Is That My Alter Ego

13 – A Date?!

“As expected, it’s our commander! Thank you!!”

“Hmm. Eat well and take a rest.”

– Woohoo! Our commander is the best!

– This is it~

– Hands off my legs! Don’t touch!

– Where! I’m first!

First, we stopped by a nearby restaurant and, like last time, treated the mercenaries to fried chicken and beer. Since they liked the place last time, I chose it again.

As always, just as expected. With the sudden break provided, the mercenaries seemed ready to gamble right away.

“As expected… It’s the excellent posture of our commander!”

“Cough.”

Why is Seris suddenly sparkling beside me again with compliments? It’s not that I dislike it…

It feels a bit embarrassing. Still, I didn’t feel the need to refuse.

“Alright. Then, let’s head straight to the armor shop.”

“Yes! Understood, Captain! Let’s go quickly…. I mean, let’s take it slow!!”

Usually, people say, “Let’s go quickly,” here, right? I’ve been feeling this since last time, but Ceris seems to be a bit peculiar.

Well, charming and nice. Anyway, we set out to find the armor shop in Leria Village.

“Hmm… Where should we start looking.”

I clenched my fist and began to contemplate for a moment. Since Leria Village isn’t small, there were naturally several armor shops.

Among them, where should we go first? I’m a novice in these matters.

And truth be told, I’ve never been to an armor shop before, so I didn’t know which one was outstanding.

Our Sky Mercenary Unit has always been short of money.

Starting with this opportunity, spend money freely, earn more money with it, and grow. That’s the plan, right!

“Um, Captain. May I take the lead?”

“Sure. Lead the way. I’ll follow right after.”

“Yes! I’ll treat you to the best route…!”

Ceris, who seemed excited about getting new armor, confidently stepped forward, her eyes sparkling, and began to walk.

‘I understand that feeling too!’

The joy of clearing a quest in the game, buying excellent equipment with the rewards, and savoring its performance…!

Truly, it’s an inexhaustible joy. Ceris probably feels a similar emotion.

“Uh… uh…!”

“Hmm?”

What? Weren’t we going to the armor shop? Suddenly changing direction, Ceris was heading towards some merchant instead.

Upon closer inspection, the street

“Uh…hm. Alright then. Just give me one skewer.”

“Yes. That will be two coins.”

I absolutely wasn’t scared because of those empty, mad eyes. Absolutely not.

Anyway, I ordered a skewer, and as I only had gold coins on me, I paid with one.

Seeing the gold coin, the stall owner’s eyes widened in surprise. He said he only had ninety silver coins for change, so I just asked for what he had.

“Thank you so much, sir! I will prepare the most delicious one for you!!”

The stall owner, continuously bowing, then began to make the skewer as if he was in a battle with it.

-Whoosh!

“Hooh…”

[Name: Kug / Age: 34 / Male. / Status: In high spirits]

[Unique Ability (Flame): Can use basic flame magic.]

Curious about the stall owner who was producing fire from his hands, I used my talent insight and, as expected, he had a flame-related ability.

Even with such abilities, many people live ordinary lives.

‘If it were me, I’d be going crazy, trying to be a mercenary with even a small ability like that.’

This must be what’s ‘ordinary’ in this world. It was a moment that made me feel, once again, that I had come to another world.

“Sorry for the wait! Here, the skewer I put my soul into!!”

“Hm. Thank you.”

“Farewell! Take care, sir!! Thank you!!”

I left the bowing owner, who bent at a 90-degree angle, behind and started to find my way again.

“Lieutenant Seris. Let’s eat.”

Because Seris had been waiting for it. Since I didn’t really have any intention of eating it, I planned to give it to Seris right away.

“No…uh…Donjangnim should have a bite too!”

“Hmm. I don’t feel like it right now, so it’s alright.”

“Uh…uh…? This isn’t right…?”

Suddenly, Seris turned around and muttered something. What’s going on? Did she suddenly lose her appetite?

“Listen carefully. It’ll taste even better if you eat it before it gets cold.”

“No…no! Donjangnim! Have a bite!”

“I don’t have the intention to eat…”

“I won’t eat until Donjangnim has at least one bite!”

Uh…hmm.

She must be considering me by just watching me eat, right? Seeing her so determined, I can’t help it.

“Hmm. Then I’ll just have one bite.”

“Yes…yes!”

Munch-

In my mouth, the tender chicken and the sweet yet slightly spicy sauce harmonize.

It was a perfectly made chicken skewer. I used to really love these when I was young.

When I was young…that’s what they say.

“Now it’s Seris’s turn to eat. I’ll discard the part that I touched…”

“No…no! I absolutely can’t discard it! Please give it to me!”

“Uh…it’s right here.”

It seemed like there was a tremendous aversion to wasting food.

Well, that’s a good habit.

“Th… The part that the boss’s mouth touched…! *gulp*!”

Ceris, who had been staring at the chicken skewer as if it would disappear with her gaze, muttered something and hastily started eating the skewer.

How much she must have wanted to eat it. From now on, I should buy plenty of other food as well.

“Hu… hahahaha… Inside me…”

“Have you finished eating, Assistant Commander Ceris?”

“Yes… Yes! Now let’s go to the armor shop…!”

In an instant, Ceris finished off a large chicken skewer.

The chicken skewer was delicious. Ceris stumbled a bit, but with a brighter face than before, she began to make her way towards the armor shop.

***

“Come back again later.”

“Yes. Then…”

This must have been my third visit to the armor shop. I left without buying anything, empty-handed.

*Sigh*… It’s a bit lacking. It doesn’t sit well with me.

The reason I haven’t purchased any armor despite visiting three armor shops already.

It was simply because I didn’t like the condition of the armor that I had scrutinized for potential.

I’m not one to skimp on equipment. I need good equipment to be able to showcase my skills.

Haven’t you heard that a craftsman doesn’t blame their tools? Of course, it’s natural.

Someone who can be called a craftsman already has excellent tools, so naturally they wouldn’t blame their tools.

“Captain, did you not like this place either…?”

“Well, it seems a bit lacking…”

Since we planned to buy armor for the entire Scar Mercenary Corps, we had expected to spend a large amount of money.

However, the quality of the armor we saw at the armor shop, despite its high price, was either in poor condition or mediocre.

“Well, there’s one last place remaining. Would you like to go there?”

“I’m sorry, Ceris, Deputy Captain.”

Am I being too picky? I felt sorry for taking up Ceris’ time for no reason.

“Oh… no, Captain! I actually prefer it…! Cough. I have a lot of free time, so…”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“T-Then, I will take you to the last armor shop…!”

As expected… there’s only Ceris. If there was someone wasting time like this, even I would have gotten annoyed…

Ceris, instead of getting annoyed, went towards the armor shop with a consistent smile on her face.

“Thank you… Ceris!!”

I silently expressed my tearful gratitude and followed Ceris.

***

“Here is the last armor shop in the village of Leria.”

“Hmm… it’s old.”

-Spin’s Forge-

At a glance, it looked old, and even some of the letters on the sign were erased, making it difficult to read.

“But isn’t that a good thing?”

Having played games extensively, as a seasoned player, I felt a certain intuition kick in.

The shabbier the blacksmith shop, the more likely it harbors an exceptional blacksmith! I’ve seen this cliché countless times – only in such places can one truly find outstanding equipment!

And isn’t there a saying? “To be old is to have survived.”

The fact that the building was this dilapidated meant it must have been due to considerable skill!

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes!”

Creeeak…

Opening the door, which emitted the sound of old hinges, I stepped into the dust-filled blacksmith shop, my heart trembling with anticipation.

“Hmm.”

The inside of the blacksmith shop was, in a word, messy. Clouds of dust flew around, suggesting a lack of cleaning, and every piece of furniture was coated with dust.

Clothes, newspapers, paper, etc., were strewn about in disarray.

“Is anyone here?”

“…………..”

It was as if no one lived there, a house abandoned, with no response forthcoming.

What’s this? Was it just an empty house? Was my intuition wrong…?

“Um…uhm…”

Just then, the dust-covered sofa with its tattered blanket began to stir.

“Yawn… Who is it?”

“Cough.”

“……This is…!”

The newspaper rustled and revealed an unexpected beauty.

With slightly pale skin and brown hair loosely tied up, the woman wore only a large t-shirt as she scratched her belly and yawned.

“Oh my.”

Is she not wearing any pants? It was the missing bottoms trend I had only heard about.

And with her scratching hand, even her belly was exposed.

Scratch-scratch!

And what on earth is all this noise? Is there a rat or something?