Become stronger, please! part 3

Next morning Ryu skipped his daily routine of pouring holy water into his blade, at first things seemed to be normal, but soon he found himself tired and experiencing bad luck. It was just as bad, if not worse, than the time he arrived at Celarent.

But this time he couldn't afford to stay inside. Risa was clear with him, if he didn't follow her instructions she would simply withdraw her help.

The first step outside showed him what kind of day awaited for him. A white smelly substance covered his shoulder and when he looked up, a small crow seemed to mock him. When he came back after changing his clothes Sera was still waiting for him outside.

"Sera, do you mind giving me your hand?"

Ryu asked embarrassingly, because he needed help to walk through the streets.

"It will be my pleasure!"

Sera replied so fast it seemed as if she had been expecting it, when in reality, she simply wouldn't reject anything he asked.

After a long and perilous walk through what any other day would have been the harmless streets of the city, Ryu finally got to the adventurer's guild despite his weakness and his bad luck.

"You finally made it boy, did you stay up too late? when I said you had to even sell your bodies I didn't think someone would actually do it"

The instructor mocked him and then ordered everyone to follow her.

Kinta, the red headed boy who turned out to be Ryota's son, already knew where they were headed because his father was an adventurer, but the rest were completely in the dark. Especially when, instead of going to the weaponsmith, they headed to the outskirts.

The broad streets covered in flower arrangements, paved with stone tiles and adorned by many light posts were left behind as they headed into narrow passages that curved over and over.

Houses weren't pretty at all, buildings looked neglected, the dirt streets were covered in filth and people looked poor.

"Where are we?"

Thea asked with her hands pressed against her chest looking like a scared cat.

"In the slums, keep your voice low and put your game face or you'll wake up in the gutter without money, clothes or dignity"

Kinta said with a smirk after looking at her fragile and innocent appearance.

"No way! Instructor Risa would never bring us to such a dangerous place!"

"Uh? I forgot to tell you, we're heading to the black market. Please do as Kinta said or not even I will be able to protect you"

Risa wasn't as playful as her usual, she was completely serious and talked in a low voice. Everyone got shivers after noticing that even the instructor was on guard.

The one who had it worse was Sera, who couldn't hide her beauty behind simple adventurer's clothes and drew the gazes of everyone around.

A boy, no more than twelve, was running behind a ball and was about to bump into Risa but she dodged and hit the boy in the back of the head making him fall unconscious.

"Miss Risa! why did you do that!?"

Shortie exclaimed disturbed by the ruthlessness of the instructor, only to fall silent when he noticed the young boy had a knife dripping a purple liquid in both hands.

"They know you're loaded, if they take me out they'll have you for dinner, just keep walking"

After leaving the unconscious boy behind people surrounded him and took his belongings, just like ants over a drop of honey, and when they scattered skinny guy came out of an alleyway and dragged the boy with him.

Everyone was so scared now they unconsciously stuck to Risa like baby chicks following the mother hen. After walking the convoluted streets they went inside a rundown house. There was a man resting on a filthy mattress and a woman sewing an old sock right beside him, but they paid no mind to the rookies. Everyone sighed in relief thinking they reached their destination, only to be disappointed after finding out it was just a means to get to another street.

Risa deposited a copper coin in a jar and opened the door to the next street, there was a roof over the street making it look dark, but thanks to the many magical lamps hanging outside the houses it was possible to walk without bumping into each other.

"Night vision"

Risa muttered, activating her skill only to be safe.

"Alright, we're here. Now we're safe, anyone who dares make trouble in here meets a horrible fate. That goes for you as well, I won't be able to do anything if you mess things up, so be polite."

She took them inside one of the houses that had a lamp post on, it was actually a shop Risa knew well.

"is that time of the year already?"

"Just show me your wares, and not the crap you show to tourists, I want top notch gear"

"Are they that good?"

The man asked, but Risa shook her head in reply.

"On the contrary, they need all the help they can get"

The rookies were still scared shitless and took no offense over her words. At Risa's words the man locked the door behind his customers and went behind a curtain. The instructor signaled everyone to follow him and she went in last.

Ryu was the first to go in and walked behind the tall man. There was a long table at each side, with swords, daggers, spears, helmets, all sort of equipment just piled up. The man unlocked several locks on a door and opened it.

Ryu was amazed at the quantity and quality of the equipment, even his sword was no match for the marvels of blacksmithing that lied in front of him. From shiny plate armor, to different kinds of leather that shined in various colors.

"You can look all you want but keep your fingers to yourself, or I'll claim them as mine"

Even Kinta, who knew more or less what to expect, gulped at the terrifying man's threat.

Ryu's gaze went from side to side using his identify skill on everything, giving him an edge over the others who had to ask the man about every piece of gear that piqued their interest.

There were some items on mannequins, others behind a glass counter and the most attractive ones were showcased on pedestals.

>Runic sword of grazing: sword covered in runes, causes a small scrape on skin on contact.

>Mithril plate mail: resistance against all sorts of physical damage

>Last will shield: after dying, there is a chance for the bearer to become undead.

"Are those items enchanted!?"

Ryu almost yelled.

"Of course they are kid, what did you expect? every single item in here is enchanted"

"How did you get them? how can I enchant items?"

"I don't know the first thing about enchanting, I just sell stuff. All of these used to belong to unfortunate adventurers that died."

"Oh? were they dead when you took their stuff, or they just happen to die after you took them?"

Risa said in her usual playful tone and the man just shrugged in response.

"Sera, why are you not looking around?"

"I don't want to burden you mister Ryu, everything you spend on me would be wasted. If you need more money I can still give you mine"

Sera replied.

"Alright! enough chit chat! put your coin purse in the counter and I'll advice on what to buy"

The man said, nervous about having kids walking all over in his shop

The first one to put his money in the counter was Kinta. His father had given him all the money he had because, even though Ryota had a hard time admitting it, even for him it was dangerous to head into the black market street.

The man placed a steel breastplate and a small dagger on the counter, Kinta took them without saying a word.

"Are you not worried he scammed you? he didn't even give you back the change"

Thea whispered on his ear

"Shut up, if he didn't give me change must be because he gave me a good deal. I didn't think I would have the chance to get more than one item, my father is going jump in joy!"

The next one was the girl besides Thea, she was a shy looking girl with shoulder length black hair on the front and a bit longer on the back.

The man glared at her for a second and then picked up a short sword from the wall and handed it to her. It was small, yet so heavy she had trouble lifting it.

Thea placed her coin purse on the table and everyone stared at the ridiculous amount of money she had. It was mostly silver coins but there were a few gold coins mixed in between. It was way more than most of them had seen their entire life.

The shopkeeper smirked and picked a jeweled dagger for her. It was small, even for a dagger.

"Hey! what am I supposed to do with this crap? I want something else!"

The man took back the dagger without even blinking and handed her a mace. Thea made a few swings in the air with a satisfied smile.

The other rookies were too ashamed to put their purses on the counter after Thea's display, but the matter was different for Ryu. He had just been trying to decide on what he should buy for himself. 'I don't mind following the advice of that man if I don't find anything to my liking, but even if the shopkeeper has the consider skill and sees some of my skills, there's no way he knows about my fighting style.

"Come on, hurry up!"

The man grunted, making him Ryu snap out of his reverie and place his coin purse on the counter. It was small compared to the rest, especially to Thea's.

"Hey! Instructor Risa asked us to gather all our money, didn't you pay attention?"

"Look at him, acting all high and mighty with his girlfriend as if they're superior, but he's as weak as he's poor"

"Aren't you embarrassed? at least have a little shame and let the ones who have money go first"

The rookies mocked him.

"Ryu... You should have told me, I can still lend you some money"

Risa said awkwardly. But when the shopkeeper opened it he was left in a daze.