The Cure for Money-Making Fatigue Is More Money-Making

Azu wasn't freed from Elza's embrace until the familiar outer walls of the city came into view.

Elza had latched on and refused to let go for an impressively long time, leaving Azu slightly wobbly.

The city of Kassad. Yohane felt a sense of calm settle over him at the familiar scenery.

The last time they'd returned, they'd been rushed into departing again almost immediately, so it hadn't really felt like coming home.

They'd managed to return Orleans to the duke's estate amicably, and they'd delivered the goods personally commissioned by the duchess, so it was a relief all around.

If there had been nowhere for Orleans to go, he'd been prepared to look after her.

She was smart, dexterous, and obedient.

He'd considered hiring her as a shop attendant, and he wouldn't have minded vouching for her if it came to that.

In the end, it had been an unnecessary worry.

They showed their citizen's certificates to the gatekeeper and entered.

An unprecedented number of people and carriages were lined up waiting for entry, all there for trade.

Remembering a time when there hadn't been a single carriage in sight, it really drove home how important it was to have a competent lord.

No matter how hard you worked, a single administrative blunder could drive people away and make the situation impossible to salvage.

At this rate, the city would continue to develop.

And as the city grew, a tool shop dealing in a wide range of goods would see more customers too.

A wonderful cycle.

If this trend continued, it might even be worth opening a new inn.

There was an old woman who'd been looking to sell hers, if he remembered right.

Most shops required guild approval to open, which made it difficult, but inns weren't subject to the same strictness.

Especially if he was acquiring an existing inn—it should be a simple matter of changing the registration.

The current employees at the tool shop were diligent. He could transfer a few of them to help set things up, then leave the operation in their hands.

Their pay would need a bit of a bump to compensate, of course.

While he was mulling all this over, they arrived at the shop.

He moved the carriage to the front of the warehouse and began unloading.

Azu then took the mules to the stable.

She'd bonded with them quite a bit during the trip.

They were originally the bandits' mules, but he was making good use of them.

The remaining three moved the unloaded goods into the warehouse, and with that, the immediate tasks were done.

The wine alone went into the wine cellar to preserve its quality.

Even though they called it a wine cellar, the expensive wines stored there were for sale.

"Nothing left to do, so I'll be going ahead to rest."

"Oh, I'm going too. I want a bath."

"Drain the tub and reheat the water when you're done."

"Of course."

With that, Elza and Alexia headed off through the back entrance to their rooms.

Yohane did a quick inventory check and then poked his head into the shop.

The expanded sales floor seemed to be doing well.

It was a time of day that shouldn't have been particularly busy, but the turnover was solid.

He didn't force any conversation and headed upstairs.

From the bath, he could hear the sound of water and lively chatter, but he walked right past.

He dusted off his trousers, sat down in his chair, and sank into it slightly.

He'd been thinking he should replace it for a while now, but he kept using it.

Telling himself it still had some life in it.

He leaned back and zoned out for a while.

He might have been more tired than he'd realized.

The vacation idea had been a spur-of-the-moment thing, but maybe his body had been asking for a break.

While he was sitting there thinking, Azu came back.

"Master, I'm back. Do you need me for anything?"

"No. Just lounge around for now. You can sit however you want."

"Um, okay…?"

Azu was a bit thrown by Yohane's listless response.

Deciding he'd simply let his guard down, she sat on the floor and relaxed.

Sitting on the floor was the same as always, but resting on a soft, clean blanket made it perfectly comfortable.

Even more so when she was told she could sit however she pleased.

"Those two are in the bath right now. If you want to go first, go ahead."

"Oh, I could hear them, so I figured. I don't mind waiting, though…"

"I want to take my time soaking."

"Want me to wash your back, then?"

Azu offered.

If it had been Elza, he might have thought she was teasing, but Azu was completely serious.

He could tell from her face.

Yohane thought about it for a moment, then sighed.

"Then go wash their backs and get them out of there faster."

"The bath's pretty spacious, but three people would be a bit cramped…"

"Fair point. In that case, let's work out dates for the vacation."

"We're really going, then."

Azu said, sounding slightly surprised.

"Call it a morale boost. No matter how much fun making money is, working nonstop will wear you down."

"That's true, but…"

"Three nights there should be enough. I want to do some buying at the seaside market on the way back too."

"I thought this was supposed to be a vacation?"

The words slipped out before Azu could stop herself, given how naturally Yohane was weaving work into the plan.

"It is… I'm just doing a little shopping on the side."

"Right. Of course. Never mind."

Azu gave up pressing the point.

At the end of the day, making money was Yohane's ultimate change of pace.

"I'd love to check out the beach house businesses too. Apparently they carry products that only sell by the sea, and if I can pick up any ideas—"

He went on muttering to himself, disappearing into his own world.

Azu watched with an exasperated smile.

It lasted until she finished her bath, came back, and shook him by the shoulder.

After the subsequent discussion, they managed to at least settle on the dates for the trip.

They'd depart in two days and spend three nights at their destination.

"The sea! I'm so excited. I want to swim lots."

"I'd rather not overdo it. My skin will burn."

"Don't we carry sunscreen?"

"We do. Want me to bring some?"

"Would you, please? Maintaining this fair complexion is part of the job, after all."

One way or another, the prospect of the seaside had everyone's spirits on the rise.