Chapter 6

"I will take thirty legs of the underground crabs."

Around noon, I was at the loading counter behind the commercial guild. A cart loaded with a mountain of spoils was being carried into the warehouse by the staff. I sat in a chair and watched the inspection process. The chairs, made from sliced logs, were crude and unbalanced. After the inspection was complete, a staff member weaved through the log chairs and approached me.

"Three of them had significant damage, so the total comes to 285,000 rupis. That's two gold coins and eighty-five silver coins. If you could sign here, please."

After receiving the signature, the staff member returned to the counter and took out the money from a portable safe. I took the money and the receipt and put them in a pouch. I felt like crying.

The joy of completing the mission was overshadowed by the relief of having something to eat. After settling the account, I went straight to the counter of the adjacent adventurer's guild and submitted the request form and five medium water magic stones.

"Will you repay the loan?"

When asked by the lady at the counter, I answered with a vigorous "Yes!" Since it was within the deadline, no interest was charged.

"Will you return the magic sword? The return date is the 13th."

"Can I keep it a bit longer?"

"Of course, that's fine."

"Then I'll keep it until the last minute."

After leaving the counter, I headed to the bulletin board. I knew there wouldn't be any suitable requests, so I looked for another crab-related job. I had just gotten used to it, and I wanted to earn some money until the rental period for the sword ended.

My current funds, after subtracting the two gold coins for the loan and adding the price of the crab legs, amounted to about six gold coins.

Unlike last night, I was able to enjoy a refreshing afternoon. The inn's dining room was packed with noise. I added an extra dish to my set meal and enjoyed a modest luxury at the counter.

With five gold coins, I wouldn't have to worry about lodging for five months. The mandatory stay period was one month, so I could say that the immediate obstacle had been avoided.

However, I was honestly uneasy about what would happen after returning the "Annoying Sword." My level had steadily increased, but I was still a complete beginner, having been an adventurer for only a few days. The only way to make up for the lack of experience was through effort and better equipment.

Considering this, a budget of five gold coins for equipment was also insufficient. What was the market price for weapons and armor at this level? It would be beneficial to know, regardless of whether I bought any equipment or not.

After finishing my meal, I left the inn and decided to visit the weapon and armor shops.

Not far from the guild, smoke was rising. That was the only shop in the village that dealt with weapons and armor. The sound of hammers echoed continuously.

Upon entering, weapons were displayed on the right and armor on the left. The interior was larger than it appeared from the outside, and three light magic stones hanging from the ceiling brightly illuminated the room.

I moved to the right.

The items there were all suitable for the dungeon's level. From small throwing knives to massive hammers, a variety of practical weapons lined up. They were thick, heavy, and had a minimalistic design, exuding a sense of intimidation. They were clearly different from the showy, hollow weapons used by noble children for fun.

None of them cost less than five gold coins. My budget was clearly exceeded. Since I still had two of my own swords, I decided to put off buying weapons for now.

After circling the booth and confirming the approximate prices, I moved to the armor section.

The samples, decorative options, and series were displayed in four booths: leather, chain, plate, and accessories. The accessories, such as belts, boots, bags, and gloves, were the most numerous. They were items that wore out easily and were affordable for adventurers.

As soon as I saw the samples and actual products, I covered my face, feeling the inadequacy of my own equipment.

I felt embarrassed, as if I had entered the wrong store.

My equipment was a homemade leather armor. It was a modified heirloom from my grandfather, which had been gathering dust in the basement. I replaced the decayed metal parts, polished the rusted components, and replaced the rotten leather, adjusting the size. I added subtle decorations and customized it to my liking.

It was a beginner-level item, but I had tried to use good materials. I was proud of its durability. Due to my build, it couldn't be too heavy, so it ended up being a weak leather armor. Still, I had hoped it would be good enough.

I never expected such a significant difference. I could only turn red at the unexpected situation. Despite the embarrassment, I desperately examined the products, price tags, and descriptions, careful not to draw attention from the staff. After finishing, I hurriedly left the store.

In the end, I didn't buy anything. Five gold coins were like a drop in the bucket. At least I had a grasp of the price of my target armor set. A full set of leather armor cost fifty gold coins.

Even with five gold coins, I felt miserable on my way back to the inn, just like when I was struggling with the lodging fees.