This would be a busy day . We had to make up for all the time we lost trying to find armor .
We stuffed ourselves with breakfast in the morning and gathered our scattered things and thrust them into the hollow bag . This included my inner clothes and Daniela’s underwear . We’d have to wash them in a river sometime later . Once that was done, I crouched low on the ground and made sure there was nothing left on the floor . When I was sure, the only thing left to do was to settle the bill .
“Daniela, let’s go . ”
“Wwait a moment . I must use the bathroom…”
“Uh…”
Daniela frantically dashed away under my exasperated stare . I made sure the windows were all closed and locked as I waited . Everything was fine . I had the key as well .
After a final check, we both left the room . It was a short stay, but very pleasurable .
Several guests were relaxing in the lobby after having eaten their breakfast . We passed them and reached the counter, where Karamus was waiting for us with a smile .
“So this is the day that you two are leaving . ”
“Yes, we had a great time here . Thank you . ”
“No, it is my job, after all . ”
She chuckled while raising an elegant hand to her mouth . But she was actually a sadist at heart .
“Oh, is something the matter?”
“No?”
I put the key on the counter with a cool expression . Yeah, nothing at all .
“Well, we’ll be off now . You will let us stay if we come again?”
“Yes, of course . And I hope you two have a wonderful journey . ”
“Thank you . ”
Miss Karamus bowed deeply and I nodded before we existed the Babbling Brook . The sound of that brook had been comforting to the ears until the end . We would likely choose this place again if we ever found ourselves here . It was comfortable and the owner was pretty . The room was also clean, which was always a plus .
Once we were on the streets, we headed for the guardhouse near the docks . After all, Bacon was the first person who helped us, so I thought I might as well drop by . Two weeks of Usk had helped me learn all of the roads, and so we arrived quite quickly .
I said Bacon’s name at the counter and they told me where he was . Apparently, he was leading an inspection of goods and personnel on a newly arrived merchant ship . I couldn’t say I didn’t find this a little troublesome, but at least the docks were close by .
“Oh…what grand ship…”
Daniela looked up at it with surprise . Even I was shocked . The river itself was very wide, but I was still surprised that a vessel of this size could pass here without the hull hitting the bottom of the river . The thing looked to be about fifty meters long . I wasn’t an expert on boats, but that seemed like it was on the larger end .
It was larger than any of the others boats here, anyway .
“Ah, if it isn’t Asagi and Daniela . What are you two doing here?”
Bacon said as he approached us . For a second, I wasn’t quite sure either, but then I remembered .
“Hey, Bacon . ”
“It’s Yacon . ”
“We’re going to be leaving town today . So I thought I’d say goodbye . ”
“It’s Y…oh, so you’ll be leaving then? I’ll sure miss you two . ”
Liar . We only saw him those first two days .
“Well, you be careful out there . ”
“Yeah . But we’ll be back . As for Miss Karamus, she’s not interested . I would give up if I were you . ”
“What? How can…are you serious? But she always smiles so sweetly that I…”
Unfortunately, that was just a disguise . A mask of deceit .
“But there may be a way . ”
“Whwhat? Tell me!”
I threw an arm around Bacon’s shoulder and brought my head close to his and whispered .
“Well, she’s a real sadist . So she might oblige you if you asked to be punished . ”
“You… If you’re lying to me, I’ll come after you and have you thrown in prison!”
Ah, he didn’t believe me then?
Well, it was really up to him . I was just showing him the way .
“That’s just how it is . Do what you want with it . Now, see ya . ”
“Uh . I’m not sure how I feel about all of this . But I wish you well on your travels . And uh, thanks for everything you did in Nicora . ”
“Don’t mention it . We were just passing through . ”
I waved goodbye, and we walked away from the docks . We would go to the craftsmen street next . To the White Lily . And then it was straight for the east gate .
“…Still, there’s nothing less appealing than someone who comes directly to you, asking to be punished . ”
“Indeed . It is one thing to casually solicit someone and then slide into a submissive role part way through, like you . That can be quite endearing . But I would not like someone to come at me like that so strongly . ”
“Wait, I, I don’t do that . Do I?”
“Haha . Ahahaha . ”
“Why are you laughing! Hey, stop right there!”
She had just unleashed a severe blow to my reputation, and now she was laughing and running away . This was quite a problem . I had to deny it immediately and recover from this . However, Daniela quickly stopped and began to walk normally as if nothing had happened . Ultimately, I was not able to fix things before we reached the White Lily .
“Hello?”
I entered the store and called out to them, but they seemed to be in that back . I wondered if they ever got robbed…
“Well, I guess I better go…”
“No, Asagi, wait . I will go and see . ”
“Eh? It’s fine . You went last time . ”
“No, I must go . You know, it will be better as we are all women . ”
“You think? Well, I guess you’re right . I’ll wait here then . ”
“Yes, you sit still . Very still . ”
“No, I don’t know if I can . ”
Daniela seemed to be rushing a little as she moved towards the back of the store . I took a seat on the usual chair and waited .
After a few minutes, very loud footsteps could be heard as they came running . There really was no reason to rush . Look, the exertion was causing their cheeks to flush .
Turia pulled out a chair and sat down first .
“Oh, so…sorry to keep you waiting…hhh…”
“Are you alright?”
“Oh, oh…yes… I am fine…there is no problem at all…mm…”
She looked very out of breath . I was a little worried . Miss Segura also looked a little anxious . Daniela picked something off of the floor as she followed after them . It looked like a handkerchief .
“Hahhh…so, what brings you here today?”
Miss Segura had finally caught her breath .
“Yes . We’ll be leaving town today . And so we came to say goodbye . Since you two really helped us and everything . ”
“I…see… No, it was just our job . In fact, I was quite happy to be able to use such expensive materials for a change . ”
“Yes, you can handle dragon materials . For some reason, none of the other craftsmen here could help us when it came to armor . Are they really that different?”
This was the main reason we had lost so much time . If it had not been an issue, Daniela would have likely had something very great by now .
“Yes . The materials are handled quite differently with clothes . With armor, the materials are treated similar to metal, and they must use fire . ”
“I see . You definitely wouldn’t use fire with clothes . ”
“Exactly . But none of the furnaces in this town are hot enough to deal with dragon materials . ”
I see . That explained it . So I guess that meant that Nick had a furnace that was capable of it . The Paw Armor Shop was actually quite special?
“In any case, it is quite out of the question to have the work done here . You will have to go to the capital . ”
“I see . Thanks . We happen to be headed for the capital, so it works out for us . ”
Though, I would have been incredibly annoyed if it happened that we couldn’t get it done there either .
“Hehe . I suppose we will see a much stronger and lovelier Daniela in dragon gear the next time you visit?”
“Indeed . I expect to be dressed quite well the next time we meet . ”
“I am very much looking forward to it . ”
Daniela shook hands with both women and bid them goodbye . She smoothly slid the handkerchief into Miss Segura’s hand when she did so . That was very kind of her . Miss Segura hurriedly stuffed it into her pocket .
Yes, there was something pleasant about seeing all these girls get along so nicely! And in a store called the White Lilly… Hmm? I felt like I might be missing something .
“Well, we should go now . Asagi . ”
“Hm? Oh, yeah . See you later then . ”
“I will give you some pretty clothes when you come again . ”
“And I will give you a good discount!”
“Oh, so you meant ‘sell . ’”
We chuckled at that . There was something fun about this place .
“Goodbye then . ”
“Thank you for everything . ”
“Yes . Take care of your clothes . ”
“Be safe!”
And then we parted ways . There was some hand waving as we made our way to the east gate, but we did not stop again until we reached it .
Our goal was the imperial capital . It was just a little longer now .