Inside the Adventurers' Guild in the Ranoa Kingdom.
Roxy's eyes widened at the enormous bag of Asura Gold Coins.
"Wait! This is for us?!"
"Of course it is! What are you doubting, Roxy? We never could've cleared that terrifying labyrinth without you and Cain."
Zoldat laughed and patted Cain on the shoulder, then turned to Roxy, who was holding the bag of Asura Gold Coins.
Even now, the thought of the labyrinth guardian's terrifying size—and its absurd ability to shrug off all physical attacks—made Zoldat break into a cold sweat.
I really let my guard down this time...
He had never expected the monster to be immune even to Cain's slashes, despite Cain being a Sword God. If Cain hadn't also known such terrifying Water Magic, they might have had to retreat.
Zoldat figured Cain was already at the level of a King-class or even Emperor-class mage. He had certainly never seen a mage unleash a spell so powerful over such a wide area.
"But I never expected you to have another trick up your sleeve, Cain. You're something else."
Zoldat glanced at Cain, who stood beside Roxy with his arms folded, and smiled.
Cain looked at Roxy's delighted face as she clutched the sack, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"No, no. Without Teacher Roxy, I never could've learned magic that powerful."
"Me? But I don't feel like I helped you all that much..."
Holding the bag of Asura Gold Coins, Roxy looked away.
"Please don't be modest, Teacher Roxy."
"All right, all right. I'll leave you two alone. Go splurge in town. I've still got plenty to do with the adventuring party, and we won't be taking any jobs for a while."
Seeing them start to downplay their own contributions again, Zoldat waved a hand and smiled.
He understood them a little better now. They were both too stubborn to admit how they felt. He just hoped things worked out for them.
"Oh, and Cain, I remember mages like magic hats and staffs. Didn't you get two fine magic crystals? Stop by that magic item shop we visited when you have time. Anyway, see you!"
Cain watched Zoldat wave and hurry out of the tavern, then nodded and took his hand off his sword hilt.
"Hmph. Lucky for him he ran fast."
"Don't mind him, Teacher Roxy. He's always like that..."
Cain paused as a small hand gently took his.
"Teacher Roxy?"
"I-I'd actually like to visit that shop again... O-of course, we should also have the magic crystal you just got appraised, and..."
Roxy suddenly remembered something and looked at Cain earnestly.
"Oh, right. You wanted to have Magic Armor made, didn't you? We could ask at that shop. Maybe they'll be able to help."
Cain nodded. The Magic Armor was still no further along than the blueprints. And really, who could resist a suit of magnificent armor?
The Neris Magic Item Branch, Ranoa Kingdom.
"Are you sure you want this armor made? A magic item like this would cost an astronomical sum."
"Um... how much would it cost at a minimum?"
The rabbit-eared woman studied the specifications for the Magic Armor and frowned. It had to run on both Battle Aura and Magic Power, be lightweight, withstand Advanced Magic, maintain balance under shifts in gravity, be easy to carry and put on at a moment's notice, and greatly enhance its wearer's abilities.
She sighed and gave Roxy and Cain an apologetic smile.
"Even our finest magic item craftsmen can't meet every one of these requirements. We'll do our best, but we'll need an advance payment of at least five hundred Asura Gold Coins."
Roxy and Cain stood in the shop, looking at the rabbit-eared woman's serious expression. Cain pressed his lips together.
"Maybe we should get the magic items appraised first, Teacher Roxy. I'm not in a hurry for the Magic Armor."
It was a shame, but Cain didn't want to spend Roxy's money on it too. The coins and gems Zoldat had given them were worth roughly five hundred Asura Gold Coins, but they belonged to both him and Roxy.
Roxy looked at Cain's uneasy face, and a smile crept onto her lips. She still remembered how excited and happy he'd been the night she drew up the Magic Armor designs.
"Please make the armor for us."
Without much hesitation, Roxy firmly set the sack of Asura Gold Coins and gems in front of the rabbit-eared clerk, whose eyes lit up.
"Wait, Teacher Roxy, that's too—"
Cain tried to stop Roxy from sacrificing her share for his sake, but she smiled and gave the hand she held a gentle squeeze.
"Listen to me, Cain. Your Swordsmanship is the heart of our adventuring party. If your safety were threatened, I'd be in trouble too. Besides, I'm a mage. If a crisis came, you'd be the one who could protect me fastest, wouldn't you?"
Cain met her earnest gaze and pressed his lips together. He couldn't argue with that. What Teacher Roxy said was practical, and it really could happen. If even he was in danger, could Zoldat and the others protect her?
Still, I can't imagine things getting that bad...
But five hundred Asura Gold Coins was far too much, no matter how he looked at it.
"But that's so much money. I... I don't know how I could ever repay you."
Cain spoke plainly, pressing his lips together.
"Oh, I'm the one who's benefited from knowing you. Think of this as an investment. When we meet again someday, I'll ask you to repay me then."
Roxy smiled happily with her hands behind her back. Seeing Cain at a loss for words gave her a small sense of satisfaction.
It was the first time her foolish apprentice had shown such an adorable, guilty expression.
Roxy could never spend that many Asura Gold Coins anyway. Her share from last time alone had been a hundred—enough to last an ordinary person half a lifetime.
Cain genuinely cared for her and considered her someone important; Roxy could feel it. She wanted to give something back, to respond to everything her foolish apprentice had done for her.
Besides, she had earned all this money after meeting Cain. Truthfully, she hadn't done much to get it. If it could help him grow stronger, she wouldn't begrudge spending the Asura Gold Coins she didn't need for daily life.
Though she still wanted to save a little more, if she could.
"Wonderful! Thank you for trusting us. We'll do everything we can to make the magic item you want. We estimate it'll take a little over three months, but the armor's complexity may delay delivery. Please be patient."
Roxy and Cain signed the contract and each pressed a fingerprint onto it.
As if remembering something, Cain took the Red Dragon's magic core from inside his clothes and set it on the table with a clack.
"Can you put this in the armor?"
Cain had intended to turn the core into a staff for Teacher Roxy. But the Red Dragon's core boosted fire magic, while Roxy mainly used Water Magic and liked exploring labyrinths. Using fire magic in a labyrinth was dangerous, so she'd firmly refused.
"A Red Dragon's magic core?!"
The rabbit-eared clerk's pupils contracted. Such cores were exceedingly rare. This one held a great deal of Magic Power and could power a magic item on its own or serve as the heart of a staff. It was worth a fortune.
It also proved that the two people before her were no ordinary adventurers.
"Of course! There'll be no extra charge for that. Thank you again for placing your trust in us."
Before you continue