Dungeon Preparation!
I arrived at the door to my room in the inn's dormitory, and right on cue, Lizbet emerged from the room next door. She spotted the bags stuffed full in both my hands and widened her eyes, asking what all that was.
"Lianna noona made a ton of clothes for me. Thanks to her, I won't have to worry about outfits for a while."
"Hng. Lianna..."
Hmm... Lizbet's gaze sharpened a bit... She's not actually jealous, is she? I didn't think we'd reached that stage yet...
But she quickly reverted to her usual look and said she wanted to see them, so she came into my room with me. As we unpacked and sorted the clothes one by one, I told her about what Lianna had said today, and Lizbet replied in a slightly bitter tone.
"Yeah... It's a shame, since you liked those clothes. Lianna's got pretty good taste."
Lizbet hasn't seen the second-floor stuff yet, right? I want to try those on her... Maybe we can go before the shop closes?
With those thoughts, we finished organizing and putting away the clothes. I mentioned that Als was out scouting dungeons.
"Yeah. It's about time we focused on adventurer work."
Speaking of which, we decided to check out the smithies to gear up, so Lizbet and I headed out of the inn.
We checked out several smithies, but most turned me down when it came to making gear that fit my build. They said their frames and tools made it tough and annoying to craft usable armor for my size. I figured it wouldn't be impossible, but getting rejected for being too much hassle...
Then one smithy said it could be done, though it'd take time, and measured me up. Thank goodness. I nearly had to go into the dungeon buck naked.
Since my build is what it is, I told them I'd prefer something mobile over a full set of clunky plate armor squeezing every inch of me. The somewhat stern-faced owner nodded and took down my order. He explained the materials and the armor afterward, but it sounded like standard adventurer-grade metals, so I just asked him to handle it.
Once he'd jotted everything down, he said the deposit was 1 gold coin, and pickup would be 5 more. Armor made from the same stuff usually went for 2-3 gold... Custom work, so hard to haggle.
But when he mentioned the backlog meant it'd take a couple months, my heart sank again—until he showed me some arm guards and a chest piece I could use right away: plain iron bracers and a leather chest guard laced up with straps.
"What do you think? This should hold you over decently."
"Kinda weird seeing leather armor in a smithy. You handle leather too?"
"Just bring in the hide and line the inside with plates like this. Most smithies do at least that much."
Oh... I thought it was plain leather, but inside it's lined with small iron plates all fitted together. The owner draped the chest piece over me... Still a bit small. My abs are peeking out. But if custom takes that long, beggars can't be choosers.
He fitted the arm guards next, hammered them a bit from the inside, and strapped them on. They leave a bit past the elbows, but better than nothing.
"Greaves would be nice, but those legs look tricky."
Yeah... Fitting armor to these reverse-jointed legs is a pain. No wonder custom costs extra.
I checked out weapons next, but anything that looked decent was 10+ gold—way out of my league, even with the lord's reward. The owner noticed and advised that for a first-timer, I should grab cheap stuff to find what fits my hands until I get used to fighting.
Sounded solid, so I bought a cheap sword just shy of a meter long. Chest guard, arm guards, and sword came to 1 gold and 20 silver. Paid the 1 gold deposit for the custom set and left the smithy.
"Thought it'd take 1-2 weeks tops... But at least I've got something usable now. Nearly went into the dungeon bare."
"Mm, still feels iffy. We should stock up heavy on healing potions and salves."
The guild management office assigns dungeons to match our level, so it shouldn't be too brutal. Just think of it as practice to get the hang of weapons?
"More than that, the spending hurts. Not even custom—just cheap crap, and it's gold coin territory."
"That's how armor and weapons are."
Lizbet's staff was a solid graduation gift from magic school, so no cost there. Als got junk from adventurer training, then upgraded to something decent before meeting me. Even his plain-looking sword was about 5 gold.
Hmm... Adventuring's high-risk, high-reward. Going from broke to big-shot ain't easy in Essentia.
"Oh, and the church called this morning. Said to swing by whenever for the quest reward."
Right, Baul's quest payout. 5 gold, I think. Can grab it when I go fetch Klea.
As we headed back to the inn chatting about the armor, an accessory shop caught my eye.
...Lizbet's birthday's coming up. I've got just shy of 5 gold left... A nice accessory should be fine. Question is what trinket...
Her earrings stand out weirdly. Wait, not earrings—studs? Small green studs that don't suit her at all. Barely noticeable, but whenever I spot them, they look tacky and out of place on Lizbet... Perfect.
I grabbed Lizbet's hand and pulled her into the accessory shop.
"Liz, birthday soon, right?"
"Huh? Wait, no. Trinkets from a place like this as a gift? That was just a joke last time!"
"Nah, it's fine. Said I'd get you something pricey, remember? Haven't claimed my reward yet, but I've got enough for one accessory."
We stepped inside, greeted by a young woman who seemed like the owner's daughter. Lizbet resisted up to the door but eyed the flashy baubles with clear interest once in. She's into it.
The clerk startled at my looks as usual, but I pointed to Lizbet and said we were browsing earrings that'd suit her. She smiled professionally and pulled out various pairs from drawers.
"Hmm... This'd look good on Liz."
I held a striking red pair to her ear. Big garnet-like red gems dangling, with a short chain of tiny stones below, ending in a smaller flashy red gem. Flashy yet perfect for Lizbet's vibe—amps up her allure.
"Pretty... but too gaudy, kinda overwhelming."
"Suits you just fine."
Asked the price: 2 gold. She explained effects—not just accessories, more like magic tools.
Lizbet balked at the cost, then the style.
"Gotta pierce for these. Never done my ears..."
"Perfect chance. Lots of cute stuff needs piercings."
"Nng... Piercings are iffy..."
Not like huge gauges or multiples—just standard studs. Fine for any girl, right? The clerk chimed in, pushing piercings and sweet-talking Lizbet.
After our pitch, Lizbet glanced at me for confirmation.
"Really okay? 2 gold for a birthday gift is too much..."
"Totally. Consider it my thanks."
I leaned in, whispering just for her: "You're handling my urges every night—this is a steal. I'll spoil you more after tomorrow's reward."
Her face flushed as she stared, then nodded firmly to the clerk.
"Then... pierce and fit them?"
She removed her studs and approached, pausing to gaze at the small green ones in her hand. Hesitant expression—Als's gift?
"Attached to 'em? Still doesn't suit your looks."
"...Nah, just... a gift."
She pocketed them and followed the clerk inside. The clerk brought a piercing tool, pressed it to Lizbet's ear.
"Little sting~"
"Eek...!"
Pierced and fitted, clerk held up a mirror. Lizbet checked herself, blushing.
"...Looks good..."
"'Cause you're gorgeous, Lizbet."
She smirked and flushed at my words. Clerk piled on: "Suits you perfectly. Divine Beast has good taste—your girlfriend looks even more stunning!"
"G-Girlfriend? No..."
"Sorry! The vibe just..."
Calling her my girlfriend despite my looks? This kid's got charm.
I paid 2 gold amid Lizbet's shyness.
"Keep 'em in for 2 weeks post-piercing. Disinfect occasionally—with this..."
She handed over a case, care instructions, and tips. As we left for the inn, Lizbet muttered:
"Gotta wear 'em constantly..."
"Why? Problem?"
She stared, then shook her head with a smile.
"Nah. It's fine. Thanks for the gift, Sema."
Once you're fully my bitch, I'll get you even pricier stuff—look forward to it.
I kept that to myself, and we entered the inn grinning at each other.