Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

Hutton led me to the counter table.

“Let’s start with the tuning before looking at what I’ve brought. Since this is a custom-made order, we need to put in the effort.”

Hutton clapped his hands and began asking questions one after another.

“What about the helmet? It seems to be in good condition, so I assume you only want to replace the armor, right?”

“Yes. The armor is completely ruined from close combat, but my helmet is still fine. I haven’t been attacked on the head much.”

“Well, the fact that your helmet is fine is important because it means you’ve protected your head, which is a vital weak point, in battle.”

“Haha. I’m confident in my evasion skills.”

Hutton nodded and tapped the table with his finger.

“Then let’s move on to the next question. You said earlier that you prioritize evasion over defense and that you prefer equipment that doesn’t hinder your vision or movement.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Since you prioritize evasion over defense… in other words, you prioritize speed. You also seem to have a trait related to your eyes. Would you be willing to sacrifice some mobility for increased defense?”

“Hmm, can you tell me how much slower I would become?”

Hutton stroked his chin and said, “To put it simply, would you be okay with adding joint protectors or iron plates to your leather armor instead of just tanning it?”

He continued, giving examples of thieves and archers who often struggle when their leather armor becomes slightly heavier.

I thought about it for a moment and then spoke.

“I’m fine with that. My agility is the highest among my stats, but I prioritize precise movements based on what I see rather than speed.”

“Then we have more options than I initially thought.”

Hutton carefully selected several scrolls from the pile on the table and moved them to the side.

“Do you still plan to not using a shield?”

“I think using a shield would be difficult since I switch between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. Anyway, a two-handed sword can serve as a shield.”

“I understand. Then we’re done with the questions. Oh! I forgot to ask the most important thing. How much are you willing to pay?”

I currently have 6 gold coins and 7 silver coins.

I haven’t received the settlement money for Grillops and the golem’s corpse from the adventurer’s guild yet, so I can afford to be generous.

“I have 4 gold coins as my budget.”

“What?”

Hutton was surprised and raised his eyebrows.

“Well, it’s surprising that you’ve already saved that much, but I don’t think you’re planning to spend all your money on a suit of armor. I understand.”

Chak. Tak.

“Choose from these.”

There were still many scrolls, even after excluding a few.

I nodded and carefully examined each one.

‘This one looks too bulky, and this one has too much decoration. Brigandine. It looks good, but should I just go with this one? Let me look a little more before deciding.’

I flipped through the scrolls calmly and finally found the one I wanted.

“Oh.”

It was a design that added iron plates to a hard leather armor base, ensuring mobility while significantly improving defense.

The iron shoulder pads were designed to not interfere with sword swings, and there was also a decorative piece on the back of the neck that continued from the upper body iron plates.

Hutton approached and looked at the scroll, then said, “You have good taste. This is one of the best designs among the light armor scrolls. Do you want to go with this one?”

“Yes. I like it. How much will it cost?”

“The price will vary depending on the materials used, but I promise to deliver a result beyond your expectations if you give me all 4 gold coins.”

I said I would pay 4 gold coins, but I didn’t expect him to take all of it.

I took out the gold coins from my pocket and handed them over, my hands trembling.

[Chaos says it’s not a waste of money, but a worthwhile investment in yourself, so don’t be stingy.]

“Haha! I see you have a cute side after all! I understand you’re a beginner adventurer, but don’t worry!”

Hutton laughed loudly, seeing my trembling hands.

“I didn’t want to say this, but if we make the armor according to the design and add the appropriate materials, it should cost more than 10 gold coins, not just 4. Do you know that you won’t find this price anywhere else?”

Bang!

He patted my back and said loudly, “Don’t be surprised when you see the finished product! Let’s go and take your measurements now.”

I thanked him for his kind words and rubbed my sore back.

After that, we went to a small room attached to the weapon shop to take my measurements.

“The last time I took your measurements, I didn’t think much of it, but now that I see you in casual clothes, it’s quite impressive. Do you exercise regularly, aside from training?”

“Of course. Haha. That’s a given.”

‘My traits have changed significantly, but I train often, so it’s not a lie.’

After about 20 minutes, the measurements were finally done, but Hutton still had something to say.

“By the way, when did you start listening to my conversation with that elf?”

When did I start listening to his conversation with Rashion? I don’t know.

“Since it’s your first visit, I’ll take extra care. I seem to remember you asking how long it would take from the beginning. But why are you asking about that now?”

Hutton scratched the back of his head.

“If you heard that, the story will go faster. Usually, it takes about one to two weeks to complete the armor, but the one that kid ordered is a bit ridiculous.”

I became curious. What did he ask to be made? The cost was also mentioned in terms of platinum coins.

‘Alright, no matter how curious I am, it’s crossing the line to ask directly.’

“So, it seems that the production will be delayed.”

How long?

“In fact, it would be easier if I just handed it over to the guys below, but how can I do that when you’re a disciple of Evelyn?”

“Is it possible to know specifically how long it will take? I should receive it before the next entrance portal opens…”

Skipping a dungeon entrance just for an armor is out of the question, unless I’m a well-known adventurer.

‘That’s like wasting almost a month. It’s a nuisance for both of them.’

“I’ll put my heart and soul into it and finish it before then. Give me, let’s say, 28 days.”

Today is the 6th, so it will take more than three weeks. That’s cutting it close, isn’t it?

“Alright, I’ll see you then.”

“Yeah. I have to start working right away. I won’t have any time to rest for a while. Take care!”

Clang.

I walked aimlessly, leaving Hutton heading towards the blacksmith.

Was it because I got on the carriage right after breakfast?

I looked at my watch; it was around noon.

Despite spending quite some time in the armor shop, it was just entering the noon time frame.

Now I have to decide on my next destination. Going straight back to the inn doesn’t seem right.

‘Let’s have a quick meal first. There should be an inn nearby.’

After walking around for about ten minutes, I found a large inn nearby.

Golden Apple Inn?

The door opened smoothly, indicating that it was well-managed, befitting its size.

“Hahaha! So, yesterday, I forgot the scroll and had it appraised, and guess what? The cloak turned out to be a B-grade! It even had a binding effect upon wearing, so I didn’t hesitate and put it on right away!”

“Damn. This expedition is a complete failure. I went up one level for nothing. I’ll have to do simple repeat quests like crazy until next month.”

“Mr. Judeca, you really shouldn’t drink too much from the start! Please put down your glass now!”

When I entered, I wondered if it was just a popular inn, or if many adventurers who had come out of the dungeon in the past few days had gathered here.

The large inn was bustling with the lively chatter of various adventurers.

“Oh my. Welcome! We don’t have any empty tables, so if it’s just one person, you’ll have to share a table with others. Is that okay?”

As I was looking for a seat near the entrance, a waitress approached and asked.

“That’s fine, but if possible, please seat me at a table with fewer people.”

“Well, they’re all about the same size. Follow me, please.”

Sharing a table, huh?

If I had known it would be this crowded, I should have just eaten at a street stall.

‘I’ve already made my presence known, so I can’t help it. Let’s eat quickly and leave.’

Following the waitress, I was seated at a table where a party of four, two men and two women, were chatting.

“One lunch special, coming right up! I’ll bring it to you shortly!”

I ordered the lunch special, which included a few dishes.

“…”

After the waitress left, I could only sit there awkwardly.

‘What’s with this silence? Can’t they just continue their conversation like they were before I came?’

The atmosphere became uncomfortably quiet, and everyone seemed to be aware of me.

“Ahem.”

After a hesitant cough, they finally spoke again.

“So, Edwin, what you’re saying is that we should all split up and take about three months to regroup, right?”

“Yeah. It’s been a year since we all came to the Labyrinth City from that rural village and formed a party.”

Wow. Four friends from the countryside came to the Labyrinth City together and managed to stick together as a party for a year.

‘This is so romantic!’

…At that time, I was just thinking about listening to how other adventurers live, but I had no idea.

I had no idea that I would hear such shocking news here.