Chapter 247

Freed — Side: Nikki
I’m Nikki.

Since the season of spring, I’ve become the owner of a boutique in the Lampail territory called Glossy Butterfly. I used to work in the royal capital under Madam Goodman, the owner of an haute couture house.

But then, Madam Goodman suddenly called me in and told me to become an owner here in Lampail. I didn’t even understand why, but she sent me off, so I had no choice but to come.

On the way here, since this borderland takes three days by carriage, I didn’t wear my usual frilly, fancy clothes. Instead, I put on the adventurer’s gear I used to wear back then. I tied my hair up high into a ponytail. Funny thing—once I put on adventurer’s clothes again, even the way I spoke naturally slipped back into how I used to talk.

To make a little money before arriving, I went to the Adventurers’ Guild and took an escort request for a carriage headed to Lampail. That way, not only could I travel for free, but I’d get paid for completing the request, too. On the road, there weren’t many high-ranked beasts. Honestly, since I thought I could get some real exercise again, it was a bit disappointing.

Once I reached Lampail, I first checked into an inn and changed clothes.

A dark gray set-up. A white shirt underneath. A scarf around my neck.

The reason I changed right after arriving was because Madam Goodman had told me again and again: No matter what, greet the lord and his wife first! Naturally, I obeyed. She’s scary when she’s angry.

I’d already sent word about the approximate arrival time of the carriage, so they were expecting me.

I asked an inn worker for directions, and since I had some time to spare, I strolled through the capital streets on my way.

I’d heard this was some backwater, so I’d imagined a rundown town, but it was nothing like that. There wasn’t even a dungeon nearby right now, yet adventurers were everywhere. Of course, I knew the Lampail Adventurers’ Guild was the most merit-based in the kingdom, but still. At the inn’s tavern, lots of adventurers were eating and drinking, and even across the street, adventurers were coming and going from a shop.

“What kind of shop is that?”

Curiosity got the better of me, so I stepped into this so-called “Jo Company.”

“Welcome! Oh, you must be new here. From the royal capital?”

“Huh? How’d you know?”

“Well, we don’t get fashionable men like you around here. Hahaha.”

“Ah, I see… Uh, what kind of shop is this?”

“This place sells sweets made with Lampail-grown ingredients, handmade goods from the orphanage kids, and also light meals and drinks you can eat on the go.”

The shop lady, a real motherly type, explained.

“Then I’ll have a light meal and a drink.”

“Sure thing. Right now, for food we’ve got Lampail Dogs, sandwiches, and croquettes. We had more, but they sold out. For drinks, if you want cold there’s sports drink or Ripple iced tea. If you want hot, there’s honey lemon or Ripple hot tea. We’ve also got minestrone soup and white stew—those come with bread.”

She rattled off foods and drinks I’d never heard of, and I got flustered. So I just asked for the recommended ones.

“Okay, one Lampail Dog and a honey lemon. Michelle, one dog and one honey!”

“Got it!”

She called the order to a woman in the back, then handed me the drink first and told me to wait at the terrace tables.

Gulp “Phew… Delicious. Somehow soothing.”

I sipped from a wooden lidded cup I’d never seen before.

“Here you go, thanks for waiting! One Lampail Dog!”

What she brought wasn’t anything I’d ever seen in the capital: some kind of fried food on a stick, topped with red sauce.

“Uhh… what exactly is this?”

“It’s a sausage on a skewer, dipped in batter and fried. And that red sauce is made from tomettos. Careful, it’s hot. Enjoy!”

She went back to the kitchen, leaving me staring.

“Huh… a sausage, huh…? Ow, hot! … Mmm! Whoa, what is this!? Seriously? This is too good!”

It was so tasty my true self just slipped out.

After I finished, I went to return the plate and cup, but they told me I could keep the cup. If I washed it and brought it back, they’d even give me a discount on drinks.

“Honey lemon is good for your throat and skin, so come back for more, okay?”

I promised I would, then headed off toward the lord’s mansion.

The lord’s estate was easy to spot—the inn worker said it had its own training grounds and barracks, but still… it was huge. The wall around it stretched forever. Even in all my adventuring travels, I’d never seen a domain lord’s residence this big.

At the gate, I gave my name and told them I had a scheduled appointment.

A dashing steward came out and led me to a reception room. After a while, a beautiful lady entered.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. You must be the one Madam Goodman recommended.”

“Yes. It is an honor to meet you, Countess Lampail. My name is Nicholas. I have come to open a shop here in Lampail.”

“Oh? Please, just be yourself.”

“Eh!?”

“Madam Goodman already told me about you… Nikki?”

“!! I… will someone like me truly be accepted here?”

“Of course. As long as you don’t cause trouble in Lampail, anyone is welcome. But… isn’t hiding your individuality right now a bit of a waste? Especially in fashion—if you don’t make use of your individuality, then what’s the point?”

“But… this isn’t the royal capital, it’s…”

“You’re afraid of being looked at strangely in the countryside? That bothers you? … If your individuality is something you’d hide over something like that, then throw it away altogether! So what if people talk? Is it really such a bad thing? You’re just lacking confidence, aren’t you? Am I wrong?”

“… No. You’re absolutely right. Thank you. I feel like a weight’s been lifted off my chest.”

What do you think about this chapter?