A few days had passed since the day of absorbing the Silver Lion's Magic Stone, verifying the Terrain Manipulation skill—and more accurately, since Set's snow play. Rei stood in front of the shoe shop he had visited before.
Beside Rei, as always, was Set.
The days that Mirene and Yohanna had each claimed were already over, but among the townspeople who had witnessed them, several had asked Rei if they could play with Set too. As a result, an impromptu snow-play gathering with Set had taken place in the backyard near the stables of the Wheat Inn at dusk. However, that too was now over.
Well, to be precise, Set wanted to go along with Rei since Rei was heading to the shoe shop, and so it naturally came to an end.
"Wait here a moment. I don't think it'll take too long."
"Grr."
At Rei's words, Set obediently let out a cry and lay down near the shoe shop.
The snow had been falling intermittently ever since Rei's previous visit, and by now it had accumulated quite a bit.
It was already a season that could fully be called winter. With the exception of those who had failed to save enough funds to survive the winter, most adventurers were now enjoying a brief respite.
Because of that, places like dining halls and taverns were in what could be called the most profitable season of the year.
Rei gave Set one last stroke before entering the shoe shop.
"Welcome. ...Oh, it's Rei. The shoes are ready. Give me a moment."
Upon seeing Rei, the shop clerk called out and headed into the back of the shop.
Rei simply watched him go, the conversation progressing rapidly before he could even say a word.
He had indeed come to pick up the shoes today, so the clerk's attitude wasn't exactly wrong.
Still, he could have at least listened to what he had to say before rushing off.
That was what he thought, but he soon decided it wasn't worth getting upset over and took a seat.
Just like his visit a few days ago, numerous shoes were lined up around him.
Looking at it like this, it really does feel like I came to a shoe shop, huh.
As he waited, looking at the shoes around him, the craftsman—the clerk's father—eventually emerged from the back of the shop.
In Rei's eyes, the man looked as stubborn as ever, fitting the image of a master craftsman perfectly.
In the craftsman's hands were two separate pairs of shoes, one pair each.
Everyday shoes for wearing around town, and shoes with iron plates inserted for adventuring.
"Hm? I asked for ten pairs of each, didn't I?"
"Yeah, that's right. But all the shoes are made the same way as these. If you put these on and there are no problems, the rest should be fine."
Though gruff, the words carried unmistakable confidence in his own work—something Rei could easily hear.
Because of that, Rei felt no particular dissatisfaction with the statement and changed into the shoes.
"Huh..."
What escaped Rei's mouth at the comfort of the shoes was a voice of admiration.
Setting aside Asimov's shoes, which were clearly too large for his feet, they were noticeably superior in comfort even compared to the shoes he had previously purchased at this shop.
Putting on shoes that properly fit his feet again made him realize just how precious his custom-made Sleipnir boots were.
Actually, how did Elena get her Sleipnir boots? If they don't fit your feet, that seems like it would cause all sorts of problems.
Such a question briefly crossed his mind, but he figured he could just ask her next time they used the Paired Orbs, and walked lightly around the shop with the shoes on.
They must have been crafted so as not to burden the feet when walking. The sensation of his feet touching the ground was far less noticeable than with the shoes he had been wearing until moments ago.
"How are they?"
"Yeah, I've only just put them on so I can't say for certain, but I don't think there are any problems."
"...I see. If you have any issues while wearing those, come back. I'll adjust them. ...Next up, these."
What was handed over next were the iron-plated shoes for adventuring.
Naturally, these too fit without any issues, just like the first pair.
He had no idea how they were made, but the weight didn't feel significantly different from the first pair he had tried on.
That in itself was strange, given that they used iron plates.
Rei tilted his head at this, but when he directed an inquiring look at the craftsman, the man remained as sullen as ever and showed no sign of offering an explanation.
Deciding it was pointless to ask, Rei judged that the shoes were by no means a bad fit, gave a small nod, and spoke.
"Yeah, no problems with these either. They're perfectly usable."
"...I see. If you feel anything off while wearing those, bring them in. I'll adjust them."
With only those words, the man stood up as if to say his business was done and returned to the back of the shop.
Still, he seemed satisfied with his work; the slight upward curve at the corner of his lips beneath that sullen face was likely the closest thing to a smile the craftsman would offer.
"Alright, wait here a moment. I'll bring out the rest right away."
The clerk announced this and headed into the back, following after his father.
Rei changed back into the shoes without iron plates and checked their condition once more.
While he was doing that, the clerk eventually returned from the back with the remaining shoes and handed them to Rei.
"That completes the transaction. Take care, and let us know if you need anything else."
Rei nodded at the words, stored the handed-over shoes, the first pair with iron plates, and the shoes he had been wearing until today into his Misty Ring, and left the shop.
The price had been fairly high, but even so, Rei felt it was well worth the amount.
"Grrrr!"
Hearing Set's cry, Rei turned his gaze in that direction and saw Mirene feeding Set a sandwich.
However, Rei wasn't particularly surprised at the sight.
To begin with, residents of Gilm feeding Set was not a rare sight, and given that, having Mirene—the foremost Set enthusiast, though Yohanna would surely object to that title—present was hardly unusual.
Come to think of it, last winter, Maruka came when Mirene was playing with Set, too. I wonder if she'll show up this year as well?
Recalling the person with the verbal tic, Rei casually scanned his surroundings.
Maybe... it was an action born of that thought, but as expected, Maruka was nowhere to be seen.
Feeling both a sense of relief and a subtle loneliness, he approached Set and Mirene.
"Set, Mirene."
"...Ah, Rei. You're back already? I wanted to play with Set-chan a little longer."
Mirene had probably known from Set's cry that Rei was approaching.
Even so, her honest feeling was that she wanted to play with Set for as long as possible.
"If you'd like, I'm going to take a short walk through town. Want to come along?"
"Huh? Really!? ...is what I'd like to say, but..."
At Rei's words, Mirene wore a disappointed expression—one that made it perfectly clear she was genuinely regretful from the bottom of her heart.
"Actually, I have plans with Surnin and Ekril. I can't just abandon them to go play with Set-chan."
"...Huh."
Rei's expression turned slightly surprised at Mirene's words.
He had assumed that knowing Mirene, she would choose to stay with Set and ignore her meeting with Surnin and the others.
But what Mirene chose was to prioritize Surnin and the others.
Given Mirene's personality—Set enthusiast, or rather, Set supremacist was a more fitting title—it was astonishing enough to make Rei's eyes widen.
"It can't be helped. Next time I'm late because of Set-chan, he said he'd give me all sorts of punishments."
"Ah... yeah. That explains it."
It wasn't a choice she had made willingly, but one born from fear of Surnin's punishments.
Well, I suppose that's understandable.
Surnin was usually calm and mature, but precisely because of that, he was likely terrifying when angered.
It was often said that the quieter the person, the scarier they were when angry, and Surnin fit that description perfectly.
Besides, Surnin understands Mirene's personality, so if he were to punish her, it would likely be a Set-related punishment.
Being in the same party as Mirene, Surnin naturally understood her personality well.
So well, in fact, that one might think he understood it even better than Mirene herself did.
"Well then, Set-chan. Let's play again next time. The day I spent with you recently was fun, so I'll look for something delicious for us to eat."
"Grrr."
At Mirene's words, Set purred happily.
Rei watched Mirene go, looking reluctant as she stroked Set one last time and departed. Then he began walking through town with Set.
"Gru?"
Set let out a cry while looking at Rei's shoes. Rei gently stroked him and spoke.
"These are the shoes I'll wear until my Sleipnir boots are reinforced. I was wearing different shoes until just now, right?"
"Gru..."
For Set, who fundamentally didn't wear shoes or clothes, Rei's behavior was probably a little puzzling.
Now that I think about it, does that mean Set is actually naked every day? ...If Mirene or Yohanna heard that, they'd probably get a nosebleed and faint.
Or was his fur a substitute for clothes? Thinking such foolish thoughts as he walked down the main street, a good scent suddenly drifted from ahead... a smell that stirred his appetite.
"Oh, smells good. ...Want to grab a bite to eat?"
"Gru!"
At Rei's words, Set purred happily, and they headed straight for the food stall.
"...And honestly, I was planning to head back to the inn happily after that and relax in my room."
"Sorry about that, but we've been waiting for a day when we could contact you, Rei-san, for quite some time."
After enjoying a soup loaded with ingredients at the food stall with Set, Rei returned to the Wheat Inn at dusk... only to be called out by the person standing in front of the reception desk.
A man in his thirties—rather than dignified, "overweight" would be a more fitting description.
His height was taller than Rei's, but even so, by the average standards of this world, he could be considered short.
Though his mouth was smiling, his eyes weren't smiling at all. The man spoke to Rei in a cheerful tone.
The reason Rei was staying calm in the face of such a person was probably the Gamelion dishes on the table.
Simmered dishes, grilled dishes, steamed dishes... all sorts of food were spread across the table.
Naturally, Rei hadn't ordered any of this food; the person in front of him had.
Rei had eaten a hearty soup at the food stall, but he still had room in his stomach.
Enough to finish all the food in front of him.
"So, what was that about waiting for a day to contact me?"
"Yes. I am a merchant belonging to the Spiel Merchant Guild. My name is Tris."
"...I see."
Rei had somewhat understood that the Tris before him was a merchant.
His body was too soft to be an adventurer.
There was a possibility he could have been a noble's messenger, but that one statement had eliminated that possibility.
"So, what does a merchant from the Spiel Merchant Guild want with me? I don't have any business with merchants right now."
"Yes. I do apologize for taking up your time, Rei-san, but... we have our own circumstances, you see."
Tris spoke with a smile, and Rei directed his gaze at him, prompting him to continue.
...Though, Rei had a general idea of why the man before him had come.
In fact, the most likely reason for a merchant to go out of their way to visit him was the matter of the Silver Lion.
Deciding it was pointless to waste time here, Rei reached for a Gamelion skewer and voiced his prediction.
"The Silver Lion matter, I assume."
"That's right. ...What do you say? The Silver Lion materials you're said to possess. Would you be willing to sell them to us?"
"Unfortunately, I have no intention of doing so at the moment."
Rei shook his head immediately at Tris's words.
Several other merchants had come before him, and he had turned every single one of them down.
Given that, he had absolutely no intention of selling the materials to the person before him.
"I see. ...Then it can't be helped. Please let me know if you change your mind."
"Huh?"
He had fully expected negotiations to begin from there, but Tris simply said that, stated his business was concluded, and stood from his seat.
Caught off guard, Rei could do nothing but silently watch Tris walk away.