Chương 11: Nightflower Inn

The hushed whispers and curious stares gradually shifted toward Zelier, making him more than a little uncomfortable. What puzzled him even more was what people were whispering. Is it really that strange for a mage to take adventuring jobs...?

"Can the Association purchase this Mistwraith Core?" Marcus asked. For valuable loot with a stable market, adventurers could sell it directly to the Adventurer's Association. The prices were usually close to market value, saving them the trouble of finding buyers themselves.

"Of course! One moment, please!" Aila carried the Mistwraith Core into the room behind the counter. A few minutes later, she hurried back with quick, light footsteps.

"Our appraiser has completed the evaluation."

"The Association is willing to purchase the Mistwraith Core for sixteen Gold Coins. Would you like to sell it?" Marcus glanced back at the rest of the party. Seeing everyone silently agree, he nodded.

"Deal."

"Here is your payment." Aila slid a heavy coin pouch across the counter.

"And on behalf of the Adventurer's Association, thank you once again for reporting this encounter. We'll immediately issue a danger warning to all parties planning to enter the Ashwood Forest."

"Phew... finally." The moment they stepped outside the guild, Zelier stretched with a long sigh of relief. Marcus handed him a cloth pouch.

"Your share." Inside were four Gold Coins and eleven Silver Coins. Zelier carefully tucked the money away before instinctively looking around. This was every coin he owned.

"That wraps up this commission." Marcus smiled.

"It was a pleasure working with you." He paused before asking,"Zelier... have you considered joining my party permanently?" Marcus's group wasn't a fixed adventuring party. They'd simply come together for this commission. This had been Zelier's first mission with Marcus. Grey and Vaelis had worked with him several times before, but even they weren't permanent members.

"Me?" Zelier blinked in surprise.

"Hah." Grey chuckled.

"Already trying to recruit him?" Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"He's a mage, after all." Zelier thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"I really appreciate the offer..."

"But I don't plan on joining a permanent party right now." He smiled apologetically.

"That said, if you ever need another teammate for a commission, feel free to ask." Marcus sighed in disappointment.

"I understand..." Truthfully, Zelier had a very favorable impression of Marcus. He distributed rewards fairly. He was dependable. Even when confronted with an unexpected disaster like the Mistwraith, he'd stayed calm enough to command the battle. But Zelier didn't want to tie himself to a permanent team. Doing so would only slow down his own growth. Besides... His ambitions extended far beyond making a living in Blackstone Town. Eventually, he'd have to leave anyway. Better not create unnecessary complications.

"Well..." Grey winced as he waved goodbye.

"I'd better head to the clinic."

"Hopefully this doesn't leave me with any lasting injuries."

"See you all."

"Take care." Marcus and Vaelis soon departed as well. Darkness gradually settled over Blackstone Town. Night had arrived. Zelier wandered through the streets for a while before finally deciding where to stay. The Nightflower Inn. It wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was noticeably nicer than the cheap boarding houses. More importantly, it stood near the center of town, where security should be much better. He was still a complete stranger in this world. Safety came first.

The first-floor dining hall was only half full. Several diners appeared to be adventurers judging by their equipment.

"Good evening." The young receptionist behind the counter wore an adorable smile that revealed a pair of tiny snaggle teeth.

"Will you be staying with us, or just dining?"

"I'd like a room."

"Certainly." She smiled pleasantly.

"We offer two options."

"The first is a shared dormitory upstairs for thirty Copper Coins per night."

"The second is a private room for two Silver Coins per night." Zelier narrowed his eyes. A dormitory... Sleeping in one large room with a crowd of strangers sounded miserable. No privacy. And who knew if he'd spend the entire night listening to someone snore? After spending days camping in the wilderness and surviving a life-or-death battle... He desperately wanted a quiet bed. Still... Two Silver Coins every night wasn't exactly cheap. If he hadn't just gotten paid, he'd probably be looking for a cheaper inn.

"What if I stay for a month?"

"Would there be a discount?" The girl's eyes brightened immediately. Her smile became even sweeter.

"Of course!"

"If you choose a private room and pay for an entire month in advance, we can reduce the total to fifty Silver Coins."

"I'll take it."

"A private room for one month." After paying, Zelier chose a room at the end of the fourth-floor hallway. His remaining savings came to three Gold Coins and sixty-one Silver Coins.

"Welcome to the Nightflower Inn." The receptionist smiled warmly.

"My name is Auro."

"If you need anything during your stay, don't hesitate to come to the front desk." Grrr... At the worst possible moment, Zelier's stomach growled loudly. He'd eaten nothing but a chunk of black bread soaked in soup earlier that day, along with a little trail ration during the journey. After everything that had happened with the Mistwraith... He was starving. Auro's smile didn't waver.

"Would you like something to eat before heading to your room?"

"We're serving dinner right now." She handed him a menu. Everything was available. From inexpensive bean stew, black bread, and pickled vegetables... To hearty meat dishes. After such an exhausting day, Master Zelier had no intention of being stingy with his stomach. After a brief internal struggle, he picked the dish he wanted most.

"I'll have the Braised Beef Shank with Red Wine Sauce."

"Thank you." It sounded absolutely delicious. The price matched. Three Silver Coins. Fortunately, the meal arrived quickly. The aroma alone nearly overwhelmed his senses. His mouth instantly filled with saliva. The centerpiece was a thick cut of perfectly roasted beef shank. Tender. Juicy. Its surface gleamed beneath a rich layer of fragrant red wine sauce. Unable to wait another second, Zelier sliced off a piece and took a bite. The deep flavor of the beef...

The subtle tang and sweetness of the concentrated wine reduction... The warmth of black pepper blended with fragrant herbs... Every bite felt like pure bliss. Whenever the richness threatened to become overwhelming, the grilled asparagus and soft bread that accompanied the meal balanced everything perfectly. It was flawless. After an entire day of fighting, traveling, and nearly dying... Simply sitting down to enjoy a hot meal like this almost brought tears to his eyes.

After dinner, Zelier finally made his way to his room. It contained everything he needed. A single bed. A desk. A chair. The mattress was surprisingly soft—well worth the two Silver Coins a night. The exhaustion he'd been suppressing all day finally caught up with him. Almost as soon as his head touched the pillow... Zelier drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.