First Waves: Buying things.

"Thank you for the explanation." Si-Woo smiled at the Lich and the fairy. Kiwi giggled before heading back toward her shop after blowing an air kiss to Lulumi. "No problem~ Come on, let's look at the spices you want~ Oh! I also know a spice that pairs perfectly with Red Bull meat!"

Si-Woo nodded and followed Kiwi. He grabbed the jar that Kiwi hovered above. "This is Kumin—a crushed seed from a plant called Kumimin Klyous." Si-Woo opened the jar and sniffed the spice. 'Smells like cumin...' he thought before closing it and grabbing another jar. 'This smells like chili powder...' He glanced at the label. "Staffire spice..."

Kiwi flew closer to Si-Woo. "This spice makes your food spicy!" she chirped excitedly.

Si-Woo examined the spice jars before turning to Kiwi. "I'll take two jars of everything."

The fairy's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting the paladin to buy every spice so easily without checking all of them. "Seriously?! Two jars of everything?! Your players are so rich!!"

Kiwi twirled around excitedly. "Wow, this is the biggest purchase I've ever had!" She then zipped back inside the shop before returning with five more fairies. "Please wait! We'll bring your order in just a moment." The fairies flew toward the tree behind the shop, disappearing into a hole in its trunk.

Si-Woo watched them go before turning to Skelly. "Is that their storage?"

Skelly simply shrugged his shoulders.

After a minute, the fairies emerged from the tree, a trail of glittering magic following them as they used their abilities to carry out 48 jars. "We have 24 jars! 12 spices and 12 herbs!" Kiwi announced, leading the fairies as they carefully placed the jars onto the table.

"They all have different prices! Do you want me to explain each spice and herb to you? If you're short on time, I can give you a list! It also includes the ones you can find in the forest as substitutes!"

Si-Woo glanced up at the sky, noting how much time had passed. Looking back at Kiwi, he shook his head. "A list would be nice."

Kiwi's smile widened as she nodded eagerly. She flew under the table before resurfacing with a few papers. "Okay~ here's the list! I even threw in some recipes!"

Kiwi began counting on her fingers. "Let's see... We have 15 jars of common spices and herbs—3 silver coins per jar, totaling around 52 silver coins. Then, there are 9 jars of rare spices and herbs—2 gold coins per jar, bringing the total to 18 gold coins... Ah, if you're curious, 1 gold coin is equal to 100 silver coins. So, rounding it up, the total cost is 18 gold and 52 silver coins! But~ since I'm feeling generous today, I'll settle for 18 gold!"

Si-Woo nodded before placing the gold coins on the table. "Hehe, thanks for the business!"

Kiwi gleefully flew around the coins before carefully picking them up one by one and carrying them into her shop.

Si-Woo looked confused for a moment. "Can you use magic to carry all that?" the paladin asked.

Kiwi giggled. "No, silly~ To prevent scams, the Gods made coins magic-repellent! It's the same for the coins Players use too! Some monsters can forge fake coins to deceive sellers, so if you ever want to check if a coin is real, just channel some magic into it! If it's fake, the magic will work on it."

She hovered above one of the coins and attempted to cast magic on it, but the spell dissipated before it could even touch the coin's surface. "See? This is what happens when you try to use magic on legit coins! So be careful when you're selling items! If you ever feel suspicious, use this trick to make sure the buyer is using real currency!"

"That's good advice. I'll make sure to remember that," Si-Woo said with a nod. Then, he looked down at Skelly and asked, "Can you store all this in your inventory, Skelly?"

The Skeleton Goblin nodded before placing the jars into his Item Storage. "Okay! Let's head back to Kiddo and In-Su. Thanks again, Kiwi!"

The fairy waved excitedly as the two walked away, and Skelly turned around to wave back.

"We secured the food supply. Let's head back to the tavern," Si-Woo said, his thoughts drifting to Alya and In-Su. 'Did they manage to get the information they needed?'

Meanwhile, Alya and In-Su made their way to the Dwarf blacksmith that Chiyo had recommended.

"We're going to get weapons? But aren't we heading to the main city to do that?" Alya asked, casually resting her hands behind her head as she followed In-Su.

"Yeah, but we still need something for the journey," In-Su replied, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Let's just call it a temporary weapon until we get our customized gear."

"Ooh," Alya nodded in understanding.

In-Su shoved his hands inside his jacket before asking curiously, "By the way, what kind of weapon do you want?"

Alya suddenly rushed past him before turning to walk backward, grinning. "Daggers."

"Daggers? You mean, two daggers?"

"Yup!" Alya confirmed with a nod.

She turned back around and spotted the workshop Chiyo had mentioned. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, pushing the door open. "Excuse me!"

"Hey!" In-Su quickly rushed after her, sweatdropping at the young girl's bold entrance. As he stepped inside, his eyes widened at the vast array of weapons displayed within the Dwarf blacksmith's shop.

"Wow..." He had read countless fantasy stories about Dwarves being renowned for their blacksmithing skills, but seeing it firsthand was breathtaking. The craftsmanship and sheer variety of weapons exceeded his expectations.

"There are so many weapons..." In-Su muttered as he looked at the rows of swords and bows lining the walls. These weren't ordinary weapons; each had intricate carvings that made them look almost ceremonial.

"Welcome." A muscular old Dwarf greeted the two from behind the counter. Surprisingly, the counter was so high that it reached slightly above In-Su's waist, allowing him to see that the Dwarf was perched on a tall wooden chair.

"Oh, you two must be the players my wife was talking about. My name is Horrec—Chiyo's husband." The Dwarf extended a hand toward In-Su, but he quickly noticed the way the two were staring at him. "What?" Horrec asked, raising an eyebrow.

In-Su quickly crouched beside Alya and whispered, "Mrs. Chiyo's husband? I thought Emit was her husband!"

Alya, equally bewildered, whispered back, "Legit same! Also—wait! Isn't Granny Chiyo an Oni?! That's a Dwarf!"

Horrec's eyebrow twitched. "Our God of Life literally married the first human ever created, and you're questioning the fact that I married an Oni?"

"He heard us?!"

In-Su rubbed his chin, reconsidering. "Well... actually, you've got a point."

Alya, still curious, leaned forward. "Does that mean your child is half Oni and half Dwarf?"

Horrec chuckled. "Good question. How about you answer it yourself? Get it right, and I'll give you any weapon you want—for free." He smirked, clearly enjoying the challenge.

Alya narrowed her eyes, refusing to back down. "Well, let's see. A Dwarf marries an Oni. Normally, both races are all about keeping their bloodlines pure... but that's just how we humans from another world think. If interspecies marriage exists here, then there's a chance you're not actually a pure Dwarf. Maybe Granny Chiyo isn't even a full Oni either."

She crossed her arms, deep in thought. "I saw some Oni at the tavern yesterday—a large older woman Oni and a small old man Oni. There's obviously some mixed blood in the family. So, half-and-half could be an answer, but let's be real—we're in a fantasy world, anything can happen."

Finally, she pointed her finger at Horrec and boldly declared, "You have one pure Oni son, one half-and-half daughter, and—surprisingly—a human daughter!"

In-Su sweatdropped at Alya's explanation. He had assumed she was making things up until Horrec looked at her with a surprised expression.

"I-I... that's actually correct..." the Dwarf muttered, clearly caught off guard.

"Wait, what?" In-Su blinked in disbelief.

Alya, absolutely beaming with pride, clasped her hands together. "Hehehe."

"How did you know?" In-Su asked curiously.

"Granny Chiyo told Skelly about her children this morning," Alya admitted shamelessly.

Horrec let out a hearty laugh. "Smart kid. Fine, pick your weapons—I'll have them ready in three hours."

Still intrigued, In-Su couldn't help but ask, "Is it actually true? About different species marrying each other?"

Horrec nodded as he reached for a piece of parchment, an ink bottle, and a feathered pen. "Yeah, it's a common sight—except in one country. We don't really restrict marriage here, so you'll see half-half bloodlines all over the place. Some families prefer to keep their lineage pure, while others welcome change."

He paused before adding in a more serious tone, "But be careful. Players like you aren't allowed to fall in love with the residents of this world."

In-Su furrowed his brows. "Why is that?"

"Because a few hundred years ago, a princess from another country fell in love with a Player. On their wedding day, the Player disappeared—probably sent back to their own world," Horrec explained.

"...I see. That must have been heartbreaking..." In-Su murmured, holding his chin thoughtfully. 'If that Player vanished suddenly, then if someone opens a portal back to our world, all Players might get sent back automatically.'

"Done!" Alya announced, handing the paper to Horrec. He took it, examined the drawing, and nodded. "So, you want to dual-wield daggers."

Jumping down from his chair, Horrec turned to In-Su. "How about you, boy?"

In-Su thought for a moment before asking curiously, "Can you make a bow that I can channel my skill through?"

Horrec nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. What's your skill?"

"Healer."

Horrec froze, staring at him. "What? You're a healer? And you want a bow? What are you planning to do, shoot someone with an arrow to heal them?"

"Yes." In-Su answered without hesitation.

"...Boy, healers these days are getting scarier..." Horrec muttered before waving them off. "Come back after two hours. Go buy something else."

In-Su glanced down at Alya. "I guess we should look for travel equipment."

"If you're looking for tents or supplies, head to that shop," Horrec said, pointing toward a store not far from his blacksmith shop. "She sells all kinds of things for travelers."

"Okay, thanks." In-Su held the door open for Alya as she quickly rushed out of the store, heading toward the place Horrec had recommended.

"Say, does Skelly sleep?" In-Su asked as he walked behind her.

"No, he's undead, remember?" Alya glanced over her shoulder at him. "Though sometimes he pretends to sleep."

''Sometimes?' In-Su raised an eyebrow in confusion. 'Alya talks like she's had Skelly for a long time...' He shook his head, dismissing the thought. Alya was only twelve and a foreigner, so maybe she had simply misspoken.

"So, can he stay up all night?"

Alya nodded at his question. "You want him to stand guard at night, right? Yeah, he's a permanent summon. He won't tire me out."

"Heeh... You really have a strong grasp on your abilities, even though we just got them yesterday," In-Su said, putting his hands on his hips as he leaned forward slightly.

"I read fantasy stories."

"What fantasy stories are safe for twelve-year-olds?"

"Your mom's not safe."

"Ah, the classic 'your mom' insult."

Both players came to a stop in front of a quaint and enchanting-looking shop. Vines of vibrant flowers cascaded down from the roof, wrapping around the wooden shingles like nature's own embrace. The exterior walls, made of smooth, aged stone, were partially covered by climbing roses, their petals rich with deep reds, blues, and purples, adding an almost magical aura to the place.

Alya sniffed the air. "Smells nice..." she mumbled, taking in the mix of floral scents floating around them.

"It doesn't look like a camping supply shop," In-Su pointed out, eyeing the carved wooden door. The detailed engravings on its surface showed images of travelers and creatures, like some kind of story woven into the wood.

"Maybe they just have a thing for flowers," Alya shrugged, stepping closer. "Or maybe it's secretly a potion shop."

There was no way to tell what was behind the door without going in—it felt a little mysterious, like they were about to enter somewhere completely unexpected.

Alya and In-Su exchanged a look before the older male pushed the door open, letting the girl step inside first.

"Wow..." Alya's eyes widened slightly as she took in the shop's interior. If the outside looked like a flower shop, the inside was straight out of an alchemist's laboratory—potions lined the shelves, sigils glowed on the floor, and various items floated within shimmering magical fields.

"Is this... a camping store?" In-Su muttered, confused, wondering if they had stepped into the wrong place.

"Excuse me...?" In-Su called out, hoping to find the shop owner.

"Aaah!" A startled squeal rang out from behind the counter, followed by the sound of something crashing against wood.

"S-sorry! A-are you here to buy equipment?" An elf woman suddenly popped up from behind the counter.

Boing.

'Boing?' Alya's expression turned into a surprised cat-like face as she realized the source of the sound. The elf woman was stunning, with flowing flaming-orange hair that had small flowers growing at the ends of its strands. Wide golden eyes blinked at them behind round glasses. But that wasn't the only thing Alya noticed—she stared at the elf's noticeably large chest and thought, 'It made a sound... That thing actually made an anime big-chest sound.'

Slowly, Alya turned to In-Su with an accusing glare, expecting some kind of reaction. However, to her relief, the older male remained entirely unfazed. He simply maintained respectful eye contact with the elf.

'Good, I don't have to kick him.' Alya nodded to herself, feeling satisfied.

"Hello, is this a camping store?" In-Su asked curiously.

"Y-yes! We sell camping equipment! M-my name is Imra!" The elf—now known as Imra—smiled brightly at the two. "Welcome to our shop!"