The sun was at its highest peak as we strolled around town. Everything had returned to normal as the streets were bustling with people and goods again. It wasn’t surprising knowing the fact that people needed money to live. The only thing that hadn’t returned to being normal was the security of the town. The guards and soldiers were now more active than before most likely in order to reassure the locals their safety.

Speaking of safety, Chance was safe during the attack on the town. He was on the other side delivering mails when it happened, which was very lucky. Today, he was delivering mail, also.

There was an announcement at the Wanderers Guild. It was information about the attack on the town, so we were going there. When we arrived at the guild, only a few people showed up. The employee did say that there had been a low number of wanderers in this town. There were probably about thirty here, including us.

In front of the people were an old woman and the captain who had saved us from the undead knight. The old woman had an air of high status, so she was probably somebody important.

“There are a lot of humans here. Shakna doesn’t like it!” she said as her gripped on my hand became tighter. At times like these, it kind of reminded me that she was still a child, albeit a witch.

“Hey, who’s the old woman?” Takana whispered. Despite him being curious, he was actually a bit depressed since, just like his heart, his shield was broken.

“I don’t know. Probably a noble.” I nonchalantly replied.

“Everyone, thank you for coming today.” her strong yet gentle voice echoed throughout the guild, going in the ears of everyone. “I am guildmaster Marabell. The recent attack in our town has left many mourning for their loved ones. But worry not as one of the captain here has brought good news. Captain, if you would please.”

So, she’s a guildmaster, huh? Is Chris a guildmaster? If I recall correctly, he’s a lieutenant. What’s the difference?

“Thank you, ma’am.” He then faced the crowd. “I’m going straight to the point. Our scouts have found out where the enemy came from. Due west, there’s a large group of monsters camping. They seemed to be an organized group and it is believe that the leader has a Bnakir Famen with him.

Hmm? Famen? What’s that?

The second that word was mentioned, the room all got quiet and serious. It was as if the very word was to be feared of. Some were even visibly scared.

“Now I know what’s on everyone’s mind. The answer is we fight fire with fire. I’ll lead you to battle with my own Shaina Famen!” The crowd was revived as the man showed them his spear. It was the glowing spear that saved Fuyuki. So, that was a Famen?

“That’s good and all,” one of the wanderers spoke up. “But why should we take this mission?”

“I forgot to mention that there will be 50 silver coins participation. As long as you kill one, I don’t care if you outright escape. Just kill one. Also, if you kill the Famen holder, you would be given five gold coins as a reward.”

That’s a good deal. I don’t know what a Famen is but we need the money. We’ll also be helping the town, so that’s a win-win.

Everyone seemed to have the same thought as I am as they all nodded in agreement.

“Good. We’ll meet again tomorrow to discuss our strategies but for now, I suggest preparing yourselves for the upcoming battle. You all know what a Famen holder can do.”

*

After the announcement, we were going to a weapon shop and a blacksmith to buy Takana a new shield and to customize Bladetree’s longsword.

“It’s amazing how that captain is a Famen holder.” Fuyuki said.

“Yeah, must be one really lucky bastard. That or he’s crooked. I prefer the latter.” Takana said.

“I think he’s nice…” Kihana said.

It seemed I was the only one who was entirely clueless about the Famen. Merry didn’t seemed confused about what they were talking about and Risa no doubt knew about this, too.

“So, what are we going to do, Terrin?” Merry asked. Merry had always been straight to the point.

“We should join. The reward is great considering there are five of us.”

“I agree with you that one,” Takana nodded. “I finally have the opportunity to face a Famen holder! I’ll get him a taste of the great Takana!” he pumped his fist.

“How are you going to face him without your shield? Who’s going to protect you?” Fuyuki teasingly said. She knew that Takana was still depressed about the broken shield.

“Shut up! I’ll get it fix! If it can’t be fixed, I’ll buy a new one!”

“I-I’ll protect him…” Kihana, the angel, said. It looked like Takana was shot as he recoiled from Kihana’s pure actions. Though, it seemed Takana wasn’t the only one who had taken damage.

“Merry!” Fuyuki ran up to Merry. “Kihana, Kihana’s betraying me! You’re the only one I have, so please, don’t leave me!” Fuyuki dramatically said. It was amazing how she rubbed her face to Merry while tears and snot came out as if it was the real thing.

“I-I didn’t mean to betray you, Fuyuki…” with Kihana about to let out a tear, Fuyuki quickly rushed over to her to console her, she was the one who did it, after all.

“I was just kidding, Kihana!” since Kihana wasn’t convinced, Fuyuki hugged her, just like what she did with Merry. “Merry, do it with her, too!”

With a resigning sigh, Merry came and joined the party. In the middle of the street, three girls were hugging each other in broad daylight. It was quite the scene to see. Takana was probably thinking the same thing as me. Okay, probably not.

“Shakna doesn’t really understand these humans.”

After that, we came to a weapon shop. It was just like any store here with a hanging sign that swayed on the front door. The logo had weapons lined up in a single line.

“Welcome, welcome!” a cheerful man greeted us as we entered the shop but his attitude turned around as he said, “If you’re here to buy, you’re free to look but if not, then leave,” With a menacing voice.

“Um, we’re looking for a shield…” I said. The man looked tough and scary because he had a scar on his face.

“What!? I can’t hear you!”

“He said we’re looking for shield!” Takana shouted.

“You screaming at me, boy!?”

“No, sir! We’re only looking for a shield…”

The man suddenly laughed. “I’m just messing with you. I’m the owner of this shop. The shields are over here.”

“Geez, what a nasty old man.”

“What you say?”

“Nothing, sir!”

The weapon shop was obviously filled with weapons. There was a bow, shield, among many other things. They were in good condition, too, although a bit dusty.

“So, what’s your choice, Takana?” shields of all shapes and sizes were in front of him. He touched and tried each one and as he did, his face scrunched up every time.

“No, no, no,” Takana shook his head. “They’re all trash! They’re not the same as my shield!”

“Quit being a monkey and just pick one!” Fuyuki shouted.

“You won’t understand this because you’re a woman and a mage.”

Fuyuki tilted her head. “What’s that got to do with this?”

“Moron,” Takana facepalmed. “Shields are like briefs or boxers. They need to be comfortable and in good condition for the owner to use! It’s the same in battle. If I have a garbage shield, how am I supposed to successfully protect each and one of you, huh!? Think, you idiot.”

“T-That does make sense…” Fuyuki suddenly all got quiet.

“W-What?”

I put my hand on Takana’s shoulder. “Someday, you’re honesty would get you killed.”

“Huh?”

“Like, right now.” Merry said.

“What did you say about my goods?” the owner was clearly angry. Even I would get angry if someone came in and called my products garbage.

“I-I’m sorry, sir!”

Then the unexpected happened. The owner let out a tear. “And just when I finally got customers, they call my products garbage…”

Our angel, Kihana, consoled the weird sobbing owner. “Takana, apologize to him right now!” when Kihana became like this, it made me wonder where her shyness go.

“Y-Yes, ma’am!” Takana went to him and apologized. “I’m sorry for calling your products garbage...”

Apologizing doesn’t suit you, Takana.

“If I may ask, why don’t you have any customers?” Kihana said.

“There are few and few people visiting this town. You know what happened to the witch, right? Hays, I might have to force this shop down and look for a new thing to sell…”

“Aren’t soldiers requesting here?”

“Sometimes, they do but it’s not enough.”

“Well, there is a new hunting coming, so a lot of people should come here.”

The owner eyes came to life. “Seriously!? Then I must prepare!”

“Wait a minute!”

“What is it!?”

“I’d like to buy this smoke bomb.”

“That would be three silver coins each.”

*

After the dramatic-ish events in the weapon shop, we made our way into the blacksmith. When we entered the blacksmith shop, we were greeted by a fiery wave of heat and the sound of clanking. The smell of smoke that lingered the air made its way to my nose. Tools and metals littered the table across the room as someone from the shop greeted us.

“Welcome.”

Hopefully, this one wasn’t the same as that owner earlier but it turned out that this one was stranger than the owner, in physical ways.

What the heck is…that?

The smith was as tall as Takana. Muscular, too, as expected of a blacksmith. But the most noticeable aspect that made me wonder what I was looking at was that the smith had four arms. I thought I was hallucinating at first but as my party, too, seemed a bit surprise, I felt relieved that I wasn’t going crazy.

“Wow, a borgos! Haven’t seen one in a while.” Fuyuki’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the borgos.

This was my first time seeing borgos and to be honest, this one surprised me. They looked exactly like a human. It made me wonder if the four races were all based on humans.

“So, how can I help you?” the borgos wiped his four hands and also wiped his neck with a towel.

“We’re hoping if you could help us customize this sword.” Merry showed the sword to him.

“Hmmm…” he looked at it and touched it with his four hands. “Let’s talk about it inside. Anything else?”

“Do you have a shield that we can buy? It’s from this guy. He’s annoyingly choosy about his taste in shield, so we would like a lot of variety.”

“Hey! I’m not choosy. I choose what I like, there’s a difference.”

“I don’t stock any weapons, I make them. I could make one for you but it’s going to cost you.” I’d never thought I’d live to see the day to say this but money wasn’t really a problem right now especially since there was an upcoming mission that basically gave a lot of money.

“How much is it?”

“It depends on the materials but to have a decent customize shield would probably cost about a half gold coin.”

Fuyuki loudly laughed. “Haha! The reward for the mission should be able to pay for that.”

Takana kneeled as he realized something. “No! I won’t have enough money to buy foods in this town!” Takana, as always, was being overdramatic as he rolled around the floor like a spoiled kid who didn’t get what he wanted.

While Takana was down in hell, Fuyuki was high above the clouds, smirking as she saw Takana suffering. But like a true angel, Kihana descended from the heaven as she gently said “I-I’ll cover half the cost if you want, Takana…”

Takana could only look away from the bright angel. “N-No need...You should use your money for your own…”

“No, really…I don’t have much use for it, anyway…It’d make me happy if I could help you in any way…” Kihana was persistent.

Guess I’ll help, too.

“I’ll pitch in some, too. Heck, I’ll even treat you something just stop embarrassing us.”

He finally gave in as he stood up and said “W-Well, it wouldn’t hurt me if I let you help me. Yes, yes, you can help me.”

“Why does this human makes everything complicated?”

Merry wanted to reinforce the grip of the longsword, as well as a customize scabbard. She also wanted it sharpened as it hadn’t been used since we hunted Bladetree. Overall, the cost amounted to twenty silver coins.

As for Takana, he requested for a kite shield. The length of the shield would only be from his shoulder to knee. He didn’t want a circle one like his shield before as, according to him, it sometimes hindered him to swing his colossal claymore. He also put in a strap as to not accidentally let the shield go. He went all in since he wanted his money to be worth it. He even wanted to color it black as to look “cool” in battle.

“Is that all?” the blacksmith asked. It was amazing how his hands were drawing, writing and drinking at the same time.

“Yes, that’s all. When can we expect it?”

“Hmmm…” he put his hand on his chin. “Three days, give or take. The sword is easy to customize but the shield, I have to do that from the scratch, although I already have something to base it on.”

“All right, you’re the expert.” It seemed we were about to finish here.

“Are you guys forgetting something?”

Hm? I don’t think so. “What do you mean?”

“I still don’t have a shield!” Takana shouted. He was right, I totally overlooked that.

“Are there any other weapon shop here?” I asked.

“Even if we do find one, can you people afford it?” Risa said. What she said made sense. We did have enough money to buy another one but I wasn’t into the idea of buying two shields. Although it could be used as a backup at times like this, I was still reluctant.

I really hate money.

“I wouldn’t mind lending you these.” The blacksmith, who had overheard our conversation, brought a shield. “This should hold out on whatever things you have to do.”

The shield looked normal. It was made of metal and it looked exactly the one Takana had, a round shield. Although the most striking difference about them was the blue gem-like thing in the middle of the shield and the engravings that flowed and surrounded it. I’d seen it once at the guild but dismissed it as nothing important.

“Is that a Dlimor Gem!?” Takana’s eyes bulged at the sight of the red shining gem. Not only him but the others, too, except for Risa, who wasn’t the least interested in it.

“Yup,” the man pointed at a sword on a wall. “I was once a warrior for the borgos but I’d left that life a long time ago, I’m just a blacksmith in a human town. That shield hadn’t seen action for a long time but the gem still works. I feel it would be happy again if it got hit by a sword or something.” He gave it to Takana. His eyes gleamed as the shield made contact on his hands.

“Are you sure you’re okay with lending it to us?”

“Yeah, as the human saying goes, a friend of my customer is my friend.”

“I don’t think that’s how it goes but we’ll properly return it. Takana say your thanks.”

“Thanks, old man.”

“Don’t mention it.”

We thanked the kind blacksmith and went on our way.

“So, where to now?”

“How about let’s go and eat?” Takana suggested.

“Yeah!” Fuyuki enthusiastically replied. “I could eat some good fish!”

The word fish made Merry almost smile but stopped herself from doing so. What a strong woman. “I believe we should make haste.”

“I saw a tavern on our way here. How about we eat there…?” Kihana suggested.

“Oh! You’re on fire today, Kihana! Just for that, let’s eat there!” Fuyuki took Kihana’s hands and ran.

“That’s the wrong way, Fuyuki…!”

“Oops!”

As I stood there, Risa hold my hand again. “Onii-chan, let’s go already, Risa’s starving.” She also held Merry’s hand.

I told her to stop doing that…Also, why does the word “food” makes everything peaceful and enjoyable?