Volume 2 Chapter 10 (1/2)

After returning from the bar yesterday, I borrowed Selene’s shield before returning to bed with a sweaty body. The next morning felt great as I had only drank moderately last night, however in contrast to me…

[Luna’s head.. Luna’s head is going to break~~.] (Luna)

[Ugh. As expected alcohol is a no-go. Juice is still the best.] (Til)

The two children were whining in bed as they had drank too much wine yesterday. The result of drinking five large jugs of wine gave the two of them a magnificent hangover. In their current state there is no chance for us to enter the dungeon. Well in the first place, there was the need to arrange equipment for Selene while adjusting our party’s movements as a four-man squad. As a result, we will be postponing the Starfish Larvae’s labyrinth exploration to tomorrow instead.

[The two of you stay in bed for today.] (Youya)

[Uhn. It’s regrettable but Luna will stay in bed.] (Luna)

[Going out like this is impossible~.] (Til)

Truth is if they were to drink an antidote potion, it would treat the hangover as it was basically a weak alcohol poisoning, it is something commonly done by adventurers. Adventurers would often drink an antidote after drinking before heading over to a dungeon. However, let’s have them enjoy the hangover to remind them not to overdrink again.

[Selene. You can change your clothes in the other room. Then, list the essentials that you need. Currently we only have the clothes that I bought for you the other day so clothing is a definite. Don’t worry about the money since we still have lots in reserve.] (Youya)

[Then I’ll take your word for it. I especially would like a change of underwear..] (Selene)

[I don’t know what to do about that even if you tell me.] (Youya)

I smiled bitterly. Why do young girls come so close to me like this being unprotected. Although I just woke up, my joints were already beginning to hurt. It’s probably time for us to change rooms. Originally our room only had two beds. Luna and Til used one bed while I slept in the other, however I gave my bed up for Selene. Since it will be difficult to sleep on the sofa everyday, I’ll talk to the innkeeper about a room change afterwards.

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Selene and I seperated from the two children who were suffering from a hangover and walked around the town. Although the town wasn’t as large as Rumberg, the shops were much more vibrant and had a larger variety. This is most likely thanks to the large number of adventurers who visit the town during the Magic Egg season. There are many accessories and equipments with excellent functionalities for intermediate adventurers in the city. Halfway through our trip, I began acting separately from Selene as the party leader to replenish our expendable items such as potions and preserved meals whereas Selene went on to purchase her essentials. I had thought about following her on her shopping trip but it would be embarrassing to follow her as she was buying basically all her essentials including her underwear. Although I handed over a large sum of money to her, I am secretly hoping that her sense of money wasn’t over the top as she was still a princess

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After replenishing our consumables, I waited for Selene at a big tree in the middle of an open square.

[The price was much more reasonable than I thought.] (Youya)

The replenishment of consumables was cheaper than I thought. I had expected the prices to be higher due to it being magic egg season but on the contrary the price was cheaper than the other cities. The quality of the potions were good and the preserved meals weren’t that bad either. After awhile, Selene appeared as she came running towards me.

[Sorry for making you wait, Uncle Youya.] (Selene)

[Don’t worry about it, I just arrived a few moments ago. Did you finish your shopping trip safely?] (Youya)

[I did. I’ll return the change.] (Selene)

[I’m glad your trip went well. Keep the rest of the money. It’ll be better for you to have some money if we are ever seperated.] (Youya)

It seems that her sense of money was much better than I thought. I was expected her budget to be spent completely on clothes. I had heard beforehand about what she was going to purchase but I’m glad that she managed to spend well within her budget.

[Then I’ll do as you say and keep them with me. It’s finally time to buy my armour. I’ve never gotten the chance to choose my own equipment my heart is pounding from excitement. Truthfully I wanted uncle Youya to choose both my equipment and my name.] (Selene)

[Then for that reason, let’s take a look at your equipment together.] (Youya)

As expected Selene showed an embarrassed look as she held my hand. This reminded me of our time together ten years ago after my promise to become her knight, she was always embarrassed around me.I felt a little emotional after witnessing her small hands grow this large.

[I am also looking forward to our sparring session later today. I will definitely not lose. I won’t give in when Renoir’s style has been tarnish.] (Selene)

She is surprisingly unwilling to give in. Unwillingness to be defeated is a necessary trait of an adventurer, however I can’t stay silent at this either.

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The two of us entered a store to purchase the basic equipments necessary for Selene. The basic equipment for a crusader was a one-handed sword, a shield, armour and a helmet if necessary. Yesterday I equipped my spare one-handed sword and armour and tested them. The sword was comfortable enough for me to use without discomfort. Similarly for the spare equipment, it was a flexible armour with anti-blade properties and has excellent properties against fire and ice still felt comfortable to put on. Since shields were sold everywhere, I came here as the store looked to have high-quality equipments. In the meantime, if there were any good equipment being sold in the meantime I would buy them as a spare. Since we have plenty of savings after all.

[Uncle Youya prefers leather armour to metal armour even after all this time. Even now you are looking enthusiastic. Me and the knights often only wore metal armours.] (Selene)

[The skins of monsters and dragons more often than not are more durable and provide more protection than metal armours. Plus they are light and easy to move about in. Since I live and die by my blade, my sword is my lifeline and there aren’t any armour that can completely protect you from a sword. In the first place, if you were to wear heavy metal armour it would be difficult to go on adventurers isn’t it? We would probably have to walk continuously for countless days and tens of hundreds of kilometers. You would collapse before you even got to fight any monsters.] (Youya)

After listening to my words, Selene placed her hand on her chin and went into deep thought.

[After your explanation now it makes sense. It would be fine if it was a half a day hunt or at best a full day, however if you were a competent adventurer you would be spending most of your time in the dungeon. In that case it would be difficult to wear metal armour.] (Selene)

Unless you were a beginner, adventurers whose lives depend on their adventuring activities would never use metal armour.

Your armour which was supposed to act as a safety net would become your biggest enemy. Even if you were to travel with light metal armours, only the vital areas would be protected by the armour and exposing other areas of your body. However there are still exceptions to this. There are super lightweight metal armours that exist with incredible durability. That metal was dubbed the “Steel of God” and it was the metal used to craft Renoir’s shield. The armour that Leonard was wearing is also made from the same steel. It was probably the armour he got from the Tower of Trials.

[I’ve seen many good equipments in my time but there are also many impressive equipments here. Shall we take a look at their shields?] (Youya)

[Yes. Let’s do that uncle Youya.] (Selene)

Selene walked over to the section where numerous shields are lined up. Although they are often generalised as a shield, there are many different types of shields. Such as a large two-handed sword or a one-handed shield. Besides their sizes, there are also lanturn shields with blades or spikes attached to them.

Selene’s attention was completely focused on one shield among the line of shields. It was a round shield with a buckler in the center. The legendary Renoir’s shield was also a buckler, so it’s wasn’t surprising that her attention was caught by it.

[I think that either one of these two shields are good. Which shield is better?] (Selene)

Although the two shields looked the same, the left shield was made of mithril while the right was slightly larger and made of adamantite.

[It seems so. I would prefer the left although the right shield seems better in terms of hardness. Mithril has a higher defense against magic and it’s lighter, making it easier to handle.] (Youya)

[I agree. Then I’ll take the left one. Although isn’t it really expensive to use mithril? Is it really okay to spend this much money?] (Selene)

[It’s alright. There is a need for such a shield and the amount can be recovered easily from your contribution to the party.] (Youya)

The shield costs about the same as Luna’s dagger and Til’s bow added together. However, it is a shield which we will be betting our lives on, I have no intention to skim out on this.

[I will definitely be sure to return your kindness with my work.] (Selene)

Selene brought the shield to the shopkeeper as I paid him the amount. The store owner smiled and said.

[Both of you seem to be excellent adventurers. Our shop is capable of applying magic coatings onto the shield, would you be interested in one?] (Shopkeeper)

[Hou. You’re able to apply magical coatings. Please do so.] (Youya)

Magic coatings was a type of coating that raised the equipment’s defense against magic by apply magic power and binding a thin layer of metal over the shield. However, since the plating wears off after receiving several magic attacks, it is necessary for us to periodically restore the coating. However it is still a useful process since it gives the user several chances to defend themselves against magic attacks.

[Roger that.] (Storekeeper)

[Is it possible for you to apply the coating to another equipment other than the shield that we just bought?] (Youya)

[I don’t mind, however it’ll be fifty extra per equipment.] (Storekeeper)

I had an idea after the storekeeper mentioned the coating. If it was a magic coating, would it be possible to cover the Laluzulu emblem on the shield?

[Have you heard about the rumors that the Laluzulu Kingdom’s princess, Princess Lutra was eaten by the Starfish Larvae?] (Youya)