That morning, we prepared to depart from the inn.

Kieth: "Here, wear this."

He passed a tattered cloak, a mask, and a pair of shoes. 

Lowell: "What's this for?"

Kieth: "It's for disguise. Your features are eye-catching, so that can provide protection from unnecessary trouble. The mask changes your voice into a teenage woman. Those shoes can adjust themselves to add your height. It might be a little uncomfortable, but please bear with it when we're outside."

I see. In my previous life, most movies characters wear this kind of things to hide their identity. After assimilating with my previous life's memories, I don't want to boast nor act narcissistic, but I could say that I am a beautiful girl. In a place like this, where 'Strong preys on the weak', I can say that I am an easy target in their eyes. I'm also lacking in height, so they would notice that I'm still a child even with a disguise on.

Lowell: "Thank you."

Kieth: "It's my job as the party leader. You're informed of our schedule for today, right?"

Lowell: "Yes."

Kieth: "I'll remind you again. Always stay by our side. If you don't, there's always three types of fate waiting for you.. It's either you get raped, be sold as slave.. or the worst.. get killed.   

I nod in approval, but I still had chills when I heard him.

I wore my disguise and prepared to leave, but Axie and Nephy starts to get noisy. It looks like they don't want to stay in the inn. Seeing the situation, Kyle gave me an advice to take them, so I placed Axie and Nephy in a shoulder bag because they could fit inside it.

When they popped their faces out of the bag, I instructed them to hide when we're still at the village. Both of them obediently followed.

Our first destination is the village's blacksmith. I thought first that I heard wrong since I don't use weapons, but Kieth said..

Kieth: "Our blacksmith creates wands."

I thought they only create iron-based weapons like shields and armors, since my wand is created by wood, but it wasn't the case.

Before we left the inn, Kieth and others also worn the same disguise. I only realized that it is necessary to wear disguise after leaving the inn.

Because I was unconscious when they brought me to the village, I didn't knew it, but all people in the streets are wearing a disguise. I also noticed that there were no children playing around the streets, as if there wasn't any of them at the first place.

The village looks like those western cowboy villages, where it was mostly desolate and the ground is dusty and the houses are bungalow-styled and made of wood. Kieth said that there are only few two-story buildings in this place, mainly the inn and the Guild house.

The houses are closed, but one could see some damage made by swords, magic and arrows on them. I think fighting at the streets frequently happen in this village.

When we reached the blacksmith, I saw a middle-aged man, doesn't even look like he's at his 30's yet, attending the store. I noticed that Kieth and Kyle stood outside, so I was only guided by Eli. Eli removed her disguise. When the man saw Eli, he smiled and spoke.

Man: "Yo~ Did you break your bow again?"

Eli: "Of course not! Theo, I'm here to buy two sets of arrows and a wand for this girl here. Lowell, if that man did something suspicious, just call me, okay?"

After saying that, she looks around the store happily.

The man called Theo looks at me curiously. I'm hiding my face right now, but I think he could see through me.

Theo: "Ohoho~? It seems that you obtained a new party member. So, what kind of wand are you looking for?"

I handed my Oakwood Wand.

Man: "It looks pretty normal, but I don't sense the magical properties of Oakwood. This is strange.. Oh well, I can't provide you the same staff.. not being harsh or anything, but I don't sell these kind of low-level items here in my shop. Here, take a look at these.

He placed four wands in the table. He raised the first one, a wand made of metal coated with red color. I can't use 'Eye of Investigation' since I might get busted.

Man: "This is the Red Iron Wand. I forged it by mixing Blood Stone and Iron Ingots. When equipped, it can boost your water spells a little. Really misleading since it looks like it boost fire spells instead, right? Blood Stones are created by crystallization of a High-Tier Magical Beast's blood."

Lowell: "Can I hold it?"

Theo: "Sure."

He handed me the wand. It was a little heavy, but the thing is.. I felt a little shiver while holding it, so I returned it immediately.

Theo: "It looks like you didn't like it. I see.. you're not used of killing, right?"

Lowell: "I can guess, it's one of it's properties, right?"

Theo: "You're inexperienced of killing.. now I'm wondering why did you join a party of adventurers."

Theo looks at me slyly, but Eli interrupts him.

Eli: "Theo, don't scare my little sis!"

Theo: "Oh~? Hahaha! Okay, Okay~ I won't make tricks anymore. Here's the next, Erudite Wand."

He held a green-colored wand that looks like a polished gem. If a person looks at it properly, one may think that it is fragile like glass that would break when dropped. 

Lowell: "Erudite?"

I looked at him suspiciously

Theo: "Yes, why don't you try it?"

I took the Erudite Wand. When I held it, the wand glowed and it's color became blue.

Theo: "Heh~ Excellent knowledge but lacks creativity. Eli, looks like your party found a diamond in the rough fleur this time Eh~."

Eli: "I recruited her~"

Theo: "Oh?~ 'Miscellaneous Eli' found a rough gem? I didn't think you're good at something relevant to the party except being firepower~"

Eli: "What did you say?!!"

Before Eli could approach us, I started to ask Theo to change the topic.

Lowell: "What is Erudite?"

Theo: "Erudite is a gem of Knowledge and Creativity. It measures the balance between one's knowledge and creativity and also measures the level of it. If a person with high knowledge but doesn't have the creativity to keep up with it, it will turn to blue. If one has high creativity but his knowledge couldn't keep up with it, the gem would turn into orange. If a person have balanced knowledge and creativity, it would turn into gold.

The capacity of their knowledge or creativity depends on the intensity of it's color. Since the assessment to you is a very bright blue, it seems that you have great knowledge that even your creativity couldn't keep up with. It means, you have potential to be great, but lacks the creativity to do so."

I think it's only half-true. It's true that I have great knowledge in form of Physics and Chemistry, but I don't think I don't have creativity. It's just that.. my creativity is overwhelmed by big amount of knowledge so the Erudite wand shows that I lack creativity.

Lowell: "If both have low knowledge and creativity?"

Theo: "Silly, of course it won't light. Look.."

He took the staff and thrown it to Eli.

Theo: "Eli, catch."

Eli: "Ah-? Eh-? Woah, Woah!?!"

Eli panics but succeeds to hold the wand. It glowed a very strong orange light.

Eli: "This again? Next time, I'll seriously break it."

Theo: "Ahahaha~ Don't do that, Beautiful Eli~"

Eli: "Ehe Ehehe~ I-If you say it like that~"

So gullible..

Eli hands the wand to Theo while swaying left and right. She's really easy to deceive..

Theo signals me to lend my ears. He whispers some advice to me.

Theo: "Now, you see? That woman there is stupid, but her creativity is above average. It would be good for you to learn from her."

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Lowell: "I see.. but something bothers me.."

Theo: "What is it~?"

Lowell: "What's the purpose you created that kind of wand? Even normal erudite stone can do that assessment, right?"

There's no benefit in creating something that can even work in it's raw state.. I think.

Theo: "Oh? But it's my own decision to make it though. Girl, I shall give this advice to you. There are things in the world we could see as nonsensical, but only the one who created them can feel its essence. It's like creating a sand castle in the beach even though you know it would get destroyed by waves.

Satisfaction is the key, my dear. People work, but for what? It's for satisfaction. Satisfaction of self, satisfaction of family, satisfaction of friends, We are driven to work because of satisfaction. As for me, a blacksmith's satisfaction is by creating weapons that could save or even destroy, lives. It's not that I don't feel guilty when people use my swords in crime, but I believe that 'Swords have no Eyes', it's the decision of the user how to use my created weapon.

Now, why did I create an Erudite Wand?  It's because of my ego and satisfaction. I don't want to display any raw material in my shop, you see. Raw materials should stay in the smithy, not in the shop. That's why."

I still can't understand, but I think it's Blacksmith's Pride that made him do that..

Now, I'm starting to think that these four wands are not for sale, but he use this to test and know his customer.

While I was still pondering, he lifted the third staff. It is a blue wand that looks like a peeled banana. Rather than calling it a banana, it was like a miniature rapier with a hilt divided into four that is pointing backwards, like a peeled banana.

When he handed it to me, instead of feeling an increase in my mana, it absorbed my mana.

Lowell: "What?"

Theo: "Well, well, just wait and see.."

In a few minutes, it started to transform. I tried to drop it, but it looks like it stuck itself on my hand.

Lowell: "What is this?!"

Theo: "Don't be nervous. That one's called the Morphing Wand. Since most people start with a stick, they get stuck using it their whole lives. Instead of trying all weapons to find what suits you, the Morphing Wand transforms itself to the weapon that is most compatible to the user. It is creation process.. you wanna hear it?"

He smiled broadly. It gave me a bad premonition. I don't wanna hear it.

Lowell: "No thanks."

While we're talking, the Morphing Wand transformed into.. a staff.

Theo: "A staff.."

Lowell: "A staff?"

Theo: "It looks like staffs are much better weapons for you."

Lowell: "What's the difference between the two?"

I don't think any difference. I always think that a staff is just a longer wand.

Theo: "Staffs give higher magical powers than wands. To compensate it, wands give higher mobility since they are easier to carry around. Unlike wands, staffs can be used to block melee weapons to compensate their lack of mobility. Most Main Damage Fleurs use staff instead of wands, and Support Damage Fleurs use wands and lightweight magical weapons instead of staffs so that they could move around the battlefield. Is that a good explanation?"

Lowell: "I see."

I gave the Morphing Staff to Theo, and it transformed into a sword. After transforming, Theo placed it back and it reverted to it's wand form.

Theo: "Lastly, I shall present you this~ "

The last one.. is a silver-colored wand. It was a very plain one. Instead of calling it a wand, a metal stick is a much better term. I started to tease him a little.

Lowell: "Oi, what happened to your 'Raw materials go to smithy' rule?"

Theo: "This is special case~ It's my father's wish before he died to continue his legacy. Our family has a tradition.. to let our customers hold this silver-colored metal. You know, before I was a blacksmith, I was a son of blacksmith~ Not only because of that. I can't melt this metal or even form it into the shape I want. Here, hold this."

When I held it, I felt a strong surge of energy entering my body. I don't know what happened, but a map of the continent emerged on my view. In it, there is a red dot on the Desert of Isolation. Huh? Isn't this...

Lowell: "Here. Nothing happened."

I can't say it.. It would be deep trouble if I say that I discovered a treasure map.

Theo: "I see.. Oh well, it's just what I expected. Oh well, I'll create your weapon according to the information I gathered. Expect it to be done before sunset."

Lowell: "You won't ask for materials?"

Theo: "Hahaha! Of course not! What I need is money. Since you're the little sister of my precious customer Eli, I'll sell it.. about this much."

He created a seven using his hands.

Lowell: "Seven gold?"

Theo: "Correct~ Regularly, I sell it by 15 or 17 gold. Of course you can pay after seeing the product."

Lowell: "Eh? Wouldn't it be a waste of material if you create it and I won't buy it afterwards?"

Theo: "Don't underestimate me, girl~ I can dismantle everything I created. Trust me, I'm a pro at this~"

Lowell: "O-Okay.."

Theo: "Hey Eli, stop swinging that sword decoration and take your arrows."

Eli: "Okay~"

After taking Eli's arrows, we departed from the place. I saw Kyle and Kieth waiting outside. Kieth started asking me questions.

Kieth: "So, how was it?"

Lowell: "He said it would be created before afternoon."

Kyle: "That guy.. even though he only accepts girls as customers, he's very good in his job.."

So that's why they didn't enter.

Kieth: "Well then, let's go to the clothes store."

We proceeded towards the clothes store. While on the way, we saw a crowd of people. Kieth and the others noticed it and tried to avoid it.

Lowell: "You're not curious?"

Kieth: "Of that? That's a daily occurrence."

Lowell: "So you knew what was that?"

Kyle: "If you're really that curious, I'll tell you. It's-"

Eli: "Stop, Kyle!"

When I heard Eli's voice, I noticed that it was a very nervous tone. She's also shaking.

Kyle: "She'll know it sooner or later. It's best for her to know that."

Eli: "But still!"

Lowell: "Eli, it's okay.. Kyle, say it."

Kyle's nonchalant voice emerged from his mask.

Kyle: "That's a human corpse. A fresh one at it."

I started to turn pale. So that's why Eli's shaking. 

Kyle: "Are you thinking 'What is the kingdom's troops doing'? Because we are a village before the war zone, you think that the number of troops in this area should be numerous? That's wrong. We lack soldiers because we are a 'village before a war zone'. If our village is inside the war zone, soldiers will be numerous since they needed to protect the border. At the same time, they could enforce their laws in those areas.

Our village serves as a place where they pass before entering the war zone, nothing else. Instead of placing soldiers here, wouldn't it be more reasonable to deploy them on the next village, which is a war zone? That's how our kingdom think."

Kieth: "You should know, Lowell. In this place, it's best not to offend anybody. If you value your life and your dreams, keep a low profile."

Lowell: "Then why are you guys staying here?"

I asked them a very normal question. The three of them looked at each other and nods.

Kieth: "We are here not because we liked it.. but we're searching for someone."

Lowell: "Someone?"

Kieth: "Our little sister."