Plain Girl Hero of Darkness
Selected Separately One By One - (3)

Because it doubles as a fortress and a city, the City of Emreed Fortress is divided into three districts: a residential district, a warehouse district that stores grain harvested from the north, and a military district for garrison troops.

Ashton and Olivia set off from one of the military facilities and headed to a place in the residential district that had the largest number of stores— Central Street.

"Ashton, there are many stores, but very few customers."

Olivia said as she looked around the street stall curiously. Before the war, this place was bustling with life, but it's not like that now. Ashton felt the faces of the pedestrians appear a little grim.

“You how else, that's the world— hmm?”

Olivia who was beside him just now suddenly disappeared. Ashton searched frantically, and found her standing like a statue in front of a roadside stall. He breathed a sigh of relief, and smelled something delicious.

“Don't just disappear without a word. You'll worry me. "

Olivia did not reply, all attention was on the kebab before her. The freshly cooked bird meat was coated with a golden sauce that was tempting to taste.

The kebab looks really good, and Ashton would have bought it if it wasn't for him just having breakfast.

“This is a famous snack in Emreed. It's delicious, so try it. "

The woman of a store owner in her forties with a great figure promotes her products with a business smile.

"Ashton, I want to eat this."

“Ehh? You still want to eat? Did you just have breakfast an hour ago? ”

"Yes! I'm still in my growth spurt! "

“Sigh. How much?"

Ashton easily gave up as Olivia looked at him with expectant eyes. The female shopkeeper said calmly to Ashton who pulled out his wallet reluctantly:

"One skewer is worth one silver coin."

“It was expensive ...!? Isn't that too much /Let me say this first, aki is the son of a merchant, so I have an idea of the price."

Raising prices is a natural thing if customer status is high. For Ashton, the price of kebabs was at most only ten copper coins. He noticed that the female owner was looking at her rank badge. Since Emreed had a military district, then he would have to get used to dealing with soldiers, and it was no wonder that he could figure out his rank.

"Mr Warran Officer, I don't charge any extra because of your rank. Do you really think ordinary people like us would dare to steal money from the army?"

“Ehh !?”

Ashton was surprised that he really understood himself. The owner of the woman then sighed in resignation.

“Since Mr. Warran Officer is the son of a merchant, then you should know that the price of food has increased greatly.”

Ashton knew very well about the matter raised by the woman's owner. But compared to the prices in the capital, this was extremely expensive. If the female owner does not raise the price, then there is only one reason for this. The invasion of the northern army had affected the entire northern part of the Kingdom.

Ashton took out two silver coins from his wallet, and gave them to the woman's owner.

“I'm sorry for doubting you. Please give us two kebabs. ”

“Ahaha, it looks like I used a sad story to sell my merchandise, sorry yes.”

The woman's owner laughed out loud, and handled the two stabs with a trained gesture. Olivia received it with a big smile, and ate it vigorously. The female owner looked at him with warm eyes, as if she was looking at her own daughter.

"Md. Major, how's it feel?"

“This is so good!”

Olivia replied with a cheerful tone. When he heard that, the woman's owner's face suddenly turned grim.

“So... When I heard the Imperial Army approaching Emreed, I thought it was all over, but you chased them away, right? Because I've never seen you here before."

“Yeah, I think you're right.”

“So my guess is right. Putting aside Mr Warran Officer, Miss Major is still a child.. Has this nation finished?”

The female owner looked into the distance with a blank look. He may not know it, but he has violated the { Public Order Act }. If the military police heard it, he would be arrested. Ashton pretended not to hear, because sending a girl like Olivia into battle was not abnormal. Female owners may feel the danger from this fact.

After finishing the first kebab, Olivia looked at the female owner curiously and asked:

“If this country falls, will you feel sad? Will you cry a lot?"

“Yah.. There are indeed many problems, but this is where I was born and raised. If I fall, I might cry. "

“Fufu... Don't worry, we will drive out the Imperial Army in the north. You don't have to cry. "

Olivia rolled up her sleeves and pressed her muscles, which made the woman's owner laugh.

“Ahahaha! I understand, I understand. Ms. Major will expel the Imperial Army, right. I look forward to the day it happens."

The woman's owner packed all the cooked kebabs, and gave them all to Olivia. Olivia blinked in surprise after getting so many kebabs at once.

“Ehh !? Can I?"

“This, take this. In exchange, can you promise me something?"

"Promise? No problem, I will definitely expel the Imperial Army. "

"No."

With that, the female boss gently hugged Olivia.

"Huh…?"

“-Listen, you mustn't die. Because you're a long time, Ms. Major. "

All he asks for is Olivia's safety. Olivia was startled, and slowly smiled.

“Yes, I promise you. After all, I wouldn't be able to eat good food and snacks if I died. And this kebab too.”

With that, Olivia leaves the woman's boss and bites the second kebab.

“Hey, where are we going?”

"Don't worry, just follow me."

Olivia asked while eating the kebab, and Ashton still did not give a clear answer. The two of them walked along Central Street, passed through several alleys, and finally reached their destination.

"We're here, Olivia."

In front of them was a plain brick house surrounded by a wooden fence. A bunch of smoke billowed from the chimney, and if you missed that inconspicuous signboard, you would never know that this was a store.

In fact, Ashton was circling around during his first visit here.

“What is this...smith?”

Ashton did not answer Olivia's question, opening the door and entering. With a delightful 'grape', the shopkeeper who focused on blacksmiths appeared before them. He looked like a professional workshop, but the pink aprons he was wearing looked out of place.

"Sorry, I don't accept any order now— Oh, that's you ..."

The shopkeeper glanced at Ashton, returned the hammer to his toolbox, then stood up lazily.

“Sorry to interrupt when you are busy. Is my order ready to be taken? ”

“Yes, I just finished it yesterday. I'm not trying to improve, but it's a masterpiece. Please wait a minute."

The store owner smiled arrogantly and went deeper into the store. Moments later, he returned with a wooden crate.

"Look."

As instructed by the store owner, Ashton opened the casket cover on the workbench. Inside was a beautiful armor with silver markings. To the left of the pauldron and chest is the emblem of Valedstorm— Two scythe crossed with a skull surrounded by a red rose in front of it.

(Pauldron: a piece of armor from a metal plate that is worn on the shoulder)

It was better than he had asked, and Ashton nodded in satisfaction.

“As expected of the top three blacksmiths of Farnesse Kingdom. Perfectly working. "

"I'm not going to give you a discount even if you say that."

The shopkeeper snorted as he crossed his thick arms.

"Of course, it's worth every penny."

Ashton says his father's 'capture phrase. Senefelder's merchants were a very large organization, thanks to his father's concern for good items.

“Hmmp, you have good senses for your age.”

The shop owner laughed. Olivia who was looking at the armor from behind Ashton said in awe:

“Ashton, is this..”.

“We will soon face a difficult fight, right? You may be strong, Olivia, but you may also be hurt. So I prepared a sturdy set of armor for you. "

Ashton explained, and the store owner explained:

“True, I can guarantee its toughness. It is made by coating several thin pieces of steel, and normal attacks will not even scratch it. - I doubt when I heard it from you, now I can understand why. I can't explain it, but there's more to this girl than meets the eye. If I see him on the battlefield, I'll be the first to escape."

The owner looked at Olivia with frightened eyes. When he was young, he made a name for himself as a mercenary. Her experience might help her feel something from Olivia.

"I'm glad you trust me."

Ashton turned to Olivia.

"What do you think? It's the same color as your sword, Olivia. I hope you like it."

“... Can I touch it?”

"Of course, this was made especially for Olivia."

Ashton placed his hand on Olivia's shoulder, and pushed her into the armor. Olivia groped the armor with a serious face that was rarely seen.

(Actually, the color was meant to make his blood less prominent. All the new members are scared of Olivia when she's covered in blood.)

Ashton was also very frightened at first, so he understood how they were feeling.

“Thank you Ashton! It's amazing, I like it so much!”

"I'm glad you like it."

Olivia's smile was so beautiful that Ashton was enchanted to her soul. He tried to cover it with a cough, and found the owner looking at him with a sly smile.

"-what?"

“Oh, it's nothing. I just think that youth is great ~ or something. "

The owner said as he rubbed his bald head, and his smile deepened. It made Ashton uncomfortable, and he quickly paid the unpaid bills.

“Come quickly back to base! I want to show this to Claudia! ”

Olivia suddenly grabbed his hand, and pulled him to the exit.

"I-I can walk alone, you don't have to pull me!"

“Oh ~ do your best, son.”

As they left, the owner kept smiling cunningly.

...****************...

...To Be Continue's...