Early the next morning— around the crack of dawn, Himari met up with Taura outside of the inn, Taura running up to her with a wide grin on her face.

"My parents weren't too happy, but, in the end they're lettin' me go!" She said. "Papa even gave me one of his special huntin' knives!"

"Damn. Looks nice." Himari said, looking at the knife Taura was holding out for her to see. The blade looked about half a foot long, and the hilt of it had a soft blue scale-like pattern and was curved slightly. "Well, looks like you've gotten a weapon, now, we're going to need to get some armor and equipment for you. I know just where to go."

Taura nodded, her eyes shining with excitement.

Himari and Taura headed to Erhards shop, opening the door to see the blacksmith leaning forwards, his elbows resting on the counter. When the door swung open he perked up, a tired smile appearing on his face.

"Good morning, miss Himari. What do I owe the pleasure this early in the morning?" Erhard asked, straightening up.

"I'd like to get some armor for my friend here. She's going to join me on my adventure." Himari said, motioning towards Taura.

"Ah, you're the fishermen's daughter, aren't you?" Erhard asked.

"Yes sir, I'm Taura. It's nice to meet the man who's provided my family with our huntin' knives!" She said.

"Likewise. Well, why don't you two look around, see if anything fits what you're looking for."

"Right!" Taura said and she started moving around the shop, looking at all the different kinds of armor and seeming to be debating on what would be the best fit for her. While waiting, Himari leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, still trying to wake up.

"So, you hear of what happened?" Erhard asked.

"Hm, something happened?" Himari asked, looking at the blacksmith.

"Yeah. That Shield Hero defiled that woman he was in a party with last night. It's all over town."

"The Shield Hero...? Naofumi?" Himari asked, remembering the man from the day before just before an image appeared in her mind of what she had seen the night before. "It has to be a false accusation. I've had my fair share of creepy guys and Naofumi is probably the least creepy one I've ever met."

"Just because he doesn't seem creepy doesn't mean he couldn't of done it."

"Well, true. But it's more of the feeling they give off. The look in their eyes, you know? Where I'm from they say that someone's eyes are the window to their soul— cheesy, but it holds some truth to it."

Eihard was quiet, "You might have a point. But that's not going to sway my opinion of him." He said.

"Alright, I found some armor!" Taura exclaimed, walking up to the two of them with a beaming smile and a bundle of clothes and armor in her arms.

Grateful for the distraction, Himari looked towards her and pushed herself up from leaning against the counter. "Alright then, let's see it."

Taura nodded and headed to the changing room. It wasn't long before she pushed open the curtain, changed into the armor she had picked out.

It looked like the base layer was an off the shoulder ruffled dress, in a shade of blue that got darker near the hem. There was a breastplate with a similar design to the one Himari was wearing though not the same, and some straps of armor on the skirt of the dress and leather boots. She also wore a leather collar— that looked a bit like a shirt collar, with ruffles on the edges and a blue ribbon tying it together. There was a leather belt around her waist with teal gem honking it together. There was also a hunting knife sheath hooked onto it which was already holding her hunting knife. Overall, it was a cute outfit on Taura— and it kind of reminded Himari of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

"Well, what do ya think?" Taura asked.

Himari gave her a smile, "It looks great!" She then turned to Eihard, "How much for it?"

"I'll give you a discount. It seems like you're going to be a regular. How about 40 silver?" He said, holding up four fingers.

Himari grinned, "Sounds like a deal." She gave Eihard a grin and dug some silver coins out of the bag that was hanging from her belt. "Great doing business with you."

Eihard grinned and grabbed the coins. "Hope to see you again sometime soon."

"See you later!" Himari said, starting to move out of the shop, Taura right behind her. Once they stepped out of the shop, Himari looked at her party member, "Alright, what do you say about going out there and getting some levels?"

***

A couple hours have passed and Himari and Taura were taking a small break. Sitting in the fields under some trees and regaining their stamina for another round against the balloons. While the monsters didn't give a lot of exp, the two of them had been able to fight against a lot of them, earning a decent amount of experience. Himari had reached up to level 13, while Taura had reached up to level 11.

As they were sitting, Himari stared up at the leaves and the sun, a few different thoughts running through her head. She had been debating on if she should tell Taura about hearing being a hero, but as of now she didn't know how trustworthy her new party member was. From what she had seen Taura seemed genuine, but from what she had seen with that woman with Naofumi— as well as past experiences— there were some people out in the world who could manipulate a situation to their benefit and the victim would be none the wiser.

"Himari! Ya doin' okay?" Taura asked, dragging Hiamari out of her thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm doing fine. Just thinking." Himari answered, getting up from where she was sitting. "How about we get some more training done before we head back? Then we can walk through the market before it gets dark."

"Sounds good to me!"

With that, the two of them moved from where they were resting and immediately started farming the balloons. A while into the training, Himari was about to be jumped by six of the monsters, two red balloons and four orange ones. Ledgenday Axe: First Form Himari chanted in her head, the staff elongating and just about to hit the balloons when instead it clanged against some other weapon.

Whomst the fuck? Himari asked, pulling away and looking at what her axe had hit. Her eyes landed on a spear that had a similar design to her axe, other than it being a different weapon and having a red gem in it instead of the purple one she had in her axe. Her eyes moved from the weapon to the person holding it, immediately getting irritated when she saw the flirtatious look on his face. You've got to be kidding me, this isn't actually the Spear Hero, is it?

"What are two cuties like you doing out here at a time like this?" He asked. "Good thing I was here to save you from those nasty balloons."

Himari groaned internally, trying to not punch this dude in the face. "I was perfectly fine before you came along. So, I'll ask you kindly once. Leave us alone."

"Leave you alone? You must not know who I am. My name is Kiamura Motoyasu, and I," he spun the spear in his hand and rested it on his shoulder, "am the all Powerful Spear Hero! And you two seem like capable adventurers, why don't you join my party?"

Capable adventurers? Not even five seconds ago you said that you had saved us— which you didn't. Himari thought, before dread and realization came to her. Oh no he's trying to make a harem. She glanced at Taura who, despite her admiration of the heroes was looking at Motoyasu with a look of slight disdain. "Uh, thanks for the offer, but I think we're going to pass." Himari said. She raised her hand and waved, "Well, this conversation seems to be over so I think my friend and I are going to get back to the town for the night." As she said that her and Taura started heading back to Castle Town.

"Wait, don't you want to reconsider Sir Motoyasu's offer?" A woman said and Himari turned to see the same woman who had been with Naofumi just the day before— the one who had claimed he assaulted her.

"And be on a team with people I can't trust?" Himari asked, clapping her hands together and giving them an innocent closed eyed smile, "I'd rather die in a ditch than join up with you!"

With that, she and Taura turned away from the group and headed back to Castel Town, the stars shining in the night sky above them.

——————
Here's a picture of Taura!! I honestly love her design