Completing Arios's request made my pocketbook much richer.
　Now that I had some leeway, I decided to prepare my equipment.

　I went to the armor shop, which is said to be the best in the city.

''...........................Welcome.

　We were greeted by the sardonic voice of the owner of the store.

　The proprietor was a first-generation man with a stubborn air about him.
　He was short and stocky, like a child.

　He was an earthling.
　They are very similar to humans, and are skilled at blacksmithing.
　They are also known as dwarves.

I'm sorry. I'm looking for weapons and armor...
"...are you a knothole?　They're all over the place, right?　Take your pick of what you like.
Oh, yeah. Okay.

　I wanted the owner to pick out a recommendation for me, but I couldn't even talk to him.

''........Nya, you're a stubborn old man.
Earthmen are such bigots.

　When Kanade and Tania were saying this and that...
　The owner glanced at me.

　Could he possibly hear me?
　Terrible hell-ears.
　I stopped them both from talking and warned them not to say anything more.

'Rain. How about a weapon like this?

　Sola brought the dagger.

'It looks pretty good. It doesn't look too sharp either.'
Right?
Ummm, it's just...
"Just?
'What can I say?　I can't really put it into words, but I feel like there's something different about it.
No?
I'm sorry I can't put it into words. It just doesn't feel right.
Well I'm sorry.
I'm glad you worked so hard to find me. Thank you.
No. It's just what you deserve. I was just fulfilling my mission as a messenger.
Rain, Rain.

　Now Luna brought the whip to me.

'How about this?'
Luna?　Rain can't handle a whip, you know?
'But isn't a tamer a whip?　Now we're going to bish-bash the messenger who won't listen to us!
Foul play.
'Hmm, what did you imagine?　A mere whip and a strange imagination.............Sora is mulligan. Kuhahahaha.
Luna.
It's a strategic retreat!

　The sisters start chasing each other around with a lot of noise.
　Hopefully they won't be kicked out.

　He glanced at the owner of the store, but he didn't seem to show any interest in us.
　He was quietly reading a book with a bored look on his face.

　Why was he so unwilling to do that?
　In case you were wondering....
　If you ask them, they won't answer you.

'I'll have to pick out my armor sooner rather than later before I get kicked out.

　I look around the shelves where the armor is laid out.

　I mainly deal in daggers.
　Many of the Beast Tamers don't have strong arms, so such light equipment is the main weapon.

　Now that I'm under contract with Kanade, I'm sure I can equip not only a long sword, but a large sword as well...
　They have never been used properly.
　Even if you buy them because you can equip them, you will likely not be able to handle them well and they will become a waste of treasure.

　After all, a familiar dagger would be best.
　With that in mind, I move to the shelves where the daggers are lined up, but....

Hmm.

　The owner of this place must be quite skilled.
　All weapons appear to shine.

　But ... is it just my imagination that they seem to shine?
　It just looks good and has no substance.
　That's the impression I got.

'Ooh, let's get out of the way!

　A large man, who looked like an adventurer, came to the store.
　He has scars on his face and arms, and has an uncanny appearance.
　He may be a strong man who has passed through a series of battles.

Are you the owner?
...hmmm.
I was introduced to this place by an adventurer friend of mine. He said I'd find the right armor here for me.
Well you've been introduced to me by someone you know.
Do you keep the long sword?　I've got plenty of money, just give me the best of the best.
Money but that's okay. Hmmm ... how about this one?

　The owner handed the big man a sword.
　The big man pulled the sword from its scabbard and checked the blade.

It's a good shine. It's a sword that looks well cut.
It's extremely durable. Even if you treat it roughly, it won't get damaged. This one should satisfy you, don't you think?
Okay, I love it!　I'll take this one.
Maido.

　The big man is in a good mood and walks out of the store.
　Seeing that, Kanade softly whispered in his ear.

''Nya........that uncle, is he by any chance a good-natured person?　If I ask you, will you give me a good answer?
'I don't know ... more importantly, that was kind of weird.
Meow?

　I walked up to the owner and called out to him.

'I'm sorry. I'd like to ask you something about the sword you just sold to the man...
What is it?
''I don't mean to be rude but maybe the sword you have now, it's not much of a substitute, is it?

　I could see the surprise on everyone's faces at the sudden statement.
　It's just.....
　The owner looked somewhat amused, as if he was interested in us.

"Ho........you think I sold my customers namakra?　Is that what you're saying?
'Nope. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a namakra but I'm sure this store could have found a better sword for you.
What makes you think that?
'I know it's just a hunch but I feel like the weapons we have in this store are very well shined, but that's all they are. They're perfect for ornamental purposes, but when it comes to using them in actual combat, I feel they're lacking.
"Well you're a pretty good judge of character, kid. You're right.
Does that mean...?
The one I sold to that man is simply a mass-produced sword that can be made with a single hand. It's moderately slashing and sturdy, but that's all it is. It's something of its own, but it's not something you put your soul into. It's a far cry from being a workhorse.

　Why would he sell such a sword?
　I don't think he's receiving exorbitant amounts of money, so I don't think it's for fraudulent purposes...

　As if to answer my question, the owner chuckles like a child playing a prank.

'Nah, it's just a bit of an old man's nastiness,'
Mean?
These days, money is all that's left in the air, and people are putting money on the line to get weapons that aren't up to their level. The last customer said he had money. And now I am beginning to feel foolish, because I am dealing with people like that. I am a armorer. All my pieces are like my children. Isn't it selfish of me to want them to be handled by their rightful owners and be happy?
I know the feeling!　I can guarantee you that what you say is right and not wrong!

　Unexpectedly, Tania agreed with the shopkeeper.
　Did they have a common ground between the prideful ones?

Hello, little girl. You know your stuff.
You've got some pretty good guts for a human being, don't you?
Yeah?　 If you look closely, missy, you're a dragon race.
Oh, aren't you surprised?
At my age. This isn't the first time I've encountered a superpowered species.
Hmm, you've got some nerve. That's good. I like it even more.

　A strange familiarity was developing.

'Well I'm getting off track.

　The owner looked from Tania back to me.

'Well, that's why we sell namakra to people who would be fooled by it,'
'You do mean things, don't you?'
Are you mad at me?
No. He was happy with it. It's not like I'm going to criticize him.
Hm. You seem like a pretty mean person, don't you?
Lane's very nice, you know?
But the night can be nasty.
Yo, Night.
'Hmmm, what did my sister imagine?　That's really muggy.
I'm done with this development.

　Again I digressed.

'By the way how did you realize that what you have here is a namakura?　If I may say so, you won't be able to tell them apart easily.
It's a hunch, isn't it?
That's a very vague answer.
'It's really just a hunch. If I had to guess, it might have something to do with the fact that I'm a beast tamer.
Oh. So you're a beast tamer, aren't you? What a rare thing to find in a profession so boring.
I like it. It's not a problem if it's a familiar face, but if it's a new face, you need to observe it carefully so that my words and magic power can reach it. That's what I've trained myself to do. Maybe that's why I naturally developed my eyes to see things.
Hmmm... hahaha, interesting!

　The owner laughed vigorously and popped his knee.

'I like it. You're the first customer in a long time!　What kind of armor are you looking for?　A sword?　A spear?　An axe?
You mean...?
Anyone who passes the test without fail will be sold a real weapon. A real one I'll make you one myself.
Oh, I see. Then take the dagger.
Yeah, I'd love to tell you that I'll take care of it, but...
Meow?
What's going on?　You're not going to say I quit after all, are you?
'Tania, I don't think it's too early to draw any conclusions.

　The owner of the store stammers with some kind of troubled look on his face.
　Maybe there's something wrong with him.

　Luna seems to have come to the same conclusion as I have and tilts her head slightly.

What's the matter, shopkeeper?　What's the matter with you?
Well, that's...
You want to talk about it?　Maybe we can help you with something.
Hmm.....that's right. Sooner or later, everyone in town will know that we don't have the materials to make weapons, even if we wanted to.

　The shopkeeper let out a loud sigh, as if deeply troubled.