“7-7,200 silver?!” Daisuke excimed in a matchbox of a room.
Jean scratched her cheek with an awkward smile, but she did her best to maintain her de. “Y-Yes, that’s right.”
Matters warranting utmost fidentiality were moved into secure, soundproof rooms reinforced with magic. It was important that merts felt secure and safe while dug business with the guild.
Sitting across the table from Daisuke, Jean looked down at the ?Magic Scale? again to verify the numbers. “7,200 silver s are equivalent to approximately seventy-two gold. After a six pert sales tax, your final total amounts to sixty-seven gold and sixty-eight silver.”
Daisuke swallowed, his eyes quivering as she slid the total amount of gold s across the table to him that were arranged in a stack. He still didn’t have a prehensive grip on the value of money, but he had a feeliy-two gold was a lot.
“Did you deduct the silver that I owe from it?”
Jean shook her head. “No, the written agreement is that it wouldn’t be due until the end of the month. Until then, be sure to spend wisely.”
“Thanks.”
***
“First things first,” Daisuke decred, his eyes drawn to the hanging signpost of the shoe and apparel store. “Nobody’s ever going to take me seriously dressed like this. As they say, the clothes make the man.”
With a jihe door announced his arrival, and he romptly greeted by the establishment’s owner—a figure adorned in a remarkable outfit, topped by an even more impressive mustache.
The man’s gaze raked over Daisuke with skepticism, a quick assumption of a window shopper or potential thief apparent in his scrutiny—likely both. “Are you certain you’ve located the proper establishment?” he said by means of introdu.
“Well, based on your manners, I’m beginning to question that myself,” Daisuke retorted, fshing his purse with a certairical fir.
The transformation in the shopkeeper’s demeanor was notable, his carefully coiled mustache unraveling in a rush of enthusiasm. “Oh! My apologies, Sir,” he bowed with a humbled tilt, his hands ing together in eager anticipation. “Wele tton Threads. How may I be of service?”
Daisuke regarded him bndly, pokerfaced. It’s amazing how quickly his tune ged the moment he saw some money. “I’m a mert looking for something fortable yet formal enough that I’m taken seriously. What do you reend?”
“Ah, indeed. We are certain to have just the ensemble for su occasion. Please, right this way.”
It took some time, but like the money-driven mert promised, Daisuke eventually emerged from the establishment, a ly folded bag csped in his hand.
By the time he stepped outside, the sun was already dipping behind the distant peaks, and many people started returning to the town from their respective hunting grounds.
“Why don’t we find a nin for the night?” Zephyr’s head popped out of his shirt at the suggestion. “Definitely don’t want to ce staying in the woods again. I might not be so luext time.”
“Rawrwu~”
***
Entering the i like a sp in the face.
The air reverberated with a medley of ughter, versations, and the occasional k of tankards. The inn’s patrons spanned an array of species, each exuding their own unique aura of adventure. Shogly, there were a few burly dwarves mingling with tall, graceful elves, and sturdy humans chatting animatedly with Beastfolk.
Sure enough, Daisuke’s entrance didn’t escape notice; curious gazes from the assorted patrons flickered his way, evaluating the newer who seemed to disrupt the ongoiivity. Ign the prying eyes, he kept his head straight and tinued forward. His destination was the inn’s wooden ter.
Behind it stood a rge middle-aged womaern expression atuated by the dle clutched in her hand. She was a woman who anded respect, and her presence exuded an air of authority that no amount of noise could overshadow.
“A room for the night, please,” Daisuke requested above the rambunctious atmosphere.
The woman’s gaze narrowed with a trace of suspi. Her lips twitched as if attempting to suppress a sigh, but she maintained her posure. “ first,” she grunted, her demeanor her weling nor hostile.
“How much?”
“Three gold, but you get a fifteen pert dist if you stay for at least four days.”
“No thanks, I’m still putting my pns into perspective.”
“Is that so?” she muttered, pocketing the s that were slid across the table. She issued a key and pointed in the dire of the rooms. “Up the stairs, third door on the left. Supper’s plimentary, so be back down in an hour.”
“Is there a pce I get ed up?”
“There’s a well behind the building. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.”
***
SPLASH.
Zephyr’s gaze lifted, pletely deadpan.
The deluge of water that had cascaded over him made his fur look like that of a sulking carpet. Before Daisuke could set aside the pail and even pte scrubbing him , Zephyr sprung to life with the nimbleness of a breeze. He shot off with an uny speed, water droplets flinging from his drenched coat in a pyful dispy of defiance.
“Hey, you rascal!” Daisuke recoiled, chasing the mutt in just a pair of undergarments. “Get back here! Halt, you furry whirlwind!”
Daisuke’s futile attempts at capturing the fluffy beast only seemed to invigorate Zephyr’s pyful antics. A spirited dash in front of a rge basin culminated in a vigorous shake, sending a barrage of cold water droplets raining down upon Daisuke like tiny needles.
“C-C-Cold!” he stuttered while seeming to dan tiptoe.
“Why you! Get back here!” Daisuke protested, his voice caught between frustration and amusement.
He hurled himself at the e, and Zephyr shot between his legs ireat, which made him unbanced. He toppled and fell headfirst into the rge basin of water.
Unamused, Daisuke turned around, bubbles rising to the top of the water from his still submerged nose and mouth. He looked to Zephyr, where he was met with a wagging tail and the exuberance of a creature thhly tent in its momentary triumph.
The ensuing skirmish between man and mischievous mutt spanned a duration of half an hour, highlighted by a series of spshes and the unmistakable sound of a pyful tussle. Daisuke emerged from the ordeal soaked to the bo victorious, as Zephyr stood before him sed and dripping, a look of petun his face.
By the time the battle of water and wills had cluded, Daisuke had earned his pce at the supper table through sheer perseverance.
The innkeeper made her way around the ter, her steps sure aermined. In her hands, she carried a wooden tray den with a hearty meal, steam wafting up from the dishes.
With a fihat reflected years of service, she set the tray down before him. Daisuke’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the sumptuous feast.
“Enjoy your meal,” the innkeeper said in a voice that held the weight of years of tending to weary travelers. Her tone was gruff yet not without warmth.
Daisuke picked up his utensils, his hands steady as he began to partake in the . The fvors exploded on his pate, a symphony of tastes that danced with each bite. His taste buds were treated to a melody of carefully seasoned meat, savory vegetables, and freshly baked bread.
“It’s… delicious,” Daisuke breathed the pliment like it rayer, tears welling up in his eyes.
The innkeeper was caught off guard, and a blush stained her otherwise hard visage. “Y-You’re too much. It’s not that great.”
“No… it’s really amazing!!
Her blushed deepeheilted her and peeked at him from one eye, her hands resting on her hips. “In that case, I’ll give you this oime service—breakfast tomorrow will be on me.”
Daisuke beamed.
“Aww… Gret found herself a man,” teased one of the patrons who evidently had ooo many.
“Kinda on the young side, isn’t he?” voiced another.
“Well, if that’s your kink.”
“Ha-ha! Kid, something must be wrong with your tongue if you sider this slop food.”
WHAM!
Gret’s trusty dle found its mark—right between his eyes. While she barreled toward them like a hippopotamus, Daisuke was busy slipping food uhe table to Zephyr.
I ’t tell the st time I had something so good; whenever we seldomly got a ce to cook at Dusthaven, the food was always terribly bnd. Seasoning is a heck of a thing, isn’t it?
He brought the wooden bowl to his mouth and shoveled i of the potatoes and carrots from his soup.
I wish mom and the others could be here to share this experieh me. Once I get to Gold or Mithril Rank, I’ll use my es to find April and the others. Together, we work to grow the busio the Orichalcum rank, then everyone maheir own store.
Fear of monsters & the unknown: 1%
