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Receptionists Don’t Fight, Only Negotiate – Part 01

The carriage station in G. Ponsonia, the capital city of the Kingdom of Ponsonia, was massive, with carriages bound for various parts of the country parked in different sections. Destinations were written on signboards hanging from towering posts.

This was their designated meeting spot. But who Hikaru found there wasn’t what he had expected.

“Lord Hikaru! I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Wait. It’s just you?”

Hikaru had expected Lavia to be here, but it was only Paula waiting for him and Freya.

“Yes. Lavia said she’s having fun studying.”

“Oh, I see.”

Lavia, who spent entire days holed up at the hotel reading books, was now armed with Language Comprehension and Language Output. She must be really enjoying learning Japanese.

Well, it’s not like we’re tasked with clearing the dungeon or killing giant monsters, Hikaru thought. We should be okay even without Lavia’s magic. And if there’s any danger, we can always escape with Group Cloaking.

By the time we return, she’ll likely be able to speak Japanese reasonably well.

“Um, is it just us?” Freya asked, bewildered. She wore a thin coat provided by the guild over her receptionist’s uniform.

She recognized the significance of killing a Hell Tarantula, and she knew that Hikaru and Paula had accomplished the feat together. Still, she expected there to be more people escorting her.

“What are the chances of monsters stronger than Hell Tarantulas appearing?” Hikaru asked.

Freya pondered his question for a moment. “Very close to zero.”

“There you have it. There shouldn’t be any problem.”

“I-I see what you mean.”

“If we run into any problems—” Paula stopped mid-sentence.

“Hmm? If we run into any problems?”

“I-It’s nothing!”

Paula clenched both hands eagerly, to Hikaru’s confusion.

“I’m staying behind in the city, but I have one favor to ask.”

Lavia had actually asked Paula for a favor.

“Make sure no other girls get close to Hikaru.”

“What?”

“Hikaru unwittingly attracts others. If more girls gather around him, it’ll be very tough for me!”

“G-Got it!”

Neither Freya nor Hikaru knew about this exchange.

“I’ll do my best!” Paula said.

“O-Okay?” Hikaru was a little weirded out. “All right. Let’s go.”

Setting their sights on the Vireocean border, the three departed from the capital.

---

It took a full eight days to reach the town near the Vireocean border. The dungeon had reportedly appeared on the serene shores of Lake Tseng Ti, nestled in the mountains north of the town.

“There’s really nothing to do.”

Upon arriving in the border town in the evening after an eight-day journey, Hikaru let out a big yawn. Not one problem arose during the whole trip.

Though he spent whole days just rocking inside the carriage, Hikaru still maintained vigilance, and thanks to his maxed-out Mana Detection, he could detect anomalies quicker than anyone else, allowing them to promptly avoid monsters. The most dangerous thing was succumbing to boredom and nodding off.

“Let’s rest today and head to the mountains tomorrow,” Hikaru said.

“Okay. Freya, are you heading to the Adventurers Guild?” Paula asked.

“No. There’s no guild here, so I’ll just rest at the inn.”

Hikaru’s group strolled through the town. Due to its proximity to the maritime nation of Vireocean, many establishments here specialized in seafood. Restaurants, inns, and street stalls offered a variety of dried goods.

I should grab some local specialty on the way back, Hikaru thought. This is my first time seeing dried squid in this world.

It was already late November, and the season brought in chilly days. Dried goods would likely last a long time.

The townscape, unlike various places in Ponsonia, featured mostly white walls that now took on a crimson hue. The blue roofs appeared somewhat darker under the evening sun. All of it contributed to the exotic atmosphere.

While the generous spacing between buildings hinted at a rural nature, the town still bustled with activity, owing to the frequent border crossings.

“Ah, here’s the inn.”

Freya pointed to a notably large building. The sign read “Door of the Sea Breeze,” and it seemed connected to the adjacent tavern, where sounds of animated conversations came.

The inn was affiliated with the Adventurers Guild, so they were led to pre-booked rooms. Two double rooms, to be specific. Hikaru occupied one alone, while Freya and Paula shared a room, just as they had for the past eight days.

Somewhere along the way, Freya and Paula had become friends—perhaps their similar ages played a role. They had been having fun without Hikaru’s knowledge.

“Phew… Refreshing.”

After washing his face and wiping his body with hot water, Hikaru felt revitalized. Using a bath was a luxury reserved for the wealthy, and he recalled that the Four Eastern Stars’ apartment had a reservation-based bath.

I’m definitely using it when I get back, he decided. Wait, didn’t I plan to take a break after all the mess was settled? Why did I take this commission?

He lamented his inclination to voluntarily seek hardship.

I know. If I switch places with Serika and go to Japan one of these days, we’ll go to a hot spring. I’m sure Lavia would love it, too.

Hikaru then joined Paula and Freya in the inn’s lobby.

“You both look refreshed.”

Freya was still in her guild uniform, but had otherwise cleaned herself up. Paula had lightened her load after leaving all her belongings in their room.

“I’m hungry,” Freya said.

“Lord Hikaru, I asked the staff, and they said the food at the adjacent tavern is really good. They’re famous for their seafood dishes.”

“Sounds good. I want to eat some sea fish. I haven’t had one in a long time.”

The trio headed to the tavern. The spacious floor was filled with tables that could seat a total of around fifty people. A diverse mix of people savored their meals—adventurers, merchants, clergy like Paula. Either they had crossed the border or were just about to.

Outside was pitch dark now, and chilly drafts blew in, but the tavern was warm. Momentarily overwhelmed by the heat and noise, Hikaru’s group secured a table and ordered their meals.

A huge simmered fish and an abundance of shellfish were served on large platters, complemented by generous servings of a reddish-brown soup.

Hikaru scooped some up with a spoon and took a sip. He closed his eyes with a shiver.

Wow, this soup is rich. It’s like bouillabaisse, but… even more wild and spicy.

It was delightful. Hikaru’s body reveled in the first sea’s flavor he had had in a while. The Kingdom of Ponsonia, his usual abode, lay inland, so dishes used freshwater fish. Moreover, he had been flying around recently that meals had become less of a concern.

As he lifted his face, feeling the fatigue of the journey dissipate, he saw a woman before him.

“Ahaha. You eat like a food enthusiast despite being a child.”

“Uh…”

She seemed to be the owner, the same person who brought the dish earlier. Though likely over thirty, she moved around briskly, wearing a dress with a generously open neckline and an apron.

“I’m not really…” Hikaru muttered. “Actually, I haven’t had seafood this delicious in a long time.”

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear that. Where did you come from?”

“The capital.”

“Oh, inland. Then you probably don’t have sea fish. Eat your fill before you leave.”

“I will. Thank you.”

The woman stared hard at Hikaru, and he shot her back a quizzical look.

“Sigh… Work would be a bit easier if the adventurers staying here had even a shred of your manners.”

Hikaru laughed dryly. Running a business targeting adventurers apparently had its challenges.

Once the woman left, Hikaru heard Freya and Paula enjoying their meals.

“It’s so good!”

“Indeed. The world is so vast.”

Despite the troubles, I’m glad we came to this town. The beach on Southleaf Island was nice, but the cuisine there was more tropical. Here, the flavors are more intricate. Traveling really broadens your horizons.

“Madam! Please clear a table for the Scorching Goblet.”

A tall man with short-cropped red hair, unmistakably an adventurer, entered the tavern.

The woman from earlier approached him with a sigh. “What was that, sir?”

“Scorching Goblet. Don’t you know us?”

“I don’t. Did you come to sell cups?”

“What?!” The man looked irritated.

One of the nearby merchants stood up. “Madam, Scorching Goblet is a Rank A party. We’re leaving, so feel free to use our table.”

“What? Sir, wait!”

Leaving the money on the table, they hastily exited with their companions. Hearing that, other merchants also left, leaving about half of the seats empty.

“…”

“This should be enough for the main members.”

While the proprietress was flabbergasted, the man appeared satisfied.

“You can’t just do that!” the woman snapped. “I don’t care if you’re Rank A or whatever; we’re running a business here!”

“We’ll pay. I don’t see a problem with it.”

“Business doesn’t work that way.”

Hearing them argue, Hikaru rose. Just then, Freya tugged at his sleeve.

“I’ll take care of this,” she said.