CH 25

We left the weapons test area and are now at the Weapon Shop.

However, there is no such thing as a dangerous Weapon Shop standing randomly in the middle of nowhere. In the large building next to the guild, known as the dungeon market, there was a company selling weapons in a designated space.

However, since the dungeon had just opened to the public and many companies had not yet been able to sell their products on the market, the Dungeon Market still had a lot of unused space.

It seems that dungeon explorers can naturally use it as a space for trading, deepening friendships, and giving advice.

“Do you have a search license?” (Security)

“Yes, wait for a second. Put yours out Haru.” (Kei)

“Here.” (Haru)

We are now in the process of entering the Dungeon Market. Not anyone can just enter unless they can prove that they are an explorer by presenting their explorer license.

“I have confirmed. Welcome to the dungeon market.” (Security)

With the voice of the receptionist standing in front of the door, the metal door slides opening sideways. As we walked through the door, it closed behind us. The security system was great. However, this is still not part of the dungeon.

“No matter how much the group with swords goes wild, if you have a gun, you can suppress them, but the security here is too strict, right?” (Haru)

“Some things are bound to happen. Maybe they are also the front liners and the ones in charge of dungeon material management?” (Kei)

“Oh, that’s right. The things that the government buys also pass through here at least once. Then this security makes sense..” (Haru)

As we chat while we walk, we found something familiar in the display window near the entrance.

“Boar Horns.” (Kei)

“It’s the result of being in the front-line of dungeons.” (Kei)

Inside was a boar horn that was probably dropped. Now we consider it weak and unusable, but it does make me feel nostalgic. It hasn’t been so long since we got the boar horns, but we’ve been fighting more intensely lately.

“Probably because we’re always in the dungeon, but the civilians working in the frontlines are still few.” (Kei)

“Well, we’ve only been exploring for a little over a month, so it can’t be helped. I wonder how far the Self-Defense Forces, who have been exploring the dungeon since they first appeared, how deep have they explored.” (Haru)

“If the monsters are the same, they’ve probably already defeated the flying dragon, right?” (Kei)

“If those people would sell a lot of dropped items on the market, we could blend in our items. Still, we can’t sell them even if we have them, so we can’t make any money off those.” (Haru)

“Well, can’t it be helped, right?” (Kei)

“Brother look, they are selling weapons.” (Haru)

We stop talking and look at the weapons lined up in the stall. Just in case, if we are asked about the dungeon, there would be no problem because we talked about our backstory.

“Oh, are you a newcomer? You’re quite young. What are your weapons?” (Clerk)

The store clerk looked and talked to us in a friendly manner.

“Yes, we’re both newcomers. My weapon is a sword and my sister is a Tonfa.” (Kei)

I glanced at Haru, but she looked like she didn’t feel like talking to him, so I told him Haru’s weapon as well.

“Oh, you’re brother and sister. So a sword and a tonfa. That’s quite uncommon. If you don’t use the sword properly, it will bend immediately. So everyone comes to buy a new one and never buy one again. Of course, these are cheap mass-produced products. These are made by a blacksmith’s apprentice, so you can get them cheaply. For that reason, the number of people who are buying these is decreasing.” (Clerk)

“The other one is a Tonfa. As expected, Tonfas are not handled here. Tonfas have great handling, but the reach is too short. currently, only huge striking weapons are popular. I’ve heard that you can’t even get status upgrades in dungeons at first, so people can’t even hold a weapon. And light striking weapons are not very powerful. That’s why there’s an image that people who use weapons are macho. If you still want to buy one, I’ll tell you where to find one. Of course, you’ll have to buy the sword here, though.” (Clerk)

While being overwhelmed by the clerk who goes on a verbal landslide, I was able to collect important information.

“Haru, what are you going to do?” (Kei)

I have already decided to buy a sword, so I ask Haru for her input.

“Let’s buy.” (Haru)

“Oh, do you want to buy one? Then, over there. It’s a subsidiary of a famous sports company, [Odd Ball], handles unusual weapons.” (Clerk)

“Unusual weapons?” (Kei)

“Yeah. You should go anyway. Then come back and buy a sword here. So, a piece of advice from an uncle. The weapons sold there are not for self-defense, but for actual combat. Please note that the market price has risen considerably from a year ago because of the demand increasing. There are times when I thought that the price was a rip-off, but they are still cheap products. Well, comparing weapon prices being cheap, my store is also offering it cheap. So go on.” (Clerk)

“Ah, sure. Thank you. I don’t have a lot of money so I think I’ll buy a sword here. By the way, what is the price for something around 80cm long. Or something like it.” (Kei)

“Hmm. It’s 150,000 yen [T/N: approx. 1.4k USD]. Okay come again.” (Clerk)

“Thank you, clerk-san. I will come back later.” (Kei)

We bowed to the clerk and left his store for [Odd Ball].

“Brother.” (Haru)

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“What is it?” (Kei)

Haru, who has been silent for a long time, opens her mouth and talked to me.

“That person is probably the store manager. He said my store.” (Haru)

“Ah, that’s right. But does that even make sense?” (Kei)

“No. I just realized it.” (Haru)

“I see.” (Kei)

When I arrived at [Odd Ball], there was a strange sight.

An overwhelming sight where various kinds of things are lined up. However, although they are for sale, none of the common items are things that everyone would want are sold here.

If it’s something that people with [Sword] use, it’s not a sword, but a butcher knife, a saw, or a sickle. Although the shape is similar, the thickness and center of gravity have been changed to make it easier to use in actual battles, but these were not complete weapons by any means.

If the person has [Club] there are iron pipes, crowbars, and harisen. [T/N: Harisens are fans used by characters like Temari(Naruto), Kitana(Mortal Kombat), Yukiko(Persona), Anji(Guilty Gear), etc.]

The iron pipe is hollow inside, but it seems to be filled with something other than metal gives it some weight but not too much.

The crowbar was a little bigger than usual, and the Harisen was made of iron and the center of gravity was closer to the edge, it was also quite huge. And it seems that you can fold it if you unlocked the blades.

Of course, a Tonfa was also placed here.

If it’s for [Bow], there are sets of shuriken or throwing knife, and if it’s [Spear], there’s are sasumatas. However, since it is a tool not designed for stabbing but capture, it has its two protrusions sharpened for piercing so that it can kill monsters. [T/N: Shurikens are throwing stars usually used by ninjas. Sasumatas are two-pronged spears that are usually designed for capturing or immobilizing enemies. Imagine a pole with a crescent or “U” at the tip.]

In addition, there was a shelf with the word “Stuff” written on it, and there were cards made of metal. Of course, they are all weapons. There were swords in the shape of rulers and scissors for daggers.

I really want all of it, but I gave up because we would run out of money. By the way, the total amount of money we brought to get all the weapons and armor was 600,000 yen. [T/N: 600k Yen is approximately 5.5k USD]

“Excuse me. Is there any other Tonfas?” (Kei)

It has been decided that we would buy a Tonfa. So we should buy one quickly.

“Hmm? Excuse me, is there any other Tonfa besides this one?” (Kei)

When I talk to a female clerk, in addition to the tonfa that is displayed, other tonfas would be retrieved from the back.

“May I bring it?” (Odd Ball Clerk)

Just in case, we listen to her, and then I pick one up and hand it to Haru. Is there a difference in size and weight?

“Light.” (Haru)

After holding both, Haru murmured.

“Well, the young lady has strength. We made it quite heavy for the actual battles. Would you like to have a made to order one? The price is worth it.” (Odd Ball Clerk)

“That’s impossible. We don’t have much money.” (Kei)

“Hmm, yes. Why don’t you ask your parents? Maybe you will be able to buy something good.” (Odd Ball Clerk)

The clerk looks away from me and directly talked to Haru. Wow, she has a strong business spirit. Well, Haru wouldn’t do much because not only is she shy, we also have no parents. I can understand it well because we’re brother and sister.

After seeing Haru shook her head lightly with no expression, we decided to leave. Apparently, this clerk and Haru aren’t compatible. I feel that Haru’s eyes are a little cold.

“Then, which one do you want?” (Odd Ball Clerk)

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“This.” (Haru)

Haru chose the bigger one, so I bought it. The price was 200,000 yen [T/N: 1.8k USD]. Although the market price has risen, I thought it would be a total rip-off, but it didn’t seem to be a mass-produced product, and it has bumps around the handle, making it easy to hold and use. Is this due to the craftsman’s skill?

The clerk was always talking to Haru at that time, but she seemed to give up because everything she said was ignored.

“Here you go, excuse me. Next person please!” (Odd Ball Clerk)

As soon as we are done at the checkout counter, the next person is called and we are smoothly kicked out. Well, it’s fine. We’ll head back to the Weapon Shop.

“Manager. We bought one safely.” (Kei)

We bought a tonfa and went back to the store, then we greeted the clerk. Well, actually the store manager.

“Oh, how did you know I was the store manager?” (Clerk => Manager)

“My sister guessed it. So, I will buy the sword as planned. What do you have here?” (Kei)

“Well, your sister is amazing. Well, you want something 80 centimeters long right. There are five in that range. The highest is 970,000 yen [T/N; 8.8k USD] and the cheapest is 150,000 yen. Here they are.” (Manager)

The store manager gave me five swords. The designs are a little different, but their lengths are about the same.

“What’s the difference and what’s with the price difference?” (Kei)

Since it is a sword, I don’t think the materials will change much.

“It must have been because of the person who made it and their level of mastery. To be honest, an amateur like me doesn’t know why. Rest assured that there are no issues with the blades.” (Manager)

I try every one with a few trial swings, but I feel that all of them fit firmly in my hand and all of them have a solid balance. It’s a shame I don’t have a lot of money.

“Then, let’s do this.” (Kei)

I decided on the sword priced at 150,000 yen. “Either way, when I get home, I’ll remodel it, so there’s going to be no issue.” I thought as I handled it, but it was still too soft and light for me to use.

If I use it in a dungeon, it will break immediately even if I properly use it. The claws of the monsters in the Forest are harder than steel.

“Yeah. Then the price is 165,000 yen including tax. Sign here because this is a document for the transfer of the weapon’s ownership. The blade would be useless without this.” (Manager)

When I read the documents from beginning to end before signing them, then I sense that the entrance to the Dungeon Market was noisy.

“What is going on there?” (Kei)

I was a little worried, so I asked the store manager.

“Hmm? Today, they mentioned that the 5 front-line parties would be on TV. You want to go see them? Okay, I’ve checked the paperwork. Now the official sword owner is you.” (Manager)

I received the sword and got it in a box for the time being, so I’ll hold on to it.

“Haru, do you want to watch it?” (Kei)

“Yeah. I want to observe the strongest civilians.” (Haru)

“Got it.” (Kei)

Woahhh!!!

As the door of the Dungeon Market opens, the noise spreads from all directions.

“It looks like they’re here.” (Kei)

So we went to see the so-called strongest party in Japan.