As we started walking, I noticed Ais looking curiously at a jagamarukun stand.
"Want to grab an evening snack before we head to the weapon shop?"
Ais looked up at me and started nodding rapidly — so much that I got worried she might hurt her neck. Before I could say anything, she ran up to the stand.
"5 please."
*Oh Ais-chan! Sure, coming right up." The uncle at the stand started packing them. I stood next to her as she grabbed the food and gave me one as well.
Before she could take a bite, she paused.
"What happened, Ais?"
"I... forgot to bring money," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Hahaha! It's fine, Ais-chan, you can pay next time," the stand uncle told Ais.
"It's fine, I will pay. Think of it as my thanks to you for helping me pick up Good weapons, Ais." I gave the money to the uncle at the stand.
"Oh, lass! Are you a friend of Ais-chan?" he said as he received the money.
"Yes, I recently became a member of the Loki familia."
"I see, I see. Do come often then."
"I will." We said our goodbyes and started walking.
"Thank you, Arin." Ais thanked me after we walked a little distance.
"Hm? No need for that. As I said, think of it as my thanks for both the training you are giving me and also for accompanying me today."
"Okay," Ais said and went back to being quiet. Though it was not an uncomfortable silence, but a comforting one. As we observed the city, the adventurers and people passing by us, stall owners shouting to get customer attention, and children running around.
We made our way to the guild first so I could get the magic stone exchanged for money.
When we entered the guild building, I could notice the stares of several turning towards us first towards Ais, then towards me.
–Who is that guy with the sword princess?–
–Must be that High Human–
–You mean the new member of the Loki Familia?–
We ignored them and made our way towards the reception area. I did not see Eina on any counter, maybe her shift ended already?
The one who received us at the counter was a human woman.
"Yes, that will be 9,56,927 valis, also 2 million valis for your help in defeating the irregular Infant dragon."
"What? But it was the Astraea familia who defeated the dragon. Shouldn't they be receiving the reward instead of me?"
"The Astraea familia members have explained that you helped immensely by cutting that Infant dragon's arm. And they also left a message that "since your weapon broke, this money will help you buy one*."
Haah… looks like I will have to accept it then.
"You cut its arm?" Ais asked me.
"Yeah, but I also ended up with a dislocated shoulder because of it," I explained.
We got the money and started heading towards Babel tower. Before long, we entered the Babel and took the lift to go to the Hapatheous familia shops. After just exiting the lift, I was able to see a lot of shops for different things, but the main one was the weapon shop.
"I will take you to the best one," Ais said and started walking.
"As you know, I don't have the budget for the high-end weapons. Even with the reward money."
Ais looked back once before turning forward again," You don't have to give all the payment right now. There is an installment system in place for when you buy high-end weapons."
"That's a good thing, then." Ais opened the gate of one of the shops and entered, with me following her.
"Hm? Ais, is that you? Long time no see." I looked up at the person calling out to Ais. She had dark brown skin and was wearing an Eastern nation's dress with an eye patch covering her one eye, maybe it's her way of showing respect to her goddess. Yeah, it was Tsubaki. She was sitting on the chair lazily, before she noticed us coming in.
"You remember me?" Ais asked since she is not a frequent visitor here, as her sword is made by Goibniu Familia.
"Of course, I remember you, Ais, but I must say you have gotten better since the last time we met. At that time, you looked so lost." Tsubaki continued, then she noticed me as well."And who is this person next to you?"
"He is Arin. Arin Kael, new member of our familia."
"Oh! You mean the High Human everyone is on about?"
"Hello, it is nice to meet you. I am Arin Kael, please call me Arin."
"Oh, finally, someone with manners, I am Tsubaki Collbrande. You can call me Tsubaki as well. So, are you here for some weapons?"
"Yup, and I also wanted to get an estimate of weapon price, I would like to be made in the future. If you can make it." A wide grin appeared on her face as I told her, though it was not a kind one.
"Are you mocking my skills or throwing a challenge, kid?" She asked as she leaned forward. Ais stood in front of me to protect me. But I don't think Tsubaki would hurt me, though, maybe she misunderstood my words.
"What? No, I did not mean to mock or anything, I just wanted to get a confirmation from you, since possibly only you or your goddess are the only ones who can make a weapon like that." Hearing my words, she calmed down.
"Hoh… a weapon only I or Haphetous-sama are capable of making it. Interesting, tell me more." Ais also seems interested.
"I want a sword to be made that can conduct magic energy in it, possibly with Durandal characteristics, and it should be bound to me, so others can use it except me." It would be similar to Bell's knife, just in the form of a sword. "So, can you make it? And how much would the cost be?"
"A sword capable of conducting magic energy, huh…" She put her chin in her palm, seemingly deep in thought. "It is an interesting concept, and you were right to question me, as I am now, I do not think I can make a weapon with all these qualities. But with given enough time, I believe with a little help from Haphetous-sama, it would be possible."
"Really?" I asked a little surprised since in the canon, only Haphetous was the only one who made a weapon like that, or at least from what I remember.
"Though it would take me a few weeks to figure it out, and as for the price, I estimate it would be around 500 million Valis." That's a big number, but I think it's a fair amount for a weapon like that.
"You don't have to worry about the time. At least not for another month, since right now I don't think I can even make the down payment for it."
"I see. Then, for now, choose a weapon you want," she waved toward the inner part of the shop, "And I will try to research how to make a sword like that we can talk about the finer details about the payment when I am sure that the weapon can be made."
"Thanks, I would appreciate it." Ais and I started walking towards the place where a lot of weapons were stored. Ais also started looking to choose a weapon for me." Though I already knew whose weapon I would take, since at this time they would be cheap and of good quality. I took up a chest armor with the maker's name written on it, Welf Crozzo.
I put the Armor back as I do not like it and the annoying sound they make. Plus, they will only slow me down, while they have their benefits of providing better defense, but I would rather wear protective clothes than wear armor.
I was able to find a good sword pretty similar to the old one, but with better quality. He does make a good weapon. Even my amateur eyes were able to tell, the price should be higher than what it is now.
"Arin, I found something good for you." I looked behind me to see Ais holding what looked like a jacket. It looks like a modern military jacket, but in black instead of green.
"I noticed you don't wear armor. But defensive gears are crucial, so I found this. It has a decent amount of defense." Maybe I observed the jacket a little too long, and AIs misunderstood that I might not have liked it, and quickly listed its benefits.
"Thank you, Ais. I really liked it." I grabbed the jacket and wore it over my t-shirt. Yup, it fit perfectly. "How do I look, Ais?"
Ais stared a little before she spoke. "You look cool."
______________________________________________
We approached Tsubaki at the counter. "For today, I would like to take these gears,"
Tsubaki observed the sword. "Finally, someone who will use his gears and a High Human no less," she mumbled. But I ignored her words since I already knew the story.
"You have good eyes for things, Arin. The sword aside, the jacket was made by me, but no one bought it since most adventurers prefer to put their trust in metals rather than textiles. Which is not wrong, but still, don't they trust me? I was the one who made it for heaven's sake," she started with a compliment and ended with complaints, or rather, a rant.
"Yup, they are missing out. Anyway, how much in total?"
"Hm.. for the sword it's 500k Valis, as for the Jacket the original price was 1.5 million Valis, but it was just collecting dust until now. If you had not taken it, I am sure it would have continued to collect dust." She said as she looked at the jacket one final time. "I will give you a discount, you can take it for 900k. That's how much it cost me to make it, so I will only recover that cost."
1.4 million valis. That's almost half of my current wealth. But they are good gears which I will rely on with my life. I can't be stingy with it.
"Okay. I will, but them."
"Thanks for the patronage," Tsubaki said with a loud and excited voice.
"By the way, how much will the estimated down payment be for the sword?"
"Ummm… I can't say for sure, but it would be around 20 million Valis at least."
"I see. Thanks for today and also for the request."
"Don't worry, and come again."
We waved toward her as we exited and made our way back home. It was already evening as the sun was setting in the distance.