I get off the bus and look around; nothing much has changed since I visited with my parents as a child.
Only now, tall, stylish buildings have sprung up around the Great East Gate Market.
I let out a deep sigh as I watched the bustling marketplace.
‘What’s with this… Why are there so many people, even on a weekday…?’
For a shut-in with five years of experience, a crowd teeming with people is terrifying.
To be precise, it brings a subtle mix of discomfort and anxiety—somewhere in between.
The café where I met with my manager earlier was at least tolerable.
At a café, you can maintain a certain distance by sitting at separate tables and talking.
But the market is different.
In the narrow alleys, you’re bound to bump into people or brush past them; there’s no avoiding it.
If there’s any small consolation, it’s that, thanks to mingling with the residents of a small world, I’ve gotten at least a bit used to facing people.
‘…Let’s just go. Standing here won’t change anything.’
I took a deep breath and slowly stepped into the crowd.
The reason I came to the Great East Gate Market was to check the value of the small gems the sanctuary children offered as tribute.
Besides that, I planned to buy materials and items I can’t find through online shopping.
‘…I should also check out places like hardware stores and pharmacies while I’m here.’
Just then, a mouthwatering aroma tickled my nose.
Foods like hot dogs, chicken skewers, sweet pancakes, and tornado potatoes at the street stalls instantly grabbed my attention.
Street food I hadn’t tasted in ages, from staying cooped up at home.
Before I knew it, there was already a chicken skewer in my hand.
I took a big bite, and the savory juice of the chicken and the subtle scent of grilled scallions filled my mouth.
A flavor no instant chicken skewer could ever replicate.
The taste of a chicken skewer after so long seemed to seep deep into every part of my body.
“So… so good…”
As I was moved by the street food I hadn’t tasted in ages, I suddenly spotted a small sign across the way.
[Titanium Craft Workshop Titania (Titania)]
- All kinds of titanium tableware (spoons, chopsticks, forks, knives, teaspoons, etc.)
- Couple rings, friendship rings
- Plastic model or figure parts
★Features of Titanium Alloy★ - Strong and sturdy!
- Light and flexible!
- Does not rust!
- Heat-resistant!
Fun!
“…Titanium?”
I peeked into the shop and saw a young man refining a silver metal plate.
Silver metal.
Suddenly, the image of Jeanne d’Arc’s battered shortsword flickered before my eyes.
I slowly stepped into the shop.
The shop owner stood up with a friendly smile.
“Oh, welcome! Are you looking for something in particular?”
“I saw a sign out front saying you do custom orders…”
“Ah, yes, yes! That’s right! These days, a lot of people order titanium couple rings or bracelets. If you look at this booklet, you’ll see a variety of samples. Would you like to take a look?”
The shop owner handed me a booklet filled with pictures of various accessories.
As I browsed the booklet, I cautiously opened my mouth.
“Um… can you make weapons, by any chance?”
“W-weapons?”
The owner tilted his head, seemingly a bit bewildered by my question.
But only for a moment.
“Ah, I see! So that’s what you wanted to custom order? Hahaha~!”
He nodded as if he understood and soon brought out a robot model and a figure from the shelf.
Judging by the color and texture, they looked like items crafted from titanium.
“You’ve come to the right place! Around here, we’re the only shop that does custom titanium parts for plastic models or figures!”
It seemed he thought I wanted to make a weapon for a figure.
I didn’t feel the need to correct him, so I just nodded quietly.
The shop owner, looking a bit flushed with excitement, continued.
“Titanium is even called the real-life version of the legendary metal mithril from fantasy novels! Isn’t that cool? So, what kind of weapon do you want to make? A sword? Bow? Spear? Or maybe a gun?”
The shop owner was brimming with excitement, eagerly sharing information I hadn’t even asked for.
I quietly pointed at the figure.
“…How much would it cost to make a sword about this size?”
“250,000 won. Titanium is a bit tricky to work with, so the unit price is rather high. But here, we finish everything by hand, so…”
Now seeming to have regained his composure, the owner scratched his cheek awkwardly.
He probably thought a young customer like me wouldn’t hand over 250,000 won so readily.
I quietly nodded and carefully examined the figure the owner had brought over.
A knight in full plate armor raising a sword high to the sky.
The titanium-crafted armor and sword were intricately and finely made.
‘He’s definitely skilled.’
Meanwhile, the shop owner looked at me with a somewhat pitying gaze.
Like someone looking at a young student who can’t fully enjoy their hobby because of financial limitations.
Eventually, I put the figure down and spoke.
“I’d like to order three things: a sword, armor, and a shield. Please make them similar to the ones on this figure. How much would that be in total?”
Since I was commissioning anyway, I figured I might as well prepare extra gear for Jeanne d’Arc.
The shop owner blinked and replied,
“Uh… three items? That would come out to a considerable amount… Especially since the armor on that figure is Full Plate Armor, which uses a lot of material and takes a lot of work, so the price is much higher. Altogether, it would be about 1,000,000 won. It’s rather expensive, isn’t it?”
With an indifferent expression, I handed him my check card.
“Please charge it all at once.”
The owner stared blankly at me, holding my check card.
I had just received a down payment from MonsterBox.
Thanks to Jeanne d’Arc, I could easily handle this level of spending.
After watching me for a moment, the owner swallowed dryly and spoke.
“J-just a moment. Would you like to take a look at this as well? This is a material we don’t usually show to most customers…”
The owner slowly opened a drawer and pulled out a thin wire.
“…What’s that?”
“This is a wire made from specially processed titanium! Watch closely, I’ll bend it like this…!”
He applied strong force, and the titanium wire bent slightly.
Then, suddenly, the owner took out a lighter and began heating the bent wire.
Then—
Paaat—
Once exposed to heat, the titanium wire instantly returned to its original shape.
“This is Shape Memory Titanium Alloy. The price is a bit steep, so unless someone asks for it, we don’t usually show it off.”
The owner explained that even if it’s crushed or bent, heating it will quickly restore it to its original form.
However, there was a catch—the price.
“If you go with this material, the total comes out to about 3,000,000 won. Honestly, it’s a bit excessive. Just know that this kind of material exists, and let it go in one ear and out the other. Haha…”
“Please use that material. For everything.”
When I coolly gave my OK, the owner’s eyes widened.
He stammered, unable to hide his excitement.
“Uh…huh…? Really? Sword, shield, and armor—all in Shape Memory Titanium Alloy?!”
Jeanne d’Arc was always fighting and working hard for me.
If there’s something better available, of course I want to give it to her.
‘If I’m giving a gift, I want it to be the best possible.’
The owner, now full of anticipation, started sketching the designs for the sword, shield, and armor.
It seemed like making these items brought him more joy than actually selling them.
Watching him scribble in his notebook, I spoke up.
“Is it alright if I specify some detailed requirements?”
“Of course, of course! Please tell me anything you want, and I’ll make sure to apply every single detail~!”
“First, please make the Full Plate Armor for a female, and design it for practical use so it can actually be worn. Please improve this part here for better mobility, and then…”
Sword style, type of shield, armor design—
Even down to the painting, finishing materials, and decorations.
After collaborating with the owner for quite a while, we’d completed a design I was truly satisfied with.
“Wow, this came out great! From here, leave it to me—I’ll make it cleanly and with style! It’ll take about one to two weeks for production!”
“Could you deliver the finished items to my house?”
“Oh, absolutely! Of course! If you leave your address and phone number, I’ll send it by express courier!”
Leaving the smiling owner behind as he picked out titanium plates, I stepped outside.
Jeanne d’Arc had never openly said so, but she’d sometimes shown interest in weapons and armor.
If she received this titanium equipment, I was sure she’d be overjoyed.
‘…I can’t help but look forward to how Jan will react to her present.’
The thought of Jan’s delighted face when she receives the gear made me smile without realizing it.
Soon, I turned and walked into the alleyways of the Great East Gate Market.
“Alright, time to get those kids’ gems appraised!”