Chapter 228 – A Small but Significant Change

Chapter 228

A Small but Significant Change

Date : Day 11 of Deepwinter 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Inside Borin's warm and sweltering workshop, the heat of the furnace surrounded Freedom Party from every direction.

Even though Borin had already toned down the furnace earlier, the workshop remained considerably hotter than the snowy streets outside. The warmth clung to their clothes. The scent of heated metal, coal, and oil filled the air, while the occasional crackle from the furnace mixed with the faint ringing of tools somewhere deeper inside the workshop.

For Freedom Party, it was almost too warm. But after walking through the cold of Deepwinter, none of them were complaining. They were satisfied.

Jackey was particularly happy.

He stood near one side of the workshop, admiring the Blackmaw Tomahawk in his hands. He turned it over repeatedly, examining its dark surface from different angles before giving it another small practice swing.  Arianna stood beside him, clearly pleased to see how much he liked his new weapon. Jackey's excitement was impossible to miss.

Meanwhile, Hyoren and Ina were satisfied for a different reason. 

They had managed to settle the matter of their new equipment. Hyoren would have his damaged armor repaired, receive a temporary Steel Kite Shield, and have Borin begin working on a custom Mithril-alloy shield. Jackey had also found a suitable weapon without having to wait three weeks for one to be made from scratch.

With their equipment procurement settled, Hyoren decided it was time to move on to the second reason they had come to Borin's shop.

“Okay, Borin. That's all for our gear procurement…”

Hyoren glanced toward Jackey.

The Cat-clan Beastkin was still enthusiastically talking with Arianna about his new axe. The two of them had moved toward a corner of the workshop, giving Hyoren, Ina and Borin some space.

Hyoren smiled faintly before turning back toward the dwarf.

He reached for his storage bag and began rummaging through it. After a moment, he pulled out two pieces of equipment. He placed them carefully on Borin's velvet-covered counter.

The first was the leather belt dropped by the Goblin Rider. The second was the sturdy white-fur boots dropped by Blancorn.

Borin's eyes immediately went toward the two items.

“Here, Borin. We got these from the Third Floor Guardian.”

Hyoren tapped the two pieces of equipment lightly.

“There is one more piece of loot we have, but since it's an accessory, we'll go to Gilded Scale for that.”

Borin immediately laughed.

“Gyahaha! Good choice.”

He waved one hand dismissively.

“I couldn't care less about accessories. Those Fireforge twins who love shiny things are a much better choice.”

Hyoren smiled wryly.

“Haha. Indeed…”

He glanced at the belt and boots.

“Okay, Borin. Please appraise these for us.”

Borin nodded.

“Leave it to me.”

He reached for the boots first.

The dwarf picked them up with both hands and examined them carefully. He turned them over, checking the shape and stitching from different angles. His thick fingers pressed against the white fur, testing its texture and firmness. He tapped the material lightly. Then he inspected the soles. His eyes moved slowly across every visible section, searching for anything unusual.

After several moments, Borin finally placed the boots back on the counter.

He reached for the belt. This time, his inspection became even more thorough. He checked the two pouches attached to it, testing their construction and examining the material. He ran his fingers along the leather. 

Then his attention shifted to the runic array. His eyes narrowed. He leaned closer.

For a few moments, the workshop became quiet around him as he carefully scrutinized the inscriptions.

Finally, he placed the belt back on the counter.

Borin stared at the two pieces of equipment. Then he smiled.

“Wow…”

Hyoren tilted his head.

“What's the problem, Borin? Is this also an artifact level? Something with absurd effect?”

Borin immediately burst into laughter.

“Gyahaha!”

He combed his beard with one hand.

“That's exactly what I'd expect from you guys.”

He shook his head.

“You keep bringing back such strong equipment that I expect every piece you get to be an artifact.”

His grin widened.

“But for once…”

He gestured toward the belt and boots.

“These are pretty normal equipment. Gyahaha!”

Hyoren stared at him for a moment.

Then he glanced toward Ina. Ina was already looking at him. The two exchanged a look. And then they both laughed.

After everything they had brought back from the dungeon, even Borin's reaction had become predictable. Apparently, Freedom Party had somehow reached the point where an ordinary piece of equipment was the surprising result.

***

After a while, their laughter gradually subsided.

The warmth of the workshop settled around them again, accompanied by the steady crackle of the furnace and the faint smell of heated metal.

Borin picked up the white-fur boots once more.

“These boots?”

He turned one of them over in his hands, inspecting the fur and construction again.

“Well, they're good boots. Made from Blancorn fur, so they're sturdy.”

He ran his thumb across the surface.

“But…”

Borin shrugged.

“That's about it. No runic inscriptions. No extra effects.”

He placed the boot back onto the counter.

“Gyahaha.”

Hyoren and Ina nodded.

That made sense. The Blancorn's fur itself was rare, and the craftsmanship was clearly good. The boots were durable and well made. But at the end of the day, they were still just normal boots.

“If I had to put a price on them…”

Borin scratched his beard.

“Maybe eight hundred thousand Kres?”

He nodded to himself.

“Yeah. Around that.”

Hyoren and Ina exchanged a glance before nodding. Eight hundred thousand Kres was certainly not worthless. But compared to the other equipment Freedom Party had acquired recently, it was relatively modest.

“So…”

Hyoren tapped the other item on the counter.

“What about the belt, Borin?”

Borin's expression became a little more interested. He tapped the leather belt with one thick finger.

“The belt is slightly better.”

He turned it over and pointed toward the two pouches attached to it.

“It actually has runic inscriptions.”

Hyoren leaned closer.

Borin continued.

“These two pouches aren't ordinary pouches. Each one is actually a storage bag.”

Ina's cat ears twitched.

“A storage bag?”

Borin nodded.

“And they have a fairly high time-dilation rune.”

He raised a finger.

“A factor of one to thirty.”

Hyoren's eyebrows lifted slightly.

“Thirty to one?”

Borin nodded.

“That's right. Thirty days outside…”

He tapped one of the pouches.

“…and inside, only one day passes.”

Hyoren nodded slowly.

That was certainly useful. Especially for materials that could deteriorate over time.

Borin crossed his arms.

“But the capacity is low.”

He gestured toward the two pouches.

“Each one holds less than one cubic meter. So they're mostly useful for carrying small materials.”

He thought for a moment.

“Scholars, alchemists, people who work with herbs and other delicate materials…”

Borin shrugged.

“Those kinds of people would love this belt.”

He gave the belt another glance.

“As for the price?”

He grinned.

“Five million Kres.”

Borin then looked between Hyoren and Ina.

“So?”

He rested his hands on the counter.

“Will you sell those, or keep them?”

Hyoren tapped his chin. He considered the two pieces of equipment for a moment before looking toward Ina.

“What do you think, Ina?”

Ina's cat ears twitched.

She looked at the boots, then at the belt. She seemed to be weighing the options in her head. After a moment, she shook her head.

“I don't think we need either of them.”

She pointed toward the belt.

“Each of us already has better storage bags that we bought before.”

Hyoren nodded.

Ina continued.

“Elise, who keeps most of our party supplies, also has one with a one-to-thirty time-dilation rune.”

She paused.

“But its capacity is much higher.”

Ina gave a small laugh.

“We splurged quite a lot when we bought that one. We spent almost fifty million Kres on it.”

She glanced back toward the belt.

“So we don't really need another storage bag.”

Hyoren nodded.

That was difficult to argue with. Their existing storage equipment was already more than sufficient.

Ina then picked up the white-fur boots.

“These boots…”

She turned them around in her hands.

“No runic inscriptions, so they're just sturdy boots.”

She looked toward Hyoren.

“They're not really an upgrade for anyone.”

Ina placed one boot against the counter.

“So we don't need them either.”

Borin simply waited. He didn't rush Freedom Party’s decision.

Hyoren nodded.

“I see.”

He looked at the two items again.

“So we sell both?”

Ina smiled.

“The boots aren't needed.”

She paused. Her cat tail began to swish lightly behind her.

“But…”

Hyoren waited.

Ina looked down at the white fur.

“Could I have them?”

Her smile became a little more playful.

“I like the design.”

She held the boot against herself for a moment, imagining how it would look with her winter clothes.

“The white fur would pair well with my fur jacket, right?”

Her tail swished again.

“Nyahaha.”

She smiled.

“And a new pair of boots would be nice for me to wear when I go to work.”

Hyoren couldn't help but smile.

That was certainly a different reason. It wasn't because the boots were stronger. They weren't more practical than what she already had.

Ina simply liked how they looked.

And there was nothing wrong with that.

Freedom Party had earned enough money that they no longer needed to question every purchase based purely on whether it made them stronger. If one of their family members wanted something simply because they liked it, they could afford that little luxury.

“Of course, Ina.”

Hyoren reached for the boots.

“You can have them.”

Ina's ears perked up.

“Really?”

Hyoren handed the boots to her.

“Really.”

Ina accepted them with a happy smile.

“Thanks, Hyoren.”

She looked down at the white fur boots again, clearly pleased with her choice.

Hyoren then turned back toward Borin.

“So that's it, Borin.”

He gestured toward the belt.

“We're going to sell the belt and keep the boots.”

Borin picked up the belt. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

“Good choice.”

He tucked the belt beneath one arm.

“Making your woman happy is a sign of a good man. Gyahaha!”

Hyoren immediately laughed. Ina laughed as well, her tail swishing behind her.

Borin crossed his arms.

“I'll take the belt, then.”

He nodded toward the equipment they had ordered earlier.

“And I'll deduct the final price from your gear costs by five million Kres.”

Hyoren nodded.

“Thank you, Borin.”

Borin waved his hand dismissively.

“No problem.”

The transaction was settled.

Their new equipment had been ordered, Hyoren's armor would be repaired, Jackey had acquired a new axe, and the remaining Guardian loot had been appraised.

With nothing else left to discuss, Freedom Party's business at Grit & Gear Arms had finally come to an end.

***

The cold winter air greeted them the moment they stepped outside Borin's store. The warmth of the forge disappeared almost immediately, replaced by the crisp chill of Deepwinter.

The Adventurer's District stretched before them.

It was still bustling compared to the rest of Akela, but even this part of the city had been subdued by the winter. The streets were nowhere near as crowded as they would normally be, and the few people outside kept their coats pulled tightly around themselves as they went about their business.

Snow covered the edges of the street, while fresh flakes continued to drift lazily through the air.

Above the city, Luna had already climbed high into the sky, its silver light bathing the snow-covered streets in a cool, pale glow.

Hyoren stopped and looked toward the others.

“Okay. It's time for us to part.”

His gaze shifted toward Arianna and Jackey.

“You two are going to Jena's shop to repair Jackey's armor, right?”

Jackey immediately nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes! My Illusion Viper Armor needs patching up.”

Despite being fully recovered himself, the armor had not been so fortunate.

Arianna adjusted the folds of her purple robe.

“That's right, Leader.”

She glanced toward Jackey.

“But considering the state of the damage, we might need to expect the worst and buy a new one.”

Ina smiled.

“I think it should be repairable.”

Her cat ears twitched beneath her knitted hat.

“But if repairing it is going to compromise its defensive ability, then just buy a new one.”

She looked toward Jackey.

“Our party's finances are good enough that we can afford it.”

Hyoren nodded.

“Ina is right.”

His expression became slightly more serious.

“Don't be stingy. Buy a new one if the old one can't be properly repaired.”

He looked directly at Jackey.

“Armor is your lifesaver. It can make the difference between living and dying.”

Jackey's expression became serious for once. He nodded firmly. His tabby cat ears perked upright.

“Understood, Big Bro! Big Sis!”

Hyoren smiled.

“Good.”

He then turned toward Ina.

“While you go to Jena's, we'll appraise the last piece of loot we got from the Guardian.”

Ina's cat ears immediately perked up.

The final piece of Guardian loot was the one they had deliberately saved for later. The earring.

Arianna nodded.

“Then, please excuse us, Leader. Lady Ina.”

Jackey raised a hand.

“See you later!”

He immediately started walking down the street.

Arianna gave a small curtsy before following after him.

It didn't take long for the two of them to move ahead, their figures gradually becoming smaller among the sparse crowd of the Adventurer's District.

Hyoren and Ina remained where they were for a moment.

They watched the two leave with warm expressions. Jackey's recovery had been a relief to everyone. Seeing him walking around so energetically again made it easier to forget just how close they had come to losing him only a few days earlier.

Hyoren eventually turned his attention back to Ina. He tightened his coat against the cold.

Then he offered one of his arms.

“Let's go ourselves, Ina. To the Gilded Scale.”

Ina's expression immediately brightened.

She naturally slipped both arms around his left arm. Her cat ears perked happily beneath her knitted hat.

“To continue our date. Nyahaha.”

Hyoren couldn't help but smile wryly. He glanced at her.

“Fine.”

He shook his head lightly.

“To continue our date.”

Ina laughed again. Her tail swayed lazily behind her as she leaned comfortably against his arm. The cold seemed a little less unpleasant with someone beside him.

Hyoren chuckled.

Then the two of them began walking together.

Their footsteps made soft crunching sounds against the snow-covered road as they walked in Adventurer's District.

***

Hyoren and Ina walked together through the Adventurer's District and toward the Merchants' District.

Their pace was unhurried now. There was no particular reason to rush. The cold encouraged them to keep moving, but the streets were quiet enough that they could enjoy the walk without having to weave through crowds.

Before long, a familiar storefront appeared ahead—the Gilded Scale. 

Hyoren pushed open the wooden door.

A small brass bell hanging above the entrance chimed softly.

Warm air immediately greeted them. The contrast with the winter outside was pleasant. The cold that had settled into Hyoren's coat began to fade as the warmth of the shop surrounded him.

The familiar interior of Gilded Scale welcomed them with its quiet, refined atmosphere.

The shop belonged to the dwarf twins, Balin and Gror. Balin was the older-looking of the two, recognizable by his magnificent silver beard. Gror, on the other hand, had a shorter fiery-red beard.

Today, however, only Gror was present.

The younger dwarf sat behind a sturdy worktable near the back of the shop. A monocle rested over one eye as he worked on some kind of metal plate.

The bell finally caught his attention. 

His eyes landed on Hyoren and Ina. A smile immediately spread across his face.

“Well, well. If it isn't Hyoren and Elise.”

He paused. His eyes moved to Ina. Then back to Hyoren.

“Oh… Sorry…”

Hyoren chuckled.

“I'm afraid you're one elf short today.”

Hyoren smiled wryly. Meanwhile Ina was not bothered by it, she continued smiling.

Gror laughed.

“Hahaha!”

He removed the monocle from his eye and carefully placed it on the worktable. His working glove followed. So did the small writing tool he had been using.

Only after putting everything away did he leave the worktable and walk toward the velvet-covered counter.

“What can I do for you today?”

He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“Another appraisal?”

Then his eyes brightened with amusement.

“Or perhaps you wanted another Dimensional Vault?”

Hyoren couldn't help laughing.

The Dimensional Vault was still fresh enough in his memory. Fifty million Kres for a single storage bag.

And despite that ridiculous price, they hadn't even managed to fill the thing completely yet. Buying another one would be a massive blow to their party funds, even if they were currently loaded.

Especially when Borin was already preparing a custom Mithril-alloy shield for him.

Hyoren shook his head.

“Please, Gror. We're settled with one for now.”

He smiled.

“We don't need another massive storage bag. We're not merchants.”

Gror slapped the counter and laughed.

“Hahaha! Of course you're not!”

He pointed at Hyoren.

“Even owning one storage bag that size is already overkill for an adventurer party!”

Hyoren laughed with him.

“Yeah. But I always prefer to be prepared.”

He rested one hand against the counter.

“We never know what might happen in a dungeon. Or even while we're adventuring.”

His eyes wandered briefly toward the shelves.

“We could end up stranded for weeks.”

He paused.

“Maybe even months.”

Hyoren shrugged.

“Having a contingency like that is worth it to me.”

Gror slowly combed through his fiery-red beard.

“What a worrywart! Hahaha.”

He laughed again.

“But I guess other adventurers should learn a little from you.”

His expression became more amused.

“They're all so reckless.”

He lifted one hand.

“Six-day dungeon expedition? Bring exactly six days of rations!”

He shook his head.

“Good grief… They never think about what happens if something goes wrong.”

Ina smiled. One of her cat ears twitched beneath her knitted hat.

“Hyoren is always like this.”

She glanced toward Gror.

“He prepares for the worst of the worst-case scenario.”

Gror laughed.

Hyoren could only smile wryly. He had heard that description before. Several times.

Eventually, the laughter faded into the comfortable quiet of the shop.

Hyoren looked around.

“So, where's Balin?”

He turned back toward Gror.

“Did he go to Harvengald again to stock up on supplies?”

Gror's expression immediately became amused.

“Hahaha! No.”

He shook his head.

“He caught a cold.”

Hyoren blinked.

Gror continued laughing.

“He was shivering on the second floor like the weakling he is! Hahaha.”

Hyoren chuckled.

“So he caught a cold.”

He glanced toward the snowy street visible through the window.

“The winter cold is pretty severe.”

His expression softened.

“Actually, Elise caught it too.”

Gror's eyebrows rose.

“Oh?”

He glanced toward the door.

“So that lass caught a cold too.”

He nodded.

“No wonder she isn't with you today.”

Ina nodded.

“This month always makes a lot of people sick.”

She shook her head slightly.

“Even a few Adventurer's Guild clerks took sick leave.”

Gror sighed.

“It's a bad month indeed.”

He looked toward the window.

“I hope spring comes quickly…”

Hyoren nodded.

Even in this world, there were seasons when illness seemed to spread more easily. Deepwinter appeared to be one of them.

Gror quickly waved the subject away.

“Anyway.”

He smiled.

“Enough talking about sick people.”

He leaned forward over the counter.

“What did you actually come here for?”

Hyoren's expression changed.

“Oh, right.”

He reached for his storage bag.

A moment later, he pulled something out. He carefully placed it on the velvet counter.

It was a single earring.

The accessory was made of gold, but it wasn't simply a plain piece of jewelry. Its shape resembled a small dagger. The body was slender and elegantly proportioned, with a pointed lower section and a slightly curved silhouette that made it look more like an ornamental weapon than an ordinary earring.

Fine decorative patterns ran along the golden surface. They were intricate without being excessive, and tiny runic inscriptions had been carved into the inner portion of the piece.

The gold itself had a polished finish. Under the warm lighting of Gilded Scale, it caught the light with every slight movement. Elegant. Distinctive.

And, in its own way, sharp.

Hyoren looked at it for a moment.

It had been sitting inside his storage bag since they obtained it from the gold treasure chest after they defeated the Third Floor Guardian.

“For today, we only need an appraisal.”

He gestured toward the earring.

“Please appraise this accessory.”

Gror's eyes immediately focused on it.

“Hoo…”

He picked up the earring.

The dwarf examined it from several angles, turning it carefully between his fingers.

He checked the golden surface. Then the runic inscriptions. He turned it over and inspected the back. He held it beneath the shop's light, watching how the gold reflected the illumination.

Then he reached for several tools. A small magnifying lens. A thin metal instrument. Another device designed to detect Aethell.

Gror tested the earring carefully.

He poured a small amount of Aethell into it and watched its reaction.

Hyoren and Ina waited. Neither of them interrupted.

The only sounds were the faint movement of Gror's tools and the quiet crackle of one of the magical lamps.

After a while, Gror finally placed the earring back onto the velvet.

He crossed his arms. His eyes remained on it. Then he nodded several times.

“Wow.”

Hyoren leaned forward slightly.

“Hoo. Is it that good, Gror?”

Gror looked up.

“This is definitely not an artifact like Sylvana's Lavalier or Noctynara's Lament.”

He tapped the velvet counter.

“But this magical accessory is still quite strong.”

Hyoren's attention sharpened.

Gror picked up the earring again.

“This is called the Null Earring.”

He turned it between his fingers.

“When activated by pouring Aethell into it, it creates a protective barrier around the user. Each activation can last for several hours.”

Gror continued.

“And it will roughly decrease the magic damage the user receives by around twenty to twenty-five percent.”

Hyoren nodded slowly.

Twenty to twenty-five percent… That wasn't a small improvement…

For someone who regularly stood at the front of the party, it could make a meaningful difference.

“It's quite powerful indeed.”

He looked at the earring again.

“And useful.”

Gror nodded.

“Exactly… Any frontline fighter would appreciate something like this.”

He grinned.

“Especially a tank.”

He tapped the accessory.

“It'll help dampen enemy magic attacks.”

Then his expression suddenly became mischievous. He raised his thick finger.

“If you don't need it, I'll buy it for ten million Kres!”

Hyoren stared at him.

He knew immediately that Gror was joking. There was no way he was selling it.

“Please give me a break, Gror. We're keeping this.”

Gror laughed.

“Hahaha! Of course you are.”

He placed the earring back on the velvet.

“I was just joking.”

Then his eyes moved toward Hyoren's face.

“You wanted to use it, right?”

He gestured toward the accessory.

“Want to put it on now?”

Hyoren blinked.

“Now?”

Gror nodded.

“I have the tools for piercing.”

Hyoren looked down at the earring.

The Null Earring really was useful. He couldn't deny that. He hadn't encountered many enemies who relied heavily on magic attacks yet. Other than the Voided Covenant, most of the enemies he had fought so far had relied more heavily on physical attacks.

But that didn't mean things would stay that way.

Dungeons were unpredictable. The deeper he dived, the stronger the enemies would become. Eventually, he would encounter opponents capable of powerful magic attacks.

Having another layer of protection would be valuable.

There was just one problem.

An earring, huh…

Hyoren had never considered wearing one. Not once.

Back in Japan, having a piercing was always frowned upon by society…

As someone who had been aspiring to become a doctor, he had always preferred to maintain a clean and professional appearance.

I need to present myself as professional and as sharp as possible. Having a piercing would make the patients uncomfortable…

We as doctors were expected to dress conservatively…

But that was in Japan. On Earth. His old life. His old expectations.

He was living in Kresneger now. The customs and standards he had grown up with were no longer something he needed to follow simply because they had once been familiar.

Hyoren stared at the golden earring. Then he looked toward Ina.

“What do you think, Ina?”

He held it between his fingers.

“Should I wear the earring?”

Ina's amber eyes immediately brightened.

“Yes!”

Her answer came so quickly that Hyoren almost laughed.

“I think it would look good on you, Hyoren.”

She giggled.

“You've always looked so plain.”

Hyoren gave her a mildly offended look.

“Plain?”

Ina nodded enthusiastically.

“Black clothes.”

She pointed at his body.

“Black trousers.”

Then she looked at him over again.

“Black jacket.”

Her cat tail swished behind her.

“Plain.”

She giggled.

“Plain, plain, plain! Nyahaha.”

Hyoren sighed.

“You're really enjoying this, aren't you?”

Ina’s cat ears twitched.

“Very much. Nyahaha.”

She stepped closer.

“But that's why I think this would suit you.”

She picked up the earring and held it near his face without actually putting it on.

“The gold would look nice with your black hair.”

She tilted her head.

“And the dagger design is sharp enough to match you.”

Hyoren raised an eyebrow.

“Match me?”

Ina giggled.

“Yes.”

She moved around him slightly, looking at his face from another angle.

“I think your left earlobe would be good.”

Hyoren glanced toward the mirror on the wall. He had to admit, when she held the earring near his face, it didn't look out of place. The gold created just enough contrast against his dark clothing.

It wasn't excessively large. It wasn't overly decorative. It simply stood out.

Hyoren had always preferred simple things. Even back on Earth, he rarely cared about fashion.nBlack was easy. Plain clothes were easy.

There was nothing wrong with that.

But perhaps… A change of things is good…?

He looked at the earring again.

“Well…”

He smiled wryly.

“If you say so.”

He turned toward Gror.

“If you may, Gror.”

He lightly touched his left earlobe.

“Just like Ina said. Please put it on my left ear.”

Gror nodded.

“Good choice.”

He glanced toward Ina.

“And she's right!”

A broad grin spread across his face.

“You need to dress up better!”

Ina laughed again. Hyoren could only shake his head.

“Everyone's against me today.”

Gror laughed.

“Hahaha!”

He retrieved a small wooden box from beneath the counter. Inside were several specialized tools. 

Gror laid them out one by one.

A small cleaning instrument. A thin marking tool. A piercing device. And another small tool covered in faintly glowing runes.

Hyoren watched with mild curiosity.

“What's that one?”

Gror held it up.

“Healing tool.”

He grinned.

“Don't worry. You won't need to spend weeks waiting for the hole to heal.”

Hyoren tapped his chin.

“That sounds convenient.”

Gror grinned.

“It is.”

He gestured toward the chair.

“Now, sit.”

Hyoren sat down.

Gror moved around to his left side.

“Keep your head still.”

Hyoren straightened.

Ina remained nearby. She didn't say anything. She was simply there.

Gror first cleaned Hyoren's left earlobe carefully. The cool liquid made the skin feel slightly numb. He then examined the earlobe, checking its shape and thickness before choosing the exact position.

His fingers gently held the lobe steady.

“Here.”

Gror used the marking tool to place a tiny mark.

Hyoren looked at himself in the mirror. A tiny dot now sat on his left earlobe. It seemed strangely significant for something so small.

He had never imagined himself doing this.

Gror positioned the piercing tool.

“Ready?”

Hyoren took a slow breath and nodded.

“Go ahead.”

Gror's fingers tightened slightly around the earlobe.

“Stay still.”

There was a brief pause. Then—a sharp prick passed through Hyoren's ear.

His body instinctively tensed.

The pain was quick. Sharper than he had expected, but over almost immediately. He felt Gror carefully withdraw the tool before guiding the earring through the new opening. The golden piece slid into place.

Another brief sting followed.

Then the healing tool activated. A faint warmth spread across Hyoren's earlobe. The pain began disappearing. The tiny wound closed almost visibly beneath the magical effect. A few seconds later, there was nothing left but the faint sensation of the earring resting against his skin.

Hyoren touched his ear.

No blood. No open wound. No lingering pain.

He blinked.

“That's it?”

Gror laughed.

“That's it.”

Hyoren shook his head.

“Magic really is convenient.”

Ina giggled.

“You were worried for nothing.”

Hyoren frowned.

“I wasn't worried.”

Ina smiled mischievously.

“You were.”

Hyoren tightened his jaw.

“I was being cautious.”

Ina's smile widened.

“Cautious… Of course. Nyahaha.”

Hyoren sighed.

Then he stood. His eyes immediately found the mirror. He walked toward it. For a moment, he didn't recognize the person looking back at him.

Not because the face was different.

It was still his familiar black hair. His dark eyes. His sharp features. His plain black clothing. Everything was the same.

And yet there was one small difference.

The golden earring. The dagger-shaped accessory rested neatly against his left earlobe. It was elegant without being delicate. The narrow golden body followed the line of his ear, while the pointed end hung just enough to be visible beside his jaw. The intricate patterns along its surface caught the warm light whenever he moved.

The runic markings remained mostly hidden from view, leaving the visible portion looking more like an expensive piece of jewelry than a magical tool.

It didn't dominate his appearance. It complemented it.

Hyoren tilted his head.

The earring moved. A tiny clinking metallic sound followed. He turned his head the other way. Again, the gold caught the light.

Hyoren reached up and touched it.

The metal was cool against his fingers. For some reason, that small sensation made the change feel real. He was wearing an earring. He actually had a piercing.

This actually looked good…

A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.

It wasn't the amused smile he usually gave when Ina teased him. It wasn't the wry smile he used when something unexpected happened. It was simply satisfaction. A quiet, genuine appreciation of the reflection in front of him.

He had spent so long preferring to keep his appearance plain that he had never really thought about changing it.

Back on Earth, he had cared about looking appropriate. Now, standing in a magic tool shop in another world, those old concerns suddenly felt very far away.

He wasn't a medical student anymore. He wasn't living according to the expectations of his old world.

He was an adventurer. A party leader. Someone who had walked through dungeons, fought monsters, nearly lost companions, and continued moving forward.

And this tiny golden earring was hardly an important change.

But somehow, it felt like a small acknowledgment of the life he was living now. A small choice that belonged entirely to him.

Hyoren smiled. He looked at himself again.

It didn't look out of place…

Perhaps he had been too plain for too long.

Ina is right…

He turned slightly toward her.

Ina had been watching him the entire time. Her amber eyes softened when she saw his expression.

“See?”

She smiled.

“You look cooler.”

She giggled.

“And more handsome.”

Hyoren's smile became a little embarrassed.

“Really?”

Ina stepped closer.

“Yes.”

She studied him from one side. Then the other. Her cat ears twitched as she carefully examined the earring.

“The size is perfect.”

She gently touched the golden dagger.

“It stands out, but not too much.”

Her fingers moved away.

“And the gold looks really good against your black hair.”

Hyoren looked back toward the mirror. He nodded slowly.

“Yeah…”

He touched the earring again.

“I think so too.”

Ina's smile widened.

“Elise would definitely like it too.”

Hyoren looked at her.

“Really?”

Ina nodded.

“Definitely.”

She giggled.

“She'll probably tease you about suddenly becoming fashionable. Nyahaha.”

Hyoren laughed softly.

“I can imagine that.”

He looked at the mirror one last time. The earring was still unfamiliar. But unfamiliar didn't mean bad. If anything, the unfamiliarity made him smile.

It was something new. Something small. Something he had chosen simply because he wanted it.

Not because he needed it. Not because it would make him stronger.

The Null Earring was useful, certainly. But the feeling he had now had nothing to do with its defensive ability. For the first time in a long while, Hyoren had looked at himself and thought that he liked the way he looked.

That simple realization left a quiet warmth in his chest.

“Thanks again for the appraisal, Gror.”

Hyoren turned toward the dwarf.

“And for helping me put it on.”

Gror laughed.

“Always ready to help a good customer like you guys!”

Hyoren smiled. He paid the appraisal fee with his Guild Card and put it away.

“Anyway, we need to go.”

He glanced toward the back of the shop.

“Please give our regards to your brother, Balin.”

He paused.

“And I hope he recovers quickly.”

Gror nodded.

“Likewise.”

He waved toward the door.

“Hope that lass recovers too.”

Hyoren gave him one final nod.

Then he and Ina left the Gilded Scale.

The brass bell above the door chimed softly as they stepped back into the winter air. The cold immediately surrounded them again. Hyoren pulled his coat tighter. Ina slipped naturally beside him.

They began walking down the snow-covered street.

With every step, the golden dagger-shaped earring moved gently against Hyoren's left ear. The tiny clinking metallic sound was almost lost beneath their footsteps and the quiet winter wind.

But Hyoren noticed it. And this time, he smiled.

I like this sound.