the cost of this particular helmet?" I asked the bearded masculine man, who was most likely the shopkeeper.

He was more than happy to explain.

I suppose for some obvious reason, my guild mandates its members wearing bright gear in keeping with their light-associated god. I had no objection to that, and fortunately, the helmet I had chosen had the appropriate characteristics. The head protector that reached up to the neck covered everything other than the visor and the small breathing holes. The one thing that stood out slightly from it was the brown hair at the end of the rear head.

'It's sufficient, all in all.'

"Twelve silver, yes...?" I peer behind the shopkeeper. "How much for that pair of sword and shield over there?"

The clean longsword and the circular shield, with its artificial gold pattern around it. I would love to buy the other armor sets as well.

From what I saw of his collection, I assumed he was a blacksmith who mass-created the same products. That place only focuses on products I'd say.

"A pair is worth twenty-five silver." The blacksmith explained his product with enthusiasm.

'And honestly, it's indeed good.'

So what am I going to do? That's already decided.

///***\\\

We then bought other tools to maintain our equipment. Moguzo said that in addition to buying a helmet, he would take his sword left at the inn to be upgraded by the blacksmith he met. On the way, he bought ingredients that I could only assume were for food purposes.

"What do you intend to make with them?" I asked.

"Onigiri," he purchased rice as he answered me.

'Onigiri, huh...?' I wouldn't say that I know what it was.

"Well, with the utensils provided, I guess it's a waste if they're not used most effectively, huh?"

"I thought so," Moguzo nodded, assorting groceries in his hands. "Buying the ingredients rather than the food itself is more effective in the long run. You could leave all the cooking to me."

That was quite nice to hear.

When we arrived at the inn, Sasha had finished her bath. She's dressed in a black tanktop and shorts. A towel is wrapped around her wet shoulders. Her long hair was loose.

"Who's next?"

Moguzo kindly let me go first. "I'll preferably organize the ingredients I bought in the kitchen first."

"In that case, I'll help," Sasha raised her hand. "I don't have anything else to do, anyway."

"I'll be grateful for that."

I walked towards the door at the far end of the kitchen, grabbing my towel in the process.

'The lingering scent is still there...?' That's what I thought the moment I closed the metal door of the bath.

I could clearly smell whatever it was that Sasha used in her bath. The bathroom wasn't too big, but it wasn't too small either. At least I thought so. It was only 4x2.

A tub attached to the wall could be seen. Above it were two taps with colors that I assumed distinguished the temperature of each.

"There's still some left, though..." I mumbled under my breath.

'Sasha's remains?' I paused for a moment.

"Eh, whatever." I quickly continue my bath.

After I cleaned myself up, I realized that I forgot to bring my change of clothes. I suppose I'll have to content myself with a towel.

I opened the bathroom door.

I noticed that Moguzo and Sasha had arranged more or less everything. Now they seemed to be preparing something. A dinner?

"Huh?" Moguzo gave me a surprised look. "Did you forget your clothes?"

"Yeah,"

Sasha looked me in the eyes, then down to my body. Her face is twitching the second she did that. "You have quite a masculine build, don't you, Kiyotaka...?"

"I guess I did some work out before I came here,"

"I see..." She seemed to be holding something back.

"What?"

Sasha donned an apron alongside Moguzo. Her expression was quite hard to describe. She looked flustered. What did she want to say?

"Hey, did you use my..." she trailed off, widening her eyes as if realizing something important.

"What, your bathwater?"

Moguzo let out a choking sound.

"You don't have to say it!" She proceeded to punch my shoulder.

"No, I mean," I was completely confused. "What's wrong with that? Is there something wrong with your bathwater that's causing something bad to me or something?"

"That's not the probleeeem," Sasha covered her face with both of her hands, groaning in agony. "I don't know if you're pretending not to know, or if you really don't know about it."

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

Whatever it is, that little incident got forgotten rather fast. Sasha seemed to accept the fact that I did not know anything, and she was indeed right, I had no idea what she was talking about. What was wrong with that? I couldn't figure out why.