The six of them enjoyed a night camp instead of going back to the village and getting into an inn. It is different from their first plan but just like what Luna had said as they were setting up camp.
'Sometimes being spontaneous is quite fun. When your plans aren't going the way you had desired, who knows it might bring a different adventure instead.'
Julian felt amused with this group.
They are eighteen years old but they aren't the same as the others he knew who would plan out their future even the farthest one. Those who wanted a house of their own, or a title of their own, or even the riches they would amass as long as they worked hard.
This group is acting like it doesn't matter if they have a big house or a lot of money. They are fine with the simplicity they are living now.
"I'll cook," Luna declared after they were able to set up camp.
Julian was even more amused when all four turned to her while shaking their heads vigorously.
"Luna just stay put. It is my and Preshea's turn to cook," Spencer pushed her from the back and let her sit by the fire.
"Hey!!" she complained.
"Here have some hot choco, freshly made from cocoa seeds that we have," Aaron handed her a cup.
"Some desserts from the bakery in the village we were at early this day," he added as Richard handed her some biscuits.
Luna puffed her cheeks but obediently sat there while enjoying her hot chocolate and biscuits.
"She can't cook?" Julian couldn't help but ask Aaron.
"She can cook. I mean anyone can cook. It is just a question of how mysterious the outcome will be," Aaron replied.
"And when she becomes even more energetic in cooking. The already mysterious meal will become even more mysterious," he added while shivering.
Of course, during the times when she cooked for them, her eyes were filled with the expectation that all they could do was to eat. And that is how they knew that it was not only the looks that were mysterious but even the taste itself.
They thought they would die.
She did eat it with them but they started wondering just what was wrong with her taste buds. Because she did not find anything odd about the meal she was eating.
Julian watched their group from the side and he could tell that they have spent so much time together they know what the other wants even with just a look or gesture.
While they rested, Luna walked to him.
She had been watching him while he was watching them. She was also watching him and she kept wondering about one thing.
"I..."
Julian looked at her waiting for what she wanted to say.
She furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side, she looked like she was contemplating over something.
In the end, she shook her head and took out a small black bag.
This was a dimensional bag.
Most people have it, but the price is so high that not all can buy it.
It is a bag that is small in its physical size but the inside was bigger.
The size of the inside was the same for all dimensional bags.
It is one by one by one meter.
The materials are not too rare but not too common and the way it is made is not simple either than the price had all of these considered.
They tried making smaller ones but their durability is far less than making it will just be a waste of the materials.
They tried making it bigger but the materials used would double even if they were to add half a meter only. Doubling the size would mean that the materials used would be tripled. Once again making it is a waste as the durability is lesser as well.
The current size was the most optimal one.
The durability is high and the materials used are just enough, nothing is wasted.
They have the usual small bags to put some herbs or potions and bandages, just like that of Preshea's waist bag.
Since it will be a hassle to look into the dimensional bag for the smaller things. It is not so magical that you only need to think about it and you would be able to take it.
So, one also needed to make sure what they put in it wouldn't be lost under the pile.
It is still possible to fix it like a room you would usually fix and the opening can become as big as a window to allow you to look better.
"I heard that Antlia Kingdom has a lot of weapon smiths. Is there anyone who can make a good weapon with this?"
She took out a metal that was as big as two adult heads.
Julian's eyes widened, this material is rare. As rare as the material used in creating the black orbs. Yet she was hiding something as big as this?
Just the size alone could create three swords whose price could only be measured in an auction. It is something that couldn't be priced by merchants because of how precious the material is. Auctions are the only place where it could be bought and the starting price would always be 1 billion gold.
1,000 gold could provide a commoner's family for a year.
And 10,000 gold could allow a low-ranking noble to live luxuriously for a month.
This means that the metal in Luna's hand has the price of more than three billion golds.
It is the same as becoming a mid-rank noble in the kingdom.
You cannot compare to the nobles such as Marquis or Counts who have a long family history. Or even a dukedom.
But their group could live a very comfortable and luxurious life, with servants to attend them, for the rest of their lives with what she has.
It was a stone called Lapis, it resembles the night sky with a field of stars.
"Is this the reason why you all are being laid back?" he asked after seeing the metal in her hand.
"Huh?" Luna was baffled.
"That metal and its size can create three weapons. And those three weapon's prices will surely skyrocket in an auction. Is that why you don't seem like you are worrying about your future expenses at all?"
Luna could tell he was genuinely curious but she didn't like the way he asked that everything is about living comfortably or being rich. There are more to this world, the beasts and the demons.
Living comfortably is fine but to achieve that one should have a weapon that could defend against the enemies lurking around.
And that is the goal of their group, a simple comfortable life without worrying about not keeping up with the battles just because their weapons are not capable enough to defeat the stronger beasts.
Riches will be nothing when you are dead.
Her priority is surviving and she wouldn't care even if she spends a whole load of money just to have proper equipment with her.
"Geez, don't lump us together with those who only know how to flaunt their money. We don't care about that. I needed a weapon with this," she even raised the metal in her hand.
"I see."
She frowned, even more, this person didn't seem like he believed her.
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever you want to believe. Anyway, why don't you answer my question? Are there weapon smiths capable enough in your kingdom to make a weapon with this?"
Julian was lost for words seeing her reaction to his response of not entirely believing her words.
He thought that maybe she did not know how precious the metal in her hands was.
"You do know how precious that is, right?"
Most people who would see it would instantly dream about their life ahead and how comfortable it will be. Dreaming of the servants that will attend to them and the mansion they are living in.
Even some nobles would love to have it. They can have a weapon and they will even gain more with the rest of what is created.
"What do you think of me? I know what it is and for the second time, I have no desire to sell any of it. Or even the weapons that will come out of it."
Luna even hugged the metal as if hiding it away from his eyes.
"Why are people always thinking about money?" she even asked.
"Most people would think about money," he replied.
"Sorry to break it to you but we are not part of those so-called 'most people'. We don't need riches, what we need is to live. Simplicity doesn't mean we are not living."
Julian blinked.
He was not a person who would argue about the way someone wishes to live. He wouldn't even bat an eyelid on these talks. Yet why is he arguing with this person about what she wanted to do with her property?
It was a natural reaction for someone to think that the other would want money from such a precious metal.
He was just being realistic with his reaction.