Nightflower Inn

The whispering and stares gradually centered on Zelier, making him somewhat uncomfortable, while the murmurs left him genuinely puzzled. Was it really that strange for a mage to take on quests...? "Can the Association buy this Mist Demon core from us?" Marcus asked. For spoils that were easy to sell, adventurers could sell them directly to the Association. The price was usually comparable to market value, sparing them the trouble of hunting down buyers themselves. "Of course! Please wait a moment." Ella cradled the Mist Demon core and stepped into the room behind the counter. A moment later, she jogged briskly back out. "Our appraiser has evaluated it, and the Association is willing to purchase the Mist Demon core for sixteen gold coins. Would you like to sell?" Marcus glanced back at the others. Receiving their unanimous silent consent, he nodded. "Deal." "Here is your payout. Please keep it safe." A cloth pouch of coins was slid over to Marcus. Ella spoke with respectful deference. "Additionally, the Adventurers' Association would like to thank you once more for the intelligence. We will issue a risk advisory to any adventurer parties heading toward Ashwood Forest in the near future." "Whew... finally free." Once they stepped outside the Adventurers' Association, Zelier stretched languidly in sheer relief. Marcus handed Zelier a cloth packet containing four gold and eleven silver. "Here's your cut. Take good care of it." Zelier carefully tucked it into his pouch, casting a cautious look around. This was the entirety of his worldly wealth. "Then our quest officially concludes here. It was a pleasure working with you," Marcus said, then added, "By the way... Zelier, would you consider joining a permanent party with me?" Marcus's party was not an established group, merely an ad-hoc assembly. This had been Zelier's first expedition with him. Gray and Vallis had worked with Marcus a few times before, but they had never formed a permanent party either. "Me?" Zelier pointed at himself, caught off guard. "Trying to recruit Zelier already, are you?" Gray chuckled. "He's a mage, you know." "Mm... I really appreciate the invitation, but I don't plan on joining a permanent party just yet." After thinking it over, Zelier shook his head. "If you ever need an extra hand for other quests in the future, though, feel free to ask me." "Fair enough..." Marcus looked rather disappointed. To tell the truth, Zelier had a very favorable impression of Marcus. He divided the spoils fairly and possessed solid strength. Even when faced with an unexpected crisis like encountering a Mist Demon, he kept a cool head. Yet Zelier did not want to be bound to a fixed party, as that would slow his personal growth. Moreover, his ambition went far beyond merely scraping by in Blackstone Town. He harbored grander aspirations, and breaking away from a party later on would only cause complications. "All right, I need to get to the clinic... hope this doesn't leave any lasting damage." Gray winced through his teeth and waved to the others. "See you later, everyone." "Until next time." Marcus and Vallis took their leave one after another. The sky gradually darkened as the veil of night descended. Zelier wandered the streets for quite a while before picking a place to stay—the Nightflower Inn. The decor was not particularly lavish, but it was far better than the crude common lodgings, and it sat relatively close to the center of Blackstone Town, so the security was bound to be decent. After all, in an unfamiliar otherworld, safety had to come first. A scattering of diners sat in the ground-floor hall, including several adventurers judging by their garb. "Hello there!" Behind the front desk stood a cute young woman whose canine tooth peeked out whenever she smiled. "Are you here for lodging or dining?" "I'd like a room." "Certainly. We offer two options: communal bunks upstairs for thirty copper coins a day," the girl explained, "or a private room for two silver coins a day." Zelier narrowed his eyes slightly. A communal bunk... A crowd of people crammed together in one big room, leaving very little personal space. And heaven only knew if he would even be able to sleep surrounded by snoring all night. The mere thought gave him a headache. After roughing it in the wilderness on a quest, he needed proper rest; a quiet, comfortable environment was an absolute necessity. Yet a private room cost two silver a day... quite a steep price. If he hadn't just come into a windfall, Zelier might have turned right around to find a cheaper inn. "If I stay for a month, is there a discount?" Zelier inquired tentatively. The girl's eyes lit up, and her tone turned notably sweeter. "Of course! If you choose a private room and pay a full month's rent upfront, we can reduce it to fifty silver coins." "All right, I'll take a private room for a month," Zelier said. He picked a room at the end of the third-floor corridor. After paying the fee, Zelier's savings stood at three gold and sixty-one silver. "Welcome to the Nightflower Inn. My name is Oro. If you need anything, feel free to come find me at the front desk anytime." Oro smiled. *Gurgle...* Zelier's stomach let out an untimely rumble. All he had eaten today was a piece of black bread dipped in hot soup and some trail rations on the road. After the grueling battle with the Mist Demon, he was utterly famished. The smile on Oro's face remained unabated. "Before heading up to your room, would you like something to eat? We are currently serving dinner." Zelier took the menu and skimmed through it. It had everything, from low-end stewed beans, black bread, and pickled vegetables to high-end meats. After toiling all day, Master Zelier had no intention of mistreating his palate. Gritting his teeth, he chose what he craved the most. "I'll have the red wine sauce beef shank set, please." It sounded delicious, and the price was equally impressive. Three silver coins. He did not have to wait long before the meal was brought to his table. The aroma of the food strongly stimulated Zelier's senses, making his mouth water profusely. The centerpiece was naturally a generous cut of tender, juicy beef shank, roasted to perfection and brushed with a mouthwatering layer of rich sauce. Zelier eagerly sliced off a piece and slipped it into his mouth. The texture of the beef, the subtle fruity acidity of the concentrated red wine reduction, and the blended notes of black pepper and varied spices all came together to deliver a sublime culinary experience. The richness of eating hearty mouthfuls of meat was deftly balanced by the roasted asparagus and soft bread included with the set. Everything was just right. After an exhausting day, being able to sit down and savor such a meal felt so blissful it could move a man to tears. Once he finished dinner, Zelier headed up to his room. A single bed, a complete set of table and chairs, and a decently soft mattress—well worth the price of two silver coins. Drowsiness swept over him in waves, and Zelier, worn out from the long day, soon drifted into dreamland.