Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Drakain
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The next day at noon, we dragged Simo—still suffering from his hangover—back into the city. Of course, with the sky perpetually overcast day and night, the streets didn't look all that different from how they did at night.
"Simo, what you said at dawn earlier... that was true, right?"
"Ah, of course. My friend told me. He's not the type to lie."
"He didn't say specifically how much we need to spend?"
"No. He said he didn't know the details... But you're really going to do it?"
"Yeah. We need to buy some stuff anyway."
I nodded at Simo's question and headed into the streets. I'd heard that most high-ranking blood mages were nobles. But nobles aren't exactly easy to meet. In the Ber Kingdom, we could've requested an audience just by saying we were mages, but this place was different.
Just yesterday, we'd experienced that firsthand. This was a country where a mage's authority was pretty low.
'Gotta get some proper formal clothes...'
I glanced around, recalling what Simo had told me at dawn. Apparently, invitations to parties were occasionally handed out to people who looked rich. The key here was figuring out how to look rich.
'What kind of shop has a scale like...'
I caught sight of a massive building as I walked along the road. Standing on my tiptoes and peering inside, I could see countless clothes displayed beyond the fancy lighting.
"Let's go there."
"You're thinking of buying clothes?"
"Yeah. Something for you guys to wear."
"I-I'm fine."
"Why our clothes all of a sudden...? You should get yours, Master."
"I'm good too!"
Durel, Simo, and Olbern all waved their hands frantically, insisting they were fine when I said I'd buy them outfits. I clicked my tongue at the sight.
"I'm not fine with it. When an adult buys you something, you just say thanks and wear it. Got it?"
"A-adult... Y-yes..."
"Huh..."
"Adult... I see."
Ignoring whether my disciples liked it or not, I'd made up my mind to buy them clothes, so I strode forward without hesitation. I pulled my sunglasses from my pocket and slipped them on again, entering the shop with confident steps. The three hesitant disciples hurried after me.
"Welcome to Rosen Green Workshop!"
As we stepped inside, a friendly-looking Drakain employee greeted us. I could feel his eyes quickly scanning our group as he approached politely.
'Rosen Green...?'
I frowned at the employee's words. Rosen Green wasn't a common name for a shop. It seemed that dwarf woman's story had been true after all. But that wasn't the important part right now. With my arms crossed, I spoke up.
"I want some of the latest trendy clothes. Not for me—for these guys behind me."
"Ah, I see. Then, as for the price range..."
It was just clothes shopping. Price didn't matter. I pulled a single gold coin from my pocket and flicked it lightly into the air.
Ping—
"Just bring everything. We'll pick from there."
The gold coin shot straight into the pocket on his shirt. The Drakain employee's wavering gaze dropped quickly to the floor. His attitude shifted seamlessly.
"I'll guide you to the third floor."
I glanced up at the upper levels. They definitely had a more upscale vibe compared to the lower floors. But I didn't budge. Arms still crossed, I kept my cocky posture. Acting, I had to act the part. Replicating the arrogant demeanor Durel had shown others at first meetings—a high-handed mage.
What would they do in this situation? Fragments of info flashed through my mind.
'Rosen Green Workshop... That dwarf lady said nobles used to line up with gold in hand. But it doesn't look like that now. Just borrowing the name?'
The Rosen Green Workshop in the dwarves' country hadn't been anywhere near this big. It was just decently sized. There must've been some complicated internal issues.
But that was none of my business. Basing it on the info in my head, I reached a conclusion.
'Not many customers. Nobles lining up with gold was in the past. Now that the owner has returned to her homeland, the brand value isn't what it used to be.'
I had my answer. Without moving from the spot, I opened my mouth.
"Third floor? Too much hassle... That lady's not even here. Just bring everything down here."
No room for being wrong. Just push forward. That's what a mage does. An arrogant, self-righteous mage lost in their own world has to believe they're always right. The Drakain employee flinched briefly at my words, then bowed his head and headed for the stairs.
"P-please wait... I'll be right back."
The employee who vanished returned soon after, not alone. He came with other staff, carrying heaps of clothes. They set up a large table and laid them out one by one.
Then the employee began introducing the clothes.
"As for this outfit..."
Boring spiel. How it was made, what materials were used, its name—all dragged out in detail. I tilted my head slightly and spoke.
"Looks too common. Next. And keep the explanations short."
"Ah, yes..."
This repeated several times. A few of the outfits he showed actually caught my eye. After looking through about forty pieces, I nodded.
"How much for all of them?"
"Pardon...?"
"How much for everything. I'll take it all."
The more clothes, the better. Lately, money worries were a thing of the past. This was my chance to outfit my disciples properly. The momentarily stunned employee quickly tallied it up and handed me an itemized bill.
'Fifty gold coins...'
A lot because there were so many? More than expected. But no issue. I immediately pulled out my pouch of dwarf-minted gold coins. Currencies varied by country, but gold coins were about equal in value. They usually accepted them without exchange.
"You take dwarf gold?"
Of course. The employee took the pouch without a word. With the transaction done, the staff began packing the clothes—into boxes and paper bags, creating quite the volume.
Durel, Simo, and Olbern picked out favorites and changed into them right away.
"Master."
Simo called out. He looked uneasy, his right eyebrow twitching wildly.
"What."
"Should I... carry all this...?"
Too much to say yes casually. I shook my head. They were relatively light; Gentle Wind could handle transport easily.
"Don't worry."
"Okay..."
Once packing finished, the employees offered to deliver, but I refused. How could I ask them to take it all the way to the Black Feather Hawk? After sending them off, I amped up Gentle Wind, and the boxes and bags around us floated lightly.
Whoooosh—!
"This is Gentle Wind...!"
Advanced magic control. Olbern's eyes sparkled as he darted between the gusts.
Shameful. None of my three disciples could learn Gentle Wind. But what could I do? Without engraving a massive windmill in your mind's eye, this wind wouldn't exist.
Transport via Gentle Wind only went to the city gates. There, we activated the turtle golem, loaded the luggage on top, and had Simo ride it.
"M-me, I have to go...?"
"Yeah. You'll be back quick, right?"
I nodded at Simo's question. It might seem unfair, but he was the most reliable. After a moment's hesitation, Simo gave a small smile of resignation and patted the turtle golem's head.
"I'll be back...! Hurry up, you turtle..."
Once Simo vanished on the turtle golem, I took my two disciples and started splurging. New shoes, pricey gem accessories, books on blood magic, anything on Levan Pol info—I bought it all on sight.
Naturally, Simo handled transport via turtle golem.
We wandered like that, blowing money freely until late evening. A pale Drakain in a black uniform swooped down like a bat, approached me politely, and offered a letter envelope.
"Please accept this."
"What's this..."
The moment I reached out and took the envelope, the Drakain who delivered it glided away, soaring high into the sky and vanishing.
"Oh... Looks like we got an invitation."
"Simo was right."
"Senior Simo nailed it!"
I examined the envelope, then handed it to Simo.
"Not gonna read it?"
"Can't."
Something was written on the envelope, but not in a script I could read. Only Ber Kingdom script for me. Simo hesitated briefly, then formed a red, blood-tinted blade on his fingertip and neatly slit the envelope open.