NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5
The streets of the Capital City buzzed with many people in the late evening.
A sight that was not seen in the rural villages.
Unlike the village where sleeping after sunset was the norm, the streets were dazzling with bright lights.
“Wow…”
While I was admiring the surroundings, Sinel jumped off the carriage with a huge bag slung over her shoulder.
Startled by her sudden movement, I stared at her as she laughed and said,
“See you next time!”
After leaving a farewell, Sinel walked away.
I looked at Ned, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, wondering if it was okay for her to leave like that, but he waved silently as if accustomed to such situations.
Ned’s gaze shifted from Sinel to me.
“Weren’t you supposed to do something?”
“Oh.”
Only then did I remember the reason I had arrived in the Capital City.
Though it had been a short time, being together with them made me almost forget my purpose.
As I fumbled to gather my belongings to get off the carriage, Ned said,
“I’m planning to leave the castle in three days, so if you want to come with me, find me where the wind calms.”
Ned turned to sit down, as if having said everything he needed.
I didn’t have much to pack. A thick fur coat and a wolf fur hood to wear over it.
Then, with a bag full of jerky and a heavy iron sword slung over my back, I was set.
I also secured the leather pouch containing my money tightly around my waist.
“Take care.”
Philip bid me farewell after seeing me off.
I simply nodded silently and jumped off the carriage.
Ned’s carriage moved slowly onward without stopping.
For them, this kind of farewell was likely familiar.
I stood staring at the departing carriage for a while, feeling a strange sense of loss.
I didn’t have time to dwell on that.
Shaking my head, I moved on.
A daughter who left behind just a note and ran away wouldn’t leave her parents sitting idle.
They were surely searching for me, having inquired in the neighboring village about my whereabouts.
I headed toward the Traveler’s Street where the inns were clustered.
Given the high foot traffic, there were many stalls set up, selling all sorts of items to the point where it was faster to find something that wasn’t for sale.
I approached a stall that was tucked away in the corner.
The stall owner was a middle-aged woman, and her hair was very peculiar.
A strange combination of red, blue, yellow, and brown all mixed together.
A hair color that could not have occurred naturally.
She was selling dye at this stall.
“Oh, are you planning to dye your hair?”
As I got closer, the middle-aged woman welcomed me with a smile.
She handed me a small wooden board.
The board was painted with various hair dyes, as if to choose a color from them.
I chose the most ordinary-looking brown.
“Oh, what a pity… isn’t that your natural blonde? Such a pretty color…”
The middle-aged woman seemed truly regretful as she looked at my hair.
I agreed with her sentiment, but it was a necessary choice to avoid my parents’ pursuit.
“One silver, please.”
I thought it might have been slightly overpriced for dye, but I didn’t bother to argue.
After paying for the dye, I pulled down my wolf fur hood and headed toward a seemingly suitable inn.
The place was quite clean, likely concerned about hygiene.
The bustling first-floor dining area suggested it was a popular spot.
Would there be any rooms left?
There was a price list posted on the inn’s wall.
[1 Night: 2 Silver]
[1 Week: 1 Gold]
The lodging fees naturally included meals.
I approached the counter and handed over a gold coin while saying,
“One week, please.”
“Hmm…?”
The counter staff looked down at the gold coin and then glanced at me.
Then he scanned the surroundings as if searching for my parents who had come with me.
“How many people?”
“Just me.”
The staff tilted his head slightly at my answer.
Then, after a moment’s thought, he nodded as if to say ‘what of it’ and handed me a heavy key.
The key had an old wooden tag attached, marked with the number [302].
Thankfully, it seemed there was a room available.
I took the key.
“Go up to the third floor, and you’ll see your room. Do you need meals?”
“Yes.”
“Then unpack and come down. We’ll prepare your share of the meal.”
As I left the bustling first-floor behind and climbed the stairs, the noise gradually faded away.
The old, creaking steps groaned with each footfall, and a peculiar musty odor mixed with a strong paint smell made my heart race.
The hallway was generally tidy.
Of course, from a modern person’s perspective, there were a few issues, but considering the hygiene state of rural villages, it was passable.
Arriving on the third floor, I found a wide hallway.
Given that the hallway was quiet, it seemed to be soundproofed quite well.
I walked to the room marked 302 and inserted the key.
Click—
With a small noise, the door slid open smoothly.
I had worried that the stairs creaking might be a problem, but it seemed the door hinges were well oiled.
The room’s interior was also quite tidy. A reasonably sized bed with a gray blanket that didn’t show dirt easily.
In the corner of the room was a small table with a single candle placed on it.
There was probably still some time before the meal was ready.
I placed my belongings on the table and took out the bottle of dye I had just purchased.
There was a small note attached to the bottle explaining how to use the dye.
[Wash your hair with water, spray the dye, and rinse your hair one hour later.]
It takes an hour to dye my hair, huh?
I figured I’d start the task after finishing my meal.
Holding the heavy iron sword, I left the room and headed down to the first floor.
As I descended the stairs, the staff pointed to a small table located in a corner.
On it sat a small wooden tag marked with the number [302].
It seemed each lodging key entitled me to one meal per meal time.
I approached and sat at that table.
The atmosphere in the dining area was pretty decent. Travelers happily drank, seemingly enjoying the food.
As I observed the others, a girl approached me with a large plate.
She seemed dazed, staring at my face.
I smiled lightly and waved at her.
Looking at her height, she seemed to be similar in age to the kids I met in the village.
“Oh, uh. The meal is served…”
The girl, seemingly jolted by my smile, hurriedly shook her head and placed the plate down.
She fidgeted with her long apron before dashing away.
I stared down at the plate while gripping the fork.
There was scrambled egg, one grilled sausage, and a mound of mashed potatoes.
Overall, it tasted salty.
After finishing my meal, I went to the counter and asked for water.
When they asked what I needed it for, I said I wanted to wash my hands and feet, and they nodded in understanding.
After that, I headed back up to the third floor. How long had I waited?
As I struggled with a small candle and a flint, there came a knock from beyond the door.
Knock knock—
-I brought the water~
A gentle voice.
Surely it was the girl I had seen on the first floor earlier.
I put down the flint I was holding and replied.
“Come in.”
With my permission granted, the girl, waddling in with a large wooden water jug held to her chest, entered.
She instantly stood frozen upon making eye contact with me.
Emily’s bright appearance always draws the interest of kids around her age.
This girl was no exception.
She cautiously set the jug down under the bed.
“What’s your name?”
“M-me…?”
“Yes.”
The girl swallowed hard, grasping her apron.
It was quite cute how she was getting nervous over such a simple question.
“Mary…”
“Mary? How old are you?”
“I’m 13…”
“Wow, we’re the same age.”
“R-really…?”
Mary’s eyes lit up with noticeable joy at my answer.
I handed her the flint and said,
“Could you light this for me?”
“Uh, sure!”
Responding to my natural request, Mary hurried over and lit the candle using the flint.
“Thanks.”
As I lightly smiled and expressed my gratitude, Mary’s face turned bright red.
“Do you know how to become an adventurer?”
Mary nodded at my question.
I had a brief chat with Mary.
Most of the time, it was me asking questions and her answering.
However, the conversation didn’t last long, as Mary said she had to help with the inn’s duties and left the room.
After Mary left, I began dyeing my hair.
The smell of the dye was very unpleasant, making my head dizzy.
And so, the day in the Capital City came to an end.
*
Rather early in the morning.
After packing suitable belongings, I left my room and headed down to the first floor.
The inn’s breakfast always seemed to be early, as the staff was already out cleaning the dining area.
“Are you heading for breakfast?”
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I was asked by the staff who recognized me.
I shook my head. I didn’t feel like eating breakfast right away.
“I’m just stepping out for a bit.”
“Okay, don’t lose your key.”
“Yes.”
I checked the key in my pocket before exiting the inn.
Inside the castle, maps were installed for travelers to find their way easily.
Thanks to that, I reached my destination without getting lost.
The largest street in Niphlheim Capital City.
It was Adventurer’s Street.
Centered around the large Adventurer’s Guild, shops necessary for travel were naturally clustered around, and the Blacksmith was easily found nearby.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of metal clanging echoed from early in the morning.
Adventurers began to appear from various places.
I could see drunkards passed out on the floor, and guards clicking their tongues as they looked at those drunks.
Leaving all that behind, I dashed toward a building.
The large sign on the building prominently displayed the words “Swordsmanship Guild” in stylish letters.
To live in this Capital City, I needed money.
I had some emergency cash I had saved at home and some given by a knight, but I couldn’t live my whole life off that money.
I planned to become an adventurer to earn money.
Mary had said that the first step to becoming an adventurer was to have a job emblem that assured skill.
That was why I had come to the Swordsmanship Guild.
“Ugh…”
I stood in front of the building, sniffling.
The cold weather kept making my nose run.