Another world, Celeste

Chapter 38

"Excuse me for interrupting your meal."

I turn my head and greet the person interrupting my meal with familiarity. "Oh, it's Hovel. Are you here to eat too?"

"Frankly, I'm here to talk with you. Are you here alone?" Hovel asks while glancing around.

"It's just me and Archie."

On my lap, Archie is eating a grape the size of a golf ball.

"I see, may I join you then?"

"Sure, I don't mind."

After getting my permission, Hovel sits opposite me on the table and gets straight to the point. "Chief has left due to an unavoidable circumstance and he has asked me to handle your reward for the forest investigation."

Rather than asking about what the unavoidable circumstance is, I'm more interested in the reward part. Chief's method of teaching is by giving his apprentice a reward that reflects the result of the finished assignment. The reward can be a small-sized mana stone or a type of metal ore that weighs equal value to the numerical score of the finished assignment. Therefore, if the result is unsatisfactory, the metal ore can be the size of a pebble. The heaviest reward I ever got was only enough to make a golem modelled after the British toy soldier excluding the weapon.

"What kind of reward is it this time?" I ask with anticipation.

"An item from the auction."

"Auction? You mean the auction that's been keeping Polina and Kif busy?"

Hovel simply nod.

Chief has never given a finished item as a reward before.

Unable to control my excitement, I smile widely with my body leaning forward on the table. "What's the price limit?"

"There wasn't any mention of a price limit."

Lastly, I have to ask this question. "So, it's safe to assume I can also choose amongst the expensive items?"

"You may choose one expensive item from the auction," Hovel states clearly with one finger raised.

"I'll have to take my time and choose very carefully then."

I lean back from the table and momentarily put the spoon down, thinking about what kind of item I could ask for from the auction. Of course, I wouldn't be unreasonable and choose the most expensive item. The feeling right now is like a child is given the free rein to choose any toy in the toy section of the department store.

A waitress put down a grande-sized mug in front of Hovel with a thud and leaves after saying, "Please enjoy!"

Hovel takes two large gulps of his drink.