I pulled my hat down, trying to shield myself from the biting chill of the morning air that seemed to pierce my skin like tiny prickling needles. It steadily grew colder over the past few days, especially at night, pushing me to curl underneath my blankets. For a while now, I assumed the fall, or possibly even the winter season, was creeping closer. You really start to appreciate the wonders of technology, specifically heaters in this case, when you don't have one. Of course, I asked Melda if there was a thaumaturgical heater equivalent in this world, but alas, my hopes were dashed. Just like on Earth, the rich pricks here hoard the luxuries of life while the common folk get nothing but cold feet.

Despite the cold, I wasn't exactly dressed for a chilly morning. I found myself wearing a short-sleeved blue blouse that left my neckline and shoulders exposed to the cool breeze. A long brown leather belt, wide in width, wrapped my waist twice, holding up a plain white skirt that extended beyond my ankles, almost grazing the ground.

Melda, observant as always, noticed that I didn't have a spare change of clothes and offered me her old ones—well, the ones that fit me. Since she couldn't afford to pay me for my services at the tavern, we agreed to consider the clothes as part of the payment instead. Initially, I felt hesitant about accepting her offer, but the thought of walking around in nearly shredded robes was too embarrassing. After all, anyone who paid close attention to my robes would catch a glimpse of my legs and even more, let's say, private areas.

The sun had long since touched the mountaintop, casting a golden glow like a shining beacon. Perched atop the mountain, the upper city enjoyed the sun's touch long before it reached the lower city at the foot of the mountain. At the highest pinnacle, where the kingdom's grand castle resided, it saw the first morning light. I've scaled the castle in the game more than a few times, and the view up there was always amazing. I imagine here in this world that it's breathtaking. I doubt I could see it again without getting my head lopped off. Anyway, setting that aside, a flurry of activity was starting to bud on the main road.

Merchants and vendors bustled about, opening up their street stalls and artfully arranging their wares and goods to entice passersby. It was a sight to behold, like a bustling hive of commerce coming to life. As I made my way, field workers, mostly farmers, and ranchers, many of whom I recognized from Melda's Inn, were on their way down the mountain. I returned the waves they gave but still felt goosebumps on my skin. It still felt awkward to behave and act like a woman, if you could even call it that. I wouldn't say I'm trying to act particularly girly, but rather less reserved. I could embrace a certain freedom without the stigma of behaving masculinely.

For the past four days, I found myself as a temporary chef in Melda's kitchen. The lower city seemed to reverberate with celebrations honoring the Iron Road Knights all over the capital, which gave Melda more work than she could handle, especially while Phen wasn't around to assist her. Curious, I asked where he went, but she didn't know the details besides that he went on a guild-sanctioned quest from the guild master. The details of these quests were typically hush-hush, so I left the matter alone. I would rather not poke my nose into places It could get lopped off in. Besides, both Melda and Phen were kind enough not to pry into my personal life, well more so Phen than Melda, but she was respectful.

During the five-day celebration, I had the opportunity to not only grow closer to Melda but also get to know the customers of the Inn. Thanks to my cooking skills, they quickly warmed up to me. Some got a little too close, but Melda solved that quickly enough before I could. On the other hand, many customers eagerly requested recipes from me to share. Some wanted for their wives, while others, mainly the merchants, wanted to profit from them. However, Melda didn't like the idea, telling them off.

As a property owner in a heavily taxed area, Melda's Inn struggled more than others in the city. She understood the importance of maintaining a unique appeal to keep her customers returning. While her food was delicious, she needed more variety on her menu. It mainly consisted of fish, potatoes, and pickled vegetable dishes, which, while it wasn't bad every once in a while, it certainly got old the more you ate it. Behind closed doors, Melda begged me to teach her more recipes. In exchange, she offered me an entire two-month stay at the Inn free of charge. It was a deal that would benefit her more in the long run, but such is the nature of bartering.

During the five-day celebration, I had the opportunity to not only grow closer to Melda but also get to know the customers of the Inn. Thanks to my cooking skills, they quickly warmed up to me. Some got a little too close, but Melda solved that quickly enough before I could. On the other hand, many customers eagerly requested recipes from me to share. Some wanted them for their wives, while others, mainly the merchants, wanted to profit from them. However, Melda apparently didn't like the idea as she shrewd them away.

As a property owner in a heavily taxed area, Melda's Inn struggled more than others in the city. She understood the importance of maintaining a unique charm to keep her customers returning. While her food was delicious, she needed more variety on her menu. It mainly consisted of fish, potatoes, and pickled vegetable dishes, which, while it wasn't bad every once in a while, it certainly got old the more you ate it. Behind closed doors, Melda begged me to teach her more recipes. In exchange, she offered me an entire two-month stay at the Inn free of charge. It was a deal that would benefit her more in the long run, but that's the price of bartering.

As I neared my destination, I adjusted the sack of horns resting on my back. The Veinbor Adventurer's Guild, with its imposing black tile roofing made of drake scales, loomed over me as I stood on the main road again, staring at it. Shaking my head, I climbed the stairs leading to the guild's two massive doors.

Upon reaching the top, I attempted to open the door but quickly realized it was too heavy to open with just one arm. The door was constructed from thick, dark wood, secured by long strips of metal that ran horizontally across its surface. To get the door open, I had to drop to the sack of horns and pull as hard as I could on one of the ring door handles. With the door slightly ajar, I grabbed the sack of horns and scurried inside, dragging it along with a waddle.

Like before, the room was filled with many adventurers who appeared to be seemingly doing nothing with their time. Why were they even here? Were they waiting on their party members? It's like they lounge around the room all day with nothing better to do.

As I surveyed the crowd, my attention was drawn to a particular group, with their fingers pointing in my direction as if I couldn't hear the blatant words' "sexy dark elf" leave their mouths and be carried across the room. They were openly speaking about me as if it were a normal thing to do, especially while the person in question was in earshot.

I ignored their comments that began to creep into territories even I never thought about. I quickly hoisted the sack over my shoulder and proceeded to walk through the narrow spaces between the tables. Seriously why the hell do some people like feet? I don't see the appeal at all. I couldn't spot the man who commented, but he's a brave soul to admit that in the open. It's even worse knowing they were talking about me. The thought sent an unsettling shiver up my spine, making the centipede that had made its home there over the past few days wriggle in excitement.

Strangers openly talking about me in lewd and suggestive ways had become common. While I couldn't deny having similar thoughts or casually talked about it in the past, it was never out in the open around random people, especially the person in question. When I was here with Phen, they didn't say a thing, but somehow that irks me even more that he played a role in keeping their filthy mouths shut. Tempted as I was to tell them to shut their fucking mouths and keep their fantasies to themselves, I couldn't shake off the nagging suspicion that giving them my attention was exactly what they wanted.

I shook my head, putting them out of my mind as I continued. I quickened my pace toward the counters at the room's far end. Several receptionists stood attending to a few people. Two receptionists stood out, unoccupied amidst the busy atmosphere. One stood to the far right, stationed near the quest board, while the other occupied the left side adjacent to their coworker. I went toward the man on the left. As I approached, his visibly reddened, prompting a giggle from the female receptionist standing alongside him. I wonder if I should start wearing a mask.

"Hello, my name is Wellen."

The receptionist greeted me as I approached the counter.

"May I see your Identification card, please?"

He asked, looking down at me, literally speaking. I was so short that the counter came up to my collarbone. The sack dropped to the floor with a resonant thunk as I let it slip from my hands. I reached into a pocket on the skirt, its fabric cleverly knitted into the folds and retrieved my identification card. I reached over the counter and handed it to the receptionist. He did something behind the counter outside my view before clearing his throat and reading aloud.

"You accepted a quest to acquire seven horns from horned hounds in the Wrenfell Forest five days ago, correct?"

Wellen inquired. I nodded while taking the quest paper from my out from a pocket on my skirt and placing it on the counter before him. Wellen scrutinized the document, his eyes darting from side to side as he compared it with something hidden behind the counter.

"Good."

He continued, finally breaking the silence.

"You had two days remaining to complete the quest. Are those the horns on the floor?"

I nodded, reaching down to grab the sack by the tied opening. Squatting down, I grabbed it with both hands and lifted it with my legs. I managed to hoist the sack up to my chest. My breasts got in the way before I left it any higher, with one of the horns pocking my left one. Wellen, who watched me struggling, quickly leaned over the counter and grabbed the sack but couldn't pull it over himself, prompting the receptionist next to him to help. Eventually, we got the sack onto the counter together. A bit of amused snickering came from the adventurers behind me as if it were funny seeing us struggle.

Wellen promptly unfastened the sack and began meticulously counting the horns, arranging them on what I assume is a lower table behind the counter. After a minute, he gasped in surprise, shocked by something.

"Excuse me for just a moment."

Wellen said, stepping away from the counter and entering an adjacent room. A short while later, Lisa, the receptionist from the other day, exited the room. Now sporting a fizzy bob cut, with her hair cascaded down to her shoulders. Catching sight of me waiting on the other side of the counter, she swiftly made her way toward me, her expression riddled with concern.

"Ciel, you're alive?!"

She exclaimed, her voice filled with worry as she leaned over the counter toward me. Did she think I was dead? Huh, well, I suppose it's not wrong to think that considering I almost died twice the other day. Somehow that fact isn't bothering me as much as it should.

"I decided to take a few days to rest and recover."

I replied.

"So you've fully recovered? Someone from Rennard village came to the guild two days ago looking for you. I believe his name was Heldon; he wanted to compensate you for saving his daughter. He explained after you returned from the forest, you were covered in blood, and your clothes were torn to shreds. He was concerned when he found out you hadn't come by the guild."

Lisa said, exasperated.

"He did? I told him there was no need to compensate me."

"Ciel."

Lisa interjected.

"The work adventurers undertake can often be seen as self-serving in many ways. Not everyone embarks on quests and hunts to protect others solely out of the goodness of their hearts. What you did is something many would have turned down, especially given the circumstances. And certainly not as a novice adventurer, facing a pack of horned hounds led by an alpha all by yourself!"

She said, raising her voice slightly, grabbing the attention of a few adventurers around us. I shifted uncomfortably as a few people, standing at the counter out of the corner of my eyes, to my left, looked at us. Why did she feel the need to raise her voice like that? Then again, what she said does put things into perspective. This is a world where a single misstep could suddenly snuff out one's life. To put your life on the line for someone you barely know without the incentive of coin could be considered heroic. I have to acknowledge the truth in her words.

"I got lucky when I rescued them."

I admitted.

"As you said before, the horned hounds are known for setting traps, and I happened to stumble into one where the children were being used as bait. All I did was fight my way out, that's all."

"Luck is also a part of being an adventurer. Accept the reward. I'm certain Heldon would be grateful if you did."

Lisa responded, her voice adopting a softer tone as she leaned closer, her light green eye winking at me knowingly.

She then proceeded to provide me with the details of my achievement. "Nevertheless, you've completed your quest and collected a total of twelve horns, including one alpha hound horn. As per the reward, you'll receive seven silver coins. What would you like to do with the remaining five horns? The guild would be happy to purchase them from you. Say one silver coin per adult horn and five silver coins for the alpha horn."

That's convenient! Otherwise, I would've been at a loss with what to do with the other horns. I could sell them, but I don't like the idea of lugging them around all day. More importantly.

"Is the alpha really worth that much more?"

I asked curiously. That's a large difference compared to the adult horns. It makes sense that it would be more, but not five times more.

"Indeed, it is. An alpha hound is typically classified as a mid-Iron-rank monster, a rank higher than your current standing. These creatures evolve from adult hounds after living for five to ten years. They possess heightened intelligence, agility, and strength compared to their counterparts, making them a significant threat. You did well, slaying it."

Lisa responded while nodding with a smile.

Wait, monsters can evolve? How is that possible? Of course, alpha hounds existed in the game, but not in this context. In Zenith Rising, an in-game encyclopedia was created by a guild with the same name, specializing in player versus environment gameplay. Their objective was to explore the vast world of Zenith Rising and meticulously document every creature inhabiting it. While some of the more well-known monsters already had designated species names, others remained unnamed. Whenever players encountered an unnamed monster, they had the freedom to name it whatever they wanted, which became the norm. The horned hound happened to be one of the very first creatures to receive a name in the game. It was named by the very person that started the Encyclopedia Guild. Generally, alpha hounds were portrayed as bruts, slightly more robust than the average enemy.

I did read the encyclopedia, but only to skim through its contents to find certain monsters and where they spawned. I didn't know much about the lore behind them because, well, there was too damn much to read! The Encyclopedia Guild really took their role-playing jobs seriously, too much so even. Honestly, who writes an entire passage covering multiple pages about how an Owlbear shits? No one and I mean no one, needs to know they prepare an acre of land strewn with the corpses of their prey arranged in semicircles next to trees specifically so they could shit and white whatever's left on the tree. It's wildly unnecessary information.

"I would like to sell them in that case."

"Perfect, then I will calculate the sum of what Heldon dropped off here, the amount you sold to the guild, and the quest reward. Altogether, it amounts to twenty-five silver coins. Would you like a gold coin instead of the twenty-five silver coins?"

Wait, so twenty-five silver coins are equivalent to one gold coin? That certainly provides some perspective. Is there a currency that holds a higher value than gold?

"Yes, please."

"Alright, I will be right back. Wellen, please divide the items and arrange for a carrier to deliver the horns to the quest giver."

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

Wellen responded before entering the room behind the counter.

"Here you are, Ciel, one gold and two silver."

Lisa said, handing me the coins, which I promptly stuffed into my coin pouch inside my skirt pocket.

"Lisa, when is it possible for me to advance my rank, considering I killed an alpha hound myself?"

I asked eagerly.

"I wondered when you'd ask that. Everyone tends to forget this detail. To advance in rank in the guild's bottom tier, you must successfully complete at least three higher-ranked quests. I'm sure I mentioned this to you last time."

She replied, raising an eyebrow. I could feel my cheeks warming up as I blushed, suddenly recalling her previous explanation. In all fairness, her explanation had been pretty long, and it was hard to remember everything she said except for the most important things at the time.

"If you can successfully complete another steel-ranked quest, I will advocate for your rank advancement. Until then, take care, Ciel."

Lisa remarked before heading back to the back room.

"Thank you."

I replied, waving to her as she disappeared from sight. Damn, Wellen took my sack with him. I could buy another one if I ask around, but then again, that would be a waste of coin.

With my business wrapped up here, I had initially planned to leave the guild, but why don't I check out the quest board? It couldn't hurt to see what quests are available. I thought as I made my way toward the board.

Instead of opting for porcelain-ranked quests, let's check out the Iron quests this time. Although it'll be dangerous, I want another quest like before. I might be a glutton for punishment, but right now, getting a better handle on my skills is best. I got lucky last time, and I don't want that to be the case this time. As they say, the best way to learn how to use thaumaturgy is through battle. Whoever they are. I can't rely on something as fickle as luck.

"Excuse me."

Someone said from the side. I turned toward them as I slowly tore my attention away from the board while reading the quests. It was a young blond boy, or perhaps a man? He looked to be in his late teens and had stubble growing on his chin. He wore silver chest-plated armor over a short-sleeved shirt covering his upper chest while exposing his lower half for what I assume is for more agility. His pants were adorned with leather shin and thigh guards, offering some protection. A sheathed sword dangled loosely from his waist, secured by a thick belt. As I observed him with scrutinizing eyes, his face flushed and reddened. Come on, man, enough with the blushing already. I'm sick of people doing that.

“Your name is Ciel, right? I'm Lotch, a Porcelain adventurer."

He slightly bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart with three fingers, starting with his thumb and extending his index and middle fingers, while keeping the other two folded underneath. I tilted my head in confusion. Was this some sort of greeting? I found myself unsure of how to respond. Did he expect me to make the same gesture? More importantly, how did he even know my name? Before I could respond, he sensed the awkwardness in the air and cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"Sorry, that's a habit of mine."

He said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"How do you know my name?"

"I overheard it while you were speaking with the receptionist."

He replied.

"You recently completed a quest, and it seems like you're searching for a new one. Would you be interested in joining my party for an extermination quest?"

That was unexpected. Extermination quests were rare and highly sought after in Veinbor. Lisa had mentioned that these quests offered substantial pay and were usually snatched up quickly, often not even making it to the quest board. They were typically personal requests or higher-level quests ranked gold and above, which required careful planning due to their high danger level.

"And what are the details of the quest?"

I asked, raising an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. If the quest turns out to be well above Iron ranked, I'll have to decline. Attempting something beyond that difficulty level would be far too risky, especially considering my limited grasp of thaumaturgy.

"It's a steel-ranked quest to exterminate a pack of gnolls in the western part of the Wrenfell Forest."

He responded. That was a relief. I had initially considered going for an Iron-ranked quest, but a steel-ranked quest seemed more doable, especially if I joined a party. Still, I have many questions about party dynamics, class specialties, and more. I can't afford to go into this thoughtlessly like I had done last time.

"How many people are in the party?"

"There are three of us, including me. Can I take it that you'll join us?"

He responded, clearly eager to hear my answer.

"Hold on a moment."

I interjected, trying to slow him down.

"What are your classes?"

"Classes?"

He repeated, confused.

"Um, roles?"

I responded, confused myself.

"Do you mean Paradigm Arts by chance? As you can see, I'm a warrior; the other two are Archer and a Pugilist."

He said, summing up the answer to my question. An archer would be perfect for picking off enemies, especially when I fail to do any damage if they're competent. A pugilist, with their close combat skills, would make for a great duo with a warrior class, especially without a tank. It may not be the most ideal party composition, but it's better than nothing. I would need to find out more about their specific skills, but that could wait. If push came to shove, I would adapt and compensate for any weaknesses.

That aside for a moment, what the hell are Paradigm arts? Are they using a different term other than class?

"What are Paradigm Arts exactly?"

I asked.

"Ah, um, Paradigm Arts are respective sets of Skill Arts. It's a way to categorize the different combat arts and techniques we use."

He explained. So it is just another term for classes. I assume skill arts are, basically, just the skill of each class.

"That makes sense. Before I agree to anything, I'd like to take a look at the quest paper."

I requested, wanting to examine the quest's details before deciding. Lotch smiled as if he had expected my request. He reached behind himself, taking the quest paper from a bag attached to his belt, and handed it over to me. The paper detailed all the information he had mentioned earlier, but my attention shifted to the reward. According to the quest, we needed to collect a hundred gnoll eyes as proof of the kill. Why not an ear or a tooth? Collecting the eyes sounded disgusting. Regardless, the reward for completing the quest was four gold coins. That's perfect; it gave each of us a fair share.

"I'll join your party."

I declared, handing the paper back to Lotch, who promptly stowed it back into his bag.

"Excellent! In that case, we'll need to register you as a temporary member with the guild. This way, you'll receive proper credit for the quest."

Lotch explained.

"Alright, let's take care of the registration now."

I agreed, following Lotch as we made our way back to the reception counter.

----------------------------------------

I returned a wave to Lotch as I exited the guild. As we registered, he explained how his party had been stuck on the quest for four days, desperately trying to find a fourth member but with little luck. Every time they approached someone, those people would ask for a large sum of the reward, taking advantage of their party's desperation. It didn't sit well with them, so they had to turn down multiple greedy adventurers. With only three days left before they would've been forced to pay a fine for failing to complete the quest, they were running out of options. I guess that makes me the desperate choice, now that I think about it.

It was a difficult situation for them because their only alternatives were either paying the fine or taking on the quest themselves, which would have been extremely dangerous. Lotch was grateful that I agreed to join them when I did because he was concerned they would've had a tough time on their own. However, he made sure to clarify that it wasn't that they couldn't handle it themselves; he just wanted to emphasize the benefits of having an additional member, which sounded like a load of bull to me.

Registering me as a temporary party member didn't take us much time. However, I couldn't help but wonder why this registration process was necessary, so I asked the receptionist.

Apparently, around a decade ago, there was a common problem where adventurers who agreed to join a party on a quest would often be cheated out of their share of the rewards. Since the entire reward sum would go directly to the party leader, they could distribute it however they wanted. Unsurprisingly, this led to many instances where temporary members were either entirely left out or given a smaller portion of what was initially promised to them, which of course, led to more issues.

The receptionist went on to explain that there were periodic fights amongst adventurers or even disappearances. It wasn't uncommon for some, most, or all of a party to get killed while on a quest. However, it was strange that temporary members started getting killed more often. In one case, a party decided to hire temporary members to help with higher-ranked quests, but strangely enough, those members died more under this particular party than others. So the adventurer's guild conducted an investigation. It turned out the party was killing their temporary to get the full reward. But on one quest, they didn't exactly finish the job, leading to that temporary member poisoning and murdering the entire party.

As a result of this event, the previous guild master of Veinbor implemented a rule requiring the registration of temporary party members, and the guild itself would now be responsible for issuing rewards to each individual party member. This way, everyone would receive their fair share directly, and the risk of betrayal would be significantly reduced since each party would be investigated if their temporary members were killed while on a quest.

This reminded me of how clans used to cooperate on a quest in the game, only to betray each other in order to secure all the rewards. It was one of the many irritating aspects of the game. However, there wasn't much anyone could do about it except retaliate against the enemy if and when they turned on you. The game developers never addressed these issues, so I'm relieved the guild master took it upon themselves to tackle them here.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

We planned to set out today at noon, right outside the city gate, which left me some time to kill. I'm not too keen on fighting monsters in a thin blouse and skirt. I'd rather not have the clothes Melda gave me torn to shreds just a few days after receiving them. Lucky for me, I just got paid. Before leaving, I asked the receptionist for directions to an affordable merchant, but her instructions couldn't have been more vague. Since there were no street signs, she had to guide me based on nearby buildings or other shops in the general vicinity. Despite my knowledge of the capital's layout from the game, I ended up wandering through the streets for nearly an hour. I even tried asking a few people for help. Unfortunately, they all gave me the cold shoulder. Over the past few days, I noticed that many people in Veinbor seem to think anyone who wasn't human was a beast. I initially thought it was because they were at war with the Beast Clans, but that wasn't the case, not entirely, anyway. I thought about approaching the topic with Melda, but she and I were too busy to talk about it. Although it's frustratingly annoying, I'll have to put up with it for now until I find out why Veinbor is so polarized against non-humans. I am not too fond of the idea of being labeled public enemy number one for being a dark elf, mixborn, or whatever I am now.

"Stop, you little wench!"

Someone shouted suddenly, as I was lost in thought amidst the throng of people on the street. My head swiveled from trying to find the source when something collided with my side. It didn't cause any pain, but it did knock the wind out of me, making me stumble backward and almost lose my balance.

"Oof," someone exclaimed aloud.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," I said, apologizing immediately.

I turned around to see someone on the ground. They were smaller than me, which was a breath of fresh air. Besides kids, nearly everyone I encountered towered over me. However, now that I think about it, the thought of being happy I was taller than a kid quickly scattered to the wind. The kid had long, messy auburn hair that partially hid their face. Yet, what caught my attention the most was hidden in their disheveled hair—a pair of small curved horns protruding from within. The horns were brown in color, which blended with their hair, making them somewhat unnoticeable at first glance. Concerned, I reached out to help them, but they flinched in response and instinctively pulled away.

"Are you hurt? Let me help you up."

I said, offering my hand again, refraining from making any sudden movements. Instead, I allowed them to approach me at their own pace. Over time, I've learned that when someone is traumatized, it's best to give them space and let them initiate contact, whether it's with animals or humans.

With hesitant movements, the girl cautiously extended her hand toward mine, and I gently clasped it, pulling her up. Surprisingly, she was remarkably light, lighter than me. As I took a closer look, I realized it was the same girl I had met at the kebab stand. Although she was dressed differently this time, I'm sure it was her, and she looked worse for wear.

Her clothes were stained and filthy, with a tattered shirt, torn shorts, and bare feet. I doubted there was a child protective agency in this world like on Earth, which made me even more concerned for her well-being.

Her hair parted as she looked up at me. Her face was bruised horribly, with a swollen black right eye, split lip, and purple blotches over her face. Our eyes locked as I continued to study her. She had noticeable dark bags under her eyes, and her face was unnervingly gaunt which made it clear she hadn't eaten in a few days. But what made the simmering magma in my chest rise was that someone had clearly abused this kid.

"Move it!"

Some inpatient passerby commanded.

"Ugh, filthy creatures."

Another remarked as they person brazenly shoved the girl. The magma in my chest began to boil, placing thoughts I never imagined I’d entertain in my head. However, before I could act on them, the young girl in front of me silently yelped. I looked down, only to notice her staring at me, face stricken with fear. Did I scare her? I felt the muscles in my face relax as I looked down at her. What kind of face was I making to make her look at me like that?

I took a deep breath and exhaled calming myself down. Who are you angry with? Whoever shoved her had vanished into the crowd. Frustrated or not, you can't get angry at someone who isn’t here. Still, I glared at the spot where they had disappeared. I took another deep breath and felt the heat in my chest gradually dissipate.

What struck me even more, was the girl's seemingly unaffected demeanor after being shoved. She was more afraid of me than the person who pushed her. Instead of dwelling on the incident, she knelt down and picked up something from the ground. It was a crumpled lump of dirty bread that must've been stepped on while we weren't looking.

"W-wait!"

I yelled as I reached out, grabbing the girl's hand as she attempted to run after picking up the bread off the ground. She struggled, trying to free herself by tugging in the direction she had been headed. Worried about hurting her arm, I hesitated about letting her go.

However, before I could decide, someone in the crowd shoved me from behind, knocking me into the girl.

"So there were two of you?!"

Came a breathy voice from behind me as I stumbled forward, catching the girl in my arms, trying to prevent both of us from tumbling onto the paved road. My right arm wrapped tightly around her waist/ With a swift motion, I turned around, my eyes locked onto the man who had shoved me, my anger and frustration threatening to overflow again.

The man before me had a piggish appearance that only fueled my annoyance. He wore a luxurious-looking brown vest over a white shirt paired with dark blue pants. His hair thinned at the top, causing his hairline to recede while the remaining hair on the sides stubbornly clung on.

"You little whore! After all I’ve done for you, you steal from me?!”

The man bellowed as he attempted to charge towards us.

"Fireball!"

I retorted without hesitation. A flame slightly larger than my palm ignited in my hand, casting an eerie glow. The sight caught the man off guard, causing him to stumble in his tracks, desperately trying to regain his balance. As he stared at the dancing flame, a mix of shock and fear washed over his face, freezing him in place.

Simultaneously, the crowd seemed to pause, their attention instantly drawn to the spectacle. The commotion caused by the man's aggressive outburst had silenced the throng of people nearby, and now, many onlookers watched with wide eyes as they mingled and whispered amongst each other.

"A-a thaumaturgist?! I-if you kill me, you won't get away with it, y-you vile beasts!"

The man stammered, his voice trembling out of desperation as his eyes fixated on the flickering flame in my hand.

"Shut your filthy fucking mouth."

I retorted sharply, my fury threatening to burst out of me. Part of me wanted to let the flame loose so it could turn this pig into a steaming pile of chard bloody meat. But I knew the other part, the part that was still rational, had no intention of actually killing this man. Even so, I'm not some saint who'll let people walk over me. I wasn't one to be taken advantage of or pushed around, and there's a fine line I refuse to let anyone cross—which is laying their hands on me.

"After attacking me, you've got some nerve pretending to be a victim."

I said through gritted teeth as I tried to get my breathing under control. The pig kept his distance, not trying to approach the dancing flame in the palm of my hand.

"What the hell is your problem?"

I continued, frustration lacing my words.

"You had that dirty little beast whore steal from my stand, didn't you?!"

He pointed an accusing finger at the girl I held in my arm. She cowered in response; his accusing glare fueled her fear. Did she steal the bread from this man? The girl flinched when I glanced down at the bread she held in her arms, knowing I knew what she had done. As I glanced around at the growing crowd of spectators, it became obvious that from their perspective, it appeared as if I were helping her steal, especially while I was threatening him with a fireball in my hand. I let that sink in for a moment.

"So they're working together?"

One voice speculated.

"I knew it, disgusting creatures."

Another chimed in.

"What did you expect? Those impure things are all the same."

Came another voice, their tone dripping with disdain.

The crowd's murmurs intensified, with some suggesting that the city guards be summoned. Given how some of the general public treated me in the city, I have little faith that I would be given a fair opportunity to explain the situation or defend myself with the current narrative floating around. Avoiding trouble with the city guard seemed like the best course of action right now. The last thing I wanted was to see how terrible the jails are in Veinbor.

"How much was the bread?"

I asked, my voice less agitated than before, as I snuffed out the flame in my hand, extinguishing it with a clenched fist. The piggish man took a moment to ponder before responding to my question.

"Three gold coins."

He declared with an air of arrogance. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"There's no damn way a filthy piece of bread costs that much!"

I retorted, feeling my frustration rise. His piggish face contorted into a self-satisfied grin.

"Hmph, this isn't the first time you've had that little whore steal my property! Now you've forced me to chase after you through the streets like some filthy vagrant! Either pay up or be reported to the city guards!... Then again, there are other ways you can compensate me."

He added, his gaze turning lewd as he looked me up and down. I shivered as a surge of repulsion coursed through me, causing the centipede to squirm in delight on my spine again. Did he actually think I would fall for his disgusting offer? I wasn't even pissed off anymore, just sick. I clenched my jaw as I reached into my coin pouch and retrieved a silver coin.

"Take this and be satisfied."

I said, tossing the silver coin at the man's feet.

"You dare insult me, you vile wench?!"

He spat back. His face turned a pinkish red as it contorted with anger.

"I'm no beastman, you fat pig; I'm a dark elf!"

I retorted, raising my voice loud enough so that that crowd of onlookers could hear. Hopefully, that would lessen the stigma aimed at me. As for the girl, I couldn't be sure of her situation. These people were more than willing to insult and mistreat anyone suspected of being from the beast clans. And since my appearance primarily resembled that of a dark elf, with the exception of the horns on my head, I could easily pass off as a dark elf or mixborn human. People generally held less prejudice towards elves than beast-men, so hopefully, that'll give me an advantage in this situation.

"You, agh!"

The pig man stammered, clearly taken aback by my statement. Melda did say dark elves weren't common in Veinbor country, but I wonder how accurate that is, considering there have been people you wouldn't usually think knew I was a dark elf.

Glancing around again, I noticed that the crowd had also started to stir. Whispers and murmurs spread among them as they talked among themselves, their words drifting out of earshot. I could focus on what they were saying, but that wasn't necessary. It was obvious they were unsure themselves.

"Alright, move it along. What's the problem here?!"

Two guards, pushing through the crowd, made their way toward us, and immediately captured everyone's attention.

"About time! Guards, that wench and her beast stole from my stand! I want them arrested!"

The piggish man exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at both the girl and me with his pudgy hand. The guards shifted their gaze from the merchant to me, their expressions varying. One was wearing a helmet, while the other was clearly on the piggish man's side based on the scowl he was giving us. The scowling guard scoffed dismissively, showing little interest in the situation. However, his partner continued to stare at me. I looked at him quizzically back. He shook his head in response, then removed his helmet, revealing a familiar face with a slight grin.

"Daban?"

I uttered, baffled by the guy.

"Ah, so you do remember my name. I thought for a second you'd forgotten me."

He replied, his tone light and joking. Daban was one of the regulars at Melda's Inn, a friendly face among the groups of customers who periodically indulged in too much mead. Although I was stuck in the kitchen for most of the time, I remembered him specifically because he had approached me once, intoxicated, trying to hit on me because he liked the food I made. Surprisingly he wasn't rude like the rest of the drunks, which was a surprise. Even then, I hate that I've grown accustomed to being hit on. Melda said she had gotten used to it since it was bound to happen around drunks, especially the married ones. Conflicting feelings aside, I've found that Daban was a genuinely nice guy.

"Well, it was only two days ago when you asked if I could marr."

I replied to Daban, intentionally reminding the guy. Daban raised an eyebrow, seemingly caught off guard by my quick recollection.

"Whoa, whoa! No need to continue. Just tell me what's happening here." He interrupted, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder. As he approached me, his partner followed suit, leaving the piggish man behind.

Taking a deep breath, I summarized the events succinctly.

"When I was helping this child up after she fell into me, that man attacked me from behind, accusing us of stealing from his stand."

I had no reason to lie, so I told the truth. After all, he did attack me first, and the crowd could attest to that. At least, I hope so.

"Lies! I did no such thing! Besides, would you believe the word of some beast wench? I bet she'll spread her legs for any man who believes her drivel."

The piggish man interjected, his voice seething with spite. The other guard with Daban stepped forward, his tone firm.

"Sir, the merchant's claim matches the witnesses. I'll chain them together."

He declared, reaching for a pair of iron shackles hanging from his belt.

However, before he could proceed, he was interrupted by Daban, who placed his hand on the guard's should and shook his head.

"Recruit, what did I tell you before? Never one-sidedly believe one side. Remember, the witness only saw Ciel threaten the man after he attacked her. Even then, I know this person, and she isn't one to start trouble. Are you, Ciel?"

Daman asked with an eyebrow raised. I bobbed my head, agreeing. The other guard wore an annoyed expression, indicating that this was a regular occurrence between them. I wonder if they usually resorted to imprisoning people without due process. Does the concept of fairness and justice matter in this world's legal systems? Well, actually, it's not like it existed on Earth either, at least not in the truest sense of the words.

"Ciel, I believe you, but that beast is known for stealing around these parts. She got away more than once, but not this time. I've seen you work hard at Melda's Inn, so I know you wouldn't do something like this. I'll let you go, but she's coming with us."

He said, pointing at the girl who shook in my arms, afraid as if she knew what awaited her. Although my impression of Daban slightly grew, I was still taken aback. Seriously, him too? Is everyone in Veinbor prejudiced against beast-men? While I understood what the girl had done was wrong, It was still wasn't right to treat her like an animal. It was obvious she had resorted to stealing to survive. This was only the second time I had encountered her, and I doubted she had anyone to rely on besides those boys, assuming they were still around. If I were to guess, she was likely an orphan. She's clearly afraid of whatever punishment this country has for stealing. Even now, she struggled to pull away from me, desperate to escape. If I were to release her, she might have a chance to escape, but then I'd be the one in trouble. What the hell do I do?

"I paid that man a silver coin for the bread; that's more than enough to make up for it, right?"

I suggested, pointing at the coin lying on the ground. However, the piggish man purposefully stepped on it before anyone could react, hiding it from view. He smirked, shaking his head dismissively when Daban and his partner turned their attention to the spot.

"Even so, Ciel, she still has to pay for her crimes."

Daban concluded with a sigh, his tone filled with a mix of understanding and resignation as he moved to step forward. Shit, I was hoping to avoid this, but I'll have to wing it from here. I'll have to make it look as convincing as possible. Taking a deep breath, I cautiously stepped forward, seeming like I intended to hand the girl over. However, I loosened my grip on the struggling girl just enough so that my arm hovered lightly around her. As if, on cue, sensing the opportunity, she broke free from my arms and bolted away with honestly impressive speed. But her sudden escape caught me off guard a little, even though I was the one who signaled, causing me to lose my balance and fall backward. I could have easily caught myself, but I knew they would pursue her. So, I deliberately let myself fall, ensuring I landed directly in front of Daban and the asshole recruit.

Daban and his partner were taken completely off guard by the sudden action, causing them to hesitate in their response. Though initially quick to react, the new recruit was momentarily distracted by my fall, losing precious seconds that could have been used to chase after the girl.

"Oof! Oww."

I groaned, wincing in pain as I lay on the ground, trying to put those acting classes to good use.

"Ciel, are you alright?"

Daban immediately rushed to check on me, his attention diverted from pursuing the girl to me. Come on, man, why do you have to get so close?! I thought as I tried not to pull away from his face that was level with mine, only a few millimeters away. Fortunately, his concern effectively hindered his partner, preventing him from giving chase immediately. I glanced back and sighed in relief, just in time to see the girl disappear into the crowd, no one trying to stop her.

----------------------------------------

After Daban joined his partner in pursuing the girl, I decided it was best to make my leave while the going was good. Though a part of me felt concerned for her, I suspected they wouldn't catch her, seeing as how quick she was on her feet along with the head start she got. It was no wonder they had never managed to catch her.

Before they left, Daban, though somewhat overly attentive, ensured that I was alright. His concern was appreciated, but still, I would not say I liked it. While this body makes me look and seem like a delicate flower, I'm anything but that. I've been launched through the air, stabbed, and even mauled all on my second day. I can handle being knocked down. I somehow get the feeling that if I told any of that to someone else besides Melda, no one would believe me.

As I turned to leave, the piggish merchant, now infuriated by the girl escaping, shouted after Daban and his partner, accusing them of incompetence for allowing the girl to slip away. His face turned a deep shade of red when I mockingly smirked at him before departing. I could tell he wanted to attack me as he balled his fists while giving me the most intense glare I have ever seen on a person. The only reason he didn't attack me was because he knew I was a thaumaturgist, which seemed to deter him. Instead, he resorted to spewing obscene expletives at me, which I ignored as I left. Most of what he said was a repeat of what he had already called me with some lewd comments.

The streets of the lower Veinbor seemed to be made of an intricate web of roads. Some were open and wide, giving off an impression that they led somewhere but ended in dead ends. At the same time, others led you in a seemingly endless circle of buildings. As I delved deeper into the labyrinthine streets, feeling myself get frustrated. It was ridiculous not being able to locate a simple store. However, despite the setbacks, I admit that exploring the lower city like this was amazing. In the game, Veinbor was a straightforward place to navigate. It lacked any sort of lived-in detail like this. It was interesting to see the city where my character was born, and I spent dozens of hours procrastinating, even if this wasn't exactly the same place.

When I bartered with Melda, I learned that she paid an obscene amount of coin to build her Inn on the lower city's main road, which coincidently was the problem for her money troubles. She needed more capital to pay her workers. Usually, those spots were saved for people with reputable status, like merchants or nobles, because the road received a lot of traffic. I imagined upper Veinbor was strictly reserved for nobles and royalty.

After wandering for another half hour, I encountered a spindly-looking adventurer carrying an impressive bow on his back. His face was gaunt and pale, with dark heavy bags under his eyes. When I approached him for directions, he didn't speak but strangely understood what I was talking about. Surprisingly, he guided me all the way to where I needed to go and went on his way, all the while not saying a single word.

The shop was situated on the lower outskirts of the city, close to the bottom and not far from the main road. I say not far, but the roads leading to it were a maze of streets. As I approached, I couldn't help but shake my head when I realized that what should have been a thirty-minute walk had turned into a nearly two-and-a-half-hour.

The shop itself was tucked away amidst a cluster of overshadowing buildings. Open shutters revealed glimpses of the interior as I drew nearer. Peering inside, I could see an impressive array of weapons adorning racks that lined the walls.

A weathered wooden placard hung from metal supports embedded in the stone above the door. The fading paint made it difficult to tell what the words engraved upon it said, but as I squinted, I made out the faint lines of a hammer cross with a sword crest.

I pushed open the thick wooden door, causing it to creak in alarm as I entered. A slumbering man sat at the counter at the opposite end of the room. He grumbled in his sleep but remained undisturbed. My eyes lingered on the sleeping man before turning away, questioning whether he was actually asleep.

The right side of the wall displayed an impressive array of weapons, their polished surfaces gleaming under the sunlight that filtered through the open shutters. Swords, spears, axes, and bows adorned the racks. Most looked to be made from steel, while a handful of others were made from a crystal like blue metal. Was this Whisp Fire Iron? Intrigued, I reached out and firmly gripped the hilt of a large sword leaning against the wall with one arm.

Attempting to lift it, I soon realized that wasn't going to happen. Then I used both arms and struggled to raise the blade an inch off the ground. Not giving up, I exerted more strength as much as I could muster, but my arms gave out, causing the sword's tip to the side colliding with the stone floor, emitting a ringing twang that reverberated throughout the length of the blade.

"Eh?! Who the hell is it?"

The sleeping man abruptly raised his head, his heavy eyelids drooping lazily as his vision adjusted to the light. Realizing I messed up, I changed the subject after quickly composing myself.

"I'd like to purchase some equipment."

I said before lifting and leaning the sword back against the rack, casting a quick glance at the man who was staring up at me with a blank expression. He absentmindedly picked his large nose, then casually wiped whatever he unearthed on his shirt sleeve. With one hand, he smoothed out his beard while resting his head on the other, knitting his eyebrows together in a puzzled manner.

"So, now you decide to come to me for equipment, missy?"

He grumbled, his voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and curiosity as he regarding me with a tired expression. Did this man know me? I took a moment to observe his appearance more closely. He had a stocky build, with thick arms and fingers and a long, a tamed beard. I cocked my head, trying to recall if I had met him somewhere before.

"Hmph, so I take it that you've forgotten about the phoon implement as well?"

He grumbled, his voice carrying a grumpy, weary tone as he yawned, not bothering to cover his mouth. However, suddenly, it clicked in my mind.

"Ah, you're the man from the shop beside the river!"

I exclaimed, finally realizing who the man was. His appearance had nearly completely changed since I last saw him. His head was now shaved bald, and his previously messy beard was neatly combed and braided into two large pigtails.

"I want to apologize for being rude to you last time."

I said sincerely. Silently hoping he wasn't one to keep grudges over trivial things.

"Hmph, pay it no mind, missy. Both our moods were sour that day. At least you ain't stuck up like those damned light elves I've seen around here. Anyway, so you'll be needing some equipment?" He said after snorting dismissively.

"Yes," I nodded, "I'm in looking for thaumaturgy robes, preferably something light and durable."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"Hm, sorry, missy, but I don't keep wears tailored to arcane thaumaturgy in stock. You see, the larger merchants have a monopoly on those. However, if you're willing to settle for standard rune-treated equipment, you might find something close to what you're looking for here."

He said, nodding toward the left side of the room. My gaze followed his gesture and landed on an array of armor neatly arranged along the wall. Positioned in front of the armor was a stand showcasing a relatively plain suit of armor. I scanned the wall, carefully examining each piece of equipment. I searched the wall, my eye passing over nearly all the equipment there. I needed thaumaturgy robes. Everything that lined the wall was either heavy-plated suits of armor or medium single-plated armor, all of which were too heavy for me. I needed something durable yet light and easy to move in.

"And this cloak might do just that."

I picked up a dark leather cloak adorned with intricate blue stitching. It had four buckles running down the front, but I decided not to bother undoing them. Instead, I removed my witch hat and slid the cloak over my head onto my shoulders. Immediately, I felt the weight of it pressing against me. The leather was thick, providing a protective layer, yet flexible enough to allow freedom of movement. Two slits extended from just below the shoulders down to the bottom on each side, offering easy access to my hands whenever needed.

"That there's an old battle cloak. It used to be quite popular around a decade ago, if I remember correctly."

The man explained, his voice nostalgic.

"Did it go out of style?" I asked, curious about its history.

"Out of style? That's not far from the main reason. You see, the hide used to make these cloaks came from an earth Gaghlish worm; tough bastards, those. A sword unenhanced with an aura would bounce right off their hide. The leather became a hit with the nobles in Cothevia, which, of course, prompted the ever-competing Veinbor nobles to follow suit. Adventurers back then saw the value in acquiring the leather and hunted those worms in droves. But as the frenzy died down, the worms became scarce, you see. Around the same time, the nobles in Cothevia lost interest, and so did Veinbor. As a result, the value of the leather plummeted," he explained, recounting the cloak's history.

"It sounds like Cothevia deliberately provoked the Veinbor nobles."

I remarked.

"Aye, they tend to compete like that these days. One tickles the balls of the other, and back and forth they go." He chuckled, confirming my suspicions.

"Still, I'm amazed they were able to hunt the worms so effectively. They're infuriating monsters to fight."

I commented, recalling fighting them in the game.

"Aye, eventually they got the hang of it, but many young ones lost their lives in the process. Fools who overestimated their abilities. Are you familiar with the beasts?"

He asked Curiously.

"Yes, unfortunately, I had to fight them on multiple occasions."

I replied with a hint of annoyance.

"Alone?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Only an idiot would attempt something like that."

I responded. Gaghlish worms were considered some of the more irritating monsters in the game. Despite being labeled as mid-level area bosses, they weren't particularly strong. I could handle one on my own, but the real issue was their constant retreat underground to heal, especially when they were nearly dead. This forced high-level players to team up in order to take them down, even if they could handle them individually. One player would draw the boss's attention while the others dealt damage. It was the most efficient way to defeat them. Otherwise, It would have been horribly inefficient to fight them alone. Some people on the forums suspected this was a way to get the higher-level players to cooperate with mid-level players since the Gaghlish worm only came back up when a mid or lower-level player taunted it.

"At least you're not an overconfident dumbass like some of the other morons that enter my shop. Will you be needing just that or anything else, missy?" He asked, his tone shifting slightly. I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't found out I could enhance or filter sounds. I guess, to him, I wasn't another idiot trying to get themselves killed in his eyes, and he'd be correct, but that doesn't mean I won't unintentionally get myself killed.

"My name's Ciel."

I introduced myself, extending my hand.

"Never did introduce myself, did I? You can call me Thobin."

He replied, shaking my hand.

"Now that we have that out of the way tell me what you'll be needing. I assume you're heading out on a quest after this?"

"Yes, a Gnolls exterminatation quest. I need something that will protect me from close-range attacks. I have one gold and at least five silver coins to spend. Can you provide me with any equipment that fits within that budget? Ideally, something that enhances my physical attributes."

I explained.

"Increase your physical attributes, eh? You're talking about Esse rune-treated equipment. As I mentioned before, I don't have any of those here except for the standard rune treatment. However, if you're simply looking for protection, I can certainly help with that."

I nodded in agreement as Thobin considered my equipment. Without knowing the specific stats of the gear, it was a bit challenging to determine what I needed most, especially if it wasn't for thaumaturgists. Is rune treatment the same as enhanced gear? If so, Is that what I'm looking for? It sounds expensive. In the game, enhancing gear involved improving its stats by visiting a smithy or an alchemist, unless you had the necessary life skill subclasses to do it yourself. Learning those skills was no easy task. He mentioned the Esse Arcana, so it must be. You needed someone who specializes in that field even to make enhanced gear. While I was distracted, Thobin trotted around the shop, gathering various items for me while muttering to himself. After around five minutes, he returned with a few selected pieces.

"What language is that? I've never heard it before."

I inquired curiously, noticing the unfamiliar tongue he had been speaking.

"You never heard of Harth tongue?"

Thobin asked, surprised.

"No, I've been sort of a recluse for a while."

I replied, coming up with an excuse on the spot.

"Aye," Thobin nodded as if understanding something I didn't. "Humans tend to get uneasy when they hear other races speaking languages they can't understand, so most avoid using our native tongues around them," Thobin explained.

"Anyway, here you go. Give it a try."

Thobin said after he finished arranging the equipment on the counter, while I observed the assortment of items he had chosen. Alongside the cloak, there were brown leather bracers, boots, dark blue pants, and a brown nearly black corset over a v-neck gray blouse. Intrigued, I picked one of the bracers up first, which was clearly too large for my arm. I looked at Thobin, who pointed with his chin to try it on. After I slipped it on, it slowly resized itself, molding perfectly to my forearms. The other one did the same thing after I put it on.

"Hm, since you're a thin girly, I made sure to select equipment with standard resizing runes. They should all fit you, so no need to worry about the size." Thobin reassured me, noticing my surprise.

I marveled at the bracers that now hugged my arms comfortably. Resizing usually requires a tailor, but here it is a common feature. I glanced at the remaining boots and pants, then looked back at Thobin.

"Yeah, I don't have a dressing chamber, missy, but you can use the back room there."

Thobin gestured with his thumb, indicating the direction. The old bastard is still calling me that. Is he one of those people who can’t take hints? I nodded appreciatively, grabbed the boots and pants, and made my way toward the room behind the counter. As I entered, I found myself in a small yet cozy office. The absence of windows made the room feel enclosed, but that wasn't a problem for me. I could clearly see everything in the room.

I kicked off my leather-bound shoes and swiftly unbuckled my belt, allowing the skirt to fall to my ankles. Hastily, I slipped on the pants, which were twice my size. In fact, I could have fit another me inside the other leg. However, just like the bracers, the pants began to gradually shrink, shaping to my body's proportions with a snug fit. Next, I slid on the boots, which didn't shrink as much as I had hoped. They reached just above my knee. I kicked my leg out and squatted a few times to test their comfort and flexibility. Thankfully, they didn't hinder my movements, so I had no complaints. Lastly, I took off the cloak and blouse Melda gave me and slipped on the new one, then the corset over it. It also slowly shrank until it shaped my body. The gray blouse was thin, with sleeves that extended past my bracers in a frill. The only thing I didn't like about it was the V-neck that exposed my upper chest; it wasn't very protective, but the cloak could handle that. The corset only covered everything below my chest, wrapping around my stomach. Strangely enough, it didn't feel tight. I always thought they restricted your breathing. Gathering my belongings, I exited the room, closing the door behind me. Thobin was waiting patiently at the counter as I approached him.

"Seems like they fit quite well. That equipment may not be as resilient as the gaghlish worm cloak, but it should serve you well against the lesser foes out there," he commented, observing me.

"That's perfectly fine with me. I needed something to replace my torn robes, and this is a step up," I replied.

"Good to hear. I don't have much else in stock that would work for you. Anyway, the cloak will cost you fifteen silver coins, and I'll say two silver for the rest, considering their age and wear. That brings the total to seventeen silver."

Thobin responded as I reached into my coin pouch and counted out the required amount, handing it over to him.

"I'd also like to include this satchel."

I quickly added, grabbing a bag that hung from the nearest wall. In a world where I owned little to nothing, a proper bag might as well be one of them. Besides, I'll need it later if I come across anything important.

"That brings the total to one gold and silver coin each, then," Thobin confirmed.

Seriously? This bag was worth eight silver coins? I took another look at the bag. It was a two-tone brown leather satchel with a single buckle strap that ran straight down the middle. The edges where the shoulder strap connected to the bag were adorned with silver metal finishings, adding to it's appeal. The round buckle itself also had a gleaming silver finish, with what looked like a compass carved into it with a small blue jewel embedded in the center. It looked really nice and worked out perfectly, but I'd be burning through most of my coin. Ah fuck it, you have to spend money to make money and handed him the gold coins.

"Thank you," I said.

"Hm, don't mention it. We'll be seeing more of each other if you don't die out there."

He remarked, giving me a dismissive wave. With his gruff demeanor set aside, Thobin didn't seem like such a bad guy after all.

As I exited the shop, I slung the satchel over my head and shoulder, then slipped on the cloak. I neatly folded the skirt along with the blouse, belt, and put the leather-bound shoes on top. Since I'll be wearing these new clothes from now on I don't need the dress anymore. Shielding my eyes from the sun as I gazed at the sky, attempting to gauge the time of day.

It's almost noon considering how high the sun is right now. I should hurry to the front gate to meet with Lotch and his party. I can stop by the Inn to drop this stuff off on the way.