-Cyril POV-

After Erline finally calmed down enough and stop crying, it seemed that she suddenly remembered something since she suddenly gasped and turned her head to look back at her sword that is useless now.

“My precious sword I completely forgot about it. What am I gonna do, that was the precious family sword that I was given by father.” (Erline)

“That old piece of junk was a family heirloom, it wasn’t even about to handle taking a single hit.” (Cyril)

It seems that my assessment of that old sword shocked her as she looked at me flabbergasted in disbelief. Even though I may not be an expert, I do have knowledge in the quality of weapons and I can tell if the weapon is good or a piece of crap.

“Piece of Junk! That sword has been passed down for generations since my ancestors established the Azure Empire and it has been the royal families symbol since then. That weapon that you called junk is a national treasure that has been used in every war that the Empire has been a part of and has been through countless battlefields for centuries.” (Erline)

“Oh well no use crying of spilled milk since what’s done is done, no use trying to change it. Since it seems that your somewhat back to your old self, I’m going to leave now since I have some things I need to prepare, I’ll pay you back later.” (Cyril)

After saying that I turned my back and left while ignoring the complaints that came flying at me from the angry princess that was yelling at me.

After that, I decided to leave the academy grounds since I need to buy some temporary equipment for class. I was lucky that before I left the old man’s castle to head to the academy that he remembered to give me some spending funds that he called reward for the past and future achievements.

Why am I lucky you may ask because wouldn’t the academy supply you with equipment so that the teachers and instructors wouldn’t have to you may ask.

The answer is no because, and I quote directly from that annoying witch words, “What funds, aren’t you are a hero, so acquiring funds should be a breeze for someone like you seeing as you must have had to do it for hundreds of years already.”

I will omit the annoying witch’s laughing that immediately followed because it will only annoy me further just thinking about it. So, in conclusion, I am lucky that I won’t have to go out and make any money for some time since I got enough money to last me for roughly seven years if I spent it sparingly.

In total I was given around 300 silver coins, 10 gold coins, and 1 platinum coin for spending and since I was only purchasing basic equipment thats usable for training so it shouldn’t cost no more than around 50 silver coins.

Once I finally exited the academy grounds, I continued walking towards the southern district where most of the market and stores were located. I ignored the curious glances that I kept getting from the people passing by as they noticed me.

I can’t blame them since my appearance is a rare sight in this region or for that matter this world. From my straight pitch, black hair as well as my bright electric blue eyes which basically screamed that they were oddities.

Black hair for some reason has always been a rare on most worlds I have been to, there are a few that had people with that color but they were constantly seen as exotic and you know what happens when people label others with the word exotic or unique in societies that were stuck in the medieval age, enslavement.

Just by looking around the common hair color consisted mainly of brown to blonde hair colors with most eye colors being either brown, green, and dark blue. Fortunately, slavery has been outlawed in this country and the Azure empire for decades even before I arrived, but this couldn’t be said the same for a few other countries.

What made my appearance even more uncommon was that even though I had Black hair, my eye color was also apparently unique since while blue eyes aren’t rare, the brightness that seemed to glow almost of my eyes, along with the clearness and vibrancy that came from them made them unique.

Well moving past appearances, I continued ignoring the looks I was getting and stopped describing my physical appearance since it felt as if I continued do that I would turn into some narcissist.

After walking for around twenty minutes, I finally arrived in the southern district where the number of people drastically increased while shouting merchants continued calling out to customers everywhere. Looking around I found that this place was the perfect place for pickpockets, the amount of people walking around along with the noise made it perfect to get pickpocket, add on to that most of the guards were unable to watch everywhere due to the amount of people.

So how do I prevent myself from getting pickpocketed since I stated the amount of money that I was carrying already, well I carried all of it inside a small multitool that was shaped like a locket around my neck.

This little multitool is extremely useful for me because of some of its features. Overall this is tool carries three main functions with each one being priceless.

The first one is that it can act as a special storage space that can carry items and inorganic materials. This is useful since it makes carrying equipment easy, the only downside is that it is incapable of carrying most weaponry since most of the time the problem originates from what the hilt is made with which is usually covered with shagreen or ray skin which is technically considered as organic.

The second feature is that is can act as a memory camera. What that means is that it can be used similarly to how a camera works as well as a photo album at once. How it does that is you would press it to your forehead and then you strongly imagine the memory that you want to capture and then it will simply capture it and then it will allow you to permanently see that memory in the form of a hologram that it creates.

The final feature is that it can act as a locator for people that you register. All I simply have to do is press it against the desired person and imagine it registering them, after that if they are not died or not on this world I will be able to locate them, but the downside is that it can only register three people at a time and if I register any more than it will delete the first person registered and continue from that.

Well the benefits far out way the small restrictions so it’s not like it really bothers me much since there is no such thing that is only beneficial and carries no conditions with it.

I continued roaming until I found where I was searching for that is perfect for obtaining quality equipment that should work. I turned down a certain alleyway that lead deeper into the backways until I arrived in front of a large doorway to a building that had a sign saying closed hanging from a hook.

Most people would probably question why the buildings closed and possible leave and inquire with the surrounding businesses about it. So, I did the most normal thing I could do, I began to loudly bang on the door for around a minute.

It didn’t take long for a loud voice began yelling a sea of swears that would make even the most hardened mercenary cry to his grandmother. The loud swearing was followed by the loud sound of a crash and metal falling to the ground after being knocked over and another wave of swears before the door was violently swung open.

Standing in the place where a large 8ft door previously stood was a slightly smaller door that was only a few inches shorter than the previous door. While I say another door, maybe describing it as a large bear would be more as fitting since even the meaning behind the name of the bear describes it so much you would question if the parents predicted the growth of the bear.

“How’s it going Bernita, people still running when they see you come to the door.” (Cyril)

With that one sentence, it seemed I surprised her since Bernita stared at me blankly as if she saw a ghost. The Bear named Bernita was a large woman that would make bulky body builders worship her just with a glance with her huge muscles and large intimidating figure.

Bernita is also the woman who I went to for quality equipment during my previous task since she was a great blacksmith even without using her unique magic to assist in the smithing process.

Not even a few moments later after opening the door, was I grabbed and lifted into a bear hug that had enough strength put into it that I think that even Hercules would grunt in discomfort and I should know since I met him once. It is interesting to note that he was surprising the artistic type that loved painting portraits of landscapes, but I digress.

Moving back to the death hug, I was forced to expand by mana to reinforce my body while attempting to prevent myself from having my bones turned into powder.

“Hey you know that if you continue hugging me you may lose another customer, and it won’t because I was dissatisfied with the service and left either, but because I am no longer living you know.” (Cyril)

I had to put of effort just to squeeze those words out of my throat that was being constricted tighter than a boa constrictor that was doped on steroids.

Also, you may think how could I know what that’s like, well simply put, I have lived a long time, you experience things all the time that you never expected to.

Before I could completely lose focus on maintaining the physical reinforcement spell due to the lack of oxygen that wasn’t being properly supplied to my brain I was finally released from death’s grip before he was able to close both arms around my back and crush me after revealing himself from a suit of armor as if it was a game.

After falling to my knees, I was relieved to find that nothing was broken in my body and oxygen was allowed back into my once fleeting life.

“Seriously, that’s why you don’t have much customers that ever return, will you ever change.” (Cyril)

“I could say the same to you as well, that same emotionless expression and sarcastic attitude also hasn’t changed since the last time I saw you all those years ago. Alright let’s continue this inside why don’t we, I’m sure you aren’t here for a touching reunion since that isnt like you.” (Bernita)

Just like her to hit the mark and switch over to all business. I followed here inside and was met with the same sight that never changed, a cluttered mess that consisted of scattered failed weapons that she made as well as alcohol bottles that were unopened.

“So, what can I do for my number one customer today. Knowing you, the request probably won’t be an easy one and will require all my effort to fulfill.” (Bernita)

“Well you are right, since I was summoned here again I was also given the task of training the other heroes, two of them fight using hand to hand combat so they can wait. The problem is that one is a jack of all trades like me and I destroyed one of my students shield while sparing along with another's sword.” (Cyril)

“So, you need a shield and a sword to replace there weapons, but what about the other one? Can’t supply you if I don’t know what you need.” (Bernita)

“I know, for now I just need a basic shield, some throwing knifes, a basic bow with arrows, and two blades, also if you could have some equipment made again for me” (Cyril)

“Is that a special order because if it is, do you want the same equipment made like last time or are you in the mood for something new.” (Bernita)

“No need, I trust your decision, but aside from any changes to the armor, can I get everything else the same as last time.” (Cyril)

“I can handle that, is there anything else you need made? If that’s all then you can just go grab what you need from this room, I’ll add that charge to the bill when you pay later, I should be finished with your equipment in a week. Your equipment should come out to around two gold while the shield and everything should be around fifty silver.” (Bernita)

“That would be it for now, also I will bring the other heroes and students here so that they can also place their orders for their equipment when I return to get my equipment alright.” (Cyril)

“Alright.” (Bernita)

After saying that she got up and proceeded to leave into the backroom so that she could get to work. I also got up and looked around the room to find what I need.

After looking around at the clutter of various weapons, I settled for a shield that was like what Lex was using in size. I also found some throwing knifes that Bernita kept in a container that she considered to be the minimum that she will organize the mess. I also found a bow that should be usable for someone of Elena’s size and after grabbing some arrows along ith a curved and straight sword that were nearby and than I finally left.

After exiting the store and leaving the alleyway, instead of turning right out the alley which lead towards the academy, I went the opposite direction with one mission in mind. I needed to buy something else important and I could also feel Mai agreeing with my thoughts through the link that we shared.

After walking for around five minutes I finally arrived at the store that will help relieve my stress that I have been accumulating since I arrived.

Before any assumptions are made, no I am not standing in front of some tavern or brothel. Yes, both places are said to relieve stress and aside from taverns, I have never even been to a brothel before and never planned on it.

What I am standing in front of is even better than what those two places could ever be, a bakery. What makes this bakery special though is that it is one of the few places that sells not only bread but other various sweets, after some assistance for me with the recipes.

Since I was the reason that this place didn’t go under and fall into bankruptcy, they give huge discounts to me and since it’s been over five years, I expect that their sweets got even better with the bakers growing experience and time.

After entering I was meet with the beautiful scent of freshly made sweets that couldn’t be found anywhere else as I walked towards the counter where some woman greeted me and I briskly placed my order. She must be new since she was about to charge me the usual price for all the sweets that I was purchasing much to her surprise.

If it wasn’t for the owner walking in holding a tray with some fresh bread, I would have had to pay almost one gold instead of thirty silver from the discount. After she was reprimanded for her mistake, I could purchase the sweets with the discount and finally left in a relatively good mood.

After that I finally headed back to the academy and headed back to my room where Mai who waited there when she realized what I bought and I could enjoy the sweets that we missed. Nothing else could ever come close to being on the same plane of existence when compared to sweets as a way of releaving stress.

From the assortment of flavored cakes that ranged across the whole spectrum of sweetness was truely a sight to behold. Both Mai and me were in complete agreement in our love for sweets and the blissful feeling they brought and not waiting any longer, we began to eat them much to our sadness over the noble sacrifice of the cakes allowing themselves to fall in the face of battle.