Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 191 191 - The day after

Taking Beldragor's advice to heart I leave his place, as does he after locking up. Well, I stiffed him with spreading the bad news. And it's the kind that needs to reach the right ears sooner rather than later. Of course he is heading out to meet with Jerzy and his brother and whoever else needs to know.

My destination lies elsewhere though. It's the guildhall of adventurers once again. I have high hopes to find a comfortable bed for myself there. And while it's not the same as a visit of an actual bathhouse where I would get pampered, I hope to have a nice warm bath there too at their in house bath. Considering that my last one was ice cold, that would be a nice change of pace.

This time around I take the path through the gate instead of going over the wall. I'm cutting it a little close though, as I'm one of the last who gets to slip through, thanks to my prominently worn guild tag no doubt. Right after the guards call out to whoever else is still waiting in line to leave and go home or find shelter for the night elsewhere, before they actually close the gate.

I feel one of the guards use an identification skill on me, but while it feels unpleasant, I'm pretty sure that the shroud around my soul held this time around. The skill, probably an appraisal skill as usual with these scumbags, failed to take hold. My opinion of the guards doesn't exactly improve, but my [Shrouded Soul] skill does, even if just ever so slightly. I glare at the responsible guard anyway.

I hurry through the streets afterwards too, as I don't want to get into trouble with the night watch either. At least traffic is light, which means that I reach the guildhall before long. Inside the clerk responsible for dealing with quests is still quite busy. There are a few more adventurers queuing up to get their paperwork processed and their rewards payed out. The other clerk responsible for general administrative tasks looks rather bored by comparison. That one takes note of my arrival too, but he doesn't call out to me. And as no one stops me either I head to the bath immediately, where I take my sweet time to enjoy a nice warm soak.

Afterwards I head up to the dormitory to hunt for a free bed. That task is a little more challenging, but in the end I manage to find one. It's not the one right by the open window either. Lucky me! I don't turn in for the night right away though. I only deposit my pack and my cloak on the bed to claim it as mine, as seems to be common practice around here.

I'm a little thirsty after the bath though, thus I head downstairs once more to get a drink. One penny for a mug of that pretty good local beer. It's a fair exchange. I take my sweet time drinking it too, to have a look at the other adventurers still sticking around down here at this hour. I know that the chances are beyond slim, but I still have to make sure that the strangers who apparently made off with the wyvern aren't among them. I don't spot any familiar faces though. There isn't anyone I know better than just in passing either.

Well, maybe that is for the best. I finish my drink, return the mug and head back upstairs. There is a comfortable and clean bed waiting for me and I very much intent to take advantage of it to the fullest extent. My eyes close almost as soon as I'm curled up under the blanket and my head hits the pillow.

This time around I actually manage to sleep in a little. Instead of bright and early I only wake when another adventurer, already on the verge of leaving herself, shakes my shoulder.

[*Ding!* You slept pretty well! Health increased by 2! Mana increased by 7!]

I nod in thanks while the whispered notification brushes through my mind. I'm still not back at full health and my Mana reserves have barely begun recovering despite this night's sleep, but I feel better overall anyway. I stretch, get up and ready for the day. I may not have grand plans, but I do have some visits to make.

There is one thing that quickly claims the number one spot among my current priorities, even before I leave the guildhall. With a grumble accompanying a painful cramp my body reminds me that a mug of beer yesterday might have been not enough sustenance to keep it going long term. It's bad enough that even my eyes water a little as I have to lean against a wall in the hallway. Yes, I really need a bite to eat. No way around it.

Since all my other appointments are in the district outside the wall I decide to eat there too. I already have a place in mind too. What was the name of Sylwia's close friend again? Michal? Yes, that's it. I just hope his place already is open for business. It should be since I'm running a little late. Never mind though, I'll find out when I get there. And should his eatery be closed for one reason or another it'll be just a few steps to another. Thus, with my stomach urging me to get a move on with another grumble I head out.

In this state of hunger induced discomfort I don't risk a rooftop run either, although it might get my to my destination faster. Missing a step and breaking my neck due to a hunger pang would be beyond embarrassing though, thus I keep to the streets. It's better that way, even though I have to glare at another guard as my [Shrouded Soul] skill improves another bit due to them using an appraisal skill on me while I pass through the gate.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

At least that means free skill progress for me if nothing else. And the look on the armed and armored guard's face as their skill fails to provide results is worth it too.

I really should try to find a way to improve that particular skill more though. Some of the more experienced guards can still pierce that shroud. Others, Sezemat and Lady Izolda come to mind, might be able to do it too. And with my new class, I'd rather prefer the shroud to work slightly more reliably so I don't have to answer questions I don't actually want to answer. After all it's hard to remain an eminence in shadows if everyone and their grandma can see through those shadows.

Multiple people using their identification skills on me every once in a while should do the trick. Probably. That way my skill should keep improving, while none of them improve at the same rate. Yes, that way I should be able to out level any individual observer. How to go about it though? It would be best after all if no one actually figures out what I'm doing there, otherwise they might be able to counter my efforts.

That identification skills are rather cheap regarding their Mana cost doesn't exactly help either. Sure, my shroud is passive, always on and doesn't cost me a thing, but a cheap identification skill could still be pushed beyond it by someone who really wants to do it.

I'm still pursuing that line of thought when I finally reach Michal's eatery. I consciously push it out of my mind as I draw close. The place is quite busy. Busy enough in fact that both Sylwia and Michal's younger sister Ewa are helping out today. The latter seems to be very intent on outperforming Sylwia any chance she gets. I shake my head. Silly girl.

I quickly slip into an empty seat that just got vacated as another patron finished eating, before someone else can get to it. Ewa almost stumbles over her own feet as she turns to take my order. It seems she still remembers me. A new blouse is not disguise enough to not be recognized either it seems. She quickly regains control of herself though.

"Welcome! What can I get you?"

I drop no less than three pennies in her palm as I place my order, more than enough to cover for what I want and she seems to realize it too, considering the way she immediately perks up.

"Broth, noodles, meat and vegetables. A big bowl and maybe a mug of beer to go with it."

She flashes me a smile sweet enough to rot teeth and even ignores my stomach grumbling once again.

"A drink and one bowl with everything! Coming up right away!"

Her brother takes note of her words right away and starts preparing my meal without delay without even looking up. They are a well practiced team. Sylwia does look up as she pours my drink, but she only greets me with a barely perceptible note as she hands the mug off to Ewa who serves it to me, only to quickly swing by her brother to get my steaming bowl with everything delicious under the sun.

Once she places that bowl of goodness in front of me nothing else matters anymore for a little while. For all I care right now, the world could go to hell in a hand basket right now, as long as I get to finish this meal. The broth, the noodles, the meat and the vegetables and of course me. For a blessed few moments that's all that matters.

Of course it can't last though. Eventually the bowl is empty, as is my mug of beer. At least I'm now pleasantly full in turn, so that's alright. With one last wave to Ewa and Sylwia I vacate my seat, which in turn is promptly snapped up by the next customer, while I'm already on my way to the Paws and Pawn.

The upstream waterfront and the nearby alleys are a little quieter this time of day. The fishers are already out and not back yet either and the first riverboats have left as well. It'll be a while before any will come in too. Beldragor is still busy though. That much quickly becomes obvious when I enter his shop. Judging by the sound of it he is busy haggling with someone. It sounds like serious business, not the rather casual kind he might conduct with other guild members, thus I stay out of sight for the time being. I pass some time looking through all the countless things he has on display on his shelves.

Only when the dragon and his customer conclude their transaction do I approach the counter, barely sparing the man who quite obviously seems to have fallen on hard times a glance. What he pawned to Beldragor seems to be a wild collection of old adventuring gear, including arms and armor. Curiously enough I'm pretty sure though that the man wasn't wearing an adventurers' guild tag. Maybe these are things from a relative? Well, it's none of my business. Instead of worrying about it I greet the dragon behind the counter with a pleasant smile.

"Hey there! How's my favorite dragon? Rough night? Or did things with Jerzy and the others work out alright?"

His tail swishes about in excitement at first before he manages to regain a semblance of control.

"Oh, Vivi! It was exciting, no doubt about it! Your news came in just in time too. Seems there are other things going on, other than the obvious that is, and not just here in Riverrun either."

Now that gets a rise out of me. To be precise it makes me raise an eyebrow.

"Well, it's good to hear that I could help, even if just indirectly. Now, are you ready to get your scales polished to a shine that can live up to your sister's expectations?"

The door separating his hoard behind the counter from the rest of the shop springs open with an audible clicking sound.

"Oh yes! Please, come around to this side. You still know were the tools are?"

I nod and do as he asks of me, quickly grabbing the bucket with the various brushes, both rough as well as soft and fine, and various polishing rags. It's time to get a rumbling purr out of the adorable little dragon.