Lone-Horned Wolves... Apparently they were wolves with a single horn on their head, sort of obvious given their name. I was slightly worried as to whether I could defeat them or not...

...Huh? “Oh, right... I completely forgot...”

“What’s wrong...?” Linze curiously asked why I was standing there, clearly dumbfounded.

“I, uh... I sort of kind of don’t have a weapon yet.” It had totally slipped my mind.

Trying to take on a subjugation quest unarmed would have been the height of idiocy. Therefore, we decided to make a beeline for the weapon store after departing the guild.

We took a north street and eventually another glaringly obvious logo on a signboard came into view. Just as one might expect, this one was of a sword and shield. And again, just as one might expect, I could not decipher the name of the shop printed below the logo.

Opening the shop door made a small bell tinkle, announcing our arrival. The noise caused a massive, bearded old man to spawn from within the depths of the store. He was huge. In fact, I almost mistook him for a bear.

“Welc’m. Lookin’ for something?”

The bear-man appeared to be the store’s owner. Goddamn he’s massive. He had to have been at least two meters tall. Was he some sort of pro wrestler or something?

“We’re looking for a weapon for this guy here. Mind if we take a look around?” Elze asked in a clear attempt to aid me.

“Go right ahead. Feel free to pick up anythin’ that catches yer eye.” Mr. Bear responded to her with a gentle smile.

What a nice bear... I mean person. What a nice person. I wondered if he would like some honey...

The shop was packed from floor to ceiling with weapons. There were all kinds up on display as well. Everything from swords to spears, bows, axes, even whips. So many weapons...

“Any weapons you’re good with, Touya?”

“Hrmm... Nothing particular comes to mind, but... Well, I have been trained with swords. Just a little, though.” Negative thoughts formed in my mind as I answered Elze’s question. I said swords, but I’d only ever held one in kendo classes. I’d never actually received any proper training. I probably knew some of the basics of swordplay, at best. I was pretty much a rank amateur.

“...In that case, I think a sword would be the best fit. Touya seems like more of an agile fighter than one who uses brute force, so, I think, maybe a one-handed sword...” Linze pointed out a section of the shop where one-handed swords were on display.

I picked up one of the swords, still in its scabbard, and held it by the hilt with one hand. It was too light. I felt that maybe a slightly heavier sword would suit me better.

Just then, one sword in particular caught my eye. Actually, that was no mere sword... It was a katana. A slim, curved blade with a masterfully crafted circular handguard. A black sheath with a belt-like cord. Upon closer inspection, there were parts which differed from the Japanese katanas that I was familiar with, but it was still remarkably similar.

“...What’s the matter?”

“Oh, you’re looking at that Eashen sword? I suppose it makes sense that you’d be drawn to a weapon from your homeland.” Noticing my fixation on the katana, Linze and Elze called out to me.

Ah, so this sword was from Eashen, apparently. Not that it was actually my homeland... But, well, it did seem that Eashen and Japan had a lot of common points. The more I heard about it, the more interested I became in this Eashen.

I took the katana down and carefully removed it from its sheath. The pattern on the blade shone beautifully in the light, captivating me for a moment. The blade was a bit thicker than I’d assumed, so the katana itself was fairly heavy. Not so heavy that I wouldn’t be able to swing it properly, though.

“How much is this one?” Mr. Bear’s head popped out suddenly from farther back in the store as soon as those words left my mouth.

“Err, that one, eh? That’ll be two gold, aye. Thing is, though, it ain’t exactly the easiest weapon ta use. Definitely ain’t something I’d suggest fer a beginner.”

“T-Two gold?! Isn’t that a little expensive?” Elze argued on my behalf.

“Well, it ain’t like I usually get ’em stocked often, and even when I do there’s hardly anyone who can use the dang thing. Of course it’s gonna be pricey!” Elze pouted at Mr. Bear’s words, but he remained steadfast.

Thinking it over, that price probably was reasonable. Even I could tell that a weapon like this had intrinsic value.

“I’ll take it. You said it cost two gold?” I returned the katana to its sheath and pulled two gold coins out from my wallet, placing them on the store counter.

“Pleasure doin’ business with ya. Interested in any protective gear while yer at it?”

“Nah, this’ll do for now. I’ll come back when I have a bit more cash on me.”

“Gotcha. Well then, here’s hoping that sword helps ya earn a boatload.” The bear heartily laughed as he spoke.

Now, I’d found what I was after, but Elze and Linze ended up picking some things up while we were there. Elze went for some leg armor called greaves, a type that covers the leg from roughly foot to shin, and Linze bought a silver wand. It seemed that Elze was a close-ranged brawler, while Linze supported from the rear with magic.

Weapons secured, we decided that the general item shop was next on our list of stops. Along the way, I got curious about something, so I fired up my map application to check the name of the shop we just left.

«Weapon Shop Eight Bears» ...Did everyone in the town share this bizarre naming sense?

At the item shop I bought a small pouch, a canteen, a lunchbox, a fishing hook and some fishing line, a pair of scissors, a knife, a toolbox with plenty of handy little things such as matches, some medicinal herbs, some antidotes, and other little things along those lines. Elze and Linze already had necessities like that, so I was the only one who bought anything there.

And so, our preparations were complete at last. Beware, Lone-Horned Wolves, we’re coming to the forest to wipe you out!