The drinks kept flowing well into the night. Daion lost track of time amidst laughter and conversations. He wasn't quite sure how much the drinks cost in this world, but Jack seemed to have an endless supply of money to keep paying.
For much of the evening, Jack stayed close to the demi-human waitress from before. Daion, still hazy from the alcohol, thought he was a genuine casanova.
A spasm ran down Daion's back and he glanced at his glass; a wave of disgust swept over him. A couple of images of himself vomiting suddenly struck, and he froze. It seemed his body knew exactly how much alcohol it could handle. Still, he stuck with the group until the early hours.
Amid the laughter, Daion noticed Haruka shifting her gaze towards Jack, her expression a mix of resentment and disdain. A new shade on her face. When Daion followed her look, he saw the captain wrapping an arm around the waitress, moving toward the bar while his hand toyed with the girl's neckline.
Well done, captain, he thought for a moment, before noticing Haruka still looked uncomfortable. Did she like Jack?
The idea faded when he saw Jack exchange words with the barmaid, who shouted something inaudible over the noise. Jack, wearing a cocky grin, dropped a few coins on the counter. She took them, visibly annoyed, without saying more.
Jack returned to the group with the girl still in tow.
"It's time to sleep, boys."
Everyone nodded and stood without protest. Minjae smiled and gave Jack a friendly punch on the arm. Finn passed by with his head down, while Haruka didn't take her eyes off Jack, who ignored her completely.
Suddenly, Daion found himself climbing the stairs and entering a room. The alcohol was beginning to turn his memories into black fragments.
He was about to step inside when he heard a muffled scream nearby. He approached cautiously and saw Jack's door ajar. Glancing inside, he caught sight of the leader's bare back struggling with the demi-human, trying to tear her clothes off. She protested, trying to scream, but her voice seemed to be stifled, smothered. Jack was lost between alcohol and lust.
Daion tried to enter, and then… black.
The sound of banging on a wooden door startled him awake. He sat up, gasping; daylight filtered through the window.
"The early bird catches the worm," Jack's voice said from the other side.
"Yeah, but I'm not a fan of worm taste," Daion grunted, irritated.
A chuckle echoed through the room.
"I'd say that's deep, but really it's just stupid," Jack laughed. "Funny how sayings like that exist in every world. Anyway, get up, rookie. We need to talk."
Daion groaned. He'd just discovered something new about himself: he hated being woken up.
His body felt like lead as he forced himself upright. His sword lay on the floor, and a dull ache throbbed behind his eyes. Damn alcohol. Apparently, the gauntlet didn't filter out the effects of drinking, which meant he really could get drunk. A nice little detail from the idiot god who brought him here. Though now he worried if it would filter out poison.
Dragging himself to the mirror, he examined his reflection. A complete mess: hair tousled, clothes a wreck. Until then, he hadn't paid much attention to what he was wearing — a black jacket over a navy shirt and torn pants. In a fantasy world, he probably looked like a total idiot.
Sighing, he didn't bother fixing himself up much before heading downstairs.
The tavern was almost empty, except for a few unconscious drunks sprawled across tables and the barmaid cleaning mugs behind the counter. She didn't even glance at him; her blonde hair shifted as she worked. There was something about her that caught his attention. Attraction? Or did she remind him of someone? Someone from… before?
Trying to shake the strange feeling, he cleared his throat.
"Tough night for some, huh?" he said, approaching the bar.
"Looks like it," she replied coldly, not looking up. Daion watched her for a moment. Eventually, she noticed.
"Are you gonna order something or just stare at me like a pervert?" she said, narrowing her eyes irritably.
"Does that happen often?" he asked half-joking.
"Yes. Turns out being 'blessed' with beauty is a curse," she said dryly. She put down the mugs and grabbed some knives, wiping them with a cloth. "Idiots think they can take advantage."
Daion tensed. Great, this conversation is going better than expected, he thought sarcastically.
"You got anything for a hangover?" he asked, trying to keep calm though his patience was running thin.
"At a bar? Nothing, except monster urine," she answered with a crooked smile. "I'm sure the summoned ones love that."
Daion frowned.
"I was just trying to be nice. No need to be a…"
Before he could finish, the barmaid grabbed him by the collar and pressed a knife against his eye. Daion clenched his teeth, surprised, feeling cold sweat run down his forehead.
"Listen, idiot," she hissed with a voice full of hatred, "I don't give a damn how you think you should be treated. To me, summoned ones like you deserve only one thing: contempt… like the rats you are."
"What's your problem with the summoned?" he reacted immediately, grabbing her arm. She struggled but kept the knife steady against him. "It's stupid… you hate the only ones who can save you."
"Save us?" she spat the word like poison. "Yeah, right. When the hell have they ever saved us? Look at the situation we're in. They're just disposable entertainment before the monsters completely devour us… and on top of that, they take advantage of their slight superiority."
Daion's stomach churned. He felt frustration. Helplessness. Why the hell should other people's actions be my problem? he thought, pulling the barmaid's hand away from his face, about to use more force.
"Is there a problem here?" a female voice interrupted. Haruka was coming down the stairs, dressed simply but radiating sharp authority. Her piercing gaze cut into the barmaid like a razor blade.
The woman released Daion without a word. He slumped back onto the stool, heart racing and frowning at her.
"Not much," the barmaid murmured, unfazed. Then, as if nothing had happened, she poured two fizzy drinks and set them in front of Daion and Haruka. "On the house."
Before anyone could respond, she turned and disappeared into the back room.
Haruka sat down and drank hers in one gulp without hesitation. Just then, Jack and the others came down the stairs, smiling as if they'd just witnessed the greatest show of the century.
"Well, that was entertaining," Jack laughed. "We were betting on whether Dan could win over the bitter barmaid… but turns out his sarcasm wasn't enough."
Haruka shot him a deadly glare. Daion looked at Jack nervously, recalling the last moments of his night.
"Sometimes, you really are an idiot, boss," he muttered, taking another sip.
"Ouch," Jack replied with a mocking smile, unfazed. Then he turned to Daion, amused. "What's up, rookie? First time a pretty girl's rejected you?"
Daion drank in silence.
"You were watching the whole time?" he finally asked, his voice dry.
"More or less," Jack admitted, shrugging. But then he noticed Daion wasn't just upset—he looked a little shaken too. "Oh, relax. She didn't reject you because you're ugly. It's just that heroes aren't exactly popular around here. But hey, I'm sure some girl in town still thinks you're cute."
Jack smiled, enjoying the moment. Daion wasn't sure whether to take it as a joke or an insult, so he just stood up.
"Did you want to talk to me about something?" he asked, shaking his head and watching Jack warily.
"Whoa, looks like I hit a nerve," Jack raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Yesterday was only half the job. This afternoon we've got another task: some soldiers have gone missing."
Daion sighed and grabbed his sword. This is getting annoying, having to carry this crap around.
"Wait," Jack scanned him up and down, raising an eyebrow. "You're not exactly ready for combat. With what we earned yesterday, go buy yourself some armor that at least protects you from a psychotic barmaid." He chuckled, but Daion frowned, uncomfortable. Jack cleared his throat. "If you want to survive, you've got to learn to bargain. Haruka and Finn will go with you and give you some tips. Minjae and I will check the forest."
With that, Jack turned and headed for the exit, leaving Daion with Haruka and Finn.
"Have fun," he called over his shoulder. "Oh, and Daion... don't worry about the people who hate heroes. Nobody hates gold."
With a lazy gesture, he disappeared through the door.
"Goodbye," Daion and Finn said in unison.
Haruka stood up, took Daion's hand with one hand and Finn's with the other.
"Alright," she said in her usual tone. "Let's get you something decent to wear."
The morning streets of SteelWall were pure chaos. People poured out of buildings like the world was ending. Heavy carts rolled along the road, pulled by enormous white-furred bears, each the size of a small house. Makeshift stalls lined the streets as merchants shouted their best deals at the top of their lungs.
The scorching sun didn't help Daion's hangover. His head throbbed with every step, but despite the discomfort, he couldn't help feeling amazed. Even without memories of his past, everything felt incredible. Most villagers ignored them, but some shot wary glances, as if looking for any excuse to take it out on them.
"Why is everyone so hostile?" Daion asked, frowning.
"Don't take it personally," Finn replied, shrugging. "Most summoned heroes end up doing questionable things just to survive. It's… understandable. But some abuse their power to do truly terrible things."
Daion's frown deepened. Before he could ask anything else, Haruka spoke up.
"And it's worse for women," she said, her voice colder than usual. Then she hesitated, as if searching for the right way to explain it. She looked at Daion. Without memories, he seemed almost like a child… How do I put this into words? "Some heroes use their power to… dominate them."
Daion understood immediately. His stomach churned. Until then, he hadn't considered how the villagers saw him.
"Some would rather meet a monster than a summoned hero," Finn added, a humorless smile on his face. "The barmaid? She was more afraid of you than you were of her."
Daion clenched his fists.
"I didn't do anything, so why should I care?" he said, his voice tense.
Haruka glanced at him sideways, a faint mocking smile playing on her lips.
"Obviously. You don't seem like that kind of person, but she doesn't know that. It's natural to carry some contempt for what others have done if you belong to the same group," she said heavily. It was clear even she had had to endure irrational hatred.
"For things like what Jack does?" Daion asked without thinking much.
Haruka stumbled nervously.
"Hiring a prostitute isn't…" Finn interrupted abruptly. Haruka looked at him carefully. "Bad."
It is when she wants to scream for help, Daion wanted to say, but he wasn't sure if it was true. His mind wandered too much on that night. Haruka watched him sideways for a few moments, then looked up and seemed to compose herself. She gently bumped him with her shoulder and smiled.
"Well, enough depressing stuff. Let's decide what we're going to buy you."
The shop didn't look like much from the outside: a small wooden house with a chimney puffing thick smoke, nothing especially eye-catching. But once inside, the first impression fell apart.
Swords, spears, daggers, and warhammers hung on the walls, arranged precisely by size and function. Shelves and mannequins proudly displayed sets of armor ranging from shiny, heavy plates for frontline tanks to light, streamlined pieces for agile fighters. There were even specialized models for assassins or mages.
Without a doubt, it was an extensive selection; this seemed like the most complete shop in town. From the back of the store came a tall man, military-cut, accompanied by the rhythmic clanging of a hammer striking red-hot iron.
"Welcome to Lysander's Blades. How can I…?" His eyes stopped on Daion's hands, more specifically his gauntlet. His expression shifted slightly. "Ah… summoned ones."
Daion braced himself for another look of disdain. By now, he was starting to get used to it.
But the man simply nodded and appraised them from head to toe.
"Alright. That means you're not here for weapons," he muttered to himself. "Judging by that outfit, I'd say you just arrived. I guess you need armor."
Finn let out a low whistle.
"Wow…"
"Can you read minds?" Haruka asked, blinking in slight surprise.
The man smiled with satisfaction.
"What can I say? Either I'm a good salesman or I'm starving." His smile radiated confidence; he was a natural merchant. No judgment. No hostility. To him, they were just customers. "All three of you?"
"Just him," Haruka answered, nudging Daion. He returned her look, raising an eyebrow.
"Alright, kid. Let's start with the basics: your sword needs a proper sheath."
He crouched and pulled out a wooden box full of worn leather straps, cracked belts, and battered scabbards. Most looked more fit for the trash than a store. Daion frowned. Seriously?
But neither Finn nor Haruka seemed surprised, so he held back his complaint.
Finally, the shopkeeper pulled out a long sword scabbard. It was in rough shape: dirty, with a half-broken belt and a rusty buckle. The kind of thing you'd find on a soldier's corpse. Without hesitation, the man tossed it to Daion. He caught it midair, staring at it incredulously.
"Is this a joke?"
Haruka shook her head and pointed at the scabbard.
"Just try it."
Daion sighed but obeyed. He slid his sword into the scabbard—it was loose, barely holding the weapon. It looked ridiculous, like he was carrying it in a burlap sack.
He was about to protest when a bright blue window appeared before him.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Do you want to link this item to your equipment?
▶ YES
▶ NO
Daion looked at the screen suspiciously.
"Come on, it won't bite," Haruka encouraged him.
With a sigh, he pressed YES.
As soon as he did, the scabbard emitted a silver glow. Within seconds, it reshaped itself, fitting perfectly to the dimensions of his sword. The belt stitched itself, the buckle polished to a dark steel finish, and the leather took on a sleek black that matched his weapon. It was still a simple scabbard… but at least it no longer looked like trash.
Daion blinked, surprised.
"Alright… that was kind of cool," he admitted.
"Scabbards are generic items," Haruka explained. "They automatically adjust to fit any weapon."
I wish armor worked like that, Finn muttered.
The shopkeeper chuckled.
"If it did, a weapons shop would be pointless," he joked.
Daion eyed him curiously. The vendor returned his gaze, sizing him up from head to toe.
"Alright, kid. What's your budget?"
"Not much."
Daion pulled out the coin pouch Jack had given him. The other pouch—the one he took from the destroyed village—remained hidden; he preferred to keep it as an emergency reserve.
The man nodded.
"Then, white bronze."
He disappeared into the back room and returned with three boxes. Inside were three different armor sets, all made of dull white metal with patches of greenish rust. Daion frowned, unimpressed. For a moment, he regretted not using the other pouch.
"Since you use a greatsword, I narrowed it down to three options," the shopkeeper explained. "It all depends on your fighting style: heavy full armor, light armor, or assault armor."
"Assault?" Daion asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"They're intermediate armors," Finn clarified. "Not bulky, but still durable. Designed for speed: they protect vital areas but leave many parts exposed."
"They're great for solo adventurers because they're versatile," the shopkeeper added. "But if you're in a group, it's better to specialize in a role."
Finn crossed his arms and looked at Haruka.
"We need a tank. Heavy armor is the best option for Daion," he reasoned. Haruka immediately shook her head.
"Jack is already our tank. We need someone who can take down monsters fast."
"That's Minjae's job. If Daion tanks, Jack can focus more on leading."
"Leading?" Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Jack? Staying back and giving orders? I'd rather fight alone than be a commander."
They kept arguing, each defending their stance, without even asking Daion. Meanwhile, he carefully examined the armors.
Heavy armor would let him withstand hits, but if he couldn't move quickly, he'd be doomed. Light armor was perfect for speed, but... he wasn't agile enough for that to matter. If they knocked him down, he'd be monster food in seconds.
Finally, his eyes landed on the assault armor. Small, yes… but tough. Without overthinking it, he grabbed the set and started putting it on.
Haruka and Finn stopped arguing and stared at him. The armor covered his chest with thin but rigid plates, reinforced one shoulder, and protected his forearms and legs. It was definitely beginner-level gear, but it felt right.
Another system window appeared before him.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Do you want to link this item to your equipment?
▶ YES
▶ NO
Daion didn't hesitate for a second. He pressed YES.
As soon as he did, the armor gleamed. The dull white metal darkened to a deep matte black, though the rust stains remained. His worn jacket and pants repaired themselves, transforming into a sleeker design. The hood disappeared, his jeans became reinforced black combat pants, and his worn sneakers turned into sturdy boots.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of his new gear.
"Alright…" he murmured, examining himself. Haruka sighed and crossed her arms.
"Assault armor, huh?" Her tone sounded a bit disappointed, but she didn't argue further.
Daion looked at Finn.
"So… the gauntlet can change my gear?" Finn nodded.
"Yes. Your gauntlet lets you modify the appearance of your weapons and armor, based on your preferences and the energy you absorb. Although it also depends on the gear you're wearing," he explained with a hint of pride in his knowledge. Even though he was the newbie, he was smart and had figured out a lot about this world in a short time.
Daion nodded in understanding and handed the shopkeeper the bag of coins. Once the transaction was done, they left the store.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Daion no longer felt like a lost fool. Now, he actually looked like an adventurer… if you ignored the rust.
As they walked through the busy streets, Haruka started explaining their mission.
Lately, people had begun to disappear. That was the reason they'd been hired: to find two soldiers who had vanished the night before.
When they reached the outskirts of town, Daion saw Jack and Minjae sitting on the ground, both covered in mud. Jack looked up and smiled with a mocking air.
"You look sharp, rookie." Daion nodded and looked away.
"How did it go?" Haruka asked.
Jack stood up, grinning.
"Let's just say… we found where the monsters are," he said, kicking a couple of barrels nearby. "And we did some shopping too."
Then, he fixed his gaze on Daion.
"This is your first real mission." His smile faded as he turned to the group, his expression serious. "Get ready. We've got work to do."
End of Chapter 6.