When the topic turned to entering the labyrinth, Roxane's demeanor changed.
It seems she is quite confident.
It's kind of scary.
She stared straight at me, and I let go of the ear I was touching.
Since we are going to work together as a party, it's reassuring that she has confidence in battle.
"Can I hang my clothes in the closet? They might get wrinkled."
Because my ear was freed, Roxane stood up.
Hmm. She got away.
"Yeah, sure."
"Thank you."
Roxane opened the case she brought from the merchant's shop.
Inside was a maid's uniform.
So that's what she brought.
The maid's uniform we bought together.
Since 2,800 nals of the payment were odd, the original price must have been 4,000 nals.
It's quite expensive.
But it was a good purchase.
If I had bought Roxane alone, a 30% discount probably wouldn't have applied.
I don't know if the slave merchant knows about Calk's skill, but in any case, a 30% discount probably wouldn't apply when buying a single item.
Perhaps the slave merchant, who could have sold Roxane for 600,000 nals, ended up selling her along with a 4,000-nal dress, making the final price 422,800 nals.
It's a lesson that one shouldn't be too greedy.
Roxane hung the maid's uniform in the closet and was smoothing out the wrinkles.
Her back is cute too.
So cute that I want to grab her from behind.
Yeah, it was a good purchase.
Despite her chest, Roxane's body is slim.
She's about the same height as me but much slimmer.
She looks like a girl.
"Oh, you're barefoot."
When I looked at Roxane's body again, I noticed she was barefoot.
"Yes, that's right."
Roxane answered as if it were obvious.
She came here from the merchant's shop barefoot.
Barefoot might not be that unusual, though.
"I'll get this coat too."
"Yes, as you wish."
I stood up, took the coat from the desk, and handed it to Roxane.
I stroked her head as she hung the coat in the closet.
It's not necessarily because I wanted to grab her.
It's a check.
A check to see how far she is willing to allow it.
I felt like she managed to escape.
I still haven't completely dispelled the suspicion that getting Roxane as a slave was a scam.
Roxane let me stroke her head obediently.
From this attitude, it seems she has accepted being bought as a slave.
I can't tell what she's thinking inside, but she didn't show any signs of disliking it.
I couldn't help but hug her.
No, that's not it. It's a misunderstanding.
It's not that my patience ran out.
I don't intend to push her down all of a sudden.
"Sorry, but I don't intend to let you go."
"Y-Yes..."
Roxane answered softly and relaxed her body.
It doesn't seem like it was a scam.
Probably, even if I pushed her down here, it would be okay.
From behind, my arms are around her, and my chest touches hers.
This is... more than I expected.
But I have to hold back for now. There are other things I need to do.
I hardly felt any guilt about buying a slave.
I don't know. Maybe I just haven't fully realized it yet.
Well, there's no need to force myself to feel guilty.
"These leather shoes, no, these sandals, can you wear them?"
I extended my arms and released Roxane.
I can't hold out any longer.
"Is it okay?"
"Since you're going into the labyrinth, they are equipment."
Taking advantage of her not showing any signs of disliking it, I squatted down and touched Roxane's feet.
Roxane's feet don't seem much different from a human's.
Even though she's a werewolf, they're not covered in fur.
They are a bit smaller.
The length from heel to toe is about two or three sizes shorter.
"Thank you."
"But can you wear them?"
"Yes. Ah, well, the equipment has magic on it. It stretches and shrinks to fit the wearer's body. So it should be fine."
Roxane explained from above.
I don't know what she thinks about me touching her body, but she didn't try to escape or show any signs of disliking it.
Taking advantage of this, I touched her feet repeatedly.
Her feet are small and cute.
The top of her foot was smooth and silky.
"I see."
"This is the difference between regular clothes and equipment."
Equipment seems to be quite convenient.
If it weren't, equipment would be custom-made, not mass-produced.
"Is that common knowledge?"
"Yes, I think most people know it."
"...Well, I don't know a lot of common knowledge, so please bear with me."
"Yes."
It seems to be common knowledge in this world.
Well, that makes sense. Even ordinary villagers wear equipment.
My excuse came in handy right away.
I should thank Roxane for her proper response.
"Swords, there are one-handed and two-handed. Which do you prefer?"
I stood up and asked Roxane.
"Can I have a one-handed sword, please?"
"Sure."
I handed the scimitar on the desk to Roxane.
Handing over a sword might not be a good idea, but it might be.
Based on her attitude so far, I judged that it would be okay to hand it over.
If being a slave is just a formality and Roxane or the slave merchant has some ulterior motive, like killing me to gain freedom, I should be cautious.
For example, if she plans to kill me and escape.
Should I be that cautious?
If she plans to do something to me regardless, I can't really prevent it.
We'll be sleeping in the same bed, after all.
Since we're going into the labyrinth, I'll have to give her a sword eventually.
Now is the perfect time to hand it over.
Handing it over early will also serve as a sign that I trust Roxane.
If I'm going to die, I might as well lose my virginity first and give her the sword tomorrow morning, but I'm not sure about that.
As a person.
"It doesn't seem to be in bad condition, but it hasn't been well-maintained."
Whether Roxane knows my thoughts or not, she checked the scimitar with all her attention.
Her expression became serious.
"Huh? It needs maintenance?"
"Yes."
Well, I guess it makes sense.
"What about other equipment?"
"Of course."
I see.
"Master, I will take care of the maintenance from now on, but please take better care of your equipment. You entrust your life to it."
"...That's true."
Roxane leaned in to lecture me.
I took a step back involuntarily.
"Please."
Roxane started putting away the other items on the desk into the closet.
"Um, come here and try on the sandals."
I secured the leather shoes, sat on the bed, and called Roxane over.
I untied the laces and took off the sandals, then put on the leather shoes.
The leather shoes seem to be a higher-grade equipment than the sandal boots.
The sandals leave half of the foot exposed, so the shoes probably offer better protection.
There weren't any monsters that targeted the feet, and I thought the sandals wouldn't get sweaty, but it's better to avoid giving Roxane better equipment than me.
"Here."
"Um, this way."
I called Roxane to sit next to me on the bed and handed her the sandals.
Roxane sat next to me and put on the sandals.
The sandals that fit my feet perfectly somehow fit Roxane's feet, which were two sizes smaller.
Magic is amazing.
"Today is market day, so I want to buy any necessary items. Do you need any other equipment?"
"A wooden shield would be nice, if possible."
"Wooden shield, got it. Anything else?"
"Basically, please focus on equipping you. Any leftovers will be enough for me."
I touched Roxane's ear while talking to her.
She doesn't seem as nervous or scared as when she first entered the room.
The result of physical contact.
Physical contact is amazing.
"Got it. Any other necessities besides equipment?"
"Oil is needed for maintenance. Do you have any oil?"
"No, I don't."
"Then let's buy a small bottle of olive oil."
Olive oil, huh.
"Got it."
"Also, I'll use rags. Do you have any old undergarments?"
"No, just the ones in there."
"They're still new."
Roxane put away the laundry, so she saw the pumpkin pants I bought five days ago.
I can't get married now.
By the way, I'm wearing boxers now.
"You can use a hand towel. Anything else?"
"I'd like a canteen."
"Canteen, got it. Hold on."
I took a small wooden bucket from my backpack and a medium-sized wooden bucket from the closet.
I ran to the bathroom with both.
I returned to the room with a small wooden bucket filled with water and handed it to Roxane.
"Thank you."
"Try it."
"Yes, thank you."
Roxane took a sip.
It's water made by the Water Wall spell.
It doesn't smell, and it looks and tastes like regular water.
There might be some issues, but it's not more dangerous than river or well water.
I've been drinking it for a few days, and I haven't had any stomach problems.
By the way, the Water Wall spell was too powerful to be caught in a bucket.
"Is the water okay?"
"Um, sorry, but I didn't want the water. I wanted a canteen for the labyrinth."
"Yeah, I know. You'll understand eventually, it's fine."
"Is that so?"
I forced Roxane, who doesn't know about magic, to accept it.
Of course, a canteen would be better than nothing.
However, water is quite heavy. Considering the cost, the convenience of a canteen is quite small.
I sat on the bed.
Roxane, for some reason, had moved to the floor while I was gone.
I see.
She's probably wary of being pushed down if she sits on the bed.
"Come here."
"Yes."
I called her over.
"You don't have to move every time."
"Um, but it's your bed."
"You'll be sleeping here too, you know."
I hugged her and whispered in her ear.
What a corrupt official.
"Um, I'll only get in when I'm favored, but I can sleep on the floor."
Roxane mumbled, looking down.
I never thought about making her sleep on the floor.
What kind of corrupt official am I?
Something inside me shouted to just go for it, but I held back.
If there's no problem now, I can enjoy it later.
"Is that common knowledge?"
"I heard at the merchant's shop that some masters do that."
"I'm fine. It's cold and troublesome, so let's sleep in the same bed."
"Y-Yes, thank you."
I hugged her and stroked her hair.
She didn't avoid it or show any signs of disliking it.
If she accepts this much, she must really be mine now.
"I'll buy another bucket for the water. Anything else?"
"I'll carry the items. This backpack or something else?"
"Backpack, got it."
"That's all from me."
I kept touching her hair.
I also let her play with my ear.
These floppy ears are addictive.
"The market is held every five days, so there's a chance we won't be able to buy anything for five days. Think carefully."
"Yes, it's fine."
"Shield, olive oil, hand towel, bucket, backpack, armor, and socks. That's seven items."
I counted on my fingers. Seven items.
"Yes."
"From me, do we have soap around here?"
It's fine. Soap is translated into Brahmic.
"Soap? Soap is very expensive, so I think it's common to use the husk of the koichi fruit for washing."
"Really expensive? Shampoo... no, never mind. Koichi fruit, got it."
"Yes."
Shampoo wasn't translated.
Well, in a world where soap is expensive, there probably aren't shampoos, conditioners, or treatments.
"Also, do we have anything to brush teeth with?"
"Toothpicks. I think you can find shukure branches in any market."
Toothpicks, huh.
"Shield, olive oil, hand towel, bucket, backpack, armor, socks, koichi fruit, shukure branches. That's nine items. Remember them."
"Yes."
"Let's go shopping then."
I stood up with the backpack.
I want to keep touching Roxane, but I can't.
If there's something to do, it's best to get it over with quickly.
I took out a copper sword from the item box and put on the backpack.
The backpack contains money.
"Yes, sir."
Roxane stood up immediately.
I handed over the key and went outside the inn.
First, I went to a general store and bought a small wooden bucket, a backpack, a small bottle of olive oil, koichi fruit, and shukure branches.
It cost 13 nals in total.
The husk of the koichi fruit was in a bag like a sachet, probably to make it easy to use.
Shukure branches cost one nal for two. Cheap.
Actually, they're just branches cut from a tree.
The cost is practically nothing.
I put the items in the backpack and had Roxane carry it.
At a nearby fabric store, I took two hand towels.
Roxane might use them too, and it's not a problem to have extras.
"You need at least two pairs of socks. Choose what you like."
"Can I choose?"
"Sure."
"I don't know the size."
We don't understand each other.
"No, Roxane will be wearing the socks."
"Mine? Is that okay?"
"It's fine."
I nodded, and Roxane started choosing socks seriously.
Even if it's not a problem to go barefoot with sandals, it's better to have something when entering the labyrinth.
I can't say that any socks will do.
My socks are a bit big because I chose them randomly.
"Is this okay?"
"Got it."
"Thank you."
I finally received the socks Roxane chose.
I showed them to the merchant along with the hand towels and paid.
I put the items in Roxane's backpack from behind.
Finally, we moved to the armor merchant's shop.
Roxane's expression became even more serious at the armor shop.
She's very serious about the wooden shield. It feels intense.
Well, it's something you entrust your life to.
Wooden Shield
Shield
Skill: Empty
However, I'd prefer if she chose one with an empty slot.
How do I recommend it?
I want to ask Roxane about the empty slot, but it's better not to do it in front of others.
I found three wooden shields with empty slots among the ones on display.
"These three are good."
"Do you know?"
"Yes."
I nodded confidently in response to Roxane's words.
I think all mass-produced equipment is the same, but...
Roxane started comparing the three I gave her seriously.
She looks scary despite being beautiful.
There's a wrinkle between her eyebrows.
I moved away from Roxane because I was scared.
I went to the area with armor.
"How much is the leather armor?"
"800 nals."
It seems expensive.
Is it really that much?
I wish I hadn't sold the equipment of the bandits who attacked the village.
It couldn't be helped since I didn't have the item box back then.
"How about a leather jacket?"
"1,000 nals."
Buying back something I sold once makes me feel like I lost.
I took the leather jacket and leather gloves with empty slots and moved to the area with helmets.