Chapter 499 500-A Day Out with Vivia

Chapter 499 500-A Day Out with Vivia

"Howard, shall we go out and have some fun?" Vivia asked, her voice laced with a hint of boredom.

"Go out?" Howard paused for a moment, noticing the slightly listless expression on Vivia's face.

"Where do you want to go? Rodel isn't exactly bustling with activity."

"Let's just wander outside the city," Vivia suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked at Howard.

"The wilds outside might be teeming with beasts, but with you by my side, it promises to be far more interesting than anything the city has to offer."

Howard shook his head resolutely.

"Impossible. I won't take you out there."

"Then, I suppose I'll have to settle for a lesser adventure and just wander around the city," Vivia suddenly said with a sly grin, her demeanor resembling that of a fox who had successfully pulled off a trick.

Howard, who had been looking at himself in the mirror, was momentarily taken aback before a smile broke across his face.

Initially, he had no intention of accompanying Vivia, but her words somehow made it seem as though he had already agreed.

After a brief pause, Howard's smile faded as he adjusted his hair and straightened the hilt of his blade that rested upon his shoulder.

Having made himself presentable, Howard turned to face Vivia.

"Since you put it that way, let's do as you wish then."

...

Leaving the inn, Howard and Vivia strolled through the streets of Rodel, meandering without a clear destination.

Despite having been in Rodel for over a week, neither Howard nor Vivia had actually had the time to properly explore the city.

Howard's case was self-explanatory, spending more than half of the time unconscious, while Vivia initially busied herself with completing quests and later stayed by Howard's bedside in the inn.

In reality, although Rodel serves as a frontier city, it still boasts numerous attractions.

Leading Vivia through bustling streets and quieter lanes, Howard deliberately chose the path less traveled, navigating through the less crowded alleys.

The cobblestone pavement, uneven from years of wear, exuded a certain charm.

Rows of small houses with red tile pointed roofs lined both sides, their facades painted in shades of slate gray or white, windows askew.

Their journey was accompanied by the occasional calls of vendors.

Along the way, Vivia amused herself with cats and dogs, or chased after the calves and lambs belonging to the locals, attracting countless disapproving glances.

However, considering the gleaming straight sword on Howard's back, no one dared voice their annoyance.

Eventually, Vivia dutifully helped lead the animals back.

Laughing merrily as they meandered through the alleys, sunlight filtered through narrow gaps above, tickling their faces.

The light wasn't harsh but conveyed a sense of the summer's arrival.

As the breeze swept through the alleyways, Howard squinted and turned back to see Vivia's smiling face.

A thought struck him, and suddenly, he began to run.

"I've thought of a great place, follow me!"

...

Standing at the edge of the parapet, Howard, with the exceptional balance of a level 3 magus, held his stance with ease, while Vivia had no choice but to sit demurely atop the balustrade.

Yet, this did nothing to diminish the awe stirring within her heart.

They were atop the clock tower!

Taking a deep breath, Howard shifted his shoulders.

"Up we get, then. Off to the next spot!"

"No," Vivia shook her head, raising her hand to point at a figure in the square below.

"I see Nula down there. Let's go find her; she still holds your bounty, after all."

Howard followed the direction of Vivia's pointing finger and slapped his forehead.

There indeed was Nula, appearing to hold something in her hands.

Had Vivia not mentioned it, he might well have forgotten all about it.

"Then let's go," he said, carefully standing up and taking a few steps before extending his hand to Vivia.

"Let's head down."

Looking at Howard's extended hand, Vivia opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she just smiled.

The two descended the clock tower with agility, blending into the crowd as they made their way to the square in search of Nula.

They circled the square, and at one point, Howard casually bought a large cotton candy for Vivia.

Although it earned him an eye-roll, she accepted it with a smile nonetheless.

Eating the cotton candy, Howard and Vivia made a complete round of the square but failed to spot Nula.

"Do you remember which direction you saw Nula?" Howard asked, turning to Vivia.

She thought for a moment, then pointed in a direction.

"It seems like it was near the clothing store. I saw her coming out of there."

A clothing store?

At a time like this, she's in the mood for shopping?

And... the clothes here are likely not cheap!

And these aren't just any clothes; they're meticulously designed garments!

Howard's sense of foreboding grew stronger by the moment.

That person wouldn't be splurging his bounty all over the place, would she?

With this thought, Howard couldn't stay calm any longer.

He knew all too well how quickly women could spend money.

He genuinely worried whether his bounty would suffice for such a lady's extravagance.

Grabbing Vivia's wrist, Howard started to jog.

If Nula was shopping, the clothing store likely wouldn't be her final stop.

Though Rodel's commerce wasn't highly developed, the presence of nobles—those peculiar beings—meant that it wasn't unusual to find expensive boutiques selling items of little practical use here.

After all, commoners couldn't afford such luxuries anywhere, leaving only ubiquitous nobles willing to pay hefty sums for them.

The pursuit began at the clothing store.

When Howard and Vivia burst into the store, they found it empty of customers.

Only a middle-aged, balding man in his forties, dressed in a gray-white robe, sat behind the counter reading a book.

Without any pleasantries, Howard launched into a barrage of questions, straightforwardly slamming his magus badge onto the countertop beforehand.

There are times when one must assert their presence to avoid unnecessary trouble.