บท 16: Housing Chamber of Commerce!
Two hours later, Raymond strode out of Greytor's Weapon Shop, his footsteps heavier than usual in his new leather armor and boots. The leather creaked with each step, and he tugged at his collar, clearly unused to the snug fit. Beside him, Arya walked with a spring in her step, beaming with satisfaction as she glanced at him from head to toe.
Raymond flexed his gloved hands, a pair of simple, black leather gloves that offered just enough protection for a novice like him. They were ordinary, but they'd have to do; the other pair he'd admired, the black iron gloves Greytor had proudly named "Grim Reaper"—had a price tag of two hundred gold coins. Raymond had nearly choked when he heard the price.
"Two hundred gold? For gloves?" Raymond had asked, half in shock.
Greytor chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Cheap for a magic device, believe me. But those gloves would be wasted on you right now," he added, his tone more serious. "The stronger the magic, the more powerful the effect. Your magic value isn't high enough to wield something like that yet. Stick to basics for now. You can try again once your magic power increases."
Raymond had nodded, feeling both grateful for the advice and slightly deflated. Out in the street, he cast a glance at the display panel only he could see:
---
Name: Raymond Kelton
Age: 15
Magic Value: 100.1/100.1
Occupation: Fighter
Skills: None
---
"Over 100? Barely," he muttered, noting the decimal increase to 100.1. He hadn't done anything, but somehow, his upper magic limit had nudged up, almost like it was growing of its own accord. Surprised, he wondered aloud, "Does the upper limit just… increase by itself?"
"What's that?" Arya looked over, catching him talking to himself.
"Oh, nothing," he laughed, scratching the back of his head. "Just getting used to this gear, that's all."
He could feel the eyes of passersby lingering on him, some with curious, approving glances. Before he'd left, he hadn't planned on wearing the armor out, but Arya had insisted.
"You're not used to it yet? Then that's all the more reason you should wear it!" She poked his breastplate with a finger. "Better to get comfortable now, because you'll need this when facing monsters. No more complaints."
With a resigned nod, he assured her he'd try to adapt. Arya seemed pleased, but there was a glint in her eye that hinted at something more. She liked the attention he was drawing, maybe even enjoyed the impression it gave others; Raymond wasn't just a regular kid anymore; he was an awakened one.
Am I showing off? Arya quickly shook the thought away, though she couldn't entirely dismiss the proud feeling in her chest.
As they walked, Arya's face turned thoughtful, and she pulled him aside. "By the way, now that you've bought all this gear, we're a little short on gold for a house. So…" she cleared her throat. "We'll have to stay at a hotel for now."
Raymond raised an eyebrow, glancing over his armor and gear. The set had cost nearly thirty gold coins in total, which was more than he'd anticipated. The armor alone was fifteen gold, the gloves another eight, and the boots close to seven. He mentally tallied the remaining coins.
With the thirty gold coins he had left, counting the four gold coins Mrs. Becker had given him as compensation and the single gold coin he'd saved, he knew it wouldn't stretch far.
"We can still check the prices," he said optimistically. "We won't be able to buy anything right now, but at least we'll know what we're working toward."
Arya nodded, though her stomach growled just then, prompting Raymond to chuckle.
"But first, we need food," he said, grinning. "Nothing says 'new beginnings' like a full stomach."
As they made their way toward the market stalls, Arya couldn't help but think how different things felt now. Raymond was starting to look the part of an adventurer, and there was an undeniable spark of possibility in the air.
By the time noon approached, Raymond and Arya's stomachs had started to rumble; they hadn't eaten since early morning. But both were used to it, having lived with such small luxuries for as long as they could remember. Today, however, with a bit more money in their pockets, there was no need to skip meals or settle for the cheapest bites in the South District.
They made their way to a bustling restaurant in the East District, where they finally ordered two full set meals; dishes they'd always admired from afar but never had the coin to splurge on. As their plates arrived, steaming and rich with mouth-watering aromas, Arya's eyes lit up with excitement.
"This smells incredible!" she said, practically bouncing in her seat as she took her first bite. "We've walked past here so many times, and I've always wondered what it tasted like."
Raymond watched her, grinning as she savored each bite. For him, the satisfaction was as much in seeing Arya enjoy the meal as it was in eating it himself.
When they finally left the restaurant, Arya gave a contented sigh but immediately added, "That was amazing, but four silver coins… for one meal! I still feel a bit guilty spending so much."
Raymond chuckled softly, glancing at the price list they'd paid. He had done the math: if one copper coin was roughly a dollar, that made each silver coin the equivalent of a hundred dollars back in his previous world. This meal, in their world, was like spending four hundred dollars. For once, he could laugh about the extravagance.
"We don't have to make it a habit," he replied, patting her on the shoulder as they started toward their next destination. "Now, let's go check out the housing options!"
---
Before long, they arrived at the Housing Chamber of Commerce, a grand building with polished glass windows and intricately carved wooden doors. Raymond was instantly struck by a surprise: all the employees inside were demi-human girls with animal-like ears and tails. Each wore a tailored maid uniform, with crisp white aprons and friendly, professional smiles.
One girl, with soft, fox-like ears and a tail to match, approached them, giving a polite bow. "Hello, adventurers. Are you looking to purchase a home?" Her warm voice and gentle smile made her seem approachable, yet Raymond couldn't help but notice the striking contrast between her demure uniform and… well, the rather low-cut neckline.
Caught off guard, Raymond's eyes lingered for a split second before he remembered Arya standing right beside him. He turned back quickly, clearing his throat, but it was too late; Arya had noticed and shot him a sharp look of disapproval.
"Ahem… yes, we're here to take a look. If we find something suitable, we may be ready to buy." Raymond did his best to play it cool, though he avoided meeting Arya's eyes, focusing instead on the fox-eared girl's polite expression.
The girl's ears perked up as she smiled warmly. "I'd be happy to help! If you have any questions or need specific information, please feel free to ask." Her tone was kind, and her tail gave an enthusiastic little flick.
Raymond hesitated. He didn't know much about what was available or even what to look for. "Actually," he said, choosing his words carefully, "we'd love to know what kinds of homes are available and get a sense of the prices. Can you give us an overview?"
"Certainly!" She gestured for them to follow, leading them to a cozy reception area where plush armchairs awaited. With a graceful wave, she disappeared briefly and returned with a tray bearing delicate pastries and two cups of milk tea, the scent of vanilla and spices wafting up from the drinks.
Both Raymond and Arya glanced at the treats with wide eyes; clearly, this establishment spared no expense in welcoming potential buyers. The milk tea, frothy and aromatic, smelled of premium spices, while the pastries were arranged like tiny works of art.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable," the fox-eared girl said, setting down the tray with a smile. "Take your time, and I'll bring you the information on our current listings."
As Raymond took a sip of the rich, creamy milk tea, he couldn't help but feel a bit out of place, yet a sense of excitement bubbled up inside him. Arya, meanwhile, sampled a pastry, savoring the taste, and gave him a sidelong look.
"You know," she whispered with a grin, "I could get used to this."
Raymond chuckled. "Who knows? Maybe this is just the beginning to the things to come."
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