Chapter 22 - Out on the Town
We set out from the inn, taking a roughly remembered route to the Bruno Gang. Today, unlike yesterday, we plan to end the meeting on a peaceful note.
As we approach the alley leading to the Bruno Gang, I spot the same gatekeepers from yesterday. One of them notices us and heads inside.
We keep walking, and the remaining gatekeeper greets us with a tense expression.
"Nice to see you again. We're here to see the boss."
"...Wait a moment. I've heard what's going on, but we have our own preparations to make."
His expression is a bit complicated, but I can't blame them for not being able to cut things off immediately.
I don't think they're foolish enough to start a fight without provocation. I'm not worried, and neither am I.
After a while, the gatekeeper who went inside returns with a middle-aged mage who serves as Bruno's bodyguard.
"Bruno's waiting. Follow me."
The middle-aged mage greets us with a grim expression and turns away, showing no interest in conversation.
I have no intention of becoming buddies either, so I follow him silently.
Inside, the members of the Bruno Gang watch us with tense eyes, but I ignore them. It would be foolish to provoke or charm them.
Bruno must have explained the situation, as they seem wary but not aggressive. They might have learned their lesson from yesterday.
Today, we didn't come to fight. I try to avoid eye contact and ignore them as much as possible.
We reach the top of the stairs and arrive at Bruno's room. The door, which I kicked in yesterday, has been repaired as if nothing happened.
"Father, we've brought them."
"Alright! Come in."
When we enter, Bruno is sitting on a sofa, not his desk, looking more relaxed than usual.
The middle-aged woman who wasn't here yesterday gestures for us to sit opposite Bruno. The middle-aged mage and the young swordsman from yesterday stand behind Bruno.
"I'll get straight to the point."
"Sure, you're quick."
"I just want to get this over with."
The middle-aged woman brings a cart with coffee, and we all take a sip. The aroma is inviting, and I can't help but feel moved since it's been so long since I've had coffee. My magic can't create coffee, even though it can make tea. I really need to find a supply somewhere.
"Anyway, your recovery potions have saved us a lot of trouble. It feels weird for me to say, but I appreciate it."
"We're going to be working together, so it's no big deal."
"Still, I'd like to keep some as a backup. Could you prepare some for me later?"
"Sure, no problem. I'll charge you, of course."
Bruno instructs the middle-aged woman to bring some containers and turns to us. Since we have no intention of staying long, let's get to the main topic.
"Shall we introduce ourselves again? I see some new faces."
"We were all here yesterday, but..."
"Your people have been quite a handful."
Bruno sighs as if he's resigned to it.
"The Kikyo Society trains differently."
I introduce Valeria and the others one by one, and Bruno does the same for his people. The middle-aged mage, in particular, will likely become our liaison and inspector, so I'll be seeing him often. He seems reluctant, but his loyalty to Bruno is genuine, so I can trust him for now.
"Let me be clear. We won't be able to take over the Sixth Avenue territory until our base is fully prepared."
I get straight to the point.
Bruno thinks for a moment, folds his arms, and nods.
"That sounds fair. I'll try to manage things until then, but we need you to get settled as soon as possible."
"You're surprisingly reasonable."
"A gang without a proper setup usually doesn't get taken seriously. Without a base, the Kikyo Society won't be fully operational."
That's true. Without a base, there's no foundation for our operations. The Kikyo Society is still in its early stages.
"Until then, it's your responsibility. If you fail, my people will step in, and we'll take back control. It'll be more complicated, but I expect you to handle it."
"If it comes to that, you can count on us. But if you manage things well, it won't come to that."
"Understood. I'll let you know as soon as we're ready."
The matter is settled. We're not close enough to chat, so I'll deliver the recovery potions and leave.
"Well, it's shopping time."
Thinking about it, it's been a while since I've gone shopping. It's really quite exciting!
After leaving the Bruno Gang, I check in with everyone.
"I'm going shopping. What do you want to do? You can explore on your own if you want."
"I'll go with Onee-sama."
"I'll gather information. I still feel uneasy going alone, so, Siegrune, could you come with me?"
"Understood. Yukari-dono, Valeria, we'll meet back at the inn."
Valeria, as expected, accompanies me. Siegrune goes with Josephine to gather information, which I'm looking forward to.
"Alright, Valeria, let's go."
"Yes, where are we going first?"
"I want a bag first, and then some clothes. Valeria, anything you need?"
"Not really. If anything, maybe a weapon."
How sad. Is this appropriate for a young girl? There should be more fashionable options. But I'm not exactly the best person to give advice. Still, she's naturally beautiful, so maybe she doesn't need it.
"Well, let's look around. We might find something you like. Let me know if you see anything."
"Yes!"
We start with a large store on the main street. There's no specific shop in mind, so we'll browse and window shop.
By doing so, we can gauge the general trends. As a city of craftsmen, practical items are plentiful, while entertainment goods are scarce.
I was interested in a high-end magic item store, but it made me uncomfortable, so I left quickly. The daily-use magic item stores were more enjoyable, even just to look at.
Most magic items are imported, and the main products here are weapons. I have no plans to buy weapons for now, and I'll skip them unless Valeria shows interest.
We find a few stores selling bags and settle on a friendly old man's shop. I pick up a simple shoulder bag and a large burlap sack. The burlap sack was the main item, and I bought the shoulder bag to carry it.
Next, we head to a clothing store. The city, with its practical focus, has surprisingly few fashionable stores for such a large urban area. I consider Valeria's preferences and choose a store with a variety of items.
I head straight for the practical, field-appropriate section, while Valeria, unusually, looks displeased and protests.
"Onee-sama, that's not right."
"What do you mean?"
"Onee-sama, those aren't suitable. You should try these."
Valeria drags me to a section with feminine clothing, where she presents a cute and elegant dress.
No way. I break out in a cold sweat and try to push back.
"...Valeria, this is a bit much."
"These would look best on you."
"Actually, I think these would suit you better. I prefer something different."
"How about this?"
Even if she shows me similar items, Valeria is serious. I need to suggest an alternative to avoid being overwhelmed.
"Um, let me pick something myself."
This isn't good. I quickly choose some simple designs.
No dresses or frills. Not my style, and not appropriate for my position.
Boots with metal insoles are a must, so I need clothes that go well with them. But choosing from this selection is tricky.
I don't find any skirts that suit me. Maybe knee-length skirts are the best I can get. I'd prefer denim, but it's not available. I'll settle for a sturdy, durable skirt.
I want something practical with pockets, but that's not an option. None of these will meet my needs, so I'll prioritize comfort and choose a plain blouse that matches the skirt.
"Valeria, let's buy this skirt and blouse. We'll look for other items at another store."
"It's a bit plain for you, Onee-sama. How about this?"
I don't want to hear about the dress again.
"What about you, Valeria? Don't just pick for me. You should choose something for yourself. I'll even pick it for you as a gift."
"Really!? I'd love that!"
I didn't mean to suggest it, but she seems excited. Even if she's not usually into fashion, I'll try my best to help her.
Valeria would look adorable in something more feminine, but we need to consider practicality for combat.
After listening to her opinion, we end up choosing something similar to what I picked. I guess that's fine if she's happy with it.
"What's next?"
"Next, we'll commission custom coats with metal threads. I'll do the same for you, so be prepared."
"Thank you!"
Of course, I'll commission one for Valeria as well. I want to enhance our defense as much as possible and eventually get them for everyone.
"Where will we commission them?"
Good question. I don't have a specific place in mind. Let's try the Sixth Avenue. They say it has skilled craftsmen, and we can check it out while shopping. It's not like we're going there to fight."
"That's true."
Stop that smug smile. We're not going to fight, okay?
We take a short tea break and then head to Sixth Avenue.
While having tea, I create metal threads in the burlap sack.
We either need an armorer or a tailor. Let's try the first one we find.
We don't know if an unknown client like us will be accepted by a reputable craftsman. To increase our chances, we need to offer a generous reward. I don't have money to spare, so I'll use materials. Craftsmen should find these more appealing. Probably.
The custom material I've prepared is a metal thread with properties similar to mithril. When infused with magic, it becomes much stronger. However, it's rarer and less known than mithril.
While mithril is very soft in its base form, it becomes extremely strong and flexible when infused with magic. When infused with magic, it becomes even stronger than mithril and remains flexible.
Moreover, its high magic conductivity allows it to automatically strengthen when worn, even without conscious effort.
This metal thread is an excellent material for armor. In fact, it's better.
There are actually two types of this rare mineral, with slightly different properties but the same level of defense. The main difference is color: black and white, or more precisely, ink-black and moon-white. Having a choice in color is appealing.
Of course, a skilled craftsman would be thrilled to have this material.
This rare metal thread is an unparalleled reward.
Carrying the large burlap sack, Valeria and I head to Sixth Avenue with high hopes.
"Wow, I heard it was trouble-prone, but it's quite lively."
"Yes, it's more vibrant than I expected."
Upon arriving at Sixth Avenue, we find the street lined with bustling shops. There are no suspicious or violent-looking people in sight. Let's finish our business quickly and leave to avoid any trouble.
We'll save leisurely browsing for another day and quickly look for the right shop.
After a short walk, we find a small tailor's shop. We decide to try it without hesitation.
"Hello!"
"Hey there!"
Inside the small shop, a grumpy-looking shopkeeper greets us. He seems to be the craftsman and owner. His scrutinizing gaze makes me uncomfortable.
Since we're not looking for ready-made items, I ask if they can take custom orders.
"Excuse me, but we'd like to commission some custom clothing. Can you take the order?"
"Huh? For you? I don't make women's clothes here. Go home."
This is a dead end. The grumpy old man waves us off and refuses to even look at us.
This won't work. Valeria looks more exasperated than angry.
There's no point in lingering here. Let's try the next shop.
The next shop is an armory, conveniently nearby. We decide to go there right away.
"Hello!"
"Oh! Welcome!"
A young, flashy-looking man greets us. I have a bad feeling about this.
"What are you looking for? Shall we take your measurements?"
His lecherous expression and gestures make me feel extremely uncomfortable.
This won't work either. I exchange a glance with Valeria, and we decide to leave immediately.
"Oops, my mistake. We'll leave now."
"Hey! Wait a minute!"
We ignore the angry-sounding young man and leave.
What's wrong with these shops? I hope the next one is better!