Chapter 44 (2/2)
「Don’t worry, here . 」
As I said that, I took out one gold coin from a bag and showed it to him, and upon seeing it, the boy was then stared in shock and apologized .
「Is that… gold?! I-I’m sorry, I’ve said something ru-, something rude…」
「Yes, I just had some money come in recently, so my purse is a little heavy . I’m neither a noble, nor do I work for someone wealthy . So please don’t worry about it . 」
He probably misunderstood and thought that I was working for an aristocrat or someone wealthy when he saw me take out a gold coin (Though my clothes shouldn’t have given that impression) .
There were, of course, people who maliciously used the influence of their proprietors . If you took the wrong approach to them, you would be set in the sights of said nobles or wealthy men; it was well-known for the normal townsfolk to not get on their bad sides .
「R-really?」
「Really really . 」
I jokingly said that and the boy sighed in relief as the atmosphere inside seemed to have loosened up .
「Ah, still, I’m sorry for doubting you . I will bring everything out right away . Two sets of armor for beginner adventurers, four sets of repair tools, and ten regular longswords and sheaths, right?」
「Right, then please . 」
The boy hurriedly brought the necessary items from inside the store and placed them on top of the counter .
「Here, two sets of armor, four sets of repair tools, and ten regular longswords and sheaths . Five silver coins are two large silver coins and two large copper coins is four… seven, no, eight after that is one silver and five big coppers . So… O-ow!? That hurts!! 」
With a dull sound, the boy was struck in the head by a brusque fist while he was desperately calculating the value of the coins .
「How long are you going to take? A calculation like that should be done immediately you moron!」
「Even so, hitting me won’t do anything!! If you hit me too much, I might become even dumber, you know!!」
「Are you arguing with me, you stupid brat!?」
「Owwww!!」
A really slow, old-fashioned blacksmith emerged from further inside the shop .
He had a rough-looking muscular body with a stern face and had a beard which was probably caused by the dwarven genes that constituted a quarter of his blood .
「Customer, was there anything else you required?」
It only showed a little, but Minnalis was perceptive enough to notice the fragments of both happiness and sadness from the befuddled emotions I somehow showed .
Because of me, these two were put to death by the princess in my first run-through . During the first time, the princess had hidden country’s absolute contempt towards people other than their own from me . I had mentioned their dwarven heritage in passing, and it seems that they were killed without my knowledge .
At that time, I wholly believed that they only returned to their hometown as the princess had told me .
In the first place, other than a dwarf’s small physique and beard, they didn’t have any other defining characteristics . In addition, because of how diluted their dwarven blood was, you wouldn’t be able to differentiate the shopkeeper and his son from regular humans .
At how dumbfounded I was, the princess sneered at me, saying that it was all thanks to me that she was able to discover them which saved her the trouble of finding the hidden trash .
In truth, I knew it was better not to go here . Even so, I couldn’t not confirm the existence of the two of them .
I also understood that it was just my cheap sentiments, but if at that time they were alive, if they went against everyone and did not turn into my enemies, I would know that, at the very least, they did not betray me last time .
I deeply resented this country, but it was obviously my fault that I was betrayed and got them killed in the previous run-through . So the idea of apologizing swelled within me .
That emotion swelled in great amounts . It seemed that the shared thirst for vengeance was why Minnalis sensed this . In the first place, I did not know if Minnalis was that sensitive in that regard .
「Hm, no, nothing . 」
I answered with a single phrase as I shook my head .
「According to what’s on the table, it’s a total of two large silver coins, five silver coins, and eight large copper coins . The armor made of hide has a fastener used to adjust the size . If it does not fit you, you can pay for it to be adjusted for one silver coin . I wonder why you wanted to buy ten long swords, but if the swords are damaged beyond repair, then those repair kits will be rendered useless . If that does happen, it can still be roughly restored for one silver coin . Aside from that, do you want to hear anything else?」
「No, it’s fine . Can we put on the armor here? Anyhow, we have no other places to go to and we’re also carrying a baggage, you see . 」
I said, as I placed the last gold coin on the table and received large silver coins and regular silver coins as change .
「I don’t mind . If you don’t know how to do it, shall I teach you?」
「I already know how so it should be fine . And I can teach her too . It shouldn’t be that hard . 」
The sets of armor composed of average hide armor plus waist armor while the leggings and the gauntlets were made of iron along with the same hide .
After quickly putting mine on, I helped Minnalis wear whatever she didn’t know how to equip .
Though the shopkeeper and attendant wanted to help, Minnalis refused . It’s not like the illusion would cease to function when disturbed, but it’s still better to prevent being found out regardless .
I didn’t think that this father and son will change just from that, but it was better for them to not know . They were really friendly, and I believe that even if they knew about our circumstances, they wouldn’t turn into our enemies .
「Uhh… My Lo-… Kaito-san, the chest, it’s a little tight . 」
「Ah . Not good . It seems I’ve put more force than necessary . 」
While thinking about some things, I unintentionally tightened her armor too much . And her large breasts were emphasized by the pressure .
In my confusion, I loosened my grip, and from the side, the shopkeeper patted my shoulder and raised his thumb with his other hand .
「Good job!」
「Shut up you perverted old man!! Your son is in front of you so restrain yourself!!」
「??? What did you say? What did you say was in front of me?」
[Deus Ex: Penis joke? If you watched enough Gintama you will realize that Kaito used the word musuko 息子 = son, given a different meaning by the shopkeeper むすこ = penis then . ]
Even in front of his son, he’s still the same as the one from the first run-through, a self-destructing old man . That’s why I was able to quickly get on friendly terms with him, but if not for this, his good points as a perfectly cool blacksmith regrettably need to be thoroughly reviewed .
Finally, Minnalis’ equipment was put in order, and out of the ten swords, Minnalis equipped two of them . The rest were to be brought bound with a cord .
「I’m sorry for intruding on you while you were closing up shop . Ah, right, as recompense, I’ll give you an advice . I still don’t know the reason, but the price for antidotes might suddenly rise from now on, so if you can, try to stock up on those . 」
「Hm, is that so? I will take it to heart then . 」
「Haha, well if that’s the case, then good… By the way, I’m sorry for the first run-through . 」
「Huh? What are you talking about?」
「No, it’s nothing . Just setting something straight . Well then, stay in good health . 」
I said so to the shopkeeper who had a strange look on his face, then took Minnalis with me out the shop . Outside, the sun had almost set .
「I will carry the bags since I am a slave . 」
「No, we don’t want you to be found out as a slave . 」
「Even if it’s not as a slave, I still want to at least carry things…」
「No, having a girl carry heavy luggage while I stay empty-handed will be too conspicuous . Besides, I will carry the bags while you’ll be carrying the food . That should be good already . 」
Minnalis looked a little troubled after I said that, but I ignored it .
I need to help her remove that part of her thinking about always looking at our relationship as master and slave . I’d be troubled if she stayed thinking she’s below me forever .
Minnalis wasn’t just a slave, she was my accomplice, the same level as someone to discuss plans with . It will trouble me if she became a pawn who only did what she was told .
All the more after that magnificent display of revenge . We’ll just have to keep adjusting our sense of distance from here on to maintain it .
「Anyway, this means we have everything we need . Watch your surroundings; we’re leaving town . 」