You'd expect a town neighboring a disaster zone to have great security. Yes and no. As we get to the gate there isn't even a need to pay any kind of passing fee or to have any identification. Apparently, it's to make easier the hunting of monsters. After all, they breed so fast it would otherwise be an issue. The only measure taken is some device that automatically checks for invading beasts. At first, I was worried about Wolfie triggering the alert, but it seems it only picks up the strong monsters.
"Alright let's get you some clothes first."
"You are spoiling him way too much; rat wanderers are not worth it."
"How about you sell that wolf to me? I'll give you some silver."
[Wolfie is not for sale!]
"Of course not! Don't worry about it."
We separate from the others. Only the tank remains. I follow him to a small store in a back alley. Apparently, it sells used hunter goods. The kind that gets recovered on dead bodies. Well, it happens a lot I heard. This somehow surprises me. How do people even die in that joke of a disaster zone? Like seriously?! A middle-aged man with a curly mustache ushers us in. He seems to be the owner.
"Oh if it isn't my worst customer! Ever since you have been having some success with your hunts you have stopped patronizing my shop. This is what getting famous and forgetting one owns friends is. How sad!"
"Please. I keep visiting! Plus aren't you the one that insisted I should buy new equipment!"
"Haha. Is this a friend of yours? If he's as promising as you, he might reach rank 3 someday."
"He's someone I just met. I need some basic gear for him. He lost all his clothes adventuring."
"Let's see. Oh right, what is the budget?"
"You don't have any money, right?"
Hum, there is no way I would have money…oh wait. Maybe I do?
[Wolfie, you brought that coin we usually bet with?]
* Brings a shiny silver coin out of nowhere*
*clap clap clap*
[Nice magic trick Wolfie as usual! What can I buy with this?]
"…." 0_0
"…." 0_0
I guess they are impressed by the coin coming out of nowhere. I was too at first.
[Shopkeeper? Can I get anything with that?]
"…my entire shop."
[What can I get?]
"…my entire shop."
What? Oh, I get it he runs a used goods store…. he prides himself in selling cheap, I guess. That was a joke, I guess.
[Nice joke haha! Alright just get me whatever I can with that.]
Ensues an awkward silence. He comes out of his stupor.
Then we play dress-up with an excited owner. Except I'm the doll. And the equipment is meant for hunters. I get some standard clothes, some sturdy boots, a cool-ass-looking black cloak, and a thin dark leather jacket. It has the advantage of looking awesome while not restraining my movements too much.
I also get a sword, a few daggers, a bow, a quiver, and arrows. It feels like I grossly underestimated the purchasing power of silver in this world. Oh well, that's good news for me.
It's only after a long while that we are finally done with that.
The atmosphere is kind of warm. This tank dude is the big guy with a big heart-type. I feel like I meet a lot of this type. Lucky! The shopkeeper is nice too.
I'm glad there was none of the clichés where the shopkeeper looks down on the naked character just to get face slapped right afterward. Good thing because I don't have the financial power to awe anyone just yet haha.
He says something about not having enough coin to give me back my change. I guess it happens. Cash flow can be an issue, especially in this world I'm guessing. It is not possible to just do a direct deposit and call it a day. But still kinda weird for an established business. He asks me to wait a bit. He even says I can keep my silver coin until he is ready.
I'm not gonna haggle for so little. I already got so much stuff. I tell him to keep the change as a tip. He looks at me like I am some sort of mythical creature. Is it weird to tip in this place? Whatever I don't care.
"Y-young man. A-are you sure?"
What's up with the tank guy? Why is his voice shaking?
[Yes, what's up?]
"T-there is no way we can accept something so precious!"
[But it is simply one coin, no need to make such a fuss no?]
Especially a silver coin. If it was a gold coin, sure, but a silver coin? What's with the overreaction?
"A-are you really sure?"
[Of course!]
"Alright, you can come back to claim whatever you desire here at any time!"
[Alright!]
He wants to make sure not to shortchange me. People that honorable are rare to say the least.
Welp time to get out of here. I inquire about this place a bit. Turns out beside the many businesses the local attraction is the presence of the hunters' guild. It lets you register in order to provide an easy selling avenue to raw materials gotten from the disaster zone. Items traded are mostly random commissioned plants or beast parts. With the parts required being from rank 2-3 monsters. This makes it so most hunters are rank 2 martial artists. Some are even accomplished martial artists (rank 3) but those are pretty hard to find.
This means that Cayden, apparently that's my benefactor's name, is pretty popular. After all, he is a peak rank 2 warrior. The chances of him reaching rank 3 are pretty high. He is someone extremely talented for reaching that level at the young age of 30. To put things into perspective the cultivation dude attained rank 2 while still being a teenager. I guess he really is champion material. Oh well, not my concern.
For now, I ask him to guide me to this association. I plan on officially starting my career as a professional monster hunter!