Ch.79Training the NPC (5)

“If money doesn’t solve your problem even when you have a lot of it, consider whether you might actually be broke. I don’t know who said this quote, but it’s absolutely true.”

“W-what? This is for me?”

“If you’re planning to keep following us, you’ll need it. Use it wisely.”

Having money makes improving the kids’ combat abilities so easy.

Ragni receives the pair of weapons I handed her—worth 3.5 million can each—and stares back and forth between me and the weapons with a dumbfounded expression. But I actually feel like I should have given these to her sooner.

[Red Revolver: There’s no hole for bullets. Each use absorbs 3% of the user’s magic power. The power is fixed at the user’s Intelligence x 0.3 damage. No other enhancement effects apply.]

“W-wait, I thought guns weren’t sold in Aigram? Where did you get these?!”

“Huh? I had someone I know get them for me. I told them to bring them quickly, so they did.”

“Jack has connections everywhere. To think there’s actually someone who can bring such weapons when asked.”

Connections? You’re talking about the “demon” you know too. The market manager here has quite the taste for torment.

Seeing Ray looking enviously at the weapons I gave Ragni and silently asking with his eyes if there’s anything for him, I raise the corner of my mouth.

Geez. Yours is right here too.

“This is expensive too. Use it well.”

“Huh? What’s this? A ring? Wait, could it be…!!”

“Gasp! C-could it be that Ray was chosen first…!!!”

“Stop talking nonsense. You have magic power, don’t you? Try using it.”

Ray takes the ring I handed him and immediately tries to put it on his ring finger, while Ragni watches as if the sky is falling.

But I don’t have strong enough feelings for you two to give rings with that kind of meaning yet.

Hearing my words stopping his action, Ray pauses and immediately channels magic power into the ring.

[Enchant Sword: A common iron sword modified to be carried around lightly.]

[Enchantments: Sturdy iron. Shape transformation (ring, sword). Sharp blade.]

“Is this actually a magic sword? H-how much did this cost?!”

“Hmm? Oh, well, it’s cheaper than Ragni’s. 4 million can.”

“Eek?!”

It’s amusing to see him pull his head back in surprise at hearing it costs 40 million won.

“W-wait a minute!! There’s no need to invest so much in me for just one sword…!!”

“Your original sword broke in the last fight, didn’t it? And I saw that the sword you bought recently was just an ordinary iron sword. Do you want to end up in danger again if it breaks during a fight?”

“T-that’s…”

“Even though it’s a magic sword, it only has increased sharpness, increased durability, and shape transformation for convenient carrying. Keep it as a backup for when your current sword becomes unusable.”

“J-just a triple enchantment? That’s not something to downplay!! It’s extremely expensive for a backup weapon!”

Ragni shouts in disbelief, but well. Weapons under 1 million can wouldn’t make much difference in your combat power anyway.

Besides, I’m planning to give Ira something even more expensive, so don’t worry about it.

“Oppa, what about me? What about me?”

“What I’m getting for Ira is much better, so it’s taking longer. Sorry, but could you wait until we reach Neyti? I’ve asked for it to be delivered there.”

“Okay!!”

Geez. Look at Ira, who despite being young, is so patient and obedient, cheerfully answering while riding on my shoulders and grabbing my hair. You two should try to be more like Ira. Then I might have fallen for you already.

The staff I’m getting for Ira is a custom-ordered staff from [Magic Engineering City Aiti] that only appears in ep. 6.

It was a weapon I would never use as a player, but as soon as this became reality, it came to mind as the perfect weapon for Ira. Of course, the price was insane in reality too, but I agreed to split the cost with the demon market.

I’ve really found a great helper. Though that woman acted like she didn’t care and smashed another table.

After finishing our meal, we purchased a carriage and long-distance travel supplies and returned home.

“Seriously, where has Gor gone that he’s still not back?”

“Could it be that she’s still following him?”

“It’s possible. Since Gor is a golem who can’t express his intentions verbally, she might be all over him by now!!”

No, that can’t be right. When morning came, Gor’s status window was attached to me, and judging by the lack of messages, he must be fine. But given the Green Stone’s reaction, there’s a possibility that she’s still following him as Ray suggested.

Is this some special ability of the White Tiger beastkin? It’s ridiculously overpowered that she can evade even the Green Stone, which is far beyond her specs, and is still chasing after Gor. I need Gor to service the carriage, so this is getting annoying.

“Sigh. I’ll go find Gor, so get ready to leave tomorrow. We’ll depart in the morning…”

“Oppa! Take me with you!”

“Hmm?”

As I try to leave alone again, Ira grabs my wrist, insisting that she won’t be left behind this time.

Hmm, having that woman around wouldn’t be good for Ira’s emotional development.

“Ira, it could be dangerous…”

“Even if it’s dangerous, I’ll be fine with you, Oppa! I don’t want to be apart from you all the time!!”

How unfair. I’m not heartless enough to leave behind a sister who trusts her foolish brother so much.

“Heh. Picking her up immediately after hearing that one line—you really are a siscon, aren’t you?”

“Shut up.”

“But I’m starting to understand. If Ira said something like that to me, I wouldn’t be able to leave her behind either.”

“I don’t talk to Ray unnie like that.”

“Waaah!!”

After throwing some casual remarks at the two idiots, our sibling pair headed outside. Those two should be able to pack the luggage fine by themselves anyway.

“Hehe. Finally alone with Oppa!”

“That’s right, it’s been a while since we’ve been alone together.”

“But Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you always bring back women?”

“…What?”

Caught off guard by Ira’s sudden question, I reflexively turn my head to look at her, and there’s an angel looking at me with sparkling purple eyes, genuinely curious.

Damn, am I imagining things again?

But wait, I didn’t bring them because I wanted to—that idiot followed me on her own! As for Ragni… well, I can’t defend that one.

“Ira, do you dislike Ray and Ragni?”

“No. Ray unnie is silly but kind, so I like her, and Ragni is kind and smart, so I like her too. Gor is convenient, so I like him.”

Huh? That’s an odd assessment, Ira. Well, Gor himself would probably be happy to hear such an evaluation. I can’t shake the feeling that Ira is starting to speak harshly about them like I do.

“Oppa, let’s hurry! The sun will set soon.”

“Ah, right.”

Hmm. Are they really bad for Ira’s emotional development? Should I really leave them behind sometime?

Despite walking alone with Ira for the first time in a while, I followed the status window with somewhat mixed feelings.

*

[Please don’t come.]

As I walk through the mountains following the status window, Gor’s message finally appears on the copied status window.

But why is he suddenly telling me not to come? What’s this about?

“Why, all of a sudden? Are you still being chased?”

[…I am being chased, but it’s not the kind of problem you’re thinking of.]

“Oppa, what is Gor saying?”

“He’s telling us not to come.”

Why do I feel uneasy? Perhaps because Gor has never told me to stay away before.

Could it be that she’s made things truly dangerous because of that woman? If so, forget about being the protagonist or whatever. I’ll end this here today.

With that determination, I ask Gor to explain the situation, but he insists that he’ll return home on his own and asks us to go back.

Is this another cliché? The “I’ll handle this myself, don’t worry about it” kind that only makes things worse? With that thought, I refuse Gor’s request and continue following the status window.

[You really must not come!!]

“Look, we’re leaving the village tomorrow anyway. If there’s a problem, let’s solve it together quickly. If you can’t do it alone, then two of us, and if two isn’t enough…”

“Three! I’m here too! Where are you, Gor?!”

Though Ira can’t see Gor’s messages, she chimes in after my words, causing Gor to display even more urgent messages.

[S-since Ira is there too, it’s even more impossible! This really isn’t good for the emotional education that Master is concerned about!!]

“……”

Not good for Ira’s emotional education. The opponent is Kssare. And Gor is refusing my approach. Could it be…?

Did that crazy psycho lesbian actually manage to overpower Gor? I instantly imagined Gor being taken down and fondled by that woman, and I feel a surge of anger.

It’s not some deranged thought about Gor being “taken as a woman,” but rather the disgust at the thought of something filthy being done to my golem—I might have to discard the [Slime Golem].

I tell Ira to cover her eyes and quickly run after the status window.

Beside me, Gor keeps displaying messages saying it’s not okay and telling me not to come, but I ignore them all and rush forward.

If she’s doing something inappropriate to Gor that would be bad for Ira’s emotional development, I plan to kick her head as soon as I see her.

Running quickly through the mountains, I finally start to see Gor standing in the distance. Huh? But I don’t see her? What the—?

“…Huh?”

[I-I asked you not to come.]

“Grrrr, woof!”

“Hmm? Oppa, can I open my eyes now?”

“No. You can’t.”

“Woof woof!! Woof!!”

Despite being told not to open her eyes, Ira opens them anyway after hearing the sounds. Our child is growing up and not listening to her oppa anymore?

No, wait a minute, what the hell is this…

[I-I’m sorry. I only meant to punish her a little…]

“I-Ira, don’t look. You shouldn’t see things like—”

“…Oppa? Why is that unnie acting like that?”

I see the White Tiger beastkin lying on her back with her belly exposed at Gor’s feet, panting and barking “Woof!” Ira looks at me with wide, surprised eyes, and I grab my head and close my eyes in response.

Seriously. This is driving me crazy. What kind of situation is this now?!