Chapter 16 - Volume 1 (1/2)

After seeing off Axel leaving Sagittarius’ store, Marion sat in her chair and leaned against its back.

「…Now, how many hours will it take for Axel-san to reach his destination?」

「I don’t know. Axel-san seems to be a fast learner but this city is quite convoluted…」

「Right.」

In the City of Stars, the ground is sloped and there can be quite intense differences in elevation.

Since there are so many hills, just going to the outskirts of the city can rob one of all their energy.

「There is also that troublesome inner wall.」

Marion turned her eyes towards the window and her gaze had fallen to the wall that was several levels higher than any of the surrounding houses.

The inner wall of the City of Stars.

Built to divide the center of the city, it separates the town in districts.

Naturally, it had roads and gates down there for regular people to pass through.

Consequently, it tends to get crowded. And that wall is not the only one, although, of different heights, a lot of similar walls are set throughout the city.

Pretty big crowds form at every single one, so in order to reach the outskirts of the city one will have to do one’s best and get through them.

And above all, one will have to cross the cliffs at the outskirts.

A skilled transportation worker, who knows the way, will follow flat paths as much as possible, and by traveling while avoiding crowds and lines will be able to easily make it in under one hour.

However, if a person, who does not know the way, goes there, the time will double, and it will not be strange even if it multiplied several times more.

The request had it stated that goods must be delivered during the morning, so the time is quite limited.

「But that scheduled time is only an approximation? It’s not a《requirement》, so it’s okay if he is a bit late?」

「Well, that. Suddenly handing a request with a time limit on it is not how you treat beginners.」

The request we received this time had a scheduled time stated. However, that time is just a suggestion, not a time limit.

In most cases there is a precaution『if it’s possible』added there, and the customer most likely set the short time limit fully prepared that it won’t be upheld.

If you arrive at the scheduled time, the reward will be better, but it’s not absolute. If it’s a special request that has《adhere to schedule》stated, then it is necessary to do so, but this one is not one of that sort.

…He may be strong enough to defeat a bandit, but this is a different story…

And that’s why this time, I selected nothing but requests for beginners for Axel, where it won’t be a problem even if one were to be late.

For today’s activities, it’s fine if he will just figure out the structure of this city and develop the easy-to-move routes for himself.

And that is why I added the map of backstreets. Given enough time he will figure out shortcuts.

「Well, but Kaufmann-san was saying that he is amazing, so maybe he just might make it in one hour. 」

「Y-yes. Axel-kun appeared to have a really well-trained body. He might do it.」

「Well, for now, let’s do out work until we receive results.」

Anyhow, there is an hour, so I look over the requests at the desk, considering, what can be done in that time, then—

「I’m back.」

「Ara?」

Axel and Berzelia who just left opened the door and came back.

Axel doesn’t have a single drop of sweat on him, but Berzelia is drenched in it. Since they came back in such a rush—

「Welcome back. Did you forget anything?」

Did they forget something at the store and came back to get it? Or maybe, they wanted an even more detailed map, were my thoughts when I asked a question.

But Axel’s answer was neither of those.

「No, we have finished. The delivery. Here is the receipt.」

「…Yes?」

Axel has brought the receipt containing the laboratory’s signature.

But Marion couldn’t really grasp what he was saying.

「Ah……Receipt?」

「That’s right. Ah, sorry. Is it Kohaku who does the office work? Then, here, Kohaku-san, the receipt.」

Axel moved his gaze from Marion to Kohaku and extended a hand with the paper to her.

However, she also was frozen—

「Eh… E-Ehm, Berzelia-chan?　Axel-kun?　What happened to the goods?」

「We delivered them. Keeping up with Master was pretty hard though, so I’m totally beat…」