Asta's Adventure

When they entered the hotel, Asta immediately noticed how incredibly luxurious the place looked. The chandeliers sparkled with crystal, the carpet was so soft that his feet sank into it, and behind the reception desk stood a woman with such a stern expression, it seemed like she was guarding the gates of heaven. Yet David, completely unfazed, walked straight to the desk and, handing over a piece of paper, loudly declared:

— Two of the best rooms, please.

The receptionist glanced briefly at the paper, as if it confirmed something, nodded, and handed over two keys.

— How long will you be staying, gentlemen?

David paused for a moment, pretending to consider the question carefully.

— A week.

After receiving precise instructions about the room locations and the hotel's various amenities, they headed toward their rooms.

As they climbed each floor, Asta felt the weight of opulence pressing on his humble, rural heart. The walls on the second floor were covered with silk, the third floor displayed paintings by renowned artists, and on the top floor, they passed a golden statue of a man that looked more expensive than all the houses in their village combined.

Frowning, Asta suddenly asked:

— Hey, David, what was that paper you handed over?

David raised an eyebrow slightly and replied:

— It's a VIP card. It lets me rent the best rooms.

— A VIP card?! — Asta exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement.

— Yep, with it, not only do we get the best rooms, but also the best food and service, — David smirked.

Finally, they reached their rooms. Without another word, Asta entered his, and what he saw made his jaw drop. The room was almost the size of a church! A massive bed dominated the center, and in Asta's opinion, six people could sleep on it without bothering each other. The room even had its own private bathroom and toilet.

The first thing he did was head straight for the bathroom. Two hours later, they met outside again.

— Remind me, where are we going, David? — Asta asked, stretching.

— To the black market, — David replied nonchalantly. — I need to pick up some interesting things. I might even find something you'd like.

— Something I'd like? — Asta's eyes lit up as he began to fantasize. — It'll be armor! Huge, heavy, weighing more than a ton! So I can train, wear it every day, and get stronger!

Seeing his enthusiasm, David just rolled his eyes.

— Let's see.

A short while later, they turned into an alley and stopped in front of an ordinary stone wall.

— So, where's the market? — Asta asked suspiciously, looking around.

David smirked.

— It's right here. Can't you see it?

— Where are the merchants? The stalls? Are you messing with me?

Instead of answering, David approached the wall and… walked straight through it! Asta stared in shock at his disappearing friend. A moment later, David's head poked out from the wall.

— Are you coming or what?

— What kind of magic is this?! — Asta muttered, but he stepped forward anyway.

When he emerged on the other side, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Before him stretched a vast market, filled with stalls, the shouts of merchants, and an incredible array of goods.

— Wow! Look at all this! — Asta shouted, like a child in a candy store. He was about to dash forward when David grabbed his shoulder.

— Hold on! Here, take this. — He tossed Asta a pouch of coins. — Buy whatever you want.

Catching the pouch, Asta looked at his friend in awe.

— Wow, thanks!

Thus began his journey through the market. He peeked into every stall, buying trinkets and items he didn't really need. At one point, he even bought a magic wand, despite knowing he would never have magic.

Sitting on his shoulder, Secre cooed disapprovingly until Asta suggested they visit a restaurant. There, he ordered several dishes for her, which she pecked at with obvious enjoyment.

Three hours later, Asta met up with David, who was grinning and holding a book.

— Asta, look what I found! The latest edition of The Witch's Garden! It's a magic hologram book that displays all the illustrations in 3D.

Seeing the cover, which featured witches in revealing outfits, Asta gulped and slowly reached out for the book.

— Oh, yeah… This is a real treasure…

But Secre, noticing what was happening, let out an indignant caw, snatched the book from David's hands, and flew off with it. She seemed determined to rid them of such "inappropriate literature." When she returned, she began pecking at Asta's head, scolding him in her own way.

— Baka! Baka!

— Ow, Secre, that hurts! — Asta protested, shielding his head with his hands.

David, standing to the side, laughed until Secre turned her wrath on him. And so their day at the market came to an end.

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In the next chapter, I'll show you illustrations of Asta's new gear!