Changing Clothes

"Tch—why can't I ever control these hands of mine."

Walking through the alleyways of the city district, Xuan Ye couldn't help but slap his own hand beneath his black robe. Back then, he'd casually lashed out at that displeasing fellow, and as a result, something that could have been handled smoothly had turned into a complicated mess.

Originally, if he'd just revealed his Professional Rank strength, that bastard would have scrambled to retrieve the items, wouldn't he? It might have left a bitter taste in his mouth, and that guy would have dodged a bullet, but at least there'd be no real loss.

As things stood now, even though Thorn Monkey had probably caught on and would thoroughly investigate, that mud-fishing scumbag wouldn't escape. And because the public needed an explanation, the matter would be handled cleanly—even better than if he'd done it himself.

But behind all these benefits lay a rather awkward cost. Well, the Kende Family didn't matter—they had no idea he'd joined Luo Luoji's Scavenger Squad. But the Shadow of Feralas lurking in the dark, along with those few dead students from Dream Island, would definitely take notice of him!

Earlier, one person had managed to escape and return, but judging from factors like the city defenses, the intelligence he brought back hadn't drawn much attention. It might have only sparked a bit more focus on the deaths of Luo Luoji and the Dream Island members.

After all, his words carried little weight, and he was just one man. But now that Xuan Ye had surfaced and revealed his Professional Rank strength, his influence would likely be far greater. In the end, unable to resist making that snide reminder, he felt a bit speechless with himself. Wasn't this just asking for trouble? Who knew how many more of the Shadow of Feralas were still hidden in the dark.

Dream Island had already been infiltrated by them, so Stanrose surely had its spies too. Besides the Shadow of Feralas, the lead instructor from Dream Island might also come knocking over the students' deaths. What a sin this was.

Alright, though his tongue was sharp, Xuan Ye's heart leaned toward the righteous. When within his power, he couldn't quite control himself—at least in this world's current environment, that was a rare trait...

Precisely because he feared those shady figures in the shadows, he didn't wait for a second Professional Rank to arrive before slipping away. Now, he'd better keep a low profile, finish what he needed to do quickly, and leave this place of trouble.

The Shadow of Feralas was indeed detestable, but such a behemoth was beyond what he could shake or influence now. The most he could do was offer a warning.

But before that, what he needed to do...

"Hoo—truly exhausting."

After vaulting over a wall from a residential home, Xuan Ye wiped the sweat from his brow with some guilt. This was the second house—Jack's home. He really couldn't bear to face Jack's old mother's gaze, so he'd sneaked in to leave money and a note.

And once Thorn Monkey finished handling Uncle's inheritance and sent his share over, material life would be more than sufficient. But...

In a low mood, Xuan Ye trudged through the streets, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Before he knew it, he found himself in the commercial district. He patted his cheeks to perk himself up.

Well, it wasn't a good time to take on guild quests, so he might as well browse here for some finds. The main priority was a pure earth-type Magic Core. Dean had the surrounding materials. He also needed a new bow, couldn't slack on melee weapons, and it'd be nice to add some armor, potions, and if possible, magic scrolls or enchanted items...

As he unconsciously began listing what to buy, the thoughts spiraled out of control. Sure, Dean and the other two were loaded, but only relatively so. Their Spatial Bags were limited in size.

On the road, Dean had spent nearly half his most expensive spellcasting materials, and most of their cash had been left for the families of the fallen. He wasn't sure if there was enough left.

Passing a lavishly decorated weapon shop, he glanced at the sign reading "House of Treasures" and hesitated before stepping inside. He'd buy something and ask about Magic Cores.

[As long as you have money, you can become stronger!]

Seeing the bold banner just inside the entrance, Xuan Ye felt a jolt of stimulation. The floor was covered in animal-hide carpets, and the weapon racks were finely crafted woodwork, instantly elevating the shop's class.

He'd never imagined this was a place selling weapons.

But after correcting his preconceptions, he found it somewhat normal. In Reizel, there were no luxury cars or watches. Here, high-end consumer goods were dominated by weapons and armor.

A dazzling array of metallic-luster weapons was displayed by category on various counters, overwhelming the eyes. A few other customers were browsing equipment as well.

Each customer had a graceful, attractive sales attendant by their side.

Just as Xuan Ye was grumbling inwardly about why no beauty had approached him, a sweet voice sounded in his ear.

"Sir, how may I assist you?"

Turning his head, he saw a salesgirl with a pure, moving face and an indecently ample chest, half-exposed in white, standing before him with a practiced smile.

She showed no disdain for his attire.

Thankfully, his memories included the Potion Bitch's looks, and he'd spent time with Aitiya in the desert, so he didn't make a fool of himself. He just occasionally swept his gaze over the deep cleavage while putting on a serious expression.

"I need a longbow, a short sword, and a dagger."

He'd already planned his weapon needs. No matter how he felt about magic or his dissatisfaction, he was genuinely a Ranger now. His coordination with a bow was excellent.

Using the longbow as his primary weapon was a no-brainer—though he'd never admit he chose ranged combat out of fear of getting hurt up close.

As for the short sword and dagger, they were for close-quarters defense. Most threats emerged at close range, and to absorb Essence from finishing blows, he'd need to get near to maximize efficiency. He still had a short sword from his Scavenger Squad days.

But that thing had been riddled with cracks after killing a few Azure Wolves, barely fit for show. In the end, he'd even used his bow as a club against Ye Man.

Such life-or-death gear couldn't be taken lightly.

"Very well, please follow me. The bows are further inside."

The salesgirl had clearly noticed his occasional lingering glances. Used to such looks, she found his clumsy, old-fashioned approach rather amusing.

She didn't hold high hopes for commission on this sale. This wasn't some street stall selling handmade hunting bows—this was a proper establishment. The cheapest standard bows cost several dozen silver, far beyond what this shy young man could afford.

Passing two rows of weapon racks, they arrived before a neat lineup of longbows. The variety was displayed in the most pleasing arrangements on specialized stands.

Each type had a sample. A rough count showed at least forty kinds of bows alone, showcasing the shop's depth.

"The front section holds standard bows, feel free to try them. The rear section has precious custom strong bows, which require a deposit to test. If you don't purchase, only part of the deposit will be refunded, deducting wear-and-tear fees."

She gestured for him to browse while explaining, her chest pressed slightly out of shape. The stimulating sight made Xuan Ye shiver. He couldn't stare—remember what happened to the original owner at the hands of the Potion Bitch.

Focusing his Spiritual Power briefly, he dispelled the adolescent bodily heat, restoring clarity like a post-release sage mode.

If other mages knew someone was wasting active spirit like this, who knew what they'd think.

Turning his attention back to the bows, he examined them carefully. Standard bows, huh. With his skill, a decent standard bow would suffice for daily use. Among the later standard models, he spotted the one he'd used before.

Priced at seven hundred eighty-eight silver, it was an outstanding standard type—after all, Luo Luoji had used it to lure monsters before lending it to him.

"Uh, this guest, these bows here are already sufficient for someone of the Professional Rank to use."

Seeing Xuan Ye wander over to the middle section on his own, the salesgirl hesitated for a moment before speaking, carefully choosing her words to soften the blow and spare the customer's pride.

"Oh~, so the ones in the middle are enough for the Professional Rank. Then what about those twenty-plus special bows in the back? Who are they for?"

Clearly thick-skinned, Xuan Ye completely missed the subtext of her words, instead growing curious about the bows further in.

Stanrose had fewer than fifty people at the Professional Rank in total. Of course, "sufficient for the Professional Rank" didn't mean the user had to be one—he himself had used them happily before his breakthrough—but surely they wouldn't be divided into that many grades.

"No, many of the special bows are suited for low-level Apprentice Rangers. Uh, they're generally used by young nobles. They allow one to shoot stronger arrows with less effort."

Although Xuan Ye had already reached the strength of a Professional Ranger, his understanding and eye for bows were still quite pathetic. Only after hearing the explanation did he roughly grasp the situation—it was probably like the difference between an economy car and a luxury one.

Casually picking up the last standard bow on the rack, he drew the string fully and tested the tension. Satisfied, he found it better than the one he'd used before and good enough for now.

With that thought, he released the taut bowstring.

Vwoom~

A resonant vibration stirred up a gust of wind inside the shop. The salesgirl, who had been about to raise her hand to stop and dissuade him, stood frozen in shock. Her mouth fell open, revealing neat white teeth, and she quickly raised both hands to cover her red lips, as if afraid to let out a sound.

Unfortunately, Xuan Ye was busy debating whether to buy this bow or splurge and go for a better one. He didn't get to enjoy that ice cream of a sight, nor did he realize he'd just inadvertently let something slip. Otherwise, he might have been quite pleased with himself...

Well, the protagonist is pretty normal when it comes to men and women—interested in beauties, but due to his predecessor's experiences, he carries some particular shadows. He's cautious, always thinking, "I don't believe it; you're out to get me."

As for strategy, in the first thirty chapters of Volume One, he's still a rookie, below average for Reizel. But thanks to the Database, his experience accumulates quickly. After a series of events, by Volume Two, he's above average. He can deduce outcomes from conditions and see through the ins and outs of incidents fairly swiftly—though his nature sometimes leads him to do odd things. After Volume Two's events end, he starts turning the tables on others. No more spoilers beyond that; that's roughly the idea.

Thanks to the Wound-Flowing Scenery Pavilion and reader So-and-So for the tips.

Word count exceeded the limit again... Only this chapter today. My bad for miscalculating the release earlier; I'll make it up to everyone properly later...