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The sun had already dropped beyond the horizon. Looking up at the sky, a thin veil of purple flowed over the jet black, and the stars that sat there shone brilliantly. Meteors drifted by, one by one, leaving their tails behind.

Seletina put her cap back on deeply, shrugging in the spring chill.

The night was gently silent. It was as if there was an extension of the peace itself, a nothingness of everyday life there, and Seletina, knowing the hell outside, was caught in a slightly strange sensation.

The Ulbdor she had seen during the day was in a state of decadence, order and ethics had collapsed.

However, only the one area that hosted the city’s main institutions and dignitaries, centering on the noble guesthouse that had been transformed into the operation headquarters, maintained a calm and quiet atmosphere.

This was because the city mayor, Elvaro, had completely sealed off that area only, ensuring the safety of the dignitaries.

“Elva’s Floating Ship…”

Seletina sifted through her memory as she uttered the name of the luxurious inn. It was the inn where Imitia and her companions were staying. Seletina had first heard the inn’s name from Remilia, the traveling merchant’s capable employee.

Seletina walked down the cobblestone street, dragging her exhausted body. She was thankful that even at times like this, the streetlights that dutifully stood tall in dots were still functioning.

Soon after, the inn in question came into view.

Elva’s Floating Ship… The long, elongated inn, literally designed in a somewhat ship-like manner, was grand and graceful. Two fearless-looking men in formal attire stood by the only entrance door.

Apparently, uninvited guests were not allowed through.

(They sure are quite strict given the circumstances.)

Seletina let out a small sigh but did not stop walking. After all, Remilia had told her that she could count on her if she needed anything. As such, Seletina was sure that she wasn’t going to be turned away at the door.

Seletina reverently took off her cap as she stepped in front of the men.

“I apologize for bothering you this late. I was told that Imitia Belbed is staying here.”
“We cannot answer questions about visitors and their stay. If you have business here, please show us your invitation.”
“Invitation…”

Seletina was at a loss for words.

She had not received such a thing. However, if she revealed that to the stiff-looking men before her, she would undoubtedly be turned away without explanation.

(What should I do…)

As Seletina scratched her cheek, the two men began to whisper something to each other. They were clearly exchanging ideas on what to do.

“Can we ask your name?”
“Of course. It’s Se… It’s Tieck.”
“Sir Tieck, correct?”

The two men nodded to each other and opened the way to the door.

“Lady Remilia told us that you’d be visiting. Please, come on in.”

◇ Elva’s Floating Ship ◇

In the ground floor of Ulbdor’s most luxurious hotel lay a spacious and elegant lounge, a marvel that could leave even noblemen in awe.

The area exuded a sense of sophistication, compelling visitors to present themselves with decorum. Yet, its chic color scheme and ambiance were soothing, designed not to overwhelm the weary hearts of its guests. This elegant but calming consideration resonated with Seletina’s preference for cozy elegance, particularly after the glitz and glamor of the guesthouse.

“Still, this is…”

Seletina hurriedly held back her cap, which was about to slip off.

The elegant lounge was filled with a bustle that felt off. There was a round table with a number of chairs surrounding it and on top a myriad of different alcoholic beverages.

The empty bottles of both cheap and expensive liquors were strewn about, and the platters of food that would have been served on top had been cleaned of food. A large number of coarse men and women were hosting an ungraceful dinner party there.

The party’s members consisted of demi-humans, small human beings that looked just like children. Regardless of their race, all of the participants were drinking. These were the Belbed Caravan’s members.

The roughnecks, who would much rather be outside around a campfire than in such an elegant setting, forgot to sleep and washed away the day’s fatigue with alcohol. Looking at the scene before her, Seletina couldn’t help but show a wry smile.

“Hey, hey! Aren’t you Sir Tieck?”

Before she knew it, a trio of women approached her. All of these women seemed to be quite drunk, and their faces were bright red. Seletina hurriedly straightened her appearance and removed her hat.

“I apologize for being late. I am indeed Tieck. I apologize for barging in so late. If it’s fine would I be able to meet Belbed Caravan’s–”

Seletina began to say, however the three women did not wait for her to finish, and exclaimed.

“We knew it!” They cheered.

After all, the girls were so pleased with each other that they were willing to show their joy in each other’s faces.

“Um… W-What is going on?”

Things suddenly began to unfold before Seletina could even say anything. The women’s cheers were heard by the other members, who started coming up to see what was going on.

“What’s up, what’s up… Whoa! What a beauty!”
“You fool! This is Sir Tieck! He’s a man!”
“Tieck… You mean the adventurer that helped the boss and Woodback?”
“He really is beautiful…”
“I can’t believe he’s a human like us. I can see why they’d call him an angel.”
“Still, he’s quite young.”
“You’re right. He looks just like me when I was younger.”
“I guess you really do grow senile with age, old man!”

It only took a moment for a crowd to form around Seletina. It seemed that the adventurer named Tieck was originally the hottest topic of conversation among the traveling merchants.

The women were all giving Seletina glances, while the men were giving her judging looks. Some were even not amused by the fact that Seletina was the center of all the women’s attention.

The short Seletina was buried in the crowd of people in no time at all. Just as she was beginning to wonder what was going on, a voice echoed…

“What’s all this fuss about?!”

The familiar, dignified voice cut through the hustle and bustle. When Seletina turned around she saw Remilia, the Belbed Caravan’s treasurer, walking up to her.

The moment Remilia saw Seletina, a look of surprise appeared on her face.

“Sir Tieck!” She exclaimed.

As Remilia cleared her throat, the flock of people split in two, opening a way for her.