“Something was off about that weapon shop... No, surely not.”
Rei muttered softly as he walked toward the Main Gate with Seto by his side.
“Guruuu?”
What’s wrong? Seto tilted his head as he walked alongside him. Rei stroked the griffon’s head, telling him it was nothing as they continued down the street.
As usual, his hands were piled high with snacks—grilled skewers, sandwiches, and other street foods he’d picked up along the way.
He continued eating as he walked, but his attention was suddenly arrested by a savory aroma wafting from a nearby dining hall.
“...That’s right. It’s almost autumn. I should buy some stew for the road. Seto, wait here a moment.”
“Guruuu.”
Hearing Seto’s cry of acknowledgment, Rei stepped inside.
Fortunately, it hadn't been long since the 9 o’clock bell had rung. The breakfast rush had passed and the lunch crowd was still a while off, so only a few customers remained.
Even so, the staff was likely preparing for the next meal. The dining hall was filled with an appetizing scent that made his mouth water.
“Welcome! What can I get for you?”
Rei was greeted by a girl who looked to be around his age, perhaps in her mid-teens. From the practiced way she spoke to him, she was clearly the Shop Girl.
Rei shook his head slightly.
“No, I didn't come here to eat.”
“Huh? Then what are you doing in our dining hall?”
“Well, I smelled some delicious stew from outside. I’d like to buy some—the whole pot, if possible.”
“...Excuse me?”
The Shop Girl stared blankly at Rei’s face, which was mostly hidden beneath his hood, as if she hadn’t processed the request.
Under her gaze, he reached into his pouch and pulled out seven silver coins, placing them on the table.
“Is this enough to cover the food and the pot?”
“Wait... what? Silver... and seven of them!?”
In a frontier city like Gilm, where prices were low, such a sum was unthinkable for a commoner’s meal. The Shop Girl was momentarily thrown into confusion, but she quickly snapped out of it.
“H-Hold on just a moment! I’ll go get my father!”
Muttering in a panic, she rushed into the kitchen. Less than a minute later, she returned, dragging a sturdy middle-aged man in his 40s.
“Good grief, what is it? I’m not even done with the prep work yet.”
“Father, just come here! I’m telling you, we have a real customer!”
Despite her small frame, the way she hauled the much larger middle-aged man along was a comical sight, though she was clearly in earnest.
“C-Customer, sorry to keep you waiting. This is our cook.”
“What do you mean, 'this'? ...So, you’re the customer? Do you have business with me?”
“Yeah. The smell from outside was great. If you’re willing, I’d like to buy the pot and everything in it. As for the price...”
Rei glanced toward the girl.
“He said he’d pay seven silver coins!”
“What!? Seven silver coins... Look, I’m glad you appreciate my cooking that much, but buying the whole pot is overkill. Our pots are massive; there’s enough in there for fifty people. You’ll just end up letting it rot before you can finish it. I can't sell my food to someone when I know it’s just going to go to waste.”
Despite being stunned by the amount, the man refused, his pride as a craftsman preventing him from letting his work be squandered. Rei felt a flash of respect for the man and allowed a faint, approving smile to touch his lips.
“That won't be a problem. I have an Item Box.”
With that, he showed them the Misty Ring on his right hand.
“An Item Box... Ah! Wait! You’re the one everyone’s talking about, the rookie with the griffon!”
The girl shouted in surprise as she looked at Rei’s face. At her voice, the few customers in the room turned to stare at Rei with newfound curiosity.
“Huh? Rumors? What are you talking about?”
“Honestly, Father, don't you listen to anything? ...Then again, you never care about gossip. But surely you’ve heard? About the incredible newcomer with a griffon who’s been buying up huge amounts of food from all the stalls.”
(So that’s the rumor.)
Rei mentally deadpanned. It wasn't quite the reputation he’d expected.
However, it was true that since Rei had arrived in the City of Gilm, the stalls he frequented had seen their sales skyrocket. After all, he had a griffon over two meters long to feed, not to mention his own high metabolism. The meals served at the Dusk Wheat Inn where he stayed weren't enough, so he supplemented them with skewers and sandwiches from the street, leading to his current fame.
Of course, the fact that time didn't pass inside the Misty Ring meant food wouldn't spoil, so he was also stockpiling for emergencies.
“I don't really follow, but basically, you’re saying this kid won't let my food rot?”
Rei nodded at the man’s question.
“Exactly. If you’ll sell it to me, I’ll make sure every bite is enjoyed.”
“...Hmm... I see. You won't let it go to waste, and you’re willing to pay seven silver coins just for the smell. I can't exactly turn away a customer like that. ...Alright! It’s a deal. It’s early enough that I can start a new batch and have it ready for lunch, and I’ve got a spare pot. I'll sell it to you, kid. Follow me.”
It was a snap decision. With a loud declaration, the man led Rei into the kitchen.
Waiting there was a pot—or more accurately, a massive cauldron. It was packed to the brim with meat and vegetables, more of a hearty stew than a simple soup.
“It’s this size, as you can see. Even if it were empty, it would be heavy, but full like this? I can't even lift it. But that won't be an issue for an Item Box, right?”
“None at all.”
Rei reached out, touched the handle of the pot, and mentally commanded: Store. In the next instant, the enormous cauldron vanished into thin air.
“Whoa. That’s incredible. First time I’ve ever seen an Item Box in action.”
“They’re rare magic items, for the most part. By the way, is the stew ready to eat? Or, since you mentioned prep, does it need more time?”
“Well, the flavor has soaked in enough that it’s perfectly fine to eat now. But as a cook, I’d say another hour of simmering would make it perfect. ...Ah, and take this too. Seven silver coins is a bit too much for just the stew.”
He handed Rei a basket piled high with bread. It was all freshly baked and, unusually for Gilm, it looked soft and fluffy.
“Thanks. I won't turn it down.”
Rei stored the bread in the Misty Ring just like the pot. After a few minutes of small talk, he left the dining hall.
“Guruuu.”
The moment he stepped outside, Seto approached him, purring. The scent of the stew clinging to Rei must have piqued the griffon’s hunger.
Rei gave a wry smile, pulled out one of the fresh rolls, and fed it to him.
“Guruuuuu.”
Together with Seto, who was nodding contentedly while munching on the soft bread, Rei headed toward the Main Gate.
At the gate, Rei handed his Guild Card to Ranga and returned the Tamed Monster's Necklace before stepping out into the open air.
Waiting there were the two members of the Crushing Warriors: Brasso, who was hauling a backpack presumably filled with camping gear and food, and Phron, who carried only her weapon at her waist.
“You’re late!”
Phron raised her voice the moment she spotted Rei and Seto. Beside her, Brasso gave her an exasperated look.
“Now, now, there’s still plenty of time before our scheduled departure.”
“Even so, they kept us waiting! Keeping a lady waiting is a sin for any man.”
“...Phron, we aren't exactly meeting for a date. Besides, you shouldn't expect knightly chivalry from the likes of us.”
Rei chuckled at their bickering as he approached.
“You two are early. Is that all the gear?”
“Aye. We’ll only be out for a night or so. Bringing more would just be a hindrance.”
“I see. In that case, let me take that for you. Consider it an apology for making you wait.”
“Hmm? Don't worry about me. I’m used to hauling this much gear.”
Brasso seemed truly unbothered, giving his backpack a little shake. Phron, however, sighed in exasperation.
“Honestly, don't you realize how ridiculous it is to pack a cask of ale the size of a human torso? I’m not saying you can't drink, but have some restraint during a request.”
“What are you saying! For a Dwarf, alcohol is the Water of Life! Even if we run out of food, we can't do without the ale!”
“Good grief, this is why I can't stand Dwarves...”
Phron covered her face and groaned at the sky.
“Hey, just hand it over. It might not be heavy for you, but it’ll definitely slow you down in a fight.”
Without waiting for an answer, Rei forcibly took the pack from Brasso’s shoulders.
“W-Wait!”
“Hold on. It’s true it would slow Brasso down, but wouldn't it be the same for you? Actually, you’d be even more restricted than a Dwa—...f...”
Phron trailed off as Rei instantly vanished the backpack into the Misty Ring. Rei sighed at the two of them, who were now staring at him with wide-eyed shock.
“I thought you said you’d heard the rumors about me having an Item Box?”
Rei asked, but Phron and Brasso both shook their heads.
“The rumors I heard were just about the adventurer with a griffon.”
“Same here. I had no idea you were an Item Box user.”
Rei tilted his head. He hadn't realized it, but between an Item Box and a creature like Seto, the griffon was far more eye-catching. Naturally, his reputation had spread as the "skilled rookie with a griffon." While rumors of his Item Box did exist, they were mostly confined to the inner circles of the guild and hadn't reached the general public—or adventurers who didn't gossip much.
“...Well, whatever. Regardless, should we get going? Standing around the Main Gate isn't going to get the harpies killed.”
“A-Ah. Right. Sorry, I was just caught off guard. Seeing a legendary-class magic item isn't an everyday occurrence.”
“Indeed. ...Say, Rei. If you don't mind, could you let me get a better look at that Item Box later? For my own education.”
Rei nodded at Brasso’s request, though he added a caveat.
“I don't mind, but this one is specially tuned so that only I can use it. I can let you see it, but that's about it.”
“What? Does that mean it’s registered to your magic power?”
“Yeah.”
Rei’s confirmation brought a look of pure curiosity to the dwarf’s eyes.
“Did you do the tuning yourself?”
“No, the master who gave it to me did.”
Since it had happened automatically when he received the Misty Ring at Zephyle's Mansion, it was technically the work of Estha Nor, the Alchemist of the Zephyle Clan, but Rei kept that detail to himself.
“I’d heard stories, but your master must be an incredible artisan. There aren't many left with that kind of skill. ...If only I had a fraction of that talent.”
Brasso looked at Rei’s wrist with a trace of envy. Rei recalled Phron mentioning that Brasso had been found to have no blacksmith aptitude.
(He doesn't have the gift, but he still dreams of the forge, I guess.)
Rei glanced at Phron, who seemed to be thinking the same thing. She gave a small nod and silently mouthed the word 'Please.'
“...Fine. If we have some downtime at the mountain before the night raid starts, I’ll show you.”
“Hah! You have my thanks! Well then, let’s get a move on!”
Enthused by Rei’s promise, Brasso began marching down the highway with renewed vigor. Rei and Phron shared a wry smile at his simple nature before following after him.