Welcome to SteelWall (part 2)

"The early bird gets the worm..."

"Yeah, but what if I don't like worms?" Daion grumbled, irritated.

A loud laugh echoed through the room. "I'd say that's deep, but it's just dumb," Jack chuckled. "Funny how says like that exists in every world. Anyway, get up, rookie. We need to talk."

Daion groaned. He had learned something new about himself—he hated being woken up.

His body felt like lead as he forced himself to sit up. His sword was lying on the floor, and a dull headache throbbed behind his eyes. Damn alcohol. Turns out, the gauntlet didn't filter out the effects of drinking. Meaning he could absolutely get drunk. A nice little touch from the idiot god who brought him here.

Dragging himself to the mirror, he took in his reflection. He looked like a wreck—messy hair, ragged clothes. Up until now, he hadn't paid much attention to what he was wearing: a black jacket over an orange shirt, with torn pants. In a fantasy world, he must've looked like a complete idiot.

Sighing, he didn't bother fixing himself up too much before heading downstairs.

The tavern was nearly empty, save for a few unconscious drunks sprawled across tables and the bartender cleaning mugs behind the counter. She didn't even spare him a glance, blonde hair shifting as she worked. Something about her nagged at Daion's mind. Was it attraction? Or did she remind him of someone? Someone from… before?

Trying to shake off the strange feeling, he cleared his throat. "Rough night for some, huh?"

"Looks like it," she replied flatly, not looking up.

Daion watched her for a moment. Eventually, she noticed.

"Are you ordering something, or just planning to stare like a creep?"

"That happen to you a lot?" he asked, half-joking.

"Yeah, turns out being 'blessed' with beauty is a curse," she said dryly. She set down the mugs and pulled out a few knives, cleaning them with a rag. "Idiots think they can take advantage."

Daion tensed. This conversation was going in a direction he wasn't expecting.

"Got anything for a hangover?"

"In a bar? Monster piss," she said, smirking. "Heroes like you drink it all the time."

Daion frowned. "I was just trying to be nice. No need to be a—"

Before he could finish, the bartender grabbed him by the collar and pressed a knife against his eye.

"Listen, kid," she hissed, voice dripping with venom. "I don't give a damn how you think you should be treated. To me, summonded ones like you deserve only one thing—contempt, like the rats you are."

A chill ran down Daion's spine. He swallowed hard but clenched his fists in anger.

"What's your problem with heroes?"

"Heroes?" She spat the word out like poison. "Yeah, right. You're just toys sent by the gods. Disposable entertainment before the monsters swallow us whole."

Daion's stomach twisted. He felt frustration. Helplessness. Why the hell was he being blamed for things that had nothing to do with him?

"Something wrong here?"

Haruka descended the stairs, dressed simply but radiating sharp authority. Her piercing gaze locked onto the bartender like a blade.

The woman let go of Daion without a word. He dropped back onto his stool, heart pounding as if something dark was trying to claw its way out of his chest.

"Not really," the bartender muttered, unfazed. Then, as if nothing had happened, she poured two drinks and placed them in front of Daion and Haruka. "On the house."

Before either of them could respond, she turned and vanished into the back room.

Haruka took her seat and downed her drink without hesitation. Right then, Jack and the others strolled down the stairs, grinning like they had just witnessed the best show of the century.

"Well, that was entertaining," Jack said, laughing. "We were just betting on whether Dan could charm the bartender. Turns out, he's terrible at it."

Haruka shot him a death glare.

"You really are an idiot sometimes, boss," she muttered, taking another sip.

"Ouch," Jack smirked, entirely unfazed. Then he turned to Daion with amusement. "What's the matter, rookie? First time getting shot down by a hot girl?"

Daion wordlessly downed his drink in one go.

"You guys were watching the whole time?" he finally asked, voice dry.

"More or less," Jack admitted, shrugging. But then he noticed Daion wasn't just annoyed—he looked genuinely troubled. "Oh, don't worry. She didn't reject you because you're ugly. Heroes just aren't exactly popular around here. But hey, I'm sure some village girl still thinks you're cute."

Jack grinned, clearly enjoying himself. Daion wasn't sure whether to take it as a joke or an insult, so he just stood up.

"You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yikes, looks like we hit a nerve." Jack raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, fine. Yesterday was only half the job. This afternoon, we have another task—some soldiers went missing."

Daion grabbed his sword and nodded, ready for orders.

"Hold on," Jack eyed him up and down with a raised brow. "You're not exactly dressed for combat. With yesterday's earnings, go buy yourself some proper armor. If you wanna survive, you need to learn how to bargain. Haruka and Finn will go with you, give you some pointers. Minjae and I will check the forest."

With that, Jack turned and headed for the exit, leaving Daion with Haruka and Finn.

"Have fun," he called over his shoulder. "Oh, and Daion—don't worry about people hating heroes. No one hates gold."

With a lazy wave, he disappeared out the door.

"Bye," Daion and Finn said in unison.

Haruka stood up, grabbed Daion's hand with one of hers, Finn's with the other.

"Alright," she said in her usual tone. "Let's get you something decent to wear."

The morning streets of SteelWall were pure chaos. People rushed out of buildings like the world was ending. Heavy carriages rolled through, pulled by massive white-furred bears, each the size of a small house. Makeshift stalls lined the roads, merchants shouting their best deals at the top of their lungs.

The scorching sun wasn't helping Daion's hangover. His head pounded with every step, but despite his discomfort, he couldn't help but be in awe. Even without memories of his past, this all felt… strange. Even for a fantasy world.

Most of the villagers ignored them, but some shot them wary glances, as if waiting for an excuse to lash out.

"Why is everyone so hostile?" Daion asked, frowning.

"Don't take it personally," Finn shrugged. "Most summoned heroes end up doing questionable things just to survive. It's… understandable. But some abuse their power to do really awful things."

Daion's frown deepened. Before he could ask more, Haruka spoke.

"And it's worse for women," she said, her voice colder than usual. But then she hesitated, as if debating how to explain it to him. She glanced at Daion. Without memories, he was basically a kid… How could she put this into words?

"Some heroes use their power to… submit them," she finally said.

Daion understood instantly.

His stomach twisted uncomfortably. Until now, he hadn't thought about how the villagers saw him.

"Some would rather run into a monster than a summoned hero," Finn added, with a smile that held no humor. "That bartender? She was more scared of you than you were of her."

Daion clenched his fists.

"I'd never do something like that," he said, voice tense.

Haruka glanced at him, smirking slightly.

"Obviously. You don't seem capable of killing a rat without feeling guilty. But she doesn't know that."

Daion stayed silent, unsure how to respond.

Haruka clicked her tongue and playfully nudged his shoulder.

"Alright, enough depressing stuff. Let's figure out what we're buying you."

The shop didn't look like much from the outside—just a small, unremarkable building. But the moment they stepped in, it was like walking into an armory straight out of legend.

Swords, spears, daggers, and war hammers lined the walls, neatly arranged by size and function. Armor sets stood proudly on shelves and mannequins, ranging from heavy, gleaming plate for frontline tanks to sleek, lightweight gear for agile fighters. There were even specialized options, crafted for those who preferred to move unseen.

An extensive selection, no doubt.

From the back of the store, a tall man stepped out, his arrival accompanied by the rhythmic clang of a hammer striking hot iron.

"Welcome to Lysander's Blades. What can I…?" His gaze dropped to Daion's hands—more specifically, to his gauntlet. His expression shifted slightly. "Ah. A summoned one."

Daion braced himself for another look of disdain. At this point, he was used to it.

But the man simply nodded, unfazed.

"Alright. That means you're not here for weapons," he muttered to himself. His sharp eyes scanned Daion's ragged clothes. "Judging by that outfit, you're a fresh arrival. I'm guessing you need armor?"

Finn let out a low whistle. "Wow…"

"How the hell…?" Haruka blinked, genuinely surprised.

The man smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "What can I say? I'm a damn good salesman."

No judgment. No hostility. To him, they were just customers.

"Alright, kid. Let's start with the basics—your sword needs a proper sheath."

He crouched down and pulled out a wooden box, filled with worn leather straps, cracked belts, and battered scabbards. Most of them looked like they belonged in the trash rather than a store.

Daion frowned. Seriously?

But neither Finn nor Haruka looked surprised, so he held back his complaint.

Finally, the shopkeeper pulled out a long sword sheath. It was in rough shape—dirty, with a half-torn belt and a rusted buckle. The kind of thing you'd expect to find discarded in an alley.

Without hesitation, the man tossed it to Daion.

He caught it midair, glaring at it in disbelief. "Is this a joke?"

Haruka shook her head and gestured toward the sheath. "Just try it."

Daion sighed but obeyed, sliding his sword into the sheath. It was loose, barely holding the weapon. It looked ridiculous, like he was carrying his sword in a burlap sack.

He was about to protest when a glowing blue window popped up in front of him.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Would you like to bind this item to your equipment?

▶ YES

▶ NO

Daion hesitated.

"Go on," Haruka urged.

With a sigh, he tapped YES.

The moment he did, the sheath shone with a silver glow. Within seconds, it reshaped itself, perfectly adjusting to his sword's dimensions. The belt stitched itself together, the buckle polished to a dark steel finish, and the leather turned sleek black, matching his weapon.

It was still a simple sheath—but now, at least, it didn't look like junk.

Daion blinked in surprise. "Okay… that was kinda cool."

"Sheaths are generic items," Haruka explained. "They automatically adjust to fit any weapon."

"Wish armor worked like that," Finn muttered.

The shopkeeper chuckled. "If it did, I'd be out of business."

He turned back to Daion, giving him a once-over. "Alright, kid. What's your budget?"

"Not much."

Daion pulled out the coin pouch Jack had given him. The other pouch—the one from the ruined village—stayed hidden. That was his emergency fund.

The man nodded. "White Bronze it is."

He disappeared into the back and returned with three boxes. Inside were three different sets of armor, all made from a dull white metal, tinged with patches of greenish rust.

Daion frowned, unimpressed. For a brief moment, he regretted not using the other pouch.

"As a longsword user, I narrowed it down to three choices," the shopkeeper explained. "It all depends on your fighting style—heavy, light, or assault."

"Assault?" Daion asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"They're small, lightweight armors designed for speed," Finn clarified. "They protect your vitals but leave a lot of areas exposed."

"They're great for solo adventurers since they're versatile," the shopkeeper added. "But since you're in a party, it's better to specialize in a role."

Finn crossed his arms and glanced at Haruka. "We need a tank. Heavy armor is the best choice for Daion."

Haruka immediately shook her head. "Jack's already our tank. We need someone to take down monsters fast."

"That's Minjae's job. If Daion tanks, Jack can focus more on leading."

"Leading?" Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Jack? Stay in the back and give orders? He'd rather fight alone than play commander."

They kept debating, each arguing their point.

Meanwhile, Daion examined the armors closely.

The heavy set would let him take hits, but if he couldn't move fast, he was screwed.

The light set was perfect for speed, but… he wasn't the most agile guy in the group. If he got knocked down, he'd be monster food in seconds.

Finally, his eyes landed on the assault armor. Small, yes—but sturdy.

Without overthinking it, he grabbed the set and started putting it on.

Haruka and Finn stopped arguing and turned to watch.

The armor covered his chest with thin but durable plates, reinforced one shoulder, protected his forearms and legs. Definitely a rookie's set, but it felt right.

Another system window appeared before him.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Would you like to bind this item to your equipment?

▶ YES

▶ NO

Daion didn't hesitate. He tapped YES.

The moment he did, the armor shimmered. The dull white metal darkened to a deep, matte black, though the rust patches remained. His tattered jacket and pants mended themselves, reshaping into a sleeker design. His hood vanished, his jeans morphed into reinforced black combat pants, and his worn-out sneakers transformed into sturdy boots.

He flexed his fingers, feeling the weight of his new gear.

"Nice…" he muttered, examining himself.

Haruka sighed, crossing her arms. "Assault armor, huh?" She sounded slightly disappointed, but she didn't argue further.

Daion turned to Finn. "So… the gauntlet can change my gear?"

Finn nodded. "Yeah. Your glove lets you modify the appearance of your weapons and armor, depending on your preferences and the energy you absorb. That's why Jack's sword looks different from yours."

Daion nodded in understanding, then handed the shopkeeper his coin pouch.

Once the transaction was done, they stepped out of the shop.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Daion no longer felt like a clueless idiot. He actually looked like an adventurer—if you ignored the rust.

As they walked through the bustling streets, Haruka began explaining their mission. Recently, people had started disappearing. That's why they'd been hired. Their task was to track down two soldiers who vanished the previous night.

When they reached the town's outskirts, Daion spotted Jack and Minjae sitting on the ground—both covered in mud.

Jack glanced up and smirked. "Lookin' sharp, rookie."

"How'd it go?" Haruka asked.

Jack stood, grinning. "Let's just say… we found where the monsters are."

He kicked over a pair of barrels next to him.

"And we did a little shopping."

Then, he locked eyes with Daion.

"This is your first real mission."

His grin faded as he turned to the group, his expression turning serious.

"Gear up. We've got work to do."

Chapter 6 end's.