I wave a hand at Ness and take the seat next to his .

“Ho, Asagi! Let’s drink!”

“Looks like you’ve had quite a lot already…”

“You idiot! This barely even counts!”

I beg to differ . His eyes couldn’t even focus on anything . But then again, he was talking just fine irritatingly .

“So, Asagi . How have you been?”

“Recently? Well, it was pretty much the worst until recently . ”

“Buwahahaha! Sure was!”

I wonder whose fault that was! I don’t say it . I have a rule against arguing while drinking .

“Well, I have a good feeling about what’s to come…”

I say as I swipe Ness’ drink from the side and down the whole thing . It wasn’t very chilled, but it tasted great . Daniela was eating the steamed chicken she had ordered with the most satisfied expression . I suppose she really enjoyed her food .

We kept drinking like this for a while, and I periodically stole whatever Ness was eating . He was pretty much done for . He was half asleep now . I rob him of his last drink and plate and move over to Daniela’s seat . My mug of ale clinks lightly against her mug of fruit water .

“That was a busy day . ”

“Aye, Asagi . You did well . Let’s keep this up tomorrow as well . ”

“It’s very heartening to have you there with me . ”

“Hehe . You know, flattery won’t get you anything with me?”

She smiled as she brushed her short, platinum blonde hair from her face . She was could be quite handsome…

“Does your hair color derive from your race?”

“Hmm? Oh, well, yes . Generally, that is the case with elves . ”

“So there are other colors?”

“There are brunettes and those with silver hair . ”

So hair color was not a determining factor for light elves . I ran my fingers through my own hair . As I had worked the night s.h.i.+ft for so long and slept through most of the day, I rarely went to the barber . Whenever it reached a certain length, the manager would start touching it from behind, which was my signal to have it cut . The signal was a bit creepy, and I always wished it would stop . Though, I now wondered how he was doing .

“Is your hair derived from your race, Asagi?”

“Well, sort of . I don’t know . But everyone around me had black hair . ”

“Hmm… When it comes to black hair, they say that the ogre tribes in the farthest reaches often have black hair . Though the accounts are old and I have never seen them in person . ”

She said as she chewed on a mouthful of chicken and steamed vegetables . So there were ogres? Did they wear striped underwear too?

I was imagining what these elusive ogres might look like when I felt someone tap my shoulder . It was Fiona .

“Asagi . Checks finished . ”

“You’re not very formal today . ”

“Hmph… Why should I be?”

She pouted a little . What was going on? I felt an uncomfortable number of eyes on me . Was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of daggers shot through the eyes? The look coming from right next to me was especially awkward .

She pouted a little . What was going on? I felt an uncomfortable number of eyes on me . Was this what it was like to be on the receiving end of daggers shot through the eyes? The look coming from right next to me was especially awkward .

“Asagi . ”

“Yes . ”

“Let’s go . ”

“Right…”

Daniela said as she stood up and quickly walked away . I hurriedly chased after her . I did also happen to leave Daniela’s bill on Ness’ table when doing this .

We received the reward at the counter along with a note .

‘Forest wolf fangs……………… . 160/1 gold piece, 60 silver pieces . ’

‘Quest completion reward………30 silver pieces . ’

1 gold piece had the value of 100 silver pieces, 1 silver piece had the value of 100 copper pieces . It was written on the counter . So according to this, we needed to split the reward into 95 silver pieces . I had left calculations to the cash register, so it was not my forte .

But I was probably right . Up until now, I had not had to think about such things when receiving my reward, but I would have to use my head now in order to split it . It felt like my brain cells were coming out of hibernation . So I had the gold exchanged to 190 silver pieces and split it between the two of us .

“Here, Daniela . You should count yours . ”

“Mmm… Yes, it’s fine . ”

“I don’t want to fight over money . ”

“Ah, you are right . ”

She nodded several times . I wondered if something had happened in her past…

After that, we walked through Fhiraldo’s streets and returned to the Spring Wind inn together . Now that I think of it, we had avoided the street stalls but ended up dining at the bar anyway . I needed to be more moderate .

The next day, I waited in the dining hall for Daniela, who was as sluggish in the morning as ever, and began to make plans for the day . We could hunt forest wolves again . Sure .

The next day, I waited in the dining hall for Daniela, who was as sluggish in the morning as ever, and began to make plans for the day . We could hunt forest wolves again . Sure .

“Oh, are you a customer?”

A voice suddenly interrupts me . I raise my head and see that a woman was standing there with a warm smile .

“Yes . I am . ”

“Thank heavens . You were in the dining hall but not eating anything . I thought some strange person had gotten in . ”

It was quite brave of her to say such a thing to a complete stranger . But who was she?

“Oh, I should introduce myself . I’m the innkeeper’s daughter, Mizel . ”

“Oh, Mrs . Maris’ . ”

“Yes, that’s right . ”

Yes, the somewhat slow voice and the soft smile was a perfect match . Just like the morning sunlight, it made you a little sleepy .

“So you haven’t eaten yet?”

“No . My partner is staying here with me, and just I’m waiting for her to wake up . ”

“Is that so . Well then, we’ll have the food prepared in advance . ”

“Uh, thank you . ”

There was something infectious about the way she talked . As I chuckled to myself, Daniela came through the entrance .

“Good morn…”

“Morning . You okay?”

“Yes…”

She sat down, then collapsed over the table . It would take her a minute to get her engine running again . The first thing to do was to eat .

The basic breakfast at the Spring Wind Inn consisted of toast, fried eggs, and homemade smoked meats . It was a kind of foreign breakfast, and I liked it quite a bit . It was fancy . At least for someone like me who usually slept instead of having breakfast . But recently, I had become quite active, I ate more and slept at night . Was it possible to be too healthy?

Mizel brought over three plates of food . Three?

“Here is your breakfast . ”

“Thank you . ”

“Thank you…”

“Hahh…”

She sat down . Eh? What?

“Oh, do you mind if I join you?”

“Well, you already have . ”

Daniela was biting into her bread with half-open eyes .

“I’ve just finished organizing all the new provisions . I’m so exhausted and…”

“You worked all night?”

“I did just that . I only arrived just before the gates were closed, and yet mother…oh, the innkeeper, tells me to finish everything tonight…”

We continued eating like this, and Mizel’s complaints continued as well . Apparently, she was in charge of buying new stock . Every month she would go to the city that was reached by way of the opposite carriage tracks from the one I had taken in coming here . I wonder if Mizel’s carriage had helped create those tracks in the road, and the world feels so much smaller .

Eventually, her grievances were interrupted my Maris’ shouting and forceful removal from the room . She waved at us even while she was being dragged away by the collar . We waved back as we got up from the table .

“Well then, we’re a little late, but we should go to the guild house, accept a quest and head for the forest . ”

“About that, Asagi . I think we should go and buy a few things together first . ”

“Sure, but why?”

Daniela folded her arms and laughed proudly .

“We’ll be camping out . Three days out in the forest!”