SWNOVELXO Chapter 131 - Divine Cat Mii-chan Accepts the Grand Duke's Request
131 Divine Cat Mii-chan Accepts the Grand Duke’s Request
Now that the delivery to the relay point is finished, what should we do next? Return to the royal capital or head to Hildenburg?
“I want to eat fish, mii!”
“Mii!”
“Rawr!”
Fish, huh? In that case, we should go to Wilhelm. Does that sound good, Mii-chan?
“Mii!”
Alright, let’s head to Wilhelm and buy a lot of fish!
After bidding farewell to Mr. Martin, I left the relay point and set off with Sumire. I hope Sumire can keep up until we reach the town of Nixe.
We arrived at Nixe’s gate just as the sun was setting, and by the next evening, we reached Wilhelm.
Upon arriving at the gate, for some reason, the guards stopped us and led us to the guard station. Did we do something wrong?
“What’s going on? I’m so hungry, mii!”
“Mii.”
“Rawr.”
As we waited, cuddling with Mii-chan, the butler we met at the Grand Duke’s place entered the room.
“Lord Nero, Lady Mii, I deeply apologize for any inconvenience. Although I strictly ordered the guards to treat you with the utmost respect, it seems the message did not reach everyone. The fault lies entirely with me. Once again, I sincerely apologize.”
“Mii.”
Mii-chan, with a smile, reassures the butler not to worry about it. Mii-chan, you’re such a good girl.
“Well, that’s fine, but did we do something wrong?”
“No, nothing at all. His Majesty simply instructed us to escort you to him.”
“How did you know we were coming?”
“We received a report from the Dragon Knight Squadron on Brocken Mountain that Lord Nero was heading this way. Additionally, the patrol team reported that a Battle Horse was approaching the capital city at an incredible speed.”
Ah, I remember seeing the flying dragons overhead. They must have reported it. From their perspective, it wouldn’t be surprising if they mistook us for emergency messengers.
“So, what should we do now?”
“We’ve prepared the same lodging as last time, so please feel free to stay there. You may visit His Majesty tomorrow.”
Oh, we get to stay at that inn again? How lucky!
Not wanting to send the butler back empty-handed, I gave him a barrel of distilled liquor and asked him to deliver it to the Grand Duke, along with a note saying we would visit tomorrow.
When we arrived at the inn, the staff was lined up at the entrance to welcome us. I feel like a VIP.
“Mii.”
Mii-chan seems to be enjoying the attention, and Sumire is nuzzling the stable hand, remembering the good care she received before. Rest well, Sumire.
Even though we have no luggage, the manager and two maids guided us to our room. Since it would take some time to prepare the meal due to our sudden arrival, we decided to take a bath first.
The maids were the same as last time, efficiently washing everyone. And now, they’re trying to wash me too… No, I can wash myself, thank you!
“Mii.”
“The princess is right. It feels nice to be washed, mii.”
Quiet! This is a sacred place that must be protected. I will defend it at all costs!
The maids finally gave up, but can you please stop with the “tsk” sounds?
Perro once said that hunger is the best seasoning, and it’s true—the food tastes even better. The main dish was fish, but the variety of flavors kept it from getting boring. The chef’s skills were truly impressive, with sweet and sour flavors alternating and fruit sauces adding a unique touch.
“So yummy, mii!”
“Mii!”
“Rawr!”
Watching our bottomless pit of a team eat is both satisfying and a bit nauseating…
“Mii…”
I wonder if their bottomless stomachs are comparable to Mii-chan’s divine bag. By the time they finished dessert, the clock struck ten… I’m so sorry for any inconvenience we’ve caused.
“Mii…”
The next morning, we had a peaceful breakfast and left the inn. I wonder if they’ve already digested all of yesterday’s food. The infinite stomachs are terrifying.
From the port to the royal palace, there’s a wide main road bustling with people and horse-drawn carts, a sign of the city’s stability and vibrancy.
At the palace gate, I gave my name, and the butler immediately came to escort us to the Grand Duke’s office.
We sat on the sofa, sipping tea while waiting for the Grand Duke. Perro, Sera, and Lu-kun were being pampered by the maids. Well, I have Mii-chan with me, so I’m fine.
“Mii.”
As I was cuddling Mii-chan, the Grand Duke entered the room.
“Nero, thank you for coming. I’m sorry for imposing on you.”
“No, please don’t worry about it. Although, I must admit I’m a bit puzzled…”
“Wahaha! Don’t worry, I have no intention of biting your head off. I heard from Elena that you delivered supplies to the relay point, so I thought I’d make an official request.”
The butler handed me some documents.
The request was addressed to the Divine Cat Trading Company, asking us to purchase and deliver supplies to the relay point. The contract was set for renewal every two years, with deliveries every two months.
The contract payment seemed high at 420 gold coins per year, but that’s because it relies on Mii-chan and Sumire. If either of them couldn’t make the journey, we’d have to hire a caravan, hunters for protection, and arrange for lodging and meals along the way. Plus, the return trip would be inefficient with an empty load. When broken down into six deliveries a year, it amounts to 7 million ret, not including the cost of purchasing supplies, so it would be a high-risk, low-reward venture without Mii-chan and Sumire.
Hmm, what do you think, boss?
“Mii!”
The boss seems eager. If we combine this with our trade with Mr. Pat, we should be fine. If things go south, we’ll just have to accept the losses and send out a caravan. But this is a great opportunity for the Divine Cat Trading Company. Having a deal with the Grand Duchy of Hildenburg will be a valuable asset. It’s a case of losing a little to gain a lot. Of course, I have no intention of losing anything.
“Mii!”