Chapter 6

The castle town of Melromarc was a sensory overload of shouting merchants, clinking armor, and the smells of roasting meat and exotic spices. Myne walked slightly ahead, her hips swaying deliberately, playing the role of the perfect, experienced guide.

Maya watched her closely. Myne was a spy for a Kingdom that openly hated two of the Cardinal Heroes. If Maya showed open hostility, Myne would just stab her in the back. But if Maya played the fool… she could turn the viper into a lapdog.

Maya stopped suddenly in the middle of the cobblestone street. "Myne, wait a moment."

Myne turned, a perfectly crafted look of innocent concern on her face. "Is something wrong, Maya-sama? Does the bustling city overwhelm you?"

Maya stepped close, invading Myne's personal space. She raised her non-gauntlet hand and gently brushed her fingertips against Myne’s cheek. Myne stiffened, her eyes widening in genuine surprise.

"I just realized something," Maya said, her voice soft and full of manufactured awe. "You are absolutely beautiful. Your skin… it’s completely flawless. Is that one of the benefits of being such a powerful mage?"

Myne blinked, completely thrown off balance. The calculating gleam in her eyes vanished, replaced instantly by preening vanity. A faint blush dusted her cheeks. She let out a melodic, tinkling laugh and gently touched her own face.

"Oh, Maya-sama, you flatter me! Well… I suppose manipulating mana does have a purifying effect on the body," Myne lied smoothly, her ego visibly inflating. She looked at Maya with a new, condescending warmth. She clearly thought Maya was just a naive, easily impressed country girl. "But we must make sure you look just as radiant! Where shall we begin?"

"We should start with armor," Maya suggested, keeping up her starry-eyed act. "Take me to the best blacksmith you know. I want to be prepared."

Myne smiled, fully believing she was in control. "Of course. Right this way."

She led Maya down a side street toward a shop with a massive anvil hanging over the door. Inside, the heat of the forge was intense. A burly man with a scarred face and crossed arms stood behind the counter.

"Welcome," the blacksmith grunted, his eyes immediately locking onto Maya's silver arm. "Well now. Ain't that a sight. The Gauntlet Hero, huh? Name's Erhard."

"It's a pleasure, Erhard," Maya said respectfully. She glanced at Myne. "Myne, I just realized… if I'm going to be a frontline fighter, I need some special medicinal herbs. The kind mages use for stamina. Since you know so much about magic, could you go to the alchemist district and find some for me?"

Maya reached into her pouch and pulled out ten silver coins, dropping them into Myne's palm.

Myne looked at the silver, then at the dirty blacksmith shop, wrinkling her nose slightly at the soot. "Of course, Maya-sama. I shall fetch the finest herbs for you. Do not let this brute overcharge you while I am gone."

With a swish of her red hair, Myne exited the shop, leaving Maya alone with Erhard.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Maya’s naive, starry-eyed expression vanished completely. Her posture straightened, and her eyes hardened.

Erhard raised an eyebrow, letting out a low whistle. "Well, that was a quick change. You trying to get rid of the princess?"

"I needed a few minutes without the kingdom's spy breathing down my neck," Maya said bluntly.

Erhard chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Smart kid. You've got good instincts. So, what do you really want, Gauntlet Hero?"

"Information," Maya said, stepping up to the counter. "How much is a silver coin actually worth? What's the going rate for basic iron armor? And tell me everything you know about the monsters in the starting fields. I need to know exactly what I'm walking into before that girl gets back."

For the next half hour, Erhard gave Maya a crash course in Melromarc economics and monster ecology. He was blunt, honest, and exactly the kind of ally Maya needed. She bought a sturdy chainmail shirt to wear under her leather tunic, spending fifty silver. It was a fair price.

By the time Myne returned, carrying a small pouch of useless, overpriced mint leaves, Maya had her new armor equipped beneath her clothes and a solid understanding of the world's basics.

"I have returned, Maya-sama!" Myne announced.

"Perfect," Maya smiled, playing the fool once more. "Now… let's test my strength. Take me to the fields."

Ten minutes later, they stood in the grassy plains outside the city walls. Round, orange, balloon-like monsters bounced around in the grass.

[Monster: Orange Balloon]

"Allow me to demonstrate, Maya-sama!" Myne drew her elegant rapier and held out her free hand. "First form: Fireball!"

A burst of flame shot from her palm, instantly incinerating three of the balloons. She then dashed forward, her rapier flashing as she elegantly popped several more.

Maya stood back, pretending to be intimidated, but she was entirely focused on her HUD. When she was partied with Myne, she could see her companion's basic stats.

[Party Member: Myne Suphia]

[Level: 15]

[Class: Magic Swordsman]

Level 15, Maya thought, her eyes narrowing. She’s incredibly over-leveled for a starting area. She's moving too fast, showing off, wasting mana on low-level mobs to look impressive.

A stray Orange Balloon bounced toward Maya, snapping its little jaws. Maya didn't flinch. She stepped forward, planting her feet, and threw a clean, practiced right hook.

The silver Gauntlet connected with a sickening crunch. The balloon exploded into a shower of digital pixels.

[EXP Gained: 1]

[Material Acquired: Orange Balloon Skin x1]

Maya looked at her gauntlet. It didn't feel like punching a balloon; it felt solid, and the impact resonated satisfyingly through her arm. Her kickboxing reflexes translated perfectly to the weapon.

"Oh, well done, Maya-sama!" Myne cheered patronizingly, jogging back over. "Though you really should let me handle the combat. You wouldn't want to dirty those pretty hands."

Maya smiled, absorbing the orange balloon skin into the gem on her gauntlet, watching a new skill tree branch faintly illuminate in her vision.

I know exactly how you fight now, Myne, Maya thought. You rely on flashy magic and quick strikes, but your footwork is sloppy. If you ever try to stab me in the back, I know exactly how to break your jaw.

The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the fields. It was time to head back to the city for the night.

Interactive Choice: How does the first day end?

Maya has successfully gathered information and analyzed her "ally." What is her priority for the evening?