I bought what I need to buy and turned my heel to leave the store, but the old man called out to me.
"Won't you buy your own weapon?"
"Even if I have a weapon while I'm in the Royal Capital, I won't have the opportunity to use it. Besides, all the weapons in this store are a bit expensive for me."
My daily living expenses are being provided by the church. If I don't indulged myself in luxury, I can be able to save some money. I won't absolutely have any problem with living while having some fun.
"The price is the issue, huh..."
After stroking his beard as if pondering, the old man said,
"If so, how about this spear?"
Passing by my side, the old man picked up an old spear --- the spear that I was looking at earlier.
"This is something that I bought from my old connection. As you can see, it's an old weapon, but the thing itself was made sturdy. Since it's a product, its sharpness is guaranteed because I've maintained it so that it can be sold any time. By the way, it's a second-hand, so it's cheaper than a new one."
The set price was certainly enough for me to buy it now without any problems.
"Here, try to hold it as a test."
I temporarily leaned the sword I bought against the wall and received the spear from the old man's hand.
"Oh, it feels pretty good."
Although it has a worn-out impression, it feels sturdy when I grasped. When I try to swing it slightly so as not to damage anything inside the store, it felt perfectly right than I expected.
Now that I think about it, the spear, that I was using in the village, was also quite worn-out and had a poor sharpness. It would be good to take this opportunity to buy a new one(Although its old).
I decided to buy this spear.
Even if it's a second-hand, I won't particularly judge its appearance if the item is good. Rather, I should think that I got a good one at a low price.
When I was thinking about things like that ---.
'Tch, who is it? A person was sleeping comfortably, but you dared to swung me around rudely.'
.........
"Hey, old man, did you say anything just now?"
"No, I didn't say anything."
The old man answered without playing innocent.
'If you truly heard me, I would be extremely glad if I was held by a fresh, beautiful nee-chan, but I guess I can't expect too much in this situation.'
Although I looked around, there was only the old man owner. There were no other people in the shop.
Even though it was, ---.
'Ah, currently, I didn't open the telepathy to anyone other than you. So I can't be heard by the bearded there.'
I can clearly hear it. A voice of a man.
'Oi Oi, where are you looking, An-chan(lad). Are you looking for me? Look, you're holding me right now'
In response to the word "holding", I reflexively turned my eyes to the "thing" which I'm holding.
A worn-out spear.
But there was a slight change compared to before I took my eyes off it.
Just around the base of the tip. On a spot that was empty before, a vermilion stone deeper than red was now embedded on it
'That's right, I'm that. Although it's strange to say "that" to myself, that's just how it is.'
"...What do you mean?"
'In other words, the thick, long and sturdy spear, that you're holding right now, is me.'
"What's with that slightly obscene expression..." I stared at the crimson stone embedded on the spear.
For some reason, I felt a line of sight from inside of that stone.
'My name is 'Gram'. It's a bit strange to say it myself, but I'm an extremely rare talking weapon. Best regards, new partner!'
--- Apparently, the spear in the Royal Capital talks.
In a room of the inn that I properly rented in the Royal Capital, I was facing the spear, Gram, that was placed on the floor while sitting crossed-legged.
"It's a very cheap room. Rent a little better."
"The luxury of a spear is not my concern."
"It's a matter of mood, partner. If my partner reeks of poverty, I feel like I also became poor."
We are holding a fairly normal conversation, --- but to be honest, I had a strong feeling of wanting to return this speaking spear to the weapon shop where it came from as quickly as possible. After all, the speaking spear obviously doesn't have decency. There must be some reason have happened.
However, I couldn't part with it.
"Please don't. I was happy to think that I could finally be used by someone. Will you abandon a lonely person like me? That makes sense. There are many beautiful weapons around. For a man, a pure and innocent weapon that haven't been touched by others hands is much better. Haaa..."
--- And he keeps on muttering endlessly with a voice that's likely to burst into tears at any moment. If I part with it like this, I would likely be cursed so I couldn't let it go.
The old man of the weapon shop was surprised at the appearance of the transformed spear, but he generously sold it at the price set at the beginning. I can't help but think that it would have been a good reason to separate with it if the price was raised, but I have no choice but to give up.
"So, what are you actually?"
"I'd probably introduced myself. My name is Gram. Nothing more, nothing less, just a weapon."
"Weapons usually don't speak, you know."
"Well, I fall under the category of rare than just a weapon."
I folded my arms and sighed at Gram's answer that seems to be an answer but not an answer.
"But you're a really calm partner. Most of those who have used me were very surprised when I talked."
"Even though I'm like this, I was plenty surprised, you know."
I can recover myself rather instantly for a human who became too surprised and it's the first time I experienced that in my life.
"To begin with, where does your voice coming out from?"
"Who knows. I haven't really thought about it myself."
No matter how I pursued it deeply, the source of his voice is unlikely to be known. I had better give up.
"... By the way, is it just my imagination that the way I hear your voice is slightly different between how you speak now and how you speak at the shop?"
"No, it's not your imagination. It was 'Telepathy' when I talked to you at that worn-out shop."
Now that he mentioned it, he was also saying something similar at that time.
'Telepathy is a method of speaking directly into the other person's mind, not into the ear. Therefore, my voice won't reach anyone other than the chosen target. It's perfect for telling a secret story.'
--- then, I became surprised. As Gram stated, it feels like his voice echoed in my head, not through my ears.
"But, I think the normal way of hearing will be more relaxing for partner. That's why I'm speaking out loud like this now."
The voice echoing directly in my head sounded clearer, but it felt somewhat uncomfortable. That's probably Gram's concern.
"When we talk within a crowd, please do that telepathy."
"Roger, partner. I also hate it when a guy suddenly starts talking in the middle of the city."
It's great that we seemed to have the same opinion.
But I felt uncomfortable by being called as Gram's "Partner".
Anyway, from my impression when we were talking, it seems that Gram doesn't seem to be a bad guy.
Am I optimistic if I think of it as someone to talk to while I'm in the Royal Capital? I'm sure that the sight of me talking to a spear would be very funny, though.
"Let me tell you first, but I have no plans to take the initiative to use you at the moment. I'm an attendant of an acquaintance who came to the Royal Capital and I'm not particularly troubled with money. Are you okay with that?"
"I don't mind. Weapons only obeys its owner. But please spare me from the treatment like being covered with dust in the depths of the warehouse."
"If I do that, I would likely be cursed."
"I don't have that kind of power, you know."
--- Thus, an extremely rare speaking spear became my companion.