Voting time extended.

>>45768291
>"Isn't that dangerous?"

>>45768291
"Isn't that dangerous?" You point out, knowing full well how can an untrained slave could potentially harm someone.

"Don't worry, they were trained." Nana assures you. "Besides, the owner told me so."

"Right..." You roll your eyes. "Anyways, I think they're gone now." You peer out the window and indeed, the women have left. Hilana and Verna emerge from the store, probably looking for you.

"It was nice meeting you, Nana, but I got to get back now." You reply.

"What's the rush? Got someone waiting on you?" Nana smiles at you.

"Yeah, the princess." You say.

Nana suddenly freezes as she stares at you. "D-did you say what I think you just said?" She stammers.

>"Yeah, what's the matter?"
>"Are you hiding something?"
>"...Do you have a crush on the princess?"

>>45768656
>"Yeah, what's the matter?"

>>45768656
"Yeah, what's the matter?" You ask the nervous shop owner, who is practically shivering.

"Uhhh... I may have had an item once in my possession that the king really, really wanted, and I sold it to someone else. And now I'm on his shit list." Nana gulps. "And if he finds his daughter in my store, I'm going to be living in the streets."

"Holy shit." You blink. "What was the item that the king wanted so bad?"

"It was an axe forged by some long-dead dwarves. Supposedly, it could cut through anything, even diamonds. I sold it to some mysterious adventurer who wanted it even more." The girl sighs. "And she paid good money for it too."

"That sucks." You sigh. "Did you tell her the king wanted it?"

"I did, and she didn't give a crap." Nana sighs. "Look, can you please try to keep the princess away from here? I don't want to lose my livelihood."

What do you say?

>"I'll try."
>"I make no promises."

>>45768789
>"I make no promises."

>>45768789
"I can't make any promises if she decides to barge her way in here." You state honestly.

"Just do what you can," Nana says in a pleading tone. You then head outside and met the two girls with a smile.

"Kline, where have you been?" Hilana chides you.

"You missed it, Kline! Those crazy ladies were all like, 'Get her!', but I chased them off with a purse!" Verna shouts.

"...Lovely. Listen, Princess, I'm sorry I ran away, but at least we can return to the castle now." You say.

"Fine," Hilana sighs. "I suppose we should return. It is getting quite late."

"But the sun's still out!" Verna protests.

"Which will set and be replaced with the night sky, and I do NOT want to be in the city when it happens!" Hilana glares at Verna.

You shake your head and sigh.

>"Her majesty does have a point."
>"I think we can visit one more shop before we go."

>>45768992
>"I think we can visit one more shop before we go."

>>45768992
"Can we visit the weapon shop before we head back?" You ask Hilana.

"Ooh! Can we? Can we? Can we?" Verna is bouncing up and down wildly, like a child. "Please, please, please!"

"FINE!" Hilana shouts. "Let's just go to the damn weaponry already!"

The three of you head down towards a large building where smoke is bursting from a chimney. "This looks fun." Verna squeals to you.

"....Define fun." You flatly state.

"Let's just go in." Hilana grunts. "I just want to get this over with without hearing Verna gush over about her favorite weapons."

"Let me guess, her favorite weapons are her sword and an axe." You reply.

"Yeah!" Verns shouts.

Hilana lets out a sigh as she opens the door and storms inside, the both of you following her in.

Various weapons of various nations are lined among the walls and shelves. You were like a kid in a candy store. It was a dream come true.

Which part of the store do you want to explore first?

>Swords and Shields.
>Axes and Spears.
>Bows and Boomerangs.

Again, voting time extended.

>>45769402
>swords and shields

Hm, not many players. I might have to continue the story this Friday if more posters show up.

>>45769402
You walk around and gaze at the varied types of blades that lie before you. Longswords, Knightswords, Shortswords, and even twin swords. Amazing.

You grab a blade with an ornate handle, the blade glowing in the dim light. You wonder if this was a blade imbued with elemental magic.

"Klineeeee! Did you get something?" Verna's voice calls out to you.

"Not yet!" You answer as you tuck the blade under your arm and go look at the shields. You see bucklers of various colors and surfaces. One of them catches your eye; a mirror shield.

Mirror shields were said to reflect certain types of magic. You wonder if this was true or not. You pick up the reflective shield and put it under your other arm. Boy, you can't wait to go out and fight monsters equipped with these!

(Cont)

>>45769596
"Princess, I'm ready to go now!" You call out.

"Finally. Let's pay for your goods and leave." Hilana sighs.

"What about me?!" Verna appears, carrying a sword TWICE her size. Good gods, that could not be safe to carry around.

"...No. Put it back." Hilana points behind her bodyguard.

"But, princesssss....!" Verna whines.

"PUT. IT. BACK!" Hilana growls at the blue-haired girl, who sulks and drags her feet back to where she found the giant broadsword.

Thank the gods. Who knows what kind of chaos she would've unleashed with that thing?

Probably enough to cause you some serious trouble. A shudder runs down your spine.

(Cont)

>>45769647
As the three of you leave the weapons shop, you see the sky has changed into a night blue. Oh, bother.

"This is why I wanted to go back." Hilana grumbles.

"We can handle any bandit that's lurking around the streets, right Kline?" Verna looks at you.

"Somehow, I don't think that's what the princess is worried about." You say, Hilana nodding her head to confirm your suspicions.

"This is where gangs roam about to test their mettle against one another, by killing one another until only one remains. My father calls these skirmishes the Carnage Wars." The blonde sighs. "And I fear we have gotten into one already."

"What makes you say that?" You ask.

"LOOK!" Verna points to something. You turn around and see people yelling at each other, attacking each other with knives and makeshift weapons.

Hilana quickly moves out of the way as a flying corpse nearly bowls her over. "Good gods!" She hisses. "We have to get out of here, now!"

"I don't wanna! I wanna fight those guys!" Verna whines.

Oh, shit.

What do?

>Listen to the princess and run.
>Find a place to hide.
>Fight it through.

>>45769734
>Find a place to hide.

>>45769734
The gears in your mind began to turn as you motion to the girls to follow you as you duck down into an alley and go inside an abandoned building, shutting the door behind you.

"That was close." You breathe out, hearing the sounds of people screaming and cursing growing faint.

"We can't stay here forever." Hilana frowns. "They'll eventually come here and find us. And they'll think we're a part of a rival gang and try to kill us."

"I still want to fight them." Verna pouts.

"And get yourself injured." The blonde princess glares at her bodyguard. "You're supposed to protect me, not to leave me in grave danger!"

"But Kline's teaching you how to defend yourself! What do you even need me for?" Verna points out.

Wow, she actually made sense.

You sigh and lean against the wall behind you. This was going to be a long night.

>To be continued.

Thanks for playing. Chapter 24.5 will come up this Friday.