---

In Tactical Combat, there were a few items that players referred to as “human rights equipment.” These weren’t absolutely essential items, but for newbies taking the non-Academy route, they were highly recommended.

First off, if you take the non-Academy route, the protagonist Ian won’t receive proper support from his family, the Line Barrel family. Choosing the non-Academy route means fleeing before enrolling in the Demia Empire Academy, which implies that Ian hasn’t proven his “blue blood.” In the Infractus Empire, proving one’s blue blood is the minimum requirement to be recognized as a noble, so this essentially means cutting ties with the Line Barrel family. Since Ian has tarnished the family name by running away, he won’t receive any support and will have to start the game with next to nothing.

For seasoned players who’ve already rotted away in the game, they could laugh off such penalties and find all sorts of creative ways to play. But for newbies who’ve just started, it’s a different story. There’s even a saying that you can’t remove the “beginner” label until you get past the early stages of the non-Academy route.

However, every game eventually gets easier to strategize, and the result was the emergence of the “human rights equipment farming route.” This route provided an optimal guide for farming valuable equipment to use as spare cash or to equip oneself with a good sword for mercenary life.

The place Gilbert was taking Briana was where you could get the first item on the human rights equipment farming route. This route starts right after fleeing the Academy Entrance Ceremony, and since they had some time to spare, Gilbert thought they might as well farm some human rights equipment.

Of course, it was uncertain if such equipment even existed in reality, but since they had time, Gilbert figured they might as well check it out. If they found any human rights equipment, they could plan to acquire more in other routes later.

Following a familiar alley, they arrived at a sparsely populated weapon shop. The old, unkempt sign had only a single sword drawn on it.

“Is this the destination?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

Gilbert noticed Briana’s expression stiffen slightly and tilted his head in confusion.

*Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?*

Before arriving, Briana had shown no signs of discomfort, but as soon as they reached the weapon shop, she seemed a bit upset. It was a subtle change, but considering Briana’s personality, it seemed like something was bothering her.

“Is something bothering you?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go in.”

Though it seemed like something was indeed bothering her, she didn’t seem inclined to explain, so Gilbert opened the door and they entered the shop.

Inside, the shop was surprisingly clean, contrary to its exterior. It was impressively tidy, as if not a single speck of dust was allowed.

However, one odd thing stood out: all the weapons on display were swords. From common arming swords to massive greatswords that seemed almost impossible to wield, the variety was staggering.

Briana, a born swordsman, couldn’t help but shine with excitement as she looked at the displayed swords.

“The quality is excellent. And the prices are surprisingly low for such quality.”

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a better place than this.”

“How did you even know about this place?”

Briana picked up a sword and swung it a few times in the air. The balance was perfect, and there was no awkwardness in her movements. It felt like she had finally found a good sword.

“Long time no see, customers! Welcome!”

As Briana was evaluating the sword, a tall woman hurried out from the back and bowed to Gilbert and Briana. She had been working on something, as evidenced by the soot on her nose and cheeks.

Her red hair, damp with sweat, clung to her forehead as she beamed and placed the hammer she was holding into a holder on her leather apron.

“Hello! This is Ensis, a weapon shop specializing exclusively in swords! I’m Gwendolyn, the owner and swordmaster of this shop!”

After a few coughs, Gwendolyn introduced herself with a bright smile, clearly eager not to let the customers leave without a proper greeting.

“Do you have a specific sword in mind? Whatever it is, we have it all here!”

The customers, for some reason, just stared at her without any reaction. Feeling uneasy, Gwendolyn spoke even more cheerfully, but the response remained the same.

Feeling awkward, Gwendolyn finally took a closer look at the customers. They were a couple, and their visuals were quite striking.

The man had a rugged appearance, with a large build, tanned skin, and golden piercings that jingled near his ears, adding to his rough image. However, his face completely reversed that negative impression. He was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen, with a face that could turn even a back-alley thug into a charming rogue. He looked like the kind of bad boy you’d fall for despite knowing better.

The woman, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Her long red hair and blue eyes gave off a cold, meticulous vibe, and her posture and the muscles visible through her clothes indicated she was a skilled swordsman. Gwendolyn, being a high-level swordmaster herself, could tell at a glance that this woman had trained with a sword for a long time.

*This is no time for this.*

Gwendolyn shook her head, snapping out of her analysis. She needed to sell a sword, especially since her shop had been struggling financially. If she let these customers slip away, her shop’s funds would be in serious trouble.

“What kind of sword are you looking for? If it’s an arming sword, how about this one? The grip is made from salamander leather for an excellent feel. Or if you’re looking for a longsword, take a look at this one!”

Gilbert couldn’t help but smile as he looked at Gwendolyn, who was exactly like her in-game counterpart. In Tactical Combat, she grew into one of the top swordmasters, but her early days were quite clumsy. Even now, her skill in forging swords was unmatched, but she had no talent for business and was always struggling financially.

This was because the current era was dominated by colossal mechs, not human-wielded cold weapons. Shops specializing in cold weapons were already declining, and those dealing with mech equipment were on the rise. Naturally, only swordmasters’ shops remained, and small weapon shops were gradually closing due to financial difficulties.

Gwendolyn’s situation was no different. With no customers coming in, she was struggling financially. She hadn’t yet become the renowned swordmaster who would shake the continent, so few people visited her unproven shop. Moreover, her insistence on only dealing with swords further limited her customer base.

However, even though she would become a world-class swordmaster in the future, the swords she made now were of a quality hard to find elsewhere. The mass-produced sword Briana had just swung was of a level you’d only find in premium lines elsewhere.

*Hidden gem, as they say.*

Gwendolyn’s rise to fame in the empire would come later, thanks to a mercenary who happened to visit her shop. Word spread that she sold high-quality swords at bargain prices, eventually leading to her becoming the renowned swordmaster Gwendolyn.

Later, she would marry that mercenary, who was the first to recognize the value of her swords, and she would supply him with equipment at nearly no cost. This was the first step in the human rights equipment farming route. Instead of the mercenary, players would take that role, securing a stable supply of equipment or helping her run the shop to gain initial capital.

Moreover, Gwendolyn was a heroine with a romance route and achievements. Even seasoned players often used this route to work on romance achievements while farming human rights equipment.

Gilbert, recalling his own achievements, picked up one of the longswords Gwendolyn had brought out. Swinging it in the air like Briana had, he immediately recognized it as the core sword of Gwendolyn’s route.

“You have an excellent eye! That longsword is made from black iron produced in the Lithuania region! It’s lighter than regular iron but harder, so you’ll be satisfied with its performance.”

“It’s a good sword.”

The sword made from black iron produced in the Lithuania Territory ruled by the Lion Heart family. In the game, it was simply called “Gwendolyn’s Black Iron Sword,” but in reality, it was an item usable even in the mid-to-late game.

If Gwendolyn had already become a great swordmaster, this sword would be worth a fortune, but given her current financial struggles, it could be bought for a ridiculously low price.

“Master, would you like to try it?”

“I won’t refuse.”

When Gilbert handed the sword to Briana, even she, who rarely showed emotion, widened her eyes slightly. Her level was beyond mere swordsmanship, but as a swordsman, it was natural to desire a good sword.

“It’s very light. The mana conduction is also excellent.”

Briana infused the sword with blue mana and marveled at its incredibly fast mana conduction. She was certain it was the best sword she’d seen in recent times.

“Ah! Customer!”

“Ah, my apologies. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a good sword, so I got a bit carried away. I’ll apologize.”

“No, it’s not that…”

Gwendolyn, being deeply passionate about swords, was also very interested in swordsmen. After all, she believed that a sword was most beautiful when wielded by a skilled swordsman.

And the level Briana had just displayed was clearly extraordinary.

If she were to wield one of Gwendolyn’s swords…

*Gulp.*

Gwendolyn’s eyes sparkled even more.

“So! How about it, customers? Will you buy the black iron sword?”

“It’s a good sword, but I’m not the one who…”

“I’ll buy it.”

Just as Briana was about to decline, thinking she didn’t need to buy a sword, Gilbert stepped in.

The reason they had come here was for this black iron sword. There was no need to leave such a good piece of equipment unused, and more importantly, Gilbert wanted to build a relationship with Gwendolyn.

“Ah! You, customer? But…”

“Is there a problem?”

Gilbert, seeing Gwendolyn hesitate, infused the sword with golden mana, just as Briana had. The overflowing mana was impressive.

Gwendolyn’s eyes sparkled again. Gilbert had just proven himself to be a swordsman who met her standards.

“Not at all!”

“Then I’ll purchase this sword. How much?”

“Ah! The price… How about 10 gold…?”

Gilbert clicked his tongue at the price Gwendolyn hesitantly mentioned. Seeing her flinch, she nervously subtracted five gold coins.

Though she had exceptional talent as a swordmaster, she was hopeless at business. In the game, her eventual lover, the mercenary, had felt sorry for her and helped her out, eventually leading to their romance. It seemed that was true in reality as well.

“If it’s too expensive, I can give a discount…!”

“It’s not that. It’s just that you’re selling it for too low a price.”

“But 10 gold is quite a lot.”

“Black iron is quite hard to come by, isn’t it?”

“Ah! Fortunately, I have a contact in Lithuania, so I was able to get it at a lower price than usual!”

Seeing her cheerful smile, Gilbert felt a slight headache. He sighed deeply and placed the black iron sword on the counter.

“You don’t need to go into such details. Moreover, my father, under the imperial decree, has been reducing the supply of black iron, so the price of this sword should be higher.”

“Is that so? Your father has been reducing the supply of black iron… Wait, your father?!”

Gwendolyn’s eyes widened. Her emerald eyes shook uncontrollably as she realized Gilbert’s identity.

“I’ve been rude! Gwendolyn Ensis apologizes!”

“There’s no need for that.”

“No! I had no idea I was meeting Gilbert, who single-handedly faced dozens of colossal mechs!”

“You know me?”

“Everyone’s been talking about you lately. Then, is the person with you…?”

“Yes. She’s my master.”

“Ah! The Swordmaster!”

Gwendolyn’s eyes filled with respect. She had always dreamed of a skilled swordsman wielding her swords. Now, with the renowned Swordmaster Briana and her direct disciple before her, she couldn’t help but feel moved.

“I could die without regrets now.”

“That would be a loss for the empire. Losing a swordmaster like you is something the imperial family wouldn’t want.”

Briana, who had been silently observing, spoke, and Gwendolyn felt like she was floating on air.

To receive praise from Briana, known as the Empire’s number one sword, was overwhelming. She couldn’t help but clench her fists and break into a wide smile.

“Thank you! I’ll work even harder!”

“I understand you’ll work hard, but let’s continue discussing the black iron sword.”

“Ah! I’m sorry. Meeting Briana was a dream come true…”

Gilbert stopped Gwendolyn as she tried to bow, a gesture he was familiar with from the game.

“It’s fine. Let’s talk about the black iron sword. 10 gold is too low.”

“Is it…? I thought it was a fair price.”

“Considering the value of black iron, it’s not. Moreover, the quality of the sword is such that even my master is satisfied, so you should charge at least three times that.”

In fact, 30 gold wasn’t a small amount, but considering the controlled supply of black iron and the sword’s quality, it was the minimum reasonable price. Generally, a high-quality longsword would cost around 10 gold, so 30 gold wasn’t exorbitant.

Even now, this sword could easily sell for over 30 gold.

“That much?”

“It’s the minimum. You need to value your own work more.”

“Thank you for valuing it so highly.”

Gwendolyn’s eyes sparkled even more. She was probably thinking that the 30 gold she was about to earn would solve her financial troubles.

“In that sense, I have a proposal.”

“Anything!”

Her voice was now filled with energy, a stark contrast to when they first met. It seemed that having a full pocket truly boosted one’s confidence.

Gilbert, seeing that the time was right, began the task of initiating the human rights equipment farming route.

“I want to make a contract with you. The contract would involve regularly supplying swords.”

“Regularly… Do you mean the Demia Empire Academy?”

“No, I don’t have that authority. I’m talking about the Lion Heart Count family.”

This was a different proposal from the non-Academy route, but seasoned players always found ways to make the most of any situation.

Preparing for the next main scenario with her help would yield two significant benefits: a steady supply of high-quality swords and regular deliveries from a future great swordmaster.

These two alone were immense advantages.

*This always reminds me of reality.*

In the game, this method was difficult if you took the Academy route, but for Gilbert now, it was possible. In the game, actions were restricted upon entering the Academy route, but that wasn’t the case now.

The only concern was whether his father, the Count of Lithuania, would approve of such a contract, even though Gilbert was the eldest son of the Lion Heart family. Given his past as a troublemaker, some retainers might oppose it.

*If it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to ask Dorothy.*

He thought of his younger sister, who had recently returned to the Lithuania Territory with Glinda.

Dorothy had started to warm up to him after recent events, though her attitude was still different from how she treated Glinda. Still, it was a significant improvement from before. If he explained the situation, she might agree to help.

“The contract would involve regularly supplying swords to the Lion Heart family. If the quality is guaranteed, I can also discuss black iron with my father.”

“That would be wonderful!”

With the prospect of stable funding for her shop, Gwendolyn began to look at Gilbert as if he were a savior.

Realizing he had made a good impression, Gilbert placed 30 gold coins on the counter to pay for the black iron sword.

Gwendolyn’s eyes naturally followed the gold coins.

“We’ll discuss the details later.”

“Understood. I’ll be eagerly waiting.”

As she received the gold coins, Gwendolyn smiled brightly.

Though she had been told the black iron sword was valuable, she seemed satisfied with the price, showing no greed.

*Is it her nature?*

Gilbert inwardly shook his head and approached Briana with the black iron sword.

“Isn’t it almost time for our reservation?”

“Yes. Have you finished your business?”

“For now, yes.”

“Alright. Let’s go then.”

As Briana headed out, Gilbert followed, still sensing her discomfort.

“Master.”

“What is it?”

Once outside, Gilbert stopped Briana, who was about to head to their reserved location. Though he didn’t know why she was upset, their visit wasn’t solely to meet Gwendolyn.

He casually handed her the black iron sword they had just purchased.

“It’s a gift.”

“…A gift?”

Briana, caught off guard, accepted the sword, her eyebrow twitching slightly.

“During the Academy attack, you risked your life to protect the cadets.”

“As an Academy professor, it was only natural.”

“Natural or not, it’s not an easy thing to do.”

“The same goes for you.”

“This could go on forever. I just wanted to express my gratitude on behalf of the cadets.”

Protecting the cadets without hesitation was not something that could be called merely “natural.” It was an act of nobility and sublimity.

“As a professor, protecting the cadets is only natural. There’s no reason to be thanked for it.”

Her utterly matter-of-fact demeanor made Gilbert inwardly smirk.

*This is so like Briana.*

This was exactly why he had struggled so hard to save her.

“Moreover, you also risked your life to protect the Academy. It doesn’t make sense for me to receive thanks from you.”

She tried to hand the sword back, her firm gaze indicating she wouldn’t accept it.

Gilbert shook his head, realizing he couldn’t persuade her.

*She’s impossible to convince.*

“That’s not all. It’s also a token of gratitude for teaching me so well.”

“That’s also…”

“As your disciple, it’s only natural to give my master a gift as a token of appreciation.”

“As a disciple’s duty…”

Briana flinched slightly, her heart wavering. She often spoke of a master’s duty, so hearing the opposite had a strange effect on her.

Thus, a peculiar standoff ensued, with one holding out the sword and the other standing still.

Gilbert, thinking this could go on for a while, added,

“And isn’t it customary to give a gift on the first date? Just think of it as your disciple’s heartfelt gesture.”

Briana’s eyebrow twitched again. She seemed to have something to say but remained silent.

After a moment of thought, Briana

 

---