Vol. 1 - Ch. 12 - Trip to the General Store with Clara

"You're unbelievable!" Clara exclaimed.The sun had begun to set, casting a reddish hue on the buildings in the area.

As they entered a deserted alley, Clara, who had been walking in front, suddenly shouted out.

She'd kept quiet even since they'd left the tower, but she couldn't bear it any longer.

She turned around, stopping in her tracks.

"This is my problem! It's none of your business, Ash! Why did you have to go and pick that dumb fight?!"

"Because it's my problem as well." Ash replied.

"No, it isn't!"

Clara was flabbergasted, her voice louder than she had expected.

"I'm sorry." Clara said, seemingly having lost her momentum.

Ash, in turn, called out to her.

"We stay at the same inn, don't we?" he asked.

"Then is everyone staying at that big inn your friend?"

"It's not just that. I also asked you for directions, and we've already bumped heads and apologized not once. At the very least, we've talked a lot during these two days." Ash said, trying to convince her, however Clara didn't seem to be buying it.

Ash sighed and tried saying something slightly mean.

"Apparently, I'm the only one who thought we were friends."

"I-I'm glad you think of us that way, but even if we're friends, it's still crazy to pick such a reckless fight." Clara remarked, showing her kind nature. 

After all, it didn't matter whether they were friends or not, she simply didn't want to involve anyone else.

"Yes, I may have overstepped my boundaries, but I do owe you, Clara."

"Owe me? But I haven't done anything..." Clara said, to which Ash showed her his right hand.

"You fixed my right hand."

"Over that small thing..."

"It's not a small thing. Thanks to you I was able to have a great time in the tower today. I can't thank you enough." Ash said, trying to convey his feelings, but it seemed like it wasn't enough.

Clara was still evidently sulking. Seeing her like that, Ash didn't give up and continued speaking optimistically.

"Whatever the case, sooner or later I'll have to overcome the 10th Floor as well."

"The sooner the better!" Clara said, continuing to explain, "Don't you get it? It's not like you can challenge the 10th Floor straight away! Like, I'm not sure we can even get to the 10th Floor by ourselves..." Clara said, holding her head in her hands, "Argh... Good grief! Just what am I supposed to do!" she exclaimed.

"I don't mean to bother, but I've reached the 10th Floor."

"As things are right now, it would be best for me to apologize to Darrion and get him to forget that... Huh? What did you say just now?"

"For now, all we have to do is not lose hope." Ash said with a wide smile.

Clara blinked her eyes and slowly stood up.

"You've got to be kidding me... You're already on the 10th Floor?"

"If you don't believe me, just go and ask the supervisor."

"How did you get past the 8th Floor? That place is packed to the brim with monsters! It's impossible to clear it with only one person."

"Oh yea, that place was annoying, so I just ran through it after seeing that there weren't any Archers."

"How did you kill the monsters?"

"In the innermost hall, there was an alcove with a fire burning inside, so I just burned them there."

Ash didn't know whether it was intentional, but the tower had a lot of places where one could climb.

And given that he was a pro at using the enemies' weak points, this helped him a lot.

"You're crazy. What would you have done if it wasn't there?"

"I would have lured them to a narrow passageway and taken them out one by one. Though, it would've been quite annoying."

"Ash... are you like, really strong?"

"Beats me. But I'm confident in the number of monsters I've slain."

After all, from before Ash could even remember, his father had taken him to the various Towers of Trials around the world.

As such, Ash was sure that he had way more experience than your average warrior.

"T-Then can we go right away?!" Clara asked excitedly.

"That won't be possible. I don't have a weapon."

"What?"

One moment Clara appeared hopeful, and the next, the hope escaped her face.

Clara was sure a strange one, always having her emotions shift from one to the other.

Ash opened both palms to reveal that there was nothing there.

"As I said. I don't have weapons. The Lord broke the two daggers that I brought with me."

"I-I see... Though I'm not surprised." Clara remarked.

"You're not surprised? What do you mean?"

When Ash asked this, Clara sighed, her face showing her surprise.

"Listen here. The monsters on Dural Island aren't your regular monsters. Any weapons from the outside are unlikely to work here," she explained.

"But they held fine up to the 9th Floor."

"And that's what's so strange about this whole thing!" Clara exclaimed, visibly angry.

Ash's desire to get the most genuine experience of the tower, had led him to request only the most basic information from the supervisor. For which he was now paying the price.

"Then how do the other challengers manage?" Ash asked.

"Apart from Duries, you should've found gems with a picture of a sword on them, right?" Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøᴠᴇlFire.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Oh! You mean this?"

Ash took a painted gem from his pouch and held it out in his palm.

"This is called an Exchange Stone. You can exchange it for the specified equipment at an Exchange Shop in the central plaza."

"And that equipment won't break against the 10th Floor's Lord?"

"Probably."

(I guess she means that it depends on how I use it. In any case, the equipment seems to be quite durable.)

"Usually, you'd come back once you get an Exchange Stone. After which, you'd exchange it at the central plaza and go challenge the tower again." Clara explained.

"Just goes to show how awesome my weapons were!"

"What's the point if they break, though?" Clara replied mercilessly.

Ash couldn't utter a single word at that comment.

With a chuckle, Clara said, "For the time being, let's wait until tomorrow morning and go get you some new equipment."

"Oh? You seem like you're finally down to do it."

"Don't get the wrong idea! I-I just don't want to get you kicked off the island too! That's why we must conquer the 10th Floor no matter what!"

Clara was indeed a kind girl, concerned not just for herself but for others.

"Now, now, don't get so worked up. You're not alone from now on."

"Ash..."

Perhaps feeling a little better, Clara let out a relieved laugh.

"Well then, I'm looking forward to tomorrow, senior." Ash chuckled.

"M-Me too!"

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The next morning, Ash arrived at the central plaza with Clara.

"People here sure do get up early..."

Even though the sun had only been up for a short time, it was already brimming with people and Milmas.

Ash couldn't help but be surprised by the sight.

"Everyone gets ready in the square before they go to climb. There's also those that have stayed up all night, so it's not all that surprising."

As Clara mentioned, there were challengers who appeared to have finished their hunts, and were devouring large portions of food.

(That's the shop I went to with Leo!)

"They really do sell everything here!"

Various covered stalls of interesting colors lined the sides of the street selling products not so different from the markets found on the streets of larger kingdoms.

Everything from food to daily necessities was available.

"It's thanks to all of the Milma living here. If it weren't for them, it would've been quite inconvenient."

"It's truly a dreamland." Ash exclaimed.

Nonetheless, the majority of the island's inhabitants, aside from the Milma, were bulky men, so children were likely to run away the moment they set foot here.

"Hey! You two over there! Come take a look!"

A cheerful voice suddenly called out to Ash and Clara.

It was a Milma peeking out from a nearby stall and waving her hand.

Ash and Clara exchanged glances before making their way to the Milma's store.

"You're a new face. A rookie?"

"Yeah, I just arrived."

"The store I run is a General Store. Here you can buy lots of items to help you climb the towers. So don't be shy and take a look." the Milma said in an encouraging manner.

Various goods were stored in boxes of different sizes, scattered around the stand.

There were vials filled with liquids or grains, small gems about the size of an eye, square stones, blackened drawstring purses, and more.

The items' shapes and colors were far from coherent.

"You've got quite the selection." Ash remarked as he picked up one of the items that piqued his interest.

It was a necklace with a small, unusually shaped whistle on the end.

"What's this?"

"That's a Bite Whistle. It can lure the surrounding monsters to you. Though it only works on weaker ones. See the flat tube sticking out in front of you? If you bite that and blow, it makes a sound," the Milma explained.

Ash examined the flat tube while listening to the explanation.

"Also don't touch it with your mouth, unless, of course, you intend to buy it."

"How much is it?" Ash asked.

"3000 Duri." the Milma replied.

Realizing that Ash wasn't familiar with the currency, Clara stepped in to provide an explanation.

"Blue gems are 1 Duri, red are 10, green are 100, silver are 1,000, and gold are 10,000."

"I've only seen blue gems up until now... Counting them seems like a pain."

"You don't need to worry about that. Try holding both of the Gamal's paws at the same time. The Duri amount that's inside it should appear on its stomach."

Following her advice, Ash grabbed the Gamal, which was clinging to his thigh, and grasped its paws with both hands. The number {563} appeared in red on the Gamal's white belly.

"Phew! That's useful. It says I have 563 Duri."

"Amazing! That's quite the haul for just one day."

"I'm still quite short though."

The Gamal was swinging its hind legs and making noise. It was evidently showing that it didn't like the treatment, so Ash decided to put it down quickly.

"It's quite expensive so newbies shouldn't worry about buying it." The Milma remarked.

Instead of getting discouraged, she showcased other products with stars gleaming in her eyes.

"The whistle aside, how about this <Energy Tonic>?! Albeit only slightly, it can restore your Mana! I've also got <Fairy's Sleeping Powder>. If you drink this, you'll sleep like a log even if there are monsters nearby!"

"It seems like the perfect thing for a quick nap inside the tower." Ash chuckled.

"Right?! I also have <Maspin's Cold Water> to resist scorching flames, and <Dorpin's Warm Water> to prevent freezing to death!"

"I'm sorry to say this after you've shown us so many things but--"

"It's better to be prepared for all kinds of scenarios!" The Milma exclaimed, keeping the items coming.

Normally, Ash might have purchased one or two items, but that was not the case now.

"I just got here and I haven't even paid my rent yet. I'll come back once I've gotten my bearings." he said.

"I see. I guess it can't be helped then."

"You're pulling off quite easily." Ash chuckled.

"If you settle in, I'll eventually make more money, no?" The Milma giggled.

Ash had assumed that the Milma were living an easy life, being the Messengers of God and all, but it seemed they were also struggling to survive. He made a mental note to return as soon as he had enough money saved up.

As they left the store, Clara gave him a complicated look.

"Ash, you're amazing. I ended up buying a lot of stuff the first time I got here..."

"I've had to fend for myself since I was a kid, so I'm used to it."

His father's policy had been that no matter how hungry Ash was, he was in charge of providing for himself.

Thanks to this upbringing, Ash was not only accustomed to hunting animals but also to negotiating with merchants.

"Sir Aaaash!"

As Ash was reminiscing about his past, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

Looking back, he saw a small Milma running towards him, waving her hand.

It was none other than Uru.