At those words, a satisfied smile crept across her face. She had secured a good deal. It wasn't a fortune, but at least she hadn't lost the customer. She took a deep breath, but her relief didn't last. A new challenge loomed ahead: how was she supposed to restore this thing? Just lifting and moving it from one side to the other required considerable effort—how would she polish and repair it?
Her eyes wandered over its blade and its dulled handle, searching for a solution. Then, the young man's voice interrupted her thoughts. He didn't speak about the sword—instead, he asked a question that seemed oddly out of place.
"Based on your experience dealing with different warriors… could you describe the types they fall into, and their fighting styles? Adventurers, specifically."
Her brows furrowed in surprise, as if trying to determine whether he was serious. To her, such things were obvious—even the most basic adventurers knew them. So why ask? Still, she did not dismiss the opportunity to prove she was more than just a weapon seller arranging swords and daggers on shelves. She was a woman who understood the adventuring life in all its detail, despite her struggling business. She took a deep breath, then pointed toward a group of heavy weapons—axes, hammers, and swords—and said with a confident voice, not without a hint of pride, while watching his face carefully:
"Well, excluding mages—I don't know much about them—there are two primary types of warriors. The first are those blessed with sheer size and strength. They prefer heavy, massive weapons. These weapons are an extension of their power—a symbol of their might. The weight that would exhaust an ordinary person means little to them. In fact, they take pleasure in wielding such weapons and basking in the admiration they attract."
She took a few steps and gestured toward a group of smaller weapons—swords, daggers, spears. She picked up a dagger and spun it lightly in her hand before adding:
"Then there are those who weren't gifted with bulky physiques. They rely on speed and agility. Slim or small warriors are drawn to these kinds of weapons—not just because they're easy to carry, but because they offer tactical advantages. They can be hidden easily, making them ideal for surprise attacks. Their light weight allows for swift movements, helping the wielder dodge enemy blows instead of confronting them head-on."
Once she finished, she studied the young man's face. It was easy for her to distinguish between customers who asked questions just to flirt—and those who asked out of genuine curiosity. From what she observed, he definitely belonged to the second group. He listened attentively, absorbing every detail, as if assembling pieces of a complex puzzle.
Ace, on the other hand, found what she said to be fairly obvious. He even wondered if he should rephrase his question more precisely. But before he said anything, he noticed something strange in her eyes—a glint of insight, a look that held knowledge beyond the ordinary. Then she raised a finger in a confident gesture, a proud smile forming on her lips—a mix of cleverness and conviction—and said in a calm voice, with a tone that carried a challenge:
"That's what most people believe… but the truth goes much deeper."
Silence settled, as if she were waiting for him to ask what she meant. She lifted her head and spoke with unwavering certainty:
"Sometimes, certain individuals break those familiar rules. There's a category I like to call 'deceivers'... because they manipulate their opponents' expectations in unpredictable ways."
She paused briefly, then clasped her fingers together and continued in a deeper voice:
"Imagine a large man with broad shoulders—everyone expects him to swing a giant sword or a massive axe. But in a sudden moment during battle, he draws a small dagger from beneath his cloak, using it with greater skill than his main weapon. That would throw his enemy off, wouldn't it? The opponent expects brute force, only to be struck by a precise blow with a weapon no one saw coming. And the reverse is true as well—imagine a slim figure, with no visible signs of strength, who suddenly reveals that he can wield a heavy weapon, one that exceeds his size. His strikes quickly widen in range, forcing his enemy to retreat. Strength isn't just in muscles... it's in surprise, in defying expectations, in rewriting the rules of battle at the critical moment."
Her eyes sparkled with every word, as though she was recalling distant scenes. A silence followed her explanation. The girl began to pant slightly, overwhelmed by the excitement that had swept over her. In response, Ace raised an eyebrow slightly and offered a half-smile before saying in a light tone:
"So, based on your explanation, I suppose I count as one of those swindlers, don't I?"
The girl blinked rapidly several times, clearly not expecting such words. She then raised her hands awkwardly, waving them as if to fend off an unintended accusation:
"No, no… I didn't mean to insult you or anything like that, sir! I just…"
Before she could finish, Ace interrupted her in a reassuring voice:
"It's alright. I didn't take it personally. But I do have another question, if you don't mind."
She nodded eagerly and said, "Of course, go ahead!"
He tilted his head slightly, looking at her with eyes full of curiosity, then asked:
"You said that some large individuals may wield small weapons, which makes sense. But how could someone frail-looking wield a massive weapon?"
Upon hearing the question, the girl's expression turned sarcastic, and she replied in a quiet voice:
"Excuse me, sir, but shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?"
Ace looked a bit flustered, then replied with an unplanned smile:
"You can consider me an exception. Let's speak using the standards you described."
Though she didn't fully understand what he meant, a smile appeared on her face as she recalled a few details she had seen before. She thought of the easiest way to explain, then said:
"They can do that not just by relying on physical strength alone, of course. There are techniques that enhance their abilities—like physical enhancement using magical energy. Frail individuals use magical reinforcement, which allows them to lift heavy weapons. Meanwhile, the strong often use magical armament to increase their durability. And there are some who can combine both techniques. Those are the strongest and most dangerous fighters of all."
Silence fell between them again following her explanation. Ace was still looking at her, his face marked with confusion, as if he hadn't understood a word of her explanation. She noticed, raising her eyebrows in surprise, then asked slowly:
"You do know what magical enhancement and magical armament are… right?"
The silence returned, but this time it was heavier and far more peculiar. She kept staring at his face, trying to comprehend how someone who had entered the world of adventurers—a world of combat and monsters—could be unaware of such things, which were considered basic knowledge even among those who couldn't use them. For a moment, a thought she had previously dismissed crept back into her mind: maybe he was just extending the conversation to stay close to her, perhaps inventing this entire discussion to spend more time with her. Or maybe… he harbored some kind of admiration.
But the look on his face wasn't that of someone trying to get closer. It was clearly the look of someone lost, someone earnestly seeking knowledge—even in the most basic things.
After studying his features for a moment, she sighed deeply, as though deciding to go along with his unexpected ignorance. Her thoughts felt heavy at first, but she quickly gathered them and spoke with a tone of patient explanation:
"Physical enhancement, as the name implies, is used to augment the body's natural abilities. Through it, a person can lift weights that normal people couldn't even budge or move at speeds beyond the human limit. Simply put, it strengthens the body's basic physical power. As for magical armament, it grants the body steel-like toughness, allowing the user to take severe hits without sustaining much damage."
Her words echoed in his mind, drawing him back to a recent memory—the moment he saw that drunken man transform before his eyes, dashing toward him like a bolt and landing a blow that was far too powerful. At that moment, a glowing aura had surrounded the man. And now, Ace realized that it might have been a reflection of the physical enhancement technique. No further explanation was needed, although he did wonder how that wooden sword hadn't shattered after striking with such force.
Ace felt a sense of relief, grateful for the insight he had just gained. Then, the girl's voice stirred new questions within him as she said:
"You know, there's no need to learn or even master those techniques to get the same results."
Her words pierced through his thoughts, and confusion once again clouded his face. Seeing his expression, she smiled, clearly enjoying the way she was piquing his curiosity. She couldn't help leaning forward slightly as she said:
"Would you like to know the alternative methods?"
He nodded eagerly. The girl bent under her desk for a few moments, seeming to search through a collection of items. When she finally raised her head, she was holding a small, old-looking box. She placed it on the desk and opened it, revealing three small glass vials glowing in different colors: crimson, blue, and green.
"Do you know what these are?" she asked, her voice a mix of mischief and challenge.
Ace stared at the vials, their shimmering colors pulsing with life, and replied:
"No, this is my first time seeing anything like them."
Her smile deepened, tinged with both amusement and disbelief. She seemed to enjoy his repeated surprises, though at the same time, she couldn't quite believe how little he knew. Tilting her head, she asked in a teasing yet genuinely curious tone:
"Forgive my question, sir, but… are you really an adventurer?"
A faint, regretful smile formed on his lips, as though acknowledging the weakness of his position. He answered, his voice honest and apologetic:
"I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I only heard about adventurers two days ago, to be honest."
Following that admission, there was a moment of silence—before the girl burst into laughter she couldn't suppress. It wasn't mocking laughter, but rather a natural reaction to something wholly unexpected. As for Ace, he simply watched her in silence, understanding her laughter.
When she finally calmed down, she apologized and wiped a few tears from the corners of her eyes. Then, gently, she reached for the crimson vial, her fingers brushing its warm glass. She said:
"Well then, let me expand your knowledge. This vial contains a potion that boosts endurance and physical resistance to injury. If someone suffers a moderate wound, the difference between staying on their feet or collapsing might be this liquid. It's not a magical cure, though—it won't heal injuries, but it could be the line between life and death until help arrives or the battle ends."
She then shifted her hand to the blue vial, lifting it before her eyes, watching its magical shimmer. She continued:
"This one is for restoring magical energy. When someone's energy is entirely depleted, it's time to use this. It restores a portion of their magic, but the amount depends on the quality of the potion—meaning, how much magical energy was stored in it to begin with."
She replaced the blue vial and moved her hand to the green one, saying:
"The last one is different. Its magic is clearly visible. It enhances the body's vitality, speeding up the healing and recovery of wounds. It also increases resistance to all kinds of internal harm—like poisons—or even those strange things that try to manipulate the mind. Just like the others, the effectiveness depends greatly on the potion's quality."
After her explanation ended, Ace realized this world was far broader than he had imagined. It contained small things with the power to change fate. He then focused on the green vial—the one that boosted physical immunity. He stared at it deeply, slowly lifting it, observing the gradient of its color. Then, in a low voice heavy with curiosity, he asked:
"Can this liquid cure illnesses?"
That question froze the girl. Her eyes widened in a blend of surprise and awe. A look of inner questioning appeared on her face—one she hadn't experienced before. The simplicity of his question was unexpected, yet it opened a door of doubt in her mind: did she really know everything she was selling?