The sun had barely shone in the sky, and a man was already up. Joshua carried a greatsword on his back and beast pelts on his shoulders. He was tired of wearing that commoner outfit. It was now time to look badass, like a real warrior.
Aurora and Richard were rich in comparison to everyone else in the village. Joshua hoped they could lend him some money to pay the tailoring man. For that reason, he purposely tore his clothes, looking almost like a homeless person.
'This way, they will laugh at me, but at least I'll get the money,' Joshua thought.
He wasn't scamming them. Joshua planned to pay back once he reached the capital. He could hunt beasts with ease, but there wasn't a way to sell his spoils in that tiny village.
Following along the muddy path, Joshua arrived at the village in no time. Everyone already knew him and respected him a lot. In their eyes, Joshua was a genius for being so young yet already a knight. Only those from noble families with a lot of support could reach that.
When they saw how he looked, they couldn't hold their laughter.
"Hey Joshua, one day without us, and you're looking like this. Hahaha," one middle-aged man yelled.
"So this is the effect of one day without Aurora taking care of you,' a lady said.
Joshua gave them a thumbs up, saying, "you guys are funny."
He knew they were only joking. Everyone took care of each other in that village.
Hearing these things from them turned out to give the opposite effect. Joshua felt a warmth within his heart.
At that moment, he was sure that he needed to take care of the goblins near the village. Joshua pondered a lot if he should tell Richard about the goblins or not. In the end, he decided not to. They weren't a dangerous threat that needed someone else's help to solve. And with Richard in the village, no one could hurt the villagers.
"Stop right there! Who you are and what are you doing in this village?" Richard said aggressively after seeing Joshua in the distance. But as Joshua got closer, Richard saw who it was.
"Joshua? Why are you looking like a homeless person?" Richard looked at Aurora, and she looked at him. They both laughed out loud.
"I knew you guys would make fun of me, damn it," Joshua said.
They eventually stopped laughing after some time, and Joshua took the opportunity to ask them for money.
"I'll only lend this to you because I know you're going to pay back and also because you look terrible," Richard grabbed some silver coins and handed them over to Joshua.
"Firmino is an old man that knows a lot about tailoring. He'll certainly make a good armor for you."
Joshua wanted to stay more and talk with them, but he first headed to Firmino's house. The tailoring would take some time, so he wanted to go as soon as possible.
'That's some comfy house. This tailoring master probably earns a good sum of money,' the house was almost as big as Richard's. Everyone needed armor and clothes, and Firmino was the only one around that could make them. He was so good that people from nearby villages would come looking for him.
Joshua knocked on the door, waiting patiently for the man to invite him in.
"Who is it?" an elderly voice entered Joshua's ears.
"It's Joshua. I need armor, and I've heard you're the best."
"You're right about that. Come in, young man."
The insides of it had many fine pieces of furniture. A white-haired man was working on a piece of cloth, using some tailoring machine. His moves were precise, and the man's fame spoke the truth.
"So you're that young new Knight? Impressive," Firmino stopped his doings and looked towards Joshua.
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'What is this? Even with my Heaven's Eyes, I can't see his information. Who exactly is this old man?" Joshua had many questions, but he put everything aside. He wouldn't get answers from Firmino directly anyway. Perhaps when he got stronger, he could uncover the backgrounds of that man.
"That's me. I have some beast pelts with me. I wonder if you could make some badass armor?" Joshua cut straight to the point.
"Badass? No problem, five silver coins and a week."
Joshua handed over the materials and the money. He left after that, as he wouldn't stay around and interrupt the man's work. Goblins had to die. He couldn't waste time. Making a quick stop at Aurora's house to talk with her a bit but ended up seeing her sad face.
"Are you going to hunt again? Stay and talk with me a little," Aurora crossed her arms, looking with an angry face.
"I want to, but I can't. Remember that we're heading to the capital next month, so I want to make sure I'm stronger to take care of you," Joshua said.
Aurora's cheek went red, and she quickly made a gesture saying that it was time for him to go. She felt something inexplicable within. Joshua liked her as a friend, but he also wished to be more someday.
Joshua left the village, thinking about a plan to strike the goblin's cave. They weren't heading out anymore, as they noticed something strange. He could wait for them to leave to get food, but that would take too much time.
'Damn it. I'll rush in and active my divine powers, wiping everyone inside that place.'