Defense specialization and the four-tiered area two.

Leaving the shop, the two secured a人力車 nearby and moved along the cobblestone path, feeling a pleasant vibration through the frame. Travel by air-machine was possible, but this time they wished first to examine Kasumi's notes.

"…Can I really tell these apart?"

"Each page separates by type—sword by sword, jar by jar. I'll check from the back while you go from the front."

"Then I'll take half! That's fine, right?"

"I already asked you to handle the first half!"

"Got it! I'll leave the second half to you!"

"Ah, okay. Just leave it to me."

With detailed images included, Maple and the others easily knew where to focus their attention.

As they reviewed the notes, the人力車 reached its destination. They paid the fare and stepped down, opening the door before them.

"Wha…?"

"Ah—quite a few, aren't there?"

More antiques lined up than in the previous shop. Some among these may hold the item needed for the quest. Some may not.

Even if all were bought, unable to distinguish them, no result would be achieved.

Therefore, it is necessary to carefully identify the required items by comparing them with the notes.

"I'll start with weapons first. That came to mind immediately."

"Heh, very like Sally."

"What about you, Maple?"

"I'll look at the vases instead."

"Sometimes, two or three might be present. We must be careful."

"Right!"

The two opened their notes for reference and compared each item before them with the written entries.

Maple stood before the row of large vases, examining each one closely against the notes.

"Um... this one... no pattern. This one... ah, is the color slightly different?"

The presence of reference items means she need not gamble on a guess that merely feels plausible.

She studies the vase for a long moment. Concludes, without doubt, that nothing here matches what is sought. Moves without pause to the next set of tea ware.

—Hmph… color, shape, size…

She mutters the notes, eyes narrowed like shallow bowls, scanning each piece to avoid missing anything. Stops before one tea caddy.

—This… yes, yes, yes! Sally!

—Oh, found it?

—Hmm…?

Still before purchase, they can retreat if wrong. They check the notes together, confirm the features with care.

—Matches… yes, that’s it.

—Knew it?

—Yes.

—Then we’ll take this one.

—I’ve found something I’d like too.

—Huh? What? Let’s go see!

—Over here, over here.

Sally led them to a spear. They examined it closely together, deciding whether to buy it.

"It seems safe."

"Maple too?"

"Yeah!"

"Then we’ll take this one. Maybe there’s a third?"

"Let’s see them all!"

"We’re not in a hurry. It’s the first time, after all."

After thoroughly inspecting every antique, they concluded only two matched their notes. They decided to buy the tea caddy and the spear.

"Wait… how do we get a discount?"

"From what we saw, Kasumi had options then… not having one now might mean it’s something only Kasumi can do in the fourth layer."

"Will we have enough money…?"

"Should be fine if we don’t make a mistake. After all, it’s a quest. It shouldn’t be set up to fail."

Regardless, this is a question with no answer now. They pay the gold as marked, hoping their judgment was not flawed. Two items are purchased.

"Spear—! [Narcissus]! This one’s [Hollyhock]!"

"Wait—so both were right?"

"Looks like it! Good!"

Maple exhales, relieved, and smiles at the promising start. Her judgment, checked against the notes, was correct.

"Phew… maybe I was nervous."

"Indeed. But you’ve gained confidence, haven’t you?"

"Let’s keep going like this!"

"Then I’ll call a carriage."

"Got it!"

Even in the short pause, she reviews the notes. She memorizes the pages not yet known, preparing for the next shop.

Continuing their shopping in the fourth-layer district, they visit every antique shop assigned by Kasumi. When they emerge from the final shop, they confirm the items lined up in their inventory.

They have purchased enough named antiques to consider the task complete.

"Did well, didn't we?"

"Yeah. The notes really helped."

"Right! Thanks to them, we didn’t buy any fakes!"

The notes Kasumi had written detailed the traits of genuine pieces. By carefully comparing each item against the notes, they might miss a genuine piece—but the chance of accidentally buying a forgery was low. It had been a request, so they had examined the notes thoroughly, and checked each purchase together before buying. Not a single forgery was purchased.

"Shall we contact Kasumi and meet up?"

"Let’s do that!"

They agreed to meet at the guildhome, and the two ascended into the sky aboard a flying machine.