It felt as though hours had passed as I explored the city, though in reality, it had only been ten minutes—system of a shut-in. As I had seen on the way into the plaza, there were shops everywhere, all selling different things, which I inspected as I walked by. Multiple times, I was asked if I had seen anything I liked, and several vendors had even attempted to push a product onto me for purchase. But I was no sucker and would only spend my money on something I needed.

  My refusals had been returned with scowls and insults. I tried not to let them phase me, but deep down, their words cut like an overly sharp knife.

  I’m not an idiot! Nor am I stingy! Your products are just garbage! Garbage, I say!

  As the streets grew busier, a crowd of people surrounded me. I began to feel sick because of this, and the world started spinning as a result.

  Oh, man! I leaned against a wall, my face a dark hue of blue. I'm gonna hurl!

  Crowds had never been my thing. The more people there were, the more they would stare and judge, always saying crude stuff behind your back or in their heads. You could call it overthinking, but was it really when they were staring at you?

  You're all staring! Please stop staring! I could feel all of their eyes on me and hear the insults they slandered me with.

  “What’s wrong with him?"

  "What is he wearing?"

  “Don’t get too close. I think he’s going to vomit.”

  MMGH! I AM! I grabbed my stomach and mouth as I leaned over, but a hand grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, forcing me out of the sickness that had overcome me.

  "SIR! If I might ask, where did you get those garments?!" A skinny man with short blonde hair asked as he looked at me.

  It took a while for me to register what he was talking about as my mind was still buzzing, but I soon came to the realization he was referring to my clothes

  "Oh, uh...I can't quite remember where I got them." I muttered a reply.

  "I'll give you ANYTHING just to have those!"

  This feels familiar…

  "S-sorry, but these aren't for sale," I stuttered nervously.

  Especially not if they're high-grade.

  "Ah, what a shame." The fire in his eyes died out, and his gaze fell to the ground. But the sparks soon ignited again as he pulled a notebook and pen from his pocket. "Then could I at least take notes on the craftsmanship so I can replicate it?"

  "Er...sure," I murmured as he inspected my gear.

  He was rambling about the materials and something about the stitching pattern, but honestly, it all went through one ear and out the other as I scratched the back of my head. It wasn't long before he finished and thanked me before starting to leave.

  "Hey!" I called after him, my face flushing red as I realized how loud I was.

  "Hm?" He looked back at me.

  "Do you...know where the nearest blacksmith is? Or any weapon shop, for that matter?" If I had been able to read the signs, I wouldn't have had to ask, but the world's written language seemed to be different than it’s spoken, which I somehow knew—another cliché of most Isekai anime.

  "Huh?" The man looked at me like I was stupid. "It's right behind you." He pointed at the shop, and my eyes followed.

  A sign with a hammer and a sword with a lotus behind them wrapped in vines.

  "Ah, I see." I blinked several times as my body grew hot in embarrassment. "Thanks," I mumbled as he waved and headed off on his own.

  The bell rang as I entered the shop, and I was immediately greeted by a kind yet overly excited voice.

  “How can I help ya?!” The girl asked the moment the bell rang. My eyes darted across the store, looking at the swords, daggers, axes, spears, and shields of all kinds and varieties that littered the walls and shelves.

  “Hm? Oh. I’m not sure, actually.” I answered. “I’ve never used a weapon before.”

  At least, not in the literal sense.

  I had a collection of swords on Earth, all of which I would sometimes swing around and have mock battles with invisible bad guys. In those fantasies, I was a bad-ass sword-wielding hero, even though I swung the sword like a complete NOOB.

  Even so, I wanted to try them all. Besides, seeing as how I was summoned to this world, I was sure that, despite my low stats, I could wield something. Maybe even everything. That would be cool. I wondered if that was rare in this world.

  Most games had weapon restrictions for your class. Was this world the same? Since I had no class, did that leave me free to choose whatever I wanted? Or would my class be selected based on my weapon? Could this shop be the point of the game where I got to pick my class by choosing a weapon?

  I wonder what I should use.

  “Oh, that’s not a problem!” The girl brought me back from my thoughts before disappearing behind the counter. I could hear her rummaging around before coming back up. In her hands were a wooden sword, dagger, ax, spear, bow, and shield.

  “What’s all that for?” I asked.

  “Well, ya said ya never used a weapon before. So, I brought these out ta see what best suited ya.” She replied with a smile. I hadn’t realized it until then, mostly because she was covered in soot, but she was cute. She looked older than me as well, at least this body me. She had to be around nineteen or twenty.

  She was taller than me, at least five foot ten, and had blue hair that swept down to her neck, even with the small ponytail she had it styled in. Her eyes were a soft brown, and she had a black choker around her neck. She wore a sleeveless white smithing shirt with black gloves that went up past her elbows, a black apron, a brown skirt with black skintight shorts underneath, and black boots that went up to her knees. But more importantly, what stood out most above all else…

  HOLY SHIT! WHAT ARE THOSE, DOUBLE-D!?

  “Why are ya lookin’ at me like that?” She asked as she covered her chest with an arm. “I don’ like those eyes of yers. They're like a hungry wolf tha’s droolin’ over its prey.”

  “I’m drooling?!” I squeaked as I wiped my mouth. “I-I wasn’t looking at your chest! I swear.” I defended myself. “A-and the drooling is…it’s a medical condition! Yeah, a medical condition!”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Yer lyin,” tears formed in her eyes. “Ya were starin’ ‘n thinkin’ perverted thoughts about me.” Her face flushed red as she held back tears of embarrassment.

  Shit! I’ve been caught! Abort, abort!

  “N-No!” I replied meekly as I waved my hands in surrender. “I wasn’t, I swear!”

  “Yer lyin.” I could feel her gaze piercing the side of my skull as I continued to stare at the wall.

  “I-It wasn’t like that!” I argued, and it wasn’t.

  I wasn’t thinking bad thoughts when I was staring at her chest. I was simply marveling at its size; that was it. It wasn’t as if I was thinking about fondling them or motorboating them. Because I totally wasn’t!

  But it was too late to prove my innocence, and she continued to call me a pervert, among many other insults, until a man the size of a bear walked in from the back.

  He wore similar attire to the girl, and his body was covered in scars that looked like they came from a large creature. His face was turned in a scowl as he spoke.

  “What’s all this arguing about?!” He asked as he grabbed the girl’s hair and pulled it.

  “OWIE! OWIE! OWIE! Pa! It was him, not me! He’s a pervert, Pa!” My heart started racing.

  That’s her dad!? She’s going to get me killed! The thought raced through my mind as he slowly approached me, a bead of sweat appearing on my cheek.

  “Uhh….” That was all I could muster as he towered above me like a grizzly bear on its hind legs.

  “I’m sorry about her.” His deep voice made my chest rumble. “She’s stupid and always thinks people mentally undress her.”

  Eh?

  “They do, Pa! I can see it in their eyes! ‘specially his.” She looked at me as she covered her chest again. “Yer eyes are so…vulgar.”

  “Screw you!” I snapped. “Girls like you are why I stayed a professional NEET!”

  "A professional what?" The man asked in confusion. I ignored him, focusing all my attention on the girl.

  “Ya already did!” She cried. “Ya did vulgar things ta me with those eyes, didn’t ya?” She looked down with a blush. “Those eyes,” she stared at me. “They’re so…” she shivered as I stared back. “S-Stop-ICK!” The man karate-chopped her head.

  “Shut up, idiot woman!” He scolded as she grabbed her injury.

  “OWWIE! Pa, I bih mah hung!” She cried as she stuck her tongue out and fanned it with her hands.

  “Good!” He turned his gaze to me. “Again, I’m sorry. I heard from the back; you never used a weapon before? Well, that’s pretty normal, believe it or not. We have just what you need to get started. I’m assuming you’re also going to need-“ he looked me up and down, and he stopped.

  What, are you mentally undressing me now?

  “Whoa there, fella, no need to scowl like that. I’m only looking at your armor. It’s…unique.” He touched the collar of my coat and rubbed it between his fingers. “It’s soft to the touch, but…” he trailed off before smiling. “I guess it’s just a weapon then.”

  “What? But Pa, he’s not wearin’ any-“

  “He’s fine,” the man waved the girl off dismissively. “First things first, we need to know what you’re compatible with. What’s your class?”

  “Withheld,” I answered immediately.

  “Huh?” His face scrunched at my reply.

  “I didn’t come here to tell you about myself. I just need a weapon.” I stated bluntly as I picked up a sword and inspected it.

  Just act cool and play off the fact you don’t have a class. Don’t give them any reason to question you.

  “You’re new to this, aren’t you?” The man forced a smile, and his eyebrow twitched as he watched me. “I’ve had plenty of kids like you come in expecting it to be as simple as ‘Give me a weapon.’ Well, sorry to say, kid, but it doesn’t work like that.”

  Don’t call me kid, you giant grizzly bear. I’m probably around the same age as you in my world. Maybe a little younger.

  “Is that so?” I replied half-heartedly.

  I already knew what would happen. If having a class factored into what weapons you could use, then having no class meant I could use anything. In other words, I was a jack-of-all-trades, which made sense with my high luck.

  “I don’t like that smug look on your face.” A vein pulsed on his forehead. “Where did it come from?”

  “Huh? Oh, sorry. I was just thinking is all.”

  Knowing I can pick any weapon here makes me feel so cool! But I feel like this is a key part of the story, right?

  It was the part where the hero chose his weapon. But when the hero could use anything, what would he use to look the coolest? A sword? A spear? Daggers? DUAL WIELD!

  “Whatever,” the man grumbled as he turned and waved his hand, gesturing for me to follow. “Come with me.”

  I did as told and followed him to the back of the shop. My eyes widened at the training area before me. It was large and had dummies and targets to practice on scattered across the circular room.

  “The name’s Caz, by the way.” He started as he tossed me a wooden sword, which I clumsily caught. “Caz Vanduzer, the owner of Vanduzer Smithing. My daughter, as you see,” he looked at the girl. “Works here with me.”

  “That's cool.” I wasn’t really listening to him. I was inspecting the sword and holding it up before the girl touched my shoulder, making me jump. “GAH!” I cried out as I dropped the wooden blade.

  “My name's Lilith! Lilith Vanduzer.” She beamed me a smile. “What’s yer name?”

  “Uh-huh,” I grumbled as I picked up the sword I had dropped. “What do I do? Swing it?” I ignored her and looked to Caz.

  I wasn’t giving my name to the girl who nearly accused me of SA. I knew what she could do with that kind of information. I wouldn’t allow her to Naofumi my ass! No way in hell!

  “More or less. I’ll be able to tell based on how you wield and swing it if it’s a good fit for you. That’s a common short sword. Any Knight can wield that effectively. So, if you can’t, you can’t use anything bigger.”

  “Alright then.” I readied myself.

  “That stance.” I heard Caz awe.

  “I’ve never seen it bafore.” Lilith finished.

  Heh! Here goes! The time to show off! The time to shine! I’m doing it, Rihanna, I’m going to show you just how bright this diamond can sh-

  “EGCK!” I slipped mid-swing and face planted into the ground.