Chapter 147: Still, It's Good
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: Still, It's Good
“The nostalgic scent of a developing nation.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just something.”
Ravi questioned my words, but I suspected she felt it too, at least vaguely. Theodora skillfully finished the paperwork, and we stepped through the gateway into the city. As expected, the night in Calax was darker than in Roanmarie.
It was partly due to the number of streetlights, but the intensity of the light from each lamp was on a different level. In Roanmarie, even the exterior walls of the buildings seemed to have things glowing on them, making the nights bright.
“I don’t want to go back to the appraisal office…”
I couldn’t blame her. After living in a luxury suite for two weeks, being told to go back to the Sateria Appraisal Office would be a hard pill to swallow. The beds were stiff, and there were no amenities.
Unlike the lodging where clean water gushed out of the taps, getting a single sip of water at the Sateria Appraisal Office required going to the well and hauling it up.
“Work hard, earn some money, and start by replacing your bed.”
“I really should… At the hotel, I could roll over five times and still not fall off the bed…”
As we chatted, Wispie circled around us and spoke.
—Hero! Is this Calax!?
“Yeah, this is Calax. You could say it’s the city where I originally lived.”
—It feels much more like a forest than the last city!
Wispie, in its innocent ignorance, dropped a heavy truth bomb. Of course, compared to Roanmarie, this place was practically an undeveloped woodland. Still, it wasn't great to hear that right off the bat.
This was still the wealthy district of Calax where the gateway was located; once we headed down to the Southwest, it really wouldn't be much different from a forest. Except, perhaps, for the fact that living trees were replaced by dead wood.
—I like it here much better! I can generate mana outside of the forest now, but that doesn't mean I've started hating forests!
“Is that so? Well, that’s a relief.”
Before long, the Lymain family carriage arrived.
“Aven, and Ravi. Should I have you dropped off at the Southwest entrance?”
“Just getting to the entrance would be plenty.”
Theodora seemed to have a schedule to keep, unfortunately. This was the central hub of Northern Calax, so getting to the Southwest would take quite a while. I could fly, but…
Unlike Roanmarie, people didn't go flying around in Calax, and I had zero desire to draw aggro by soaring through the sky alone.
“Theodora! Thank you for everything!”
“Mhm, sure. I’ll get in touch with Alfi later.”
“Really!? Thank you so much!”
“Oh, and I packed some things in the carriage. Aven, take them to that inn and share them. Ravi, you take one too. Got it?”
Ravi, listening from the side, nodded her head vigorously. Come to think of it, we’d been in another city for two weeks and hadn't really bought any souvenirs. I was grateful for Theodora’s thoughtfulness in times like these.
“You didn't have to go that far. Thanks.”
“The transport payment should be deposited by tomorrow. You can stop by the workshop tomorrow evening.”
It seemed the transport fees for the Haunted Centurion Armor and the Red Ogre Warchief hadn't been fully processed yet. My mother was likely planning to grill the research director to squeeze out even more than the agreed-upon reward. It reminded me that managing a Great Merchant Group wasn't a job for just anyone.
“Young Master! And little lady! The carriage is ready!”
“Did you hear that, Yoo Eon!? He called me a lady!”
“Why are you leaving out the 'little' part?”
“Hmph!”
* * *
I would have been grateful just to reach the Southwest entrance, but the old coachman insisted on taking us all the way to our destination.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Safe travels!”
“Ho ho! Then I shall take my leave!”
It seemed Ravi was going to stay at the Mounted Goat Inn tonight. The Mounted Goat Inn was certainly better than the Sateria Appraisal Office.
‘A nostalgic sign.’
In the distance, the goat with a flag stuck in its head welcomed me. It was already around 8:30 PM; the sun had long since set, and the sparse streetlights of the Southwest were illuminating the road.
Judging by the light leaking through the cracks of the wooden windows, it looked like they were hosting guests.
“I’m back.”
“H-hello…?”
As expected, there were quite a few customers. And as always, Tresha was moving busily, serving food in the first-floor dining area.
“Oppa?! When did you get here?!”
“Just now. The others… well, they’re in the kitchen, I assume?”
“Ah, right! Sister and Auntie are in the kitchen!”
No sooner had she spoken than someone emerged from the kitchen. A small frame, lime-green eyes, and reddish hair with a hint of purple… It was Father.
“Father. Are you carrying food?”
“Oh? You’re back, young man! Look at this, I’m earning some pocket money.”
He was wearing a white apron that fit his small body perfectly. I wondered where he’d gotten it; I didn't remember seeing it last time.
“It suits you well.”
“Gwahaha, does it? I hear that often! The customers even give me tips!”
“Really?”
Well, considering he looked like a ten-year-old working hard to serve food, I could see how some people might feel inclined to tip.
“You must be tired. Sera is in the kitchen! Marta is with her.”
“I’ll just show my face briefly and go wash up first.”
“Ah, Yoo Eon! I’ll head upstairs then!”
The place always felt bustling. I didn't know why, but the Mounted Goat Inn always put my mind at ease. Ravi seemed intent on unpacking first, so I handed her the souvenirs Theodora had prepared and sent her up to the second floor.
Watching her waddle up the stairs with about a dozen paper boxes hooked on her arms was quite a sight.
“Auntie, Sera. I’m back.”
I saw Auntie Marta busily stirring a pot over the hot fire, and Sera crouching in front of the hearth, whisking some soup. As it was nearly July, the night air wasn't cold. Having been in front of the fire all day, beads of sweat had formed on Sera’s pale skin.
“Oh my…! Yoo Eon! When did you arrive?!”
“Just now.”
“You’ve returned.”
“Yes, I’m back, Auntie.”
Sera was all smiles. She leaned the long ladle she’d been using against the side and looked like she was about to run toward me, but then she hesitated. Suddenly, she turned her head and pressed her nose to her shoulder, sniffing herself. She must have been worried about smelling like sweat.
“Ah, I, well… welcome back! It’s a bit busy right now…! I’ll greet you properly once the customers leave…!”
“Haha… Understood.”
I was planning to wash up and help out anyway. For some reason, there were significantly more customers than before. I wondered if something had happened.
* * *
It wasn't until around 10:00 PM that most of the customers had left. Even Ravi, when she’d gone upstairs, had come back down with a long face because the rooms were full.
Fortunately, they had kept my room vacant. When I thanked Auntie, she grumbled half-heartedly about how much more she could have earned if she’d taken a guest for that room.
“Then Sister Ravi can just sleep in our room with us!”
“I-is that okay…?”
“I’m not sure. We’ll have to ask Sister Sera.”
“Hmph.”
Since it wasn't very cold at night anymore, I wasn't sure if three people could comfortably fit in the narrow beds of the Mounted Goat Inn.
“By the way, Tresha, where’s Sera?”
“Oh, she said she was going to change her clothes and come out.”
“I see.”
Father seemed to be in the kitchen with Auntie. Apparently, he was counting the number of plates he’d carried to calculate how much pocket money he’d get. I sat at a clean dining table, chatting with Tresha about her progress in magic studies, when Sera emerged from her room.
“Ah, Sera. Good work today.”
“Phew… I-it’s been a while.”
“It has.”
The Mounted Goat Inn was much the same as before. I went up to the second floor to distribute the Roanmarie souvenirs, though I didn't even know what was inside them yet. There were two types of paper boxes, pink and yellow. Out of the ten, I brought eight downstairs, leaving two—one of each kind—for Ravi.
“Gasp, it’s soap!”
“Wow, perfume…? This must be so expensive….”
“Huh? It’s not booze?”
The pink boxes contained high-end soaps and perfumes famous in Roanmarie, along with various other items. Auntie sat at the next table, looking through them; judging by her expression, she seemed pleased. Tresha and Sera’s eyes sparkled as if they were looking at something incredibly precious.
“Young man! Is there no alcohol?! Roanmarie is known for its good liquor!”
“Haha, I’ll buy you some later.”
The yellow bags contained spices rarely seen in Calax, expensive honey, and chocolate desserts. Father liked these too, especially since some of the chocolates contained alcohol.
“Yoo-Yoo Eon… this must have been expensive… where did you get all this…?”
“Well… it just worked out that way. I’ve already brought them, so please accept them happily.”
“…Pfft. Okay. Thank you so much.”
The souvenir unboxing was over. Ravi ended up squeezing into Sera’s room after all. The trio of Sera, Tresha, and Ravi seemed to love the new soap, as they chatted away, smelling fresh and fragrant.
Auntie was unusually happy, and Father got smacked by Auntie while snacking on the alcohol-filled chocolates before being sent off to brush his teeth.
“Yeah, this is the Mounted Goat Inn.”
Creeeeak.
My familiar room. The neatly arranged blankets welcomed me.
“The bed quality is definitely a step down.”
Still, it was good. This was the feeling I looked for when lying down. I’d have to suggest replacing the beds once I made a lot of money.