NOVEL WEB Chapter 131
Most adventurers live day to day, busy just getting by.
The autumn season is the time to assess how those adventurers fared over the past year.
Of course, this presupposes that they weren’t wasteful and are C-rank or higher adventurers.
This doesn’t apply to the veteran adventurers, however.
For instance, take the somewhat well-known veteran adventurer party—like Jurin and his crew.
Thanks to their remarkable achievements against the Akusare Golem Abomination (named by Catherine) in Fungusbee last summer, Jurin and his gang scored some hefty rewards.
After that, they participated in the hunt for the Grizzly Beaver.
As the scope of the hunt expanded, they ended up making a lot more money than expected, leading to the proclamation of the quest’s end.
Coldon, the capital city of Iceland, has the highest cost of living.
And so, they decided to enjoy a vacation under the guise of wintering in the Inner Castle.
“Alright. It’s nice to be here and all.”
Klink, the gnome thief, awkwardly scratched his cheek as he surveyed the others, whose clothes were a far cry from the residents of the Outer Castle.
“So, what are we going to do in the Inner Castle?”
A silence fell over the group.
Even though Jurin and his crew were composed of veteran adventurers, they were still adventurers nonetheless, and their way of wintering wasn’t much different from others.
Gambling was a given, and drinking was essential.
Fighting and prostitution were optional.
But here they were, entering the Inner Castle.
Should they say it was where those with a bit of money resided?
Most of the party, seeing the sight of the Inner Castle for the first time, were left speechless by the completely different world compared to the Outer Castle.
The clean exterior walls of buildings, unmarred by time and dirt.
Fabrics smoothly brushing along as people moved about.
A gentle, sweet aroma wafting through the streets as if it were trending.
The only thing in common with the Outer Castle was that there wasn’t a single bit of filth on the ground.
To put it bluntly, the men felt intimidated.
Of course, Lumiere, who had often visited the Inner Castle’s temples as a priest before being an adventurer, found it hard to understand.
“What do you mean, ‘what are we doing’? Didn’t we come to enjoy a vacation in the Inner Castle?”
“Aha, zealot. Right now, it’s just that day laborers have wandered into a place that doesn’t suit them, trembling like bear cubs that have lost their mothers.”
“Trembling? Who’s trembling?”
Ain’delf scowled as he glared at Jerika, the elf archer, who was poking Lumiere’s shoulder.
“Wait, are none of you ladies familiar with this place?”
“Of course we are.”
“Really? What? Of course?”
“…Dwarf. Wipe that look off your face before I shoot you with an arrow.”
“Hey, you zealot woman, okay, maybe I can excuse you.”
“Who’s a zealot!?”
Bam! Lumiere snapped at that.
However, nobody in Jurin’s party paid her much mind, to her astonishment. Left alone, she protested.
“This is called faith…!”
“We agreed to socially call it zealotry.”
“And Lady Yustitia has bestowed blessings upon me even for a little while!”
“Sure, sure, whatever you say. Anyway, you. Pointy-eared. Have you been to the Inner Castle often?”
“Of course.”
As Jerika shook her head, her silky gold hair rippled beautifully.
“I’ve spent many a graceful day in the Inner Castle, unlike those drunken day laborers who get into fights after gambling and waste away.”
“Hah, you think you’re graceful?”
“What if I do?”
Jerika struck a pose, leaning forward, resting her chin on her hand, and keeping her lips sealed. Then she slowly blinked her eyes, one at a time.
Her attitude and aura were as nonchalant as if she had never been in rough alleys, resembling a dandelion blooming early in the frigid wasteland—delicate but with a frosty air.
Seeing this, Ain’delf and Klink couldn’t help but click their tongues.
Despite her takes that would make a hag blush and the charm reminiscent of an elf, they reluctantly had no retort when Jerika fell silent.
Even if they didn’t want to admit it.
Jurin clapped his hands to draw the party’s attention.
“Now, isn’t this a good thing that’s come about?”
“What’s this ridiculous talk?”
“Ridiculous? For our fine gents visiting the Inner Castle for the first time, Jerika, why don’t you guide us on where to go?”
“What?”
Jerika frowned in surprise, immediately reverting to a bad attitude as if to say, when did that happen?
“Me?”
“Exactly.”
“You want me to?”
“Why not? Jerika, you’re our elder in this affair, aren’t you?”
At this, Ain’delf turned to Jurin with an expression as if he had seen the unspeakable.
“What? She’s an elder? Are you crazy?”
“Sure, it’s true she’s in the Inner Castle for the first time.”
“For crying out loud, even so, the pointy-eared one is an elder? Jurin, are you really saying that?”
“Well, technically, she’s not wrong.”
“See? I didn’t serve up a falsehood, did I?”
As the men of the party squawked, drawing attention from those around them, Lumiere subtly distanced herself from the group. Jerika followed suit.
Jerika scowled as she scrutinized the men of the party.
What business did she have, leading those hairy males around the Inner Castle?
“Jerika.”
“What is it, zealot?”
“So you see, it’s really faith.”
“That or either one makes no real difference.”
“Come on, phew, I’m practically a newbie here too.”
“What, the Inner Castle?”
Jerika looked surprised.
“Zealot, you didn’t come to the Inner Castle more often than me?”
“That’s only when visiting the temple for work. I usually leave promptly after.”
“You’re an adventurer too; you ought to live a little more reckless.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Tsk.”
Even if she were the only fine woman in a party of adventurers soaked in sweat and blood, how could she treat her male companions harshly?
Jerika wasn’t that cruel, after all.
Wait a minute. If that were the case, maybe the words were a little different?
In an instant, Jerika wore a playful smile, cleared her throat, and whacked Ain’delf and Klink on the back of their heads with all her strength.
“Listen up, you petty day laborers. I’ve changed my mind. As ‘your elder,’ I shall introduce you to the fine establishment I often visit in the Inner Castle of Coldon.”
“What? Who called you elder!?”
“Why isn’t anyone smacking the back of that one’s head? Why only us!?”
Klink pointed at Jurin, protesting.
Jurin blinked as if to say he knew nothing about it.
Jerika’s response was simple.
“How dare these dog-trod-day laborers lay a finger on the precious head of our esteemed wizard? If that clever head takes a hit, you lot will be responsible for making him forget his magic!”
Ain’delf and Klink promptly shut their mouths.
“At any rate, as far as male day laborers are concerned, you have no right to protest!”
“What’s this archer talking nonsense for—”
“Our esteemed healer has kindly asked for guidance.”
While Jurin’s group essentially maintained an equal relationship, the standing of a common warrior or thief didn’t equate to that of an esteemed wizard or healer.
After all, even if they reached a conclusion by majority vote, it would be 3 to 2.
They had no choice but to follow Jerika’s lead as per the party’s decision.
Still, it was impossible not to feel sulky about it.
Ain’delf and Klink sulked in silence.
However, as Jerika led them to a place said to be for a ‘vacation’, they couldn’t help but open their mouths.
Even Jurin and Lumiere, shocked at the sight of such a place, stood there wide-eyed, while Klink was the first to snap out of his stupor.
“Hey, Jerika. Why did you stop here?”
“You asked me to tell you how day laborers enjoy themselves in the Inner Castle as ‘your elder,’ didn’t you? So I just brought you to a place I’ve visited a few times while coming to Coldon.”
“Hey! But there’s a limit to this! You can’t bring us to a place like this!”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Of course there is!”
Everyone but Jerika was overwhelmed by the sight of the shop.
The place was entirely decorated in pastel tones.
It wasn’t flashy, but it radiated a restrained elegance.
At first glance, it looked like a place where people of some wealth and status would frequent.
Moreover, the aroma wafting from the shop.
The rich scent of butter mingling with sweetness that drifted in from outside made even the men, who had never been connected to such places, shudder in realization of where they were.
Ain’delf recoiled, stammering.
“Y-You’ve brought us to a dessert cafe.”
“A mere dessert shop, and you’re that afraid?”
“Are you seriously telling me this unbelievable elf? That’s what you call it…!”
“Looks like our party’s healer is fond of this place?”
The dwarf and gnome of the party turned their heads away dramatically.
Lumiere, with her hands clasped over her heart, had a rosy tint to her cheeks, full of anticipation.
She was always icy and would flare up at religious topics, fuming at undead and heretics.
But right now, she exuded a completely different, soft atmosphere.
So eager was she that everyone could see her silently mouthing “dessert cafe” repeatedly.
And yes, Lumiere indeed had a reason to be excited.
Despite currently being active as an adventurer, she was also a priest who served the Goddess, and she had a fondness for desserts and cute animals.
“No way could a woman whose faith consists of merely drinking a little booze escape such temptations.”
“…No! It’s not like I’m tempted by this extravagant smell!”
“The priestess claims she isn’t lying. Just wipe that blush off your face.”
Oh no!
Lumiere quickly took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
But there was no way that blush could simply vanish.
Jurin shrugged upon seeing her.
“So what if you splurge?”
“Don’t tempt me with those devious words.”
“Temptation? Splurging essentially means throwing money around beyond your means, right, Klink? I have just one question.”
Klink glared at Jurin grumpily.
“What is it?”
“How much money did our party make this time around?”
“I’ll need to count to know the exact amount, but even after excluding the party funds, we’ve got dozens of gold coins and several bags of silver coins. Unless we blow it all gambling—”
“There’s no way we’ll be so torn apart as to not afford a posh cafe in the Inner Castle!?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
Klink nodded begrudgingly.
“But still, this is a waste…!”
“A waste, you say? Proper spending might as well be the driving force for society to run smoothly.”
“Huh?”
“If we spend money at a shop like this, that money surely gets passed on to the staff too. Those employees will use the money in some way.”
“Right, they work to make a living.”
“Moreover, where do all the ingredients and tableware the cafe uses come from?”
While squandering money is no different than indulging, proper spending is, in essence, what keeps society moving.
“From artisans like blacksmiths and farmers, right?”
Lumiere, who had been cautiously glancing at the cafe, replied hesitantly.
“The tools used in that shop and the food ingredients must all be supplied from there.”
“Exactly. So we’re not here just wasting our money; we’re here to ensure proper funds flow into society.”
“Proper spending.”
Though doubts lingered, Lumiere’s mind noticeably leaned toward that side.
“Now that the little one’s persuasion is done, shall we head inside?”
“Who’re you calling little!?”
“Oh, I never specified who. Are you feeling a bit prickled?”
As they bickered casually, the group quieted down as they approached the pastel-colored entrance.
“…What’s this?”
“Hmm?”
And the moment they laid eyes on the interior of the cafe, it far exceeded their imaginations, leaving even Jerika, who had visited often, and the whole party dumbfounded.