Azael took Ella with him and headed out into the market.

  The other siblings split up to look around according to their own interests.

  Azael visited weapon shops here and there, comparing quality.

  When he came upon a shop that looked fairly expensive, he selected several daggers there.

  “They might break, so it’s better to buy several. Let’s get some throwing knives as well.”

  Seeing that the customer appeared to have deep pockets, the shop owner subtly took out items he had kept hidden.

  “Sir. Bronze blades like those break easily. If you can afford it, how about these?”

  The merchant laid out two silver-shining daggers.

  Judging by their appearance, they seemed to have been hammered rather than cast.

  From the ornate decoration on their hilts, they looked extremely expensive.

  “These are made from meteoric iron, a rare metal that fell from the sky. Very durable. Bronze doesn’t even compare.”

  When they asked the price, the amount was enough to make one’s eyes pop out.

  It exceeded the price of a house.

  Ella tugged at Azael and shook her head vigorously.

  “Let’s just go with bronze… they’re just for practice anyway…”

  The merchant glanced at Ella, then smiled and shaved the price down slightly.

  “You won’t find meteoric-iron daggers like these anywhere else in the market. Even if you look, no other shop has them.”

  As Azael nodded, Ella shook her head even harder.

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  “That price is ridiculous. I don’t need them!”

  The merchant’s brow twitched in irritation, but he quickly returned to a salesman’s smile.

  “Then let’s do this. I’ll throw in the bronze daggers for free at that price. You won’t find a deal like this anywhere.”

  Azael smiled faintly and took out his coin pouch.

  “Alright, then. Wrap everything up.”

  Ella’s eyes widened at Azael’s spending.

  Just how much money do these people have…

  Meanwhile, the other siblings were busy exploring the market.

  Tamar wandered around tasting market food, while Elaton and Eshiel each looked for places to maintain their weapons.

  As Tamar sampled skewers of all kinds, she noticed a small child subtly slipping a hand into her pocket.

  Watching for a moment, Tamar clenched her fist and knocked the child on the head with a troubled expression when he tried to pull out her coin pouch.

  “You little runt. Get lost.”

  As the startled child tried to run away, merchants rushed in and swiftly grabbed his arm.

  “Well, look at that! A thief’s brat!”

  The merchants kicked the child and struck him with their palms.

  “This one’s an Elam brat. Ever since these riffraff started crawling in, they’ve been ruining the market. Call the guards! We should cut off his wrist as an example.”

  The child covered his face with his hands and sobbed.

  A boy of about ten, wearing rag-like clothes.

  After watching him for a moment, Tamar shrugged and soothed the merchants.

  “That’s enough. I’ll buy some goods. Just let it go.”

  As Tamar generously bought items from the surrounding merchants, their anger subsided.

  She looked at the boy and said,

  “What are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to carry the stuff?”

  The boy wiped away his tears and hurriedly picked up the items Tamar had bought.

  Most of them were food.

  “Follow me.”

  The boy skillfully bundled the load and trotted along behind Tamar.

  When they reached the city gate, she patted his head and spoke.

  “Where’s your home?”

  “Um… if you walk toward the forest, it’s there.”

  “The stuff’s a gift. Share it with people. Try not to steal. The next person you get caught by won’t be as generous as this big sister.”

  Color returned to the boy’s face.

  He thanked her repeatedly.

  As Tamar saw him off, the small shadow of the boy slowly disappeared beyond the city gate.

  When the appointed time came, the four siblings and Ella gathered near the entrance to the market.

  Leaning against the wall, Tamar asked her siblings,

  “So, did you pick up any information?”

  Elaton rubbed his forehead and said,

  “I heard a story about a Nephilim. A rumor that one lives in the direction of the forest.”

  “I heard talk of a monster too. Same direction.”

  Azael was straightening Ella’s clothes.

  She had changed into neat leather armor and was wearing the newly purchased weapons at various points on her body.

  “Then let’s go. We should be back before evening.”

  They looked toward the forest beyond the city gate.

  Dense trees cast dark shadows beneath the sun.