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[CHAPTER 133]
Unlike the cold outside, the inn was filled with a pleasantly warm atmosphere.
A gentle firelight flickered from the fireplace, cozily heating the interior.
In the small establishment with a few tables, a couple of elderly people who looked like villagers and one man who appeared to be a merchant were eating their meal.
After looking around, I approached the middle aged woman standing at the counter.
“Hello, I’m looking for a room to stay.”
The woman glanced over me and Sylvia, then put on a somewhat wary expression.
Since we were unfamiliar outsiders, and two women at that, it was understandable.
“How many nights will you be staying?”
“I’m not sure yet, but for now, at least three nights.”
The woman nodded and handed over a room key with a stiff expression.
“The room at the end of the second floor. Payment is upfront, one day at a time. Three silver coins per day.”
I took out one gold coin from my pocket and handed it to her.
Since ten silver coins were equal in value to one gold coin, I had effectively paid for all three days at once.
The woman’s expression softened slightly when she received the gold coin.
She rummaged through a drawer and handed us a couple of towels.
“Rest well. If you’re hungry, you can have a meal too.”
I responded with a small nod, took the key, and headed up to the second floor.
Sylvia followed quietly behind me without saying a word.
When we opened the door to the room at the end of the second floor, a surprisingly spacious area came into view.
It seemed more than sufficient for the two of us.
There was no fireplace, but two beds covered with thick blankets were placed against opposite walls.
I first set my bag down beside the bed, then turned to Sylvia.
“I’m planning to go to the guild first. Would you like to come with me?”
“I’m planning to go to the guild first. Would you like to come with me?”
“Sure. I don’t really have anything else to do.”
Sylvia also looked around the room and set down the luggage she had been carrying on her shoulder.
After each of us roughly organized our belongings, we left the inn.
When we reached the village center near the merchant district, it was fairly lively.
The guild building doors were open, and villagers, merchants, and hunters were gathered in small groups, talking among themselves.
Some of them were even exchanging requests.
As Sylvia and I appeared, I could feel glances directed our way.
Some were simply the natural looks given to strangers, while others watched with interest, perhaps wondering if there might be work involved.
I headed straight toward the counter inside the guild.
A young female employee greeted us warmly with a smile.
“Welcome. How can I help you? Do you need a travel guide? Or transportation? We also connect people with various errand requests.”
“I need a map of this area. Not just the village, but also the nearby forest, rivers, mountain trails, and the terrain of the mountains.”
“Hmm, a map… so you want something detailed?”
“Yes.”
After hearing my explanation, the clerk pondered for a moment, then headed behind the counter.
She rummaged through a lower drawer and pulled out a booklet.
“Would this do? It’s not really for travelers. I heard it was originally a military map. Mercenaries used to look for it often, but lately no one’s been asking, so we kept it tucked away.”
I had expected a single sheet map, but it was a book.
I took it and flipped through a few pages, inwardly impressed.
The terrain around Runeten Village was marked incredibly precisely, divided by zones.
After flipping through several pages, I closed it again.
To find the location of the magic stone cave, I would need to examine it closely back at the inn.
The original story had some hints and clues, so if I compared those with the map and visited the site myself, I felt I could get a sense of it.
“I’ll take this.”
“Yes. This one is a bit expensive. One gold coin.”
I paid the gold coin.
I did not have an abundance of gold, but I had earned some and spent carefully, so I was still fine for now.
If it came down to it, I planned to sell a few gemstones.
As we left the guild, I felt Sylvia glance sideways at the map book in my hands.
“You can look if you want.”
When I handed it to her, Sylvia skimmed through it briefly and asked,
“Is there something you’re looking for around here?”
“Ah, just… traveling, really. And I was also curious about that oral folk song we talked about earlier.”
“Hmm, I see.”
She did not look convinced by my excuse, but Sylvia did not probe further.
In any case, it was something she would find out soon enough, but it would be troublesome to say it first.
What if she finds it first and takes it all?
In situations like this, the one who found it first usually claimed most of the share.
I could find it first and give Sylvia her portion, but if it was the other way around, there was no telling how Sylvia might act.
After returning the map, Sylvia and I left the guild.
“Let’s head back to the inn now. The sun is already setting.”
“Yeah. I should get some proper rest for once. I’m exhausted.”
Watching Sylvia stretch, I nodded as well and headed toward the inn we had secured earlier.
As soon as we entered the room, Sylvia went into the bath first, and I examined the map while waiting for her to come out.
There was no need to look through every page.
The river’s upper reaches… and there, the red rock mountain.
I lightly folded the corner of the necessary page.
When Sylvia came out, I closed the book and casually placed it on the bed.
After that, I went in to wash myself as well.
My body truly was worn out from the long journey.
When I came out, I had the vague sense that the map book’s position had shifted slightly, but I did not think much of it and lay down on the bed, falling asleep.
***
The next morning, I woke up early.
Outside the window, a hazy fog still lingered, and the air was chilly.
I sat up and turned toward Sylvia’s side.
She’s not here. Where did she go?
I stood up, approached the bed, and brushed my hand over the spot where Sylvia had slept.
There was barely any warmth left, so it seemed she had left quite a while ago.
While waiting for her, I unfolded the map once more and examined it.
This way is the river’s upper reaches. Thankfully, there’s a trail leading up there. And following this dotted line, there’s the rock mountain…
I roughly organized my route while estimating the areas most likely to contain magic stones.
Can I make it this far in a single day?
Distance wise, it was not extremely far or high, but it was still a mountain path, and I had no idea how rugged it might be.
Even so, Sylvia still had not returned.
I could not just sit around waiting, so I decided to slowly look around nearby first.
After changing into more active pants, I ordered some simple bread and soup on the first floor of the inn and ate.
Only then did Sylvia return.
“Lady Sylvia.”
“Ah, Young Lady. You’re up.”
“Where did you go?”
“Uh, well… just a walk around?”
Judging by her awkward expression, it was a lie.
Sylvia really was not good at acting.
But just as she had not pried into my business yesterday, I did not press her either.
“Young Lady, I’m not feeling well today, so I think I’ll stay at the inn. You’ll have to go around on your own.”
“Oh, is that so? All right. Get some rest today.”
There was little chance of finding the magic stone cave in a single day anyway, and it would be easier to move freely alone, so I readily agreed.
After finishing breakfast together, Sylvia went upstairs while I headed outside.
As I walked through the village to look around, I occasionally saw people passed out drunk on the road, which made me flinch without realizing it.
Well, I used to see scenes like this often when I was young.
That was back when Amelia spent her childhood drifting through the streets.
It was something I had almost never seen after coming to the ducal family.
While walking more cautiously, I suddenly heard drunken curses from behind me.
“Hey, you bitch! Where do you think you’re going this early, flaunting that damn purple hair… ugh, mmph!”
Purple hair?
Are they talking about me?
I reflexively turned around, but there was no one behind me.
“What?”
I was sure I heard a voice from behind, and it sounded like it was directed at me.
Did I mistake a voice from another alley?
Tilting my head in confusion, I continued on my way.
