Chapter 49

Even if they are small, fighting against many monsters will wear down your equipment. If you keep receiving the charges of Pike Hoppers, even iron shields will warp, and swords will break or bend if you miss a thrust and gouge them.

No one wants to lose their favorite equipment easily. You try to repair them by relying on blacksmiths, polishers, and various technicians, but sometimes there's no choice but to replace them. When that happens, there's no other option but to buy new ones. You bid a tearful farewell to the weapon you've loved... and then the fun of buying new equipment begins.

"Rare equipment... big discovery!"

"Again, Mongrel-senpai?"

"I heard something similar last time too."

I was visiting the market again with Lina and Ulrika. We complete our missions in different places, but we often meet up at taverns or the guild at the end of the day. I've known Lina for a while, and my relationship with Ulrika has deepened to the point where we naturally sit at the same table and chat.

On days off, we end up talking about going to the market together.

"Since I've earned some extra money from working, I want to buy something today and satisfy my insatiable desire for new things."

"Mongrel-senpai, you always have that desire, don't you? ...Well, I also need new gloves because the fingertips of the ones I'm using are starting to wear out."

"I also... I want a chest plate that doesn't rub too much, hehe."

Recently, more equipment has been flowing in from the allied nations. In response, high-quality domestic equipment has also started to appear, and the city has seen a surge in the number of weapon shops.

You want to keep the good equipment in your possession before someone else buys it. Incidentally, designs that can't be found in local shops are considered fashionable, and female guild members enjoy browsing for such items. It's probably similar to fashion in my previous life.

As we walked through the market with the three of us, we saw not only city residents but also sturdy-looking guild members here and there. Shops selling only shield belts and inner wear for armor were popular, and some had crowds gathered around them.

"Senpai, senpai, Mongrel-senpai!"

"Hmm?"

"Is it true that you fought with other guild members again?"

"Ah, I heard that too. You beat the party from Bayson, right? I was surprised when I heard it from a member of 'Young Sapling's Staff.'"

Oh, so it's become a rumor.

It's nice that Artemis is starting to interact with 'Young Sapling's Staff.'

"So, my heroic deeds are spreading?"

"I also heard that you got hit several times, Mongrel-senpai."

"Tch, so that's what they're saying. Can't they exaggerate a bit and say I won without a scratch against three people?"

"You can't win against three people without a scratch."

By the way, I myself have been spreading the word about the fight. I subtly mention that I got hit and it hurt. If the rumor of an unscathed victory against three people spreads, it could be scary later on. On the other hand, I want to subtly show my strength to deter troublemakers. It's a delicate balance.

"Hey, Lina, look at this! These gloves are pretty good, aren't they?"

"Huh, which ones? I can't see them."

"Here, look. They're slim and don't look bad. The fingers seem easy to move, and the reinforcement is solid."

The two of them were enthusiastically looking at bow-related equipment. Apparently, the fingertips wear out quickly from drawing the string, and the lifespan of the equipment is surprisingly short. They also seem to care about the appearance of the equipment, focusing on both practicality and aesthetics.

As a man, I think practicality is important, but as a guild member, I have a good understanding of the importance of appearance. I don't want to equip a weapon that looks bad, even if it performs well. Especially with helmets. Protecting the head is important, but I dislike those with a bad silhouette. In the various games I used to play, I usually turned off the display of head equipment... This preference has continued even after my reincarnation, and I consider myself quite set in my ways.

"Hey, look at this, Lina!"

"Eh, no... I don't..."

"Hey, Mongrel, what do you think of Lina's new gloves? They're cute, right?"

"Oh, yeah, they're good."

Lina was wearing new gloves on both hands and a leather belt with many small pockets around her waist. She was dressed in short pants and a sleeveless shirt. In the winter, her equipment was bulky, but now that it's spring, her figure is more visible. The leather equipment fit her slim body well, and I think it looks smart. Of course, this light equipment is only possible because she's a backliner.

"...Your waist is so slim, Lina. You should eat more."

"Ah, you know, Mongrel-senpai is that type..."

"...Sorry, Lina..."

I don't quite understand the flow, but I get the feeling that I'm to blame... But I don't know what I did wrong, so I'll keep quiet to avoid stepping on a landmine...

"By the way, Mongrel-senpai, what about Ulrika-senpai's equipment?"

"Eh, I'm fine."

"Ulrika-senpai, you want to hear the same thing, right?"

"Lina, that's a bit mean..."

Is this a method of bullying using me? This is what it feels like.

"Ulrika's is a chest plate."

A female ranger's outfit with a cinched waist, made of soft leather, probably quite expensive. She wore a skirt and outdoor boots. A smooth, hard leather chest plate was attached over the outfit. Upon closer inspection, the hard leather was only on the surface, with metal underneath. It's designed to look like leather.

"...Most archers wear something like that, don't they?"

"Yeah, it's because the string can hurt when it hits. Even if you get used to it, it can still hit you sometimes. When you wear a smooth chest plate, the string is less likely to damage it and the impact is reduced, so you wear it just in case."

"Ah, I see."

"Of course, it also has a protective function."

I thought it would hurt if it hit big breasts, but that's the reason. I thought Lina and Ulrika didn't need to worry, but even I can see the big landmine, so I won't say anything...

"This chest plate is a bit more rounded than the previous ones, but it doesn't rub as much. The feel against the skin is gentle and good..."

"Sounds good. The comfort of wearing it is important, right?"

"Exactly. With hard equipment, it often doesn't fit well."

The two of them were already happy with their purchases. It feels great to get new equipment, and I understand that completely.

"Is Mongrel-senpai not going to buy any weird equipment today?"

"Calling it 'weird' isn't a good term."

"Ahaha. There are various things over there, let's go check them out."

I came to look for cool equipment. I'm not interested in weird stuff.

"Welcome, we have all sorts of rare items here."

...But looking at the items lined up, there aren't many that stand out. Of course, they are for sale... Oh?

"Is this... a chain scythe?"

"Ah! You have a good eye, sir. This is a new weapon that we're testing out."

"I know, you hold the scythe in your left hand and swing the weight in your right hand, right?"

"Wow, you're knowledgeable! ...Is this famous?"

"I don't think so, but I know a bit."

"Why does Mongrel-senpai know about this...?"

This weapon in front of me... a scythe with a chain attached, and a metal weight at the end. This weapon existed in my previous life, and its origin is Japan. It was something ninjas used in period dramas.

"Mongrel-senpai, you seem to like it."

"Are you going to buy it? Are you really going to buy it?"

However... my interest in this is zero.

"Sigh... To be honest, this chain scythe is no good. It's completely off."

"Wh-What? Sir, but this... I heard it's quite... "

"I know, right? This weapon is used by swinging the weight, not the scythe, right?"

"...Impressive, sir. However, the attack with the weight is quite powerful. Even so, you say it's no good?"

"That's it. Swinging the weight... that's the problem."

The weight is strong. Swinging a blunt weapon with a long reach and hitting with it is powerful. It can't be weak.

But...

"Why can't you swing the scythe part...!"

"...Well, probably because the blade doesn't always face the right direction and it's dangerous for yourself..."

"The scythe part, with a chain attached, is used to 'slash an entangled opponent' in a rather dull way. It's the worst! The Mongrel point is the lowest for that usage!"

"What's that?"

"I understand that practicality is important, but I want more visual appeal in combat equipment..."

"...Sir, please don't tease too much."

"Ah, sorry."

Even if it's a weapon from my previous life, Japan, I won't show favoritism. Ugly is ugly!

"...I didn't expect that. I thought Mongrel would like anything that's elaborate."

"Really. I thought you'd shout 'I'll buy it at any price!'"

"Hey... I carefully evaluate the quality of equipment before deciding. I don't like weapons that are just overly complex and flashy."

"Got it, got it."

Lina, you always respond like that when you're not really listening, right? It's not just my imagination, is it?

"Um... Then, Mongrel, what about that?"

"What about what?"

"Over there. The one hanging on the wall. Isn't it the halberd used by the knights? The one with a scythe."

Ulrika pointed to a beautiful weapon that combined an axe, a spear, and a scythe at the end of a long shaft, shining in the light.

That's... no doubt...

The legendary halberd used by the mounted knights of Halperia, the Great Halper!

"Give... me that! I'll buy it at any price!"

"So, you do like elaborate stuff, don't you!"

"Wow... The price is really high..."

That day, my weapon collection grew by one, and I was back to being broke.