The timing was perfect. Leon used the walk to give Jeanne a crash course on the differences between the races.
"There." He tilted his chin. "See that kid over there? That's a werewolf, one of the beastfolk sub-races."
Jeanne followed his gaze. A lean, athletic boy passed by, the grey wolf ears twitching between his hair and the bushy tail swaying idly behind him broadcasting his lineage for all to see.
"'Beastfolk' is just the umbrella term," Leon explained. "Underneath that you've got dozens of branches: werewolves, cat people, boar folk, rabbit folk, tiger folk, and more. Depending on the branch, their stat profiles are wildly different. Werewolves and cat people are known for ridiculous Agility. Boar folk, tiger folk, and minotaur types pack terrifying Strength and stamina. Then you've got the rare fox folk, who lean toward Magic. The list goes on. Compared to us humans, who are decent at everything but exceptional at nothing, beastfolk have real natural advantages. Keen senses, powerful bodies, and some of them even have the potential for Beastification. So when gods are recruiting for their Familias, beastfolk are a hot commodity, second only to elves, who are the most coveted magic-oriented race."
"What about us humans, then?"
Leon sighed. "Humans? Middling, to put it diplomatically. Dead second-to-last if you're being blunt. The short version is we're better off than those below us but can't touch those above. At least we've got it better than the Pallums overall."
...
After beastfolk, he walked her through the other major races.
Take elves, for instance, the premier magic-wielding race. Even before the age of Familias, back in the Divine Era, elves could already use magic freely. Beyond the personal Magic they awakened through the Falna, and their terrifying tendency to fill all three magic slots, they could also learn "spirit magic" through study. Granted, learned magic was clunkier and weaker than Falna-granted Magic, but the point was that it worked. In gaming terms, it was nerfed but still viable.
"The Nine Hell I mentioned before, Riveria Ljos Alf of the Loki Familia, the strongest mage in all of Orario? She's an elf. And not an ordinary one, either. She's elven royalty, the highest-born among their kind."
Jeanne's eyes drifted to a handful of elves passing the other way. Even as a woman herself, she had to admit it: their looks and bearing were in a league of their own. Elegant, refined features. Those signature pointed ears. Tall, slender frames that moved with an effortless grace.
"Elves..." A note of genuine admiration colored her voice. "Worthy of their legend. Flawless in every way. Nature's favored children, and they live up to it."
Leon glanced sidelong at her, a small smile forming. Just as he'd expected, Jeanne's impression of elves matched his own almost exactly.
Of all the races, elves were his favorite. Born gorgeous, powerful, and tragic, the kind of combination no man alive could resist. Especially when the average elf woman was a solid nine-and-a-half out of ten.
He'd already made a quiet resolution: when the time came to expand the Familia, he'd be recruiting elves. Aggressively.
...
Adventurer Street surged with life around them. Squads of well-equipped Adventurers moved in tight groups of three and five everywhere they looked.
This was one of Orario's peak hours. Adventurers, craftsmen, merchants, and even gods out looking for entertainment all converged on this stretch. The nearby Adventurer Headquarters and Dian Cecht Familia Treatment Center only added to the noise and bustle.
"Here we are. Let's head in."
Leon stopped in front of a large storefront. Jeanne looked up at the sign she couldn't read, a flicker of self-consciousness crossing her face before she composed herself and followed him inside.
He noticed the brief embarrassment and had the good grace not to mention it. He simply waved off the approaching sales attendant and steered her straight toward the household goods section.
"We'll start with bedroom essentials, then grab toiletries."
And so the raid began.
Pillows and blankets, towels and toothbrushes, cups and plates, pots and pans, clothes for every season, accessories with a bit of flair... the two of them wove through aisle after aisle in full shopping-spree mode.
Somewhere along the way, something clicked. Jeanne, who'd been stiff and uncertain at first, slipped into a groove with alarming speed.
Standing beside her, watching her pick through items with growing enthusiasm, Leon found himself marveling.
She went from fumbling novice to expert shopper in thirty minutes flat.
The sight left him speechless.
So the shopping instinct really is hardwired. Even the Holy Maiden isn't immune.
Then again, wasn't he the same way? Put him in front of an empty patch of dirt and he'd start planning a garden before he could stop himself.
"Heh."
A knowing shake of the head. Some instincts ran deeper than any amount of change could reach.
"What are you mumbling about over there?" Jeanne turned around holding a black velvet ribbon with a butterfly bow, her expression curious. "Come look at this. What do you think of this hair ribbon?"
Leon gave it a glance. The understated black paired with a delicate bow carried a subtle playfulness, the kind that matched those rare flashes of personality Jeanne let slip through.
"It suits you," he said, and meant it.
"Then this is the one!" Jeanne nodded, satisfied, and turned to the attendant nearby. "Could you wrap this up for me, please? Thank you."
...
Essentials, clothes, and accessories secured, the two pushed their overflowing cart toward the fresh produce section.
Leon eyed the mountain of "spoils" piled on the cart and in their hands, silently grateful.
"Whoever had the bright idea to build a General Store like this deserves a medal. Makes everything so much easier."
Jeanne was right there with him, still riding the shopping high. "It really does! Back in my village, most trade was barter. Even in town, you'd have to run from shop to shop to shop."
Leon nodded with the conviction of someone who'd lived through the same hassle. "Still, the General Store can't do everything. For fresh produce, their premium selection is solid on variety, but the Free Market beats them on freshness, price, and range. Especially right before closing, when the vendors start slashing prices. You can save a good chunk of coin that way."
Hard-won wisdom from his leaner days. Back then, every bit of budgeting mattered. Discount items, off-season deals: those had been his first picks out of necessity.
"Practical life tips. Got it." Jeanne filed the information away with genuine attentiveness. "Shall we call it here for now, then? I think we've covered most of what we need."
"Let's check out!"
By the time they finally emerged from the General Store, shopping bags hung from every available limb and finger.
Fortunately, they were both Adventurers blessed with Falna. Their far-beyond-human endurance and physical conditioning turned what should have been a punishing load into a manageable haul. Without that edge, lugging all of this under the blazing midsummer sun would have dropped an ordinary person on the spot.
"First, we drop everything off at home," Leon said, mapping out the rest of the day. "Then we go get your weapons and armor custom-fitted. Supplies and consumables need restocking too, especially potions. We're running low. After that, the Free Market for fresh vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, spices, plus staples like rice, flour, and oil."
As Falna-blessed Adventurers, massive appetites came with the territory. Add daily high-intensity training and Dungeon expeditions on top of that, and the body's demand for fuel was staggering.
...
They hauled the day's conquest back home, stacked and sorted everything, then collapsed for a quick rest. Water, half an hour of downtime, and they were out the door again.
First District.
Leon led Jeanne to their destination with the ease of a regular customer and called out before he'd even crossed the threshold.
"Tsubaki! You busy? I'm here to bother you again!"
No need for formalities between friends.
From somewhere inside the workshop came Tsubaki's signature reply.
"Tch, you've been showing up awfully often. Don't tell me you finally made some coin and you're here to blow it all?"
"Relax. For a regular like you, I'll make sure the quality and the price both make you smile!"