We go back to our rented house after visiting the guild, and Argo’s party arrives as we’re cooking.
“They have some pretty nice equipment.”
They only went to a few places, but Argo says that even the iron swords are well made.
We’re planning to go around town tomorrow, so we talk about checking out equipment too.
Although our main goal is the food stalls.
We’re going around town tomorrow, and we’re going to get Kaina the day after that.
The next day, we have breakfast, and leave with Argo and the others. They were worried about us going around by ourselves, and want to guide us around a little.
It makes sense that they’re worried. This is the empire after all.
We start by going around some stores. First, a general store that sells potions, so I can check their prices.
They’re a little expensive, but they practically fly off the shelves.
The guild has quests about buying medicinal herbs, and they’re worth a little more than in Zuirya. Surely it’s because they can’t be picked in the dungeon, so people have to go out of town to a forest where it’s harder to pick.
I also see something new, an anti-heat potion. Is this for blacksmiths?
I don’t use a furnace to smith, but it really was hot when I was learning in Fuxto.
We go around a few more places, and I keep checking the prices. And then it’s time to check out weapon stores.
A lot of them have signs that stand out, and Argo tells me the names carved into them are their clan names.
“Ale and Ironhammer is as busy as always.”
One stands out the most because there’s a big line in front of the door.
This store is run by Ale and Ironhammer. Argo says they have other stores, and each store sells equipment of different ranks.
The long line here is because the weapons were made by apprentices, and they’re cheap.
“They’re made by apprentices, but they’re more than good enough.”
Says Argo, and the others nod.
That makes me feel like trying one out, but I don’t need to go there now.
We go to other, emptier stores, but I get the impression that they’re pretty cheap across the board.
And their quality isn’t bad. Appraisal shows me they’re all nice.
I can see why merchants go out of their way to come here.
I also see papers on the wall that say people buying new products can get them serviced for free.
“Well, this is a plus for the stores too.”
Argo told me yesterday that they can see how their weapons are used based on their condition, and that is valuable data for the blacksmiths.
Being closer to the users like this is a way to improve their skills, and approach their goal of creating the ultimate weapon.
I can see that. I make weapons with Alchemy too, and when I service them, I can see the condition of the blade and their durability value, and adjust it to fit the user.
“Master, I’m hungry.”
Says Hikari while rubbing her stomach, after the third store.
Yes, it’s getting to be that time.
We move to an area with stalls lined up, buy everything that’s new, and eat some at a time.
We find some things we really like among them, and buy a lot of those.
That said, we’re buying more than we need considering our numbers. This is less for us and more for our acquaintances we’ll see soon. Especially Eliana and the others, because they love food.
But I notice that a lot of it tends to have strong flavorings. When I ask the person behind one stall about it, I’m told that the strong flavor is for their top customers.
“It does taste like it would be good with alcohol.”
Argo and the others immediately understand. By top customers, they mean Ale and Ironhammer.
When they leave the dungeon, they have a banquet in their clan house right away, so most of the food sold by stalls is bought by them.
And apparently they don’t buy it all out of consideration for others.
People who run stalls don’t like them just for that either, it’s also because they accept their requests to craft cooking utensils like knives, and weapons even when they’re busy, without looking the least bit sour about it.
After we’re done talking and eating, we go back to checking out equipment.
Maybe it’s because some time has passed, but there are fewer people around.
“Oh, let’s go in there.”
Argo drags us to a store with an Ale and Ironhammer sign that, unlike the other, doesn’t have a single customer.
But the dwarf inside… Still looks busy.
He peeks our way, but immediately turns back to the dagger in his hand. It looks like he’s checking its quality.
It’s immediately obvious to me why the place is empty, by looking at the weapons. Everything is more expensive than in the other stores we’ve seen.
We have the money to buy a weapon here for each of us, but those prices are out of the reach of regular people.
Rurika knows it too, because she fearfully reaches for one, and lets out a sound filled with wonder.
Hikari on the other hand doesn’t really care about prices, and starts touching them and checking them casually.
“Hm, do you like them, conquerors?”
Asks the dwarf sitting behind the counter.
Thanks for the treat.