Chapter 109: Restoring Our Spirits
The name of the commercial city that serves as the capital of the Commercial Nation Aresgute is Comets. It is a bustling hub where the headquarters of the Six Great Trading Companies are located, and merchants pour their heart and soul into competing for profits.
“We should bring the items for the auction directly to the venue tomorrow. So first, we need to secure a place to stay,” Fleur said.
“I see,” I replied.
As we traveled down the Main Street in our carriage, the streets were still crowded despite the setting sun. While listening to Fleur outline our plans from the coachman’s seat, my gaze wandered around, curious about what the city had to offer.
“During this time of year, most mid-range to high-end inns tend to be fully booked,” Fleur explained.
“Is that so?”
The Main Street was lined with stone shops, and food stalls were scattered about, filling the air with enticing aromas. Speaking of which, I realized I was quite hungry. When I turned around, I noticed Nil trailing behind, drooling. Feeling a bit sorry for him, I pulled some meat from the Dimensional Box and tossed it to him. He caught it eagerly and began to eat.
“Therefore, Lord Shu and Lady Rio, please make use of this inn,” Fleur said.
“Huh?” I was taken aback.
Fleur led us to an inn called “Black Steel Armor Lodge,” located just before the central plaza after a short drive down the Main Street. At first glance, it looked incredibly luxurious. As we passed through the gate in our carriage, a well-dressed attendant who resembled a butler promptly appeared.
“This is Fleur of the Rashiyu Trading Company. Welcome,” he greeted.
“Ah, it’s been a while. Do you have any available rooms?” Fleur asked as she jumped down from the carriage.
“Unfortunately, we only have a suite available at the moment,” the attendant replied.
“Then we’ll take that. Please take care of these two,” Fleur instructed, gesturing to us.
“Understood,” he replied.
“Please charge all expenses to the Rashiyu Trading Company,” Fleur added.
“Wait, what!?” we exclaimed in unison.
Just like that, the conversation had progressed while we were merely riding in the carriage. And now, the lodging fees would be covered by the trading company?
“No, no—”
“Please don’t worry about it. I will ensure we earn plenty from now on,” Fleur said with a bright smile, cutting me off. Indeed, in a way, it would be the Rashiyu Trading Company that would profit from the items we sold.
“Um, well, I guess I’ll take you up on that offer,” I said, exchanging glances with Rio, and we nodded in agreement to accept Fleur’s kindness.
“I will come to pick you up in the morning, so please make yourselves comfortable,” Fleur said.
“Wait, what about you, Fleur?” I asked.
“I still have some matters to attend to at the trading company,” she replied.
“Oh, I see. I thought you would be staying at the same inn,” I said, slightly disappointed.
“Understood. Well then, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow,” I said.
“Thank you for your hard work today,” Fleur replied.
“Yes, thank you. Until tomorrow,” I said as we waved her off.
Once Fleur’s carriage was out of sight, I took another look at the inn. The entrance had a rotary area where several carriages could park, and through the high-quality glass windows, I could see a spacious lobby. It truly resembled a high-end hotel.
“Please, this way,” the attendant said, guiding us into the lobby. I felt a bit out of place, but I wondered if our attire was really that odd.
Looking at Rio, she was dressed like a proper mage. She wore a breastplate made from tanned monster leather and a robe, but since it was handmade by her master, it wasn’t exactly formal. I suppose that could be said about my outfit as well…
“Shuu? What’s wrong?” Rio asked, noticing my distracted demeanor.
I was lost in thought, but she seemed completely unfazed. Maybe I was overthinking things.
“Nothing, really,” I replied.
Yeah, I should just let it go. Regardless of appearances, the materials were sourced from the Forest of Enchantment, so they must be top quality. Or at least, I hoped so.
“Oh, by the way, what should we do about Nil?” I asked.
“Your tamed monster can accompany you without any issues,” the attendant assured us.
“Got it,” I said.
Having listened to our conversation, Nil happily wagged his three tails as he followed us. After a brief check-in at the lobby, we proceeded deeper into the inn. As we stepped outside into a beautifully maintained garden, a quaint little building came into view.
“This entire building will be your room,” the attendant announced.
“Seriously?” I exclaimed.
It looked like a luxurious, albeit small, house with a garden. We opened the gate and stepped into the garden, which was meticulously cared for. Upon entering the house, we were greeted by a maid standing at attention.
“Welcome. I am Olivia, the maid assigned to the suite,” she said, bowing at a perfect forty-five degrees.
“Uh, thank you,” I stammered, slightly taken aback by her formality.
“Well, it seems we’ve come to quite an impressive place,” Rio whispered, and I couldn’t agree more.
“Now, let me show you around,” Olivia said with a warm smile. I simply nodded and followed her, marveling at each room we were shown, letting out impressed sounds as we explored.