Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 187

 "Sera... can't you focus on just one thing?"

Celia's voice had a hint of exasperation in it.

I feel like I'm getting used to hearing that recently, but I want to believe it's just my imagination...

"This is the most efficient way for me."

What I'm doing right now is reading a book while doing a full split on a mat laid out in the room, with my upper body bent sideways.

Two days after I went to Rob's shop, he delivered the product with the snake pattern to the mansion as planned.

He had made a branding iron showing a snake coiled around a ball, and he said he'd include that mark on future orders.

He's my customer, and normally, I'd receive him in one of the less prestigious rooms on the first floor, either alone or with Alex present. But Celia, having heard about him, took an interest and invited him to her room.

If he were an ordinary merchant, he would have brought additional items to try and sell something since he had the rare chance to visit the deputy's mansion. However, lacking much of a commercial spirit, he brought only the two items I bought.

Perhaps amused by this, Celia started asking about old times in the town and, getting into the spirit, offered to buy me one more item.

That said, I had already bought what I wanted. As for other items, I already had a cape so I didn't need a cloak, and gloves would be useless with the [Shadow Sword] in emergencies. I already wear enough accessories that adding leather items would look unbalanced.

I couldn't refuse in front of Celia, so after some thought, I decided to have him make something I wanted.

That something was this stretching mat.

It's 1 cm thick, 80 cm wide, and 180 cm long. Made from the hide of a monstrous bear that went on a rampage more than ten years ago, it cost eight gold coins. The craftsmanship cost was minimal; most of the cost was for the material.

Well, it was a single piece of hide without any seams...

Even in this world, bears are strong, and even non-magical ones are often compared to ogres and orcs in terms of strength. Given that it was a magical beast, it must have been exceptionally powerful.

Rob had kept the hide thinking he might use it someday, but the opportunity never arose, so it had been lying in his warehouse until now.

Although I had hesitated at the price, seeing Celia's mischievous look at that moment, she probably enjoyed watching me waver, and I think it turned out well.

In this mansion, we change into indoor slippers when we enter the hallway connected to Celia's room. Still, sitting directly on the floor felt uncomfortable and hard, so I didn't want to do it.

Thanks to this mat, I can now do the stretching I used to do only in my hideout, even here, which is great.

Of course, this mat also has the snake pattern.

"Well... alright. Take this to Riesel, please."

She handed me a rolled-up piece of paper. It was sealed, so it might be something important.

"Is it okay for me to take it?"

"Yes. Bring back a response."

Is it something that requires an immediate response... What could it be?

◇

"Hello."

"Oh, Sera. What's up?"

"I have something from the lady for the prince. She wants a reply."

I informed the guard in front of Riesel's office in the main building.

As expected, being a current prince and a deputy, there are guards everywhere, secretly watched by the Eyes of Akame.

"Got it. Wait here."

With that, he went inside. I could sense someone who seemed like a guest inside, but is it alright?

"Sera, come in."

He came out almost immediately. Seems it's okay to go in...

"Is it okay? There's a guest."

"They don't mind."

They don't mind, huh...

"It's Sera."

I knocked and announced myself, and the door was soon opened from inside. It was the maid, Rose.

I bowed to her and entered, first seeing the backs of two men, not Riesel.

Why are they standing right in front of the door?

"Ah, Sera, welcome. It's from Celia?"

Riesel's voice came from behind them, obscured by their bodies.

"Yes, here it is."

I handed the sealed letter I had brought to Carlos, squeezing past them.

The reception area at the back of the room was empty. So these two aren't guests?

"Did Celia tell you anything?"

"She said to get a reply..."

Carlos asked while opening the sealed letter. I hadn't heard anything about the contents, but what could it be?