Leisure Before the Adventure (2)
Starting an adventure anywhere requires a ton of preparation. As the group's porter, I needed even more prep than most.
We'd agreed to spend the four days after our first meeting gathering weapons and gear, so I'd been back and forth along the merchant district nonstop.
Each Hero had commissioned supplies from guilds or companies they had connections to, and I'd been running around picking them all up one by one.
Ashu had her cathedral duties on top of that, plus consultations with the Heroes. Figuring out which dungeon we'd hit and what everyone's abilities were was key to making sure we cleared it safely.
Which meant we'd spent a couple days living like a dual-income couple crammed into a one-room apartment.
Still, the day we went to pick up the jewelry I'd commissioned earlier, we wrapped up our errands early and met in the street.
On a clear day like this, a guy and girl meeting up in town could've passed for a date.
But I was on an errand for Inadia, hauling adventure supplies, so I had a backpack slung over my shoulders and bundles clutched in both hands.
This was exactly how the moms back home in the 20th century looked, baby on back, hitting the market.
I reached the square in front of the adventurer's guild where we were meeting, and there was Ashu, surrounded by folks who looked like adventurers.
Hard to say if they were recruiting for hunts or parties, but men, women, young, old—they were all chatting her up.
Makes sense; a precious healer like her is gold for any adventure.
Then she spotted me—looking like the epitome of a shabby porter.
"Thank you all for your interest. But I'm already a priestess with a mission. And speak of the devil—here's the one I'll be going with."
Ashu shouldered a backpack just like Shtai's—the one I'd been hauling—and came over, stashing the bundles from my hands into her own pack.
Then she grabbed my now-free hand and slipped us through the crowd.
Where the hell did she get a backpack like that? And damn, it kinda feels like couple's matching gear. Backpacks instead of clothes, but still.
Everyone around was staring at us like we'd grown second heads.
Ughhh, I'm so not used to this kinda attention! It's embarrassing!! Mortifying!!!
Come to think of it, Ashu really seems to love pulling stuff like this in public.
"Kuhahaha! The Sun God's saintess is perfect for my masterpiece!!"
Jasgiria, the monster parts craftsman, burst into booming laughter the second he saw Ashu, his bloodshot eyes popping wide.
Ashu's more famous than I thought.
And has this old man been up all night working? You okay health-wise, gramps??
The bracelet was a mithril band adorned with five pebble-sized gems—basilisk eyes, cut and faceted. And from the extra materials he'd bragged about using for his "masterpiece," it looked like he'd gone all out.
Even I, who knows jack about jewels, could tell at a glance this was something special.
"Hey, adventurer! What're you waiting for? Put this bracelet I made on your beautiful fiancée already! Nothing says style like doing it yourself!"
"Huh? I never said she was my fiancée…."
I trailed off when I saw Ashu's face.
I figured it'd be a shy smile or blush, but she was staring at the bracelet stone-faced, totally entranced.
First time I've seen her look that lost in something.
"What're you doing? The lady's waiting!! Hurry up and put it on!!"
"Ah, got it."
I'd planned to hand it over casually, but now it felt all solemn. Kinda scary, honestly.
As I took the bracelet and approached, Ashu naturally extended her left hand.
Slipping it on in front of the old man felt just like exchanging rings at a wedding with the officiant watching.
Why am I so tense?
I clasped the bracelet on her wrist.
"Kirgil, let's call this bracelet 'Light's Companion.'"
"Oho! Yeah! Perfect name. And look at it on you—feels just right, doesn't it?
This thing's priceless! Your man's hooked you up with insane materials! I'd never take it off if it were me!"
Once Ashu named it, the bracelet's label in my Status Window actually changed to Light's Companion.
So that's how unique items get their names.
Ashu showed me the bracelet, finally breaking her blank expression into a bright smile. A hint of tears in her eyes made her joy shine even more.
"Suits you perfectly. Feels good to give a gift that hits the mark."
That look she shot me for a split second… hmm.
She snapped back to her usual demure public face quick, but if we'd been back at the inn, things would've gotten wild.
Gotta stay on my toes.
I sent Ashu out on the pretense of settling accounts and organizing things.
Time for a serious one-on-one with Jasgiria, the craftsman.
"The gem I gave you was fist-sized, but only a thumbnail's worth made it into the bracelet.
This really your masterpiece? How much did you skim off exactly??"
"You idiot! Normal folks couldn't handle even one shard embedded in that thing! Each of those gems slowly absorbs, stores, and amplifies the wearer's mana—treasures like that!"
"So basically, you skimmed off a ton of that treasure."
"…Eh, it just kinda happened. You promised—leftovers are mine!"
"Sigh, fine. Guess I'll take future basilisk eyes elsewhere."
"…What!? You can get more of that stuff!?"
I pulled another basilisk trophy from my pack—not an eye this time, but smoked meat.
"Wh-what's this!? What an odd flavor! Feels like mana… and it's giving me energy…. No way!"
Figures basilisk meat has some effect too.
Probably why I'm so resistant to paralysis now.
Anyway, I wasn't handing it over for experiments. Hiding the extra eye was just to tilt negotiations my way.
"Hunt 'em enough, and you get to where you can butcher one for snacks.
Didn't bother with the eyes since you can't eat 'em, but this time I grabbed one just in case."
"Hmph… I see. You win. Chasing pocket change when you can bring more of those eyes would be stupid. Name your price."
Jasgiria conceded with a hearty laugh. Truth be told, he could've just swallowed the eye and bolted. No cops here, and inter-territory crime's a hassle—best you'd get is hiring an assassin.
Still, the guy's made something awesome that made Ashu that happy. I want him crafting similar gifts for the others too—Agnes, Ferio, Reshi, Lirisa, Ragi, even Su.
"Hold up—that Agnes? The one I know? A grand witch like her doesn't need trinkets. But she'd covet these eyes for sure."
Good to know. Mental note.
Anyway, I commissioned jewelry for the rest. Can't make 'em all identical or Ashu might get jealous after loving hers so much, so tone down the flash—focus on practical this time.
"Tch, minus two, the rest are just decorative, huh. Fine."
"By the way, those shavings and powder got any use?"
"…Hmph, since you're buddies with Agnes, you can know."
Jasgiria lit his pipe and explained.
"Mana's invisible, intangible—but you can sense it, use it.
Trained mages keep it in their bodies; enchanters bind it to weapons. But it's still formless. You just feel it's there and wield it.
These eyes? Mana crystallized into solid form. Touchable, workable—even edible!
Get how insane that is?
The scraps? Refine 'em right, and you've got medicine!"
Honestly, lost on me. Mana's just that mysterious force splitting my old world from this one.
But clearly, gramps has sunk serious research into this.
"That's valuable info already. You sure it's cool spilling it to me?"
"I'm grateful to you, kid. I've chased dragon scales—pure mana essence—but never found anything close.
Too scared to even approach a dragon anyway. Suicide.
Bring more like this! Grill up extra meat! I'll share my craft and knowledge gladly. Pick up the other jewelry in a week."
I handed over a few more packs of basilisk jerky and left the workshop. That stuff must pack a punch—Jasgiria's bleary, bloodshot face perked right up after a bite. Old folks swear by health foods, but visible results like that?
Even wandering the forest, it'd pep me up—but I chalked it up to not eating meat in ages.
Hmm, taurine or something in there? Or better.
Next stop after the workshop: the merchant guild.
Time to mail the letters I'd written to Prosek and Agnes Village.
Ashu walking beside me was so prim it was making me tense.
Before, she'd bottled up negativity inside while playing the pure saintess outside—felt like she had a dark side.
Now it was flipped. She was desperately holding back pure joy.
Times like this, even holding hands feels risky.
I'd scouted the place ahead: 'Piterio Merchant Company' with a sign below reading 'Rauga.'
Looked like a branch office. Usually the big city's the head office and outskirts are branches, so maybe special circumstances.
We stepped inside.
"This way for the lady."
Even with our embarrassing matching backpacks, they rolled out the VIP carpet for Ashu alone.
They know her saintess-princess face, no doubt.
"Servants wait over there."
Classic treatment. Not mad, though—expected it.
If I play this right….
"Servant? Did I introduce him as such?
How regrettable that the master of this house would leap to such rude assumptions."
Didn't see this Ashu coming.
I was about to say it was fine, but she blocked me with her arm and flashed her ring at the owner.
"This is Kirgil, the man who's sworn a vow of light with me—the Hero of Prosek.
If you're from Piterio's, you'd best remember his face and name over mine from here on.
And any insult to him, I'll take as one to me."
Clean, sharp response.
Like someone who's handled public roles as princess and saintess—message delivered precisely, with just enough authority to stick.
The owner apologized profusely and tried ushering us to the VIP room.
I pulled a bundle of letters from my pack.
"Not here to shop. Wanted to ask you to send these to Piterio's eldest daughter, Lirisa."
And one more neatly wrapped box.
"Deliver this to Agnes Village's chief. Mention it's from Piterio, and she'll know."
The box held two basilisk eyes.
Prepped right after the workshop chat. Inside were letters for Reshi, Agnes, and Ferio too, of course.
He promised fastest delivery, rubbed his hands, and saw us off politely.
Hope it's a happy surprise for Agnes.
Alright, errands done. Time to head back to the inn, just me and Ashu….
My mood right now? If my clothes had a zipper, I'd yank it to my chin and button up tight.
"My, what rude thoughts are crossing your mind, Kirgil?"
Guess I was showing my nerves. She forced my head around to face her.
Braced for a scary glare, but Ashu met me with a warm, sunny smile—totally at ease.
"Sorry. Lately I've asked so much of you, and it's made me anxious—wanting constant reassurance.
Can't blame me… just the other day, you were plotting to run far from me!"
She's reeling me in with words now.
Coaxing or threatening? Can't tell.
"Ended up throwing tantrums your way, and it must've burdened you. But no need anymore.
Not with your heart poured into this bracelet."
Ashu cradled the bracelet lovingly.
I'd given it wanting to return the favor for all she'd given me.
Ughhh….
"You're so thrilled, that's what's making me uneasy.
Feels like I bought your feelings with a gem. Kinda uncomfortable."
"Heehee, I bask in the sun god's light—no mere sparkle sways me. This bracelet holds your radiant light for me."
Ashu smiled plainly and slipped her hand into mine. The gentle touch screamed she truly didn't want to burden me.
Yeah. Don't overthink. She's finally got enough peace of mind to consider me more.
…But that just makes me wanna unzip the one I'd mentally pulled all the way up.
Human hearts are profound.