Chapter 69 New Armor

Suzuka found herself with 246 silver coins and 300 copper coins left in her funds. She decided to visit a small cafe located nearby the hunters guild and took a seat outside at one of the tables. The sun was shining and the breeze was refreshing, making for a perfect day to enjoy a meal.

As she sat down, Suzuka perused the menu, deciding on what to order for lunch. She eventually made her decision and summoned the waiter over to place her order. She leaned back in her seat and took a deep breath, savoring the peaceful moment. 

As Suzuka was leisurely waiting for her meal to arrive, she suddenly heard a booming, jovial voice that was all too familiar to her. She glanced around the crowded café, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling establishment.

 As she looked out of the window, she saw two figures walking down the street - David and the Laughing Larry. They turned the corner and entered the same café where Suzuka was seated, completely oblivious to her presence.

They were the two least people she wanted to meet right now, Suzuka swiftly hid her face behind the menu, pretending to read. She hoped that by doing so, David and Larry would not recognize her, especially since she was now dressed in brand-new armor, a far cry from her usual attire. She was relieved to see that they did not see her. 

David and Laughing Larry had a passionate disagreement about their recent quest they just completed this morning. David was visibly upset, expressing his disappointment with the small reward they received.

 Larry, on the other hand, was full of energy and tried to lift his friend's spirits with his charismatic personality. He was quick to find the positive side of the situation and tried to put a smile on David's face. 

David, "I can't believe we only got 5 silver coins, that guy clearly ripped us off, the reward should be at least 10 silver coins each! Any monster kill quest starts with 10 silver, even if it was only a few goblins, but still, by the guild rules he was supposed to pay more."

Larry, "Hey, hey David ma guy! It's not all about the coin. We had a great adventure, an easy adventure, and made some great progress toward your rank up, right? Screw that guy, we will see who will help him next time goblins show up, eh? This is good progress you're doing. 9 more successful quests and you will be a rookie rank 2, then you can go on better-paying quests.

David, "I guess you're right. It just feels like we put so much effort into it and didn't get much in return. That sucks man."

Larry, "That's just the way it goes sometimes. David! Hey! 4 silver coins for me and 6 silver coins for you, that's a good day's pay, how about that, huh? But you know what they say, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. And we had one heck of a journey! Look, we are here safe and sound, with barely any trouble."  

David, "Thanks Larry, I suppose you have a point there. I just can't help feeling a bit down. The guy didn't even say thanks, he just dropped coins on the ground."

Larry, "Well, let me tell you, I have just the thing to cheer you up. How about I'm paying for the food today, huh? I even drop a drink for ya, what do ya say? I will share tales of my quests and celebrate our victory."

David, "Thanks, Larry. Sorry for being a such downer on the first official quest."

Larry, "Ohhh! David! That's what friends are for! Come on! Let's go raise a glass to your first official adventure!"

  Suzuka accidentally dropped the menu. It fluttered to the floor, landing close to David's feet. He noticed the menu on the ground and bent down to retrieve it. As he was about to turn and hand it back to the waitress, his gaze caught Suzuka's. They made eye contact.

David suddenly found himself unable to speak smoothly as he began to stutter and freeze. His words became jumbled and disjointed, and he struggled to form a complete sentence.

David, "H-h-hello there Helen, umm... you look, umm... v-very beautiful today."

Suzuka, "Sure, thanks. But flattery won't get you anything?"

David, "N-no, I mean, I just, umm... I was wondering, maybe we can, umm... g-go out sometime? I missed the chance to ask you... several times, actually." 

Suzuka, "David, why are you stuttering all of a sudden, you been talking fine with Larry?"

David, "I'm sorry, I just, umm... get nervous around, umm... pretty girls like you."

Suzuka, "Okay! That's weird, before I forgot, not interested to go on a date with you."

David, "Oh, okay. I, umm... I'll try to do better next time."

Laughing Larry facepalmed so hard that the sound it made echoed through the whole cafe, a moment later he placed his hand on David's shoulder and said, "Bro... I... I can't... Bro, just let's go. Take your food and let's go outdoors. Please, don't make me look at this, I just can't, bro."

Larry stepped out of the cafe, and David trailed behind him with a dejected expression. Suzuka's food was finally ready, and she savored every bite of her late lunch. After she finished eating, Suzuka decided to head over to a clothing shop to buy some casual clothes. She was in need of some lingerie and figured this would be the perfect opportunity to do some shopping.

As she walked through the bustling streets, Suzuka couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She soon arrived at the clothing shop, its bright and colorful sign drawing her in.

Once inside, Suzuka was immediately struck by the abundance of clothing on display. Racks of dresses, skirts, blouses, and pants filled the spacious store. She made her way to the lingerie section, where she carefully perused the selection of undergarments. After trying on a few items, she finally found the perfect set.

Suzuka made her way to the casual clothing section and began to peruse the racks, searching for something both practical and stylish. She had her sights set on items such as leather wear and form-fitting shirts, but her attention was soon drawn to a stunning black leather jacket with bold red accents. 

The jacket was accompanied by a matching pair of leather pants, also featuring red detailing, and a pair of sleek and comfortable boots. To complete the look, Suzuka spotted a delicate neck chain that would allow her to display her MBPU badge.

 The combination of the black and red leather, combined with a long sleeve, short, lightweight top, and accessories caught Suzuka's eye and she knew she had found the perfect outfit.

Suzuka had made the decision to purchase the outfit, but her confidence wavered upon learning its cost. The jacket was priced at a steep 12 silver coins, the pants at 8 silver coins, and the boots at an equal 8 silver coins. To make matters worse, the neckless chain was a costly 15 silver coins and the top was a more reasonable, but still significant, 5 silver coins. Also, the lingerie was an additional expense of 10 silver coins. Suzuka found herself hesitating as she considered the total cost of the outfit, questioning if it was worth the investment.

After much consideration, Suzuka finally made up her mind to make a purchase, as she was in dire need of new clothing and lingerie. This would be her first time buying such expensive clothes and she was feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

 She approached one of the attendants at the reception desk and politely asked for assistance. As she started negotiating the price to get the best deal possible. The attendant was professional and friendly, and they engaged in a back-and-forth discussion to arrive at a mutually satisfactory price.

Suzuka, "Excuse me, I was wondering if there's any room for negotiation on the price of these clothes. I was hoping to pay a bit less. 58 silver coins look a bit steep."

Attendant, "I'm sorry, but the price of these clothes is already quite reasonable. We can't lower it any further."

Suzuka, "How about 50 silver, I pay the full amount right now."

Attendant, "I am really sorry but it is not possible. These are brand new clothes, I'm afraid there is no room for negotiation."

Suzuka, "58 silver coins is a bit steep for me. Is there any discount you can offer? I am an adventurer and MBPU."

Attendant, "I'm sorry, but we have no current promotions or discounts available. The best I can offer; is 55 silver coins for you."

Suzuka, "Hmm, I see. Okay, then. I'll take it."

Attendant, "Wonderful, let me just pack everything for you, this will take only a minute. Please wait at the counter I will be right back."

The attendant packed everything Suzuka wanted in small boxes and put them in the bag. Then she proceeded with the payment.  

 With a sense of accomplishment, Suzuka made her purchase and felt confident in her decision, eager to see and feel the new clothes and lingerie she had acquired. Her funds are now 191 silver coins and 294 copper coins.

Suzuka made her way back to the Mystic Oasis Inn, her arms loaded with her recent purchases. As she entered her room, she carefully placed her acquisitions on the bed. With some time to spare until her next appointment with Walter, the blacksmith who was crafting her a gambeson, she decided to do some more shopping.

Her final destination was an alchemical shop, eager to peruse the shelves lined with various potions and utility crystals. She was especially interested in finding any potions that could aid her on her future quests.

 As she entered the shop, she was greeted by the strong smell of various herbs and spices and the soft glow of potion bottles lining the walls.

Suzuka made her way to the counter, where a knowledgeable alchemist stood ready to assist her. She browsed the shelves, examining the different potions and crystals on display. Some were designed to heal wounds, while others offered enhanced strength or improved vision. She was amazed by the variety of items available.

Suzuka, "Excuse me, may I speak with you about the healing crystals and red potions you sell?"

Alchemic. "Of course, how may I assist you?"

Suzuka, "I'm curious about the prices and the quality of these items. Can you tell me more about them?"

Alchemic, "Our healing crystals are priced according to their size and rarity, but on average they range from 50 to 100 silver coins. As for quality, they are made from the finest materials and are imbued with powerful magic to ensure they provide effective healing."

  "However, it's important to note that our standard healing crystals are not designed to provide full recovery from serious injuries or illnesses. For those in need of more intensive treatment, we offer full recovery healing crystals, which are priced at 10 gold coins each. Unfortunately, we are currently out of stock on these full recovery crystals."

Suzuka, "And the red potions?"

Alchemic, "The red potions are a bit less expensive, as they have a less potent formula. They are typically priced at around 10 silver coins per vial. However, I can assure you that they are well worth the investment. They are great for first aid use, stamina recovery, and revitalizing effects. Basically for a quick boost."

Suzuka, "I see, thank you for the information. Do you have any discounts available? I am an adventurer and MBPU."

Alchemic, "We do offer discounts to that status. If you're interested, I can give you more details about that and make the calculations on prices."

Suzuka, "That sounds great. Thank you for your help, I would like to know the price of 5 red potions and one average healing crystal, please." 

Alchemic, "My pleasure. That would be 90 silver in total, this is with all discounts applied. Oh! Almost forgot to tell you, these items have no expiration date. You don't need to worry about degrading effectiveness." 

Suzuka, "Okay, I will buy them."

Alchemic packed everything in a bag and handed it to Suzuka, her funds now down to 101 silver coins and 294 copper. It was time to go back to Walter, day time almost run out.