Chapter 20
I wave a hand at Ness and take the seat next to his .
“Ho, Asagi! Let’s drink!”
“Looks like you’ve had quite a lot already…”
“You idiot! This barely even counts!”
I beg to differ . His eyes couldn’t even focus on anything . But then again, he was talking just fine irritatingly .
“So, Asagi . How have you been?”
“Recently? Well, it was pretty much the worst until recently . ”
“Buwahahaha! Sure was!”
I wonder whose fault that was! I don’t say it . I have a rule against arguing while drinking .
“Well, I have a good feeling about what’s to come…”
I say as I swipe Ness’ drink from the side and down the whole thing . It wasn’t very chilled, but it tasted great . Daniela was eating the steamed chicken she had ordered with the most satisfied expression . I suppose she really enjoyed her food .
We kept drinking like this for a while, and I periodically stole whatever Ness was eating . He was pretty much done for . He was half asleep now . I rob him of his last drink and plate and move over to Daniela’s seat . My mug of ale clinks lightly against her mug of fruit water .
“That was a busy day . ”
“Aye, Asagi . You did well . Let’s keep this up tomorrow as well . ”
“It’s very heartening to have you there with me . ”
“Hehe . You know, flattery won’t get you anything with me?”
She smiled as she brushed her short, platinum blonde hair from her face . She was could be quite handsome…
“Does your hair color derive from your race?”
“Hmm? Oh, well, yes . Generally, that is the case with elves . ”
“So there are other colors?”
“There are brunettes and those with silver hair . ”
So hair color was not a determining factor for light elves . I ran my fingers through my own hair . As I had worked the night shift for so long and slept through most of the day, I rarely went to the barber . Whenever it reached a certain length, the manager would start touching it from behind, which was my signal to have it cut . The signal was a bit creepy, and I always wished it would stop . Though, I now wondered how he was doing .
“Is your hair derived from your race, Asagi?”
“Well, sort of . I don’t know . But everyone around me had black hair . ”
“Hmm… When it comes to black hair, they say that the ogre tribes in the farthest reaches often have black hair . Though the accounts are old and I have never seen them in person . ”
She said as she chewed on a mouthful of chicken and steamed vegetables . So there were ogres? Did they wear striped underwear too?
I was imagining what these elusive ogres might look like when I felt someone tap my shoulder . It was Fiona .
“Asagi . Checks finished . ”
“You’re not very formal today . ”
“Hmph… Why should I be?”
She pouted a little . What was going on? I felt an uncomfortable number of eyes on me . Was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of daggers shot through the eyes? The look coming from right next to me was especially awkward .
She pouted a little . What was going on? I felt an uncomfortable number of eyes on me . Was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of daggers shot through the eyes? The look coming from right next to me was especially awkward .
“Asagi . ”
“Yes . ”
“Let’s go . ”
“Right…”
Daniela said as she stood up and quickly walked away . I hurriedly chased after her . I did also happen to leave Daniela’s bill on Ness’ table when doing this .
We received the reward at the counter along with a note .
‘Forest wolf fangs……………… . 160/1 gold piece, 60 silver pieces . ’
‘Quest completion reward………30 silver pieces . ’
1 gold piece had the value of 100 silver pieces, 1 silver piece had the value of 100 copper pieces . It was written on the counter . So according to this, we needed to split the reward into 95 silver pieces . I had left calculations to the cash register, so it was not my forte .
But I was probably right . Up until now, I had not had to think about such things when receiving my reward, but I would have to use my head now in order to split it . It felt like my brain cells were coming out of hibernation . So I had the gold exchanged to 190 silver pieces and split it between the two of us .
“Here, Daniela . You should count yours . ”
“Mmm… Yes, it’s fine . ”
“I don’t want to fight over money . ”
“Ah, you are right . ”
She nodded several times . I wondered if something had happened in her past…
After that, we walked through Fhiraldo’s streets and returned to the Spring Wind inn together . Now that I think of it, we had avoided the street stalls but ended up dining at the bar anyway . I needed to be more moderate .
The next day, I waited in the dining hall for Daniela, who was as sluggish in the morning as ever, and began to make plans for the day . We could hunt forest wolves again . Sure .
The next day, I waited in the dining hall for Daniela, who was as sluggish in the morning as ever, and began to make plans for the day . We could hunt forest wolves again . Sure .
“Oh, are you a customer?”
A voice suddenly interrupts me . I raise my head and see that a woman was standing there with a warm smile .
“Yes . I am . ”
“Thank heavens . You were in the dining hall but not eating anything . I thought some strange person had gotten in . ”
It was quite brave of her to say such a thing to a complete stranger . But who was she?
“Oh, I should introduce myself . I’m the innkeeper’s daughter, Mizel . ”
“Oh, Mrs . Maris’ . ”
“Yes, that’s right . ”
Yes, the somewhat slow voice and the soft smile was a perfect match . Just like the morning sunlight, it made you a little sleepy .
“So you haven’t eaten yet?”
“No . My partner is staying here with me, and just I’m waiting for her to wake up . ”
“Is that so . Well then, we’ll have the food prepared in advance . ”
“Uh, thank you . ”
There was something infectious about the way she talked . As I chuckled to myself, Daniela came through the entrance .
“Good morn…”
“Morning . You okay?”
“Yes…”
She sat down, then collapsed over the table . It would take her a minute to get her engine running again . The first thing to do was to eat .
The basic breakfast at the Spring Wind Inn consisted of toast, fried eggs, and homemade smoked meats . It was a kind of foreign breakfast, and I liked it quite a bit . It was fancy . At least for someone like me who usually slept instead of having breakfast . But recently, I had become quite active, I ate more and slept at night . Was it possible to be too healthy?
Mizel brought over three plates of food . Three?
The basic breakfast at the Spring Wind Inn consisted of toast, fried eggs, and homemade smoked meats . It was a kind of foreign breakfast, and I liked it quite a bit . It was fancy . At least for someone like me who usually slept instead of having breakfast . But recently, I had become quite active, I ate more and slept at night . Was it possible to be too healthy?
Mizel brought over three plates of food . Three?“Here is your breakfast . ”
“Thank you . ”
“Thank you…”
“Hahh…”
She sat down . Eh? What?
“Oh, do you mind if I join you?”
“Well, you already have . ”
Daniela was biting into her bread with half-open eyes .
“I’ve just finished organizing all the new provisions . I’m so exhausted and…”
“You worked all night?”
“I did just that . I only arrived just before the gates were closed, and yet mother…oh, the innkeeper, tells me to finish everything tonight…”
We continued eating like this, and Mizel’s complaints continued as well . Apparently, she was in charge of buying new stock . Every month she would go to the city that was reached by way of the opposite carriage tracks from the one I had taken in coming here . I wonder if Mizel’s carriage had helped create those tracks in the road, and the world feels so much smaller .
Eventually, her grievances were interrupted my Maris’ shouting and forceful removal from the room . She waved at us even while she was being dragged away by the collar . We waved back as we got up from the table .
“Well then, we’re a little late, but we should go to the guild house, accept a quest and head for the forest . ”
“About that, Asagi . I think we should go and buy a few things together first . ”
“Sure, but why?”
Daniela folded her arms and laughed proudly .
“We’ll be camping out . Three days out in the forest!”
I wave a hand at Ness and take the seat next to his . Ho, Asagi Let s drink Looks like you ve had quite a lot already You idiot This barely even counts I beg to differ . His eyes couldn t even focus on anything . But then again, he was talking just fine irritatingly . So, Asagi . How have you been Recently Well, it was pretty much the worst until recently . Buwahahaha Sure was I wonder whose fault that was I don t say it . I have a rule against arguing while drinking . Well, I have a good feeling about what s to come I say as I swipe Ness drink from the side and down the whole thing . It wasn t very chilled, but it tasted great . Daniela was eating the steamed chicken she had ordered with the most satisfied expression . I suppose she really enjoyed her food . We kept drinking like this for a while, and I periodically stole whatever Ness was eating . He was pretty much done for . He was half asleep now . I rob him of his last drink and plate and move over to Daniela s seat . My mug of ale clinks lightly against her mug of fruit water . That was a busy day . Aye, Asagi . You did well . Let s keep this up tomorrow as well . It s very heartening to have you there with me . Hehe . You know, flattery won t get you anything with me She smiled as she brushed her short, platinum blonde hair from her face . She was could be quite handsome Does your hair color derive from your race Hmm Oh, well, yes . Generally, that is the case with elves . So there are other colors There are brunettes and those with silver hair . So hair color was not a determining factor for light elves . I ran my fingers through my own hair . As I had worked the night shift for so long and slept through most of the day, I rarely went to the barber . Whenever it reached a certain length, the manager would start touching it from behind, which was my signal to have it cut . The signal was a bit creepy, and I always wished it would stop . Though, I now wondered how he was doing . Is your hair derived from your race, Asagi Well, sort of . I don t know . But everyone around me had black hair . Hmm When it comes to black hair, they say that the ogre tribes in the farthest reaches often have black hair . Though the accounts are old and I have never seen them in person . She said as she chewed on a mouthful of chicken and steamed vegetables . So there were ogres Did they wear striped underwear too I was imagining what these elusive ogres might look like when I felt someone tap my shoulder . It was Fiona . Asagi . Checks finished . You re not very formal today . Hmph Why should I be She pouted a little . What was going on I felt an uncomfortable number of eyes on me . Was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of daggers shot through the eyes The look coming from right next to me was especially awkward . Asagi . Yes . Let s go . Right Daniela said as she stood up and quickly walked away . I hurriedly chased after her . I did also happen to leave Daniela s bill on Ness table when doing this . We received the reward at the counter along with a note . Forest wolf fangs . 160 1 gold piece, 60 silver pieces . Quest completion reward 30 silver pieces . 1 gold piece had the value of 100 silver pieces, 1 silver piece had the value of 100 copper pieces . It was written on the counter . So according to this, we needed to split the reward into 95 silver pieces . I had left calculations to the cash register, so it was not my forte . But I was probably right . Up until now, I had not had to think about such things when receiving my reward, but I would have to use my head now in order to split it . It felt like my brain cells were coming out of hibernation . So I had the gold exchanged to 190 silver pieces and split it between the two of us . Here, Daniela . You should count yours . Mmm Yes, it s fine . I don t want to fight over money . Ah, you are right . She nodded several times . I wondered if something had happened in her past After that, we walked through Fhiraldo s streets and returned to the Spring Wind inn together . Now that I think of it, we had avoided the street stalls but ended up dining at the bar anyway . I needed to be more moderate . The next day, I waited in the dining hall for Daniela, who was as sluggish in the morning as ever, and began to make plans for the day . We could hunt forest wolves again . Sure . Oh, are you a customer A voice suddenly interrupts me . I raise my head and see that a woman was standing there with a warm smile . Yes . I am . Thank heavens . You were in the dining hall but not eating anything . I thought some strange person had gotten in . It was quite brave of her to say such a thing to a complete stranger . But who was she Oh, I should introduce myself . I m the innkeeper s daughter, Mizel . Oh, Mrs . Maris . Yes, that s right . Yes, the somewhat slow voice and the soft smile was a perfect match . Just like the morning sunlight, it made you a little sleepy . So you haven t eaten yet No . My partner is staying here with me, and just I m waiting for her to wake up . Is that so . Well then, we ll have the food prepared in advance . Uh, thank you . There was something infectious about the way she talked . As I chuckled to myself, Daniela came through the entrance . Good morn Morning . You okay Yes She sat down, then collapsed over the table . It would take her a minute to get her engine running again . The first thing to do was to eat . The basic breakfast at the Spring Wind Inn consisted of toast, fried eggs, and homemade smoked meats . It was a kind of foreign breakfast, and I liked it quite a bit . It was fancy . At least for someone like me who usually slept instead of having breakfast . But recently, I had become quite active, I ate more and slept at night . Was it possible to be too healthy Mizel brought over three plates of food . Three Here is your breakfast . Thank you . Thank you Hahh She sat down . Eh What Oh, do you mind if I join you Well, you already have . Daniela was biting into her bread with half open eyes . I ve just finished organizing all the new provisions . I m so exhausted and You worked all night I did just that . I only arrived just before the gates were closed, and yet mother oh, the innkeeper, tells me to finish everything tonight We continued eating like this, and Mizel s complaints continued as well . Apparently, she was in charge of buying new stock . Every month she would go to the city that was reached by way of the opposite carriage tracks from the one I had taken in coming here . I wonder if Mizel s carriage had helped create those tracks in the road, and the world feels so much smaller . Eventually, her grievances were interrupted my Maris shouting and forceful removal from the room . She waved at us even while she was being dragged away by the collar . We waved back as we got up from the table . Well then, we re a little late, but we should go to the guild house, accept a quest and head for the forest . About that, Asagi . I think we should go and buy a few things together first . Sure, but why Daniela folded her arms and laughed proudly . We ll be camping out . Three days out in the forest