Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Coachman
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After resting off the travel fatigue in the luxurious inn room, we decided to procure a carriage as planned.
I considered bringing Liliana along to acquire the carriage.
She had even asked to be taken with us herself...
She had been a homebody for quite a while, but honestly, among the three of us, didn't she know the ways of the world the best?
So, with Liliana going with me to get the carriage, Ayla tagged along.
Then Luna said she didn't want to be left alone because she'd be bored, so in the end, we all headed out together to buy the carriage.
I sensed a faint flow of mana from Liliana as she inspected the carriage.
It seemed she was using magic to probe the carriage's condition.
"Let's go with this one. It doesn't look like there's any major damage, and it seems fine."
The one Liliana chose was less like a noble's side-entry carriage and more akin to a rear-loading wagon.
It looked like it was pulled by two horses, and it was quite large accordingly.
"A fine choice, miss."
The balding carriage merchant flashed a friendly smile, rubbing his hands as he fawned over Liliana.
"Shall I show you some horses as well?"
"Yes, show us the horses."
"Right this way."
The carriage merchant, mistaking us for nobles, bowed and guided us obsequiously.
It was thanks to Liliana's attire.
My elven companions and I trailed behind her like ducklings, silently watching as she skillfully handled the transaction.
Following the merchant's guidance, Liliana glanced over the horses and said,
"This one and that one. These two will do nicely."
"Truly... your eye for quality is remarkable."
The carriage merchant seemed genuinely impressed, not just spouting empty flattery, by Liliana's decisive selection of the horses.
"Miss, that all comes to 100 gold total."
"Too expensive. Make it 50 gold."
"What!? What kind of nonsense is that! 50 gold!? Miss! This price includes the horses. I have to make a living too."
The carriage merchant was aghast at Liliana's abrupt demand to halve the price.
The merchant, sweating profusely while glancing at me standing beside her with my ornate staff, pleaded with Liliana.
"These are worth at least 90 gold! Please show some mercy."
"Well, no helping it then. 90 gold it is."
"Pardon?!"
Ten gold shaved off in an instant.
Liliana wielded some strange bargaining skill.
Since I've been spending money freely, 10 gold might seem like pocket change, but it's a substantial sum.
One gold was said to cover a commoner's monthly living expenses, so her 10-gold discount was quite impressive.
Liliana elegantly turned to me, indicating I should pay the merchant.
I was footing the bill, yet it felt like I had become her servant. Was that just my imagination?
The merchant took the money from me with a sigh and went to harness the horses to the carriage. Liliana then said,
"The fair price was probably 100 gold. But seeing you, Un-ho, he wouldn't have dared overprice."
"Me?"
"Yes. To commoners, wizards are far more fearsome than knights. There are even bizarre rumors that if you anger them, they'll turn you into a frog. He wouldn't risk incurring great wrath by trying to cheat us."
Such a passive skill made carrying the staff worthwhile.
"And yet you haggled it down further."
"No reason to buy expensive and take a loss, right?"
Liliana looked at me with an expression that said, How about that? I did well, didn't I?
"Yes, you did great."
I patted her head.
"What are you doing!? Don't touch a lady's head so casually."
She hadn't minded when I touched her butt...
Women's hearts are unknowable.
As we harnessed the horses and prepared to depart, we faced a new issue.
"By the way, who's going to be the coachman?"
Their gazes turned to me.
"Me? I've never even ridden a horse..."
I asked the carriage merchant,
"Can we hire a coachman here?"
"Yes, if you wish."
"A woman."
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you hear? I want a female coachman."
"Oh dear, wizard sir. I've never even heard of a female coachman..."
"None? Hmm..."
"No choice then. I'll drive for now."
"What? You said you've never ridden a horse. You think driving a carriage is easy?"
Ayla said incredulously.
"It'll be fine. Don't worry."
"Huh?"
Ayla was baffled by my unfounded confidence.
The rear of the carriage had steps that could be lowered, and though they seemed dubious, they hesitantly climbed aboard at my urging.
Well, they were capable women, so perhaps they figured even if there was an accident, it wouldn't matter.
After they boarded, I climbed up to the coachman's seat.
"W-Wizard sir. It might be better to just hire a c-coachman."
The merchant had overheard that it was my first time driving and was fidgeting anxiously, fearing I might cause an accident.
I had no desire to hear a man's nagging.
"One more word, and I'll turn you into a frog."
"Gulp."
At my threat, the merchant clamped his mouth shut in terror.
(His wizard act is hilariously spot-on.)
(Wonder if he knows any magic without the staff.)
Liliana and Ayla were gossiping about me from inside the carriage.
I could hear everything, you two.
They synced up perfectly at times like this.
I climbed into the coachman's seat, grabbed the reins roughly, and sat down.
"Let's go."
I gave the command to the horses.
The merchant stared at me oddly for just holding the reins and giving orders.
But the horses seemed to understand my command and began moving, sending the carriage off smoothly.
The merchant gaped in astonishment at the carriage departing on my order.
It might seem miraculous to him, but while commanding them, I sent telepathy to the horses.
Telepathy doesn't transmit language.
It conveys my intentions directly into their minds.
It had worked on Yeondu, who couldn't understand speech.
As expected, it worked on the horses too.
The curtain behind the coachman's seat parted, and Liliana poked her head out.
"Huh? You're handling it more smoothly than I thought. How are you driving the carriage?"
Liliana asked with eyes full of curiosity.
"Magic."
Upon hearing me, she annoyingly made a face like it was ridiculous.
Even if I could drive the carriage, doing it briefly was one thing, but long-term driving would be exhausting.
In any case, we needed to hire a coachman.
"A female coachman, you say..."
The hotel manager looked troubled at my request.
"Is it that difficult?"
"I'll try to find one, but... please don't get your hopes up."
There didn't seem to be any women who drove carriages at all.
"If not, no helping it. Also, I'd like a guide who knows the best food spots in the city."
"Was our hotel's cuisine not to your liking?"
"No, it was fine. Since we're here, I want to tour around as tourists and eat at good places."
I gave him a suitable excuse to convince him.
"Understood. I'll look into that as well."
"A woman."
"Pardon?"
"A beautiful female guide. Is that difficult too?"
"Ah, a guide shouldn't be hard...... Yes...... Understood."
At my blatant request, the manager seemed flustered but quickly composed himself professionally and responded politely.
Marie arrived in Raventa.
And entered a sparsely populated alleyway.
There was an inn in a place where no one seemed likely to come.
Marie entered it.
"Welcome."
The innkeeper greeted the guest adeptly.
"One room."
"Which one?"
"Room 203."
"Yes, here's the key. 1 silver."
Marie paid the innkeeper 1 silver, climbed the stairs, and unlocked the door to room 203.
The room was a clean lodging.
There was another door on one side.
Marie opened it without hesitation and entered.
Inside that room, the support agent who was supposed to rendezvous in Raventa had already arrived.
"The target?"
Marie got straight to business upon entering.
"Staying at Raventa Hotel."
It was the hotel run by the lord of Raventa.
Seemed they had located the target without much trouble.
"Numbers?"
"Two on him. Here's the report."
Marie read the report handed over by her subordinate.
'Un-ho, was it? That's his name? Unusual.
She had read the report that one of his subordinates who attacked the marquis before had said that, but it was so peculiar she hadn't thought it was a name.
Two women presumed to be elves.
And traveling with a woman who appeared to be a noble lady.
'Is she an elf too?'
But she wasn't one of the elves they had abducted.
The identity of the beauty in the black dress who looked like a noble's daughter was unknown.
"Michael?"
"Already contacted. He's on his way here."
"The target is looking for a coachman?"
"Unusually, he specified a female coachman. And a beautiful guide who knows good food spots."
'A womanizer, is he?'
It wasn't unusual for a man to like women... but demanding a female coachman was rare.
Still, thanks to that, a perfect opportunity had arisen.
"I'll go."
"Marie, headquarters said.........not to approach too aggressively."
"This isn't aggressive. It's exactly what he wants, a perfect chance to get close. I won't do anything beyond that. Just work as coachman and gather info on him."
".......He might be a transcendent. Please be careful."
"I know. Even if something goes wrong, it'll end with just me, so don't worry."