Deluna (3) - Shopkeepers Want Rose
Deluna (3) - Shopkeepers Want Rose
The heart of the northern continent, the great city of Deluna.
Late morning, everything was simply wondrous to Rose's eyes as she walked through the city's bustling streets.
"Miss, come here and take a look at the new accessories!"
"Selling liquor aged with Wyvern Cores! Two Luna per bottle!"
Various shops endlessly lined the main street.
Echoing among them were the hawking cries of merchants.
Mercenaries, merchants, nobles in splendid dresses, even priests.
Countless crowds strolled about, and as many boisterous conversations filled the streets.
A sight unseen in the small, secluded mountain villages no one visited, or the frontier towns with entertainment districts.
Stripped of the gloomy 'dark' modifier, it was truly the panorama of a great city commonly depicted in novels within a typical 'fantasy' worldview.
"Alright, where should I go first?"
At a street corner, Rose took out the rough map Barman had drawn for her.
As a seasoned caravan head, he was well-versed in information about the city's shops.
The map contained not only the names and approximate locations of various shops but also brief descriptions of their characteristics.
'The money I currently have is 5 Sola, 20 Luna...'
20 Silver Coins she'd taken from the Goblin's lair and 5 Gold Coins Barman had given her for the Troll Core. Considering 100 Luna is 1 Sola, her total assets were 520 Luna.
'This should be enough, right?'
Considering that when she worked in the Entertainment District, the payment for one night was 10 Luna (and her other colleagues didn't even receive half that), this was a large sum that made her chest feel warm just by holding it.
Of course, it was thanks to Barman who had generously valued an empty core with no mana.
'I should buy him a gift when I go back later.'
Rose, feeling good enough to laugh off even the memory of him lecherously scanning her body, began her shopping with light steps.
"Huh? Five Sola for one pair of pants??"
"Oh my, I even discounted 1 Sola because you're Barman-nim's guest. This design has been popular since this spring, so many people are looking for it."
"No... I don't care about the design. I just need something durable, sturdy, and easy to maintain..."
"Hmm~"
Following Barman's comment, which read, 'If you're looking for clothes, start here! Highly recommended!', this was the first place she entered.
From the splendid entrance of the shop, she felt an unusual aura, but entering with the lighthearted thought, 'I have plenty of money, so what if I splurge a little?' was a mistake.
The curly-haired shop owner, with hair as voluminous as if hit by a bomb, narrowed her eyes and scanned the hesitant Rose up and down.
The clothes she was wearing also looked luxurious (Barman had given them to her).
Her figure was top-notch, but she was a young lady lacking money and confidence.
Yes, for me, who has been running Deluna's best clothing store for years, these conditions are nothing—
Smiling brightly, what the owner offered was,
"Then how about this? It's sturdy, easy to maintain, only costs 2 Sola, and I think it would suit you perfectly, Miss."
"......"
It was a light gray dress.
A dress that seemed to lack fabric, no, a lot of fabric.
'...It barely covers my nipples...??'
"These days, young ladies wear these often as everyday clothes, not just for parties. If you have a beautiful figure like yours, I'd especially recommend it. How about it? Would you like to try it on first?"
"Uh... no... I'm sorry. I'll look around a bit more and come back."
If you don't like it, I have something even bolder—
Leaving the owner's shout behind,
Rose fled the shop as if escaping.
"Haa... Really... What is this situation?"
In a corner of the street, she calmed her unnecessarily flushed face.
Rose vowed never to go to places marked with 'recommended', 'luxury', 'atmosphere', 'boutique', etc., on Barman's map.
However, shopping at places she sought out based on comments like 'practical' and 'cost-effective' was not smooth either.
"Hmm. I understand what you're looking for. Clothing that's fine for camping life and doesn't hinder movement of limbs..."
The owner of a shabby shop located away from the main street pretended to ponder and picked out various clothes.
"How about this? The price should be around 10 Luna."
He took out a light gray tunic of ordinary design.
"Oh, that seems fine. What size is it?"
"Ahem ahem, well, you see."
The middle-aged man with a half-bald head, with a somewhat strange gaze, scanned Rose's body up and down instead of answering.
"If it's too loose, it'll be uncomfortable to move around, and conversely, if it's too tight, it'll be embarrassing, so I'll have to take your measurements, you see."
"Measurements...?"
That gaze, particularly sticky as it scanned her chest, was somehow displeasing, but.
Taking measurements to fit clothes in a shop was nothing out of the ordinary.
Rose followed the owner's instructions and spread her arms wide.
"Ahem ahem, then, let's see..."
The man approached so close that she could feel his breath and wrapped the measuring tape around her from behind.
When the measuring tape, having come from her back and passed under her armpits, reached the front...
[ Squish- ]
He pressed her chest with excessive force.
[ Soft, soft- ]
Not just with the measuring tape, he subtly moved his fingers and gently stroked her chest,
"It's not easy to take accurate measurements, you see..."
Muttering to himself as if making an excuse, he even rubbed the measuring tape over her prominent nipples.
[ Press... ]
Finally, he pressed his lower body tightly against her,
Before she knew it, something stiff and hard beyond his pants gently dug into Rose's butt crack,
[ Snap! ]
"Aaaargh!!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Rose, infused with mana, snapped his wrist.
"Haa... Being a big city doesn't mean everything is good."
Rose stood in an alley, unfolding the map, and sighed.
Even after that, for a long time, she wandered here and there but gained nothing.
Prices beyond her expectations, exorbitant pricing tactics added to that, or the lecherous intentions of those trying to take advantage of her.
Thanks to that, not only clothes but also weapons, armor, and basic items.
She couldn't acquire a single thing she had planned for.
"Now, the only one left is this one here, I guess."
The shop written in the very corner of the map - Stardust General Store.
Barman's comment read, 'There are many various items, but the owner is picky.'
"No matter how picky he is, he'll probably just try to grope my chest."
Rose shoved the map into her pocket and headed towards a secluded back alley to find the shop.
[ Jingle- ]
As she pushed open the old wooden door and entered,
along with a cheerful bell sound, a pungent smell of dust and an unknown herbal scent wafted over her.
The interior of the general store was wider than it looked from the outside, but it was quiet with no customers.
A quick glance revealed that in the giant display cases that seemed to reach the ceiling, unidentifiable trinkets, flasks, and old books were precariously stacked.
"Welcome."
From inside the counter, the shop owner, who had been idly resting his chin on his hand and had an oddly small stature, lifted his head.
'Uh... a Dwarf...?'
She thought of a Dwarf upon seeing his short limbs and large face compared to his body, but he wasn't the typical-looking Dwarf she usually imagined.
A youthful face with no beard yet,
his hair was neatly slicked back with oil,
and he wore thick-rimmed glasses.
If it weren't a fantasy world, he'd just be a short person with slightly poor proportions, like a student trying to act like an adult, giving off an unbalanced aura.
However, the expression that appeared on that youthful face was one she had seen countless times here.
"Hoo...".
A glint in his eyes from behind his glasses.
His gaze brushed over Rose's face for about a second,
then immediately slid stickily down her bursting chest, slender waist, and firm thighs.
A male gaze, as if trying to pierce through her clothes, filled with blatant and deep lust.
'Haa... It's the same here, too.'
Rose was inwardly disappointed and frowned.
But since she had already come this far.
Ignoring the owner's gaze, she moved towards the display cases and began looking at the items.
"Interesting."
Even though she had her back turned, the sticky gaze persistently followed her, and his transparent muttering.
The moment Rose, unable to bear it any longer, spun around sharply and was about to retort.
"You're a Guardian, aren't you?"
"......??!"
Rose's eyes widened into circles.
There was no need to hide it, but she didn't deliberately reveal it either.
That was what she had learned from Lucian as a basic way of conducting herself.
In the few seconds since she entered the general store, there had been no opportunity to reveal anything.
"How... did you know?"
When she asked back, filled with caution, the young Dwarf grinned and tapped his thick-rimmed glasses.
"These aren't just glasses, they're an artifact I made. I can feel the flow of mana near your chest.
Too meager to be a Lord, and with that face, you can't be a Magical Beast, so you must be a Guardian, of course."
An artifact that reads the flow of mana.
Then, was his staring intently at her chest since she entered because of that?
'......I don't think so.'
With a lecherous expression unbefitting his age, that gaze, which kept scanning her chest, clearly contained lust.
What was also strange was.
Putting aside why that seemingly young Dwarf was speaking informally to her on their first meeting.
His unreserved attitude even knowing she was a Guardian.
Considering how ordinary people like Barman or Carlton trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground when they learned her identity, this atmosphere was hard to get used to.
"Well, a rookie Guardian without proper equipment wandering around a general store probably isn't looking for anything specific. I'll recommend a few things."
The Dwarf rummaged under the counter, took out something, and placed it on the table.
"These are essential items perfect for rookies, wouldn't you say? How about it?"
'He keeps calling me a rookie, it's annoying...'
She grumbled inwardly, but she was indeed a rookie—.
She approached the counter and checked the arrogant Dwarf's recommended items.
The first was an old leather pouch the size of her palm.
"This is an 'Expansion Pouch'. Though it looks small on the outside, it's enchanted, so you can cram everything in this shop into it and it won't budge. You won't feel any weight either. However, you can't put living creatures inside."
As a demonstration, the Dwarf pushed a metal chair next to the counter into the pouch's opening, and the chair vanished as if sucked into water.
"Wow...".
Rose's eyes sparkled.
It was truly an essential item in a fantasy world.
She didn't have much to carry around yet, but considering the future, it was an absolutely necessary item.
"The second is this."
Next was a plain-looking light gray cloak.
"'Cloak of Transformation'. It's basically made from processed tough Wyvern hide, so it has some defensive power. Moreover, if the wearer injects a little mana, they can adjust its size, shape, and even temperature. When it's cold, it can become a warm blanket; when it rains, a tent; and in an emergency, it can even transform into a substitute for a dress."
"...As a substitute for a dress?"
"Well, it depends on your imagination. You could just wear this naked and change its shape, couldn't you? Want to try it here?"
The Dwarf scanned her chest again and grinned lecherously.
It was an unpleasant gaze, but Rose was completely captivated by the cloak's performance he had just described.
"How much are these... all together?"
"The Expansion Pouch is 3 Gold Coins. The Cloak of Transformation is 10 Gold Coins. 13 Sola in total."
"......."
Her total assets were 5 Gold Coins and 20 Silver Coins.
At the exorbitant price, Rose's expression hardened.
Noticing the regret on her face, the Dwarf smiled.
"Well, if you're a bit short on money, there are other ways."
A smile all too familiar to Rose, a smile full of lust.
But, just in case, there might be some other offer, right?
- she briefly entertained the thought.
"One night for 1 Sola. How about it?"
Just as she feared, it was as expected.
Rose couldn't hold back and frowned.
< Illustration - I can't wear something like this >
