19
My Villains Chapter 19
5-2. Maintenance (4)
Surprised by the unexpected answer, I asked Ilton again.
"You don't sell crossbows? Why?"
"No, it's not that we don't sell them, we can't sell them. If we sold crossbows, both you and I would end up in jail, Mr. Phoenix."
"What?"
Ilton refused to sell the crossbow, citing kingdom law.
He said that selling items like spears, polearms, war bows, and crossbows to civilians required special permission.
I asked back, dumbfounded.
"Wait, you sell all sorts of dangerous things like armor, swords, axes, shields... But not crossbows? What kind of standard is that?"
"There's no use arguing with me about it... I'm just doing what I'm told."
"I'm not arguing, but- then what should we do?"
As I glanced back slightly, Ellen sighed, showing clear disappointment.
"Sigh, then there's no choice. Should I buy a hunting bow instead?"
"Have you ever shot a bow before?"
To my question, she answered with a rather proud expression.
"No, I haven't?"
I want to punch her philtrum.
"...But you're going to use a bow in a dark sewer?"
Actually, even when she said she was going to buy a crossbow, I was secretly worried that this wand stand might put an arrow in my back, but what? A bow? Is she trying to kill me?
I don't know much, but a bow doesn't seem like something that's easy to handle.
This Ellen, she must have gained some experience after escaping from the palace, so why is she saying such things?
"We can't go into the sewer empty-handed, can we?"
"No, why are you carrying a weapon you can't even handle? It'd be better to go bare-handed."
"I can learn from now on, can't I? It'll be necessary someday anyway."
What is she saying?
Looking at her stubborn expression, I let out a wry smile.
"Hey, you won't need things like bows once you can use magic anyway, so why bother learning? Instead of wasting effort..."
"How do you know that?"
As she shot back with a cold expression that was beyond stubborn, I let out a shrill voice in confusion.
"...Huh?"
"How do you know whether I'll need it or not?"
"Well, that's... If you use magic."
At my words, she bit her lip slightly and looked around. Then she sighed and spoke in a low voice.
"How much have you seen of me to keep talking such nonsense?"
"What are you talking about? Nonsense?"
"That I can use magic? That I'll become a great mage? Ha, don't say such easy things when you don't know anything."
"That's not what I meant."
"I'm a half-baked mage who can't even produce a magic spark. This is after training every single day since I was seven. Even my bloodline-"
She stopped speaking with a trembling sigh, as if trying to calm herself.
...Sigh, poor thing.
At times like this, I, as the adult, should yield first.
"Well, I didn't mean it with bad intentions, but I see I hurt your feelings. I'm sorry."
"...No, I got a bit excited. It's not something I should be angry at you about."
As the conversation between Ellen and me paused for a moment, Ilton, who had been watching us, intervened with an awkward smile.
"Um- Are you looking for a weapon to use in the sewer by any chance?"
"...Yeah. Why?"
"Then I have something I can recommend. How about a stone bow?"
What nonsense is this now?
"What, didn't you say you can't sell stone bows because of kingdom law?"
"Huh? No, we can't sell crossbows, but we can sell stone bows?"
"What?"
Saying that, Ilton brought a strange-looking object from the back of the workshop.
"What's this?"
The object he brought looked overall like a small crossbow, but the front part was curved downwards, and there was something like a leather pad in the middle of the string.
"It's a stone bow. Instead of arrows, you load it with stone bullets or iron pellets."
As Ilton explained, the weapon he brought was indeed a crossbow that shot stones, in other words, a stone bow.
"Wow, is this a slingshot? I didn't know something like this existed."
Seeing my interest, Ilton explained excitedly.
"It's small, easy to handle, and the ammunition is easy to get! Plus, it's surprisingly powerful. If it hits right, it can crack a skull."
"How do you use it?".
As Ellen showed interest and fiddled with the stone bow, Ilton earnestly taught her how to operate it.
"Place the back part against your stomach or thigh. Yes, pull the string taut. Yes, hook it there. Oh, don't shoot when the string is empty! It could break. Ah, you should always loosen the string when not in use. Here, here, and here need to be oiled occasionally... Oh, to aim-"
The stone bow was a small object, at most half the length of my arm, so even Ellen with her small build could handle it easily.
Watching Ellen eagerly pulling the stone bow, Ilton smiled and added, "Well, the range is short and it has no penetrating power, but it should easily kill the ratmen that come out in the sewers. Even if you miss... Well, with armor like what Mr. Phoenix is wearing, it shouldn't hurt much. Of course, not getting hit at all would be best, right?"
...I'm seriously intrigued.
Ellen must have liked it too, as she asked Ilton, "I'll take this. How much is it?"
"Hehe, it's been a while since this item found an owner... Just six silver coins, please."
Wait, what?
"Hey, six coins? This tiny thing costs the same as my shield? Is the string made of dragon sinew or something?"
When I asked accusingly, Ilton waved his hands with an embarrassed look.
"Calm down, Mr. Phoenix. Do you know how difficult this is to make? Besides, it was originally meant to be presented to the lord, so the body and handle are made of expensive sandalwood."
Come to think of it, the stone bow had a luxurious appearance with a deep brown color flowing, as if it had been varnished.
Wait, on closer inspection, there's even some leaf pattern engraved.
"...Hey, is this really for practical use?"
"Of course- it's for practical use."
Once again, Ilton was really a good guy.
He was also an innocent guy whose face clearly showed when something was bothering him. Keeping such a person as a receptionist, was this the characteristic sloppiness of affiliated companies?
Under my continued questioning, the guy sighed and confessed.
"Actually... It was originally made with the lord's wife in mind. I heard she likes bird hunting...."
"Hah, so it was meant for a noblewoman?"
"Yes. We suddenly lost the chance to present it when the city was surrounded... But it's still a well-made item. It's quite powerful too."
So it was for a noble's leisure sports.
But after hearing the story, Ellen seemed to like it even more. So without much bargaining, we acquired the stonebow for six silver coins.
Ilton also pleaded that if we haggled more, he wouldn't even recover the material costs, and threw in a pouch of rounded iron pellets as a bonus, so I pretended to give in. Well, as long as Ellen was happy with it.
As soon as we left the workshop, Ellen started picking up stones from the street.
Seeing her eyes sparkle was quite cute, so Gillius burst into hearty laughter.
"Haha, you're excited, aren't you?"
"I sure am."
"Still, you need to be careful. People make mistakes when they get too excited like that. You might end up cracking your skull if you're not careful."
I nodded at Uncle's concerned voice.
"I'll be careful. Well, at least it's good that her spirits seem lifted."
At my muttering, Gillius stroked his beard for a moment before speaking.
"This might be meddling, but..."
"...Yes?"
Gillius gestured slightly towards Ellen and asked. She was struggling with her cloak's front filled with stones.
"That young lady, why do you keep her as a companion when she can't even use magic? Is she really a noblewoman?"
"Well... As far as I know, she's not."
"Really? Both her looks and actions are exactly like a noble's...."
Then Gillius stroked his beard again and asked once more.
"Then, perhaps... Is it 'that kind' of relationship?"
"...Old man, what nonsense are you spouting? Can't you see? She's a child, a child."
"What child? She's all grown up. She's old enough to get married."
Gillius couldn't take his eyes off Ellen, who was crouching down. For a moment, I thought I saw something lecherous flash in his eyes.
...Did I see that wrong?
"Any chance you'd like to join our gang?"
"...Why so suddenly?"
"I'm saying this because the world's too harsh to be wandering around with a young lady who can't do anything."
Strange.
It's the same voice, but why does it suddenly feel unpleasant?
I forced a smile and replied.
"Uncle."
"Huh?"
"If you know it's meddling, then stop. It's starting to sound weird."
"...What do you mean weird? What did I..."
Gillius turned to look at me with a furrowed brow.
Then, as he met my expressionless face, he swallowed dryly with a stiff expression.
"Ahem, uh, right. Maybe I was a bit too meddlesome."
I stared at Gillius for a while as he cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
Just then, Ellen turned around and shouted.
"Hey!"
"Huh?"
"Come and carry this!" The kid seemed to have picked up every stone in the area and was struggling to even stand properly.
I clicked my tongue in disbelief.
"Hey, what are you doing? There are plenty of stones around the inn too."
"To get used to it, I need to shoot at least this much. Ah, hurry up and carry it."
"Ugh."
I took off the round shield I was carrying on my shoulder and received the pile of stones on it.
Well, she looks happy, so I might as well go along with it.
As soon as we arrived at the inn, Ellen got a few rotten wooden boards from Daria and set up a temporary target.
Then, after firing the stonebow a few times, she seemed to get the hang of it.
Twang, thwack!
"Oh!"
"I hit it!"
When the rotten wooden board shattered, the kid was overjoyed. No, she was actually jumping up and down with joy.
The stonebow must really be an easy weapon to handle.
Maybe Ellen has a talent for this? I wouldn't know since I've never equipped her with a ranged weapon in the game.
"Did you hit where you aimed?"
"No, it was a bit high. I should aim a little lower?"
Ellen continued practicing with a serious face.
It was nice to see her so excited like a grade-schooler with a new toy, after looking exhausted and weak for the past few days.
This feels good. If she can even do half a person's share, my burden will be greatly reduced. Plus, it's fortunate that her morale seems to have improved.
I checked our equipment and supplies with a lighter heart and took a rest.
Ellen kept shooting the stoneow until sunset, only stopping when her arms were too sore to even draw the string.
This kid seemed to have a bit of a foolish streak.
And unfortunately, we couldn't set out to explore the sewers the next day.