Abyssal Sovereignty

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Chapter 14: Fluffy Desserts

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Perhaps owing to Pupu’s influence, the previously awkward atmosphere had considerably eased, and dinner soon came to an end.

“So, where did you all go today?”

Having spent the day at the inn after completing their commission, Marlyno was curious about what the others who had gone out had been up to.

“Just the usual shopping. I picked up a new outfit.”

“We were just browsing, really. Didn’t buy much,” another chimed in.

“Um… we went to eat and then ran into some human traffickers.”

“What!?”

At Veridith’s revelation about their encounter, both Marlyno and Sisi, not to mention the innkeeper at the counter, gasped in shock.

As for Mira, she had just fallen asleep and was now groggily waking, still caught between dreams and reality.

“Are you alright!?”

“Hm? Oh, I’m fine! I’m quite strong, you know, and my sister helped too.”

“Ah… that’s a relief…”

“They seemed to be wanted criminals or something.”

“Wanted!?”

The relaxation that had washed over the group evaporated once more, rousing Mira completely from her stupor.

“Yeah, I think the bounty was several hundred silver coins.”

“...How much?”

“Several hundred.”

“...Did you lot just poke the hornet’s nest?”

A bounty of several hundred silver coins was no trifling matter; it was the kind of risk that could only be undertaken for the highest-ranked commissions, requiring the completion of nearly ten to earn such a sum.

“Ugh… Veridith, adopt me…”

Awakened by the commotion, Mira wriggled her way over to Veridith and clung to her.

With both their hair long and fluffy, the two looked like a pair of mismatched fluffy balls—one blue and one green—snuggled together.

Though the scene was utterly charming, Marlyno couldn’t help but pull Mira away.

“Alright, Mira, don’t embarrass the others. Besides, we’re close to leveling up ourselves.”

“Are you lot really that close to leveling up?”

“Ah, yes.”

In truth, the three of them had lingered at fifth-tier for quite some time. Given their recent experiences, they felt they were on the cusp of advancing to six-tier, elevating them to the status of higher-tier adventurers. The rewards for a six-tier commission were at least two to three times what they currently earned.

“In that case, let’s focus on some lower-ranked commissions tomorrow, aiming to unlock higher-tier ones as soon as possible.”

“Ah, alright, thank you.”

...

Soon enough, the following day arrived. Thanks to the presence of people like Farkonia and Marlyno, who maintained a very regular routine, everyone was roused from their slumber before long.

As a side note, Aris had hardly slept; at most, she merely rested her eyes. As she put it, even when she did manage to doze off, her sleep was far from deep. Thus, she had decided to forgo sleep altogether. Veridith, sharing a room with her, was also roused by her gentle nudges.

“What commissions should we take?”

“With nine of us now, we should be able to handle several commissions simultaneously.”

Marlyno remarked, pulling a few commission sheets from the board.

“Let’s see, ‘Clear the Mice from the Warehouse,’ ‘Find a Lost Puppy’… all rather mundane tasks.”

“There’s not much we can do; newly initiated adventurers often start with such menial tasks. After all, one can’t expect those who haven’t even fought animals to tackle monsters. This is also to help adventurers get accustomed to how the Adventurers’ Guild operates.”

“Mm, I understand. But what’s this last one, ‘Help as a Temporary Shop Assistant’?”

Farkonia pointed at the commission sheet at the bottom of the stack, which clearly didn’t seem like a typical task for adventurers.

“Erm… that is a bit strange.”

“If I may explain…”

“Wah!”

The receptionist suddenly appeared, startling Marlyno.

“The requester for this commission is ‘Fluffy Desserts.’ They’re short-staffed at the moment and need someone to assist temporarily, as they don’t have time to recruit new employees.”

“Wait, ‘Fluffy Desserts’? Is that the one everyone’s been talking about…?”

“Exactly.”

At this revelation, Marlyno’s expression shifted dramatically.

“This commission is definitely a go. Let’s accept it.”

“?”

Farkonia was left perplexed by Marlyno’s sudden enthusiasm.

“What’s ‘Fluffy Desserts’ exactly?”

“Mm? You don’t know? ‘Fluffy Desserts’ is a very famous confectionery shop; it’s said that one must make a reservation just to get a taste.”

“Ah, are you talking about ‘Fluffy Desserts’?”

Just then, Elyssa approached them.

“I’ve had some before. It’s quite renowned back in my home; nearly everyone makes an effort to try it at least once.”

“Is that so…”

Even Elyssa, a vampire whose kin rarely sought out anything but blood, had been tempted to visit. That was a testament to just how delightful the shop’s desserts were.

“Since that’s the case, let’s quickly finish our other commissions and rush to the shop before it opens.”

“Right.”

...

To expedite the completion of their remaining commissions, the group split up, tackling their assigned tasks concurrently.

Ultimately, they succeeded in wrapping up their commissions by the afternoon and reconvened in front of the ‘Fluffy Desserts’ shop.

“Are you all tired?”

“We’re not too bad, but she…”

Everyone turned to Mira, who was now struggling to stay awake, her eyelids drooping dangerously.

“...What’s wrong? I want to eat desserts too.”

After a brief explanation, it seemed that anyone working at the shop, whether temporarily or permanently, was entitled to a free dessert as a bonus.

“Hmm… Given the shop’s popularity, you’d think there would be a line of people eager to come and help for a free dessert. Why is that not happening?”

“That’s something we don’t know either; perhaps there are hidden requirements?”

That speculation was correct because…

“You’re the adventurers here to help! Finally, suitable candidates have arrived!”

A lady in an apron emerged, scrutinizing the group. Her gaze felt a touch… too intimate.

“Um…”

“Ah, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Maya, the manager of ‘Fluffy Desserts.’”

She had flowing golden hair and exuded an air of elegance. However, the most striking feature was the long ears peeking out from her golden locks, clearly marking her as an elf.

“I’ve had this commission up for a while, but I haven’t found any suitable candidates until you lot showed up!”

Maya’s gaze swept over the group, lingering noticeably longer on Veridith, Mira, Misako, and Elyssa.

As a member of the demon race and a strong individual, Misako sensed something was amiss.

This elf, she must be ‘that kind’ of person.

‘No wonder she said she couldn’t find suitable help!’

But it was too late to back out now; they had already accepted the commission.

“Now, please come inside. I’ve prepared uniforms for you all~”