Level Seventeen

The front lines are really moving along. Rin, Takashi, and I are out shopping for better swords, because as Takashi said, "You're no good in battle without a good sword." So we're in a small shop with a wide variety of swords lining the walls. And as Rin and I show Takashi a gigantic cleaver, the girl behind the counter, I think her name is Lisbeth, talks to a customer about a group having cleared the fourth floor.

I look at her. "The fourth? But that's impossible. I was with the group that cleared the first floor a little over a week ago."

"Where have you been?" Lisbeth teases. "The Army's been booking it. I guess since the first floor was cleared, there's a little more hope for everyone now."

"Who are the Army?" Takashi asks.

Lisbeth shrugs. "A crew of miscreants scooped up by some jealous player. Kibaou, I think his name is. Good fighter, but hates the Beta Testers."

Ugh. Kibaou. I smile at Lisbeth. "Oh, I know Kibaou. He tried to kick my school friend out of the first floor Boss fight. And my friend ended up making sure he didn't die, so..." I shrug. "Yeah."

A small laugh escapes Lisbeth's throat. "Well, congratulations. And thank you."

We continue to shop for swords. In the end, Rin finds a simple katana with a black, diamond-patterned handle. Takashi takes a double-bladed medieval era sword, and I pick a scimitar with an elegant curve running up the blade. When we've all made our selections, I take them all by the hilts and set them on Lisbeth's counter. "How much do we owe you?"

"Take them," she says. "You cleared the first floor, right?"

I shrug. "Actually, I spent most of the battle lying on the ground and trying not to die. Rin here saved me." Rin smiles and waves from Takashi's back.

"All the more reason to give you the swords!" says Lisbeth cheerfully. "You made a great sacrifice for this world. It's the least I can do."

"All right," I say, still thinking I should pay for them. "Just message me if you need anything at all."

"Will do!" says Lisbeth. "I hope to move to a higher floor soon, so I'll tell you when that happens."

I smile. "Thank you again for the swords!" Takashi, Rin, and I walk out of Lisbeth's Smith Shop as she waves at us from behind the counter.

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