Songstress of Schwarzwald: The Secret of Zoe, the Exiled Music Mage

Chapter 73 : The Raymond Adventurers’ Guild

There’s always something a little nerve-racking about a new Adventurers’ Guild.

I was used to the one in Carlton, of course, but this is a different beast entirely.

For starters, it’s a proper stone building, big and imposing.

I take a deep breath and push my way inside.

Ugh, so many walls of muscle.

It’s a nice change to see a few other female adventurers, though. I don’t think I ever saw any back in Carlton. Or maybe they were just good at keeping a low profile?

For now, I’ll steer clear of the Copper-rank request board.

First things first: I gotta ask about stabling my horse. And I’m almost certain they’ll have a standing request for mid-grade herbs, which means I can sell mine while I’m here.

Last time I was in a new Guild, I picked the shortest line and regretted it.

Today? I’ll just get in a proper line like a normal person.

That enormous greatsword over there, though… It looks awfully familiar.

“Well, look who it is! The little pipsqueak made it after all!” a booming voice declares. “I knew you would, asking all those questions! Ha ha ha!”

It’s him. The huge man from the road.

“You picked the right line, kid!” he booms. “Our Sally here is a real doll, and sharp as a tack!”

The “doll” part hardly matters. Guild receptionists are almost always cute.

It’s the “sharp as a tack” bit that I care about.

“Thank you,” I say, just to be polite.

“Name’s Grant! If you run into any trouble, you let me know. I’ll give you a bit of advice!”

For a second, I’m afraid he’s going to invite me to join his party… but it looks like he has no use for a pipsqueak.

“I’m Zoe,” I tell him.

Grant hands his request form to the receptionist Sally, asks a quick question about the monster’s habitat, and then strides out.

Hmm. That request form didn’t look like it was for a Copper-rank job. I mean, not that I care what rank he is.

“Good morning. What can I help you with today?”

She must think I’m here for a quest. Or maybe Sally is just naturally this polite.

I slide my Guild Card across the counter.

“I’m a Copper-rank adventurer from Carlton, but I’ll be working out of Raymond this spring,” I explain. “To start, I have some mid-grade herbs to sell.”

I pull ten stalks of mid-grade herbs from my wicker pack and set them on the counter.

Sally inspects them with a calm, professional air, then offers a small smile.

“These are in excellent condition. Shall we say one hundred and twenty pennies for the lot?”

Ooh, that’s ten more than I expected!

“Yes, that’s perfect. Also, I was hoping to find a place to leave my horse. Do you know of anywhere?”

She thinks for a moment before replying. “Aren’t you staying in Raymond, Miss Zoe? Most inns will stable a horse for you.”

I suppose a normal adventurer would, but I’m not normal. I’m commuting from my family’s cabin in the woods.

“No, I can only come into the city about twice a week, so I’ll be commuting,” I say. “I’ll ride my horse in, but I’ll be in trouble if there’s nowhere safe to leave him.”

After all, I ran into a pickpocket the second I walked through the gates. This city isn’t exactly the safest place.

“For days you have business at the Guild, you can board your horse in our stables out back for a fee,” she says. “We also rent out cart horses and wagons, should you need to transport goods.”

That’s perfect! My Storage Magic can handle even the biggest monster, but I can’t very well use it in the middle of the street without drawing unwanted attention.

“Thank you, Sally! I’ll go check out the stables right now!”

My Storage

is absolutely stuffed with monster parts. Pelts, hides, even meat from things like wolves, which isn’t very tasty.I’d love to cash it all in, but I can only carry what fits in my wicker pack.

My spirits soaring, I head around to the back of the Guild.

A wagon… I don’t even need to rent a wagon. I have that used one tucked away in my Storage! I’d completely forgotten about it.

Still, I do need to arrange boarding for my horse, so I should at least ask about the fees.

The stables out back are much grander than I’d imagined. Noah would probably like it here.

The place is spotless, with individual stalls, and it looks like they provide both water and feed. It’s a far cry from sharing our little cowshed back home.

Once spring truly arrives, I really should build him a proper stable, or at least add an extension to the cowshed.

“Can I help you with something?” a weathered old stableman calls out.

“Yes,” I say, approaching him. “I’d like to start bringing my horse here. The receptionist said I could board him while I’m on Guild business or shopping in town. How much is it?”

He glances down at me, his eyes taking in my small frame.

“Two pennies for a half-day. Five for a full day. Water’s free, but feed costs extra.”

I have no idea if that’s expensive or cheap, so I just nod. At least I can be sure my horse won’t get stolen if I leave him at the Guild.

“Also, I’d like to rent a wagon to go hunting in the Great Forest. How much would that be?”

I’d spotted a row of them lined up outside the stables, and my mind is already racing. They’re about half the size of the old wagon I have in my Storage, and simply built. I could rent one, take it home, and copy the design!

“What?” he asks, his voice thick with skepticism. “You’re planning to hunt monsters in the Great Forest?”

It’s because I’m a pipsqueak, I know.

But when I show him my copper Guild Card, his eyes go wide.

“Well, an adventurer’s neck is their own business, I suppose… Just be careful out there, you hear?” He gestures vaguely. “We have smaller wagons than these, if you… want to take a look?”

I nod enthusiastically, which only seems to make him warier.

He leads me into another building, separate from the stables, where wagons of all sizes are kept.

There are small, medium, and large ones, a big covered wagon, a boxy carriage, and—my heart gives a little leap—the two-seater carriage I was secretly hoping to find.

“My horse is a riding horse,” I muse aloud. “So a small wagon would probably be best.”

The old man, who clearly loves his animals, furrows his brow.

“You’re going to make a riding horse pull a wagon?” he says, aghast. “In that case, you’ll take the smallest one we have. And don’t you go taking it long distances, either!”

That won’t be a problem. I plan on using my teleportation magic to get around inside the Great Forest anyway.

“The small wagon is five pennies for a full day,” the stableman says.

That sounds like it could get expensive fast. I really should just try to build one myself.

Selina did give me the rather unreasonable task of building a wagon, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.

I suppose since Noah is my only horse, I figured the big used one I have in Storage was good enough, and I just couldn’t find the motivation.

And besides, if I were hauling lumber, wouldn’t I need a two-horse team? I’m sure Maggie’s father used one.

I was so excited about going to Carlton back then that I didn’t pay close attention, but a wagon loaded with lumber is heavy work. It would definitely need two horses.

The Great Forest is so dense with trees that a normal wagon would be useless anyway. But this little one… this one looks like it might actually work in those woods.

My plan is set: I’ll rent it once, teleport it back to the cabin, and build my own copy.

On my way out, I spot a smallish paddock behind the stables. Now that looks like a good idea. It looks simple enough to copy when I get home.

Selina is always telling me to go riding more, though she’s practically become one with the sofa herself these days.

If I had a paddock, I could let Noah loose to graze and wander on his own when I’m not riding him.

But first things first: food. I turn back to the stableman.

“Excuse me,” I say. “This is my first time in Raymond. Do you know any good places to eat where a girl can be by herself without being bothered? Preferably somewhere cheap and tasty.”

The last thing I want is a tavern full of drunks. I have a knack for getting pestered, you see. I’m quite cute, after all.

“An eatery, eh?” He scratches his chin. “This is a town full of adventurers, so you’ll find folks drinking at all hours. You’d be safer getting lunch at an inn. Oh, I know! The Foal's Inn. It’s cheap and the food is good.”

With that crucial piece of information secured, I finally take my leave of the Guild.