Chapter 12: New Experiences I

Chapter 12: New Experiences I

“What are we supposed to celebrate?” Liz asked while we walked towards the inn.

“Is our meeting not enough cause for celebration?”

“I don’t think people celebrate every time they meet someone new.”

“How about you not being dead?” I asked with a smirk. “Same goes for Mira.”

“That does sound like something worth celebrating.”

“I also managed to register as an adventurer. Thanks a lot for that by the way, really appreciate the heads up you didn’t give me,” I said and poked her cheek.

“What do you mean?” She asked, looking confused.

“Do you remember the registration process?”

“Yeah? You just had to use their device to regis... Oh.” She went silent with an embarrassed look.

“Can you think of any issues I might have had with that? Apart from the fact that I had to have Hanna in the room with me,” I said and squinted.

“... I’m sorry! It’s been so long since I registered so I forgot,” She said sheepishly.

“Okay grandma.” I stuck out my tongue. “How old are you anyway?”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.” She grinned. "I'm twenty.”

“So young.”

“I will be twentyone next week!” she said and puffed out her chest.

“Oh? What do you want as a birthday gift? Fly on my back? An ancient artifact? Maybe a setup of clothes like mine so you can get naked in a flash?” I said teasingly.

“I don’t need anything. We have barely known each other for one day,” She said and looked away.

Don’t think I didn’t see that smile. Lucky she didn't choose the clothes though, don't know how to make them when the user doesn’t know how to use [Inventory].

“Speaking of things that may or may not cost money, could you help me out a little? I don’t really know the value of money.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well I got some money for some completed quests but I don’t know if it’s a lot or not. What can I do with one gold coin for example.”

“Oh, you mean like that. A night at the inn costs two silver with food included. You can survive on less than a silver per day if you are frugal but I prefer to pay extra for good food and a fluffy bed.”

“Food, alcohol, comfy bed and nice baths. Everything else is secondary.”

“Exactly! Other than that I guess potions and other provisions depend a lot on quality and location.”

“What about the exchange rate for coins?”

“Eight copper is one silver. Twelve silver is one small gold coin. Ten small gold coins is one large gold coin. There is also a platinum coin which is twelve and a half large gold coins but those aren’t used often.”

“That... That’s the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my entire life and that is saying something coming from me,” I said and rubbed my forehead. "Wait, you aren’t lying, are you?”

“It’s okay when you get used to it.”

What is wrong with a smooth ten for one exchange rate? How am I supposed to remember that junk? I’m going to get scammed out of money for sure.

We arrived at the inn and went inside. The entrance led into a large dining hall filled with tables but somehow it still felt cozy. At the end of the hall was a counter and a window that showed the kitchen behind it. At the counter stood a man that I can only describe as ‘well built’. He looked like a proper lumberjack, not an innkeeper. Maybe he needed those muscles to throw out unruly patrons.

“Welcome to the Blue Stallion. What can I do for ya?” The man said in a loud voice.

“Hello, I would like a room for the night.”

“Which one do ya fancy? We got the normal one for three silver per night. The bigger one is six silver per night and comes with its own bath. Food is included for both.”

“I’ll take the one with the bath!”, I said happily and slid six silver over the counter.

“Do ya have any ID card on ya?”

I took out my guild card and put it down on the counter.

“A gold card...” He said and alternated his look between me and the card. “Not often ya see such a young A rank, how old are ya? If ya don’t mind me asking.”

“I’m eighteen.” I could hear Liz trying to suppress a small laughter behind me.

“Ya must be very talented. Maybe we will see another S rank soon.” He said and gave me back the card along with a room key, "It’s the room at the end of the corridor on the third floor.”

“Thank you very much.” I said and turned around, giving Liz a glare.

“We will start serving food for the evening in a little while, come on down when ya feel hungry.”

I walked up the stairs behind Liz. “Eighteen huh?” She said and gave me a broad grin.

“I look eighteen, don’t I?” I countered.

Mira just looked at me and laughed, “I guess it’s fine if you don’t want to tell me. Adventurers tend to keep a lot of secrets after all.”

Liz looked at me, clearly impressed with how I got out of that situation.

“Well, cheers for my promotion... And for not dying,” I held up a mug of ale.

After a few drinks both of them luckily loosened up and we had a nice evening talking about pretty much anything and everything. Mira was annoyed that her gear was stolen and did a whole lot of complaining. She was probably pent up from her whole kidnapped situation. Liz had gotten her staff back from Julius so at least she can continue doing quests.

I continued ordering more food and alcohol, totaling up to nine courses and probably a keg of ale. Mira was already passed out from all the alcohol.

The food and alcohol in this time period is rather nice. And this is just your average inn, or maybe above average? If I go to some fine dining place in the capital I might be in for a treat.

Liz just looked at me in amazement, “Where do you even put everything,” She said and touched my flat stomach.

“Mana reserves,” I said nonchalantly.

“What, really?”

“No.”

Liz bopped me on the shoulder in a playful manner. “Please don’t do that.”

“I will think about it.” I giggled as I poked Mira’s cheek. “Maybe we should carry this one back to her room? She doesn’t seem to want to wake up.”

“That is probably a good idea, would you mind carrying her?”

“Sure, do you want me to carry you too?” I asked as I picked up Mira.

“I’m fine thank you, my legs still work.”

“You look a little wobbly to me,” I said with a laugh and started walking towards the stairs.

“Looks like you are done for the evening. Do you want to settle your bill?” The woman at the bar asked.

“Oh right, I forgot about that,” I said and turned to the counter.

“I'm actually impressed with the amount you managed to put away. Probably enough for four grown men,” She said and looked at a piece of paper, “Your total came up to two small gold coins, seven silver and four copper.”

“Oh, cheaper than I expected,” I said and looked behind her, “Actually would it be possible to get a whole keg of ale to go? It was quite delicious.”

“A whole keg?” She said and looked at me, “That would add up to four small gold coins, nine silver and four copper.”

“That sounds close enough, one keg if you have please.”

She ducked under the bar and lifted up one medium sized keg and placed it in front of me. “Do you need to go and put that one away first? You seem to be needing a few extra hands,” She said and laughed.

“No, that is quite alright,” I said and touched the keg with my left hand, making it sink down into a black void.

“Wow, I guess you A ranks really are different,” She said with wide eyes, “Just a moment and I will get your change.”

“Keep it,” I said and smiled, “A tip for good service.”

“Thank you very much. Hope you enjoy your stay here,” she said with a big smile.

We walked up the stairs and I did my best not to bump Mira’s head against the wall.

Liz looked back at me, “You are quite generous with your money, aren’t you?”

“I like to support places with good food. Besides, I still got over half of the money from the quests I completed and tomorrow I will probably get a decent amount from all the monster materials I’m selling to the guild.”

That was only a half truth. I honestly have no idea how much I tipped. Was it twelve copper for a silver and eight silver for a small gold coin? No wait, she said nine silver so it must be the other way around. So I tipped two silver and... four copper? Ugh, who cares. The food was delicious

“Guess money stops being an issue when you get to your level, I’m a bit jealous.”

I let out a small laugh.“Keep in mind that I'm roughly 400 times older than you,”

“Are you really that old?”

“Hard to say, it’s not so easy to keep track.”

We arrived at Mira’s room and Liz managed to find her room key in one of her pockets. We entered and I put her down on the bed.

“Should we just leave her like this?” I said and gestured at what might as well have been a corpse.

“Yeah, it’s not the first time. She will be fine.”

“So what now? Want to come back to my room? I got some Byzan Empire wine if you are interested.”

Liz, who had been drinking mostly wine the entire evening, was clearly interested in the mention of ancient wine. “Is it good?”

“I think so but I don’t know how it compares to today's wine. I didn’t drink any.”

“I guess I can do a comparison, for future reference.”

“You just can’t be honest, can you?” I smiled and walked out the room.