Chapter 1-32 : The Girl Wanders Around The City At Night (part 2)
「Elle, you’re such a stubborn girl! Do you want to sleep on the street?」(Yoyo)
「No, I have a plan.」(Elle)
「What plan?」(Yoyo)
「I’m going to a tavern and ask if they’ll let me stay overnight in exchange for helping them out.」(Elle)
Elle once read a storybook about a poor adventurer who worked at a tavern only to be able to sleep under a roof for a night.
She thought she might be able to do the same.
「Help out at a tavern? Can you even serve customers?」(Yoyo)
「I can’t but I can wash dishes and clean the place at least.」(Elle)
「Are you sure? I don’t think they will hire someone without an ID. They might kick you out just like that inn did.」(Yoyo)
「…..」(Elle)
Ignoring Yoyo, Elle kept walking down the dark street toward the tavern by the intersection.
There were some people of different races drinking and eating at the tavern. Some of them were playing games and gambling.
Elle approached the woman behind the counter who seemed to be the owner and asked.
「Excuse me, do you need a helping hand?」(Elle)
「Hm? Little girl, you want to work here? Sorry, but I have enough labor.」(tavern owner)
「Please, just for one night. I need a place to sleep. I will leave the next morning.」(Elle)
「Hmm… Alright.」(tavern owner)
「Really!? Thank you!」(Elle)
「But before you start, I need to see your ID card.」(tavern owner)
「…Eh…?」(Elle)
The words that Elle didn’t want to hear the most came out of the woman’s mouth. Her body felt weak instantly.
「ID… Do you really need to see my ID card?」(Elle)
「Of course. That’s a strict rule in this city.」(tavern owner)
「Is ID card really that important?」(Elle)
「The crime rate in this city used to be high, and the criminals were mostly people who came from the neighboring countries. However, since the ID system was implemented, the crime rate in this city has decreased. If you want to work in my place, I need to check your identity and make sure you’re not a bad person.」(tavern owner)
「But… I’m just a little girl.」(Elle)
「Haha! So what of it? Don’t you know that the thieves who were caught stealing food at the market were mostly children? It doesn’t mean that you have zero potential of becoming a criminal just because you’re a child.」(tavern owner)
「That’s…」(Elle)
「What’s the matter? Hurry up and show me your ID.」(tavern owner)
「Well… I just came to this city, so…」(Elle)
「What? You don’t have ID?」(tavern owner)
「…I don’t.」(Elle)
「How come? The guards by the gate will tell you to immediately make an ID when you enter this city. Unless… you didn’t enter through the main gate…」(tavern owner)
Saying that, the woman squinted her eyes, looking at Elle in suspicion.
Elle remembered she saw a long queue of people in front of the main gate when she entered the city.
At that time, her stagecoach went straight through the gate because she was with Gilbert de Forster, a well-known noble in the city. (ch 1-27 pt 1)
「I did enter through the main gate, but… I didn’t queue like other people, so…」(Elle)
「Hmm… Well, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I’m sorry, but I can’t hire you, even for one night.」(tavern owner)
「C, could you please reconsider it? I can sleep on the floor.」(Elle)
「That’s not the problem. Look.」(tavern owner)
The woman glanced at one of the tables in the room. To be exact, she was glancing at a man in armor drinking ale. He seemed to be a guard.
「He still has no idea you don’t have an ID, but if I let you stay here any longer, he might find out. Listen. I don’t want trouble, and I’m sure you don’t want it either. I suggest you leave now and look for another place.」(tavern owner)
「I… understand… Thank you.」(Elle)
Feeling disappointed, Elle bowed to the woman and listlessly left the tavern.
「See what I said?」(Yoyo)
「Ugh, you’re right… But I’m not giving up. I’ll try another one.」(Elle)
「Eeehhh…」(Yoyo)
The stubborn Elle refused to give up. Next, she went to the eatery, which was not far from the intersection, and asked the same thing.
However, she got the same answer.
She then went to five different places only to ask the same question and get the same answer. No one wanted her to stay in their places even for a night.
「Ughh…」(Elle)
「Master, are you okay?」(Neige)
「I’m alright… Just a bit tired… I feel like I’m starting to get scared of hearing the words ‘ID card’…」(Elle)
「Tsk! Those people! ID card this, ID card that. This is so frustrating! If ID cards are so important, why don’t the guild open for 24 hours!?」(Yoyo)
「Yoyo senpai’s right! They should always be open! This whole ID system needs to be revised! This city is so corrupted that I’m ashamed I was born here!」(Neige)
Elle was too exhausted to even complain, but Yoyo and Neige started ranting in her stead.
「Elle, now choose. Spend the night in Charlotte’s townhouse or Mr. Forster’s mansion.」(Yoyo)
「Uhh… Do you think they will let me in at this hour? I doubt their guards would believe I was their acquaintance.」(Elle)
Elle had been walking around the city for hours. It was already past midnight.
「We can try, unless you want to sleep on the street.」(Yoyo)
「……」(Elle)
Elle felt a bit regretful. She thought following a fictional character in a storybook as an example was a good idea.
She kept walking down the street while thinking about where to go next, and then she saw something interesting.
There were a few tents and stalls in an open area by the street. The place was bright because of the surrounding magic lamps, and there were some people who seemed to sell goods.
「What is that? Another night market?」(Elle)
It seemed to be a night market, but they didn’t seem to sell food since Elle didn’t smell any scent of food from there.
「That’s indeed a night market, but this one sells magic stones.」(Neige)
「Magic stones!? People sell magic stones there!?」(Elle)
「Yup. Well, if my outdated memory serves me right, though.」(Neige)
「Wonderful! I might be able to sell my magic stones there!」(Elle)
「MaーMaster, wait!」(Neige)
「This girl… Elle, wait!」(Yoyo)
Elle was so excited. She suddenly ran toward the magic stone night market, thinking she might be able to make some money there.
「Alright, folks, thank you for your patronage. We’re done for the night.」(seller)
「Seriously? I haven’t gotten my things yet!」(buyer)
「Well, that means it’s not your lucky day, Sir. We’re sold out. You can try asking another seller.」(seller)
「Oh, come on! This is such a waste of time!」(buyer)
「Hmph. Like I care.」(seller)
Elle approached one of the stalls and found that they had already sold everything. The buyer who wanted to buy goods from them left in disappointment.
When the not-so-friendly seller started to pack up, Elle timidly approached him and asked.
「Umm, excuse me, Sir.」(Elle)
「Hm? What the hell is a girl doing here at this hour? You wanna buy a magic stone? Sorry, but I’ve just sold them all.」(seller)
「No, I want to sell my magic stones. Would you buy them, Sir?」(Elle)
「Huh? I want to get home quickly and start counting my money.」(seller)
「Please! Could you at least take a look at them?」(Elle)
「Hahh… I don’t have time for a brat like you, but, alright.」(seller)
「Thank you!」(Elle)
Elle took out one of the best fire magic stones she made from her bag and handed it to the seller.
The man thought it would be a crappy cheap magic stone, but the moment he observed it closely, he realized that he was completely wrong. He couldn’t help but let out a voice of admiration.
「Hoo…」(seller)
Elle felt a bit nervous. It was the first time someone other than Moritz had observed the magic stone she created.
「So, would you buy it?」(Elle)
Judging from the seller’s face, Elle knew that the man was impressed. She was confident that he would buy it.
However, the man suddenly smirked for a split second and then changed his expression drastically. He was now glaring at Elle with sharp eyes for some reason.
「You little rascal! You think you can fool me, huh!?」(seller)
「Wha… what do you mean…?」(Elle)
Elle was shocked that the man suddenly shouted at her.
「This magic stone is fake! You tried to sell me a fake shit, huh!?」(seller)
「Fake? No, it can’t be fake! I made it myself!」(Elle)
「What!? So you make fake magic stones!?」(seller)
「N, no! It’s not fake!」(Elle)
Yoyo felt a strong malicious intent from the seller and warned Elle.
「Elle, he’s up to no good! Take your magic stone back and let’s get out of here!」(Yoyo)
「ー!!」(Elle)
Elle tried to snatch away the magic stone from the seller’s hands, but she was too slow. The man quickly raised his hands so that Elle couldn’t reach it.
「Whoa! Not so quick! I’ll keep it as proof of your wrongdoing! Guard, wake up! Don’t just sleep and get your lazy ass here! We have a little criminal here!」(seller)
「Hahh…? What? What happened?」(guard)
The guard who had been sleeping on a wooden bench next to the seller’s tent woke up and sluggishly approached the seller.
Although he was wearing a guard’s armor, he didn’t look like a guard at all. He looked more like a lazy thug than a guard.
「This little bitch tried to sell me a fake magic stone! She even said she mass-produced them!」(seller)
「Say what? Creating fake magic stones is a huuuuge crime. Little girl, you’re in a big trouble!」(guard)
「N, no! I didn’t! My magic stone is not fake!」(Elle)
「Yeah, yeah. Criminals never admit their crimes.」(guard)
The guard approached Elle, trying to arrest her.
「Dammit! He won’t listen! Neige!」(Yoyo)
「Right behind you, Senpai!」(Neige)
Just when the lazy-looking guard was about to reach his hand toward Elle, Yoyo and Neige quickly stepped in.
「We won’t let you lay your dirty hand on this girl!」(Yoyo)
「We will protect Master!」(Neige)
「Huuuh? Two talking stuffed animals? Baahaha! You think mere artificial spirits can stand a chance against a soldier!?」(guard)
Facing Yoyo and Neige, the guard drew his sword.
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