ALL NOVEL chapter 78 - Divine Cat: Mii-chan Sees the Sea
78 Divine Cat: Mii-chan Sees the Sea
The next morning, Perro was nowhere to be found in the spacious bed…
When we searched for him, we found Perro curled up in his cat form under the bed. It looked like he finally woke up after getting nudged by Lu-kun.
“Wh-Why?”
I’d like to know that too.
During breakfast in the room, I asked the maid where to buy fish, so we decided to head there.
With the cool morning sea breeze at my back, I held the reins and walked towards the sea. Everyone except me was riding on Sumire. Sumire drew a lot of attention as she walked through the city. Despite the stares, I headed towards the port as directed. It’s best not to worry about it.
The sea!
“Mii”
The pleasant sea breeze, the distant horizon. There’s a large island visible offshore. It’s said that a dragon, who helped defeat the demon king that once ruled this land, lives there. The flying dragons of this country are said to lend their power through a pact with that dragon.
“It’s a huge lake!”
“Mii”
“Grr”
It seems like Perro and the others are unfamiliar with the sea. When I told them that sea water is salty, they didn’t believe me. I wonder if the seas in this world aren’t salty? I’ll have to taste it later.
When we got close to the port, we saw many boats, from large sailing ships to smaller ones, docked. The presence of big ships suggests that there must be trade with other ports. I’d love to visit other countries.
“Mii”
Mii-chan seemed fascinated by the ships, watching them intently. Does she like them?
“Mii!”
As we walked around the port area, we found what looked like a fish market. Fresh fish were still being unloaded from the boats. When I asked one of the market vendors if I could buy some, he said you need to be part of the commercial guild to make a purchase. That’s a shame. I was hoping to get some fresh fish.
“Then, how about I buy it for you?”
“Is that okay?”
“I’ll charge a fee. How much do you need?”
“One lot.”
So, I walked around the market with the vendor, buying up all the good stuff, and Mii-chan’s bag was used to store it.
“Hey, how much are you planning to buy?”
“One lot.”
Next, I stocked up on dried goods and delicacies—things like dried squid and dried scallops. It was like a dream come true. After thanking the vendor, I headed towards the bazaar, hoping to find some unique items, given the port’s trade connections.
The queen had requested souvenirs of coral and pearl accessories, so I needed to find those. While exploring, I came across a shop selling black pearls at rock-bottom prices. When I asked the shopkeeper why, he explained that black pearls were rare and less popular due to their color. They’re beautiful, though. I decided to buy several black pearls of similar size and color. Unfortunately, white pearls were too expensive for my budget.
Thanks to my appraisal skills, I managed to buy some good coral accessories at a bargain price. I also picked up various other gemstone accessories. Given that it’s a port city with people from many places, there are many hidden gems. The challenge now is figuring out where to sell these items. Mii-chan’s bag must be quite full, but I haven’t checked the quantity yet.
At the bazaar, I bought a lot of fabric goods. Pat, the Kobold, had mentioned that human-made fabrics are in high demand. I also bought other useful items. I plan to stop by and drop off the goods later. Pat feels oddly familiar; I find myself wanting to help out.
Lastly, I went on a spree buying weapons and armor, which unfortunately brought my remaining funds below one million leto. That’s a problem. I need to buy a new saddle for Sumire soon. Will I have enough?
I visited the saddle shop recommended by the stable master. After showing the introduction letter and having Sumire inspected, the shopkeeper said:
“Hmm, it seems this one might have been sick or something.”
“Yes. She recently just recovered.”
“If that’s the case, it’s better to wait a bit longer. She might grow a bit more. I recommend postponing the saddle purchase for now.”
Indeed, although Sumire has recovered from her illness, she’s still a bit underweight. Since she’s eating well now, she should regain her full size soon.
So, I decided not to buy the saddle but instead purchased a cargo rack to attach behind the saddle for 200,000 leto. The cost of horse equipment is high! With this new rack, Perro can now sit comfortably, and there will be enough space for Lu-kun as well.
We had lunch by the sea, enjoying food from the bazaar while taking in the view. The sun was strong, but the sea breeze was refreshing. After a short nap, we headed towards the royal palace.
At the palace, we were quickly escorted to the same office as yesterday. Sera, Lu-kun, and Perro were immediately taken by the maids and would be pampered until our discussion was over.
“I have written a letter. Please deliver it to Anneliese.”
I received the letter and the dagger entrusted by the queen from the grand duke.
“Over there. I have a favor to ask of you, Nero-kun.”
“What is it?”
“Even with the dragon riders moving, it will take two days to get from here to the capital, Beruna. I would like to establish a temporary relay point at Brocken Mountain. I need you to mediate this.”
The fact that the dragon riders can reach the capital in two days is impressive. Brocken Mountain being a halfway point means that any issues can be addressed quickly. I think the Fang King would be willing to lend a location for this purpose.
“I understand.”
“I will assign two dragon riders to accompany you. One will go with you to Brocken Mountain, and the other will continue to the capital, Beruna.”
One dragon rider will stay at Brocken Mountain to finalize the arrangements and then return to the city of Wilhelm to prepare the relay point. The other will accompany me as my escort to the capital and will be ready to fly to Brocken Mountain if needed.
“Is it okay to depart tomorrow? How long will it take to get to Brocken Mountain?”
“Staying in each city would take about four days, but if we camp out, it should take around three days,” I replied.
“That’s fast. I’ve heard you’re riding a battle horse, Nero-kun?”
“I travel lightly, and everyone else does too. For Sumire, it’s almost like not riding at all,” I explained.
The knight wears heavy armor and is in better shape than I am. Plus, all the luggage is in Mii-chan’s bag.
“I see. In that case, the faster, the better. I’ll leave it to you.”
“Is it okay if I stop by somewhere before heading to the capital?”
“If we get things sorted at Brocken Mountain, we should have some leeway. Is there anything else?”
There are quite a few concerns, but for now, money is the main issue. I’ve spent more than I intended.
“Mii-chan…”