You didn't expect this, did you? I've time-traveled again!

"It's so heavy, can you even lift it?" Huihui asked, her face full of doubt.

She was a Grand Magister, and her physical strength was even inferior to that of Kazuma Sato. Seeing such a heavy shield, she couldn't help but wonder if Darkness could even lift it.

"It should be fine..."

The naturally impulsive Aqua crouched down, intending to lift the large shield that lay on the ground.

"Heave-ho, heave-ho... heave-ho!"

After trying to lift it for a long time, the giant shield remained completely still.

"No, no..."

Aqua said breathlessly, "It's too heavy, I can't lift it."

"Idiot Aqua, you call yourself that? You can't even lift a regular shield." Sato Kazuma mocked her mercilessly, making Aqua's face turn extremely ugly.

"Which one is that?"

Aqua tugged at Kazuma Sato's collar, pointed at the giant shield, and said, "I'm just a high priest, how could my physical abilities compare to Darkness's?"

Perhaps unwilling to be mocked like this, she said to Kazuma Sato:

"That's right!"

If Kazuma can lift it up, then I'll give him my share of the task payment for today; conversely, if Kazuma can't lift it up, then I'll take all of Kazuma's payment.

how about it? "

Upon hearing Aqua's provocation, Kazuma Sato's eyes narrowed. "Oh ho~ Are you trying to provoke me?"

"Provocation? Oh, so what if it is!"

Aqua tilted her nose and said, "I'm just provoking you, so what can you do about it?"

"Hmph, fine, I accept!"

Kazuma Sato rolled up his sleeves. "But I'm going to raise the stakes!"

"Add to the bet?"

"That fancy sparkling wine you bought! If I can lift it, I want to drink that bottle!"

"Okay! Then my bet is your steak for dinner tonight!"

"Okay, I agree!"

Aqua looked the skinny Kazuma Sato up and down, and said with a disdainful expression, "Anyway, the good-for-nothing Kazuma can't lift it, so I'll just accept your raise!"

"That damned Aqua, how dare she look down on me!" Sato Kazuma angrily squatted down.

“Um…” Darkness was completely confused.

Wasn't this a shield custom-made for her? How did it suddenly become a tool for a gamble between the two of them?

"Hmph, foolish Aqua."

Sato Kazuma crouched down, revealing a sinister smile. "I'm a class that can learn all skills. Guess how many points I allocated to [Body Enhancement]?"

"N-Nani?"

Aqua was stunned, coughing in disbelief, "You are truly a despicable person."

But Kazuma Sato didn't care about that. In a rare display of his chuunibyou (middle school syndrome), he shouted:

"Maximize physical capabilities!"

Actually, nothing happened. [Body Enhancement] is a passive skill and won't be reflected on the surface.

"Get up—!!!"

"Get up, me—!!!"

Kazuma Sato, his face flushed, desperately tried to lift the giant shield.

However, even with all his might, he still failed.

"Give up, buddy."

The weapon shop owner, huddled behind the counter, propped his cheek on his right hand and said in a mysterious tone, "You can't lift it."

Upon hearing what the weapons shop owner said, Kazuma Sato immediately deflated and lay on his shield, panting heavily.

"why?"

Huihui, ever the curious one, asked the boss for the reason.

"Judging from the guy's gear, he's probably still a newbie."

The weapons shop owner chuckled, "And judging from what you just said about your profession, it's obvious that your stamina and strength stats are quite low."

"Yes...that's right."

"So, young man, do you know how heavy this shield is?"

"...How heavy is it?"

"200KG"

200KG—?! ...

Kazuma Sato exclaimed in surprise, "How am I supposed to use such a bulky shield?!"

Upon hearing what the weapons shop owner said, a sense of foreboding welled up inside him.

You see, it's not always like that:

An arrogant newcomer tries to show off and stand out, only to be scolded by the weapon shop owner for being ignorant and needing improvement.

really!

Here comes the trick!

"Hey buddy, are you looking down on me...?"

The weapon shop owner suddenly seemed angry for some reason, saying, "Customers spend a lot of money to forge equipment, so of course I will offer my best skills and materials!"

As he spoke, he stood up from behind the counter.

His body was unusually large, at least 2 meters tall!

He was a strong, muscular man, as imposing as an iron tower.

Compared to the other two, Kazuma Sato looks like a little chick.

He walked up to Kazuma Sato, his eyes blazing with anger at being insulted.

Kazuma Sato closed his eyes, bracing himself for a beating, but no slap landed on him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the weapon shop owner squatting down.

Raise your shield and assume a defensive stance.

"What a powerful sense of oppression!" Darkness exclaimed sincerely.

A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

The towering boss, holding a giant shield, gives the illusion of a human fortress.

"Look! This is the Magnarok Giant Shield, which I forged over 70 hours using extremely expensive refined iron ore magic stones!"

The boss wielded the giant shield with great force, his various defensive postures and angles were perfect, and the shield was handled with ease in his hands.

'His level is at least 30, and he's definitely a high-level knight.' Kazuma Sato thought to himself.

The weapons shop owner shouted, "That's how you use this shield!"

"Wow—!" X3

"Wow……"

Unlike the three women who exclaimed in surprise and admiration, Sato Kazuma's response was cold and perfunctory.

He hadn't forgotten that the shield was for Darkness in the squad.

The weapon shop owner can use it without any problem, but can Darkness use it properly? Don't end up like them, unable to even lift it, or you'll be doomed.

"Little girl, this shield is for you, isn't it?"

The weapons shop owner looked at Darkness and said, "Indeed, only you can wear this knight's outfit."

"Here you go, take it."

He handed the shield to Darkness, passing on his adventurous spirit like a torch being passed on.

"Oh!"

Darkness took the shield and struck a few poses, mimicking the weapon shop owner from before.

I must say, it looks pretty good.

It didn't seem like she was carrying anything heavy, and she used it with ease.

"Little girl, you're quite talented!"

"Not at all, I'm far inferior to you."

"Haha, keep it up! You're the last line of defense for your teammates, so don't let them get hurt."

"Yes, I will heed your teachings!"

Seeing the two talking so well, Kazuma Sato covered his face and whispered, "I forgot, our Crusader is not only a pervert, but also a sluggish idiot when it comes to physical strength."

"Oh, and I'll give you another gift!"

The weapons shop owner is preparing to give Darkness, who has a keen sense of smell, a gift.

He turned back to the counter, rummaged around behind it for a long time, and finally pulled out a dark object.

He wiped away the dust with a heavy heart.

Instantly, the dark object began to radiate its own unique and magnificent light once again.

—It's a silver helmet!

"This is my old equipment, but I don't need it anymore, so I'll give it to you."

He cherishes the past, yet decides to pass on his 'longing'.

"Thank you for your gift, I accept it with gratitude!" Darkness did not refuse, but accepted it after expressing her thanks.