As I arrived at my dormitory room, Lisbeth from next door happened to come out as well.
Lisbeth stared wide-eyed at the bags I was carrying, asking what was all this.
"Sister Leona made me so many clothes! I won't have to worry about not having clothes to wear for now."
"Hmm… Miss Leona, she…" Uh, well… Lisbeth's eyes seemed to sharpen a little… She probably wasn't really jealous, was she?
I don't think it's that stage yet… but she quickly regained her composure, saying, "Let me see," and followed me into the room.
While we were taking out the clothes one by one and organizing them, Lisbeth mentioned what Leona had said earlier, and she murmured with a slightly bitter tone:
"I see… She clearly liked those clothes, what a pity. Miss Leona's taste is usually quite good."
Lisbeth hasn't seen the second floor yet, has she?
I really want her to try on the clothes on the second floor… Can we go take a look before closing time?
Thinking this as I packed my clothes, Ars informed me that he was investigating the dungeon.
"Hmm. That's true. It's about time to focus on adventurer activities."
Taking advantage of this conversation, I decided to visit a blacksmith and buy some equipment, so I left the inn with Lisbeth.
............ After visiting several blacksmith shops, most of them looked hesitant, saying it would be difficult to forge equipment suitable for my size.
The reason was that making armor suitable for my size using molds or tools was both troublesome and laborious.
While it wasn't entirely impossible, the fact that they refused because of the hassle and effort… Later, one blacksmith said that although it would take some time, it was still possible to make it, and they even measured my body.
Thank goodness.
I almost had to run around naked without any protection.
I said that with my physique, rather than wearing a full-body, tight-fitting suit of armor, I'd prefer armor with better mobility. The stern-faced blacksmith nodded and noted my order.
Afterwards, he explained the materials and the armor to be made, but it all sounded like common metals typically used in adventurer armor, so I asked him to decide for himself.
After the shopkeeper took notes, he told me the price was a deposit of 1 gold coin, with 5 more gold coins to be paid upon pickup.
Armor made from the same materials would only cost 2-3 gold coins… but since it was a custom order, I couldn't bring myself to ask for a discount.
But when I heard that there were too many orders and the wait was two or three months, I felt a bit overwhelmed. Then he said that if I only needed armor to protect my forearms and chest, he had some in stock, and showed me a metal plate gauntlet and a strappy leather armor.
"How is it? This should be usable, right?"
"Leather armor is a bit unusual in a blacksmith's shop. Do you process leather too?"
"I just get leather and line the inside with metal plates. Most blacksmiths do this."
Oh… I thought it was just plain leather, but the inside was covered with tiny metal plates.
The shopkeeper quickly draped the armor over my shoulders… it was definitely too small. My abs were showing a bit. But since custom armor would take so long, I had to make do with this.
Then he adjusted the arm guards, tapped them a few times from the inside, and wrapped them around my arms. The elbows were also a bit exposed, but it was better than nothing.
"It would be even better with shin guards, but that would be a bit difficult for your legs."
Hmm… armoring those retractable legs is indeed a headache. Just the thought of custom-made armor for those legs suddenly made the price seem understandable.
Just as I was about to check out weapons, I discovered that most of the decent ones cost over 10 gold coins. I couldn't afford them now, and even the lord's reward felt like a burden.
But the blacksmith looked me over and said that if it was my first time using a weapon, I should use a cheap one to get used to the feel before finding a suitable one. That made sense, so I bought a cheap sword that was less than a meter long.
So, the armor, gauntlets, and sword cost a total of 1 gold coin and 20 silver coins. After paying a 1 gold coin deposit for the custom armor, I left the blacksmith's shop.
"I thought it would only take a week or two... but thankfully I have equipment I can use immediately. I almost had to go into the dungeon empty-handed."
"Hmm... but I'm still a little uneasy? I need to prepare more recovery potions and healing items."
"But the management office should assign us a suitable dungeon, right? I'm thinking of just using it as a way to familiarize myself with the weapons, that should be fine?"
"Compared to that, the expenses are really painful. Putting aside the custom-made item, even this cheap leather armor and sword are priced in gold coins."
"Armor and weapons are usually this price." Lisbeth's wand was a pretty good one she received upon graduating from magic school, so it didn't cost her anything, while Ars got a cheap weapon from the adventurer training center, which he supposedly upgraded to a much better one before meeting me.
Even Ars's seemingly ordinary sword cost about 5 gold coins.
"Hmm... adventurers earn a lot, but their expenses are also high." In Esendia, stories of penniless people suddenly becoming successful adventurers are rare.
"The church contacted us this morning too. They said to collect the commission when it's convenient." Speaking of which, I haven't collected Paul's commission yet. It was 5 gold coins, wasn't it? Maybe I'll collect it when I go to call Claire?
While chatting with Lisbeth and carrying the armor, I suddenly spotted a jewelry shop.
...Lisbeth's birthday is coming up soon. I have less than 5 gold coins left... Buying a suitable piece of jewelry shouldn't be a problem.
But what kind of jewelry should I buy...? For some reason, I noticed Lisbeth's earrings. No. Those aren't earrings, they're studs.
Small green studs that don't quite suit Lisbeth.
Although they're not very eye-catching, every time I see them, I feel they don't match Lisbeth at all; they're really tacky earrings that I don't like... Perfect. They'd make a nice birthday present.
I grabbed Lizbeth's hand and pulled her into the jewelry store.
"Lizbeth. Your birthday's coming up soon, right?"
"Huh? Wait a minute. Giving jewelry from a store like this as a birthday present is a bit... I was just joking last time!"
"Oh dear. It's alright. Didn't you say you were preparing an expensive gift? Even though I didn't get paid, I still have enough money for some jewelry."
As we entered the store, a young-looking saleswoman approached us.
Was she the owner's daughter?
Lizbeth seemed hesitant to enter until we were inside, but once we saw the glamorous jewelry, she looked around the store with considerable interest.
She wasn't entirely uninterested.
The saleswoman was still surprised to see me, but when I pointed to Lizbeth and said I was looking for earrings that would suit her, she gave me a welcoming smile and took out various earrings from a drawer-like area to display them.
"Hmm... I think this one would suit Lizbeth very well."
I placed an eye-catching red earring near Lizbeth's ear.
A magnificent, large garnet-like ruby adorned the earring, with a short chain of smaller gemstones dangling below. The pendant ended with a smaller but more ornate ruby.
The overall design perfectly complemented Lisbeth's image, adding a touch of glamour.
"It's really pretty… but it looks a bit too extravagant, a little overwhelming…"
"This is just right for Lisbeth." Saying this, she asked the shop assistant the price, who replied two gold coins and explained the various effects of the earring.
It seemed this wasn't an ordinary jewelry shop, but rather a shop selling magical items with various functions.
Lisbeth felt pressured by the price, and upon seeing the earring's design, she showed a hint of resistance.
"This requires piercing. I've never had my ears pierced before…"
"It's okay to get them pierced now, right? There are very few styles you can wear without piercings."
"Hmm… getting piercings is still a bit…" While getting huge piercings or multiple piercings at once is indeed exaggerated, this kind of normal-sized piercing is quite normal for a girl, isn't it?
Seemingly sharing my thoughts, the shop assistant also started recommending ear piercings, adding various persuasive arguments to convince Lisbeth.
Lisbeth, listening to my conversation with the shop assistant, turned to me as if seeking confirmation.
"Really? Two gold coins for a birthday present is too much..."
"It's alright. Consider it my thanks."
I quietly leaned close to Lisbeth's ear and whispered in a voice only she could hear.
"Helping me satisfy my sexual desires every night, this is actually quite cheap, isn't it? I'll give you more after I collect my payment tomorrow."
Hearing this, Lisbeth blushed and stared at me, then spoke to the shop assistant as if making a decision.
"Then I'd like to try getting my ears pierced..." Lisbeth took off her earring and walked towards the shop assistant, briefly gazing at the small green earring in her hand.
Her expression and movements seemed hesitant. Could it be a gift from Ars?
"Is that something you cherish? But it doesn't quite suit Lisbeth's appearance."
"...Ah, no. It's just...a gift from someone..."
She said, putting away the earrings and following the shop assistant into the back room. The shop assistant held a tool with a piercing needle to Lisbeth's ear and said.
"It'll sting a little~"
"Mmm...!" After the shop assistant finished piercing her ear and putting on the earrings, she placed a mirror in front of Lisbeth. Looking at her face, Lisbeth said shyly.
"...It's quite pretty..."
"Because Lisbeth is naturally beautiful."
Lisbeth chuckled at my words, her face turning bright red. The shop assistant, witnessing this, added gratefully.
"It really suits you. Mythical Beast Master has excellent taste. Your girlfriend looks even prettier now!"
"Girlfriend, no..."
"Ah, my apologies! It's just that the atmosphere makes it seem like..."
The shop assistant calling me her girlfriend based on my appearance was a bit surprising. But being called my girlfriend, this shop assistant is quite eloquent.
Seeing Lisbeth so shy, I simply paid two gold coins for the earrings.
"You need to wear them for about two weeks after getting your ears pierced. And you need to disinfect them from time to time..." While explaining the precautions to Lisbeth after her ears were pierced, I handed her the earring case and a small note with the instructions.
On the way back to my residence from the shop, Lisbeth murmured.
"I must continue drinking tea..."
"Why? Is there a problem?" Seeing my question, Lisbeth stared at me intently, shook her head, and smiled.
"No. It's alright. Thank you for the gift, Shimo."
After you become my female, I will give you an even more precious gift. Look forward to it.
I thought to myself, Lisbeth and I smiled at each other, and walked into the dormitory.