The next day passed quickly. I had to endure a particularly enthusiastic Ayako, making me do stretching exercises that became increasingly intense, leading to several embarrassing moments. But all her excitement left her utterly exhausted and unable to continue. After using her aura on me to help me recover, she had to rest in a corner of the room. I ended up spending the rest of the morning practicing the things she taught me the previous day, while she watched and gave me tips from her spot in the corner.
In the afternoon, I finally managed to cut the apple completely using the paper coated with my aura, but it was still very hard. To top it off, practically all the students were cutting it more easily than I was, especially Mei and Yui, who showed considerable talent in this regard. I had a slight advantage in the first lesson, but I was easily caught up with and left behind by the other students. However, I quickly realized that the opposite was true when it came to manipulating aura to strengthen my own body, whether it was by coating my limbs to make them more resilient or using my aura to increase my physical strength. In this part, I was always a few steps ahead of them. Each person has their own talent, and I think I found mine.
Hiroshi mentioned that next week he would start teaching us the basics of using different types of weapons. He pointed to a corner of the room where we could see a variety of swords, staffs, shields, and even hammers, of all sizes and weights, all made of wood, with some covered in a soft layer of fabric. Although Hiroshi and Ayako are experts in unarmed combat, they are more than experienced enough to teach us the basics of each type of weapon. Upon reflection, I think I'll let this opportunity pass and focus on following Ayako's style. My newly discovered talent seems to indicate that unarmed combat is the right path for me in martial arts. After all, if it was challenging to coat a simple sheet of paper with my aura, imagine trying to cover an entire sword...
For the night, I settled for basic training to increase my mana and went to sleep, looking forward to the weekend break that would start tomorrow.
I woke up the next morning with Ayako practically jumping on my bed, clearly excited to take me shopping around the village.
Ayako: "Come on, Kaimmy, wake up! The day has dawned a long time ago, and I can't wait any longer! I'm going to take you to explore the village, then we'll buy some supplies for the dojo, and finally, we'll go look for matching outfits for us!"
Kaimmy: "Humph... just five more minutes, please..."
Ayako: "Fufufu, if you don't wake up, I'll have to resort to special means to forcibly wake you up!"
After seeing Ayako approach me with a mischievous smile on her face, I decided to set my sleep aside and jumped out of bed before she could do anything.
Kaimmy: "I-I'm awake..."
Ayako: "Ah, what a shame. It would've been much more interesting if you'd kept on sleeping... I'm sure you'd wake up completely after I did 'that' to you..."
Avoiding thinking about what 'that' meant, I started dressing in some casual clothes while yawning, already missing the warm blankets I had just left behind. Ayako, who was already dressed in her usual black kimono, rushed out of the room to urge Hiroshi to get ready with the same enthusiasm she had shown me.
Hiroshi: "Huh? I thought you'd want to spend the day alone with Kaimmy. You know, bonding with your new pupil and all that. Are you sure you want me to come along?"
Ayako: "Of course, I do! Who do you think is going to carry all the packages?"
While Ayako darted around the house to do who knows what, Hiroshi looked at me with a defeated smile.
Hiroshi: "Oh, good morning, Kaimmy. It seems we'll have a long day ahead..."
Kaimmy: "Seems like it..."
***
The dojo was located in the farthest corner of the village, and as we walked toward the center, Hiroshi casually pointed out some key spots in the village. Since it was a small village, I didn't think there would be much to see, but I immediately changed my mind as we neared the village center. A grand, ancient-looking tree stood right in the center. Various shops and other establishments clustered around the massive tree, with people of all types, races, and sizes enthusiastically haggling to see if they could buy goods at lower prices. I was amazed by the bustling streets. I didn't expect to find such a vibrant market in such a small village.
Ayako: "Hahaha, surprised?"
Kaimmy: "A bit..."
Ayako: "I thought you would be. You see, this village is a meeting point for adventurers from all over. After all, one of the most famous dungeons on the continent is nearby. In fact, this village was built recently precisely because of the appearance of that dungeon."
Hiroshi: "See that street with the tall buildings? That's where the inns specializing in housing all these adventurers are. If you leave the village from that side, just follow the road, and in a few minutes, you'll be at the dungeon's entrance. We built the dojo on the other side specifically to avoid all this hustle and bustle. We wanted something calmer, after all."
Ayako: "This village is destined to become a big city in the not-so-distant future. That's why we chose to move here. Fufufu, I'm sure our dojo will soon become the most famous dojo in the region, and many people will come looking for us!"
Kaimmy: "I see... but why did this dungeon suddenly appear here?"
Hiroshi: "Dungeons are still a mystery, but the best theories mention something called 'Ley lines.' They say that all the mana produced by the world flows through these lines, like veins carrying the blood of a living being. And they tend to move from time to time."
Ayako: "And when the concentration of mana becomes too high in a single place, boom! A dungeon appears, as if it were a pressure release valve to vent the excess mana."
Hiroshi: "That massive tree can be seen from the dungeon entrance, so it's a great reference point. They decided to create the village around it because of that."
Ayako: "But enough with the chit-chat, let's get to the good stuff!"
Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand and ran toward one of the shops. Hiroshi was left with the somber task of buying supplies for the dojo while Ayako enthusiastically showed me a display full of particularly eye-catching and cute clothes. When I realized it, it was too late. I was already being used as a dress-up doll and was practically forced to try on almost every outfit in the store.
Ayako: "Ufufufu, that one looks great on you too! So, which one do you like more? Don't worry; it's on me. Consider it a gift for all the times I owed your parents favors. Although it wouldn't come close to paying for everything... but anyway, which one do you like more?"
My reflection in the mirror clearly showed me wearing clothes in a 'magical girl' style, with the blue fabric matching the color of my hair and the red details making it even more obvious how flushed my face was.
Kaimmy: "I-I think... that one!" I said timidly, pointing to a black and blue dress, probably the most discreet in the store but still quite eye-catching by normal standards.
Ayako: "Excellent choice; let's take that one, then!"
As the shop owner thanked us and waved from the store's entrance, we continued our tour through the village's center, occasionally spotting Hiroshi going back and forth while carrying a large number of bags.
Ayako: "So, I think it's time for our main goal! Come on, follow me!"
Kaimmy: "Where are we going now?"
Ayako: "We're finally going to order your uniform! Look, it's right there! It's where the village's best tailor lives."
She then led me into a shop crammed with rolls of fabrics of various colors and textures. The shelves in the back were full of stones and amulets emitting a faint glow, indicating they were filled with mana. Looking around a bit more, I noticed that practically all the items there seemed to be of very high quality. I couldn't help myself and put my hands on a roll of fabric that seemed particularly soft to the touch. I was not mistaken. It was an extremely pleasant fabric to feel, and it also seemed quite lightweight. I got distracted by caressing the fabric and almost jumped back when I realized a tall, stern-looking lady was staring at me.
???: "Well, well, it seems you have a keen eye. Penumbra spider silk, a notoriously dangerous and rare species. Its web is unique in being as dark as the night, besides being very soft and fire-resistant. It's a highly coveted material for crafting noble attire and renowned adventurer equipment."
Ayako: " Penumbra spider silk... hmm, yes, that seems like a good choice. Hello, old Rowan, how have you been?"
Rowan: "Humph. I see nothing's changed. Besides the ragged adventurers who occasionally show up here trying to buy my wares for a fraction of their worth, I'm doing well, thank you. Since your outfit doesn't seem to need any patches, what brings you here today? Does it have something to do with this young one hiding behind your back?"
Hearing the lady's comment, I shrunk even more behind Ayako. Not that it did much good, as Ayako was never very tall, and her slender frame didn't offer much cover for someone to hide.
Ayako: "Hahaha, yes, it has everything to do with her. I've made her my newest pupil, so I thought of getting her clothes similar to mine to match."
Rowan: "So, you became this creature's pupil? I wonder how that could have happened... my condolences... But back to the matter at hand, you want me to make clothes identical to yours for her, correct?"
Ayako: "Exactly. I mean, not entirely identical; I'll let her choose the colors. And the materials as well. What do you think?" she said, looking in my direction.
Kaimmy: "I, uh... aren't these things kind of expensive? I don't think the money my mother left me will be enough..."
Ayako: "Oh, don't worry about that; I said it's all on me. It's the gift I've decided to give you since you've become my pupil. As for the money, don't fret; being an S-rank Adventurer has its perks. Even though I've retired from my adventuring days for now, I still have plenty of resources saved up."
Kaimmy: "Even so, I don't think I can accept..."
Rowan: "Girl, I've known this creature for quite a while. In situations like this, just accept it; you won't be able to convince her otherwise. It's not like she's lying about having resources saved up... she used to supply me with various valuable materials back in the day."
After a few more moments of hesitation, I finally agreed.
Kaimmy: "So... um, okay. Thank you, I guess..."
Ayako: "Hahaha, I love how you get all flustered; it's so cute. So, any idea about the colors you want?"
Kaimmy: "Hmm, the kimono can be black. The sash can be mostly blue with some touches of purple and gold. The material... can it be that?" I said, pointing to the penumbra spider silk that had caught my eye earlier.
Rowan: "Hm, I think that would be a great choice; it would perfectly match your eyes and hair. I can guarantee the material is of excellent quality. Should I start taking your measurements? I recommend making it a bit larger and leaving extra fabric for future adjustments since you're still growing."
Ayako helped me undress so that Rowan could take my measurements. My first instinct was to resist, but that would be futile, so I held back and let them take my clothes off to get my measurements. That's when Rowan continued:
Rowan: "And what about the shoes? Are you going to make her wear those same clunkers you wear? Honestly, I don't know how you can walk so naturally on those. You know, some noble girls would envy your ability to walk in heels as high as yours."
Ayako: "Hahaha, a noble girl wouldn't stand a chance with one of these. Heel height aside, they were made to be heavy; only someone with a decent aura manipulation skill could wear one of these without a problem. These shoes are my weapon; you've seen me fight, remember? But it's still too early for her. So hers will be made of wood. As she becomes more skilled, we'll switch to metal. Is your husband still working with wood?"
Rowan: "He's a blacksmith, but yes, he can make wooden ones; it's quite simple, after all. I'll talk to him later. I should have everything ready in five days; you can come with her to try them on that day."
I left the shop with a genuine smile. I can't wait to try on my new outfit. Judging from what I saw inside, it will be of extremely high quality and very comfortable. It will be one of the best gifts I've ever received. Ayako spent some time staring at me, my smile contagious, and suddenly she jumped on me and started hugging me, leaving me unsure how to react.
Ayako: "Fwaaaa, so cute!"
And with that, we headed to pick up Hiroshi and his mountain of bags to go back to the dojo.