Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

89 – Shopping and Rumors

The receptionist’s face turned embarrassing when we looked at him.

“Then it seems that there is nothing more our branch can do to help. Sorry!”

In those words, there was a will to send us off as quickly as possible.

I couldn’t help it. Because I can’t ask you to make a request that doesn’t exist.

I’ll just stay in this castle for a day and then go with a simple supply.

“Miss Priyanian, it may be a bit uncomfortable, but I think we will have to keep going together.”

“It’s unfortunate.”

Miss Priianian replied in a tone that could not be helped.

“But what can I do if there is no request?”

But for some reason, the tone of her voice seemed to have changed slightly.

Kikkik.

“Hello!!”

After passing through a thick wooden door while being greeted by the receptionist, the market came into sight again.

And it soon began to disturb our noses and ears, and the first thing that caught our eye was the street vendors.

The street vendors scattered around were like currency exchange booths that exchanged inedible items for edible items.

For example, three skewers full of spices to hide the stale smell.

Two sausages are served first in the sunlight that makes the stomach empty.

Half of a sandwich served with thinly sliced apples, ham, and cheese on bread, and sauce sprinkled on top, and a bottle of wine mixed with water.

That was the value of 1 copper I had seen until just before. Anyone who lives in this town will be a master negotiator.

Hag Castle was originally designed for the sake of nearby passers-by, including adventurers and merchants.

It was only natural that there would be a shopping street for merchants and adventurers.

As a result, unlike the Hebrides, among the goods on this roadside, you could occasionally see whetstones, boots full of sacks, or unknown marbles or scrolls.

“If you choose five or six fruits, we will give you 2 coppers! Only those with a good eye and quick hands can grab these fresh fruits!”

“Oh, don’t touch it, look at it! It’s a precious thing that I just brought from afar! Ah! I want to buy it! It’s less precious than a precious guest! Come inside!!”

“Going around the dungeon? They say kobolds are roaming around these days… As even seasoned customers know, they hate the smell of crushed ash tree leaves. No, not necessarily.”

That’s why Hag Castle is like this.

Instead of playing the mulberry, there was a sound of applause that was set to a certain beat.

Instead of the robot dog humming and moving the floor, you can only hear hehehehe from merchants who are deliberately trying to belittle you.

It’s always a waiting area for small fortunes just in case. It was a paradise for street vendors trying to extort money from skilled vagrants.

To make this a bit more concise…

‘It’s a highway rest area.’

I thought it was a very accurate analogy.

As I was staring blankly at the road overflowing with merchants like that, Miss Prianian started talking to me.

“Mr. G-House. Let’s get the inn first.”

“Yes?”

“Now that I’ve made money, I understand what I want to spend.”

At one point Miss Prianian, who had climbed into the back of the carriage, was looking at me.

She said, patting her wagon.

“We have this nuisance, don’t we?”

Purreung.

The words snorted as if dissatisfied, but I agreed with that.

A carriage is not a shopping cart at a supermarket, and you don’t know what kind of curse you’ll get if you go shopping while slowly dragging it along the side of the road.

I nodded.

“Then find an inn and put this guy there-“

“Hello, teachers!”

Someone interrupted us and interrupted.

It was a girl of about sixteen, holding a cloth-covered basket in one hand.

She had bright brown eyes and held out something red to us.

“Would you like to buy an apple?”

It wasn’t as good as the apple Priest Rien gave, but it looked quite desirable.

I shook my head.

You can buy one and eat it, but we still have the apples that Priest Rien gave us, so there is no need to overspend.

“I already have an apology.”

“Then I can’t help it! Are you two mercenaries by the way?”

You must have seen the ones from the guild, so even a rough shot is 5 to 5.

“As you can see.”

“Then you haven’t decided on a lodging yet… Hmm.”

The girl who pondered so much, instead of going elsewhere, started selling other things.

“I know a nice inn, would you like to take pictures of the way there?”

“I know very well that the standard of ‘good’ is different for each person.”

“Deferred payment, of course!”

This will change the story.

“He is a friend who knows how to do business. Ride next to the driver’s seat, or ride in the back.”

The two-story inn she guided us to was extremely quiet.

It was a bit far from the road, but it was rather good.

It would be expensive and noisy even if we were in the downtown area, and we don’t have to go out at night.

I was deeply impressed by the appearance of a parking lot and even a stable there.

Honestly, until I entered the alley, I thought that instead of the comfortable inn, this world inn would pop out.

Having received two coopers for her labor, the apple-selling girl bowed her head.

“Thank you. Mercenaries! I hope you have a good day, and I hope that Kwangmyeong will bless you on the way!”

Seeing the girl disappearing with that word, I thought of Priest Rien.

Of course, according to some intuition, I didn’t say it out of my mouth.

***

The innkeeper greeted us with an expression that did not know whether he wanted to do business or not.

“Do you have a double room or two single rooms?”

He rested his chin on the counter and asked us curtly.

Of course it’s a single room, what do you think of us?

“Give me two single rooms.”

Miss Priianian replied coldly, as if displeased, but he didn’t care.

“Ten coopers.”

It’s f*cking expensive.

As if he noticed my gaze, he pointed to the wagon outside the window and said.

“The amount including the management of that wagon. Without the wagon, it would have been 8 coopers.”

Of course, there is no hukou that can be used as it is.

I, who had been listening quietly, opened my mouth.

“So that’s six coppers a day.”

“It’s 10 Cooper.”

“It’s not even downtown, so 10 copper is a price that doesn’t have a conscience. There are many places that are cheaper if you put in a little more footwork right now. Shall we make a bet?”

“…6 Coopers minus breakfast.”

There is no reason to make a fire outside to eat even though you have come all the way to the village.

“The owner will have to eat anyway, so wouldn’t that make the pot fire because of us?”

Then his face stiffened slightly.

“So, free money?”

I shook my head. We’re not that kind of thugs.

“Do you like magic?”

“What magic?”

I lifted the coin I had previously put between my fingers.

“The next morning, if you wash two more dishes and cook the stew four or five more times, it’s a magic trick that makes one more cupper. I wonder if you’re interested.”

“Ah. I like magic like that.”

He seemed to have a sudden affinity for magic. It was nice that people were pretty simple.

“That’s good. 7 Coopers for two people.”

Seven coins were placed on the shiny wooden counter, and soon two wooden keys were handed over.

“The right end of the second floor, and the room right next to it.”

“Ah, can you point me to a useful general store or weapon shop around here?”

***

1 Courtesy of Cooper, the innkeeper provided some pretty sweet information.

“Never buy anything on the sidewalk, go to the place written on this piece of paper.”

It was like a tip like ‘don’t buy food in front of the training center, eat in the neighborhood’.

That’s why we gladly followed his advice, visited several places written on the paper, and finally stopped at the general store.

It was very quiet inside the general store, as if only people in the know knew about it, but there was nothing missing.

Rolled herbs hanging from the ceiling like giraffes, roots that somehow look like people, and even a small ax that can be used for multiple purposes while camping.

There were many novelties, just like everything else, but the amount of money I could spend after visiting grocery stores and weapon stores was limited.

From noble mtl dot com

So I went to her after roughly picking out the things she needed for her camping.

“Miss Priyanian, have you chosen all of them?”

“Yes.”

She had already chosen where she would live.

A few of her personal items for camping, plus a rope.

Looking at the composition, it seemed to have been chosen with great care, but the latter one took some time.

“Why did you choose the rope?”

Do you need such a thick rope when staying out?

Then she smiled and explained her purpose.

“We left the horse tied to the carriage yesterday, Mr. Ghouse?”

“Yes.”

“If a horse is kept tied up, it will get angry, so we have to release it so that it can graze grass.

“So that’s why they’re tied up.”

“That’s right.”

And Miss Priyanian’s eyes turned slightly cool.

“You can tie something else together as a bonus.”

Perhaps he was referring to something like a barrel or box that would go inside the wagon.

After answering my question, she looked at me.

“So, what did you choose, Mr. Ghouse?”

I also showed her what was in her hand.

Miss Priianian looked at the things I had chosen and gave a one-word review.

“There is nothing for Mr. G-House. All he has is daily necessities.”

“I don’t know if it’s herbs, mortar, or oil, but I bought this pen, ink, and paper for my own use. Hey, could you wrap this up for me?”

While I was watching the clerk’s packaging show, I heard adventurers talking next to me.

“Hey, you know what?”

“How do I know if you say that, you madman. Did the goblin I met on my way back hit me with the wrong stone?”

“… Rumor has it that Colhen is making a lot of noise these days.”

“Are you talking about where the university is located?”

“Yeah, I haven’t heard much since I’ve been here, but the last time I heard it was.”

I suddenly started to like the herb roots next to them, so I quietly moved to their side.

I don’t necessarily want to hear rumors, it’s because the roots of the figure that seems to be shouting the cry of the soul in front of me are impressive.