66 - Romantic Cat
“Nyaaaaah! Huh? Hiss.”
It was just another ordinary day in District 15. Merchants who had opened their shops early shouted boisterously to draw in customers, while dogs begging for lunch barked incessantly at their owners. And here, even though the sun was high in the sky, there was a girl who hadn't fully shaken off her hazy sleep.
As the girl scratched her head and tried to lie back down, she noticed the damp pillowcase and wrinkled her nose in disgust. The fabric was soaked with some unidentified liquid—sweat or drool, she couldn't tell. Lying back down on it was out of the question. Adella usually didn't dream much, but today felt different; it was as if she'd had a long, lingering dream. She couldn't remember a thing, though.
“Yawwwwwn. I wanted to sleep a little longer...”
She'd been caught stealing and chased by guards all through the early morning, only managing to fall asleep once dawn broke. Her head didn't feel refreshed, but she wasn't in the mood to sleep again either. With no other choice, she tossed off her pajamas.
“She said she'd be back before dinner. Hmph, humph.”
Uncle Gestalt had issued a rare summons to everyone in Abyss. Even when she'd asked Alperion, he claimed to know nothing. Adella's cat beastkin instincts told her this smelled like a fun mission.
Maybe I'll go buy some perfume for old times' sake?
She tossed her coin pouch into the air from the table, humming a little tune. On days when she had important missions, she didn't bathe—it was Adella's personal superstition. But she couldn't go around stinking when meeting people, so she planned to at least bring some perfume. No matter how carefree a cat beastkin she was, she was still a woman first and foremost.
Heading down to the first floor, the dining hall was already bustling with mercenaries who'd come for lunch. As Adella passed through the central hall, some glanced her way, but none greeted her. She had zero interest in cozying up to sweaty mercenaries anyway, so she ignored them right back.
The capital's streets were packed with people of every race and species, even in the narrow alleys. Clink-clink— Every time coins jingled here and there, her ears twitched, but now was not the time to indulge her kleptomania. Stealing in broad daylight would land her in real trouble.
After three blocks, the area shifted into District 7. It was home to wealthier folks than District 15, so the shops brimmed with energy. Adella's plan to buy just one perfume had clearly failed, judging by the armful of glass bottles already clutched to her chest.
Suddenly craving booze hard.
Drinking nothing but Abyss's cheap draft beer every day had dulled her tongue to bland flavors. Times like this called for periodic treats of fancy food and liquor.
“One tuna baguette sandwich and, hmm, a sparkling wine too?”
“...”
The sandwich and sparkling wine made for an absurd lunch combo, but the shopkeeper handed over her order without a word. Then he extended his hand.
“How much?”
“...”
“I said, how much?”
“...”
He just stared straight through her in silence. “Ugh, what a mood-killer.” Adella glanced at the price list, paid roughly what she figured, and stormed out. She figured bad service came from a steady stream of new customers—why bother with courtesy? It was the first time spending money left her in a foul mood.
She uncorked the bottle right there on the street and chugged the wine straight.
“Damn, this is nasty.”
She'd picked what looked like the best one in the shop, too. Should've just blown this cash on draft beer instead. Cursing society's growing stinginess, she trudged back to the inn.
“Susan, one mug and three beers.”
“Adella? Want me to bring it to your room?”
“Nah, I'll wait and take it up myself. How long?”
“...”
Susan ignored her and headed to the kitchen. Adella plopped down at a corner table and irritably bit into the sandwich she'd brought.
“Am I just that forgettable?”
Everyone treating her the same way was starting to grate. Sure, low presence helped with thieving, but it still felt like being ignored, and she didn't love it.
“Adella, here—enjoy.”
“Hmph.”
Back in Room 302, she flung off her outer clothes and changed into pajamas. She poured beer into a mug chilled solid with frost magic.
“Kaaaaah! That's the stuff.”
The crisp tingle down her throat sent her tail shooting skyward. With alcohol flooding in nonstop, drowsiness crept up unexpectedly. She couldn't guarantee she'd wake up for evening if she slept now, but her eyelids grew heavier anyway.
“Someone'll wake me when it's time, right...?”
She wanted to savor this pleasant buzz a bit longer. With that irresponsible thought, she drifted off again.
Having slept straight through the summons, Adella was dragged out by Daniel. She hadn't gone anywhere, and she'd tried to keep the appointment, so she felt unjustly treated.
“And you, NoName—we won't give you a tough mission. You're still green and haven't been with Abyss long. You understand, right?”
That was Branch Chief Gestalt's order to the forest keeper. The newbie from Arseria Forest who'd appeared like a comet a few days ago. Adella wholeheartedly agreed they wouldn't saddle a total rookie with anything hard.
“Quick decision—good. Then you can go with Adella tonight. Simple diversion op, easy, right?”
But Adella hadn't imagined she'd be lumped in with the rookie too.
Ha, figures...
It was always like this. The chief distrusted her so much he'd never assigned her a single honorable mission everyone else got. Pairing her with a newbie who'd just joined days ago? Rage boiled inside her. Before the chief arrived, she chugged the rest of her beer to soothe her burning gut.
“Life is so bitter... Even this swill tastes too sweet...”
To cool off, she threw open the window and blew into the bottle. Her gaze drifted to the full moon hanging lonely in the night sky.
So bright...
She wondered idly if its light reached even the empire's darkest alleys. Two years ago, expelled from the academy and wandering aimlessly, Adella had lost all purpose. Branch Chief Gestalt, who reached out then, had always been her shining beacon.
If only that moon were the gold chandelier in our house...
With that impossible fancy, she leaned back and collapsed onto the bed. The alcohol would wear off soon; she wanted to soak in this comfort and haze while it lasted. Her body that barely got drunk felt like a curse right now.
Bam—!
“Ha! You scared me!”
But her plans were derailed by an uninvited guest bursting