After Sueka and I left the concert hall, we went our separate ways to tour Pira Attis. Well, honestly, it's more like I was attempting to lose Sueka. Thank the Rhoken for pet stores and kittens. Luckily, she knows the way to get to karaoke...I think. I'll go check on her if I have time.

Now, I didn't mean to leave Sueka because she's so clingy. Truth be told, I want to surprise her with something. The extra cash I obtained from the mission, plus the money I've been saving up from my first week Keisetsu payment should get me something good.

(Now...where to begin?)

Guess what other tourists say about Pira Attis is true. They've got everything here. Restaurants and food stands on every block. Sueka doesn't get that surprised about food. Clothes. She's always afraid her chest will rip them. Plus, her reckless behavior does cause her to go through lots of clothes. Not the best gift. Toys? Mmmm... No. She'd break them. Electronics? Same issue, so no.

Jewelry?

(Hmmm... Jewelry could work. The quality ones are hard to break, at least.)

I spend about 20 minutes going up and down various streets, ducking through crowds of people.

Until I come across what looks to be a weapon shop. Guess they really do have everything. The store sign is kind of hard to read. At least, I don't think it's in Japanese or English. It looks...dwarven?

Upon closer inspection, the store has practically everything one would associate with metalwork. Weapons. Silverware. Jewelry. And...

(Is that...Vorn-sama?)

I go into the store. Rather than hear the sound of a bell when the door opens, I hear the sound of a gong.

Gaa-nn...

(Whatever works, I guess.)

The shopkeeper, who is also a dwarf, looks at me, along with Vorn-sama.

"Welcome!" the shopkeeper says in what I think is a First Age Irish accent.

"Thank you!" I reply politely.

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"Oren?" Vorn-sama asks. "What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for some jewelry for Sueka and noticed both you and the metalwork here. Hey, Vorn-sama, any recommendations?"

"I make the jewelry, not sell it."

"Fair enough. Wait...you mean...?"

"Yep, everything here is my handiwork. Welcome to one of the many dwarven businesses my crew sponsors."

"Wow!" I say, looking around.

I see the shopkeeper tap Vorn-sama on the shoulder, then continue their previous discussion. I pay what they're saying no heed, as I simply choose to look around the store. It's a weapon shop, so maybe I can find an extra blade. I've practiced a bit of dual wielding.

(Let's see... Katanas. Broadswords. Claymores. Axes. Spears. Knifes. Sabers. Scimitars.)

!

"These are...!"

I pick up two of the weapons. Though these aren't the exact same ones, their weight feels so familiar.

I walk up to the register, holding matching chuí.

"How much for these?" I ask.

"Seems you have a good eye. And I'm impressed you can carry those. Those chuí were meant specifically for the strongest of animal tones. Made with iron ore and some dwarven mithril for extra hardness, it's designed to be both sturdy and heavy. Given its size and material, the expected weight is around 45 kg, making it heavier than the average animal tone weight limit of 36 kg for their average weapon."

"And the price?" I ask. I only now realize how hard it is to hold them for a long time.

"300 mesures each."

!!!

(That's...more expensive than I...)

"Let me take a look at those." Vorn-sama says to me.

"Um...okay."

I hand both of them to him and...

BATAN!!!

They come crashing to the ground. I forgot Vorn-sama wasn't an animal tone. I quickly pick them up and hold them at eye level for him.

"Thanks." he says.

He takes a closer look at the weapons.

"The iron is top quality, but the mithril isn't. The iron handle is starting to wear out a bit, though it shouldn't break for a couple decades, even with reckless use. The average price for a mace of any kind with these materials is 120 each, but this might bump it down to 110."

"Give me a break, Vorn." the shopkeeper says. "You know how difficult it is to sell weapons to those not in the military or police force. And you know that all funds obtained go towards our dream business."

"Our?" I ask.

"Yep." Vorn-sama says. "All dwarves in the weapons business share the same goal of making that Third Age rivaling forgery I told you about."

"I...see."

I then look around the store some more...and spy something I think would be perfect for my visit. I pick up a single trinket and bring it over to the cashier.

"400 mesures for the two chuí and this, please." I say.

Vorn-sama and the shopkeeper look at me, confused, but the payment is done with the shopkeeper in high spirits.

"Thank you for your patronage." he says.

As I leave, Vorn-sama follows me and tugs on my cloak.

"You shouldn't squander your money like that."

"It's going to a good cause, Vorn."

"Vorn? No 'sama'?"

"It's nice to see you working towards a goal with this amount of dedication. Plus, you're definitely the leader a business like what you have in mind needs. You've got my support, and I'll help in any way I can. I still owe you for helping me in our mission. Ironic that I needed protection when I should have been protecting you."

Vorn looks at me with curiosity.

"Come on!" I say. "Don't want to be late for karaoke!"

"We've still got plenty of time." Vorn says as he follows me.

(Quite the peculiar lad. It's getting harder to come up with my final decision.)

Using the time we have left, the two of us choose to simply talk amongst ourselves. We learn more about one another's interests. Vorn seems to like sweets and women with higher pitched voices, hates bugs and vegetables, plays the drums, the list goes on. To say the least, I think we've become friends. Hard to call him just a client now.

And then I remembered Sueka...

I ask Vorn to look after what I purchased and go get Sueka. No surprise. She's still at the pet store. But what is surprising is how all the pets adore Sueka. And there she is with her cat tail and ears sticking out. Another involuntary partial transformation.

"Where've you been!?" Sueka asks, teary eyed.

"Just getting some things. Who're your friends?"

And I realize that is a bad question. I think I spent the rest of my free time learning all of the animals' names, including some of Sueka's bad nicknames. Still, at least her mood improved.

I run back to Vorn and apologize for being late. Luckily, he has found a bar to pass the time. Thank the Rhoken dwarves have a high alcohol tolerance, judging by how many empty bottles of beer I see.