I was taken aback by the subtle change that I might not have noticed if I hadn't paid close attention.
‘...How old is Eclis again?’
Looking at his face, he seemed like a young and innocent boy.
I carefully recalled the game. Since I hadn't memorized the profiles of all the characters, I couldn't easily remember his age.
However, in Normal Mode, it takes one year from when the protagonist returns to reach all the endings.
And in the epilogue that follows the ending, Eclis holds an adult ceremony and marries the protagonist.
In this game, adulthood is defined as being over 18 years old. So, Eclis must be...
‘At least 17 years old, right?’
I was originally 20 years old, so in a way, I was trying to seduce a much younger spirit.
‘But why do I keep feeling like I’m the one being seduced?’
While I was carefully observing Eclis, whose redness had faded, the carriage stopped.
“It's time to go, Miss.”
The carriage had stopped.
It was time to go and reward the audacious slave.
* * *
“Welcome!”
The owner of the weapon shop, who had been waiting for the carriage with the Ecart emblem, hurriedly ran out and bowed deeply at the entrance.
“Is this the place that sells the best magic swords in the empire?”
“Yes, sir! Our shop deals with all kinds of rare weapons, not just swords. Just let us know what you need.”
“Eclis, come in with me.”
I called out to him, who was standing blankly by the carriage.
He seemed hesitant, perhaps thinking that as a mere guard, he shouldn't enter.
“Come on.”
After urging him again, he finally followed me without further delay.
“Do you have a wooden sword with reinforcement magic?”
I decided to buy the most urgent item first.
The weapon merchant looked puzzled.
“A wooden sword? We have wooden swords, but with reinforcement magic...”
“Not available?”
I frowned.
I had come here with high hopes after the butler recommended it, but it seemed like a wasted effort.
“Wait, if you wish, we can have one custom-made!”
The merchant hastily added, seeing my disappointed expression.
“However, very few people go to such lengths for a training wooden sword. Once they have a basic stance, they usually switch to real swords...”
“Hmm.”
I cleared my throat, feeling a bit embarrassed. I must have looked like a complete novice.
“Our shop has many wooden swords made from old, sturdy trees that won't break easily.”
“Show me around.”
A moment later, we entered a room filled with wooden swords.
While the owner chattered incessantly, I glanced around.
Honestly, they all looked the same, just different shades of wood.
“Do you like any of them?”
I let Eclis choose, but he shook his head.
“...I don't know.”
“None of them?”
“It's not that... They look the same as the ones in the training ground. I can use those, Miss.”
“No way!”
The owner quickly interjected upon hearing Eclis's words.
“These are all sturdy enough to spar with real swords! Especially the ones made from ash trees in the Fairy Forest, which are sharp enough to cut straw...!”
No matter how good they were, it would be useless if the recipient didn't choose one.
“Can't be helped.”
I sighed, and the owner, thinking I was dissatisfied, stopped pulling out the wooden swords.
“Then, perhaps we should look at real swords...”
“What are you saying?”
“Pardon?”
“From here to there.”
I gestured from the entrance to the far end of the room.
“Send them all to the Ecart mansion.”
Since we were buying them anyway, it would be better to get sturdy ones in case they broke.
Next, we needed training clothes.
Eclis looked magnificent in the new clothes, probably because of his height and good looks.
“Not bad.”
I walked around him and said casually.
The excited merchant flattered me, spitting out compliments.
“Of course! They are the best in the capital!”
“Do you like them?”
I asked Eclis, realizing I had been too hasty in choosing for him.
Eclis looked at me and asked expressionlessly.
“...What about you, Miss?”
“Huh?”
“Are you satisfied, Miss?”
I had a feeling he would say no if I said yes.
“I chose them based on my taste, so of course I like them. I'm asking you, Eclis.”
It wasn't just empty words, so I added with a small laugh.
“I won't be wearing them.”
“If you like them, I do too.”
“Really? Then...”
I felt quite pleased with Eclis's cheeky response.
“Send three of each type.”
“Yes, yes! Of course! Right away!”
The merchant's mouth dropped open at my words.
“Then, shall we go and buy a real sword?”
I clapped my hands lightly and turned around. The merchant hurriedly followed.
That's when it happened.
“Miss, these are enough for me.”
Eclis quickly stepped in front of me.
“Why? A knight's sword is the most important thing!”
The merchant, who had been nodding in agreement, echoed my thoughts.
I nodded and looked back at him.
“You need a sword. Is it too much of a burden?”
“No, it's more that...”
Eclis hesitated, which was rare.
“...I don't think I'll have a use for a real sword. I don't want to keep a gift from you in vain.”
“Why wouldn't you have a use for it? Once you finish basic swordsmanship, you'll use real swords for sparring.”
“Exactly, exactly! The customer is always right.”
The merchant nodded vigorously in agreement with my question.
Eclis wasn't flustered. He spoke as if stating the obvious.
“...Slaves can't become official knights.”
“...”
“So, a wooden sword for training is enough.”
I was momentarily speechless.
He knew he couldn't become a knight, but I had assumed it was a given that he would eventually.
‘Thinking about it, Eclis can only become an official knight because Penelope is dead.’
I was too busy dealing with my own problems to reflect on the game's content.
For me to survive, perhaps Eclis shouldn't become an official knight.
The merchant, thinking I was reconsidering the purchase of a real sword, hastily added:
“What! Even if you can't become a knight, a sword is essential for guarding your master.”
“My body is enough to guard Miss.”
“...”
The merchant shut up, intimidated.
It was true, and I had nothing to say.
Thinking of his impressive combat record, his entire body was a weapon.
“...Alright, I understand. If that's what you think.”
I nodded in agreement. It wouldn't be right to force a burden on someone who had already given up.
“I need to look around a bit more, so wait outside.”
Eclis immediately turned and left without even saying goodbye.
I clicked my tongue as I watched him walk away.
‘Who's the master here...’
I had noticed before, but Eclis never showed respect unless I pointed it out.
He was a very presumptuous slave.
“D, do you need anything else, sir? Just let me know.”
The merchant, left alone with me, cautiously asked.
“Since we're here, let's take a look at the magic swords.”
“Ah, yes. This way, please!”
The merchant brightened at my words. It was one of their main products.
The area where the magic swords were displayed was indeed much larger and more spacious than the others. The number of swords on display was also impressive.
I carefully examined the swords. They ranged from small daggers to large swords as big as my torso, and the variety was vast.
However, the decorations, scabbards, and handles were all extravagantly ornate.
“They're all too flashy. Do you have any simpler ones?”
“Then... please wait a moment, sir.”
The merchant looked serious as he searched the corner of the display.
“...How about this one?”
After a while, he brought out a dusty case.
It was surprisingly small, like an accessory case, but he said it contained a sword.
“What is this?”
“It's an ancient mage's sword.”
He unlocked the case with a key.
I was about to be put off by the dust but became interested when he mentioned an ancient mage.
The merchant opened the case, and with a creak, inside was—
“What is this?”
A simple, small sword-shaped pendant on a rough metal chain.
“Are you joking with me?”
I asked for a simple sword, not a sword pendant.
Moreover, the sword-shaped pendant had no gems and was far from meeting any aesthetic standards.
I scowled. The merchant waved his hands.
“No, no! How could I joke with you!”
“Then what is this?”
“Here, if you hold the hilt of the sword and infuse it with magic power, the pendant will transform into a real sword!”