The Noble Lady Without Magic Aims to Become an Adventurer! - Chapter 22

“Armor? What do you mean, armor?”

“…So, you haven’t thought about it at all, have you?”

I knew what armor was—it’s not that I didn’t. I’d just never used it before. Neither Fars nor I had considered it. Reco sighed in exasperation, shaking his head.

“Reco, do we really need armor?” I asked.

“Of course! Without it, you’ll run out of lives no matter how many you have,” he said with an exaggerated sigh and a shrug.

“Well, we’ve never had armor that fit us as kids, and we’ve never faced monsters strong enough to require it. But it’s about time you got some. Let’s head to the armorer’s,” he said.

Reco led us to an old, worn-looking armorer’s shop he used to frequent back when he lived in the capital. The shop, located four doors down from the weapon shop, had an air of age and character.

Reco warned us that the owner was a stubborn old man who carefully chose his customers but crafted top-notch armor.

The shop door creaked loudly as we opened it, revealing a simple counter and an elderly man seated behind it. Strangely, there wasn’t any visible armor on display. I looked around curiously.

“Still alive, old man?” Reco called out casually.

“Reco? Long time no see. What brings you here today?” the man replied.

“I need some beginner armor for these two,” Reco said, gesturing to us.

“No credit,” the old man said flatly.

“I’ll pay in full. Don’t worry,” Reco assured him.

The old man squinted suspiciously at Reco, and I couldn’t blame him—Reco always did have a somewhat dubious look about him.
“Hey, boy. Come here,” the old man said, addressing Fars, who was standing behind Reco.

The old man stepped out from behind the counter and scrutinized Fars as he held his sword. After a moment, he nodded.

“Pass. Next, the girl. Come here,” he said.

I followed his instructions, holding my sword as he inspected me.

“Hmm. Reco, for once, you brought me decent candidates,” the old man muttered.

“‘For once’ is unnecessary, old man,” Reco grumbled.

The old man ignored him and continued. “The boy relies on brute strength, which leaves him open to attacks. He’ll need light chainmail that can be worn under clothes for mobility. As for the girl, she’s focused on body reinforcement. Lightweight gear will suit her best—leather chest armor, gauntlets, and greaves.”

“Wow, you can tell all that at a glance? That’s amazing,” I said, impressed.

“Of course. I’ve been in this business for decades,” he replied proudly.

“By the way, old man, the young lady has a special condition. She’s listed as powerless, so keep that in mind,” Reco added.
“Ah, I see. I’ll make sure the armor conceals any signs of reinforcement magic. I’ll also add decorative touches to make it look appropriate. I have the base materials in stock, so it’ll be ready in three days. The cost will be 30 gold coins, upfront,” the old man declared.

Reco handed over a bag of coins without hesitation. The old man took it and disappeared behind the counter.

Thirty gold coins for beginner armor? That’s an outrageous price. I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of armor I’d be receiving.

At the adventurer’s guild, beginner weapons and armor were sold for around ten gold coins at most. Nobles’ gear, adorned with jewels and elaborate designs, could cost hundreds of gold coins. Still, I was thankful Father had given me enough money before we left.

With all our shopping done, we returned to the marquis’ estate.

Another week passed quietly at the estate. With little to do besides morning training, I spent most of my time in my room. Finally, the day came to move into the dormitory. Dressed in our student knight uniforms and belted swords, Fars and I made our way to the study, where Father, Mother, and Otto were waiting.

“Father, Mother, I’m leaving for the dormitory,” I announced.
“Don’t overdo it. If anything happens, you can always come home,” Father said.

“…That uniform. Make sure you focus on your studies,” Mother added, frowning slightly but saying no more.

The exchange was brief and lacked any heartfelt sense of parting. For them, it seemed like nothing more than a formality.

Since our conversation about my engagement, Father had said nothing to me.

Is this what a noble family is like?

Fars and I bowed to them and left for the carriage.

“Finally, dorm life begins! I’m excited,” Fars said as we climbed into the marquis’ carriage.

“Yes, even though it was only a short while, it felt suffocating,” I replied.

When we reached the dormitory entrance, we thanked the coachman and stepped out. The dorms were divided by gender, with the girls’ dormitory surrounded by walls, protected by wards, and guarded by security. Within that, there were separate dorms for nobles and commoners.

According to the administration office, the noble dorms had private rooms and allowed maids to accompany students. They also had private baths and kitchens.

Even though I was eligible for the noble dormitory, I opted for the commoner dormitory since I planned to live as a commoner eventually. However, due to Father’s influence, I was assigned the best individual room in the commoner dorm.

“See you at dinner in the dining hall, Fars,” I said.
“Got it. See you later,” he replied.

I went to meet the dorm mother, who explained the rules and lifestyle of the dormitory. Then, I made my way to my room on the top floor.

Apparently, top-ranked students were assigned higher floors. Using the magic key provided, I unlocked my door and stepped inside.

This initial unlocking was a required procedure. From then on, I and anyone I registered (like a maid) could enter without a key. How does that work? Is it some sort of magic? It’s fascinating.

My belongings were already delivered and waiting for me. Feeling a little excited, I began unpacking and organizing them in the closet and cupboards. The room was clean and fairly spacious, though minimally furnished.

Apparently, students with a knack for magic or alchemy could customize their rooms extensively. Some rooms were said to open into forests or have mysterious, otherworldly atmospheres.

However, if the dorm mother discovered such alterations, they’d be reprimanded. She’d shared this tidbit herself.

I doubted I’d ever be capable of such feats, but the idea was intriguing.

By the time I finished organizing, it was nearly time for dinner. I stopped my unpacking and headed to the dining hall.

Even here, there was a clear division between nobles and commoners. While top-ranked commoners were allowed to dine in the noble dining hall, I couldn’t imagine that being a comfortable experience.

Incidentally, top-ranked students were identified by a ribbon on their school emblem.