Ch.17Chapter 17. Undress

“Here, have some tea. I brought snacks too, try one.”

“Wow, this has honey in it.”

“Haha, well, one must have at least this much to say they’ve had a proper snack, right? Go on, eat up.”

A peaceful snack time, sitting side by side on a bench.

The snack served with the tea tasted of honey, likely because honey was an ingredient.

To think the day would come when I’d eat a snack made with what’s considered a luxury ingredient in this world.

Well, I suppose it’s true that one should always mind their manners.

“So, I heard you came to get equipment fitted… Before we get into details, why don’t you introduce yourself first?”

“Ah, yes. I’m Hyoseong Woo from the labor union.”

“Haha, so your name is Woo? What an unusual name.”

It’s Hyoseong, not Woo, but since he at least remembered part of my name, I didn’t bother correcting him.

Besides, if he keeps calling me Woo even after it’s been imprinted in his memory, he’s just teasing me, so there’s no need to worry about it.

“Pleased to meet you, young man. I’m Jean, spending my retirement in this street of craftsmen. People who know me call me Boss Jean, as I’m known as the guardian of this alley.”

“Ah, I see.”

At that moment, I thought it was a very fitting name.

Jean who guards the street where blacksmiths reside, thus Boss Jean…

“Are you perhaps a blacksmith?”

“Not a blacksmith, but ‘Boss Jean.'”

“Hmm, I see. Not a blacksmith but Boss Jean… That’s a title that suits you perfectly, sir.”

“Haha! I like everything about the way you speak, young man!”

The old man laughed heartily and patted my shoulder.

Though his bony hand seemed barely able to grip his cane, I could feel considerable pressure from his casual pats.

Well, it’s not strange to be unconsciously intimidated, especially after witnessing someone get their skull cracked, even if he doesn’t seem hostile toward me.

“Well, anyway, if you’ve come to get equipment fitted, you’ve come to the right place. I know quite a bit about the craftsmen in this street. If you have specific equipment in mind, I can recommend shops based on your budget…”

“Ah, yes. So my budget is about this much, and I’m mainly looking for light armor and weapons suitable for the front line.”

I shared what I had planned to discuss and subtly observed his expression.

He nodded at first, but eventually rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

From the start of the consultation, I could tell he was taking this quite seriously.

“With a budget like that, rather than focusing on cost-effectiveness, you might want to indulge a little.”

“Indulge, you say?”

“While it may not look good for someone in modest circumstances to indulge like nobility, if you’re starting an adventure, why not pursue a bit of romance?”

Romance.

Actually, that’s one of the main reasons I chose to leave being a Foreign Laborer and become an adventurer.

“Traversing the continent, finding dungeons, excavating the tomb of a forgotten king to obtain treasure… If you’re wearing worn-out, shabby equipment during such a monumental moment, it won’t be very stylish.”

“That’s certainly true. If you face a once-in-a-lifetime monumental moment looking like a beggar, it could diminish the joy.”

“You understand, young man! Indeed, what’s the point of setting out on a grand adventure if you only seek efficiency? If you enter dungeons just looking for profit, you’re no different from a miner wearing the guise of an adventurer.”

Yes, as the old man said, what determines the value of an activity isn’t what you do, but the mindset with which you approach it.

Even if doing the same thing, for some it’s a dream, while for others it’s just a way to make money—what they gain and feel from it will inevitably be different.

And having the right appearance can help maintain that mindset.

“With the budget you’ve proposed, while magical equipment like what those rascals use might be out of reach, investing in decorative armaments could be good. Do you have any equipment you’ve admired? Like embedding a gem in a defensive dagger, or engraving patterns on a sword handle…”

“Hmm, decorations.”

But perhaps because I’ve never indulged in luxury before?

Even after receiving the old man’s advice about romance, nothing particularly appealing came to mind.

I suppose the romance I’ve been thinking of was more about concealing rather than displaying, as the old man suggested.

“Rather than decorations, I’m interested in something else. Like the cane you’re using, sir.”

“This cane?”

“Ah, yes. Do you know about sword sticks? They look like ordinary canes, but when you activate a mechanism, a blade shoots out…”

“Haha, a weapon disguised as an everyday item. You have an unusual romance in mind.”

Of course I do.

One of my dreams is that if I ever make a lot of money, I’ll get a crutch made of mythril and go around pretending to be weak.

There’s no point in acting arrogant like heroes—it just increases the risk of death. But if I conceal just one powerful weapon, I could crack the skulls of those who pick fights with me, just like this old man did.

“So I was wondering, when you swung your cane earlier, I didn’t see you using any mana or anything like that.”

“Haha, that’s right. Though I had my heyday, what power would an old man like me have to directly counter a magic weapon? It’s all because the cane is made of good material.”

So the secret to his strength was indeed the cane.

Immediately interested, I asked him a question that had occurred to me.

“If it’s good material… perhaps a cane made of mythril?”

“Hahaha! You make such amusing jokes! Do you think it’s reasonable to make a backroom old man’s cane from material used in heroes’ weapons?”

The old man laughed heartily and patted my back as if my question was mere gossip.

The force hurt my shoulder, but what I felt more prominently was the disappointment, like a stake being driven into my heart.

I thought he would at least partially confirm it, but he immediately called it a joke. That’s really too much.

“Well, not mythril… It’s made from an alloy processed by a craftsman I have connections with. It’s very hard yet light, perfect for gripping and swinging.”

“Oh, is that so?”

But this statement was certainly not something to overlook.

If it’s hard yet light, even if not mythril, isn’t that exactly the kind of material I’ve been looking for?

“Um, old man? If it’s alright, could you introduce me to that craftsman?”

“Eh? That friend?”

“Ah, yes. As I mentioned earlier, I’m looking to get light armor, and if it’s a light and durable material, it seems to perfectly meet my requirements.”

Of course, if it’s a material made by a craftsman, it would be somewhat expensive, but since equipment is something to be used for a long time, it’s better to make initial purchases relatively sturdy.

With that thought, I made the suggestion, and he began to groan while resting his chin on his hand.

“Well, I don’t mind introducing you… but you’ll have a bit of a headache when you meet. That friend is quite eccentric, with many aspects that make them difficult to deal with as a person.”

“Difficult aspects?”

“Rather than explaining this verbally, it would be more clearly felt if you met directly…”

Swish.

The old man looked me over with half-closed eyes.

After some time, his hardened face began to soften slightly.

“Well, you should be fine. I’ll write you a letter of introduction, so go visit for a consultation.”

“Really?”

“Haha, shouldn’t I at least repay someone who kept an old man company in this harsh world?”

The old man laughed good-naturedly while stroking his beard.

Though I sensed the conversation was going well from his attitude, I soon noticed a serious color appearing in his eyes.

“Still, since I’m introducing an acquaintance, let me give you one piece of advice out of concern.”

He even emphasized his words, as if giving a warning.

“That friend is very sensitive about promises, so if you have to make any, do so carefully.”

“…Promises?”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Can you do that?”

Despite the weight of his words, I didn’t feel any particular tension.

After all, I was someone who had never broken a promise before.

“Yes, well. If that’s all.”

If promises exist to be kept, breaking them would be unthinkable.

If something were to happen later, I’d have nothing to say in my defense, so shouldn’t I live carefully?

****

After concluding our conversation that way and receiving a letter of recommendation, I headed to the innermost part of the craftsmen’s district.

But contrary to his boast about using good materials, the place I arrived at was more like a back alley than a bustling area.

A secret place hidden deep where others wouldn’t notice…

Well, alright. It’s the home of a craftsman who makes super-alloy canes, so they might prefer such a location.

Whatever the case, I decided to get a consultation first before making any decisions, so I prepared to call out to whoever was inside as I entered.

“Excuse me. Is anyone—”

“Huff.”

At that moment, I heard a breath and sensed someone’s presence nearby.

I immediately stopped speaking and turned my gaze in that direction, where I saw someone smoking a cigarette on the nearby street.

“Who are you? Do you have business here?”

An older woman.

The apron she wore, along with the tools at her waist, indicated that she was a blacksmith working in this workshop district.

“Are you the craftsman?”

“I’m the owner here.”

Huff, the woman took a drag from the cigarette between her fingers and exhaled smoke.

Her eyes, as cloudy as the smoke, soon turned indifferently toward me.

“Are you a thief?”

“No, I… I came with a recommendation from someone called Boss Jean.”

“You came recommended by another blacksmith?”

“No, an old man named Jean… Here’s the letter of recommendation.”

Nervously, I handed over what I had kept in my chest.

The woman received it, briefly examined the contents, and frowned.

“…So it was that youngster.”

“Youngster?”

“Well, since I made a promise, I’ll deal with you if he sent you.”

Huff.

The woman exhaled smoke and entered the building.

As I stood there blankly watching her, she stopped and turned slightly toward me.

“What are you doing there? Aren’t you coming in?”

“Pardon?”

“You said you came to get equipment fitted. I’ll give you a consultation, so follow me.”

“Ah, yes, I’ll come right away.”

Responding to her indifferent voice, I immediately followed her into the forge.

And what greeted me on the table was a document.

“What’s your name?”

The woman placed her finger on a blank space in what appeared to be an order contract, holding a pen in the hand that had held the cigarette, and quietly asked me.

“…My name?”

“I need it for the contract.”

Tap tap tap.

The woman drummed her fingers on the document, waiting for me to speak.

Feeling anxious from her seemingly impatient behavior, I unconsciously tensed my neck and struggled to answer.

“Um, Hyoseong Woo.”

“…From another world?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right.”

“You don’t seem to be a hero, so a Foreign Laborer?”

“…Yes, you know well.”

“I have to know. That’s the kind of world this is.”

She wrote down the information I had just provided in the name and classification sections of the order form.

After taking another drag of her cigarette, she exhaled the smoke and addressed me again.

“Tachia Pailoi.”

“…Pardon?”

“My name. Whether you use honorifics or speak casually, that’s up to you.”

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. Then, Ms. Tachia…”

“You said you came to get equipment fitted, what’s your budget?”

Tachia immediately changed the subject as soon as I greeted her.

Even though small talk would have been natural if the conversation had started flowing, she seemed intent on moving straight to business without even considering it.

It’s hard to adapt when the pace is so fast, despite the distance…

No, I didn’t come here for a leisurely tea either, so maybe this is more appropriate.

Deciding not to make a big deal of it, I presented her with a pouch of gold coins.

“About this much. I want to get armor and weapons fitted… Is this insufficient?”

“Why would it be insufficient? It’s about adjusting requirements according to the budget. If it’s too much, we can cut some things, and if it’s not enough but you still want it, we can mix in some lower quality materials.”

Tachia briefly examined the contents of the money pouch.

Seeming to have made a rough estimate from the contents, she pushed the pouch back toward me and rose from the table.

“As for weapons, you can buy something that fits your hand and have it processed, so we’ll skip that for now. For armor, since it’s custom-made, I need to take your measurements first. Did you bring a physical examination form or something?”

“No, I haven’t been measured since coming to this world.”

“Then I’ll measure you here, so take off your clothes and stand there.”

“Ah, yes. Take off my… what?”

What did she just say?

Did she say there isn’t any? Or did she misspeak “there isn’t” as “take off”?

“I need to take your measurements, so take off your clothes and stand there. Didn’t you understand?”

No, I heard it clearly.

She, a woman, boldly told me, a man, to take off my clothes.

“No, I understood. But, um…”

“But what?”

Tachia immediately demanded an answer as I hesitated.

Wondering what response would calm my emotions, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Do I need to take off my underwear too?”

A question that might be taken sensitively, depending on how it’s heard.

“Do you want to?”

“Ah, no.”

“Then keep your underwear on. I’ll prepare things, so don’t run off anywhere.”

“Ah, yes…”

As Tachia nonchalantly answered and went into the inner room, I felt my mind going blank as I recalled the conversation so far.

What is this woman doing?

She speaks stiffly but seems to do everything needed… Should I consider that kindness?