There are quite a couple Hermes Shoes at the start of the game, that's the only way you can get your hands on them unfortunately (Since getting them to drop from random encounters is off-limits).

It might be worth plowing the caves in hope of some, unless you know you got them all whilst at the point in the game.

Good job getting this far, (and not to mention overtaking me twice), I'm sure you can beat Zeromus somehow, don't give up.

As for me, I tryed my hand at Rubricant a few times, he catches me out with that strong fire spell he likes to use, and with my weak weapons (I didn't pick up new equipment, due to insufficiant funds) slowly chewing at his HPs the battle goes on for quite a while.