My Demons

I found myself torn between feeling happy about being called young and feeling sad about being told to stop acting old. Lost in my thoughts, I watched as the previously irritated girl scratched the dirt floor with her foot and let out a sigh before speaking.

“Phew, hey. You’re heading to the workshop later, right?”

“Yeah. Why?” 

“I want to go too.” 

“You too? What for?” 

“If I say I want to go with you, then I simply want to go.”

“Oh, come on. Do you think I have your workshop pass? You need to explain before I decide whether to take you or not.”

In order to talk about the workshop pass, I need to provide some context about the reward I had received.

After the battle at the dockyard, I was granted a substantial reward. I received nine silver coins, and separately, I was supposed to receive a reward from the lord as well.

However, before I could claim my reward, the South Harbour fleet was annihilated. Given the circumstances, it didn’t seem wise to seek my reward, so I remained silent.

During that time, a messenger arrived. It turned out they were distributing rewards to those who had performed well in the battle as part of the militia.

When asked about my preferred reward, I requested access to the lord’s Workshop.

The lord’s Workshop was a place I had learned about through the Grania ruffians. Simply put, it was a gathering place for artisans who worked for the city.

In the lord’s workshop, various equipment was exclusively crafted for the lord and his followers. Since the lord was the most influential and wealthy figure in the city, it naturally attracted the best artisans.

Due to these circumstances, ordinary citizens couldn’t make use of the lord’s workshop. I requested the privilege to utilize this facility.

Later on, I discovered that not only I, but several mercenaries had received the same benefit. The Grania ruffians, who had also distinguished themselves, were among them.

I wasted no time and visited the workshop, selling the weapons and armor I had obtained as spoils of war. With the proceeds, I purchased a helmet, gloves, and boots.

I desired shin guards as well, but my funds fell short. That’s also when I placed an order for a shield.

Ellen’s request to accompany me to the workshop stemmed from this. However, she had not received the right to use the workshop herself.

“It’s fine if you want to come, but if the guards ask, you’ll have to explain.” 

“Can’t I just say I came to look around?”

“What if you end up wanting to buy something and get into trouble?”

“Grr,” Ellen grumbled. After a moment of chewing her lips, she continued, “I’ll buy a crossbow. Even a small one.”

“A crossbow? You mean a ballista?” I asked.

“No, a crossbow!”

“Whether it’s a ballista or a crossbow… but why all of a sudden?”

She scowled in response to my question, seemingly unable to understand, and muttered under her breath, “Just like someone said, I’m useless. I should at least carry something to contribute. But I can’t handle any other weapons.”

Numerous reasons to dissuade her immediately came to mind, but I refrained from voicing them.

Her determination to contribute in some way was both pitiful and admirable.

So, after hesitating for a moment, I cautiously asked, 

“…But do you have money? Crossbows are expensive. Oh, and-“

“Hu?”

“I’m just saying, I usually don’t lend money to acquaintances.” 

Looking at me, Ellen made a face as if she was questioning my character. It seemed like she was thinking, ‘What kind of person is this?’

No, I’m not a heartless person who wouldn’t help a friend in need, you know?

“Hmm, I can lend you some if there’s adequate collateral and interest.” 

“I don’t need it, you dummy.” 

“Oh, okay.”

…Was that not the response she was expecting?

On our way to the workshop, Gillius, who had just woken up from his hangover, joined us. He needed to get his armor repaired and reinforced.

During our walk, Gillius continued to express his concern, specifically about the shield I had ordered.

“No matter how much I think about it, it feels like a mistake. Even if you’re strong, if the shield is made according to your specifications, it might be difficult to handle properly, right?”

“Don’t worry. It will be fine.” 

The round shield used by Grania and Gillius was a large shield that could cover the upper body. It had a chunk of iron embedded in the middle and was covered with rawhide, but the rest was made of wood, so it wasn’t overly heavy.

It weighed roughly around 4 to 5 kilograms. To me, it felt a bit light.

When I voiced my thoughts, Gillius made a perplexed expression. “You think it’s light? It’s just right for use in actual combat.”

“Actually, I don’t really mind if it’s light. The issue is that it seems to split more easily than expected,” I replied.

“A shield only needs to block a few arrows. What more do you want? Are you planning to block a giant’s axe?” Gillius, a seasoned mercenary with a beard as thick as his experience, spoke with authority when it came to battles and equipment.

“And since it breaks so easily, shouldn’t you carry a spare shield? How much did you pay for that shield you ordered?”

“It cost eight silver pennies.”

“What a waste… It’s a shame, boy,” Gillius clicked his tongue disapprovingly. But I had my own reasons.

If I were to participate only in large-scale battles like the outpost battle, it would be better to carry a lightweight regular shield. Even if it splits or bends, it would still be able to block a few arrows effectively, and in close combat, I could quickly switch to a spare shield.

However, I wanted to avoid war as much as possible.

I didn’t enjoy killing people, and I despised situations where I had to rely on luck to dodge blind arrows or spear thrusts in chaotic melees.

Most importantly, for the progression of the scenario, I had to fight monsters, not people.

The monsters in this world were sure to deliver far more dangerous attacks than humans. I couldn’t risk my life with a lightweight and cost-effective shield.

Besides, I wasn’t in a position to compare myself to regular mercenaries. I was supposed to save the Middle World while advancing the scenario, after all.

Seeing that I remained resolute in my thoughts, Gillius shifted his focus.

“Well then, young lady, have you ever handled a crossbow?” he asked Ellen with a mischievous glint in his eyes. But Ellen responded to him in her usual manner.

As always, she promptly rejected his proposition.

I had grown quite friendly with the mercenaries of Grania, but Ellen didn’t even engage with them. She only seemed to converse with Sister Olga, with whom she shared a room. Although Sister Olga was a mercenary, her primary role was that of a cleric, so Ellen treated her differently.

But when it came to the other mercenaries, she didn’t give them any attention. It was as if they didn’t exist.

When I asked her about the reason behind her behavior, her response was quite surprising.

“Are you asking because you don’t know? All mercenaries are just thieves and robbers. The best policy is to avoid those dirty wild dogs,” Ellen replied, her tone filled with disdain.

“Well, aren’t we both in the same mercenary boat?” I retorted.

“Don’t even joke about such a terrifying thought. I’m a wizard by nature, not a mercenary,” she replied with a hint of pride.

“And what about me?” 

“Well… I don’t know about you,” she responded, giving me a look that suggested, ‘You should know that I will treat you differently.’

I couldn’t quite understand why she was so confident, especially considering that she couldn’t even use magic. But I suppose her pride was somewhat understandable.

I wasn’t sure if Ellen’s behavior stemmed from her personal preference or if it was a common sentiment among the wizards from the La-Palais palace.

As someone who used to skip campaign text, I hadn’t delved into the background setting, so I couldn’t say for certain.

Gillius made several attempts to strike up a conversation, despite being completely ignored by Ellen. But she didn’t even spare him a glance and continued to ignore his efforts.

“Hey, Ellen. The old man is asking you something,” I interjected.

“Don’t talk to me, it’s annoying,” she snapped back.

…So haughty.

I wasn’t sure if it was better to be ignored while being snapped at or to be completely ignored. But I supposed getting some kind of reaction was better. They say it’s scarier to be slightly ignored than to be completely ostracized.

“But she always responds to your questions. Can you ask her instead?” Gillius suggested.

“She won’t answer because of her character. Later, when we’re looking at items in the workshop, try giving her some advice, Gillius. Even if she’s ignoring you, she can probably hear you.”

“Hmm, should I?” Gillius pondered.

While other mercenaries found Ellen’s responses unpleasant, Gillius was an exception. She reminded him of his son, whom he had left in his hometown.

I couldn’t see how Gillius’s son, who resembled an orc, could resemble the typical noblewoman Ellen. Perhaps it was the lack of courtesy that they shared?

With those thoughts in mind, we arrived at the workshop.

“Oh, Phoenix, Gillius! I’ve been waiting for you,” greeted a freckled young man with a smile. His name was Ilton.

Ah, I was mistaken last time. Ilton wasn’t the best craftsman in the city, but one of the apprentices learning in the workshop.

He played a role similar to that of a receptionist, managing the tasks of other craftsmen.

Thinking about it, it was obvious. A young man, let alone a youth, mastering all the high-level techniques like armor making, leather crafting, and blacksmithing didn’t make sense in the first place.

During gameplay, I skipped all of Ilton’s lines and hadn’t paid much attention to the surroundings, which led to my misunderstanding.

I should have read the text a bit more carefully and paid closer attention to my surroundings. It didn’t matter much now, but I couldn’t help but worry about the future.

“The goods? Are they ready?” 

“Yes, just wait a moment!” 

Despite his large size, he had a young face that hadn’t lost its naivety. His bright and cheerful demeanor could bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Ilton hurried through the bustling workshop and returned with my shield and Gillius’s armor.

I didn’t pay much attention to Gillius’s repaired and slightly reinforced leather armor, but my shield was different.

“Oh, it’s quite substantial.”

“Right? We made it to the weight you requested… It’s not too heavy, is it?”

“No! It’s just perfect.”

When I smiled with satisfaction, Ilton also let out a sigh of relief, as if he was relieved.

Well, there probably aren’t many people ordering shields of this specification. If I had rejected it just because I didn’t like it, it would have been sent straight to the warehouse.

The shield I received was about 70 centimeters in diameter, quite large compared to the average.

It was also quite heavy, probably around 10 kilograms. It would have been cumbersome to carry if it were Kim Seung-soo’s body, but for Phoenix, it was just the right amount of sturdiness.

The outer surface was covered with thick leather over steel, and on the inside, there was a handle shaped like the letter ‘己’ and a leather strap to hang it on the shoulder.

While I examined the shield, Ilton provided detailed explanations.

“We used wooden planks soaked in a mixture of ox urine and Debeleshi (a small demon) blood and let them rest for a week. And as a bonus, they were dried in the sun by the seaside for three days.”

“What? I placed the request five days ago.”

“Well, of course, it was originally in the workshop. It’s the material used for the shields of the Lord’s personal guards. Well, the shields for the guards are heated to give them a curve… but since they’re all sturdy anyway…”

“Oh, I see.”

“We used two types of leather. The inside is lined with tanned cowhide, and the outside is covered with the leather of an Arang (Demi dragon) baked in a kiln.”

As I wiped the surface of the shield upon Ilton’s explanation, I could feel the rough and scaly texture characteristic of reptile leather.

The Arang was a monster that resembled an enlarged Komodo dragon.

It was a formidable creature in the game, with superior overall stats and a biting attack that inflicted poison damage. It was quite a challenging opponent.

But as far as I know, it doesn’t appear until Chapter 2, right?

“But were there Arangs nearby? How did you obtain them?”

“Of course, there aren’t any nearby. We procured them in advance before the city was sealed off.”

Saying that, Ilton scratched his cheek.

“Actually, half of the commission fee is for the Arang leather. It’s only the side leather, so it’s about that price. If we had used the back or head leather, the price would have easily doubled.”

“Well, I see. Anyway, I’m really satisfied. Here’s the remaining payment.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

After handing over the remaining payment in silver coins, I hung the shield I had been holding on my waist.

And then, I slung the newly acquired round shield on my shoulder… Ah, the solid stability. I really like it.

After completing my transaction, I selected a crossbow that Ellen could use.

She had sold one of the rings she had for the purpose of buying the crossbow. It was just a silver ring with a piece of obsidian embedded in it.

I had offered to lend her money if she had an item with a story behind it as collateral, but she told me to go to hell… Was charging interest a bit excessive?

Anyway, it seems that it was just an item that could be sold without any problem. She received eight silver coins for the ring, which had some value.

Having prepared the money like that, an unexpected problem arose.