All three hunted Boreagard were finally fully harvested and we split the materials between us.
To be fair, it was Silvia who decided which one of us got what and I ended up with getting a bit more.
A bit in this case meant, I had the small rented storage at the guild full already.
Bronze ranks normally wouldn’t even need half of the space and the guild employee stared at me as if I did the unthinkable.
But my group was just nice to their rookie!
It didn’t feel like I deserved even half of it.
Stonard gave up his share of materials to me with a, “Rookie’s need dis moa’.” While Silvia and Irelia gave me some parts they thought would be needed for a good bow.
In both cases it wasn’t Boreagard material, but they simply gave me some metals.
Irelia and Dana accompanied me today, as we went into the weapons district.
Somehow and it was totally not because of them being arm in arm with Irelia almost purring, it felt like I was the third wheel on their spontaneous date.
Even worse, I couldn’t get Silvia’s words out of my head.
Sure, I had been hospitalized at the guild and was out for a few days and the guild being so scummy didn’t help either, but I had actually hoped my best friend cared enough to say goodbyes.
The two heavily flirting women with me were too immersed with themselves to notice my inner turmoil.
At least, their silliness helped me to not think about certain things as much.
Arriving in the district, I only found smithy’s though.
After asking around, we stood at a bow maker and I went in alone.
Irelia and Dana had disappeared.
Great.
Guess, no one of our small group had paid any attention to the other.
The clerk greeted at length, “welcome!
Are you interested in our bows?
We offer bows in a wide variety of colors and even offer coatings!
They’re perfect for any fresh hunter!” I looked at the bows on the wall of his shop.
They only differed in color and looked even worse than the cheapest training bows in my last life.
Some of them even hung upside down or stood on their limbs.
As a former archery enthusiast and now the daughter of the great bow huntress Aisha, it felt like needles right into my heart.
No real bowyer or archer would ever treat these precious weapons like this.
“Colors?” I replied, dumbfounded.
My gut already told me I should leave and my voice growled more than I’d have liked.
“Oh yeees!” He rubbed his hands together.
“For a small fee of 200,000 Zenny we can even procure any custom made bow.
Of course you have to provide the materials.” He was definitely sketchy and his supposed small fee was as 20 times as high as the fee you paid in Frontier Hunter Online.
Not even the highest ranked armor had crafting costs exceeding 25,000 Zenny.
It was absurd.
“You’ll procure them?” My finger moved to make air quotes.
I almost spat the words out.
The more he said, the fishier he got.
My blood boiled already.
His insincere smile turned wider, even greedier, “yeeesss!
We’ll send out an order for the desired bow and it’ll be custom made and delivered.” I cocked my head and he went on, “of course we’ll have to add a transportation fee and transportation insurance on top of our small procurement fees.” ‘You’re kidding me, these scams exist here too?’ I turned around and left his shop, not even bothering to give the greedy looking guy another glance and a, “Tsssk,” followed.
I should make a note to avoid the shop at all costs or I might punch that guy.
One punch for every tortured bow felt fair.
Treating those beautiful weapons this bad was right next to someone deleting my Frontier Hunter savegame.
With the two lovers gone missing, it was easier to move around.
I asked a few hunters, one even had a massive rifle on his back that had more of an actual cannon.
And of course they pointed to the greedy scumbag’s store.
‘Maybe I should ask someone at the guild,’ I thought, my face a bit bitter.
After the talk with Silvia, I was on the fence about them and their secrets and excuses.
Still, I needed a bow for future hunts and flexibility.
Bow makers were rare though and most hunters used rifle types, as if it was any better.
It struck me.
The old material trader lady had dismissed me with directions to one.
Sure, she wasn’t nice, but she gave me a recommendation.
It couldn’t be worse than whatever the other shop was.
I followed the route she told me and ended in a small alleyway.
Wet cobblestone and the back doors of shops were visible.
The lightning stone lamps were partially broken, but there truly was a bow maker.
I almost couldn’t believe it.
I stepped in and was greeted by an array of bow making tools.
There was only one partially disassembled bow.
Its upper and lower cams were broken and something had bitten off most of the stabilizer rod mounted to it.
It almost looked like a work of art, broken art.
The limbs were beautifully carved out of monster bone.
I gently touched it, enjoying the smooth and well cared for surface.
A small channel ran through it for the bow string and I could only imagine how strong this one could be.
“Please do not touch bows in maintenance,” a husky feminine voice spoke up calmly and I stumbled back.
Her hands grabbed my shoulders.
I felt my head bump against her soft chest and she exclaimed, “woah!” I turned around on the spot, stumbling back again, “sorry, I really didn’t mean to.” My hands were raised in a panic and my face flushed bright red.
She was tall.
As tall as my father and wore a smile that could make anyone fall for her.
‘It totally doesn’t make my heart beat!’ Her hair looked as if it was almost flowing, her silver strains neatly tied up almost glowed as it fell on her shoulder.
Bright jade green eyes looked at me, as if she had stumbled upon a curiosity.
She crossed her muscular arms in front of her deep cut blouse.
“Wrong place to steal anything.
Can’t you see how rundown my place is?” Her tone was deep and melodic, a dark voice filled with obvious amusement.
She watched how my brain shorted for a second, mouth opening and closing without words.
“I’m just messing with you,” she went toward the bow I just touched.
“Welcome to Cily’s archery shop, you’re not a debt collector are you?
I still have 3 weeks left!” I lifted my hands in surrender, “wait I was looking for a bow maker!” My voice sounded a little bit strained, “an old lady with a materials shop told me there’s a decent one.” My eyes scanned the shop, “this is a real bow maker right?” She burst forth, right in my face, “ohhh granny sent you?” “Granny?” “Yeah, my granny,” her stunning smile showed.
“Tell me, what kind of bow do you want to have made?
I can work with wood, metals and bone.” She mustered me and tilted her head, index finger touching her chin.
It was simply adorable.
“Don’t tell me you came without any workable materials.” “I haven’t had anything custom made before,” I scratched my cheek.
“To tell you the truth, we hunted some Boreagard and I wanted to have a bow made.
Didn’t know I’d have to come without the materials right away.” “Let’s go then!” She stormed past me and grabbed me by the arm.
My stupid heart fluttered.
Even Rune hadn’t been this touchy with me.
I panicked, “wait!
We go where?” She pulled me along with her, almost as if it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Her grip around my arm changes and she hooks herself in, “stupid question.” The smile on her face could melt adamantite.
“We go to the guild and I’ll check your materials.
Then I’ll make your bow.
What’s there not to understand?” We reached the guild through countless small alleyways and she let go of me the moment we were inside.
I stumbled again and it felt like she actually made me.
“Come, let’s go to your storage!” She pushed up close from behind and threw her arms around me.
But her bow maker workshop seemed genuine, so I led the way towards my storage room.
The second I unlocked my rented space, she flew inside.
My materials were all neatly sorted by type, but two thigh bones stood on the side.
They were too big for the shelves.
“Wooooow, that thigh bone has no scratch at all!” She swooned when she saw both bones.
“Both are left bones, right?” She lifted one and compared it to the other.
“So it really makes a difference with how it is made?” I asked her a bit insecure.
My feet shuffled around.
“I wasn’t sure if it was better or not, but I hoped it’d help.” She shook her head, “the difference is irrelevant.
The limbs will be carved out of them anyways.
I was just impressed by a hunter this young to have two of them.”