Published at 20th of November 2020 09:24:56 PM
Chapter 20.1: 20.1
Translator: SFBaka
The number of people traveling on the road increased as we neared Gotania .
We encountered one or two groups every hour or so and we were getting lots of attention because of the long line of captives bound to our carriage . Some of them even purposely called out to ask if the captives we were towing were bandits, to which I answered in the affirmative .
Beck and Thor were out front on the driver’s seat while I, Cleria and Tarus-san sat on top of the luggage . Cleria sat at the very back so she could keep her eyes on the captured bandits .
I was relatively free so I asked Tarus-san a lot of things I was curious about .
Gotania was apparently a big city with a population of about 20,000, and achieved prosperity through being a center of trade and commerce in the Belta Kingdom .
“Do we need some sort of permit for entering the city?”
“Is Alan-san not affiliated with any guild?”
I’ve heard about guilds from Beck and the rest . They were organizations that officially registered people of different trades such as adventurers and merchants . There were different kinds such as the adventurers guild and the merchant guild . Beck and Thor were apparently registered members of the merchant guild .
“No, I haven’t registered in one yet . ”
“If you were a guild member, your guild certificate would serve as your pass . If you aren’t registered to any, you need to pay a fee and be issued a temporary pass instead .
“How much do I need to pay?”
“Well, it’s just one silver per person . And if you were to enter a guild within a five day period, the money will be refunded to you in full . ”
I see . It was actually quite a fair policy .
“Do you need money to enter a guild?”
“Are you aiming to register at the adventurers guild, Alan-san? If my memory serves me right, it would cost you five silver coins . ”
It looks like entering the city would pose no problem after all .
“How much does it cost to stay overnight at an inn?”
“The price varies depending on the establishment . It would cost four large bronze coins to stay at relatively cheaper ones, one silver coin for regular inns and up to five silver coins if you choose to stay at a luxury hotel . ”
“Are there inns with baths available?”
“You can only find baths at high-class inns . Regular ones wouldn’t have them, I’m afraid . ”
Well, I think I’ve managed to grasp a general idea of the market price . So it costs five silvers for an inn with baths huh . You can stay for twenty days with one gold coin . Looks like booking an inn wouldn’t cause Cleria and I any trouble for the time being as well .
“Would it be fine for you to head over to my mansion tonight? You can bring everyone else with you, of course . ”
“Eh? But…”
“Please . I owe everyone my life . You’ve also meted out justice on behalf of my slain employee and adventurer cohorts . I would very much like to express my gratitude today if you’d allow me the honor . ”
It would be rude of me to refuse after the other party had said this much .
“I understand . We’ll be in your care then . ”
“Thank you very much . My mansion has a nice, large bath . I will also tell my chefs to prepare a nice dinner for all of you . ”
Alright! I’m now really looking forward to this .
“Beck! We’ll go stay at Tarus-san’s mansion tonight . It seems he’ll treat us . ”
“Yeah!” Beck and Thor exclaimed in glee .
We finally managed to see the city of Gotania at around four in the afternoon . The entire city was surrounded by ten meter high walls . I zoomed in . The wall looks like it was made by stacking lots of reddish-brown bricks . There was one huge main gate that looked like it could fit two carriages side by side during entry . It was certainly a large city .
We finally arrived in front of the gate after about twenty minutes . It didn’t take long for our turn to enter the city . Two men wearing leather armor and wielding spears approached us . It looks like they were part of the city guards . The three of us who were sitting on top of the luggage went down and met up with them .
“Oi, oi . That’s quite a number you got there . These guys bandits? You managed to catch these suckers by yourselves?”
He sure was quite blunt for a soldier .
“Good afternoon, Captain Roman . ”
“Well now! If it isn’t Tarus-san? I’m sorry, I didn’t manage to notice you earlier . Why are you riding in this carriage!?”
“My convoy was attacked by those bandits over there . Tim and the adventurers escorting us were all killed . I was probably kept alive so they could exchange me for a hefty ransom . ”
“My word! That certainly is unfortunate . Please, go ahead and rest up a bit at the guard station . Oh right . This young man has been waiting at the gates for Tarus-san for the last three days . ”
When we looked toward the gate, we saw a boy who looked to be about thirteen years old running up to us .
“Master! Masteeer! You’re alright! Ah, thank goodness!”
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Looks like Tarus-san was really well-liked .
“Ah, Willy . I’m sorry to have made you worry . I trust the store hasn’t encountered any problems while I was gone?”
“I don’t think it did, but everyone was sick with worry . ”
“I see . It’s fine now . It’s good that you’re here . Please tell everyone to prepare a grand welcome for these four individuals . I owe them my life and would like to express my utmost gratitude . ”
“Understood!”
The boy ran back inside the city at full-speed .
We were led inside the city guard garrison and were served some tea . Un, they’re really treating us like VIPs .
We dealt with the necessary procedures soon after . Beck and Thor were members of the merchant guild so they didn’t have any problems entering . I and Cleria, on the other hand, had to pay a two silver deposit and were issued some temporary passes . The passes were thin wooden plates with words written on them .
“Well then, about these bandits you caught . We will record your merits here . However, the reward money will be sent after two days . You two will have to return here after two days to claim the money . ”
“Understood . Thank you very much . ”
Yosh, we’ve managed to solve our money troubles, more or less .
After we left the guard station, we immediately headed for Tarus-san’s mansion . A regal-looking carriage was parked in front of the station with a person who seemed to be a butler waiting at the side .
“I have come to receive you, Master . ”
“Oh, thank you Jonas . I have troubled you . ” Tarus-san replied .
“Alan-san, Miss Ria, please go ahead and board this carriage . It would feel better than riding a carriage meant for transporting goods, I reckon . ”
“I see . Follow this carriage then, Beck . ”
The cityscape of Gotania was apparently made of the same reddish-brown bricks as the city-wall . There was a sense of harmony about it and made for a beautiful sight . Evening was about to arrive and there were a lot of people milling about the city streets . There were all sorts of people; from housewives coming home from shopping to young men eating out at a roadside stall . Man, I’d like to try eating at those stalls as well .
The people got surprised whenever the carriage passed by and hurriedly made way . Well, they may just be avoiding it because its a large carriage and they don’t want to get caught in an accident . But it does seem Tarus-san held quite an influence in the city based on the attitude of those city guards earlier . Looks like I really lucked out by managing to rescue such a person .
I could probably rely on Tarus-san if I ever got into trouble in this city .
The atmosphere of the surroundings soon changed, and we arrived at a luxurious-looking residential area . The carriage stopped in front of the largest mansion in the area .
People who seemed to be employees were lined up on each side of the front gate . Tarus-san got off the carriage .
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“”Welcome home, Master!””
“Umu, I have made you all worry, everyone . ”
There were actually people shedding tears of joy among the employees . He really was well-loved .
I, Cleria, Beck and Thor also got off the carriage . Man, this really feels quite grand .
“Everyone, these people are my saviors . I owe them my life . They are Alan-san, Miss Ria, Beck-kun and Thor-kun . Do give them the warmest welcome . ”
“”Yes!””
“Everyone, please go ahead and come inside . ”
The butler guy, Jonas-san, respectfully led us in .
“Well then, how about taking them to the baths first in order for them to refresh themselves?” Tarus-san suggested .
“Understood . Please follow me, everyone . ”
Jonas-san led the way .
“How about you enter first, Ria?” Ladies first, as the saying goes .
“Oh, there is more than one bath, so that would not be necessary,” Jonas-san informed .
“Please follow me, Miss Ria . ”
A young female employee appeared and guided Cleria .
Oh man . Looks like Tarus-san was really loaded . Just how many baths does this mansion have? Amazing .
“This is the bath area . Um, please pardon me if this sounds rude, but do you know the proper way to enter?”
“You need to wash yourself clean first before entering, right?”
I managed to watch a documentary produced on Earth called [Hot Springs 101] on the holobit once . This looks to be the same type as the hot springs over there .
“That’s exactly the case . Do pardon my earlier presumptuousness . Well then, please take your time and enjoy . ”
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We found a dressing room once we went inside . A large wooden hot water bath that looked able to fit ten people at once could be seen further in .
“It’s our first time to enter into this sort of fancy bath, Alan-san . ”
Beck and Thor looked rather nervous .
“Well, basically, you just need to wash yourselves clean and enter the hot water bath afterward . ”
It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a chance to properly wash my body .
I left my clothes at the dressing room and went towards the bath area . Beck and Thor hurriedly followed suit .
“First, you need to draw water using this wooden pail and drench yourselves with it . Then draw some water again and use this . This is a cloth used to wipe your body clean . Oh, they even have this!”
This seems to be a substitute for body soap . I forgot its name but I also saw them using it in the documentary .
“Drench this cloth and then rub it on this rock-like item until foam forms on it . ”
Beck and Thor frantically copied my actions .
“After it foams up, you then use this cloth to wipe your bodies clean . You also need to use this rock-like item to clean your hair . ”
We soon found ourselves busy with washing up . Beck and Thor seem to be enjoying themselves quite a bit . It felt like ages since I got to clean my body up like this .
“Then you need to splash yourselves with water once more to remove the foam . ”
I drew water inside the pail again and used it to wash the foam off .
“After that, we can finally enjoy immersing ourselves in the hot water bath . ”
I slowly entered the bath . The water had the perfect temperature .
Fuu, that feels good . Having a quick shower pales in comparison .
“Baths are really great, aren’t they, Alan-san?”
Thor nodded in agreement at Beck’s statement .
“Yeah, they’re the best . ”
We thoroughly enjoyed the hot water bath .