Perfect timing. On the way to their next stop, Lucas decided to give Jeanne a crash course in Orario's many races.
"See that kid over there?" he said, tilting his chin toward a passing figure.
Jeanne followed his gaze. A lean young man strode past, gray wolf ears twitching in his hair and a fluffy tail swaying behind him with every step.
"That's a werewolf—a branch of the beastfolk race," Lucas explained. "Beastfolk's just a blanket term. You've got wolves, cats, boars, tigers, rabbits, bulls, foxes… you name it."
"Their strengths depend on the type. Wolves and cats are fast and agile. Boars, tigers, and bulls are built like tanks. Foxes? Rarer, but they tend to have strong magical aptitude."
He gestured loosely as they walked. "Compared to us humans—who are basically 'balanced but unremarkable'—beastfolk have natural advantages. Sharper senses, stronger bodies, and some can even partially transform."
"That's why gods recruiting for their Familias always fight over them. Right up there with elves, the number-one favorites for their magical talent."
"What about humans, then?" Jeanne asked, curious.
Lucas sighed like a man announcing bad news. "Humans? Let's just say we're… average. To put it kindly. Less kindly? Second to last."
He shrugged. "We're better off than the Pallum, at least. But that's not saying much."
After beastfolk came elves.
"Like I mentioned before," Lucas said, "elves are a Magic-based race. Even before the divine descent—back in the Age of Gods—they could already use Magic freely."
"With a Falna, they gain their own unique spells, usually up to three Magic slots. Plus, they can learn elven magic through study—though it's harder to cast and less effective than innate Magic."
He smirked. "Still counts as working. Just… outdated."
"The most famous example?" He looked meaningfully at her. "Riveria Ljos Alf, vice-captain of the Loki Familia—the so-called Nine Hells. She's the strongest mage in all of Orario, and she's not just any elf—she's royalty."
As a group of elves passed by, Jeanne's gaze lingered on them. Even as a woman herself, she had to admit their beauty was breathtaking.
Tall, graceful, sharp-eared—every movement radiated elegance.
"No wonder they're called children of nature," Jeanne murmured. "They really are… perfect."
Lucas chuckled under his breath. Exactly as he expected—her thoughts mirrored his own.
Truth be told, elves were his favorite too. Gorgeous, noble, powerful—the full "cool beauty" package. No man alive could resist that combo.
Especially when their average attractiveness was, what, a solid ninety-five?
He'd already decided. When his Familia grew, he was definitely recruiting more elves.
The two made their way down Adventurer's Avenue, weaving through the morning crowds. Teams of armed adventurers brushed past, merchants shouted from their stalls, and even a few gods wandered among them, laughing too loud and spending too freely.
It was peak hour in Orario—busy, chaotic, and alive.
Lucas stopped in front of a large, multistory building.
"Here we are."
Jeanne tilted her head back to read the sign overhead… then quickly gave up, following him inside before he could notice her hesitation.
Of course, he noticed anyway. He didn't say a word, though—just politely waved off a sales clerk and led her straight toward the home goods section.
"Let's start with bedroom stuff," he said. "Then we'll grab bath supplies."
And thus began their assault on The Retailer.
Pillows, blankets, towels, toothbrushes, cups, cookware, seasonal clothes, accessories—nothing was spared.
Jeanne, who had been awkward at first, quickly hit her stride. Within thirty minutes, she was comparing prices, checking textures, and making decisions like she'd been born to do it.
Watching her, Lucas couldn't help thinking, Wow… that shopping instinct really is hardwired into the female soul.
Even the Holy Maiden wasn't immune.
He snorted quietly to himself. Some instincts were just universal.
"What are you mumbling about over there?" Jeanne called. She was holding up a black velvet ribbon. "Hey, what do you think? Does this hairband suit me?"
Lucas gave it a quick look. Understated black with a neat little bow—playful, but elegant. It actually fit her surprisingly well.
"Yeah," he said honestly. "Looks great on you."
Jeanne's lips curved in satisfaction. "Then I'll take it."
She handed it to a clerk. "Please wrap this up, thank you."
By the time they'd finished with clothing, accessories, and daily necessities, their cart was overflowing.
They pushed it toward the produce section, both half-laughing, half-exhausted.
Lucas glanced at the towering pile of "loot" they'd accumulated and let out a low whistle. "Thank the gods for The Retailer. Shopping's so much easier now."
Jeanne nodded eagerly. "It really is. Back home, we had to trade goods or run between half a dozen shops just to buy the basics."
"Yeah," Lucas agreed, then added, "but you can't rely on this place for everything."
"Fresh produce, for example. The high-end stuff here's good, but for freshness, price, and variety, the open market wins every time. Especially right before closing—tons of discounts."
Those were lessons learned from his broke days. He'd lived off clearance deals and off-season goods long enough to call it survival wisdom.
Jeanne nodded solemnly, as if receiving sacred knowledge. "Practical life advice. Got it."
"Alright," he said with a grin, "let's wrap this up. We've got enough to last a while."
"Right. Let's check out."
When they finally emerged from The Retailer, both were buried under a mountain of shopping bags.
Thankfully, being adventurers meant their Stats made the weight easy to handle. Any normal person would've collapsed by now, especially under the summer sun.
"Let's drop this all off at home," Lucas said, mapping out the rest of the day. "Then we'll head to the forge to get your weapon and armor made. After that, we need to restock supplies—especially healing potions—and then hit the open market for groceries and spices."
As adventurers blessed with the Falna, their appetites were massive. Combine that with the physical strain of training and Dungeon dives, and proper nutrition wasn't optional—it was survival.
After unloading everything at home, they took a short break—just long enough for a drink and a breather—before heading out again.
First stop: the First District.
Lucas led the way, familiar with every turn. Even before they reached the door, he was already shouting cheerfully,
"Hey, Tsubaki! You busy? I'm here to bother you again!"
A voice called back from inside the forge, warm and brash as ever.
"Tch. You've been coming by a lot lately. What, strike it rich and decided to finally spend some cash?"
A laugh followed, punctuated by the clanging of metal.
"Relax," she added. "For an old friend like you, I'll make sure both the quality and the price are worth your while."