In the evening, after returning to Castle Town, we dropped by the weapon shop again.
"Oh, if it isn't the Shield guy! The other Heroes have been showing their faces too, you know."
Did everyone buy their gear here?
The beaming shop owner greeted us.
"Yeah. So, where can I sell this?"
When I showed the old man the orange balloon, he pointed toward the outside of the shop.
"There's a shop that buys monster materials. Take it there, and they'll buy just about anything."
"Thanks."
"So, what brings you back?"
"Oh, right. Malty. I decided to buy equipment for my companion."
When I turned my gaze toward Malty, she was intently studying the equipment in the shop.
"What's the budget?"
I had 680 silver coins on hand. How much equipment should I buy from that?
"Malty, how much would you say is reasonable?"
"..."
Malty was comparing the equipment with an extremely serious expression.
She was so focused that my words weren't getting through to her at all.
I didn't know what lodging would cost, but I'd need to set aside enough for a month's living expenses...
"Your companion's equipment, huh... Sure, dressing her in good gear would make her stronger."
"Yes."
It seemed I had no hope of being an attacker anyway, so it made more sense to pour the equipment budget into Malty.
"Looks like it's going to be pricey, so I'll haggle while we have the chance."
"Oh, what an interesting Hero you are."
"Eighty percent off!"
"That's way too steep! Twenty percent markup!"
"Markup?! Seventy-nine percent!"
"You haven't even shown me the merchandise and you're haggling? I'd charge you double for that!"
"Hah! Try me! Ninety percent off!"
"Tch! Twenty-one percent markup!"
"I said no markup! One hundred percent off!"
"That's free, Hero! Fine, I'll knock off five percent."
"That's nothing! Ninety-two percent—"
After a while, Malty came back carrying armor with a cute design and a sword made with some oddly expensive-looking metal.
"Hero, I think this set would be good."
"Old man, what's the total? Sixty percent off."
"Throw in a few extras and I'll do 480 silver coins, but that's the absolute limit—fifty-nine percent at the most!"
The haggling I'd been doing before Malty decided had paid off, and I'd managed to bring the price down.
Still, with only 200 silver coins left, wasn't that cutting it a bit close?
"Malty... Can't you compromise a bit more? I don't know how much lodging or living expenses are going to cost."
"It'll be fine, Hero. Once I get stronger, we'll be able to make up for it with the loot from the monsters we defeat."
Malty's eyes sparkled as she pressed her chest against my arm and pleaded.
"I-I guess I have no choice..."
200 silver coins. Come to think of it, Ren, Motoyasu, and Itsuki each had at least three companions. They'd be hard-pressed to cover operating costs, let alone afford equipment.
In all likelihood, 200 coins was more than enough to survive for a month.
Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to put off recruiting companions until I'd leveled up and had a steady income.
"All right, old man. I'll take it."
"Thank you very much! My, what an extraordinary Hero you are."
"Haha, I do enjoy a bit of haggling."
Even in online games, I'd loved making money. I had a knack for buying things as cheaply as possible at auction events and reselling them at the highest price.
Haggling with people was the easiest thing in the world when you had clear numbers right in front of you.
"Thank you, Hero!"
A delighted Malty kissed my hand.
Affinity up!
Tomorrow's adventures were going to be a breeze!
With Malty now in her new equipment, I headed to the inn.
30 copper coins per person per night...
"I'd like two rooms."
"Not one room?"
"Hero..."
Malty gave me a look of silent pressure.
Ugh... Fine.
"Okay, two rooms then."
"Sure thing! I'll take good care of you."
The innkeeper rubbed his hands together as he showed us to our rooms.
While committing the prices to memory, I went to the tavern attached to the inn to grab dinner.
I ordered two meals at 5 copper coins each, charged separately.
"Oh, by the way..."
I spread out the map I'd bought on the way back and asked Malty.
"The grassland we were fighting in today is right here, right?"
The map showed the terrain of this area. I probably should have asked Ren or Motoyasu, but judging by their attitude yesterday, they didn't seem like the helpful type.
Those kinds of people wouldn't hesitate to lead someone else into a powerful monster's nest if it meant gaining an advantage. Since I was completely clueless, I couldn't risk that.
So I asked Malty, who seemed to know the area.
"Yes, that's right."
"Based on what you mentioned earlier, the forest beyond the grassland is the next hunting ground?"
When I spread the map out, I got a rough idea of this country's geography.
Basically, a grassland spread out around the castle city, with paths leading to a forest, paths leading to mountains, a river, and a few villages.
The map wasn't very detailed, so there weren't many nearby villages marked.
I couldn't predict what lay beyond the forest from this map, but I needed to get an idea of where we were going and what appropriate monsters we'd face if we were going to have any chance in a fight.
"Yes. It's not on this map, but the place we're heading to is Laffen Village, beyond the forest."
"Hmm... I see."
"Beyond Laffen Village, there's a dungeon meant for beginners."
"A dungeon..."
Now that gets the imagination going! Online games only ever had monster hunting, though.
"It probably won't be very profitable, but I think it would be a good place for the Hero to raise his level."
"I see."
"We've got new equipment, and with the Hero's defensive power, it should be a cakewalk."
"Thanks. That was really helpful."
"Not at all. By the way, Hero? Won't you drink any wine?"
Since it was a tavern, wine had been brought out along with the food, but I hadn't touched it at all.
"Nah, I'm not really a fan of alcohol."
It wasn't that I couldn't drink. I had a constitution that barely got me drunk no matter how much I consumed.
I just didn't enjoy getting drunk.
At drinking parties in college clubs, when everyone else was getting wasted, I'd sit there stone-cold sober, and eventually I grew to hate the whole experience.
"Really? But just one glass won't hurt..."
"Sorry. I really do hate it."
"But..."
"I'm sorry."
"I see."
Malty looked disappointed as she put the wine away.
"Well, it was nice that we could discuss our plans for tomorrow. I'm going to get some rest early tonight."
"Goodnight. See you tomorrow."
After finishing my meal, I left the noisy tavern and headed back to my assigned room.
I couldn't very well keep wearing chainmail to sleep, after all.
I took it off and propped it on the chair.
"..."
I set the bag of silver coins on the provided table.
200 silver coins left... Since lodging was prepaid, it was 199 and change.
I felt a bit uneasy about it. Was this some kind of deep-seated poverty mentality?
Like a Japanese tourist heading abroad, I discreetly hid about 30 silver coins inside my shield.
There. Somehow, I felt a bit better.
What a day it had been.
So that's what fighting monsters felt like.
Though honestly, all I'd really done was pop balloons.
I sat on the bed, then lay down.
An unfamiliar ceiling—yesterday was the same—but I'd come to another world.
I couldn't contain my excitement.
My glorious days were about to begin.
Sure, I was behind the other Heroes, but I had my own path.
There was no need to aim for the strongest—just do what I could.
Somehow... I was getting sleepy. I could hear lively voices from the tavern.
I thought I heard something like Motoyasu's voice, and someone who sounded like Itsuki, chatting as they passed by. Had those guys stayed at this inn too?
I reached for the lamp inside the room and turned it off.
It was a bit early, but I'd turn in...
Chime chime...
Hmm... What was that sound?
Were the guys in the tavern still making noise?
Zzz...
Rustle rustle...
It's hot... My clothes are sticking to me.
"Hm?"
It's cold...
Sunlight hit my face, letting me know it was morning.
Still groggy, I got up and looked out the window.
I'd apparently slept in longer than I'd thought. The sun was fairly high in the sky.
According to my internal clock, it was around nine.
"Huh?"
At some point, I'd ended up in just my underwear. Must've stripped in my sleep?
Well, whatever.
I shifted my gaze outside and saw people going about their business as normal.
The sight of restaurants and food stalls frantically preparing for the lunch rush, and carts clip-clopping down the road, filled me with wonder once again.
Ah, another world really is something else.
The carts seemed to be pulled by either horses or some kind of bird. The birds looked like ostriches—what you'd call a Chocobo in certain games.
Horses seemed to be the higher-end option.
Sometimes I even saw cows pulling carts. So wonderfully medieval.
"Well then, time to eat and set off."
I went looking for the clothes I'd taken off and searched through the bedcovers.
...That's strange. They're not here?
The chainmail I'd propped on the chair...
Was gone.
The bag of silver coins I'd left on the table was missing too!
Even the change of clothes I'd left as a backup—my civilian outfit—was gone!
"No way..."
A break-in while I was sleeping!?
This was beyond absurd!
This inn... with security this lax!
Anyway, I had to warn Malty right away!
With a bang, I threw open my door and pounded on the room next door where Malty should have been sleeping.
"Malty! This is terrible! Our money and my equipment—!"
Bang bang bang!
No matter how many times I knocked, there was no sign of Malty opening the door.
Step step step!
Rapid footsteps echoed down the hallway, coming toward me.
I saw castle knights heading in my direction.
This was perfect—I'd explain the break-in and have them catch the culprit.
Imagine there being someone brazen enough to rob a Hero in his sleep.
"You're the castle knights, right? Could you hear me out for a second!"
I turned to the knights and desperately tried to get their attention.
Malty, please get out of your room quickly. Something terrible has happened.
"You're the Shield Hero, aren't you!"
"Yeah, I am."
What was with that response? I was picking up some serious hostility.
"The King has issued a summons for you. Please come with us."
"A summons? Wait, before that—I've been robbed! The culprit—"
"Come on, hurry up and get moving!"
Yank!
"Ow! Listen to what I'm saying!"
The knights grabbed my arms and dragged me off by force.
I was practically in my underwear! What was with this treatment!
"Hey, Malty! Hurry—"
Without so much as listening to my situation, the knights hauled me off to the castle, leaving Malty behind at the inn.
The carriage from earlier, it turned out, had come specifically to transport me.
And so, without any understanding of what was happening, I was subjected to stares as though I were a criminal.