I continue exploring . This area seemed to be on the outskirts, with few pa.s.sersby . But there were a number of small shops and diners here as well . A corner for little-known establishments . I decided to enter the first one that caught my eye .

It was a store for magic tools . I could see that they had the security contraptions as well as other things that were a complete mystery to me . They even had something similar to Daniela’s barrier tools behind a gla.s.s case .

“Let’s see…what, fifty gold pieces…?”

That was the cost of just one of the barrier tools . And Daniela had four of them . Two hundred gold pieces… You could also say two wyverns . You could buy my equipment three times over and still receive change . It was something we used a lot, and perhaps it was actually cheap considering what it did, but that was a lot more than I was expecting . It wasn’t something I could easily buy . My equipment had originally cost 400 gold pieces, with the price only collapsing thanks to Matsumoto’s efforts .

“She must have worked really hard to get these…”

The road to ama.s.sing two hundred gold pieces would have been long . I had really just been lucky . It was a good reminder of just what she was capable of . Especially considering that she herself had said that she ‘had fought very little . ’ I was catching up to her in terms of level and status, but the skill to make that much money up until now was worthy of a genius . The skill to do that with lower stats and minimum combat . I couldn’t stop being impressed by it . Funny how just looking at some barrier tools made me consider all of this .

Hmm . I made a short tour of the store, but I really didn’t know how any of these things worked . I went around nodding while thinking, ‘You, strange guy . What are you even supposed to do?’ I quickly realized that there was no point in being there, and so I left . I would have to come back with Daniela when we visit the Tree Stump Arbor . Look forward to it, strange guy .

“Uhh…I’m exhausted . My feet hurt . ”

I was thinking about returning soon, but I couldn’t even remember how I got here . And so I used Presence Detection . This told me that there was a crowd of people gathered quite far away . That must be the main street . There was another ma.s.s of people gathered in a district a little further from the main street . Some kind of commercial facility? It piqued my curiosity, so I decided to walk there .

But my feet were really killing me . It was very much that feeling you have when you are trying to go home after a long night s.h.i.+ft, and your bike has a flat tire, so you rub your tired eyes as you walk home, all the while b.u.mping into people who are on their way to work . I started looking for a place to rest, and since there was a park nearby, I headed straight for it .

“Ahhh…d.a.m.n it…”

I thought it had only been my feet, but sitting down on the bench revealed that my entire body was overwhelmed with fatigue . I needed shoes that were easier to walk in, like sneakers… These leather shoes were made from the a.s.sault kobold, and were better than the average shoes around here . But it wasn’t the same .

“And it’s not like they make me fast like the a.s.sault kobold…”

I wasn’t really sure, as these were my first monster shoes, but I wondered if it would change anything if I had some magic flow into them . Then I realized that I had never poured any magic into my armor or clothes either . I did check the magical enchantments they had… Well, as I was currently wearing the wind dragon trousers, I decided to try it out .

“Ah, hmm?”

A short burst of wind spun around my legs and rose into the sky before it vanished . My body suddenly felt lighter .

“I’ll try to run then…”

After checking to see that no one was watching, I started to jog lightly . My body felt surprisingly light, the feeling of fatigue from before was completely gone . Are you kidding me? The difference was ma.s.sive . Though, the soles of my feet still hurt .

“Talk about sitting on a gold mine . ”

Ignorance really was a crime . I was the idiot who had bought expensive gear without making the most of it . Was there anyone so stupid and sad? I’m truly a lost cause .

Still, if this was the result of doing it on just my trousers, what kind of madness would ensue if I poured magic into the poncho and waist mantle too? Wearing the ice dragon light armor would increase the weight, but the possible effects were almost frightening to consider .

And these leather shoes from the a.s.sault kobold . What would happen if I poured magic into these? I think back to that time that I fought against him . When he had used all of his power, he had practically disappeared . It was likely that I may be able to do something similar depending on how much magic I sent into them . A rookie Adventurer would probably not be able to see me .

I was still at the Crystal rank at the time, and my eyes couldn’t follow him . A huge part of why I was able to beat him, was that I relied on intuition . Even now, I was not confident I would be able to beat him if we could face off again…

No, that’s not good . Thinking about it is making me feel depressed . I should just try pouring magic into them for now .

“Hmm…ah…huh…!?”

The moment the magic began to flow, I felt the sensation of something flowing back into me .

And it didn’t stop . The leather shoes sucked my magic and in turn, leaked out a pitch black miasma . It was a…grudge?

All I felt was the continuous emotion of hate towards the one called Asagi Kamiyas.h.i.+ro .

All I felt was the continuous emotion of hate towards the one called Asagi Kamiyas.h.i.+ro .

“s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+t…!”

Frantically, my hands reached down to remove the shoes, and my hands came in contact with the dark miasma . It tangles and wraps around my fingers, clasping my hand . It envelopes it and takes shape like a glove . The nails are abnormally long, like claws .

“You, d.a.m.n it!”

It was the a.s.sault kobold’s hand . Even in this state, he was trying to get me .

I tear the stuff off of my hands and grab the shoe . The magic continues to be drawn from me, but I ignore it as I tear the shoes off of my foot .

“d.a.m.n…what the…!”

Was there anything more ridiculous than I guy fighting with his shoes in the park on an afternoon? s.h.i.+t . The shoes on the ground were still unleas.h.i.+ng the dark miasma . They looked like they might just start moving on their own at any moment .

I thought it would never disappear, but it started to thin after five minutes and was completely gone after ten . However, I no longer felt like touching them, much less wear them .

I took off the cloth wrappings from around my feet, which were subst.i.tutes for socks . To my shock, both of my feet had markings as if they had been gripped by something . It was chilling, but the reason for it was obvious . These extreme mutated monsters were a threat even after death… I was now glad that my dragon armor was from younger dragons . Thanks, Matsumoto . You truly are a Hero .

I thought it would never disappear, but it started to thin after five minutes and was completely gone after ten . However, I no longer felt like touching them, much less wear them .

I took off the cloth wrappings from around my feet, which were subst.i.tutes for socks . To my shock, both of my feet had markings as if they had been gripped by something . It was chilling, but the reason for it was obvious . These extreme mutated monsters were a threat even after death… I was now glad that my dragon armor was from younger dragons . Thanks, Matsumoto . You truly are a Hero .

“Still, these feet and shoes…what am I going to do…”

I was hated by these shoes that were in front of me . And now there were markings on my feet as if I had been cursed . …Was I cursed? Was I going to be alright?

“s.h.i.+t! This is from the a.s.sault kobold too!”

I frantically tear off the necklace I had been wearing in a misguided attempt at being fas.h.i.+onable . This was also a product of the kobold . And this sword that hung at my belt as well . This was terrible…I couldn’t keep anything besides my clothes and light armor . I would be unarmed .

“Ahhh…shoe store…and a weapon store…”

I never would have thought that a weapon made by a blacksmith who was a.s.sociated with the guild would end up cursing me… This was dreadful . It was cursed, right? Definitely . Ahh, there was no point in thinking about it now . I just need something to wear, so I would have to return to the inn for now . I’ll discuss it with Daniela, then buy some new shoes .

I really could not have predicted this…if I had done this during combat, I would have died .

My ignorance saved me .

I encased the sword, shoes, and necklace in ice and carried them with me . At first, I wondered if it wouldn’t suck the magic from the ice, but it seemed to be fine, as long as I didn’t touch it directly . I took the now somewhat safe cargo with me and used Presence Detection to navigate my way back to the main street . Many eyes gave me suspicious stares as I quickly made my way back to the Leaves in Sunlight Inn .

I continue exploring . This area seemed to be on the outskirts, with few pa.s.sersby . But there were a number of small shops and diners here as well . A corner for little-known establishments . I decided to enter the first one that caught my eye

It was a store for magic tools . I could see that they had the security contraptions as well as other things that were a complete mystery to me . They even had something similar to Daniela’s barrier tools behind a gla.s.s case

 .

“Let’s see…what, fifty gold pieces…?”.

 .

That was the cost of just one of the barrier tools . And Daniela had four of them . Two hundred gold pieces… You could also say two wyverns . You could buy my equipment three times over and still receive change . It was something we used a lot, and perhaps it was actually cheap considering what it did, but that was a lot more than I was expecting . It wasn’t something I could easily buy . My equipment had originally cost 400 gold pieces, with the price only collapsing thanks to Matsumoto’s efforts

 .

“She must have worked really hard to get these…”.

 .

The road to ama.s.sing two hundred gold pieces would have been long . I had really just been lucky . It was a good reminder of just what she was capable of . Especially considering that she herself had said that she ‘had fought very little . ’ I was catching up to her in terms of level and status, but the skill to make that much money up until now was worthy of a genius . The skill to do that with lower stats and minimum combat . I couldn’t stop being impressed by it . Funny how just looking at some barrier tools made me consider all of this

 .

Hmm . I made a short tour of the store, but I really didn’t know how any of these things worked . I went around nodding while thinking, ‘You, strange guy . What are you even supposed to do?’ I quickly realized that there was no point in being there, and so I left . I would have to come back with Daniela when we visit the Tree Stump Arbor . Look forward to it, strange guy

 .

“Uhh…I’m exhausted . My feet hurt . ”.

 .

I was thinking about returning soon, but I couldn’t even remember how I got here . And so I used Presence Detection . This told me that there was a crowd of people gathered quite far away . That must be the main street . There was another ma.s.s of people gathered in a district a little further from the main street . Some kind of commercial facility? It piqued my curiosity, so I decided to walk there

 .

But my feet were really killing me . It was very much that feeling you have when you are trying to go home after a long night s.h.i.+ft, and your bike has a flat tire, so you rub your tired eyes as you walk home, all the while b.u.mping into people who are on their way to work . I started looking for a place to rest, and since there was a park nearby, I headed straight for it

 .

“Ahhh…d.a.m.n it…”.

 .

I thought it had only been my feet, but sitting down on the bench revealed that my entire body was overwhelmed with fatigue . I needed shoes that were easier to walk in, like sneakers… These leather shoes were made from the a.s.sault kobold, and were better than the average shoes around here . But it wasn’t the same

 .

“And it’s not like they make me fast like the a.s.sault kobold…”.

 .

I wasn’t really sure, as these were my first monster shoes, but I wondered if it would change anything if I had some magic flow into them . Then I realized that I had never poured any magic into my armor or clothes either . I did check the magical enchantments they had… Well, as I was currently wearing the wind dragon trousers, I decided to try it out

 .

“Ah, hmm?”.

 .

A short burst of wind spun around my legs and rose into the sky before it vanished . My body suddenly felt lighter

 .

“I’ll try to run then…”.

 .

After checking to see that no one was watching, I started to jog lightly . My body felt surprisingly light, the feeling of fatigue from before was completely gone . Are you kidding me? The difference was ma.s.sive . Though, the soles of my feet still hurt

 .

“Talk about sitting on a gold mine . ”.

 .

Ignorance really was a crime . I was the idiot who had bought expensive gear without making the most of it . Was there anyone so stupid and sad? I’m truly a lost cause

Still, if this was the result of doing it on just my trousers, what kind of madness would ensue if I poured magic into the poncho and waist mantle too? Wearing the ice dragon light armor would increase the weight, but the possible effects were almost frightening to consider

 .

And these leather shoes from the a.s.sault kobold . What would happen if I poured magic into these? I think back to that time that I fought against him . When he had used all of his power, he had practically disappeared . It was likely that I may be able to do something similar depending on how much magic I sent into them . A rookie Adventurer would probably not be able to see me

I was still at the Crystal rank at the time, and my eyes couldn’t follow him . A huge part of why I was able to beat him, was that I relied on intuition . Even now, I was not confident I would be able to beat him if we could face off again….

No, that’s not good . Thinking about it is making me feel depressed . I should just try pouring magic into them for now

 .

“Hmm…ah…huh…!?”.

 .

The moment the magic began to flow, I felt the sensation of something flowing back into me

And it didn’t stop . The leather shoes sucked my magic and in turn, leaked out a pitch black miasma . It was a…grudge?.

All I felt was the continuous emotion of hate towards the one called Asagi Kamiyas.h.i.+ro

 .

“s.h.i.+-s.h.i.+t…!”.

 .

Frantically, my hands reached down to remove the shoes, and my hands came in contact with the dark miasma . It tangles and wraps around my fingers, clasping my hand . It envelopes it and takes shape like a glove . The nails are abnormally long, like claws

 .

“You, d.a.m.n it!”.

 .

It was the a.s.sault kobold’s hand . Even in this state, he was trying to get me

 .

I tear the stuff off of my hands and grab the shoe . The magic continues to be drawn from me, but I ignore it as I tear the shoes off of my foot

 .

“d.a.m.n…what the…!”.

 .

Was there anything more ridiculous than I guy fighting with his shoes in the park on an afternoon? s.h.i.+t . The shoes on the ground were still unleas.h.i.+ng the dark miasma . They looked like they might just start moving on their own at any moment

 .

I thought it would never disappear, but it started to thin after five minutes and was completely gone after ten . However, I no longer felt like touching them, much less wear them

I took off the cloth wrappings from around my feet, which were subst.i.tutes for socks . To my shock, both of my feet had markings as if they had been gripped by something . It was chilling, but the reason for it was obvious . These extreme mutated monsters were a threat even after death… I was now glad that my dragon armor was from younger dragons . Thanks, Matsumoto . You truly are a Hero

 .

“Still, these feet and shoes…what am I going to do…”.

 .

I was hated by these shoes that were in front of me . And now there were markings on my feet as if I had been cursed . …Was I cursed? Was I going to be alright?.

 .

“s.h.i.+t! This is from the a.s.sault kobold too!”.

 .

I frantically tear off the necklace I had been wearing in a misguided attempt at being fas.h.i.+onable . This was also a product of the kobold . And this sword that hung at my belt as well . This was terrible…I couldn’t keep anything besides my clothes and light armor . I would be unarmed

 .

“Ahhh…shoe store…and a weapon store…”.

 .

I never would have thought that a weapon made by a blacksmith who was a.s.sociated with the guild would end up cursing me… This was dreadful . It was cursed, right? Definitely . Ahh, there was no point in thinking about it now . I just need something to wear, so I would have to return to the inn for now . I’ll discuss it with Daniela, then buy some new shoes

I really could not have predicted this…if I had done this during combat, I would have died

My ignorance saved me

 .

I encased the sword, shoes, and necklace in ice and carried them with me . At first, I wondered if it wouldn’t suck the magic from the ice, but it seemed to be fine, as long as I didn’t touch it directly . I took the now somewhat safe cargo with me and used Presence Detection to navigate my way back to the main street . Many eyes gave me suspicious stares as I quickly made my way back to the Leaves in Sunlight Inn