Chapter Eight: Before the Storm
The sun was setting, so we went back to the inn for that day and focused on treating Raphtalia’s wounds.
I poured the holy water into a different bottle so I could use it to soak bandages. And then I wrapped those around her body.
There was a soft hiss, and black smoke slowly snaked from the bandages. Her skin was looking much better, but apparently the root of the curse was still in there somewhere. If we kept up with her treatment the wounds were sure to heal though.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh, yes. It’s like... it’s like… itchy, and my muscles relax. It feels strange.”
“Oh…”
I wanted her to get better as soon as possible. Especially considering that I was the one who had hurt her.
“The places that you’ve treated feel much better than they did, Mr. Naofumi.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I wanted her to be completely healed. How much longer would that take?
“Hey, no fair! Big Sister gets to cuddle Master all by herself!”
Filo knew that we were trying to treat Raphtalia’s curse, but she never missed a chance to yell something annoying.
“We are not CUDDLING!”
“She’s right. We are trying to heal Raphtalia’s wounds.”
Cuddling? Is that what she thought? Oh well. Where did she even learn a word like that? Regardless, we weren’t cuddling. Raphtalia and I did not have that kind of relationship.
“Oh… Because Raphtalia is all black?”
“I wouldn’t phrase it that way.”
They were becoming good friends.
“Well, the next wave will be here soon. Why don’t we head back to Castle Town, pick up the new stuff from the weapons guy, and then take it easy?”
“Okaaaay!”
“That is a good idea. We’ve been very busy lately. A little break would be wonderful.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”
“Master, are you going to make food for us?”
“Sure. Maybe we can borrow that metal plate from the weapon shop guy again.”
“Yay!”
We spent the rest of the night tending to Raphtalia’s wounds, and then we went to bed.
After a few days of meticulous holy water application, Raphtalia was completely cured. I was so relieved that worked so quickly.
We decided to stop our traveling sales activities for the moment and went back to Castle Town to see what kind of things the weapon shop owner had prepared for us.
The wave would be here soon enough, so it was high time we got prepared in earnest.
We arrived at the weapon shop just as he was opening his doors for the day.
“Hey kid, you’re out bright and early.”
“I guess. Well? How’d it go?”
“Check it out.”
The old guy went into the back of the shop and came out with his arms full of my new equipment.
It was made from bits of chimera and dragon bones: Bone Mail… Except that it looked almost exactly like the equipment I already had.
It looked like something an apocalyptic gang member might wear.
Honestly, from a distance it looked the exact same as my current armor. Except that it had some glossy parts, and some color here and there.
“Old dude, are you trying to turn me into the boss of a bandit team?”
I guess it was because he’d made it from parts of the bandits’ armor, but it would have been nice if he had taken it in a different direction.
“Huh? What are you talking about, kid?”
Was I supposed to wear that? I know it was a fantasy world, but it was starting to feel like all of my clothes had a villainous look to them.
“What do you call that armor?”
“Well, it’s all custom, so I don’t even know. How about Barbarian Armor +1?”
“I don’t think the +1 really captures all you’ve done.”
The armor had been held together with a denim-like fabric before, and that had been replaced by dragon skin, which looked like glossy black rubber.
Around the chest was a plate of metal. It really didn’t look any different.
Barbarian Armor +1: defense up: attack endurance (medium): fire resistance (strong): shadow resistance (strong): HP restore (weak): magic up (medium), magic defense processing: automatic recovery function
The armor came with a whole list of resistances.
Automatic recovery, I think that was pretty much self-explanatory. It would probably repair itself if it broke.
If the armor came with so many different functions, I’d probably never take it off.
“What is it, kid?”
“I thought maybe you were holding out hopes for me.”
There had to be some reasons that he made the clothes the way he did. Did he want people to think I was a criminal?
“Master, are you going to ride on me dressed like that? I hope so! Guess what? I found some black glasses? I think it would be fun to run if we were wearing these.”
Filo was staring at me, her eyes shining. What was she up to?
“Kid. When that bird-girl is in her human form and she yells ‘ride me,’ there are bound to be some misinterpretations.”
“Shut up! You know we don’t mean it like that!”
I wondered, did he just think of armor making as a way to piss me off? Was this some kind of joke to him?
“What is it, kid?”
I guess not. He didn’t seem to have anything but good intentions.
“Oh, um… Nothing. I’ll take it.”
Raphtalia was standing off to the side, saying how cool I looked. Whatever.
If I walked around town dressed like this, I was going to stick out like a sore thumb.
“All right, what should we do?” If we wanted to get any stronger, we’d have to find some way to class¬ up Raphtalia and Filo.
When the wave came, we’d be automatically summoned. If so, why not use our time on a trip to the neighboring country where we could make some money and level up a bit?
“We still have some time before the wave comes. Raphtalia, Filo, do you guys want any accessories?”
“Accessories?”
“Yeah, to compliment your equipment. I think we could get some made up easily enough.”
I’d made up my mind to try and get them some kind of present for their efforts. This was a good time to do it.
“Raphtalia, you’re getting to the age where you probably have started to care about that kind of stuff, right?”
“I... Uh…”
“Me tooo!”
“I know. That’s why I asked you both if you wanted anything.”
Raphtalia looked like she was a little stunned. Was what I was saying really all that surprising?
“Hey! You know what I want? A hairpin!”
So Filo wanted a hairpin? That was a shock… I thought for sure she would ask for a saddle or something.
“A hairpin? Why?”
“It won’t pinch me when I transform!”
I guess she was still worried about that. Whatever, if she put it on her head she would be just fine. And considering how young she looked when she was in human form, it actually wasn’t inappropriate at all. “Raphtalia, what do you want?” “Me? Hmm…” She thought about it for a moment before looking at me and answering. “I’d like a bangle. But I would like it to be imbued with equip effects.” “What?” “I would like something that will contribute to my abilities, Mr. Naofumi.” What was she hinting at? She had responded differently than I’d expected, and I couldn’t quite follow along.
I thought she would want a ring, or earrings, or a necklace, but she wanted a bangle—and it had to have equip effects. I’m sure it was my fault for raising her this way.
“Oh, um. Okay then. I’ll see what I can do.” “Me tooooo!” “Okay, okay.”
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