Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Most of It Is a Bug
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"Lia."
Before going to bed, Ian called out to Lia, who was killing time in the break room.
Lia set down the book she had been reading for a moment and looked at Ian.
"What's up at this hour, Captain?"
She had adapted well to the mercenary corps by now.
Ian had given her permission to just keep doing things her way, so when no other members were around like right now, Lia spoke to him casually.
"Do you have anything going on tomorrow?"
"Not really..."
Lia answered Ian's question without much thought.
Equipment maintenance was done, any errands outside were handled, and after that, the schedule was just to rest until a new commission came in.
With time to spare, Ian spoke as if it worked out perfectly.
"Then let's head out together at dawn tomorrow."
"...!"
At the word "outing," Lia flinched in surprise.
Unlike her casual tone just moments ago, the now tense Lia asked back.
"...At dawn?"
"Gotta leave early around here—fewer people that way. Prefer a different time?"
"No... Got it. I'll get ready."
Lia nodded with a resolute expression.
Once Ian turned to leave after setting the plans, Lia let out a heavy sigh, her face grim.
...Finally, the moment she had been dreading had arrived.
Biting her lip, Lia nodded stiffly.
Having spent the night half-awake, Lia roused herself as the promised time approached.
An "outing" at dawn...
Ever since Ian discovered her little hobby, she had steeled herself for a moment like this someday.
Lia approached her wardrobe, hesitated briefly, then stripped off her clothes one by one. She grabbed a plain robe.
In nothing but her underwear with just the robe draped over her, Lia left the room, her expression determined.
It was time for her first outing with Ian.
As Lia descended the stairs, Ian was already waiting on the first floor.
"There you are? Let's go."
Lia nodded quietly and followed behind Ian.
The slightly chilly dawn air brushed across her face.
Lia shivered with a thrilling excitement she hadn't felt in ages, facing the early morning breeze.
Come to think of it, after joining Ian's Mercenary Corps, she hadn't gone out at dawn even once.
There hadn't been time for it, and with her surroundings changing so suddenly, the thought hadn't crossed her mind.
More than anything, living with fellow members made it tough to slip out unnoticed and natural.
A dawn stroll after so long.
Not her usual route, not her usual hour.
The unfamiliar vibe stirred her heart even more.
Where could he be taking me...?
Lia wondered as she trailed silently behind Ian.
Moments later, the two entered the shopping district lined with stores.
"...?"
The shopping district, already prepping for the day's business, bustled with people even at this hour.
Lia belatedly realized they weren't heading somewhere deserted.
If anything, the number of passersby was growing.
The flustered Lia hurriedly asked Ian.
"Um, Captain? Where exactly are we headed?"
"Hm? Armor shop. Getting you fitted for a new suit."
"......"
Only then did Lia realize Ian's "outing"... was a literal outing, not that kind.
Lia's face drained of color in an instant.
Ian reached the street clustered with armor shops and slowly scanned the storefronts.
Stores were opening one by one, with customers already milling about.
Sticking close behind Ian, Lia asked.
"New armor out of nowhere?"
"Light armor's too flimsy for you now."
Even among frontliners, gear needs varied by role.
Light armor was nimble and quick, but it left you wide open to damage.
In their current party, Lia was up front tangling with monsters, soaking hits steadily. They needed to prioritize defense over a bit of speed.
"You'll be eating more attacks going forward, so let's switch you to medium."
"Medium armor's... su-super expensive."
"It's fine. Got payout coming from this job, and your role's only gonna get bigger."
Ian browsed the armors as he spoke.
Given Lia's heavy use of mana and elemental attacks, something with matching enchantments would be ideal—but those were rare, so it meant taking time to hunt one down.
Behind Ian casually window-shopping, Lia—in just her underwear under a single robe—glanced anxiously at the swelling crowds.
Racking her brain for a natural escape, she tried persuading Ian that she didn't need new armor right now.
"...Ah."
"Hey there."
"Fancy running into you here."
To top it all off.
Rebecca, passing by, spotted them and approached with a greeting.
Being the guild's biggest shopping hub, bumping into guild folk was par for the course—but now, of all times.
Catching Rebecca's eye, Lia flinched and looked away.
Rebecca chuckled, clearly amused.
"Ditched me saying no intro needed, but you joined up after all?"
"......"
Lia had no reply, her face flushing as she stared at the ground.
From the current mess to how she'd ended up in Ian's corps... she couldn't explain a single thing properly to Rebecca.
Rebecca seemed to chalk it up to Lia being embarrassed and dodging her gaze.
She didn't appear to find Lia's awkwardness off-putting.
"She at least listens?"
"Yeah. Gets along great with the crew."
While Lia shrank into a corner avoiding Rebecca's eyes, Ian and Rebecca chatted extensively about her.
Just a chance encounter—Rebecca would move on soon, Lia figured, biding her time.
But Ian and Rebecca launched into a deep dive on Lia's gear instead.
"Switching out her armor."
"To medium? Yeah, I figured that'd suit her."
"Thinking something like this."
"Won't it cramp her movement too much?"
The mood was shifting ominously.
Cold sweat trickled down Lia's spine.
"Best thing's have her try it on and test the mobility."
"Lia. Come try this."
"......"
A bead of sweat dripped from Lia's brow.
The greatest crisis of her mercenary career.
Just then, a shout from the opposite direction threw the district into chaos.
"Thief!"
Every head on the street whipped around.
Ian and Rebecca's gazes flicked that way too, briefly.
Lia seized the opening and bolted.
"Hm?"
"Lia?"
Realizing she'd vanished in that split-second distraction, Ian and Rebecca traded puzzled glances.
"Th-this way, I think..."
Dashing into an alley, Lia followed her hazy memory deeper in.
Just in case.
Really just in case—for some emergency...
She'd secretly stashed some things in a few spots around this street.
"There...!"
True, it was on the ground—anyone could've stumbled on it and taken it without raising eyebrows—but luckily, Lia's target remained hidden.
In the deserted alley, a spot out of sight, Lia pulled out the pouch she'd tucked away so well.
Emergency clothes.
The garb inside the sealed pouch was, thankfully, still serviceable.
Sighing in relief, Lia hurriedly changed right there in the alley.
Survived...
Just slipping into some proper clothes felt like cheating death.
-Tadak!
Right then, Lia heard footsteps charging into the alley.
Rebecca on her tail? Her spine went ice-cold—but now dressed, she feared nothing.
"...Tch, who the hell are you!"
"...Who are you?"
But the intruder was a total stranger to Lia.
The thug skidded to a halt at the sight of her, flustered, then whipped out a small dagger from his tunic and menaced her with it.
"Outta my way—don't get in the way!"
He looked desperate, like someone hot on his heels, and lunged straight at Lia blocking his path.
Lia was unarmed, but his moves were laughably sloppy.
The blade never came close, and he ate a counter that slammed him into the alley wall.
"...What the hell is this chick?"
As Lia eyed the crumpled thug with mild bewilderment, belated shouts of pursuit echoed into the alley.
"Over here—ah! It's this bastard!"
A merchant-looking guy rushed up, pointing at the downed thug and yelling. The soldier behind him bound the man.
"Thanks a ton! Thought he'd slipped us for good!"
"No biggie—he just charged me outta nowhere..."
The merchant profusely thanked Lia before heading off.
She brushed off his offer of a reward with a weary face, finally shaking him loose.
By then, Ian and Rebecca had sidled up and spoke up.
"Still got that fire in you, huh."
"Ah, Re-Rebecca?"
Rebecca chuckled, reminiscing on rookie Lia's wild days.
She'd sworn to prove her mettle as a merc, rack up fame, and earn a knighthood.
Hence her foul temper—but zero tolerance for crap like this.
Rebecca had liked that spark and taught her how to throw down.
As Rebecca beamed nostalgically, Lia—catching the misunderstanding—awkwardly looked away.
"C'mon. I'll buy the armor."
"...It's pretty pricey, though?"
"Call it a joining gift for my protégé."
Rebecca clapped Lia on the shoulder with a grin.
The shopping dragged on longer than expected. Back at base, a bizarre message window popped up before Ian's eyes.
◆ Special Event #31
Walked with mercenary [Lia].
- Desire decreased by 37.
- Shame experience increased.
"...?"
What the—
A bug?
Ian frowned and tilted his head.
Meanwhile, a flushed Lia sighed in relief as she headed up to her room.