The light rain turned into a fine mist, and the temperature dropped to twenty degrees.
「It’s gotten cooler」
「Once it clears up, the temperature will drop even more」
「So that cold will come back again. I’m impressed Miriel and Kainzel-san managed to get through it」
「Firewood is cheap, at least. With one copper coin, you can buy several days’ worth. I got through it by buying heat magic stones」
「I got through it with heat magic stones too」
Like hot water bottles? Come to think of it, I got through it with disposable heat packs. I should buy some before it gets cold again.
「I’m going shopping in the city this afternoon. Miriel, do you want to come? I don’t really know what kind of cloth is good, so it would help if you came along」
Miriel’s legs had recovered up to around her knees, and with the geta Gorg made and a four-point cane, she could walk without much trouble. It’s not barrier-free and the roads aren’t paved, so she’ll probably get pretty dirty, though.
「Yes! I want to go!」
Miriel was full of enthusiasm. Maybe she had been feeling frustrated about only being able to move around nearby.
「Bisha and Mebi, do you want to come too?」
As for Ladarion, she has no interest in clothes at all, so she’s fine staying behind.
「We’re not going. We’re going goblin hunting with Marg」
Ah right. Marg had begged to become a goblin contractor, so with his parents’ permission, we made him one.
「Be back before it gets dark」
「Okaaay!」
I’m a bit worried, but as long as they don’t go too far, it should be fine. Neither Bisha nor Mebi are the type to get carried away, and they’re used to walking in the mountains. Just make sure you’re properly equipped before heading out.
We returned to Home once to get ready, left Kainzel-san in charge, and then headed to the city.
「It feels great!」
「Yeah. Let’s take a bit of a detour」
The northern route is a bit rough, but if we go slowly, she shouldn’t get motion sick. And if she does start to feel sick, we can just take a break.
「I sense goblins nearby」
Driving at thirty kilometers per hour, I could sense goblins here and there. Still, at this level, there shouldn’t be any problem even without driving them off before the harvest.
We went around from the north and entered the city through the western gate.
After days of rain, the roads were covered in mud. Maybe it would have been better to come tomorrow instead of today.
「Which shops are we going to?」
「Let’s look around the Second Walled District」
「The Second Walled District? Wasn’t entry restricted to second-class citizens and above?」
「The acting lord promoted me to second-class citizenship」
Though as payment, I ended up having to offer alcohol. With what the guild master earns, you can’t keep both alcohol and sweets in balance.
「Am I allowed to enter as well?」
「It’s fine. I got a special permit」
We have to enter through the commercial gate, but it’s not somewhere we go often. With the Pioneer, it’s not much trouble.
「I’m Takato. I’m here to shop in the Second Walled District」
They’d already been informed about me, so we were almost waved through. We entered the Second Walled District without delay.
I had been shown a map of the Second Walled District while I was detained, copied it into my sketchbook, and memorized it. That way, if monsters attacked again, I could escape.
「It should be around here」
There should have been a trading company dealing in cloth near the commercial gate.
「Isn’t it that one?」
In the direction Miriel pointed, there was a shop selling cloth and clothing.
Unlike the Third Walled District, the roads here were brick-paved and well cleaned, so goods were displayed all the way outside the shop.
The street was wide, and there didn’t seem to be any carriage traffic, so we parked in front of the shop.
I don’t know the shop’s name, but it must be a trading company wealthy enough to operate in the Second Walled District, yet there were no customers. Maybe they mainly handle official business?
I don’t know what rich people’s shopping is like, but since they’re open like this, it should be fine to go in.
「Welcome」
An elegant middle-aged man who seemed to be the owner greeted us.
Even after seeing Miriel and me, he kept his smile and didn’t try to chase us away. Maybe just being in the Second Walled District earns us trust.
「May we see your cloth?」
「Certainly. Please take your time. If you find anything you are looking for, please let me know」
Since I had no idea what to look for, I left it entirely to Miriel. I’d stick to being the wallet.
「Takato-san, what’s the budget?」
「The budget, huh. Well, about ten silver coins should be fine, right?」
If one silver coin is about ten thousand yen, then roughly a hundred thousand should buy most things.
「Then please show me cloth suitable for undergarments, something appropriate for going out, and some thicker fabric as well」
Women really are reliable in moments like this. I gave the shop owner a look that said, ‘Please take care of her’, and wandered around the shop.
「Sir, would you care for some tea over here?」
The shop wasn’t very large. I finished looking around in no time, and just as boredom was setting in, the owner spoke to me.
「It looks like your companion will take a while. It must be rather hard on men」
Taking him up on the offer, I was led to a small space set aside for tea. Even in another world, men apparently can’t keep up with women’s shopping.
「So you drink black tea here as well, huh」
It felt strange that black tea existed in another world. Is it grown somewhere around here?
「Do you enjoy black tea, sir?」
「Only occasionally. I usually drink coffee, well, you probably don’t know what that is」
There’s no way coffee would exist here. Or so I thought.
「Oh, I do know. I love coffee myself」
You’ve got to be kidding me. What kind of world is this?!
「It doesn’t come in very often, so I can’t drink it every day, though」
Apparently, coffee is a rare item, known as a drink favored by wealthy households, mainly among men.
「If you like coffee, then please allow me to serve you some」
「A-are you sure? It’s rare, isn’t it?」
「You’re a valued customer. Coffee is a small thing」
Is ten silver coins really considered a big spender? Well, if he’s offering, I’ll gratefully accept.
The coffee he served was surprisingly good, easily on par with what I’d had in my original world. Just like those skewers I ate before, it made me realize I really should experience more of this world’s food.
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