Outside the shop, walking, Teok made a suggestion.
"It's getting to be about that time — let's eat."
We followed the market street and turned into a side alley. Just before the turn, something caught the edge of my vision — a structure that looked like a fortified wall.
"What's that wall?"
"Wraps around the central part of Marten."
"What's inside?"
"Just residential, mostly. Wealthy types, nobles — that kind of crowd."
"Why does it need a wall like that?"
"Honestly? No idea. Never thought about it."
Teok wasn't a Marten local, so not knowing made sense. Maybe the reason would come up someday.
A short way down the alley, a sign appeared on a building.
"Here we go. Lunch."
The sign read *Sanfin.* The shop smelled pleasantly of something toasted. We went in.
---
It was tucked into an alley, but the design let in enough sunlight that the interior was brighter than expected. Light-colored wood throughout, simple layout — somehow the combination made it feel genuinely comfortable. Six tables, two other groups of customers.
"Welcome!"
An energetic voice from across the room. A Kobold attendant in white fur — from the voice, a girl.
"Two of you — right this way!"
She seated us efficiently and set down water, spoons, and forks.
"What can I get for you today?"
"Two of the lunch."
"Of course!"
She disappeared toward the kitchen. I took a sip of the water while watching her go — herb-infused, lightly flavored.
"She's the reason I always stop here when I'm in Marten," Teok said, unprompted.
So that was why he'd chosen this place. Personally, Kobold faces read as dog faces to my eyes — I couldn't quite see it. But Teok apparently could. Maybe aesthetic sensibility varied by species.
The food arrived before long.
"Sorry for the wait! Here's your lunch!"
Two wooden plates. One held something like roasted chicken, dressed in sauce and finished with a scatter of vegetables for color. The other was a pale green soup with soft-cooked vegetables settled at the bottom.
I started with the soup. The vegetables had given up all their natural sweetness into the broth; despite being lightly seasoned, it didn't feel thin at all. The meat dish paired the flavors of the protein with a sauce that tasted like oil seasoned and reduced — it worked.
"This is good…"
It came out without thinking. Asteno's food had always been closer to rustic. A properly cooked meal like this — the last one had been at Melanie's table.
We finished, settled the bill, and stepped back out. Five Rant each for lunch. For that quality, more than reasonable. Teok's main satisfaction seemed to be the server rather than the meal, but that was his business.
"Right — we've got until evening. Let's wander and see what's around."
I fell in behind Teok.
---
Heading away from the market brought us out of the alley onto a wide main avenue — far broader than the market street. Twenty meters across, at least, running straight in both directions. Few stalls here; the center of the road was given over to horses and carts moving through.
"This is the main road? It's enormous."
"Runs right through the middle of town. East, west, and south."
It extended toward the wall as well, apparently connecting to the interior beyond it.
We walked the avenue and browsed as we went. A weapons shop had the kind of inventory I'd only ever seen in games — I even asked to take a few practice swings.
An iron sword. A spear close to two meters long. A heavy steel axe. All of them were immediately, conclusively too much for me. I might manage a knife or a short sword at best. The same applied to armor — anything with real weight seemed to be built for species like Ogres or Minotaurs, who had the strength to carry it.
After four shops or so, we stepped into another one.
"Welcome~"
A familiar voice. The source was a Goblin girl.
"Wait — Piuri?"
"That's me~"
"I was hoping to walk in without saying anything and see your reaction. You barely reacted." Teok sounded mildly disappointed.
"Where's Furidoo?"
"Out on a supply run. Should be back by evening~"
While Teok and Piuri talked, I looked around the shop. A proper general store — the kind that seemed to carry everything. Larger inside than it looked from the entrance, with stock organized by type on the shelves so it didn't feel chaotic. The central table held food as well.
"Melanie gave you that outfit, hm~"
Piuri addressed me out of nowhere. Now that she mentioned it — this was the first time she'd seen me in the Adventurer's Clothes.
"She's a crafty one, the elder."
That was putting it mildly. I'd been the one who should have been thanking her, and somehow I'd ended up on the receiving end of that whole exchange.
"It suits you, though~ You look like a proper adventurer. Have you thought about it? You could pick up a weapon here and give it a real go~"
"I tried handling a few things at another shop a bit ago. Nothing I could actually use."
"That's a shame. Well, when you do buy a weapon, come to us — we'll give you a better price than anywhere else~"
We bought some water and a small bag of baked sweets, talked with Piuri for a while, and left as the sun was starting to go down. Back to the inn.
The first day in Marten was done.