Chapter 25 Money!

  After waking up and eating a quick breakfast with everyone we went to visit the baron to get our reward. After a quick audience we got our promised reward, while not rich we could afford to take it easy for several months if we wanted. As a group we had decided over breakfast to wait a week before moving to Salin, taking the time to train and consolidate our new skills, maybe even find an instructor. Sarah clung to me in the cold as we moved to explore the town, looking for second hand shops or a jeweler that might be interested in the gems we found in the dungeon.

  “Sarah, I know my tail is really fluffy but do you have to cling to me in public!?”

  Alice had my tail around her as we roamed, basking in its warmth as we all looked at her with raised brows.

  “Nope, it's so warm and soft… don't make me face the unforgiving chill Xion, please.”

  She says while giving me puppy dog eyes. As Jean makes a noise of rebuttal we finally arrive at a jeweler, Derek now leading the way with wary eyes as he scans the shop, sizing up his opponent.

  A portly goblin-kin stands atop a stool watching us. For context there were two types of goblins, the uncivilized monster type with ugly features and no reasoning and the civilized race. The civilized race were called kin to the goblins only because of their pointed ears and green skin. Their features were softer and more human-like, while they had weaker bodies than their contemptible cousins they were one of the most naturally dexterous and intelligent races.

  “What might I do for my esteemed customers on this frigid day?”

  The goblin bows slightly seeing our athletic appearance, likely already guessing our profession. Derek speaks up with a clear voice, unlike how he speaks to everyone else.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  “We've found gems from the dungeon we were recently contracted to destroy. While my expertise isn't in jewels, I've enough knowledge to know they're the real deal.”

  Derek takes the pouch we had all the gems stored in and carefully lays them out on the counter, where he begins to haggle with the jeweler fiercely as we look around the shop.

  “Hey Xion, think you should get Sarah one of these?”

  Alice says as she points to a gold ring behind a glass case, her expression smug and teasing.

  “Alice. What do you think about a day-long, solo training session?”

  A vein must be popping out on my forehead as I can feel the blood rush to my head. Meanwhile Sarah whistles quietly as she browses the rings and other jewelry, clearly having heard us talking. Alice chuckles at me, clearly not afraid of retaliation for her teasing.

  “Xion, I'm ready to go whenever you are, I've become twice as powerful as the last time we fought!”

  Alice throws her arms wide, leaving herself open, the goblin looks at us over Derek's shoulder, clearly not wanting us to wreck his shop as he quickly haggles with Dereck. As Derek finishes up we go back outside, still squabbling as I get a malicious idea. It's icy right? What if she ‘tripped’ on some ice? I quickly activate dual mind and keep the conversation going as I freeze the heel of one of her boots. Alice tumbles and falls flat on her butt.

  “You alright?”

  Jean helps her up before he too falls onto his face, this being his fault entirely. I sigh and make a small fire orb to melt the ice under their feet, knowing full and well he'd slip and fall a few more times if we didn't help him. After getting back to the tavern Derek pulls me to the side.

  “Thanks… for the diversion… he was a tough opponent…”

  He thanks me sincerely as we all settle in for the day, I send Jean and Sarah out to find anyone that could teach us some skills, I was looking for anything interesting I could learn for myself and more specialized instructors for everyone else, while we were a bit under leveled for the dungeon what we lacked was real experience, when I was crumpled on the ground I feared for everyone's safety, the pain had been an afterthought entirely. Should I have gotten a skill before the fight? Should I have doubled down and upgraded a skill?

  No. Even without fighting something for real a skill is usually a mark of natural progression, while I circumvented it with my shop, it was easy to tell as the knowledge I gained with the next tier of swordsmanship felt off. Like my body wasn't ready to use all the knowledge it had gotten. With a sigh I get up and take out one of my blades, motioning for Derrick to follow me for training. He grunts and grabs his greatsword, following me to the yard behind the tavern.