novelraw Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Chapter 76
*
Though I wasn't overwhelmed by the intense determination in Tepe's eyes to not let me leave until she heard the story, I had no particular reason to keep it a secret, so I told her about what happened in the forest in the Demonlands.
Of course, I omitted the part about Rainibati's Fifth.
When I got to the part about cutting off Oganight's arm, Tepe suddenly burst into tears, which startled me.
She repeatedly asked for confirmation, saying, "So the sword I made cut down Oganight?"
I was a bit taken aback as she pressed me with snot running down her face, but then I remembered I hadn't thanked Tepe yet.
"Thanks to your sword, Tepe, I was saved. Thank you."
As I said that, Erika followed up.
"Indeed, thanks to the sword you forged, my dear husband survived."
When she said that, Tepe collapsed to the floor, sobbing.
Does this girl have some weird attachment to the floor or something?
"This married couple is such a charmer!"
Watching Tepe roll around on the floor shouting that, I couldn't help but think about it.
"As for how it was used, there's nothing particularly special to note."
After being shown such bizarre behavior, I didn't know what expression to make when she said that in such a calm voice.
"Didn't I tell you? There's nothing special about it."
Following my words, it was Erika who spoke next.
"Come to think of it, the surrounding magical energy became extremely thin at one point, didn't it?"
What's that?
"Did something... like that happen?"
As I tilted my head and asked Erika, she nodded with a wry smile on her face for some reason.
"Yes, it did happen."
If Erika says it happened, then it probably did.
I wonder why I don't remember it, but considering I fainted multiple times that day, it's not strange if one or two memories slipped away.
When I noticed, Tepe was muttering something silently with a serious expression on her face.
Bracing myself for another odd display, Tepe quietly spoke to me.
"That might be it."
She muttered just that.
*
After listening to our story about the forest in the Demonlands, Tepe said, "I won't ask why it turned out that way," and bowed deeply.
When I said it was thanks for the sword, she smacked my arm repeatedly, saying, "There you go again, trying to charm a craftsman."
As for the sword, I got Tepe's seal of approval.
It's probably sturdier than the original sword.
Tepe's face, as she told me to come back if any problems arose, carried a certainty that there would likely be no issues.
Tepe said I received too much gratitude, but if that's the case, I opened my mouth to return a small favor.
"I'd like you to introduce me to a reliable magic tool shop. Do you know of any?"
*
"Again, huh."
"Again, indeed."
Standing in front of a dilapidated door that looked like it could break at any moment, Erika and I muttered those words.
"Is there some rule in Hekatai that when someone asks for a shop recommendation, they introduce a rundown place?"
Without directing my muttered words to anyone, Erika smiled while looking at the door.
"Well, considering Tepe's precedent... I don't think Tepe would introduce a shoddy shop, though."
While saying that, I figured she must also think it looks rundown in her heart, as I tore my gaze away from Erika's profile.
Maybe it's an ingrained instinct, but I've developed a habit of staring at Erika's profile whenever I get the chance.
If she says something like "You were staring, weren't you?" again, I might die of embarrassment this time.
Well, I wouldn't mind dying while looking at Erika's profile, though.
Shaking off my scattered thoughts, I pushed the door open with my hand.
I hoped this shop's shopkeeper wouldn't be rolling around on the floor or something as I thought about it.
What spread out before me was an ordinary shop interior.
Feeling a serious crisis in my mental state for being relieved that the shop interior was normal, a sigh of relief escaped my lips.
The shop was a perfectly ordinary magic tool store.
In other words, there were shelves with products on display.
By the way, generally speaking, shops called magic tool stores come in two types.
Ones for adventurers and ones for everyone else.
There are also shops that deal with large magic tools, but those are closer to carpentry than magic tool stores.
"Welcome."
The shopkeeper of this adventurer-oriented magic tool shop, standing behind the counter, greeted us with an extremely friendly smile.
With a face that gave the impression of being harmless and kind, the young man greeted us with the standard politeness of customer service.
Unintentionally, Erika and I let out sighs of relief at the same time.
Understanding each other's feelings, our eyes met by chance.
Realizing we've developed a strange familiarity, I let out a wry smile, and Erika hurriedly averted her gaze.
Wondering what was up, I followed Erika's line of sight and saw the shopkeeper looking at us with a puzzled expression.
Realizing our odd behavior, my face turned red.
From an outsider's perspective, a man and woman entering a shop, making eye contact, and smiling over something only they understand must look like idiots with flowers for brains.
To cover up my embarrassment, I lightly cleared my throat and walked up to the counter.
"Is there something you need?"
The shopkeeper's ordinary kindness in pretending not to notice our strange behavior was dazzling.
"Something, or rather, pretty much everything. Most of our magic tools are gone."
Imagining something, the shopkeeper's expression darkened.
When an adventurer loses most of their work tools like magic tools, there aren't many possibilities to imagine.
Either they were incredibly clumsy, or they suffered a severe loss.
Moreover, there had just been talk of a large-scale monster extermination recently.
If someone was well-informed, they'd know that no adventurers died in the monster extermination overflowing from the forest in the Demonlands, but from the shopkeeper's expression, I could tell he didn't know.
Even so, adventurers often die or suffer serious injuries.
The shopkeeper darkening his expression wasn't due to an overactive imagination but rather a testament to his kindness, likely because he runs a magic tool shop for adventurers.
I waved my hand to deny the shopkeeper's misunderstanding.
"It's not like I suffered any terrible injuries or lost any comrades."
There's no particular reason to clear up the misunderstanding, but seeing the kind-looking shopkeeper's face, I couldn't help but say it.
Seeing the shopkeeper's expression brighten, I figured it was fine.
"Actually, we came here on Tepe's recommendation."
Saying, "Is that so?" the shopkeeper's face showed an expression of understanding.
He probably figured out why we sighed earlier.
That alone tells you about Tepe's reputation.
The shopkeeper introduced himself as Boi Alkun.
"I'm Shin Longdagger. This is my wife, Erika Longdagger."
Erika gave a slight bow.
Even that was beautiful.
"So, we've lost most of our magic tools and came to restock."
Cutting off my words, I looked around the shop.
The shopkeeper, Boi, made an apologetic face.
"Yes, as you might have guessed, due to the recent monster outbreak, our stock is a bit low at the moment."
"Looks like it."
I turned my gaze back from the clearly sparse shelves.
"At the very least, I'd like to restock on canteens."
"We have a few in stock. Please wait a moment."
Saying that, the shopkeeper quickly arranged the products on the counter.
By the time about five products were lined up, I felt grateful to Tepe.
Even in a situation where stock is low, being able to bring out five types of canteens means this is quite a "hit" among magic tool shops.
Adventurers wouldn't trust a magic tool shop that runs out of canteens.
"What are those?"
Erika said, looking curiously at the five differently sized and shaped cylinders lined up on the counter.
"They're 'canteens.' In other words, magic tools that produce water."
For some reason, Erika tilted her head at my explanation.
I'm pretty sure there were some among the magic tools the Prime Minister prepared for you, though.
By the way, magic tools are made using magic stones. They have various uses like cooling things or starting fires, but among them, canteens are exceptional.
After all, they're magic tools capable of generating matter.
It's true that magic for generating matter does exist.
However, only a select few humans called geniuses can use it.
Magic that generates any kind of matter is said to involve incredibly complex and bizarre magic circles, and constructing, maintaining, or even activating them comes with tremendous hardship.
As for me, I never even bothered to learn it from the start.
That's just how special matter-generating magic is.
When you think about it, you can understand how amazing it is that anyone can produce water with a magic tool like this.
Well, thanks to that, the price is outrageously high, though.
Imagining the cost and feeling hesitant, I reminded myself of my mentor's words: never skimp on boots and canteens.
"They're essential tools for adventurers. Adventurers don't trust a magic tool shop that runs out of canteens, which means this is a good shop, Erika."
Thank you very much, the shopkeeper said with a slight bow of his head.
"A magic tool that produces water, right?"
Erika wore an expression that showed she didn't quite understand.
"Wouldn't it be fine to just use magic for that?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't help but think something out of place—how the shopkeeper's natural voice was surprisingly deep and cool.