Chapter 35 - To Stand Side-by-Side
“Desert Serpent, huh?”
“Yep. What do you think?”
Before the large fangs and hides laid out on the counter, the old man, Halzen, maintained his usual deadpan expression, just shy of a full-on scowl. As for me, I had recently stopped using the polite speech he’d called “stiff” and shifted to a more casual tone.
“Not bad. The quantity is sufficient. I can make anything… but it might be too heavy for you two.”
“Ah… I figured.”
I had a hunch when Sora and I were gathering them, but the materials from those desert conger eels were all quite heavy.
Even for their size. While they were probably lighter than metal, a full-body coordination in conger leather would likely be quite cumbersome.
It was out of the question for me, for a multitude of reasons, and it didn't suit Sora either. Though not as extreme as me, she was aiming to be a light warrior.
“That girl there, she’s similar to you. Does not look like a heavy warrior.”
“No, I don’t think we’re similar at all…”
Sora, hiding behind me, let out a deeply reluctant voice, perhaps nervous in front of the large, unfamiliar man. I regretfully had to agree; if I saw a version of Sora who lost her senses and jumped around cackling with glee, I’m confident I’d have nightmares for three days straight.
“Then… instead of a full set, how about extremities? Gloves or boots.”
“Boots… won’t they be heavy?”
“A moderate amount of weight will not be a burden. It will add stability to your steps and swings.”
“Hmm… What about the fangs and claws? Can you make them into lighter weapons? Maybe even throwing picks?”
“The material isn't that durable. I could manage a dagger, but its weight is both its flaw and its strength. If you shave it down, you will not get a quality item.”
I see.
“You heard him, Sora. What do you want to do?”
I called out to my partner, who was standing quietly behind me. She seemed to have been listening properly, as she gave a small nod.
“Um, in that case, may I please request the boots and gloves?”
I tend to forget since she’s so forward with me these days, but while Sora isn't exactly shy, she’s generally reserved with people she’s just met.
Add to that a muscular giant like Halzen, who you don't often see in real life, and her meek demeanor was understandable.
“Leave it to me.”
“Ah, I’ll take the same… no, just the gloves, hmm…”
I was about to order the same two items as Sora, but I hesitated. My inventory was already at a point where a few minutes of hunting would push it over capacity. Moreover, I was pursuing a build that assumed I wouldn't get hit at all. Did I really need defensive gear?
I had wanted armor before for aesthetic reasons, but that issue was resolved by the gift from Kagura-san. No problems there now.
Costume items have no stat benefits, but they have the wonderful feature of taking up almost zero inventory space. I truly received a fine gift; I owe Kagura-san a debt I can never repay.
“Aren’t you getting anything made, Haru-san?”
“Ah, yeah. On second thought, I don’t really need anything—hey, wait, what’s with that look?”
I didn’t miss the faint look of displeasure on Sora’s face the moment I said “I don’t really need anything.” I tilted my head at her unusual reaction, and she averted her gaze as if to hide it.
“It’s nothing.”
“You say that, but your face says otherwise—okay, okay, I’m sorry!”
A glare from such a well-featured face is highly effective. As I immediately retracted my annoying prodding, Sora gave me a sidelong glance and muttered sulkily.
“It’s not… but… we’re partners, aren’t we? So… I just thought… it might be nice to have matching gear… that’s all.”
Her voice grew quieter with each word until the end was almost inaudible—but, wait, what is this girl saying? Something that cute…?
“Old man.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“…You’re whipped.”
Shut up. Did you really think any man could hear that and say, “Well, I still don’t really need any”? To hell with my inventory situation.
“U-Um… Haru-san? You don’t have to force yourself.”
“Nah, it’s a rare occasion you’ve said something so cute, so I want to go along with it. My inventory space will be fine if I just get rid of one weapon.”
“I… I see.”
My current weapon pool consists of the [White-Flawed Straight Sword], the [Distorted Iron Lump Hammer], a store-bought iron straight sword and great axe, and, added over the past few days, two daggers and a short spear.
Considering Arcadia’s game design, this is an excessive amount of backup weapons, but in my case, they’re not backups but regulars, which makes it unmanageable. That said, I don’t really have a need for a spear right now.
I quickly pawned off the short spear to the old man for some small change, creating some free space in my inventory. Even with the two new items equipped, I should have a little bit of room now.
“There, all set. Should I come back tomorrow to pick them up?”
“No, this is different from the Anima I forged for you before. This will be quick.”
Snatching the requested materials from the counter, Halzen stood up, leaving a single “Wait here,” before disappearing into his workshop.
…I had completely assumed he was a blacksmith specialist, but he can tailor leather materials too. Come to think of it, Kagura-san did say something about there being no categories like “blacksmith” or “tailor” in this world. Does that mean all NPCs are equally magicraftsmen?
He said it would be quick, but he didn't return in a matter of seconds. Left waiting, we started to browse the equipment displayed inside the store.
Sora-san’s movements were a little buggy, but she was probably just a bit embarrassed from our earlier exchange. What a cute girl.
“You’re sticking with the straight sword for now, right, Sora? Is the store-bought one hard to use or anything?”
For better or worse, it was a standard-issue item. The one Sora and I were using were identical down to the last detail, and the straight sword I wielded with one hand was a bit large for her smaller avatar.
In fact, Sora was wielding it with both hands. It's not exclusively a one-handed sword, so either way is correct.
“Well… yes. It’s fine for now.”
“I see. I was just thinking, if you needed one, we could ask the old man while we’re here.”
Thinking she might be asked for it in her Anima quest, I’d already mined some blue iron ore when we conquered the Cliff Road of the Sky Bridge together.
We had enough to spare for a new straight sword… or so I proposed, but it seems she doesn't need one yet. It’s true, for a store-bought item in an MMORPG, it has surprisingly decent performance.
While it still feels a bit lacking, it’s an item that can hold its own even against bosses in the beginner area. It’s not to be underestimated.
“I’ll save that as a reward for when I successfully acquire a skill tree.”
Sora said with a laugh, but her smile seemed to lack its usual energy… Well, after three days of trying with no results, it’s natural to lose confidence.
I’ve been looking into it, but I still have no idea why a skill tree stubbornly refuses to appear for her—except for the one possibility that the system has judged her as having “absolutely no talent.”
“I really don’t think that’s the case, though…”
“?”
“It’s nothing.”
From what I’ve seen, now that she’s overcome her habit of closing her eyes, Sora has plenty of aptitude.
Her motor skills—at least in the virtual world—are not bad; in fact, they’re quite good. She cleverly absorbs my movements and adapts them into her own style, and even to a layman’s eye, she seems to have a knack for it.
I’m truly at a loss as to why the weapon proficiency tree, which can be obtained simply by persistently swinging a weapon, has been so elusive for her.
No matter how much I think about it, with my still-shallow knowledge, I can’t possibly come up with the right answer. It’s frustrating that all I can do is groan at my own powerlessness.
“—It is done.”
A muscular hand of salvation reached out to us as we were about to create an awkward atmosphere of mutual concern. Turning our faces toward Halzen’s voice as he reappeared, we saw two sets of unfamiliar-colored leather gloves and boots in his arms.
“Huh…? Um, are these…?”
Looking at the items placed on the counter, Sora tilted her head in confusion. The items, which should have been made from the dark, blood-red leather of the desert conger eel, were now shimmering a beautiful jade green, a color unimaginable from the original material.
Sharing Sora's confusion, I shot a “What’s the deal?” look at the old man, who just snorted—what was that snort for, you wanna go?
“The Desert Serpent’s body is covered in an armor of sand, hardened and discolored by a special fluid. That is its natural body color.”
Apparently. Seriously? I thought it was strangely resistant to slashes despite not having any visible scales, but it turns out it was wearing natural armor.
My main approach was to smash its head with a blunt weapon or dive into its mouth to slice it up from the inside, so it didn’t affect me much, but his explanation made perfect sense.
“It’s beautiful…”
The jade leather had a unique pattern resembling tree bark. Sora, who was staring blankly at them, seemed to have taken a great liking to the unexpected items.
I hadn't thought about it much, but the original dark red color probably wouldn't have suited Sora very well. I don't know if she had considered that, but as someone who hadn't, I wanted to thank the conger eel for its mysterious biology.
“Hurry up and try them on.”
As we were lost in admiration for the equipment, his usual emotionless voice came down on us. We had no complaints for the craftsman who made such fine items, so we obediently took our respective pieces and put them on.
[Desert Conger Leather Gloves] DEX +10. Gloves tailored from the hide of a great conger eel that claims the sea of flowing sand as its territory. The jade glow is a sign of its lost armor, but through a craftsman’s skill, it has gained superior flexibility and resilience.
[Desert Conger Leather Boots] AGI +10
“Flavor text is the same for the boots… wow, these feel better than I thought.”
The gloves were a fingerless design that balanced practicality with a bit of edginess. They were quite long, covering up to my elbows, but they were so flexible that they didn't hinder my movement at all.
The boots, just as Halzen said, had a pleasant weight that gave me a great sense of stability. With these, I might even be able to kick off with more initial speed than before, despite the added weight.
Another welcome feature was that both the color and design matched the outfit I received from Kagura. All in all, I was quite satisfied.
I glanced over at Sora, who had also finished equipping her new gear. She was fidgeting, clenching and unclenching her fists and tapping her toes.
Unlike me, Sora was already wearing armor, but there must be a different feeling between simple store-bought items and fantasy gear made from monster materials.
Finding her mannerisms, full of excitement and nervousness, endearing, I carried out the mission I had to perform after watching a lady change her outfit.
“You look great in them, Sora. The color matches your hair nicely.”
“Oh… hehe, thank you.”
When I gave her a thumbs-up and a compliment, the girl beamed with a shy but happy smile—no way, she’s a master of the “ehehe”?! Isn’t that attack power a little too high…?!
While I was writhing in agony from my self-inflicted compliment, Sora, in high spirits, bowed her head to Halzen and said, “Thank you for the wonderful equipment.”
Her earlier caution seemed to have faded, and even Halzen’s lips curved into a slight, pleased smile at Sora’s charming demeanor.
—And just as I thought the pleasant exchange was drawing to a close…
“…Wait.”
Halzen, his expression tightening once more, suddenly pointed at Sora’s hand. Following his gesture, my eyes landed on Sora’s right hand—he was probably pointing at the ring that assists with magic casting.
“I thought you were a swordswoman, carrying a sword. Are you a mage?”
“Mahoushi?”
“Ah, um, it’s what they call mages in Arcadia. Players who focus on magic are all grouped together as ‘mahoushi’.”
I’d reflexively repeated the word, unable to grasp its meaning for a moment, and Sora, ever knowledgeable about the game’s details, provided a supplement. I see, my knowledge was lacking because I'd only researched close-combat-related things that concerned me.
“Um, I was originally focused on magic and bows, but I’m currently training to switch to a melee build…”
“Training. Are you not skilled at it?”
Halzen cut in with a directness that could be taken as rude, and Sora, hit right where it hurt, choked on her words.
I shot him a glare from the side, a silent warning not to bully my precious partner, but it probably had no effect on the self-paced mass of muscle.
“It’s just that… I can’t seem to acquire any skills.”
“Skills… a revelation. How long have you been swinging that thing?”
Halzen asked, pointing to the straight sword at Sora’s hip as she spoke timidly. When Sora honestly replied, “A little over three days,” the giant magicraftsman stroked his chin with a difficult expression.
“…………What is it, Haru-san?”
“Oh, you just had a look on your face like a bullied child.”
I gently patted the head of the girl who had precisely that expression, and she gave me a somewhat resentful sidelong glance.
“…………Don’t treat me like a child.”
She muttered discontentedly and turned away, but she made no move to brush my hand away. Secretly relieved that my unconscious action hadn't been judged as sexual harassment, I continued to pat her head.
“Let me see it.”
Halzen spoke again, just as suddenly. At the same time, a large hand was extended in front of her, and Sora, who had been letting me do as I pleased, flinched.
“Huh, um…?!”
Her eyes turned to me as if seeking help. Having had a very similar exchange a few days ago, I offered her a reassuring smile and the answer.
“He probably means he wants to see your sword.”
“O-Okay.”
Flustered, Sora unbuckled the sheath along with the sword belt and hesitantly handed it to Halzen. He then added, “The ring, too,” and she hurriedly complied, pulling the ring from her right hand as well.
…Isn’t this, by any chance, the lead-in to the Anima quest? As always, the introduction from an AI-controlled NPC is terrifyingly natural. Well, the old man’s communication skills are still nonexistent, though.
Sora looked at me with an anxious expression. She probably realized this was an Anima-related event as well. Although she could redo it if she didn't accept, I understood her anxiety.
“It’ll be fine.”
When I said that with deliberate optimism, Sora’s expression softened slightly. We stood by the girl, waiting for Halzen to examine the sword and ring he’d been given. After a short while, the magicraftsman sheathed the blade and said simply:
“Do you want to become a swordswoman?”
The player cannot choose the category of their Anima. Given the nature of this unique quest, that question should be meaningless. In fact, I don’t even think I had this kind of exchange.
“…Y-Yes.”
It was unexpected for Sora too, as she answered after a moment of hesitation.
Halzen remained silent. Thinking her answer was insufficient, Sora hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“I want to fight side-by-side, rather than just supporting.”
Halzen was still silent, but he no longer seemed to be seeking an answer. The magicraftsman closed his eyes, then opened them after a moment and—
“Understood.”
He looked straight at the girl who had stated her wish, and said those words.
◇◆◇◆◇
My new Desert Conger Leather Boots felt perfectly at home on the sandy ground. They were exceptionally good new equipment, but I had a feeling they would perform especially well on this field.
“You ended up accepting it in the heat of the moment, but are you sure about this?”
Upon our immediate return to the [Great Flowing Sand Cavern], I checked with my partner, who was testing the feel of her new boots beside me.
Afterward, Sora had unhesitatingly accepted the Anima acquisition quest that Halzen had offered. She said, “I just felt like I should accept it,” but I wanted to make one last check before we went to get the required materials.
“It’s fine. I really don’t know why, but… I have a feeling it won’t turn out badly.”
Well, after such a meaningful exchange, I suppose we can have some expectations. If she says so herself again, then there’s nothing more for me to say.
“Got it. In that case, well…”
I smiled back at the smiling Sora, then turned my gaze to the towering tower of flowing sand in the center of the area and gave a wry grin.
“We’ve got to get our revenge on that thing.”
◆ Quest Accepted ◆
[To Walk Together]
・Teardrop of the Dust Devil 0/1
・Iron Straight Sword 1/1
・Ring of Novice 1/1