Published at 22nd of January 2024 4:53 pm

Chapter 372 Part 1

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

I left the royal capital at the west gate and rode my golem carriage for about 10 minutes on the road leading to Awoke, where then I took the southern pathway, where my new home is located.

The reason I moved was because the garden at my old house has become too cramped. It was only the rooftop of the second floor of a partially three-story building, so there was no more space left to grow new plants.

『A square piece of land with a side of about 200 meters, surrounded by a stone wall about 3 meters high. In the center, there is a pond large enough for a boat, and there is only one small building that is integrated with the gate.』

I and my familiars choose this place out of several candidates. To be honest, it didn’t have to be this large, but there is a reason why we decided to choose this place.

『My familiars will be able to live freely without having to worry about being seen.』

This was the reason.

The result, not only do we have more space to work with, but we have also gained some privacy, but we have also lost some things. Specifically, it was the convenience of how near it is to the royal capital’s red-light district.

The apartment I had been living in was on the southern edge of the red-light district and on the northern edge of the Downtown area, so it was just a short walk to and from the red-light district.

「My seniors who built a house or bought an apartment must have made the same decision.」

In the garden of my new house, where the trees cast long shadows under the setting sun in the west, I talk to myself while looking at the scenery that I am still unfamiliar with.

What I meant by “senior” is a story from when I was working at a company in my previous life. I used to think, 『he was so proud of it, but I wonder if that’s really a good thing』 as I saw him late for work even though he left home before sunrise due to traffic jams on rainy days.

But now it’s different. I found that I don’t mind so much if I think it’s for the sake of my familiars.

「This was partly because we lived in a rural area where there was no way to commute except by car.」

The trains only operate once an hour, and so do buses. Moreover, the number of buses is greatly reduced except for routes connecting train stations and major hospitals.

This is still the prefectural capital, and there are no bus routes in the mountains of neighboring cities, towns, and villages. Although not as bad as in Hokkaido, this is still quite a motorized society.

『Someone is coming.』

The sudden wave of thought was coming from the dung beetle crawling out from the ground beneath my feet. It seems that he sensed the presence of a golem carriage entering the path in front of our new house from the main street by the vibrations in the ground.

There are not many golem carriages making a turn there, so the one riding it must be the Santa Claus-like vice guild master.

「Alright, I’m going to go to an auction now. I’ll be home late, so you guys can go to bed first.」

I went to the merchant guild this afternoon and was asked to come along by the vice guild master.

According to the guild master who looks like a goblin, it was one of 『the vice guild master’s peculiar hobby』, but I won’t know what it is until I participate in the auction.

(To think my superior would pick me up at my house, I feel honored.)

I think as I open the heavy wooden gate in the stone wall surrounding the property, right next to my new house, which used to be the gardeners and the guards’ house.

I’ve bought a one-horse hooded golem carriage, too, and I told him it would be fine to meet up in the royal capital.

「No, this is a private invitation, and I was the one who asked you first.」

However, this is how he replied.

I opened the double gate on one side and waited by the side of the path. Not long after, a two-horse golem carriage appeared from the north.

(I’ve never seen that kind of golem carriage before.)

I have ridden the golem carriage of the merchant guild several times now. It is shiny black and bears the emblem of 『Goddes riding on one side of a scale』.

This one, on the other hand, is also shiny but has dark brown color and has no emblem.

「Oh, so this is your new place. It seems like a nice, spacious place with lush greenery.」

The window of the luxury carriage arriving at the gate is lowered and Santa Claus gave his opinion from inside while looking into the garden forest behind me. Next, he continued, 『Come on, get in』 so I guess he had no intention of going to see my new house.

I closed the gate on one side and approached the carriage.

(Heave ho.)

Then I grabbed the handrail and climbed into the high-floored carriage.

(…..This carriage must be extremely expensive.)

The interior of the carriage is polished to a glossy brown, and the seats are fully covered in cream-colored leather. There is ornately carved gilt metal here and there, and the wood grain of the interior was also polished.

(What he’s wearing is the best outfit to wear next to the pilot’s formal uniform. And since he rarely uses it, I don’t think there’s any dirt under the butt or on the back.)

After properly preparing myself, I sink myself into the slightly hard sofa and ask if this is also a merchant guild golem carriage as a conversation starter.

The answer is 『No』, and it actually belongs to the vice guild master’s house. 『Attending this auction is not part of the job, after all』, he said.

(Although, I don’t think any of the staff would complain if he use the merchant guild’s golem carriage.)

That’s what I think, but I guess it’s a line drawn by the person himself. As for me, the fact that he doesn’t confuse public and private matters makes him even more likable.

I really don’t want a superior who doesn’t think twice about using their subordinates for private purposes.

(Wow, what’s this feeling? It feels like I’m riding a boat rather than a carriage.)

The carriage started moving immediately, but it didn’t shake or make any sound. It is vastly different from my personal golem carriage, of course, but it also feels more luxurious compared to the merchant guild’s.

Returning to the street we came from and entering through the west gate of the royal capital, we passed through the crowded main street of the red-light district to the central square. Finally, arrived at the museum located to the east of the Royal Castle, which rises to the north of the central square, and further to the east of the Royal Magic Academy.

「Is this where the auction is being held?」

The museum that is used as a place for business transactions. Seeing me surprised by this fact, the vice guild master stroke his beard quizzically.

The sun has completely set, and as I turn my attention back to the museum, illuminated by the outside lights, Santa Claus opens his mouth.

「Yes, after the museum is closed, it is sometimes used as a venue for these kinds of events and parties, you see.」

Brothels are better for socializing, but it is difficult to hold an event in the lobby of a brothel. That’s why they opened the museum for this kind of event.

(It’s the difference in sense of value, or rather, it might be because it’s a completely different world.)

After listening to the vice guild master’s explanation, I got out of the carriage. Then I started walking down the cobblestone street, lined on both sides with fashionable exterior lights, toward the entrance of the museum.

(Hee~ I didn’t know there was such a place.)

We arrived at a small square hall with about a hundred chairs in front of a raised stage. The ceiling is high, making it ideal for piano and violin recitals.

The seats were already half full, starting from the front, and there seemed to be no disparity between men and women of all ages.

(Looks like it’s about to start.)

Time passed as I looked around and it seems the event is about to begin. With about two-thirds of the seats filled, the doors were closed and the lights were dimmed except for the ones on the stage.

Up to this point I hadn’t been given any explanation, so I know nothing. Listening to the talk around me, all I could hear was superficial stuff like 『I might buy something if there’s a bargain』 or 『This item hasn’t appeared at all lately』.

『Ladies and gentlemen! We thank you very much for joining us at this event tonight!』

The voice of the male MC on the stage echoed in a quality that sounded like the external sound system implemented on a Knight, probably by loudspeaker magic.

After some preamble, a woman who looked like an assistant came up from offstage with a flat box that was just big enough to require both hands to carry.

『Exhibit No. 1, Memories of Youth.』

What’s pulled out from it and placed on the table is a pair of long red leather boots. Judging from the height of the heels, they were probably for women.

The boots looked to be in good condition, although they looked to have been used for a long time.

「That model is very expensive even when it’s brand new, you know?」

This is what the young man sitting next to me, on the opposite side of Santa Claus, blurted out. It’s probably a brand product.

(But… what did he mean by “even when it’s brand new”?)

Isn’t this an auction to buy used goods at a discount? I thought for a moment and was dismayed at my nature as a man that used to be poor.

It’s an event that uses the museum as the venue and one of the vice guild master’s hobbies. All of the items must be a candidate for treasures, like discontinued products or rare items.

『The only repair history it has was at the heel. Please confirm with your noses the solid construction, the constant care, and the depth of love between the maker and the owner.』

The moment the MC announced this, the air in front of the stage shook like a curtain made of heat haze.

(Urk.)

What was that momentary fluctuation in the air? And did I mishear when he said 『check with your nose』? The questions that came to my mind were swept away by a gentle, humid wind that suddenly blew from the direction of the stage.

(It’s the smell from the shoes!)

The sharp odor had entered my nose as a result of carelessly sucking in the air. It travels through the back of my nose and pierces my brain.

(What’s with this smell!? It’s extremely stings it’s not even a joke.)

It’s like the smell of broth or consommé, yet it sticks in your eyes like an onion.

『Chili and vinegar flavored potato chips.』

This is the closest thing I can think of if I had to describe it. I felt a watery snot coming out of my nose and immediately pressed a handkerchief under my nose.

Fortunately, the airflow stopped immediately and the smell disappeared. That fluctuation in the air was probably something like an air curtain.

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