SWNOVELXO Chapter 18: - Magic Sword
It’s the 9th day since my reincarnation, and today is a day off.
Since I stayed up all night the previous day, I managed to get a good night’s sleep last night. Thanks to that, I woke up early and could gaze at Anneliese’s sleeping face like this.
Whether she’s awake or asleep, in the light or in the dark, Anneliese is always adorable. That’s the absolute truth. Yeah, there’s no doubt about it.
As I was oddly convinced of this, Anneliese’s eyelids slowly began to open.
“My lord… Good morning.”
“Yeah, good morning. Anneliese, you’re as beautiful as ever today.”
I had been worried about what would happen if she turned into an old lady, but even after two nights, Anneliese was still lovely.
“N-No, that’s not true…”
“Because I say so, that’s how it is.”
“…Yes.”
Cuteness is justice.
I gently stroked Anneliese’s sparkling golden hair. It was silky and smooth, slipping through my fingers. It was strange; there was no shampoo, not to mention soap, yet her hair was silky smooth.
Well, it doesn’t matter. Beautiful hair that’s silky and fluffy transcends time and space (that’s a lie).
Since it’s a perfect opportunity, today’s shopping should include looking for soap. If there isn’t any available, I’ll consider making some myself. Making soap should be something I can handle.
“Ugh, it’s so cold again today. But thanks to Anneliese, I was warm. Thank you.”
“I also slept soundly because it was warm.”
Sleeping in the same bed was a good thing because it kept us warm. We’ll continue to do so even in the summer!
I changed clothes, but of course, I couldn’t help but stare at Anneliese. This was something I just couldn’t stop. If Anneliese were to dislike it, I would stop, but for now, there was no sign of that.
“Your skin is so flawless, not a single scar.”
“It’s not really…”
Anneliese blushed, and her demeanor was charmingly innocent.
After breakfast, the two of us headed out. Since today wasn’t a day for dungeon exploration, we wore normal clothes.
“Today, let’s go to a place you like, Anneliese.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Let’s go wherever you want, Anneliese.”
Anneliese walked happily, and her chest swayed. Even though she’s wearing a sarashi, things still sway when they sway.
We first went to a weapon shop. I wondered why, but Anneliese seemed to enjoy looking at swords and staves.
Next was an armor shop, mainly dealing with metal armor. The third shop we visited was also an armor shop, but this one had more leather products.
Could it be that Anneliese is a muscle-brain? No, she’s so cute, I think she’d also like to go to a clothing store. She must be considerate of me. And there’s no doubt about it.
“You don’t have to be considerate of me.”
I only received a smile in response, neither denying nor confirming it. Which is it?
Lunch was at a slightly fancy place, famous for something like pancakes. Girls love sweet things, and it seemed that Anneliese was no exception.
Anneliese’s expression had been very soft since she became younger, but when she was eating pancakes, her eyes would narrow with delight. She really is just like a girl.
It seemed like she had stopped being considerate of me by entering a place like this.
So, should we go to a clothing store, an accessory shop, or a general store to look at stylish items?
The first shop we visited in the afternoon was another weapon shop. Why only weapon and armor shops? There’s no need for Anneliese to be considerate of me.
“Next, let’s go to Gorteo’s shop.”
“Mr. Gorteo’s place?”
That place is like a general store, offering a variety of items, including clothing and accessories.
As we walked down the street toward Gorteo’s shop, Anneliese grabbed the hem of her dress.
“What’s wrong?”
“Please listen without turning around.”
“…Understood.”
“Someone is following us.”
What? That’s scary.
“Do you know them?”
“I’ve never seen these people before.”
“People, plural? So there’s more than one of them.”
“I sense magical energy from three sources. They are following us while maintaining a distance.”
“…It’s not my imagination then.”
Anneliese’s eyes were serious. She must have checked properly before reporting to me.
Now, what could be the purpose of these three people? It’s unlikely that they have anything to do with me since I’ve been in this world for less than ten days, and I haven’t made many acquaintances.
So, could it be related to Anneliese? Perhaps they are victims or associates of the explosion incident. I think that’s highly possible, but it would be dangerous to narrow it down to just that. Besides, since Anneliese has become younger, it’s impossible to distinguish her by appearance alone.
There’s also the possibility of stalkers drawn to Anneliese’s cuteness.
At the very least, if I could see their faces, I could conduct a detailed appraisal. Yeah, let’s guide them to a visible location.
“I’d like to confirm their appearance. Can you lead them?”
“I’ll try.”
While we were talking, Gorteo’s shop came into view. Pretending to have a friendly conversation, Anneliese and I looked at the items in the shop window, allowing us to catch sight of the three people.
“I see a person in gray clothing, another one with a red bandana, but I can’t see the third person; they’re hidden in the shadows of a building.”
“You can see two of them? That’s good enough.”
– Detailed Appraisal activated.
The person in gray clothing is Galia, and the one with the red bandana is Kurus. Both of them are thieves.
These two are associates of the thieves I killed earlier, and they are targeting me, as revealed by Detailed Appraisal.
I didn’t expect that event to have consequences like this. Maybe they thought they couldn’t continue as thieves if they underestimated me. But I don’t care about that. After all, if Gorteo’s caravan hadn’t been passing by at that time, they might have attacked me, right? I wouldn’t have given in even then. At that time, I was quite flustered, and I didn’t have the luxury to think about such things.
Seriously, though, if you don’t want to get killed, don’t become a thief in the first place. They’re just blaming others now. Maybe their heads are filled with poop instead of brains.
“They’re thieves.”
“Was that confirmed?”
“I suspected it because of their appearance, and it seems my guess was right.”
“So, you knew all along?”
“No, it’s just that their appearance gave off that kind of vibe, so I thought there might be a possibility.”
Their menacing looks gave it away.
I’m glad they’re targeting me. If it were Anneliese, I would have been troubled about how to deal with it. Since they’re thieves, I can deal with them mercilessly.
“Keep an eye on their movements.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
We entered Gorteo’s shop. Come to think of it, I haven’t used the Burgan and Google I bought before.
I haven’t had a chance to cook, so I haven’t been able to use them. Maybe I should rent an apartment once I start earning more. They do have apartments here, right?
“This is Toi-sama. Welcome.”
It wasn’t Gorteo but the deputy shopkeeper who greeted us with a smile. He’s the one who helped me with Anneliese’s slave contract. He doesn’t have a particularly remarkable appearance, but he’s not ugly either.
“Is Anneliese not with you today?”
“Uh…”
What should I say?
I wondered if the young and cute girl in front of me would believe it if I told her that she was Anneliese.
I asked Anneliese with a glance how I should respond, but she just tilted her head.
“This child is Anneliese.”
“Huh? …Are you joking?”
“It’s true. Keep it a secret, okay?”
“Well, I won’t leak customer information or anything like that.”
The deputy shopkeeper was very professional. He’ll probably become the shop manager in a few years. Not that I know.
“Feel free to take a look at the products.”
“Yes, please do.”
He smiled and invited us into the shop.
I let Anneliese look at whatever she liked. She started with the weapons display area. Why is she so interested in weapons?
“That’s a nice weapon.”
Anneliese was fixated on a faintly shining blue sword.
“This is called the Thunderclap Sword, a magic sword. It discharges electricity when used in an attack, shocking the enemy.”
A magic sword, huh? Someday, I’d like to get my hands on one too.
“This is the Life Drain Sword, another type of magic sword.”
The black-shining sword is the Life Drain Sword. When it cuts, it drains an additional 20 HP. Terrifying.
With this Life Drain Sword, you can deal a certain amount of damage even to tough enemies whose blades can’t penetrate. It’s a quite outstanding magic sword.
“But these are out of reach for now.”
When I checked the prices, the Thunderclap Sword was 6 million Grills, and the Life Drain Sword was 8 million Grills. Even in the outskirts of a major Japanese city, you could buy a house for that price.
“The Thunderclap Sword is well-known as a magic sword, but I haven’t heard much about the Life Drain Sword. Is it made by Mr. Kujata?”
“No, the Life Drain Sword was not made by Mr. Kujata. We can’t provide more details as per the creator’s request, but we have confidence in its quality.”
So, if there’s a creator involved, it means magic swords can be made without dungeon materials. I’d like to get a custom-made magic sword in the future.
Next, we took a look at the staffs.
“These are magic staves.”
Magic staves exist too? I learned that there are also magic lances. And even armor with magical effects, called magic armor, exists. All of these are collectively referred to as “magic equipment.”
“Do you have weapons or armor with automatic repair effects?”
“Equipment with automatic repair effects is quite popular. They are reasonably priced and require little maintenance.”
My Mithril Greatsword is also a type of magic equipment, and it’s maintenance-free, which makes it popular among lazy adventurers, the deputy shopkeeper said. He mentioned that a magic sword with an automatic repair effect costs around 2 million Grills. That’s expensive.
“The materials used for magic swords and magic lances are higher-grade magic ores than Mithril. Their production is limited, and there are few craftsmen capable of forging them, which is why they are quite expensive.”
If the materials are scarce and the craftsmen are few, it’s natural for the prices to be high. Plus, they have enough value to sell at these prices.
After checking out the weapons and armor areas, I suggested going to look at clothes.
On our way there, something interesting caught my eye.
“This is a magic cooking stove. It allows you to cook with high firepower more easily than wood-burning stoves.”
A magic cooking stove can’t function without magic stones, a type of ore. These magic stones are available at Gorteo’s shop, starting at 500 Grills per piece.
The stove has two burners and an integrated oven, making it convenient to use. The height is just right.
I used to cook every day in Japan, so I naturally wanted it. The price is 120,000 Grills. I could afford it. I want it. But I have no place to put it.
As someone who lives in an inn, I have no use for a magic cooking stove (sigh).