Supplies for any surprise

As I walked through the corridor, one of the warriors invited me, or the right word was he dragged me to their group, and the next thing I knew I was in some tavern where they decided to throw a celebration after winning a recent battle. They praised me with words about how their weapon makes a big difference to their training, so I guess they invited me here to show their gratitude for helping with their weapons, which was technically not my intention at all.

I hesitated getting to close to these men, knowing that being in close quarters with them could be a double-edged sword against me. Yet, I agreed, thinking it might be the perfect opportunity to avoid any suspicion about my gender and get a better read on these brawny brutes who could easily crush me with a single swing.

As I walked into the tavern, the feeling hit me hard. The place was dark but fancy. Shiny wood glowed in the dim light. Big wall hangings showed bloody fights, each thread telling a violent story. The air smelled strongly of good drinks, cooked meats, and women's perfume so strong it could make you cough. The warriors were already drunk, laughing loudly. Women in silk clothes fluttered their eyelashes at them. It was all too much.

The warriors' faces were red from winning and drinking. They filled the room with loud laughs and the harsh sound of cups hitting together. The women in their shiny silk clothes teased the men. Their eyes sparkled with fun and something darker. The noise was almost too much—a mix of music, laughter, and a feeling that something obscene might happen. Well, I guess for a grown adult, the right word is fun.


I tried to stay hidden, sitting in the shadows with my wine. I nodded along to talks I could barely hear over the noise. The warriors celebrated wildly, drinking to old wins and future fights. But under their brave act, I could feel they were scared. They knew some of them might die in the next fight. This scary thought made every drink feel heavier.

Hours felt like forever. Each moment dragged on in the heavy air. My heart beat faster when I finally saw a chance to leave the crowded tavern. Carefully, I moved through the drunk warriors. It was easy to slip away without them noticing. When I stepped into the cool night air, I felt better, but still worried about how close I'd come to danger. The quiet night felt strange after all that noise. "Time to put my spy skills to use," I thought, as I disappeared into the dark streets.

Though a little tipsy herself, she remained focused on my goal today—supplies. Tuk strutted through the deserted alleys like she was auditioning for the lead role in SpyxFamily, taking each step as if she were a top-secret agent on a high-stakes mission. She imagined herself as a super-cool spy, sliding through the shadows with stealth and grace. In reality, she looked more like a clumsy penguin on a midnight stroll, and the few merchants who spotted her gave her the kind of puzzled looks usually reserved for people talking to their own reflection. 

---

The night was very quiet. I could only hear the soft sounds of sellers packing up their shops. The market was closing, but it was still full of colorful tents and flickering lights. These made long, dark shapes on the stone paths. I took this chance to buy things I needed - stuff to make life in this rough world easier. One of these things was something I never thought I'd want so much—sanitary pads.

"But is there even one here?" I asked more to myself still looking around the place.

I wandered between the shops, scanning the goods on display. My attention was caught by a small stand where a local seller was carefully sealing bottles—not with corks or lids, but with something that looked like cotton. From the faint aroma wafting through the air, it seemed to be perfume. Curious, I edged closer to get a better look.

"That looks familiar," I murmured, startling the man as I appeared beside him. He flinched, almost dropping a bottle.

"What's this?" I asked, crouching down to examine a container filled with cylindrical pieces of cotton. I picked one up, turning it over in my hands.

"Oh, my lord!" The seller straightened up immediately, his expression shifting to a practiced business smile as he noticed my attire. "You're lucky to find me! This is one of my latest inventions. With just a few drops of this perfume, the cotton will hold the scent for weeks—long enough to keep your room smelling divine until the last drop is used!" His enthusiasm was almost as overwhelming as the perfume itself.

"Interesting," I said, inspecting the cotton closely. "I want a lot of these."

The man clasped his hands together, practically glowing with excitement. "Of course, my lord! What fragrance do you prefer? I have jasmine, lavender, rose—"

"Not the perfume," I interrupted, pointing at the cotton cylinders. "These. Where did you get them?"

"Oh, these?" He seemed slightly confused but quickly recovered. "They're made from soft moss fibers, processed and shaped—"

"Can you customize them?" I cut him off again, shaking a pouch of gold coins for emphasis. The clink was enough to erase any hesitation he had.

"For you, my lord? Absolutely!" he said eagerly. "What design do you need?"

I leaned in, explaining my idea in detail. The seller listened carefully before disappearing into his craft room. A few minutes later, he returned, holding up the result. The cotton cylinders were now tied with thin ropes, their texture smoother and slightly glossy. I held one in my hand, marveling at the transformation.

"Finally..." I whispered, clutching the cotton dramatically. "I've found you... my tampons!" My voice trembled as if I were on the verge of tears.

The seller didn't even blink, his professionalism impeccable. I ended up buying an absurd number of the cotton cylinders, along with a few bottles of perfume and a book on how to make it.

"This should counter those warriors with the freakishly good sense of smell, right?" I thought, feeling smug. My bag was heavier, but my wallet was heartbreakingly light.

"By the way, do you know where I can find, you know... elixir of diwa? For a fair price?" I whispered to the seller, adding a wink for effect. I overheard the servants talking about it. They say anything made by a diwa works like magic, but it's pricey and hard to come by.

If I'm in another world, there's got to be one thing that's the same—a black market. Right?

As I walked back through the bustling market alleys, ready to face whatever came next, I couldn't help but sigh. "Well, at least I'm prepared... but now I'm broke."

"If I am going to be isekai at least make me a daughter of a noble!" I thought angrily as I walked back to the tavern.