The carriage dropped us off at the central plaza of the city.

Unlike the bustling chaos of Endes, this city felt serene and tranquil. It had an air of quiet sophistication, a stark contrast to the noisy, crowded streets of Endes.

The city itself was breathtakingly beautiful.

Buildings surrounding the plaza were clean and well-maintained, adorned with small sculptures placed strategically at corners.

The plaza’s floor was decorated with tiny, polished stones that sparkled like jewels, forming intricate patterns that extended into the main roads like works of art.

In Endes, the alleys echoed with the sound of brawls, and drunken men retched in every corner. But here, no such scenes existed. Not even at this late hour when the sun was dipping below the horizon.

By now, Endes would have turned into a lawless zone, a place where fists flew freely in every direction.

But here, not even a stray beggar lingered in the shadows.

It felt more like a retreat for the wealthy—a sanctuary for the privileged.

Tatiana, turning her head in all directions to take in the scenery, whispered softly.

“This place feels... tense, somehow.”

“I know what you mean.”

“Even if we spoke out loud, I feel like everyone in the plaza would hear us.”

Our voices, unconsciously, dropped to half their usual volume.

Most people would relax in a place as pristine and peaceful as this. But for Tatiana and me, it was the opposite.

It felt as though we didn’t belong here—as if we had wandered into the wrong place entirely.

“Pii-pii!”

Suddenly, Rella flapped her wings above my head.

She seemed to like this city.

The still air of the city stirred faintly at that moment, as if acknowledging her presence.

Tatiana let out a small laugh, her tension easing slightly.

“Rella is always the same. One day, she’ll grow up to be someone important.”

I doubted that. Rella wasn’t brave or insightful—just utterly clueless.

There was a brief moment when I thought she might be courageous, but now I knew better.

She wasn’t bold; she was simply dense.

Not just figuratively but literally—a creature of pure stubbornness, both physically and mentally.

It was fortunate she was a bird. If she were human, she would’ve had a hard life.

Rella, it’s truly a blessing you were born a bird.

I didn’t say that out loud, but perhaps some instinct of hers picked up on my thoughts.

She pecked at my head with her beak, making her irritation known.

“Ow!”

I needed to teach her that pecking a person’s head like that could be deadly.

Now that my motion sickness had fully subsided, it was time to head to the client’s residence.

What was the name of the merchant guild again?

I rummaged through my belongings and pulled out a map that Jenny had copied for me.

The name of the city and the guild was written at the top.

As Tatiana and I examined the map, a voice interrupted us.

“Excuse me, are you adventurers from the Endes Guild?”

We turned to see a neatly dressed man standing nearby.

When our eyes met, he smiled politely.

“I’m the branch manager of the Lil Merchant Guild in this city. I noticed you stepping out of the carriage earlier. Our branch is located just across the plaza.”

He gestured toward a building across the square.

The building he indicated looked luxurious and refined.

It didn’t seem like a place for selling general goods or weapons. To me, it resembled an upscale restaurant or a café.

Judging by their request for a phoenix feather, it was clear they catered to the elite.

“Should we deliver the item to that shop?” I asked, using the formal language of the kingdom.

The branch manager’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by my speech.

Ah, that reaction. It was familiar.

Back in Endes, people had similar responses when I used the royal dialect—surprised first, then astonished if I spoke the common tongue, and utterly shocked when they discovered I could write. Conversations always began with amazement before they descended into confusion or disbelief.

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“A little nostalgic, in its own way.”

The branch manager, accustomed to dealing with people, quickly recovered and resumed his professional demeanor.

“No, the item will not be handed over at the shop. The client has requested to receive it at a separate location. We are merely acting as intermediaries, and even we don’t know the identity of the client. Our role is limited to providing the venue.”

How peculiar.

Perhaps the client wanted to avoid revealing their identity—likely someone of high status dealing with sensitive circumstances.

The branch manager glanced at Tatiana and me briefly before bowing slightly.

“From what I’ve gathered about the request process, the client seems to be someone of considerable importance. It might be wise to prepare yourselves for the meeting. If it’s not an imposition, may we assist you with freshening up after your travels?”

“….”

“We do not intend to offend or impose unfamiliar attire on you. Our goal is simply to help remove the dust and wear of the journey. Would that be acceptable?”

That offer sounded reasonable, and I nodded in agreement.

“We would appreciate that. Thank you.”

The branch manager visibly relaxed at my response, letting out a small breath of relief. Though he hadn’t shown it, my rugged appearance seemed to have unsettled him.

“This way, please.”

As he gestured gracefully, I turned to see a luxurious carriage waiting nearby.

Not another carriage, I thought, my face paling slightly.

The branch manager chuckled softly, noticing my hesitation.

“Don’t worry. Unlike the bumpy public carriage you arrived in, this one offers a smooth ride. It won’t be long before we arrive at our estate.”

Despite lingering memories of my awful motion sickness, I climbed into the carriage, reassured by his words.

As we rode, I looked up and spotted a large brown bird circling high in the sky above us.

It had been flying tirelessly since dawn, keeping pace with our journey.

Both Rella and her mother are as strong as ever.

The estate the branch manager guided us to was enormous.

The path leading from the gate to the mansion was lined with trees and statues whose purposes I couldn’t guess.

As promised, the carriage ride was smooth, and I didn’t feel the slightest hint of motion sickness.

If all carriages were like this, I could ride them every day.

Tatiana peered out of the window in wonder, prompting a soft chuckle from the branch manager.

“This city is known for its beauty, including its small lake. Being close to the capital, it serves as a retreat for many high-ranking nobles. The city itself is designed with their needs in mind.”

“That mansion… it’s incredible,” Tatiana said, her voice tinged with awe.

The branch manager bowed slightly. “Thank you.”

When the carriage stopped, a servant opened the door and placed a small wooden step at the entrance.

Not an attached step, but one carried by hand—how extravagant.

The branch manager alighted first, followed by me. Tatiana hesitated when the branch manager offered his hand to assist her.

For a moment, she froze. Then, as though pretending not to notice his gesture, she stepped down on her own.

The sight made me laugh unintentionally. Covering my mouth to hide my amusement, I noticed Tatiana’s crestfallen expression as she looked up at me.

She seemed hurt by my reaction.

“I’m sorry,” I said silently. But your reaction was genuinely amusing.

The branch manager apologized as well, but the moment had already passed.

Tatiana followed me into the mansion, looking subdued.

The mansion was vast but strangely quiet, as though almost uninhabited.

“Usually, there are more servants present,” the branch manager explained. “However, the client requested a discreet meeting, so we’ve reduced the staff to a minimum.”

After showing us to a large, elegant room, the branch manager excused himself and left.

Tatiana and I were taken to separate areas to bathe, and the staff cleaned and refreshed our clothing during this time.

When I returned, my clothes were spotless, free of both dust and odor.

As adventurers, we rarely had more than one set of clothing, so this attention to detail was greatly appreciated.

Since Tatiana was still bathing, I followed a servant back to the room. The servant appeared older than the others, likely a steward or someone in charge.

Opening a door to the garden, the steward bowed slightly.

“There is a garden just beyond here. Though it’s a bit cold, winter flowers are in bloom. Guests often enjoy visiting them. Please, feel free to explore.”

While grateful for his suggestion, I wasn’t particularly interested in flowers or trees.

Instead, I noticed a beautifully set table laden with an assortment of food—cakes that resembled those on Earth, candied fruits, and skewers coated in what appeared to be hardened sugar syrup.

Curious, I sampled a bit of the drink in a silver pitcher. It was a fruity wine.

“Do nobles eat like this every day?” I thought wistfully.

It wasn’t the grandeur of the mansion or the privileges of nobility that I envied, but the food. Such delicacies were hard to come by.

Feeling nostalgic for Earth, I decided to indulge a little before Tatiana returned.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something in the garden—a phoenix perched on a tree.

Strangely, it wasn’t looking at me but at the tree itself.

“What is it doing?”

As I watched, it suddenly pecked at the tree.

“Hey!” I shouted as a branch broke under its beak.

Jumping to my feet, I rushed outside.

The trees in this garden weren’t ordinary—they had been carefully cultivated, likely for decades.

The flowers blooming here in winter were probably rare, planted for the enjoyment of the nobles.

But the phoenix had already taken a flower in its beak—a vibrant bloom that reminded me of camellias from Earth.

With a crunch, the flower disappeared into the phoenix’s mouth.

“You little rascal! That’s not food!”

Before it could devour another flower, I grabbed its neck.

The phoenix let out a strange cry, perhaps from being held too tightly, but I couldn’t afford to let it escape.

As I restrained the creature, a sudden charge of energy filled the air.

The atmosphere crackled, and my skin prickled with static.

A shiver ran down my spine.

“What is this?”

Beyond the garden, past the trees, something—or someone—was approaching.

A man emerged, dressed in a long, flowing coat and a deep black hood that obscured his face.

Though his features were hidden, his posture and the faint lines of his mouth suggested he was older.

As he walked, the hem of his coat swirled unnaturally, as if caught in invisible winds.

With every step, dust lifted from the ground, forming tiny whirlwinds around him.

“Wind magic...”

Realizing the magnitude of the presence before me, I released the phoenix and began gathering wind energy around myself in preparation.