Chapter 16
What is this? Why do I feel so excited?
Until now, he had never agreed with anyone boasting about their beauty—but at that moment, the beauty he witnessed left him stunned.
“Not every royal is obsessed with lands and crowns. I don’t care much for that. So it’s something I can use for a deal. There are only two conditions: give your best for the dragon hunt, and treat wizards with respect and generosity.”
“If I refuse here, are you saying you’ll interfere with my path from now on?”
“I haven’t thought that far, but that’s fine too. It would be easy enough for me to trip up the governor a little. Honestly, that’s the usual story anyway. Some hidden child coming to reclaim lost property. And then a pleasant rebellion begins.”
Can you just let that slide? No, that’s impossible.
Even while making a request, she wielded both cooperation and intimidation, leaving his head dizzy and his fingertips tingling.
When she said these things, wouldn’t it be strange not to yield? She wasn’t chopping down a tree with an axe—she was lifting it whole and uprooting it.
Ah, if it’s a tree, I have to fall for it. One strike, right away. This is unbearable.
Claude leaned forward.
“Where should we start?”
Her clear acceptance made her yellow-and-red eyes curve like a morning star.
—Shall we visit that quack fortune-teller first?
—No, let’s go to the weapon shop first. To hunt, we need to prepare the tools.
—I don’t know anything about staffs.
—We’re not looking at staffs.
So it was decided: the destination of the contracting pair was a weapon shop run by a dwarf.
When they left the wine bar, their flustered and hurried demeanor drew the busy chatter of onlookers, though the two didn’t notice and simply departed. Bridget, left behind, had to clean up the rumors, unable to follow them.
Thus, an unexpected companion was gained.
Thwack!
Taeri flicked a chainmail chest piece on a mannequin, producing a crisp resonance. The dwarf, who had intended to warn her about her actions, stepped back when Claude silently shook his head.
“I don’t know what you’re planning to buy, but this shopkeeper owes me a favor. Take your time and look around.”
“Thank you.”
Naturally. That was exactly why she asked him to come along, but Taeri acted as if it were nothing.
This was Moldo’s weapon shop, the dwarf craftsman. According to the game rules, one must raise a certain level of affinity with Moldo to purchase his items. But why bother? She could just use Claude.
‘Reliable, like a warm bowl of soup.’
Feeling secure like a hearty meal, she began her relaxed shopping.
Various weapons were displayed like exhibits on polished wooden shelves: seven cross swords fit for assassins, massive halberds taller than her, gladiator shields engraved with laurel patterns… Taeri skimmed over the armors with a sharp eye and focused on offensive weapons.
‘One melee weapon for close range, one ranged weapon as main arms.’
She intended to hold one in each hand. Of course, filling both hands with weapons meant sacrificing armor, but if she could avoid being hit entirely, armor was useless. Avoidance was better than defense.
Defeating enemies quickly was more important. To maximize attack power, she boldly abandoned protective measures.
First, she chose an axe—capable of breaking bones, splitting skulls, and severing joints. After selecting a medium-length axe, she asked the shopkeeper:
“Can I test its strength?”
“Go ahead.”
The owner handed her leftover pieces of crustacean shells from his workshop.
Taeri swung a few times to find her balance, then diagonally chopped down. The targeted piece shattered and crumbled as intended.
“It’s good. The grip feels solid, and it delivers power well.”
“Did you just smash it to pieces…?”
After taking the axe, she hurriedly looked for the next weapon. She was drawn to crossbows, bows, and firearms on the wall, but ultimately settled on guns.
The variety was impressive: a crude sniper rifle with a scope, a portable revolver, a long-barrel musket. She carefully judged which would suit her best.
Damage had to be high. But heavy weapons that had to be shouldered were a no-go—she wanted something she could hold in one hand.
She picked up a sawed-off shotgun, about the length of a person’s arm.
Again, she looked at the owner to test it. Perhaps judging from the previous result, the squat dwarf silently pointed to a target board in the garden outside the window.
“Thank you. I’ll fire one shot quickly.”
She checked the sights weren’t crooked, quickly aligned her arm and shoulder, and fired.
Bang. A hole larger than the bullet appeared in the target. Inspecting it through the window, she asked one question:
“It seems weaker than expected. Can I compensate by adding mana?”
The previously disinterested shopkeeper perked up.
“I haven’t tried that, but yes, you could enhance the bullets. Just don’t overdo it or the gun might not hold. But I imagine your strength is already formidable.”
“Mana bullets? Good idea.”
Like a swordsmith enchanting a blade with aura, she could imbue bullets with mana. Or, if her ability allowed, she could condense mana into bullets, making conventional ammo unnecessary—a potential endless barrage.
“I’ll take this too.”
She continued, gathering gloves with rope launchers, traps, and spikes for bare-handed combat, finally finishing when she was satisfied.
Claude watched the mountain of brutal tools at the counter with a complicated expression. It was hard for him to grasp why a magician needed these.
“All of these weapons… do you use them all?”
“I’m just testing them. If they suit me, I’ll keep using them.”
“The axe and guns? These are weapons of a slayer. Don’t mages normally use ash wood staffs or magic staves?”
“You have quite the prejudice against tools, don’t you?”
“It’s not prejudice, just common sense.”
He couldn’t understand. A princess and daughter of a grand mage, growing into a powerhouse herself—why wouldn’t she use a staff?
The power of the Sonetiga family passed down generations, growing stronger over time. How strong must they have been to even incur the wrath of the gods?
But Taeri, a 7-year veteran gamer and Olympic gold medalist in esports, was an authority in this field.
She had absolute confidence in her choice not to wield a staff.
Typically, mages are powerful in casting but physically weak. A single hit could end them. That’s why they usually rely on warriors or knights in front. But for the upcoming hunt, she did not intend to stay in the back.
‘I have to protect you.’
To guard the protagonist, she must take the lead if necessary, overcoming the physical limitations of being a “mage.”
“Respect my preference. These weapons are necessary for me to protect the governor. Though my body has changed, I’m originally trained in martial arts, so I’ll be of help.”
“Wait… protect? You’re going to protect me?”
The idea that she would buy all these tools to protect him stunned Claude.
“Perhaps you drank something wrong at the wine bar. You should abstain from alcohol in the future.”
“I’m not drunk. Just half a glass.”
“My body is well-managed by me.”
“You don’t know the dangers ahead.”
“I’ve survived tougher things than this.”
“Exactly, that’s why I’m protecting you.”
“I don’t need it. I won’t die easily.”
“And I feel like I could survive even if I die.”
Ugh, her stubbornness…
No, her audacity…
Looking into each other’s eyes, they simultaneously thought: one, a clueless young hero; the other, determined to push her protective instincts to the limit.
“Anyway, I’ll buy everything I’ve picked. Can I pay later?”
The owner, watching silently, slowly approached at Taeri’s call, estimated the price, then glanced at Claude, who looked flustered and kicking the floor, and nodded.
“Do as you wish. I’ll charge it under the governor’s name. That’s the understanding. Bringing a lady here, it’s only natural to be willing.”
Taeri waved her hands quickly, but Claude, still sulking, paid the full amount immediately. He rarely spent money anyway.
