Algeni ran until he finally caught up with Nen and Rose.
Nen looked at him and gave him an apologetic smile.
“Wow, sorry for leaving you out of the conversation.”
Algeni thought to himself,
“They didn’t even notice I fell behind. Well… at least I won’t have to come up with an excuse.”
Shaking off his thoughts, he answered calmly,
“Don’t worry about it. I was thinking about a few things anyway, and I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation.”
Rose looked at him with a hint of guilt.
“You could’ve interrupted us whenever you wanted. It was pretty rude of us to leave you out.”
Algeni gently shook his head.
“It would’ve been ruder to interrupt someone else’s conversation.”
The three of them continued walking through the lively streets as the constant murmur of the town surrounded them. Merchants called out to potential customers, children ran through the marketplace, and adventurers passed by carrying weapons and supplies for their next quest. None of them realized that, for Algeni, the walk had become much stranger than it appeared. A tiny blue sphere silently floated behind him, completely invisible to everyone else.
Nen suddenly burst into laughter.
Algeni looked at him curiously.
“Did I say something funny or what?”
Nen slowly stopped laughing, though the smile never left his face.
“No. It’s just… you’ve barely known each other, yet you already act like old friends.”
Algeni scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Well… I guess we get along pretty well. That’s a good thing, right?”
Rose smiled warmly.
“Maybe someday we’ll become really good friends.”
The three continued through the crowded streets. The sounds of conversations, horseshoes striking the cobblestones, and merchants advertising their goods blended into the lively atmosphere. After walking a little farther, Rose stopped in front of a modest building.
“Hey, you two. We’re here.”
Algeni looked up at the shop.
It was a small but sturdy building made of dark wood and stone. Hanging above the entrance was a wooden sign that read:
Ken’s Armory
As soon as they stepped inside, the pleasant scent of forged iron and burning coal filled the air. The walls were lined with swords, spears, shields, and armor of every size. Sunlight streamed through the windows, reflecting off polished steel and making every weapon seem as though it was waiting for its next owner.
Algeni slowly scanned the shop, his eyes filled with amazement.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Impressive, isn’t it? That’s a sword forged from reinforced iron.”
Algeni turned toward the speaker.
Standing before him was a middle-aged man with black hair, a neatly trimmed beard of the same color, and brown eyes. His muscular arms and worn leather apron made it immediately obvious that he was an experienced blacksmith.
The man smiled faintly.
“I’ve never seen someone your age so interested in my weapons.”
Nen grinned teasingly.
“Do you say that to every customer just to get them to buy something?”
The blacksmith chuckled.
“Nen, it’s good to see you again. And you too, Rose.”
Rose smiled politely.
“It’s good to see you too, Ken.”
Nen raised a hand in greeting.
“I’m happy to see you again as well, Ken.”
Ken nodded with satisfaction.
“I hope you’ve both been doing well. I haven’t seen either of you for a few days.”
Nen answered casually.
“I’ve been fine. The guild missions haven’t been too difficult.”
Rose nodded.
Ken smiled, pleased to hear it.
“I’m glad. But I have to ask… what brings you here? I don’t think either of you needs new weapons… or do you?”
Nen shook his head.
“We don’t, but this guy does.”
He pointed toward Algeni, who was still looking around the shop with obvious curiosity.
Ken immediately understood.
“I see. A new adventurer who needs equipment. Alright then… how many coins did you bring? We may be friends, but I still have a business to run.”
Nen let out a sigh.
“Yeah, I’ve got some money. Around five hundred coins should be enough to buy him a weapon and some decent armor so he doesn’t die on his first adventure.”
Hearing that, Algeni thought,
“I wish I’d had something like that when I first started. Maybe I wouldn’t have been on the verge of death so many times.”
As he continued looking over the weapons on display, Ken searched through the shelves behind the counter.
“Let’s see what I’ve got for a beginner.”
While waiting, Algeni thought,
“How am I supposed to know how good a weapon is…? Oh, right… the system.”
He activated his HUD while looking at one of the swords on display.
A small translucent window appeared before him.
His tiny virtual assistant floated beside him and enthusiastically announced,
“Oh, right! I can help with this too. That’s a Rare-grade sword made from reinforced iron.”
Algeni stared at it expressionlessly.
“Well… I already knew it was made of reinforced iron, but thanks for the incredibly detailed explanation.”
He sighed and was about to inspect another weapon when he heard Nen’s voice.
“Hey, come over here. Ken found some weapons for you.”
Algeni walked over to the counter.
Ken carefully placed several items on the wooden surface.
“Alright, here you go. A basic iron sword, a pair of boots, and some shoulder guards reinforced with a bit of iron.”
Algeni examined each item carefully before activating the HUD once again.
The system displayed the information.
Iron Sword
Rarity: Common
Beginner’s Boots
Rarity: Common
Beginner’s Shoulder Guards
Rarity: Common
Algeni thought,
“I wasn’t expecting anything amazing… but why does the sword only have the name of the material it’s made from, while the boots and shoulder guards have actual names?”
The tiny assistant floated back in front of him.
“That’s something I should explain. The sword doesn’t have a special name because the blacksmith never gave it one. The boots and shoulder guards, on the other hand, do.”
Algeni stared at the little assistant in disbelief.
After a long sigh, he muttered,
“That’s the simplest explanation I’ve ever heard… but alright, I guess I can’t complain.”
Ken crossed his arms.
“Well, it isn’t the best equipment, but don’t expect much for five hundred coins.”
Nen answered casually,
“It’s good enough. He doesn’t seem like the picky type.”
Algeni shook his head.
Ken let out a hearty laugh.
“Don’t worry. Everything I make is good quality, so this gear will keep you alive for a long time. Trust me.”
He then extended a hand toward Nen with a grin.
“Alright… now pay up.”
Nen took out the pouch of coins and handed it over.
Ken accepted it, weighing it in his hand for a few moments before looking at Algeni.
“Hey, kid. Before you leave, what’s your name?”
Algeni answered politely,
“My name is Algeni. It’s nice to meet you.”
Ken nodded with a friendly smile.
“Well, if you ever need a weapon or a suit of armor, you’re always welcome here. It’ll be my pleasure to help you.”
Algeni gave him a respectful nod.
“Thank you.”
Nen picked up the boots and carefully tossed them to him.
“Alright, try these on. Let’s see if your feet aren’t too big for them.”
Algeni caught the boots and began putting them on.
As he tightened the laces, he thought,
“I can’t complain. They’re a little tight, but it doesn’t really bother me.”
Nen asked curiously,
“So, how do the boots feel? Can you move around alright?”
Algeni took a few steps across the shop before answering,
“They feel fine. They’re a little snug, but I can move without any problems.”
His system assistant floated into view again and cheerfully commented,
“Those boots look great on you.”
Algeni chose to ignore it completely, giving it nothing more than a brief glance.
Nen then picked up the shoulder guards and handed them over.
“Alright, now put these on. They shouldn’t get in your way.”
Algeni fastened the shoulder guards over his shoulders and rotated his arms a few times, getting used to the added weight.
After a moment, he asked,
“Am I supposed to feel any different wearing these?”
Nen shook his head.
“No, but they’ll protect you from arrows or attacks aimed at your shoulders.”
Algeni nodded slowly as he finished adjusting his new equipment. It wasn’t anything extraordinary, but for the first time since arriving in this world, he truly felt a little more prepared to face whatever dangers awaited him.
Rose looked at Nen with an impatient expression. Not wanting to waste any more time, she grabbed him by the back of his shirt and began dragging him toward the exit.
“See you later, Ken.”
Nen barely had time to react.
“Hey, wait! Don’t drag me like that!” he protested while struggling to keep his balance.
Algeni watched the scene with an amused smile before following them toward the door. As he passed the counter, he gave Ken another respectful nod.
“Thanks for everything. See you around, Ken.”
Ken raised a hand in farewell with a calm smile.
“Take care out there.”
The small bell above the door rang softly as the three of them stepped outside. Warm sunlight greeted them once again, and the lively sounds of the town immediately surrounded them—the chatter of merchants, the laughter of children, and the distant clanging of a blacksmith’s hammer echoed through the streets.
Ken stood silently for a few moments, watching the closed door.
Finally, he crossed his arms and smiled faintly to himself.
“I like that kid.”
“I just hope he doesn’t die.”