The Merchant and Tavern Master

Returning to Goldkorb

"Alright, it's time for me to leave Wakahiko, Kunihiko. I'm entrusting the responsibilities of this house to both of you, alright?" Mother announced to her still sleepy sons.

"Yes, Mother. Have a safe journey," Wakahiko replied.

"Wakahiko, once you've taken the knight guard assessment, send me a letter at the guild in Goldkorb with the results, okay?" I instructed him, aware that his assessment was approaching in a few days.

"And Kunihiko, be mindful of not toying with girls' hearts too much! You even flirted with the lord's daughter. I won't be able to help you if something goes awry. Please, remember your boundaries," I advised, directing my words to Kunihiko.

"Don't worry, brother Takahiko. I appreciate your concern. When I leave, I'll make sure to visit Sofia's tavern," he promised earnestly.

I ensured all the preparations were complete, helping my mother onto the carriage, followed by Sofia. Normally, if it were just the two of us, Sofia would have joined me up front, but she insisted on accompanying my mother on this journey, a gesture I truly appreciated. With no further delay, the carriage began its journey towards the village gate.

"Is this your first time traveling outside the village, Mam?" Sofia inquired gently.

"It is, dear. I've spent almost my entire life here, you see. I was raised in this village, met my husband, gave birth to my sons, buried my daughter and husband, and watched my sons grow. There are so many memories tied to this place," my mother's voice carried a hint of nostalgia, and I could sense that she might shed a tear.

"It's okay, Mam. We can always come back here; it's only a three-day journey by carriage. Besides, I believe you'll create new memories in Goldkorb, especially when you meet my mother and the patrons of our tavern," Sofia reassured her with genuine kindness. I was impressed with how Sofia handled the situation, easing my mother's emotions with her thoughtful words.

"Thank you, dear. I'm truly looking forward to working at your tavern. Takahiko is fortunate to have such a young and understanding woman like you as his future wife," my mother praised Sofia for her wisdom beyond her years. Perhaps, I thought, it's because they both experienced the loss of their loved ones and have learned to carry on.

"Oh, Mam. You flatter me," Sofia responded, and I could almost envision the smug expression on her face upon receiving such praise from my mother.

If my mother and Sofia could maintain a good relationship, it would be a wonderful thing. I hoped that even after our marriage in the future, they would continue to cherish the strong bond they had already formed.

We retraced the same road we had taken when journeying to the village. Throughout the trip, my mother expressed surprise and delight at the new experiences she encountered, such as camping outdoors using the travel utilities, enjoying the public bath, eating at rest area eateries, and trying various new foods she had never before had the opportunity to taste. Similar to Sofia's earlier experience, these new adventure seemed to ignite a fresh spirit of exploration within my mother's soul, and her eyes glimmered with excitement.

"When there's an opportunity, I'll take you to Vermina and the Harbour City. They offer even more things for you to enjoy," I offered, wanting to share more adventures with her.

"Can I come along?" Sofia eagerly inquired, not wanting to miss any chance for further exploration.

"Only with your mother's approval," I replied with a smile.

And so, the three days passed swiftly, and we finally arrived at the city gate of Goldkorb. As we approached, I noticed the familiar figure of Sir Baldwin, the knight guard who had seen me off last time. He recognized my carriage from afar and greeted us with a wave.

"Welcome back, Takahiko, and little Sofia! How was your journey?" he exclaimed with a warm smile.

"It was great, Uncle Baldwin!" Sofia eagerly replied before I had a chance to respond. "There were so many interesting things outside Goldkorb. It makes me look forward to our next adventure!"

"That's wonderful! You should embrace more adventures while you're young and able. Adventure doesn't always mean visiting dungeons, hunting monsters, or seeking treasures; exploring new regions can be an adventure too," Sir Baldwin praised her adventurous spirit.

As I spoke up, "Will you check the goods? I didn't bring many this time; instead, I brought my mother," Sir Baldwin seemed surprised. My mother slowly revealed her face from the carriage, then gracefully stepped out with Sofia's help.

"Good day, Sir. My name is Ayumu. I'm Takahiko's mother. From today, I will be living in this city," my mother introduced herself with a gentle bow.

"I see. Then, as part of the citizens of this city, I warmly welcome you to Goldkorb, Madam Ayumu. May you have a wonderful and meaningful experience here," Sir Baldwin replied with a knightly salute.

"Thank you, kind Sir. May we both be blessed," my mother responded graciously.

"Takahiko, don't forget to register your mother's name in the guild if she plans to stay here for a long time," Sir Baldwin reminded me.

"Yes, I'm planning to do that after this. Thank you, Sir Baldwin."

"See you again at the tavern, Uncle Baldwin," Sofia bid farewell with a smile.

After saying our goodbyes to the kind guard, we proceeded to Dragon's Paw.

I decided to drop off Sofia and Mother first, as I needed to park the carriage at the merchant guild, file a report, and update my identification plate. Additionally, I had to let them know about my mother's arrival and her intention to work at the tavern. This required a formal statement letter from me to confirm her identity, which would be one of the requirements for her registration with the tavern guild later on. After completing the necessary reporting and obtaining a blank parchment for my statement letter, I placed it securely in my bag and hastened my steps back to Dragon's Paw.

As it neared lunchtime, I anticipated that the tavern would be quite busy with patrons. As I entered through the front door, my guess proved correct. The place was indeed crowded with guests eager to enjoy their midday meal. I spotted my mother, already hard at work, wearing the standard helper uniform. She skillfully took orders, swiftly placing food on the guests' tables before moving on to the next order. Her experience shone through in her efficiency. While she might no longer be able to engage in fieldwork, her prowess in handling household chores remains unparalleled. Finding an available space on a barstool, I settled down, and Madam, the tavern owner, noticed my arrival.

"Hi, Takahiko. Welcome back. Thank you for bringing Ayumu here. I apologize for putting her to work right away, even though you just arrived," she said.

"Don't worry about it, Madam. My mother has been looking forward to doing something productive for a while now, so this opportunity actually makes her eager to work," I assured her.