Chapter 5: A New Beginning: The Path to Adventure

The late evening streets of the capital city were bustling with people.

It was a sight not seen in the countryside.

Unlike the village, where it was natural to sleep when the sun set, the streets were brightly lit.

“Wow…”

While I was admiring the surroundings, Sinel jumped down from the carriage, carrying a large bag.

Startled by her sudden movement, I looked at her, and she smiled as she said, “See you next time!”

She waved goodbye and walked away.

Wondering if it was okay for her to leave like that, I glanced at Ned, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.

He seemed used to this situation and simply waved his hand in silence.

Ned’s gaze shifted from Sinel to me.

“Didn’t you have something to do?”

“Right.”

That was when I remembered the reason for coming to the capital.

Though it had only been a short time, I almost forgot my purpose because I had been with them.

As I busily gathered my things to get off the carriage, Ned spoke up.

“I’m planning to leave the castle in three days, so if you want to come with me, find me in a place where the wind rests.”

Ned turned to sit as if he had said everything he needed to.

I didn’t have much to pack: a thick fur coat and a wolf fur hood to wear over it.

Then I slung a bag full of jerky and a heavy iron sword over my back.

I also made sure to tie the pouch of money securely around my waist.

“Take care.”

Philip offered his farewell as he watched me.

I nodded silently and jumped down from the carriage.

Ned’s carriage continued to move slowly without stopping.

For them, farewells like this were probably common.

I felt a strange sense of regret as I watched the carriage disappear into the distance.

I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Shaking my head, I moved on.

Surely my parents wouldn’t remain calm after their daughter left with just a note.

They must have already inquired about my whereabouts in the neighboring village.

I headed toward the street where the inns were clustered, a popular area for travelers.

With many people passing through, various stalls were set up, and it was easier to find things that weren’t for sale than to look for items that were.

She was selling various items.

I approached a stall tucked away in a corner.

The stall owner was a middle-aged woman with very unusual hair.

Her hair had a unique mix of red, blue, yellow, and brown.

It was a color combination that couldn’t occur naturally.

At this stall, she was selling hair dye.

“Oh, are you looking to dye your hair?”

As I approached, the middle-aged woman greeted me with a smile.

She handed me a small wooden board.

The board was coated with various hair dyes, suggesting I choose a color.

I selected the most neutral-looking brown.

“Oh, what a waste… Isn’t that natural blonde? Such a pretty color…”

The middle-aged woman lamented as she looked at my hair.

I agreed with her thoughts, but to avoid my parents’ pursuit, it was a choice I had to make.

“Just one silver, please.”

It felt slightly expensive for hair dye, but I didn’t bother to argue.

After paying for the dye, I pulled on the wolf fur hood and headed toward a seemingly suitable inn.

The interior was clean, as they seemed to take hygiene seriously.

The bustling first-floor restaurant indicated it was a popular place.

I wondered if there were any rooms left.

A price list was posted on the inn’s wall.

[1 night: 2 silver]

[1 week: 1 gold]

Of course, the accommodation costs included meals.

I approached the counter and handed over a gold coin, saying, “A week, please.”

“Hmm…?”

The counter staff looked down at the gold coin and then raised their gaze to me.

They scanned the surroundings, seemingly looking for my parents who had come with me.

“How many are you with?”

“Just me.”

The staff tilted their head in confusion at my answer.

Then, as if to say it didn’t matter, they nodded and handed me a heavy key.

The key had an old wooden tag attached with the number [302] written on it.

Fortunately, it seemed there were still rooms available.

I accepted the key.

“You’ll see the room when you go up to the third floor. Do you need meals?”

“Yes.”

“Then unpack your things and come down. We’ll be preparing your meal.”

Leaving the bustling first floor behind, I climbed the stairs, and the loud noises gradually faded away.

The old stairs creaked with every step.

A faint smell of mildew mixed with the strong odor of paint made my heart race.

The hallway was overall quite clean.

Of course, if viewed from a modern sensibility, there were several things to critique, but considering the hygiene conditions of my village, it was acceptable.

When I reached the third floor, a wide hallway unfolded before me.

The silence in the hallway indicated it was well soundproofed.

I went to the room labeled 302 and inserted the key.

Click—

With a small noise, the door slid open smoothly.

I had worried about the creaking stairs, but the door hinges seemed well-oiled.

The interior of the room was also quite tidy.

There was a suitably sized bed and a gray blanket that didn’t show stains easily.

In the corner of the room was a small table with a single candle sitting on it.

There would be a little time until the meal was ready.

I set my things on the table and took out the potion I had just purchased.

The potion had a small note attached that explained how to use it.

[Wash your hair with water, sprinkle the potion, and rinse your hair after one hour.]

It takes an hour to dye my hair.

It seemed I would have to start the process after finishing my meal.

I left the room, gripping my heavy iron sword, and headed down to the first floor.

As I descended the stairs and reached the first floor, the staff pointed to a small table tucked away in a corner.

On it was a small wooden tag with the number [302] written on it.

It seemed that each accommodation key allowed for one meal per time.

I approached and sat at that table.

The atmosphere in the dining area was quite nice.

Travelers were laughing and drinking, seeming to enjoy the food.

While I observed others, a girl carrying a large plate approached me.

She stood there dazed as she looked at my face.

I smiled lightly and waved my hand at her.

Noticing her height, she appeared to be similar in age to the children I met in the village.

“Ah, um. Your meal is ready…”

The girl seemed to snap back to reality at my smile, shaking her head hurriedly as she placed the plate down.

She fidgeted with her long apron before running off.

I looked down at the plate while gripping a fork.

It held scrambled eggs, a grilled sausage, and a lump of mashed potatoes.

The overall taste was salty.

After finishing my meal, I headed to the counter and asked for some water.

When they asked what it was for, I replied that I wanted to wash my hands and feet, and they nodded in understanding.

After going back up to the third floor, I wondered how long I had been waiting.

While I struggled with the flint and a small candle, a knock sounded from the other side of the door.

Knock knock—

“Water has arrived~”

A soft voice.

It must be the girl I saw on the first floor earlier.

I set down the flint I was holding and replied, “Come in.”

As soon as I gave my permission, the girl entered, waddling while holding a large wooden water jug.

She made eye contact with me and stepped back in surprise.

Emily’s bright appearance always draws affection from children of her age.

This girl was no different.

She carefully placed the water jug under the bed while glancing at me.

“What’s your name?”

“Um, me…?”

“Yeah.”

The girl swallowed nervously and clutched her apron at my question.

It was quite cute how she was so tense over such a simple question.

“Mary…”

“Mary? How old are you?”

“I’m 13…”

“Wow, we’re the same age.”

“Really…?”

Mary visibly brightened at my response.

I held out the flint to Mary and said, “Could you light this for me?”

“Um, okay!”

At my natural request, Mary hurried over and used the flint to ignite the candle.

“Thank you.”

I smiled lightly to express my gratitude, and Mary’s face turned a bright red.

“Do you know how to become an adventurer?”

Mary nodded at my question.

I had a simple conversation with Mary.

Most of the time, I asked questions, and she answered.

However, that conversation didn’t last long, as Mary said she had to help with the inn’s chores and left the room.

After Mary left, I began the dyeing process.

The smell of the dye was quite terrible, and my head felt dizzy.

Thus, the day in the capital city passed.

It was still early in the morning.

I packed my things and left the room, heading down to the first floor.

The inn’s morning routine was always quick, and the staff was already cleaning the dining area.

“Are you going to have breakfast?”

As I stood at the foot of the stairs looking around, the counter staff recognized me and asked.

I shook my head; I didn’t feel like having breakfast right now.

“I’m just stepping out for a bit.”

“Alright, just don’t lose your key.”

“Yes.”

I checked the key I had tucked into my pocket and exited the inn.

Inside the castle, maps were installed to help travelers find their way.

Thanks to that, I was able to reach my destination without getting lost.

The largest street in Niflheim’s capital city.

It was the Adventurer’s Street.

Based on the large Adventurer’s Guild, shops necessary for travel were naturally clustered all around, and a blacksmith could also be easily found nearby.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of metal striking metal echoed from the morning.

Adventurers appeared here and there.

I could see drunks passed out on the ground, and guards shaking their heads at them.

I dashed toward a building, leaving all of that behind.

The large sign on the building bore the beautifully crafted words “Sword Guild.”

To live in this capital city, I needed money.

I had some emergency cash I brought from home and the money the knight gave me, but that wouldn’t last a lifetime.

I planned to become an adventurer to earn money.

Mary said that to become an adventurer, I first needed a job badge to prove my skills.

That’s why I had come to this Sword Guild.

“Haa…”

I stood in front of the building, sniffing.

The cold weather made my nose runny.