"Alright. We've got the lubricant as well. Let's see... I think that's everything requested by Ms. Naytia. Can you help me double-check, Grand Commander Kapel."
"It is fine for you to just call me Kapel when we are in public, since this title will draw attention from others."
Kapel replied to Fron, but it was already too late to worry about drawing too much attention, as there were already a lot of onlookers. Three men that looked to have different age ranges, with bags of cooking utensils, were bound to be a spectacle.
"These should be sufficient for now. We have already been out for approximately three and a half hours. Finding a suitable lubricant took a little more time than anticipate, but we should still be able to return before 5 pm." Kapel took out his phone and looked at the time.
"Five hours in total is too much to begin with..."
"Jogrin, it is important to inspect the products to ensure that you are not defected in any way, or else it would be equivalent to squandering money."
"Maybe you're right. No, it makes sense, actually. I never had any experiences with going shopping, so I'll keep what you said you mind."
In the next moment he responded so, Jogrin perceived the emotion of pity from Fron, but he didn't pay it any mind.
"Since everything is settled, it's time we get dinner for those three, right?" He asked to remind Kapel and Fron so that this errand could come to an end sooner.
"Yes. We should head to the dining area and look for any meals that would be suitable for them. However, we also have to replenish the rations for the Knights, and I believe this will take more time than inspecting the cooking utensils and looking for the lubricant."
"Then, will it be fine if we split up?" Fron suggested.
"It would be optimal, but unfortunately, our duties do not allow for this."
Kapel looked at Jogrin, implying that they both had to be present to supervise him. Comprehending that, Fron nodded.
"Right. Both of us need to stay with Jogrin at all times."
"As inconvenient as it is, we have to accomplish both tasks one by one."
That meant that it was possible that they might have to overrun in the end.
The trio first went to check various stores to see which ones allowed mass orders and delivery. There weren't many that provided that service, as they were mainly small shops that had little personnel. And out of the ones that provided such service, most of them sold rations that could be stored in cool and dry places.
To prevent the Knights from having to ingest the same kinds of food in the long run, both Kapel and Fron decided that it'd be best to purchase food with more variety. They called and consulted Captain Ryov who was at the campsite, and he concurred with their decision. Hence, they went ahead and scrutinized and bargained with retailers and shop owners.
It was unknown how long this was going to take. Taking into account the fact that they also had to buy three portions of tonight's dinner, there was no doubt in Jogrin's mind that they were going to overrun.
Nonetheless, all he could do was stick with them until the very end. The fortunate thing here was that, other than the occasional weird gazes and chattering from others, they didn't seem to have discovered what was really in Jogrin's backpack.
At around 4 pm, there were more and more people on the streets. Most of the newly arrived faces belonged to students of various grades. Just like the other residents, they were also curious about the group of three as soon as they noticed them, as they began chattering while stealing glances at them.
From time to time, there were squeals from some girls while they looked at Jogrin, but Jogrin just pretended that he didn't hear them. There were also girls who'd approach him like the three girls from earlier, but they were all pushed away by Kapel and Fron, while Jogrin didn't even bat an eye.
These were the strategies employed by Jogrin so that they would stop bothering him, but for some reason, they had the opposite effect, which Jogrin found annoying and peculiar. Even Kapel and Fron were getting fed up with this nonsense. They never expected that the main issue by taking him out would be something entirely different from Jogrin scaring people away.
"Is it possible to have a lower price? We, the Second Order of the Royal Knights, will make sure to continue our patronage as long as we remain in the neighborhood. We Knights are heavy eaters, you know, so we're definitely going to need to purchase from you again soon." Fron, while still impressed by how Jogrin managed to keep attracting a certain kind of attention, bargained with a shop owner.
The shop owner, who was a man with a retiring age, scratched his head. One of the reasons was that he was thinking of how to deal with Fron's haggling, the other reason was that... Jogrin was being approached incessantly.
While there was nothing he could do about the second reason, he had every right to either accept or refuse Fron, so he contemplated about his offer.
"Sorry, young man... I don't think-"
"Please take more time to consider-"
"It is fine, Mr. Fron. We will look elsewhere, I am certain that there will more other stores that will accept our offer. Thank you for your time." Kapel bowed to the old shop owner before turning to leave.
The shop owner bowed back in response, who was perceived to be regretting from Jogrin's "emotional perception."
'Is that a bargaining strategy?' He asked himself. But then he shrugged his shoulders and didn't bother thinking more about it since he wasn't really interested in bargaining.
Besides, there was a much bigger ordeal he had to deal with. As soon as he, Kapel, and Fron turn around, there were pairs of eyes laid on them. Most of them belonged to high-school girls. The three of them knew why they were here, of course. Unfortunately for them, there didn't exist an effective way for them to get the onlookers to stop.
"Everyone, please make way." Fron urged them to open a path. He sounded a little impatient because he, too, wished to return to the campsite as soon as possible.
While many of the onlookers obediently made way, there were bound to be some who were defiant among a large group.
"Woah woah!! Who do you think you are, huh?!" It was a high-school boy with some followers behind. It appeared that he was a delinquent. "These two old stuff aside, what makes you think you can go around stealing the attention of the girls like that, you skinny bastard?!"
He was talking about Jogrin, who was currently steal the center of the girls' attention.
"Is there gonna be a fight?"
"I wonder if the handsome guy is actually really strong."
Mutters from the girls could be heard, which made the self-proclaimed delinquent even more agitated. He glared at Jogrin as he walked close to him. However, for Jogrin, Kapel's glares were much more intimidating, so he, following behind Kapel and Fron, continued to move amidst the crowd without batting the boy an eye.
Meanwhile, Kapel and Fron refrained from speaking so that things wouldn't become more complicated. Unlike dealing with their colleagues and Jogrin, what they said and did to civilians must be tactfully considered.
However, because of the trio's attitudes toward the boy, his face was dyed in red. He stomped toward Jogrin and extended his arm, attempting to grab him from behind.
It looked like this commotion wouldn't settle down without some resistance.