Exorcism Tools and the Protagonist's Childhood Friend
Ha~ It's really nice to have money now, so my heart feels at ease.
The exorcist gave me a substantial reward as if it was only right for me to receive it.
Apparently, they half-blackmailed me, saying, "Did you really not know there was a dangerous ghost in the client?"
For me, that amount was enormous, enough to make my eyes pop out.
Thanks to that, I walked into a store with my newly plump wallet.
'So this is the store where the protagonist also used to get his cheap gear.'
It's a store specializing in exorcism tools.
Don't judge it by its hidden location or shabby building.
Stores like this, with good value for money and decent quality, are rare even if you search the entire game.
Normally, players had to go through various annoying quests and battles to get info from here.
But since I already know, I just came here without any hassle.
'This is a perk of being a reincarnator. Even though being reincarnated is unfair, I deserve this much benefit?'
The reason I came here was, of course, to buy exorcism-specific equipment.
When I looked up the rules, it said that personal equipment could be brought to Cheonjihae's practical exam.
'If I bring something too overpowered, the evaluation score might drop in reverse. But that's not a story for me, a commoner.'
I don't know what kind of danger will come up in the practical exam.
At the very least, I thought I should prepare at least one piece of equipment to protect my body.
'Actually, if it weren't for the money, I wouldn't have been able to dream of this...'
Fortunately, thanks to the exorcist giving me the reward, I was in a financially comfortable situation.
I entered the store with a light heart.
"Welcome~"
The store owner gave a formal greeting from the counter.
The owner here isn't particularly kind.
If I have to say, maybe they just don't care about business.
They didn't even know what kind of item it was or where it was located.
'Finding the item and deciding whether to buy it is all the customer's job.'
In a place stacked with all kinds of miscellaneous items, that's not easy.
Of course, that's not a story for me.
Because as a reincarnator, I had already decided what item to buy.
Exactly the defensive equipment item that the protagonist gets as a must-have in the early game!
It has a big effect of increasing early survival rate.
It was a honey item that helps struggling users.
'If I'm not careful, I might steal the protagonist's luck... Well, for now, I need to survive first.'
Originally, that talent + hard work guy wouldn't have needed to worry about such things; he'd be eating and living well with his heroines including his childhood friend.
With my nose longer than Pinocchio's, I think I can afford to worry about such a guy.
"Surprisingly deep inside."
The store had the feel of a large antique shop.
Various exorcism tools and ghost-related items were piled up.
Among them, there were some that felt unpleasant, like cursed dolls.
'There are even people who collect such things with interest. Are all exorcists abnormal?'
It's a taste I, as an ordinary person, can't understand.
"Anyway, let's hurry up and buy and go back."
Looking at the eerie items made me uneasy again for no reason.
Actually, even stores aren't always safe.
Among them, there were many items that were truly cursed or had evil spirits attached.
'Ah, here it is.'
The defensive amulet that the protagonist equips as standard in the early game.
It's a small but effective item with low price and definite effect.
'I decided on this amulet! From today on, you are my lifeline!'
At that moment, when I reached out to the amulet.
"Eh?"
"Ah."
Someone was trying to grab the amulet at the same time as me.
When I turned my head, there was a woman who looked gentle, with quite large breasts.
The moment I confirmed her face, my heart stopped.
Because it was a face I knew well.
'Mi Nahye.'
The childhood friend of the protagonist, who had been together since childhood.
At the same time, she was also the protagonist's most reliable supporter in the early game.
'Oh, I came running as soon as money came in, thinking Mi Nahye might buy it first.'
The reason the protagonist got this amulet was because Mi Nahye, who was worried about him, gave it as a gift.
Because of this incident, the protagonist experiences various things, but anyway, it's an event that naturally helps the protagonist in the early game.
'But I didn't expect to meet like this.'
At the same time, I felt a strange sense of relief.
If I was even 10 seconds late, I wouldn't have had a chance to get it.
"Ah, um... Are you planning to buy this?"
"Well... yes."
We removed our hands from the amulet and gave awkward expressions.
Since there was only one of the same item, one of us had to give up.
'...The problem is how to convince them to give it up.'
I'm sorry, but I have no intention of yielding.
If I don't have this, I might really die.
But Mi Nahye nodded as if she couldn't help it and stepped back a little.
"Then, please take it."
My eyes widened.
She was giving it up so easily?
"But is that okay?"
"It seems you reached out a bit faster. It would be right for me to yield."
Well, I was slightly faster.
By time, about 0.5 seconds?
But considering the key difference, it could be simultaneous.
She said that first and stepped back.
"Isn't this something you need too?"
"I'm just here to buy a gift to cheer for my friend. You can find something else."
While saying that, Mi Nahye smiled sweetly, considering me.
From that smile, mercy was pouring out.
This, this is the dignity of the main heroine?
'Wow, this is what it means to be the protagonist's childhood friend.'
I didn't think she would yield so easily when trying to grab the same item at the same time.
As a game user, I felt some emotion.
'From Mi Nahye's perspective, it was fine even if it wasn't this, right?'
As she said, Mi Nahye had no reason to insist on this item.
I, because it was effective in the game, came to secure it.
On the other hand, in her position, it was just one of the many items that stood out in the store.
'Then, I'm sorry, but I'll take this.'
Since I know who the original owner is, I felt a bit guilty.
But unlike the protagonist, who would be fine with having it, I really needed this.
"Thank you for yielding."
"No, really, it's fine, so don't worry."
Mi Nahye lightly bowed her head and moved away, starting to look at other items.
'I feel like I owe her. Seeing the game character directly is also surprising.'
Since it's a supporting character that appears from the beginning, Mi Nahye has a plain but pretty appearance.
Of course, she doesn't have any ill intentions.
As a childhood friend, Mi Nahye is devoted to the protagonist.
Even if not, such a woman wouldn't like me.
"Please calculate this."
"Yes~"
Anyway, since I got the item I wanted, let's hurry back home.
I didn't want to stay in such a dangerous place for long.
'It's fortunate that I barely had enough money.'
At that moment, when I safely secured the amulet.
"Kyaa! S-Stop! Aaaah!"
Suddenly, a scream came from inside.
The store owner and I looked at each other for a moment.
Then we rushed over urgently.
The store owner had to go because there was a problem in the store, of course.
And because the owner of the voice was Mi Nahye from earlier.
"H-Help! A ghost... here!"
A black, ominous-looking ghost was clinging to Mi Nahye.
Her white skin was slightly discoloring.
"What is this suddenly...?"
The situation in front of my eyes didn't make sense.
As far as I knew, there was no such event in the game.
If it was a danger where the heroine might die, I wouldn't have ignored it.
"It seems a ghost has come out from the item!"
The store owner said with a stiff face.
"A ghost?"
"That customer has a book, right? It was sleeping with an evil spirit."
Upon closer look, a black book had fallen under Mi Nahye.
It was a place where all kinds of ghost items were collected.
There were items where evil spirits were sealed like that.
'But Mi Nahye never mentioned such an incident in the game...'
Suddenly, one thought crossed my mind.
'Could it be because of me?'
Originally, the amulet that Mi Nahye should have bought and given to the protagonist as a gift.
If I bought it, I would have no more business and would have gone back.
But this time, I got it by yielding.
Of course, Mi Nahye would have been looking around to buy other items.
And by chance, she opened that book.
In short, it was a butterfly effect caused by me.
'Aah! I didn't know there would be such a thing!'
Mi Nahye is the protagonist's greatest supporter who will play an important role in the future story.
If I had known something would happen to such a Mi Nahye, I would have found another way.
"Ugh...! Kugh...!"
Perhaps the ghost's invasion had become more severe.
In the end, Mi Nahye collapsed.
Her pale face looked precarious as if she would die at any moment.
"What are you doing! If you're the store owner, you should do something!"
"I-I'm just operating the store, I'm not an exorcist!"
The store owner shook his head.
"Moreover, that ghost is quite a dangerous type. Even ordinary exorcists can't do anything!"
Why is something like that here?
But I didn't say it.
Originally, it was such a store.
Right now, that wasn't important.
'I have to get it no matter what!'
Mi Nahye must not die here.
She is a key character who must continue to act in the story.
Just by snatching one amulet, this situation happened.
I couldn't even imagine how the story would twist without Mi Nahye.
'And I can't just stand by while someone dies because of me.'
Above all, this happened because of me.
Seeing a woman who was supposed to live in the future die in front of my eyes because of my intervention, how could I live comfortably?
'I wanted to protect her, but I had no choice.'
I dodged Mi Nahye and aimed precisely at the ghost.
"Die."
-Passasak!
At the same time as my words, the ghost disappeared, and the book turned to ashes and scattered in an instant.
The store owner next to me looked at me with eyes as if they had seen a dragon.