Tsk. I found an annoying rat, she thought.
As if she were the protagonist of one of those reincarnation stories, Luba had been summoned to this world a couple of years ago and made into some kind of hero. A lot had happened since then, and she had found several companions who joined her on her journey; even so, trouble continued to appear one problem after another.
At present, her group was heading toward the outskirts of a city called Cardinal. They were looking for merchants. The outskirts were sandy, the very image of a desert wasteland: a few rocks here, a shrub or two there.
Not exactly a pretty landscape, but maybe they sell something interesting around here, she concluded.
In this new world, finding valuable objects or weapons was difficult. The only things sold in plazas and markets were simple contraptions that, beyond their high prices, were useless to a warrior of her caliber. That was why she had placed all her hopes in these merchants.
"Miss Luba, thank you for what you did earlier," said the girl walking beside her.
"You should pay more attention, Pia," she replied flatly.
Her companion, Pia, was a rather modest young woman. Wearing short leather pants and a shirt that was a little too large for her, she had the air of a young mercenary.
Ah! But she's actually pretty cute, like some little animal. And she has the second type of face I like most! For a moment, Luba seriously considered patting her on the head.
"Even so, Miss Luba saved me again today. Thank you."
"Hmph. Just stop with the flattery."
Despite being a hero, Luba thought the people around her exaggerated their praise. Every tiny thing she did was hailed as some magnificent display of kindness, talent, or bravery. To be honest, it made her feel like a daughter being praised by her father simply for eating her soup.
"Give me a break..." Luba muttered.
"Eh, miss?"
"Nothing."
Suddenly, a male voice interrupted them.
"Still, Miss Pia should be more careful next time."
"Adriano, even you!" Pia complained. "Now I look like the stupidest person in the group!"
"No, I never said Miss Pia was stupid."
"But that's what you're implying! You need to learn how to read between the lines!"
The newcomer, Adriano, had golden hair. He wore light black leather armor, and his eyes were a beautiful pale blue. Though they lacked pupils, the most striking features of his appearance were the flashy decorations he wore in both his hair and ears.
In my world, those would be earrings, Luba thought.
At twenty-five, Adriano followed behind them at the rear of the group. His gentle face and tranquil gaze would have taken the breath away from more than a few people. Even Luba, who had no interest in men, had to admit that Adriano was handsome.
Maybe it's the culture shock, but everyone here looks like a damn fantasy protagonist! Ah, hell. That gives me the creeps.
"As expected of Miss Luba," Adriano interrupted. "I didn't even notice when that boy took Pia's purse. I'd say he's quite skilled."
"Eh? Y-yeah..." Luba stammered.
Keeping a calm demeanor was exhausting.
When Luba had arrived in this world, she had decided to disguise her personality as that of a streetwise girl—crass and foul-mouthed beneath a mask of elegance and coldness. Since maintaining her persona was everything to her, she watched her words carefully and tried not to let her true temper show.
Otherwise, she would have undoubtedly shouted at the thief, "Hey, you! Give back what you stole, or you're dead!"
On the other hand—
Ha! Skilled?
Luba certainly didn't think so.
If she were being honest, the impression the thief had given her was that of someone weak and impulsive.
I wouldn't call him clever, either. I knew plenty of guys like him back in high school! He's just a second-rate thief! In fact, I think I'm already forgetting his face.
When Luba tried to picture him, nothing came to mind.
Yeah. I've forgotten his face.
Once they reached the merchants' stalls, Luba could barely contain her excitement—at least internally.
The place resembled a plaza, though the ground was still nothing but dirt. Around twenty stalls were in the process of being assembled, and the characteristic clamor of merchants rose through the air in anticipation of the day's sales.
Is it still too early? she thought. If I'd known, I wouldn't have gotten out of bed!
Even so, she could see that the stalls already standing were filling their tables and display cases with stones of various colors.
Gems.
Though there were no minerals in sight.
In this world, both minerals and gems played a fundamental role in the creation of artifacts and weapons.
Minerals were solid substances found in the earth's crust. Most of them were no different from those Luba remembered from her previous life—gold, silver, copper, and so on.
Still, there were seven in particular known as the Primordials, unique to this new world. Luba grimaced as she tried to remember them, but for now, only three names came to mind: plouton, mithril, and hemdal.
To be fair, Luba had already heard of mithril in the fantasy movies of her previous life. However, according to what she had been told, the mineral had originally gone by another name in this world. A generation of heroes before her had eventually renamed it mithril.
Gems, on the other hand, were mana stones. They were not to be confused with minerals.
These mana stones were formed after years of accumulated energy. Depending on the length of time and the type of energy stored within them, a gem's size, value, shape, and color varied. They were found deep beneath the earth, though they were more common in lakes and seas.
In simple terms, they were forms of energy somewhat analogous to electricity, heat, chemical energy, and so on.
They're like batteries.
That was Luba's conclusion.
Ha! Easy enough to understand. Minerals are the metal you shape into your toy, and gems are the energy that powers it.
It was worth noting that different combinations of minerals and gems could be used to create more powerful weapons. In other words, if you couldn't find a good weapon in an ordinary market, your only alternative was to have one custom-made using whatever materials you preferred.
And as the impulsive buyer she was, Luba couldn't resist the urge to take home everything the merchants had to offer.
After all, money was no longer a problem.
But just as she was about to empty her purse—
"What an unfortunate coincidence," Pia interrupted.
Her words weren't directed at Luba, however. They were directed at a young man she had grabbed by the collar.
"Yeah, a very unfortunate coincidence. But you know, I don't have many changes of clothes, so could you let me go? You're going to damage my outfit."
"Ha! That's the least you can do after the trouble you caused me."
Why did fate, disguised as Pia, insist on interrupting this brief moment of happiness?
Luba couldn't help but sigh.
Ah! Give me a break! Let me lose myself in my thoughts! Who is it this time?!
"Well, look at that. It's the same thief from this morning," Adriano added.
Luba remembered the incident, but if someone asked her to recognize the thief's face, that would be another matter entirely.
According to Adriano, however, this boy was responsible.
He and Pia had cornered him in the middle of the plaza. But Luba, sticking to her persona, decided to keep her comments to herself and observe from a distance.
Unlike this morning, there was no need for her to get involved.
"Uhm. Weren't we supposed to have settled things already?"
"I don't understand. Are you following us?"
"Eh?! C-couldn't I say the same about you? Ahem. I was passing through the plaza when suddenly you grabbed me by the collar, cornered me, and started interrogating me. You're the suspicious ones!"
Taking a closer look at the thief, Luba concluded:
I'm not sure, but it's almost like he's trying to act tough. Maybe it's a personality trait? Like those typical shy characters who lie about having friends. Or maybe he's just a weirdo.
"I don't believe you."
"Come on, Pia. You don't have to be so intense."
At Adriano's intervention, the thief protested.
"Hey! How could I possibly be following you? After all, no idiot comes to the plaza this early! How was I supposed to know you'd be here?!"
Ugh! He's just annoying.
The hurtful remark made Luba furrow her brow.
She had already admitted that she had gotten the time wrong. She didn't need someone reminding her of her mistake.
"Then what are you doing here, you idiot who came to the plaza early?" Pia shot back.
"I already told you, I'm just passing through," the thief countered. "This is a good shortcut from the main road."
"The same could be said for us."
Pia was remarkably persistent with her interrogation.
Adriano, for his part, remained silent, occasionally stepping in to calm her down.
Several yards away, Luba studied the thief more closely.
His brown hair was fairly common throughout the Central Continent. His clothes were ordinary, nothing expensive. He didn't seem particularly remarkable in terms of appearance, either. His build was average for a boy of eighteen or nineteen.
As listening to the conversation began to wear on her, Luba interrupted them.
"Let's leave it here. Don't you think that's for the best?"
"Ugh! Why do you keep staring at me?"
What an annoying bastard, Luba thought furiously.
Is that supposed to be an answer? And what the hell is with that victim attitude?! I'll show you what being intimidated really looks like.
Haah. No. Calm down. Remember, Luba. Maintain your role... Be a leader.
"You..." Pia looked fed up. "Just stop following us! Or do you like me or something?!"
...Excuse me?
When had the conversation gotten to this point?
Luba had somehow lost the thread entirely.
"...Huh? Huh? Huh?! Th-that came out of nowhere!"
"If you like me, you should just be honest about it, even if my rejection is inevitable."
Not only the thief, but Adriano and Luba as well, stared at her in bewilderment.
Something was clearly wrong with Pia for her to be acting like this.
"Ha. I don't believe in coincidences, thief. You must have enjoyed touching me when we bumped into each other. That's why you've been following me."
As she spoke, Pia hugged herself and squirmed like a worm that had been pulled from the earth.
"Just admit it already, so I can reject you."
"T-too intense!"
"You're lying to me!"
Somehow, Pia gave off the impression of a Chihuahua barking at someone ten times its size.
Luba sincerely apologized to the thief for her friend's behavior.
Then she clasped her hands together and offered a prayer to the heavens.
Pia had been in a foul mood ever since they left the inn, and now she was simply taking it out on the poor boy.
Haah. I'm already tired of this conversation. But I'm not planning on helping.
Luba began walking away.
Let this be a lesson to him! Sometimes you need to be careful about who you try to rob. Your victim might turn out to be a demon.
The merchants, though still keeping an eye on Pia and the thief, had finished setting up their stalls. Yet there wasn't a single customer in sight.
Luba examined the numerous gems displayed at one of them.
"Oh! Well, look at what we have here! What a beautiful young lady! Let me make one thing clear: there's nothing Mama Soot doesn't have."
The woman who addressed her was fat, her tanned skin and lightly colored clothing giving the impression of someone accustomed to life in the desert.
Rubbing her hands together, the plump woman continued.
"I heard about you in the city. But I never expected you to come all the way out to this gloomy place."
Luba didn't answer. She merely pointed at the gems and asked with a gesture:
These?
"You want Mama Soot to explain? Well, there are four unrefined gems on this table. First, look at the gem on the right. Smooth texture. Dull green color. That one contains wind energy.
"The gem beside it, the golden one, is a little lumpy, isn't it? That one contains fire energy. The third, the pale blue one, is infused with water energy. And the last, the white one, contains earth energy."
The gems looked remarkably similar to the water-worn stones one could find in any river. They had irregular shapes and were of average size, no wider than four fingers.
While Luba listened to the explanation, she also kept a discreet eye on the other two.
Apparently, Pia was still bombarding the thief with variations of "Just admit it!"
With a sigh, Luba turned back toward the merchant.
"And the others?"
She pointed toward three gems sitting in another pile on the table.
"They're gems. What kind of energy do they use?"
"Oh! So you're interested in exotic things, are you?"
"If I weren't, I wouldn't have come here."
"Well, my mistake, my mistake. Mama Soot apologizes. We recently received these from a rather mysterious merchant. He swore they contained unique forms of energy that don't exist anywhere else in this world."
"The short version?"
"Haah. Impatient, aren't you? The black gem uses a new type of energy. They call it impulse..."
Luba was just about to become absorbed in the explanation when several murmurs and loud noises interrupted her.
When she turned around, she saw the spectacle unfolding behind her.
Pia had begun chasing the thief between the stalls, earning more than a few curses directed at their parents along the way. Meanwhile, Adriano watched them with an ironic smile.
In the end, Luba had to intervene.
Even in this world, fate hates me! she complained.
It's like looking after children! It would have been so much better if I'd brought her along... But no, you just had to stay in the other city!
Luba was thinking of a friend.
She had long, cream-colored hair and a cold gaze lit by a faint trace of irritation. Because of certain circumstances, she had been forced to separate from the group consisting of Adriano, Pia, and Luba.
Though even from this far away, it's almost as if I can hear you scolding me.
"Luba, you need to relax more. That hesitant, cold attitude of yours worries me. Remember, you're the leader of the group, so try to act like one."
If her friend were here, she could probably have dealt with Pia's mood swings, Adriano's indifference, Luba's helplessness, and even the irritating thief.
Something inside Luba told her that was true.
Haah. I should hurry so we can get back to her and the rest of the group.
After capturing both the thief and Pia, Luba could finally concentrate on her shopping.
The explanation given by the woman who called herself Mama Soot had convinced her more than enough to buy everything she had to offer.
Once word got around, several merchants approached her, rubbing their hands together as they began offering her everything in their stalls.
Since the heroes were sponsored by the major monarchies and the smaller kingdoms of the various races, money was no issue.
So Luba bought a little bit of everything.
The small gems filled four large bags, which she then placed over Adriano's shoulders.
The reason Luba had bought so many gems was that, as a form of battery, they deteriorated rather quickly when subjected to considerable attacks.
If Luba wanted a weapon—something other than her Hero's Spear—that could withstand her level of power, then the number of gems required would also be considerable.
Even so, I couldn't find any minerals, she thought as they walked back toward the city.
The only explanation Mama Soot could give her was that, because of the proximity to the Racial Wall, most minerals were being purchased directly by the Kingdom of Longer due to the war against the Fallen.
It's strange that they only sell gems and not minerals, she concluded. That doesn't happen on the other continents. In fact, I think it only happens in the kingdoms near the Racial Wall.
This time, Adriano led the journey back.
At the rear, Pia was dragging the thief along with her.
It was like watching a cat carry a badly behaved kitten by the scruff of its neck.
According to Pia, she intended to hand him over to the guards once they returned.
"I don't believe you! You're suspicious of following us, so I'm handing you over to the guards."
That was the excuse she had used to take him along.
Obviously, the thief complained, but apparently he lacked the strength to fight Pia off.
"L-let me go already!" the thief howled.
"Ha! Say whatever you want. This ends here," Pia replied.
"Yeah, she's way too intense..."
"What did you say?!"
"N-nothing."
Hey, hey, miss, Luba thought. I agree. You're way too intense. That disgusting personality of yours is the only thing ruining your cute little face.
"You!"
Pia pointed at the thief's chest.
"By the way, what's that trinket you bought?"
"Eh?"
Pia was referring to a small oval stone the thief was holding against his chest.
It was a dull red color and no wider than two fingers. It was a decorative crystal, one of the many items being sold in the plaza.
It was certainly not the cheapest thing there, but it wasn't particularly expensive, either.
Even so, his purchase was so pitifully small compared to Luba's that she couldn't help letting out a little snort.
The difference was so ridiculous that even Mama Soot looked offended. Her face practically said, "That's all you're taking?" Ha-ha-ha! No! I shouldn't laugh. I used to be poor too.
"I only bought it as an apology," the thief protested.
"You're a rat trying to be nice? Don't mess with me! And more than an apology, I think you ended up insulting them," Pia argued. "Meanwhile, Miss Luba took everything. See?"
"That's way too excessive. This... Uhm... N-normal people wouldn't buy this much!"
"Normal"? You really know how to get on my nerves, little pest.
The veins in Luba's forehead were beginning to show.
And why the hell is this vermin talking to us so casually?! It was so natural that I didn't even notice it until now.
Deciding it was time to put an end to the farce, she spoke.
"When we reach the city, Pia, make sure you don't run into this guy again. We'll leave him with the guards and be done with it."
"Eh?! Why?!" Pia and the thief said simultaneously.
"What do you mean, 'why'?!"
Apparently, Pia had no intention of letting the thief go.
But Luba had to stop her here.
If they continued like this, sooner or later the guy was bound to end up joining them.
"He's a stranger, and he's unpleasant. This guy is so damn—"
"Miss Luba?"
Even the usually indifferent Adriano turned his head when he noticed the sudden change in Luba's attitude.
Ah! No, no, no. Remember, you're a hero. Stick to your calm, elegant-girl persona. Be a leader. Leader. But how the hell is a leader supposed to act?!
"Ahem. Eh? H-he's troublesome."
Now Luba was the one stammering.
"Ahem. It's more than obvious that this sort of thing isn't meant for someone like him."
She was referring to the dangers of traveling alongside a hero.
It wasn't compassion.
It was simply her way of ending the conversation.
"I'm telling you, this sort of thing isn't meant for someone like you."
But before the serious atmosphere could settle, Pia interrupted.
"Ha-ha-ha! See? Everyone can tell how weak you are!"
"Y-you're wrong! Haah. At this rate, you're going to give me a heart attack."
How dare they ignore her serious advice?
Despite being their leader, no one ever listened to her.
Thoroughly irritated, Luba finally said:
"Just shut up."
Her voice wasn't loud, but the coldness and weight behind those words literally froze the atmosphere.
"Aughhh!"
This time, neither of them opened their mouths again.
For some reason, seeing Pia together with the thief irritated her.
It wouldn't have bothered her if it were Adriano, but the sight of those two together made her blood boil.
Wanting to rid herself of the irritation, Luba swore that once they returned to the city, she would personally make that guy disappear.
She lied to herself:
We already have enough with Pia being the noisy one in the group.
Trying to distract herself, she took one of the four bags from Adriano and inspected its contents.
Looking at her purchases calmed her down.
She was so hypnotized by them that she stopped paying any attention whatsoever to her surroundings.