NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 15
Chapter 15: The Samurai Goes Shopping
The next day, the Guardians of the Wasteland group ventured into the town.
Frantz and Barth announced they were going to have their equipment repaired, and Kurosu volunteered to come along to buy some necessary daily items. It eventually turned into a plan to give Kurosu a tour of the town, with the whole group piling into a carriage.
“Guardians of the Wasteland… ‘Guardians of the Wasteland,’ huh…”
“Are you still going on about that?”
“Seems like he’s taken a liking to it.”
In the carriage’s cargo area, the others watched the man who was muttering to himself with a呆led look.
The night before, after hearing the story of how the group had formed, Kurosu had been deeply impressed. Frantz established the group, and Barth, Pamela, and Mauri joined soon after; all of them originally from the countryside. In this country, where monsters run rampant, there is a large disparity in the number of adventurers between urban and rural areas, and the members of the group had spent their childhoods living in fear of the monster threat.
“Even if it’s an uninhabited wasteland, if someone asks for help, we must go to protect them.”
It was a name imbued with such a sentiment. “A samurai protects each other.” While he himself, as a lone ronin, had no position to say so, their spirit resonated with the principles of bushido. It was infuriating to think about what the protectors of this country were doing, yet there were still those with noble ideals like them.
Distorted but fair.
This country was indeed fascinating.
“Hey, let’s go!'”
“Hey, get your act together. We’re getting off.”
They first visited the weapon shop they had seen on the way to the Guild the previous day. Outside the shop, there was a barrel filled with numerous swords and spears.
“Hello! Shopkeeper, you there?”
“Wait just a moment!!”
After a while, Barth emerged from the back of the store stomping loudly, wearing an apron.
Wait, Barth is right here next to me. A different person?
Blacksmiths really are hard to tell apart.
“Hey, it’s the Guardians group! What brings you here today?”
“The Forest of Demons was rough on us. We’d like to have our equipment repaired.”
With that, Frantz and Barth laid out their weapons and armor on the counter.
“My, my… Looks like you got into a tough spot. What did you battle?”
“Giants. We accidentally ran into one while on the Forest Wolf commission. If it weren’t for Cross over there, I think we would have died.”
“Never seen that face before. You a traveler?”
“Indeed, Cross is from a foreign land. He’s now under the care of the Guardians of the Wasteland through a twist of fate.”
“So, boss, how long will the repairs take? We don’t have any backup gear, so we can’t take on any commissions until they’re fixed.”
“Hmm, about three days. But your round shield is beyond repair. You’ll have to buy a new one.”
“Ugh, figured as much… I really liked it, though… Very well, then.”
With his shoulders slumped, Frantz went to look for a new shield, looking incredibly downhearted. Pamela, saying things like “I’ll make a little grave for it in the garden,” though incomprehensible, followed behind to comfort him.
“And Mauri! You need to replace that leather armor already! It’s almost worn through! Understand this, armor is not something you should procrastinate on! Here, let me explain to you, armor is something that……!”
Due to his long lecture, Kurosu and Barth left Mauri behind and moved away from the scene.
The two of them toured the shop. Swords, shields, spears, bows – countless varieties and types of each. Although Kurosu had visited sword shops before, he had never seen one with such an extensive selection. There were many weapons he’d never seen before, and Kurosu found himself becoming excited, despite his age.
“Barth, what is this?”
“That’s a linked staff. It’s hard to handle, but you can deliver strong blows using centrifugal force. People with less strength often use it as it enhances power.”
“What about that one?”
“It’s a wave blade sword. If you’re stabbed by its wave-like edge, it tears the wound and makes it hard to stop the bleeding. It’s used against large monsters.”
“And this?”
“That’s a fly whisk. Though rarely seen in use, it can deflect attacks with the large tassel, making it a kind of defensive gear.”
As Barth continued to explain the exotic items, Kurosu learned many were crafted using monster materials, providing endless fascination. Barth seemed to also have a passion for weapons and accompanied them without a single complaint.
“This is called a repeating crossbow. Unlike a regular crossbow…”
“Are you two going to stay in here all day?”
Though completely absorbed and willing to stay all day discussing, they were hurriedly prompted to finish shopping by Mauri, who had quickly and efficiently chosen a new set of armor.
Initially intending only to buy the whetstone he was lacking, Kurosu ended up purchasing other items at Barth’s insistence, necessary for battling monsters. He bought a slightly longer sword with a wide blade, butchering knives and throwing knives in numerous quantities, along with a leather cuirass to protect his torso. Although it felt odd to wear armor in everyday life when not in battle, upon reflection, many adventurers were indeed doing just that on the streets.
“It’s rare to see a young one these days who sharpens their own sword.”
“Of course… Is it unusual for someone to take care of their sword?”
“Most people leave sword sharpening to experts like the master. I sharpen mine myself since I learned from Barth.”
“Is that so? I’ve sharpened my own as long as I can remember, unless there are significant notches that need professional treatment.”
“Ho, that’s commendable. Come on, let me see your sword. I’ll check its condition for you.”
“……………………”
Kurosu drew his large and small swords from his waist and placed them on the stand, still in their sheaths. He usually would never let anyone else touch his swords, but he trusted this man. The weapons displayed in the shop were all fine specimens; they were undoubtedly the work of experienced bladesmiths.
“Even I couldn’t get you to show me before…”
Barth muttered something, but at that time, Kurosu had not yet fully trusted them. Now that relationship had been established – well, he certainly wouldn’t give his weapon to someone whose allegiance was unknown.
Seeing Kurosu hand over the sword he had previously stubbornly refused, Pamela and Mauri, who had been loitering nearby, curiously drew closer.
The shopkeeper carefully picked up the sword, unsheathed it, and examined it.
“What the…!?”
“Wow, that’s a beautiful sword.”
“For someone who cut down a giant, it is rather thin.”
“Wow… Looks expensive. Way too advanced for me.”
“Olaf! Can I take a look too!!!”
The blacksmiths were noisy, but Kurosu didn’t mind the praises for his sword.
The long sword, Shikijii, the short sword, Akurao. The steel resembled the grain of a tree, displaying a beautiful mottle pattern. The blade was characterized by a unique box temper pattern, with a pronounced curve closer to the hilt than the center, designed for both slashing and thrusting. It was his prideful and cherished pair of swords, well-suited for a variety of combat situations.
“Cross! Will you sell me this sword!?”
“No.”
“I’ll pay one hundred gold coins… no, one hundred fifty!!”
“No matter how much gold, even millions of coins, it’s not negotiable. This is a precious katana passed down to me from my father, far more valuable than my own life.”
“Olaf, what material is this?”
“Not sure… Judging by its appearance and weight, it’s a kind of steel, but it definitely shouldn’t have this kind of hue. This proves it’s of extremely high purity, far surpassing anything achievable with the techniques I know. Moreover, the materials used seem different between the blade and the spine. It’s not an accidental mix. The intentional use enhances the weapon’s strength, yet the two are perfectly fused, without even being an alloy steel. I can’t even begin to imagine how one could forge such a marvel.”
After continuing to clamor for a while, the two blacksmiths were calmed down by Frantz, and they left the shop. Olaf, saying “It’s a thank you for the wonderful item you let me see!” gave a discount, charging three gold coins instead of the original four. Kurosu decided to continue favoring this store going forward.
Well, next is the clothing shop. This was by Kurosu’s request, and they were guided to the store they regularly patronized. Since he was traveling, he didn’t possess even a single informal garment like a kimono. Additionally, the “boots” that Frantz and the others wore looked much more comfortable compared to straw sandals.
“Oh, is that you?”
“Hello, Ms. Yana. We’ve come to look for clothes for him.”
The person who came out from the back of the shop was a middle-aged woman large both vertically and horizontally.
“Cross, right? Nice to meet you”.
Raising his eyes slightly while offering a greeting, he noticed horns on her head. A beastkin, perhaps.
“Ms. Yana is a bear beastkin. Very strong, so don’t make her angry!” Pamela whispered secretly.
“That’s right, let’s get your measurements, come over here.”
Yana quickly measured Kurosu’s body, making it spin around, and started sorting through kimonos one by one.
——–Even as a beastkin, she easily manipulated the center of gravity of a skilled warrior.
“Do you have knowledge of martial arts?”
“……You’re sharp. I used to be a B-ranked adventurer.”
“Your body manipulation is impeccable. Your methods are exquisite. I wish I could learn a technique or two from you.”
“Changed person, huh? Don’t make jokes. I retired after getting married to my husband over a decade ago.”
Kurosu probed her with a challenging stare filled with killing intent but was easily evaded with a gesture that seemed like swatting away a fly. Disappointing indeed.
“Right, here are clothes that fit you. These are second-hand, but all strong and still in excellent condition.”
Kimonos in second-hand condition were nothing unusual. The ones he wore now were repaired versions of his eldest brother’s used clothing, done by his mother’s hands.
Yana’s selections were of unfamiliar styles, but inversely, his kimonos might be more attention-drawing compared to this town’s clothing. People’s gazes didn’t concern him, but since he was living in a foreign land, might as well relish the local culture.
He chose several tops and bottoms for daily wear and also selected a sturdy leather item.
“Are there shoes available?”
“There’s a rack over there. Shoes three tiers from the bottom should fit your size.”
The rack Yana pointed at was filled with various kinds of boots, both short and long.
“There’s quite a variety.”
“Boots function as proper armor, too. I need lightweight ones, so I go for shorter boots, but Pamela wears the long ones to protect her shins. Frantz and Barth’s are reinforced with iron plates for better protection.”
“I see. I prefer the lightest ones possible. Also, if there’s something with a softer sole………”
“Why? Hard soles are better, don’t you think? If you step on something sharp, you risk injury, right?”
“If it’s too hard, it becomes unstable while fighting on uneven terrain. Softer soles provide better ground grip, making it easier to put power into your steps. Moreover, if one’s mindful, sharp objects won’t tear through easily.”
Kurosu once fought on rocky ground wearing straw sandals. His footing felt unstable, making it hard to wield the sword properly. By the end of the battle, he had to fight barefoot after discarding the sandals. Though he won, his feet were covered in blood and took a while to recover normal movement.
“In that case, I recommend these boots, which are a bit more expensive. They’re crafted from sand yam bug’s skin and moss frog’s shell, both light and soft materials.”
Taking the short boots Yana recommended in his hands, the boots were indeed light, comparable to straw sandals despite their robust appearance. Though they felt slightly stiff, that was within acceptable limits.
“I’ll take these.”
Deciding on the boots, Kurosu followed her advice and bought several pairs of socks, known locally as footwear.
“Thank you every time. Is there anything else?”
“Hmm…”
“Cross, wouldn’t a bag be useful as well? It’s always difficult for you to take things out of that backpack of yours.”
Indeed… Frantz and the others have various pouches strapped to their belts. They seemed quite convenient, as they didn’t require taking anything off every time to retrieve contents, and best of all, both hands remained free.
“Hmm. That might be useful.”
He chose one compatible with the belt of the leather armor he had just purchased. A larger pouch for storage and a smaller one for quick access to daggers or chains were respectively bought as they left the shop.
He paid five gold coins and six silver coins at the clothing shop. While most necessary items were acquired, only three gold coins and eight copper coins remained. It was a massive expenditure for Kurosu, undoubtedly his greatest splurge in life.
However, putting on new items undeniably improved one’s mood.
He had officially chosen the occupation of an adventurer.
Money could always be earned again.
There was only shopping for miscellaneous goods and food supplies left. While heading happily to the targeted store, talking with his companions about impressions of their new purchases, a group of many men walked towards them from the front.
“Hey, look! It’s the Little People!”
“Shit! Hide your wallets, they’ll steal them!! Hahaha!”
———– Who are these men?
Clicking the heart easily shows your support. (Login required.)
Encourage
If you have an account, please log in.
Kakuyomu provides detailed reading experiences.