Chapter 78: The Common Traits of a Difficult Workshop Owner
For the time being, we had safely arrived at the inn. Although we hadn’t encountered any trouble, I still couldn’t let my guard down. However, I figured we would be fine while inside the inn. Probably.
I wasn’t sure how many days we would be staying in this town, but I decided to pay for three nights in advance. At least until I gathered enough furniture, I intended to stay here. The cost for a double room was 1,200 Fron per night.
“By the way, I have a quick question. Is that alright?”
Having successfully secured our lodging, I approached the innkeeper to fulfill the purpose of our visit to this town.
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’m looking to gather some furniture while I’m here. Do you know of any skilled workshops?”
“A workshop, you say? If you’re looking to gather furniture, I think it would be better to check with a trading company that handles various items rather than a production workshop…”
I see. It made sense when he put it that way. But—
“I’d actually like to use some materials I already have.”
“Oh, I see. In that case… Beldran Workshop is quite famous, but it might be difficult for someone meeting them for the first time. How about Grayard Workshop?”
“How about that?” I thought, feeling a bit annoyed that I was the one asking. Still, Beldran Workshop, huh? I had a feeling the craftsmen there would be quite particular, but that might mean they do good work.
“Thank you. I’ll head to Beldran Workshop first.”
“Alright, please be careful on your way.”
With the location in mind, we left the inn.
“But first, we need to grab a bite to eat.”
“Yeah, I’m starving. Let’s try some street food.”
Returning to the bustling central square filled with food stalls, we began to browse. I thought about trying something other than the usual skewered meat. I decided to buy a white, chewy snack with a slightly charred surface that caught my eye.
“This is delicious. It might taste even better with some soy sauce.”
“True. It kind of makes me crave hot green tea.”
While not as chewy as mochi, it had a pleasantly bouncy texture.
“Thanks! I don’t know what ‘Ryokucha’ is, but I do have hot tea. Want to share?”
“Sure, I’d love to.”
I received two cups that looked like they were made of pottery from the vendor and handed one to Rio. It was hot, as expected, but not so hot that I couldn’t handle it.
After letting it cool for a moment, I took a sip. It had a different kind of bitterness compared to green tea, but it definitely complemented the food.
“Make sure to return the cup.”
After a while, the cup cooled down to a more comfortable temperature. However, I realized that it tasted better when it was hot. I suddenly recalled the vacuum-sealed hot spring baths, but I figured such cups wouldn’t be served at a stall like this.
“I’ll be back for more.”
After returning the cup and expressing my gratitude, we finally headed toward Beldran Workshop. It was located roughly halfway between the central square and the west gate. I had heard they were skilled, but the shop was surprisingly small.
“Welcome!”
Upon entering, I saw a small boy, about the size of a first grader, sitting at the counter.
When I thought of craftsmen, I pictured dwarves. Could this little boy possibly be…? But looking at his build, he was clearly just a child.
“Mom! A customer is here!”
As expected, the boy turned around and shouted toward the back.
“How cute…”
It seemed Rio was smitten. He was indeed adorable. I couldn’t help but imagine having such a cute child with Rio in the future. When I glanced over, our eyes met, and suddenly, Rio’s face turned red, and she looked away.
I felt a pang in my heart, as if we were both thinking the same thing. But I told myself to wait. There was no need to rush. Calm down, me.
Then I remembered something important. We had talked about getting married, but since then, it had become somewhat vague, hadn’t it? The Marriage Ceremony was still pending.
“Mom?”
The boy, puzzled by the lack of response, tilted his head and called out louder.
Yeah, he really is cute. Thankfully, this was a bustling town known for its craftsmen, so there had to be a church around here. I should show some resolve as a man.
“Just wait a moment!”
Finally, it seemed my voice reached them, as I heard a woman’s voice from the back.
After a short while, a lively woman with a somewhat revealing outfit appeared, holding the boy. She didn’t look like someone who had a child around six or seven years old.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. What can I do for you?”
After setting the child down, she straightened up in front of the counter.
“I’d like to place an order for some furniture.”
“If that’s the case, our products are handled by several trading companies, so you could place your order there.”
“No, I’d prefer to have it made using the materials I brought.”
“Bringing in your own materials, you say…”
She seemed to be pondering something, but was this going to lead to a rejection? The innkeeper had mentioned it might be a tricky request.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll go get my grandfather.”
“Grandfather? Is he the owner of this workshop?”
“Oh, okay.”
Rio and I exchanged glances and shrugged.
After a while, a burly man with a thick beard, looking every bit the dwarf, walked in.
“I heard you want to bring in your own materials… What a brat. Get lost! A kid bringing in materials is bound to be worthless!”
I was suddenly met with an unexpected dismissal.