So that’s what it was, now that she mentioned it…
The first time I visited the National Fragrances, I was abandoned at the flower district by a certain person called Breman. Thanks to that, I got into an awkward encounter with one of the flower girls which ended with me tossing her my money in order to buy time for my escape.
Because the situation was dire then, I wasn’t able to get a close look at her face at all. However, I did remember her having long black hair…
Still, how curious…what was a flower girl from the country of Skills doing here?
It was that bit of suspicion that made me avoid her cries once more.
Nine Heaven: …do you guys really know each other?
Di Qi Ju:…not at all. At most it would be a bit of dark history between us…
Nine Heaven: Dark history…?
??: Master—don’t abandon me, ahhh—
??: —-mmfff…
Inn Guard: Shut up!! You’d better behave!!
The soldier standing watch took out a rope and viciously looped it around her mouth, preventing her from crying any further.
??: ooff…Mas…
From start to end, her intense gaze never left my side even as it started to water profusely. Judging by how the rope bit into her flesh, it would probably leave behind marks on her face.
These soldiers really didn’t know how to treat a girl, huh? Just from a logical standpoint, she should be worth a pretty penny, being merchandise and all, and yet she was treated as if she wasn’t even worth a cent.
What if she were to be damaged in the process? That boss probably wouldn’t take too well to that.
Inn Owner: —hey, kid.
Di Qi Ju:…huh?
Just as I thought that we managed to distance ourselves from this matter, the owner of the inn inexplicably decided to surround our table with three other soldiers.
Looking at his tense, scowling expression, he clearly wasn’t addressing a guest of his inn.
Inn Owner: Stop acting dumb, don’t think for a second that I didn’t hear what she said just now.
Di Qi Ju:What do you mean by that?
Inn Owner: She’s a piece of loot we pillaged from Cold Iron. If you’re her master then that means you’re a person of influence in Cold Iron.
Inn Owner: Last I checked, our enemies do not have the right to peacefully sit in this inn.
Di Qi Ju:……
Not fazed by his barely disguised threat, I merely stared right back at the scowling man and began formulating an escape plan.
A small matter like this shouldn’t be much of a problem for me…
Di Qi Ju:Ah, so that’s what this misunderstanding is about.
I glanced at Nine Haven and found that he had already stowed the map that was on our table without anyone noticing.
Di Qi Ju: —Boss, should I explain this matter or would you rather?
Nine Heaven…Ah? “Boss”?
Immediately, his face turned to one of surprise as my unexpected curve ball smacked him right in the face.
However, as expected of a highly flexible warrior, he swiftly put on a humoring posture and picked up the conversation.
Nine Heaven: —-Owner, if you don’t mind me explaining.
Nine Heaven: We are citizens from the country of Numbers. This here is my colleague, he has a permanent residence in Reitdarke. Both of us reside next to the Divine Hall and are devout followers of the faith.
Nine Heaven: Other than praising than the name of Westrealm, we so happen to work under the esteemed employment of Master Three’floral Dawn. Oh, it’s nothing special, we’re just some minor errand runners.
Inn Owner: Three’floral Dawn…
At that, the owner’s expression grew softer though its hostile nature didn’t change.
Nine Heaven: The master we serve so happened to have a close friend living nearby. Recently, he received a letter from said friend talking about a war here and that he wished to seek refuge in Numbers for the time being.
Nine Heaven: However, the appointed time had passed and yet there was no sign of said friend.
Nine Heaven: Our master, being a sentimental one, was extremely concerned that his close friend met with some accident so he decided to dispatch the two of us to search for and escort his friend.
Inn Owner: Then how does it involve this girl here?
Nine Heaven: She’s a slave that our master and his friend bought in the black market in Skills. We had a brief encounter with her before so that was probably how she remembered us.
Nine Heaven: Originally, she was a gift given to our master’s close friend but for some reason she ended up as merchandise here. This turn of events was a complete surprise to us as well.
Nine Heaven: In the midst of her frenzied confusion, she probably couldn’t think of a way to grab our attention so she decided to yell “Master” instead.
Nine Heaven: The reason we didn’t respond to her right away was because we were discussing how to deal with this unexpected situation.
Nine Heaven: —now that we’ve decided on a plan, I have to admit that we need the information she possesses in order to find our master’s close friend. Thus, I hope that you will allow us to purchase her.
Di Qi Ju:……
Nine Heaven, I know your setting was great and all but don’t just make the decision to buy her like that without consulting me.
Inn Owner: …so what you’re saying is, this woman is a piece of good your master and his close friend purchased?
Nine Heaven: That’s right, we have no connection to Cold Iron, none whatsoever.
Inn Owner: If that’s the case, I apologize for our earlier rudeness. However, we need to search you for a second, I hope you won’t mind.
Nine Heaven: Ah…no problem, go ahead.
I raised my hands accommodatingly and allowed the soldier to search me as well.
The fellow in charge of me was a rather thorough, going so far as to search my underwear as well. Naturally, I didn’t understand that mocking look he had on his face and neither did I have the mood to undo my disguise in order to compare our sizes.
Inn Guard: My search is done. There’s no weapon or goods from Cold Iron. Neither was there anything suspicious inside, just some money.
Inn Guard: The clothes are of Reitdarke making, just as their story claimed.
Inn Owner:…alright then.
The owner sighed, seemingly disappointed, before deeply bowing to us in apology.
Inn Owner: A thousand apologies for our earlier doubt. Since the woman has such deep connections to the both of you, I won’t sell her publically.
Inn Owner: 5000 Wish, that’s the internal pricing I offer, is that alright?
Hearing that, Nine Heaven’s face immediately seized up. However, that only lasted for a mere second and completely slipped under the radar of the owner.
Nine Heaven: Of course, please allow us to do so.
……
……
After finishing our meal, the auction “overflowing with hospitality” finally came to a close.
Of those who finished their meals, a number of them circled around the stage and prepared to retrieve their “goods”.
As for me, I was still seated before our cleaned up table, face stiff and fingers tapping impatiently on the wooden surface.
Di Qi Ju: —yes, I did leave this matter to you. Given your experience with such matters, I was certain you would do a better job than me…
Di Qi Ju:…so how did it end up with us buying her??
Nine Heaven: Don’t tell me you’d rather we fight our way out of here and then get chased by the entirety of Molten Steel as we make a push for Cold Iron?
Nine Heaven: You might not be afraid of death but I am. Fighting some stray troops and an army are two different things entirely!
Di Qi Ju:Then what do you plan on doing with that woman we just bought? We can’t just drag her along with us, can we?!
Nine Heaven: We can just dismiss her with some change. If she gets caught again then that’s just her fate.
Di Qi Ju: Didn’t you hear her cries just now? What if she insists on sticking to us?
Nine Heaven: Sticking to YOU, this has nothing to do with me.
Di Qi Ju:You—
Di Qi Ju:…so that’s how you treat me after finally being able to have your fill of food, you good-for-nothing, scheming merchant.
Nine Heaven: So what if I’m a scheming merchant? Also, it’s not like the money belongs to me, as the saying goes, there’s nothing too dirty for business.
Di Qi Ju: Hmph, such shamelessness…
Di Qi Ju: 5000 Wish for a woman like this, how should I rate this transaction?
Nine Heaven: Really bad.
Nine Heaven: Do you still remember the first woman that was auctioned? Her final price was 5000 Wish.
Nine Heaven: 5000 can get you an above average slave while that yelling girl can only be considered below average.
Di Qi Ju:How much do we have left then?
Nine Heaven: After purchasing her, we have 1000 or so left. Well, it’s not like we can’t just bait more bandits and earn back the money.
Di Qi Ju:…fine. Also, how much did this meal cost?
Nine Heaven: 60 Wish?
Di Qi Ju: …huh? Was there some kind of deflation here?
Nine Heaven: The Divine Hall’s currency has a really stable value. Even if your country’s currency deflates a lot, it wouldn’t inflate the Divine Hall’s by much. That applies even if said country was in the midst of a war.
Nine Heaven: That’s how powerful the name of “Westrealm” is.
Di Qi Ju: Then, what’s up with that mention of Three’floral Dawn just now?
Nine Heaven: Three’floral had made some investments in both Cold Iron and Molten Steel with the majority being placed on Molten Steel. Bringing him up here would only aid us.
Di Qi Ju: …they didn’t manage to find that map right?
Nine Heaven: Nope. Their technique was too average for that. Don’t think you can search a merchant with skills like that.
Di Qi Ju:What about the weapons?
Nine Heaven: Of course they weren’t able to either. In fact, I was more afraid they would find your weapon.
Di Qi Ju:Hah, you must be joking. Trying to find my weapons is harder than killing me.
Di Qi Ju: Anyway, hand me that map later on tonight, we can discuss the issue of the Burning Mountain later.
Nine Heaven: Mhm, no problem.
Di Qi Ju: Also—that girl has to go no matter what.
……
……
