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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: A Day in Town
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“Thank you for waiting!”
Just then, the employee returned with the owner. The owner, though smiling, scanned the two with hawk-like eyes.
“This t-shirt is made from a fabric perfect for the humid weather we've been having. It's cool and won't stick to your skin. It would be a perfect match with a pair of knee-length shorts!”
“How about this one for a more casual look? The design is simple, but the stitching from the sleeves to the neckline is meticulous, making it sturdier than the others, with exquisite details.”
“This would also look wonderful on our young master! With the suspenders, you look so sharp!”
The owner's words flowed like a burst dam as she launched into her sales pitch.
Lucian's head was spinning from changing clothes so many times, but Kaizareu meticulously examined each one.
After making his selections, he pointed to the remaining pile, having set aside the clothes that didn't suit Lucian.
“Ring all of this up.”
Lucian was aghast at the mountain of clothes.
“It's too much!”
“Hush, you just stay still. Let's have you wear that out. We're throwing away those tattered rags you have on. What are you waiting for? Ring it up.”
The velvet pouch Kaizareu tossed onto the table was filled to the brim with gold coins. The owner and the employee swallowed hard at the sight of the glittering pouch.
“O-one moment, please!”
The two first finished fitting the clothes Lucian was wearing so he could leave in them, then began to package the numerous other items.
“B-brother...”
“I won't ask you to pay me back, so just wear it without another word. It's my money anyway, so Ria won't say anything either.”
[Oh? You bought it? What's the occasion? Ohohoho!]
*She'd probably be pleased.*
Thinking of Ria, Kaizareu shook his head.
“Th-thank you for your patience!”
“The total comes to 24 gold. We will return the rest.”
“That's a lot of luggage. Shall I call a carria—aaah...?”
The employee trailed off, speechless. Kaizareu had instantly stored everything in his subspace.
*Hiccup.*
The employee hiccuped.
“Alright, let's go. Time to buy shoes. Is there a decent shoe store nearby?”
“Sh-shoes? The shop two doors down is a shoe store. They make comfortable and beautiful shoes there.”
Having gotten his answer, Kaizareu turned to leave, but the owner stopped them.
“Just a moment! Please, take this.”
She held out a boy's cap.
“We didn't order this.”
“It's on the house. Please be sure to visit our shop again. We'll have even better clothes for you next time. We look forward to your patronage.”
Kaizareu seemed to quite like the cap. He took off the bucket hat Lucian was wearing and replaced it with the new one.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
*Jingle—*
“Thank you! Please come again!”
Two faces, now gleaming brightly, disappeared beyond the door. Lucian followed Kaizareu, who was heading straight for the shoe store.
“But I don't think I can go there next time.”
“Why? No money?”
“Uhm...”
“Then just buy things when I'm here. I'll buy them for you next time, too.”
“Really? But it cost a lot of money just now.”
“You'd faint if you knew how much money I have in my subspace.”
Lucian, still unaware of a dragon's obsession with gold and treasure, tilted his head in confusion.
And so, the two waged a second shopping war at the shoe store.
Following a similar pattern to the clothing store, they ordered a total of five pairs of various types. The only downside was that they weren't ready-made and had to be ordered, so he couldn't wear a new pair out.
“You'll have to come and pick them up yourself next time.”
“Okay! I can do it by myself! I've already memorized the way!”
“Oh? Then I guess we'll have to see if you really memorized it on the way back.”
The last item on their list was a wooden training sword. After asking for directions, they entered the most popular weapon shop.
Inside, burly men were browsing the weapons.
They glanced over at the two who had just entered.
*'A pretty boy and a kid.'*
*'He looks too weak to be a man.'*
Their appearance certainly suggested as much, so why did the hairs on the back of their necks suddenly stand up?
The men instinctively began to inch away from Kaizareu.
The shopkeeper burst out laughing as the men, who had been chattering loudly as if they owned the place just moments before, fell silent all at once.
“Well now, looks like we've got a big shot here! How in the world does one acquire an aura like that?”
The shopkeeper asked amiably, but Kaizareu just wore a sullen expression. Of course, to others, it looked like he was dead serious.
The shopkeeper laughed awkwardly.
“Haha... So, what can I do for you, customer?”
“Do you have a decent wooden training sword for this child?”
“So it's for the kid, not you! Let's see...”
The burly shopkeeper came forward and crouched to meet Lucian's eye level. He felt Lucian's body here and there, gauging his measurements by sight.
“How old are you?”
“E-eight years old.”
“Same age as Dio. You're a bit small for your age. Were you always small?”
Thanks to Ria's care, he had grown taller and filled out, but he was still on the small side compared to his peers.
“Looks like you've been training steadily, though. You've got some muscle definition. A preferred type of sword...! You probably don't have one. I'll give you a standard one. Dio!”
“What!”
At the shopkeeper's shout, a boy with a buzz cut named Dio suddenly appeared. For a moment, Lucian's and Dio's eyes met.
“Bring a few swords this kid can use.”
“You do it, Dad.”
“Tsk! Just bring them like I told you.”
“Jeez, you always make me do the chores.”
Dio grumbled as he went off somewhere, returning with about five wooden training swords.
They were all similar in shape, but with slightly different details, and each had a subtly different hue, likely from being made of different woods.
“Here.”
Lucian dazedly took the sword Dio held out to him.
He had seen Kaizareu polymorphed into a child, but this was the first time he had seen a human truly his own age.
Perhaps that was why he kept sneaking glances at him. Dio, with his sullen expression, felt Lucian's gaze and tilted his head.
“What? Is there something on my face?”
“Ah, no. It's nothing.”
Lucian hastily turned his head away.
Kaizareu, who had been watching, narrowed his eyes.
“Lucian, hurry up and pick one. The sun will be setting soon.”
“Okay.”
Lucian picked up the swords Dio had brought, one by one.
They were certainly easier to lift than the sword at the mansion. He could raise it high and even swing it around with one hand.
“Brother! It's so light!”
“So it seems.”
The shopkeeper and Dio watched the two, inwardly surprised.
“Whoa, he seems stronger than he looks. Right, Dio?”
“...Yeah.”
In truth, the wooden swords Lucian was testing all had iron cores, making them too heavy for most children to wield easily.
Dio himself could carry them easily, having been strengthened by helping his father in the shop, but swinging one without wavering was another matter entirely.
Dio's curiosity was piqued as he watched the smaller boy swing the sword with such ease.
“Which one do you like best?”
“Um... I'm not sure. They all seem pretty similar.”
All the swords were light and fit well in his hand, so he had no idea which one to choose.
As Lucian struggled to decide, Kaizareu stepped in.
He casually lifted and swung each sword before picking the fourth one.
“Go with this one. It's the lightest and sturdiest of the bunch.”
“Oho? You've got a good eye, customer. That one's made from Tiorian oak, so it's lighter and much more durable than the others. The price is a bit steeper, though.”
“Doesn't matter. We'll take it.”
“Anything else you need? If he's just starting to learn the sword, he'll need protective gear.”
Kaizareu glanced at Lucian and this time picked out a pair of expensive leather gloves.
“These too.”
“You're quite the spender! That'll be 2 gold in total.”
Lucian fumbled to hand over 2 gold coins. Since Kaizareu had bought all the clothes and shoes, he still had 1 gold left even after buying the wooden sword.
“I have money left over. Can I use it to buy something tasty?”
“Do as you please.”
Lucian's face lit up. He thought of the snacks he had seen in the market earlier.
Dio reappeared, holding the packaged sword and gloves. He looked Lucian up and down before handing him the items.
“...Come back if you need anything.”
“That's right. That one's for kids under ten, so you'll need to change it once he grows a bit. Stop by again when the sword gets worn out or too small.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Lucian answered spiritedly, then glanced at Dio and mumbled.
“...I'll come again later.”
Dio wrinkled his nose and turned away abruptly. Lucian's shoulders slumped at the cold gesture, but the shopkeeper laughed heartily.
“The little rascal. Seems he's taken a liking to you.”
“He doesn't hate me?”
“Hate you? If he really disliked you, he wouldn't have told you to come again. He's probably just shy. There aren't many kids around here who practice swordsmanship, so come by often. It'd be even better if you came and became friends with my son.”
The shopkeeper gave him a bottle of oil for maintaining the wooden sword, saying it was on the house.
This time, Kaizareu didn't put the items in his subspace, letting Lucian carry the sword on his shoulder. It was a measure taken because the boy was clutching it so tightly and refused to let go.
Judging by his soft expression, he seemed quite pleased. Whether it was because of the sword or his new friend, Kaizareu couldn't tell.
There was more than one strange thing about Lucian.
He didn't know much about humans, but he could at least tell that Lucian was not accustomed to human society.
He wasn't a newborn, so how could an eight-year-old have never been to a town before? Did that make any sense?
Besides, seeing how he reacted to Kaizareu's child form and to the boy named Dio, it was painfully obvious he wanted to make friends.
He hadn't seen him when he visited four or five years ago, which meant Lucian hadn't been at the mansion for long...
*'But something holds me back from asking where he came from.'*
His personality would normally have him ask without a second thought. But for some reason, he couldn't be his usual self around Lucian.
He was like a dewdrop that would vanish at the slightest touch.
“Brother! What do you want to eat?”
“I don't have an appetite, so you eat your fill.”
“If there's anything you want, just tell me. I'll buy it all for you!”
*With just one gold coin.*
Kaizareu chuckled and followed behind Lucian.
***
Ria sat on the steps in front of the mansion's main gate, waiting for Lucian and Kaizareu to return.
Four hours had passed since the two had left.
She knew nothing would happen with Kaizareu there, but this was the first time she had been separated from Lucian for so long and at such a distance, so she couldn't help but worry.
“Why are they so late?”
She began to regret sending them to do so many things at once.
Rii~~a~~~!
At the familiar voice, Ria shot up from her seat. She hurried to the very edge of the fence.
From far below, she could see Lucian walking up, his hands full of something and a wide grin on his face. Beside him, Kaizareu also held several skewers in his hand.
*Huh? Skewers?*
“Ria! Look! I bought all this with the leftover money!”
Lucian proudly showed off what he was holding.
It was all food. Stunned for a moment, she looked at Kaizareu, who mumbled around a mouthful of his skewer with a deadpan expression.
“He had one gold left. Insisted on spending every last bit of it.”
[...How do you even buy one gold's worth of snacks?]
One gold wasn't a small amount of money. And he had bought quite a variety, too. Skewers, bread, candy, jellies, juice, and even fried food.
It didn't look like an amount that could possibly be eaten in a single day.
“I did good, right? I spent every last bit of money!”
He looked like he was asking for praise. If he had a tail, it would undoubtedly be wagging furiously.
[You didn't have to spend it all, you know. It's actually better to bring some back.]
Lucian froze. It seemed he had misunderstood her telling him to use the leftover money as he pleased as an order to spend it all.
As Lucian's expression fell, Ria hurriedly said.
[N-no! You did great! The candy and jellies can be stored for days if we keep them well.]
“Right!”
Lucian cheered up again and went inside the mansion, saying he was going to put his things down. Ria, who had been watching his back with a smile, immediately wiped the expression from her face and turned to Kaizareu.
[You were right there. Why didn't you stop him?]
“You should have seen him. Don't even start. He was so excited, running all over the place. I told him to stop, but he said he wanted to try everything.”
[...]
For a moment, she was at a loss for words. Right, this was Lucian's first time out, so everything must have been new and fascinating.
Besides, there was a limit to the kinds of food she could make, and some things could only be eaten when out in town.
It made her wonder if she should give him a separate allowance for snacks every time he went out from now on.
