Usopp was only curious about what he should do now. He now had his own adventure to run, left on his own with his own "crew" to run with. He looked to Abigail walking next to him as she smoked her pipe that she filled with herbs to help soothe her body. Abigail didn't get out much and she got nervous in crowds.
Usopp understood that. He also understood that before he can get back to his crew he had to take care of this world's problem. He couldn't, in good conscience, leave these people to die just to get back to his home and crew.
He knew from the conversation they had in the library that this world had magic which made stars shoot from his eyes at the concept that, yes, he could be a magician or even a WIZARD. It was like a dream come true without the horror of the Grand Line or the fear of being cursed forever to sink in water from a Devil Fruit.
His giddiness to learn more had made Abigail blush at the time. She didn't expect such a reaction from a Cardinal Hero nor that he didn't care about her "assets" and kept his gaze solely on her eyes and face when most men (and even some women) just stared at her breasts. She perfectly understood why, but it was nice that the supposedly most childish hero had the manners to not stare at her chest as they talked and prefered talking to her about her knowledge on magic and facts about the world.
Of course, an adventure couldn't start on camaraderie alone. Even Luffy had a boat when he met Zoro after all. Thus, Usopp had money to buy supplies, but the question was: Just what did he need?
From simple testing he couldn't grab anything he considered a weapon. So no daggers, knives, slingshots or shields. Luckily, armor didn't count so Usopp planned on getting some leather armor to protect his joints and weak points, maybe even finding clothing with the ability to enhance strength and magic. After all, if Abigail was the only member of his party, he should put money in ensuring her safety, right?
"Hey, do you know anywhere nearby where we could get me some magic books, some extra clothes for you, and where I can try to find some type of magic implement for you to use while I think of ways to improve my bow?" Usopp decided to ask Abigail since he felt a little lost and as if someone was watching him.
"I know a few places nearby that we can go shopping for our goods," She replied easily after blowing out a bit of smoke, "How much silver did they give you again? I kind of fell asleep due to staying up so late," Abigail asked embarrassedly while covering her face with her brimmed hat.
Usopp could only chuckle embarrassment and pat Abigail on the back while keeping his eyes forward to see where they were going.
A few minutes later they appeared in front of a shop called the Magician's Tome. Usopp went through the front door while hearing the bell ring from above the door as the scent of dried paper, leather and wood permeated Usopp's senses. He quickly took note of a middle aged woman dressed in a more traditional witch uniform while she looked up from her book and smiled at the pair.
"Oh! Abigail my dear, what brings you here today? Perhaps to read more of my 'forbidden' tomes or dark forbidden knowledge on curses?" The shop owner teased, trying to sound spooky if not for the fact Abigail was blushing redder then her hair, stammering out a reply.
"No-o-o-o-o-o Mag-gi-e. I just wanted to bring my new companion Usopp to go shopping for magical reading materials."
"Ah, our fair Bow Hero. What kind of spells are you looking for today, hmmm?" She asked before diving behind her counter as she brought out gilded tomes, grimoires, and books of various binds and sizes, "Oh, but a good adventurer Hero or otherwise will want to know their affinity for the arts~" As she rose from her counter, she brought out a clear orb upon a pedestal.
Usopp looked at the crystal ball in confusion and asked,"Are you going to predict our future or something? How will that tell me what magic I am good at?"
The woman only smiled and laughed a little at his question, "Oh no, dear! I won't be using the ball, you will!~" She said excitedly as she slid the ball forward, "Just place your hand on the crystal and it should tell us what we want to know." As Usopp placed his hand upon the orb, a gentle hum emanated from the ball as a small brown orb began to form within, "It seems you have an affinity to earthen magic," Maggie said happily as she ducked away and returned with a tome, "This should help you get started. Will that be all, dearies?"
"Abigail?" Usopp had questioned as he released his hold, "Did you want to use the crystal ball as well?"
"M-me!?" The crimson haired witch shouted, "No, no of course not! I'm already well aware of my abilities!~" She replied with a playful, yet forced wave.
Humming in thought, Usopp gave the tome a quick read, only barely managing to understand the texts from Abigail's impromptu lessons before he looked at Maggie, "Would it be alright if we spent a bit more time here? I'd be more than happy to pay for your time and aid in better understanding the texts."
"That's a wonderful idea, deary!" Maggie replied happily, "Come come, let's help you better acquaint yourself with your magic with a a bit of practical application."
After quite some time and with nothing left to gain, the pair had left the ever smiling shop keeper, Usopp that much more confident.
The duo, finding that hunger had slowly crept up on them, decided that a snack at a local restaurant/inn was in order. Upon entering, the duo had been greeted by the groans of a very tired group of adventurers Usopp had recognized as the Spear Hero's party members, albeit far fewer in number.
"I think my muscle pain has muscle pain…" A man garbed in red moaned.
"I can't even feel my muscles…" An identical man in green added.
"It is either this or stomach the stew…" A larger man in golden armor groaned.
"It's actually not that bad," A more regal woman said, though she looked rather tired.
"Oh no, it's baaack~" A little girl whined as a massive bowl filled with a black tar was slammed onto their table.
"You will devour every last bite," Kratos had spoken before leaving.
"That does not look pleasant," Usopp cringed as he idly watched the group gingerly eat the blackened mass.
"I can smell it from here," Abigail commented, "And it does not smell appetizing."
"Still, food is food, and our ship's chef would scold and chastise us if we wasted food," Usopp added as he looked at the rag tag group slowly and painfully emptying the bowl into their stomachs.
"Still needs salt," The noblewoman among the Spear Hero group commented as the others got to gossiping.
"We got a lot of parts and weapons from those monsters," 'Red' muttered.
"Forget the monsters," 'Green' cut in, "What about the talking statue?"
"Silence, the both of you," Their golden giant chastised, "The walls have ears, and this is something that Lord Kratos would want us to not speak of."
The group grumbled silently as they talked among themselves, sometimes speaking of their chosen Hero, sometimes lamenting having to stomach the black stew, and other times of certain aspects of the Spear itself.
"So I can put anything inside this bow?" Usopp wondered aloud as he and Abigail continued to eavesdrop. He had even started to wonder if it would be possible to turn the bow into a giant slingshot instead. While the bow is fine for him he would prefer a slingshot as he was used to. Humming in thought, Usopp decided that he needed to know more about what the beasts of this world has in store for him and calmly walked up to the rag tag group.
"Hey, isn't that?" Green asked as he looked up.
"The Bow Hero?" Red added.
At being recognized Usopp straightened his spine and smiled in such a way that it almost gleamed, "Why yes it is I, the great Usopp. Hero of the Bow!"
The group of five collectively raised a single eyebrow in perfect unison before the giant in gold armor spoke up, "Have you business with us, Bow Hero?" He asked curiously.
Usopp had thusly asked as to the creatures the group had faced recently and what he should or could expect on the road before the bored noble, Elena Haven pointed him in Erhard's direction.
The trip to the blacksmith was a short one thankfully, though there had been many a prying eye leveled upon Abigail… or more specifically a certain area of hers. The two couldn't get inside fast enough.
"Wel-" A rough voice called out before stopping as the two looked up at who could only be the blacksmith in question who slowly and painfully sighed, "Lemme guess, Cardinal Hero?" He asked as if already lamenting the encounter.
Usopp just nodded his head slowly, " Yep I am the great Usopp, Hero of the Bow. Why do you looks so glum? Were the other heroes not as accommodating as you thought?"
Erhard gestured to the floor, a massive piece of shattered iron lodged into the ground, "I'll admit, Shield Lady was nice and all, but that monster…" The blacksmith shuddered before shaking his head, "Well, I've learned my lesson let's say and move on. Anything in particular catch your eye?"
Usopp looks at the shattered iron and thinks to himself for a second, "Hmm I could use this iron to make a good pair of gauntlets or pauldrons for me to wear. Are there any other materials or metals you would need to add to it? My companion here may need something more cloth or light metal like to defend herself with. Got any good suggestions?"
Perking up, Erhard took to carefully dislodging the metal, already lamenting the fact that it would be doing quite a bit of damage on its way out, "Don't have many strong fabrics," He explained as he did his best to mitigate the damage, "I usually only work with leathers whenever an adventurer or client needs something light.
"It's funny you mention Light Metal as I happen to have a single bar left," Grunting, he finally freed the broken sword tip and placed it on the counter, "The only mine where its ore comes from has been closed for quite some time. Now you said you wanted gauntlets? I could suggest a bit more iron and some leather if you want something practical. Steel if you're looking to invest in a bit more protection, silver if you want it to look flashy while at least being somewhat useful…"
"I wouldn't feel very comfortable in armor," Abigail said, "But if you could provide a cloak?"
Nodding, Erhard had left for the backroom before returning with several ores and bars of various metals as he then walked through his shop until he found a heavy faded green cloak, "It ain't the prettiest thing, but it'll fend off more than a few bites and claws." Abigail took the cloak gingerly and wrapped around her body.
Usopp thought she looked quite fetching with the green cloak complimenting her hair and eyes. It covered her back and went down to just above her feet. Usopp realized that the clothing Abigail wore while quite revealing did still give her freedom of movement needed to run away which is the most important part in Usopp's opinion. He did thanks the heavens she didn't wear heels. Those death footwear are certain death for any person who needed to book it out of a battlefield. He always wondered how Nami could run so fast wearing her heels.
Abigail felt Usopp's eyes on her and she was blushing slightly as his eyes roamed over her body, however she didn't feel any perversion from Usopp. She was still glad for that. The amount of eyes roaming over her breasts got annoying most of the time, especially when she needed an honest opinion about magic or knowledge that she was looking for.
Too many of the people she talked to, women included, were too busy wondering how she could walk around with her hooters to pay attention to what she was saying. In that regard she was being spoiled a little by her chosen hero.
"I'm feeling mighty generous today, so you can walk away with that cloak for twenty silver," Erhard said with a smile, "Gimme a bit of time and I'll have this slab of metal reworked by the next time you're here."