The Golem Adventurer - Chapter 9 Look Of A Hero

Tessa and I exited the guild and headed back towards the avenue. The sun may have began to set in the sky but it was still prime time for shopping. We casually strolled down the street, as Tessa pointed to a variety of shops and stalls, recommending her personal favorites. Many of them seemed specifically to cater towards adventurers such as herbalists who used alchemy and outfitters. I was a bit skeptical on the alchemy part but she assured me it wasn’t false. They really did have potions that cured wounds or treated poison and were perfectly safe. I guess they’re not trying to create eternal life or have us drink mercury. Either way, I don’t think I can consume their wares due to my body.

Tessa seemed to finally find what she was looking for and ushered me towards a tailoring shop. Inside there was multitudes of clothing and accessories on display. It was like stepping into a boutique.

Hearing the door open, a shopkeeper came in from the backroom to greet us.

“Welcome to my store, friends! Tessa! It’s good to see you again. What can I help you with today?”

“We’re here to outfit Arlan here with some clothes. Is Matthias available?”

“He’s been finished with his last order for a while now. He can make you whatever you need. I’ll take the measurements now while you talk about what your in the mood for.”

He bids me to stand still and spread my arms out. Taking a measuring tape from his pocket, he begins his rounds of measuring the length of my body and extremities. Now that I think about it, I don’t really know how people dress around here.

“Tessa, I don’t have any idea what I should get.”

“Hmm, how about something basic for now. A tunic, pants, belt, leather shoes, a cloak and a magic bag to carry your things. We’ll leave buying more elaborate clothing for another time. Ooh, let me call Matthias over here. Hey, Matthias, it’s Tessa~!”

Tessa seems pretty excited over all this. I guess she really likes shopping.

“O-Oh! Tessa, is that you, my dear?”

Another figure came out of the backroom. If it wasn’t for the featureless human shaped head, I would have thought it was another person. What was in front of me was a craftman golem, dressed in a quite fanciful buttoned shirt, vest and pants. On the center of his face was one blue eye like camera. But there was something strange about this guy.

“I dare say you look quite smashing today, dear Tessa. Are you here for more articles of clothing or just browsing?”

“Nope, we’re getting Arlan here his first set of clothes.”

“Oh my, another crafting golem has been found?”

I figured it out. This guy was exceptionally British. Badly so. It was like watching a caricature. Even his accent sounds posh. Now that I think about it, everyone else sounds normal, maybe a slight tonal change in voices like with Hina but I think that has to do with her background. Do all crafting golems act like this?

“Matthias, right? I’m not a craftsman. I’m an intelligent golem made for combat.”

You know the more I say it, the more it start to believe it so.

“Dear me, I didn’t know there was such a thing! I do say you look quite different from the rest of us. A bit more, high tech perhaps?”

I still had a few questions I’d like to ask as well. I need to know how intelligent golems operate.

“By the way, Matthias. You’re employed here, right? You’re being paid to work?”

“Well, of course. We’re no slaves here. I picked this place myself.”

“You don’t eat or drink food?”

“Why of course not! I make most of my money from commissions. I use it to pay for my comfortable loft over at the East District. Whatever else is left, I use it to buy crafting materials from the Merchant’s Guild directly for my projects. As long as I’m able to practice my craft in peace, that’s all that matters really.”

At that moment, the shopkeeper finished his measuring and dotted his numbers on a piece of paper, handing it over to Matthias. He gave it a look over as Tessa explained what I was getting to him.

“Ah, I have just the idea for what I should make. You, sir, are going to love it!”

“Right, it has to be tailored first. How long does that usually take?”

“No time at all, really. I’ll have it ready in just a few minutes.”

“Wait, really? I thought it would take a couple of days at least.”

The shopkeeper was grinning at me from ear to ear.

“Matthias is good but our magitech sewing machine makes him even better. Of course, with these benefits, the cost is pretty steep…”

Tessa and the shopkeeper started their haggling. In the end, it ended up costing 150 gold for 3 sets of clothing, the boots, cloak and a magic bag. She noted to me that the amount was a hefty sum but it was only because I’m starting from nothing. How ironic was it that Dmitri was my fat paycheck instead. I also gave Matthias some requests for the tunics. I needed them with short sleeves so they wouldn’t hinder my use of [Golem Arts] and the collar buttoned so I could easily slip it past my square head.

While we waited, Tessa explained the magic bag to me. It would be able to hold everything for my travelling needs along with keeping my food in a state of suspension so it won’t spoil. The unfortunate bit was that there wouldn’t be much space for monster materials afterwards. If I needed to do material collecting quests, I’d need to leave my extra gear somewhere safe like an inn. But for dungeon delving or travelling between towns, it’s was more than enough.

We spent the rest of the time chatting for a bit before Matthias exited the backroom with my new clothes in tow.

“I dare say, these will look quite charming on you. It’s quite durable and comfortable as well. Though I don’t think you’ll feel the last part.”

He hands them over to me and I take a moment to put everything on. The red tunic was made with a thick fabric for padding and the leather pants were dyed a soft tan hue. I finished it all off by putting on the belt, leather boots and the cloak over my neck and shoulders. Tessa’s eyes widen up at the sight of me in proper clothing.

“Wow, Arlan! You look great in those! You look like a proper adventurer now~!”

‘You do look quite smashing, good sir. I always put my best work into everything I make, you know.”

I do feel better wearing clothing. Makes me feel more human. More… alive. Now I feel like everyone else, LARPing in this strange fantasy world. At least it doesn’t hinder me as much as I thought it would. Though wearing a cloak might take some time to get used to.

“I’ll have the rest of the sets ready in a few more days. Otherwise, you’d be waiting here until the sun goes down.”

“Yeah, we still have one more place to go before we finish for the day. Can you drop them off at the Moonlight Inn when they’re ready? That’s where we’re staying at.”

“No worries, dear Tessa. Oh and, um, by the way Arlan. I do hope you’ll get along with the rest of the golems here in the city. We’re quite the friendly sort mind you but we do all have our eccentricities. We also gossip quite a bit when we get the chance so I do expect everyone to know you by the end of the week, good chap.”

With that we bid farewell to the both of them as we headed towards our last destination. The blacksmith. While I’m comfortable with my fists, the benefits of having a weapon were apparent when I was fighting the Guildmaster.

We jaunted down farther south of the avenue before we found the blacksmith. The building itself was an open forge and what appeared to be a dwarf clanging down on a bar, too focused on his work to notice us. There was another golem there as well, stoking the rather elaborate forge with a blower. Was it magitech as well?

“Hey, Grigor! We’re here to shop!”

The dwarf jumped out of his seat at the sudden noise.

“Hey, you don’t have to yell! I can hear you just fine”

“When you start smithing like that, you don’t pay attention to anything, you know.”

Huh, this dwarf speaks normally. I was expecting an accent but he sounds perfectly fine. He still had a rather large beard though.

“Awright, tis that a freish golem?”

Turning towards the voice, the craftsman golem working the forge walked over to me. He looked just like Matthias but with half the size and with a large leather apron on. Just like a dwarf.

“I can handle this, Sten. I need you to finish the repair orders for the day.”

“Och c’moan! Ah git tae introduce masell tae mah freish brother at least!”

“Do it on your own time, Sten! We’ve got too much on our plate already.”

“Och braw! a’m aff tae tell Matthias howfur muckle o’ a fash yer.!”

Mumbling to himself in annoyance, he walks back to his forge. Now there’s the weird Scottish accent I’m familiar with. I could barely understand anything that was being said. It’s like every golem I meet acts and sounds just like some stereotype of their trade. Did someone program them that way? Those acts only would appear on Earth, right? What are they doing here?

“Anyway, what did you need?”

Tessa seemed spaced out. I guess Sten got to her too.

“O-Oh, right. We’re here to buy a weapon for Arlan, my friend here.”

“…the golem? Ohh, right. I heard about you from some adventurers. You’re that new combat golem that joined the guild. Thought that was just drunk talk. Well we got some premades on display if anything catches your eye. They’re not the fanciest bunch but you got me and Sten’s quality to back it up.”

We took a gander over at the display. There was a variety of weapons for me to choose from. From swords to spears and axes. For now, I pick up one of the long swords. Testing it’s weight, I make sure no one else is around before giving it a swing. Huh, I don’t know any proper techniques to use with this thing.

[Attention: can be downloaded from database, giving you rudimentary knowledge of weapon type. Would you like to proceed?]

Oracle can teach me basic weapon skills? How does that work? I give her the go ahead just so I can see what it does. In just a few seconds basic knowledge of using a sword floods my mind, like it was always there. It felt more like a flash of insight.

“I think I’ll take this. Swords seem easy to use.”

Tessa seemed happy with my choice. The blacksmith heads to the back for a moment to bring out a scabbard for me to use with it. The cost ended up being 20 more gold coins. I’m down to 330 gold coins now. I still need more knowledge of the costs of daily living if I’m going to continue living here. Once I have a budget sorted out, I can start planning what I want to do from there.

I put the sword away inside the scabbard and hang it on my belt. Tessa steps away to give me a look over.

“You look like a hero ready to start a journey now~!”

I look away from Tessa genuine smile in embarrassment. I don’t think being a hero is in my future plans. A nice apartment sounds good though, maybe a house. I always wanted my own house. And this seems like a good place to settle down too. Just wish there was a sea nearby so I could fish, at least.

“A-Anyway, we’re done here, right? We’re going back to the inn now? Do they serve food?”

“Yeah, dinner sounds pretty good. We’ll eat while we wait for Master to come back.”

With that I follow her back to the inn. A hero, huh? Like I want to stand out even more.

***

Grigor stood up from his work to watch the two leave down the street. He didn’t know what to make of Arlan. Sten moved away from the forge to join him, despite Grigor’s protests to finish his work.

“A combat golem, huh? I thought all intelligent golems were craftsman like you Sten.”

“If ye ask me, it soonds lik’ keech.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Th’ ainlie fightin’ golems a’ve seen ur mindless monsters.”

“But he can think and talk right?”

“Aye bit fae whit they adventurers wur saying, he fights lik’ a monster tae. He micht be th’ freendly sort bit ah kin tell, he’s dangerous.”

Grigor just shrugs at Sten. Not really paying any mind to his heedless warnings.

“It’s strange times, you know. Did you hear about what’s going on in the north…?”
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