"Are you sure? Can I really have this?"
"Nope. I meant to sell it."
It was concerning just how Herman managed to misinterpret Senna's intention. "The truth is… I'm like, broke. I have not a single coin on me."
He wasn't even sure if this world's currencies featured coins, but a man had to bravely guess somehow. It was an urgent matter, and Senna had to start somewhere.
"Now I'm seriously curious just what rock you crawled out from. But, yeah, your offer is interesting." Herman observed the mountain bike once again.
Since it was a creation of his 'magical' power, there was no loss to be gained from selling the thing. The only expense was his mana which had long since then been replenished.
"To be for real here, I want it. How much will it be?" Herman asked.
How much, he said. Senna honestly had no idea. Being ignorant of the currency in use was starting to become an inconvenience.
The average branded bikes cost in the range of thousands of dollars. Some cheap ones could be found with price tags of 300 to 700 dollars.
The most expensive one Senna saw once was worth 12.000 dollars.
Where would he even begin, assessing the cost of his bike with that much variety? It was already hard enough even if he knew the currency.
Glancing around for inspiration, Senna spotted a stagecoach in the distance. It wasn't a luxurious one, per se, just an ordinary carriage showing its apparent age, signifying how much its owner used it.
"Oh, look there. See that carriage? Can you guess how much it cost?"
"That one? Hmm… Looking at it, it should be no more than 25… no, 21 gold," Herman nodded while crossing his arms. "Seems a little old and worn down, you know? Lower the price quite a bit."
So people did use gold as money. The value of the metal was the same in this world as in the last one. It was durable, inflammable, and rare. Those were only a few reasons why the material was so often used for the system of bartering.
"Is that expensive?"
"What do you mean 'expensive?' That's already almost a quarter of the cost if it was brand new," Herman looked in disbelief. "Cheap enough that I can afford it, I'd say."
"Oh, then by all means! You can take this for half of that. So 10 uhh, gold."
Senna still had not much clue whether his bike was actually worth that much. But he had to take the plunge or he would homeless for the night.
Being a modern man, hearing the word 'gold' made it seem to be worth it. He doubted there would be anyone else interested in buying his suspicious vehicle, so Senna had to accept this chance he was given.
"You serious? Ain't you offering it too cheaply? Your two-wheeler looked so convenient to ride around. It's like a horse without a mouth to feed."
"Yes, sure. I just need the money for now," Senna admitted.
"If you say so, man. I'm not gonna refuse a good deal. This would help the guild so much in the long run. I'll take it."
Ruffling through his pants pocket, Herman pulled out a beat-up purse and took some jingling coins from it. "8, 9, 10. Here, you see I counted it properly, right? Take it."
Accepting the money, Senna looked closely at the images cast on their surfaces. A visage of a regal and important-looking person was plastered on them, just like in the previous world.
"Thanks, man. I'll take good care of this fella." Herman stroked the saddle with a soft smile on his face. It creeped Senna out, especially since he was sitting on it for hours not too long ago.
"He looks so happy! Why?" Cybele asked out of nowhere. She was restlessly trotting around while they were talking.
Senna wasn't about to respond, however. He knew that to the people around, the dog was simply barking. Talking to her in front of them would only make him appear as a madman.
"…Ah, before you go, can you tell me a place where I can stay for the night?"
"Oh yeah, it's your first time here. Well, this is one of Kyllian's main avenues, if you haven't guessed it." Pointing to the direction away from the city gate, Herman continued, "Just follow it for a bit and you'll come across this nice-looking three stories building."
Narrowing his eyes to focus, Senna tried to see if it was within viewing distance. "There's a big sign out front so you won't miss it. 'Nightshine,' the inn is called. One of the best in the city, or well, my favorite one at least."
"…I can afford one night there, right?"
"With the money I gave you? Definitely. You can stay at least more than a month if I'm not wrong."
"Huh?! It's that much?!"
Just selling his bike could provide him with enough funds for a month-long lodging. And it only took him only what, several minutes to recover the mana for each summoning?
Should he become a bike salesman in this world?
'Wait, no, rein that thought in. I only got lucky because Herman looked so interested.'
There was no guarantee it would be as successful as it seemed. Considering the price he offered, it didn't look like it would be affordable for the common masses. And Senna doubted the richer folk would go out of their way to ride their own vehicles.
There was also that prophecy Nyaru warned him about.
"Alright, I better get going. If you need any help, just come to the guild and look for me. I'll help you out anytime, friend," Herman said as he reached out for a handshake.
"Thanks so much. I owe you for this."
"Don't exaggerate. I'm the one with gratitude here, getting this… hmm, bike." Herman remembered the term Senna explained to him before.
Soon they parted from each other, with Senna walking toward the direction Herman pointed him to. Cybele followed him from close by, her eyes continually shifting toward one place after another. Her curiosity was at an all-time high.
After only a few minutes of strolling, it seemed they finally arrived at their destination.
"Nightshine… huh?" The words drawn on the sign were foreign to him. They were completely unlike the common alphabet he was familiar with, nor with any of Earth's scripts he knew about.
It must be the
"We're entering a building?" Cybele excitedly asked. "First time I'm doing this!"
"Right… Wonder if they'll allow pets from the guests…"
Doubtful, they nevertheless entered the inn. Swinging the stereotypical batwing doors aside, Senna was greeted by the sight of a hall filled with older men of various appearances and clothing.
They all sat around the numerous tables filled with food and beverages. Well, mostly beverages. All of them looked alcoholic too.
"Welcome! Are you here for food and drinks? Or will you be staying with us for tonight?"
A young girly voice welcomed his entrance. Across the room, trudging along the floor dodging the chairs and their brutish occupants was a woman carrying two plates on both her hands.
With skillful control of her movements, she approached Senna by the door.
"Ah, I'm looking for a room…"
"A booking it is! Of course, we have a room free for you. Let's go to the counter." The woman turned and jaunted to the back of the hall where a countertop was placed.
The blue-haired lass was wearing an apron stained with patches of various colors, proof of her hard work today. While not a breathtaking beauty from the likes of celebrities, she was cute enough that most men would still be captivated by her smile.
Following the presumable waitress along, a loud shout rang from one of the patrons. "Hoy, a newbie there! No funny business with our Lenna you hear?! Gahaha!"
"Look at his face, lovestruck fool!" Another one joined. "Better give up before you even start, got it?!"
Laughter filled the hall in no time. "Stop that, idiots! You're all going to make us lose customers at this rate!" The waitress, apparently called Lenna, scowled at the men in anger.
"We're just trying to protect you from hopeless fools!"
"Yeah, yeah."
A great number of colorful excuses came flying out of the men one after another. Ignoring them, Lenna apologized, "I'm sorry mister. They'll behave themselves, don't worry."
"N-No, it's fine."
Calmly hearing what they said, it didn't seem these guys were having any bad intentions. They were just trying to protect the pretty waitress from depraved leers, it seemed like.
Though, Senna did want to correct them for one thing. He wasn't giving a lovestruck expression, but dumbstruck wonderment at how similar the setting was to those fantasy stories he read before reincarnating.
The reality sunk in even deeper into his psyche.
"Ah, before all that, I'm bringing this, uhh, dog here, is that alright?" Senna indicated toward Cybele by his feet.
"Nice to meet you!" she politely greeted. Or to those who weren't Senna, "Woof!"
"Of course. Just make sure it's not dirtying the floor with its waste."
"Hey, what a rude human lady!"
"Sure. I'll make sure that's not happening." Such debased behavior was one he couldn't tolerate either, especially from a sentient dog.
"So you're looking for a room, correct?" Lenna inquired with a sweet smile.
"Yes. How much for one night?"
"Not including the meals, it cost 2 silver."
'Silver? As in silver coin?' Going by the logic he knew, it should have less value than the gold ones in his possession.
"Then uhh… Here, I'm staying for this long." Senna gave her one coin while being intentionally vague.
"So you'll be staying for 5 nights, yes? Thank you for your patronage." Lenna bowed in gratitude. "Ahem. Dad! We got a new guest!"
Suddenly she shouted to the back of the counter, to what looked like a staff room behind it.
"Hmm? Got it." A lanky man appeared soon after. He got a timid face like those of a newly hired company slave. "You're the guest, mister? Welcome to our inn. I can show you to your room."
"Oh, alright." Senna followed him to a staircase by the wall, leading to the upper floors.