Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 139: Drama & Errands - A Change of Pace

The dyesmith shop was a snug, dimly lit sanctuary tucked away in a quiet alley off main street. The air hung thick with the distinct aroma of fresh paint—earthy, rich, and a little sharp, mingling with the faint mustiness of aging wood. Jars of vibrant pigments lined the shelves, their colors ranging from deep blues to fiery crimsons, casting a spectrum of hues across the dimly lit room.

"You're a fresh face around here," the shopkeeper greeted without looking up, her sharp gaze focused intently on the elegant breastplate she was refining.

"Yeah, I've been getting that a lot lately," Daisuke muttered, his gaze sweeping over the organized chaos of fabrics, leather, and half-finished armor pieces strewn across the workbenches. Each station seemed to hold a project in some stage of transformation.

"Where do you hail from?" she asked inquisitively, the fluid, rhythmic sound of her practiced brushstrokes filling the room.

Daisuke, however, didn't let the soothing sounds lower his guard. "I'm from a small village out past the town limits," he replied cautiously.

The woman smiled, clearly familiar with her fair share of secretive customers. "Ah, a mysterious one, are we? No matter—I'm sure you have your reasons. Now then, what would you like me to work on for you?"

Daisuke laid out several leather armor pieces, along with a cloak, on an empty table. "I'd like these dyed black and silver. Do you think you can manage it?"

The woman glanced down at the equipment, taking in its vibrant blend of blue, gray, and white. "Such a shame," she murmured, almost wistfully, as if lamenting the lost potential. "It's already got such a beautiful mix of colors. But I suppose, as a rogue or assassin, you'd stick out like a sore thumb, even in the dark."

"Impressive insight," Daisuke said, offering a faint smile. "But honestly, I just have a strong aversion to bright colors."

"I understand you have your reasons," the woman said with a thoughtful nod. "I've got a bit of a backlog, but I can have these ready for you by tomorrow morning, if that works for you."

"That works perfectly," Daisuke replied.

"Great, then I'll see you tomorrow."

Daisuke gave a casual wave as he turned to leave. "Thanks again."

***

Thalia raised a copy of the Monster Guide Handbook in front of her face with a panicked yelp, clutching it like a shield as though the thick pages might somehow fend off the sinister forces closing in on her.

"Thalia, my love," crooned a handsome adventurer from across the counter, his dazzling presence blinding the onlookers. "Our love was ordained by the gods themselves! Resisting the red string of fate that binds us—it's utterly pointless." With a flourish, he tossed his luscious hair and blew a dramatic kiss in the clerk's direction. "Mwah!"

"Kyaa~!" Thalia cried out once more as the heart, summoned by the man's fiery love, drifted toward her like a glowing ember.

The instant it collided with the thick cover of the handbook, missing its chance to nestle against her cheeks—or, even better, her soft, plum lips—it grew visibly enraged.

Suddenly, the heart took on a fierce expression, sprouting the muscular arms and chiseled abs of a bodybuilder. With a battle cry, it launched a flurry of punches against the book, each strike fueled by the fierce desire to break through and reach its "delicious objective."

All of a sudden, Thalia stopped screaming; her feminine intuition didn't miss the moment that Daisuke stepped into the guild lobby. Her face lit up as soon as she spotted him. With a casual flick of her wrist, she backhanded the love-struck suitor like he was no more than an annoying fly, extinguishing his radiant aura as though someone had blown out a candle.