*Kriring
"Welcome!"
At a certain shop, I was greeted by a plump, middle-aged woman.
"Oh Flitz! You came again?"
"Yes. Auntie! Please, the usual order!"
"Alright, wait a moment."
After waiting for a while, the shopkeeper auntie came out holding a package in her hands.
"You always order this, my daughter will be so happy to know that!"
I received the package and looked inside; there were several round white breads, still warm.
This bread was truly delicious. The shopkeeper told me that this was her daughter's creation. By the way, her daughter was only ten years old.
After paying, I left the shop and walked toward a certain destination.
It had already been several months since the Cult's attack. The time to answer the question about our true purpose was drawing closer.
Today, I was outside the castle, my light footsteps heading toward a certain place.
A few months ago, we—people from another world—started going outside the castle grounds. Since we grew bored staying inside, we asked Cyrus for permission, and he responded positively.
"Eh? You want to go outside? Of course, I don't forbid you! As long as it's still within the capital, you don't need my permission. You just need to tell a knight or servant if you wish to leave."
Cyrus never actually forbade us from going out. It seemed he thought of us as homebodies and never brought it up.
After realizing that, we began leaving the castle and wandering the city for various reasons.
Our faces were not yet known to the public. Only a few nobles and castle workers recognized us, so we could move about more freely in the city. But still, if we wore noble clothing, we would draw attention.
So when we went into the city, we were asked to wear the clothing of middle-class citizens to blend in with society.
During our first visit, each of us was accompanied by a disguised servant, but after going several times, we only brought one along when we needed help.
Even when unaccompanied, I knew we were being protected by hidden guards that Cyrus had assigned.
After walking while nibbling on the bread I bought, I finally arrived at my destination: a blacksmith's shop.
"Welcome!! Do you need household goods? Tools? Jewelry? Weapons? We have them all!"
A beautiful shop assistant greeted me. She had long pink hair and a bright smile on her face.
"Ah, no. I'd like to see if this shop has forging equipment—and if I could use it."
For the past several months, I had been going around visiting blacksmith shops in the city to see if I could make some things.
I had already been to the royal blacksmiths, but unfortunately their equipment was somewhat lacking by my standards. After consulting with them, they suggested I look in the city—perhaps I might find what I sought.
But during my search in the city, I hadn't found anything that met my criteria.
A few days ago, I heard a new blacksmith shop had just opened, so I decided to give it a try.
"Eh, you too? Alright, come this way."
The shop assistant led me to a room in the back. I could hear clanging sounds from within.
"Grim! Someone wants to see your workshop again."
"DAMN IT!! WHY DO YOU ALL KEEP BOTHERING ME?"
When she shouted inside, I heard a grumbling voice from there.
After that, a small boy opened the door and came out with an annoyed look.
He was a kid with short brown hair. His chest was bare, showing his muscles. On the left side of his neck was a tattoo whose meaning I didn't understand. With his black eyes, he glared at me in displeasure.
"Are you from the kingdom too?"
???
How did he know? Had someone from the kingdom already been here?
I showed him the medal Cyrus had given me. Seeing the insignia, he clicked his tongue and let me in.
As I entered, the hot air rushed against me. The room was large and filled with various equipment. Setting my package aside, I looked around—and spotted an unexpected face.
"Oh Flitz! You're here too?"
The one speaking to me was Agatha. In her hand was a half-eaten sandwich.
Lately, I'd often seen her eating. No—ever since three months ago, I had always seen her either chewing or holding food. It seemed her appetite had increased, but wasn't this a bit too much? Thankfully, she hadn't turned into a pig.
"I came to make something. So, what are you doing here, Agatha?"
Agatha pointed at a large muscular man hammering a piece of hot iron.
"I came here to design something together with Renaldi."
Yep, that huge muscular man was Renaldi. That scrawny guy was gone, replaced by a mountain of muscle over two meters tall. What the heck happened to his body? He was completely different now.
After a while, Renaldi noticed me.
"Yo Flitz! You're here too? What brings you here?"
I explained my visit to them—though of course not in detail. After that, I asked the boy named Grim about it too.
"Hah? Boy? I'M OLDER THAN YOU, YOU SNOT-NOSED BRAT!!!"
I was shocked he could read my mind. Smiling, I apologized to him.
Agatha told me that Grim was the owner of this shop and that he was a Dwarf. So what he said about his age was true.
Hmm... Looking closely, his ears were indeed different from humans. So he really was a Dwarf... In books, their race was described as short but possessing strength beyond humans, and they also lived long lives.
"Hm... from what you're saying, what you're looking for isn't here."
Shaking his head, Grim said that.
"I think I've seen what you're after in the Dwarven Kingdom."
I see... Looks like I'll have to go there.
The Dwarven Kingdom was similar to Jatumheim, located south of the Urtem continent. It bordered four territories: the Beastman Kingdom, the Empire, the Academy, and the Trade Union.
I could use the capital's Warp Gate to instantly travel there, but my purpose was to explore this world. I didn't want to use the Warp Gate unless it was urgent.
If I wanted to go to the Dwarven Kingdom the conventional way, I had two possible routes: through the Academy or through the Trade Union.
After talking with Grim for a while, I bid him farewell.
"Huh?"
As I picked up my package, I noticed it felt lighter. Looking inside, there was no bread left.
I turned to see Agatha grinning mischievously at me. So it was her...
"If you eat too much, you'll turn into a pig, you know!"
"That won't happen! Hehe!"
I sighed and said goodbye to her and Renaldi.
I didn't know what the two of them were making, but when I asked, Renaldi said it was a secret and that he'd tell me later.
"See you next time."
The pink-haired shop assistant smiled and waved at me as I left the shop.
I forgot to ask her name. Well, I guess I'll ask next time.
Grim also told me to come to his workshop once I was ready to head to the Dwarven Kingdom. It seemed he wanted to give me something.
On my way home, I didn't forget to stop by a few places to look around and buy some things I might need later.
"A month left, huh..."