Three hours after meeting Zanac, swaying and bumping along, the carriage finally arrived at the town of Reflet.
The gate-guard soldiers greeted us and asked a few light questions before waving us through quickly. From their manner, Zanac seemed to be reasonably well-known.
The carriage rattled through town. The boxy cabin shook gently over the old stone pavers. After a while we entered a busy main street lined with shops, and the carriage stopped in front of one of them.
“Right, hop down. We’ll outfit you here.”
I got out as instructed. The shop had a sign with a thread-and-needle logo, but looking at the letters underneath, I caught a problem.
“I can’t read this…”
I couldn’t read the sign. This is a bad thing. Speaking was working but reading wasn’t. Conversation could probably get me through it eventually — but I was going to need to study.
Zanac led me inside and several shop staff greeted us.
“Welcome back, Owner.”
I was a little surprised.
“Owner?”
“This is my shop. Now — change clothes, change clothes. Someone! Find him something that suits him!”
Zanac shoved me into a fitting room (an actual small room, not just curtained-off) and brought over a stack of clothes. As I undressed — taking off the blazer, the tie, the dress shirt — the black T-shirt underneath came into view, and Zanac’s eyes shifted again.
”!? Y-you — that one underneath, sell me that one too!”
This guy is robbing me.
In the end, Zanac bought everything I had on me — socks to shoes. When he asked for my underwear, I gave him a flat look. I get the impulse, but please consider my feelings too…
The replacement outfit he supplied was practical and durable, and I had no complaints. Understated, not flashy. I wouldn’t stand out in it.
“So — how much would you take for your old clothes? Money is no object, but do you have a number in mind?”
“You’re asking the wrong guy — I have no idea what things go for here. Higher is obviously better, but… honestly, I’m flat broke right now.”
“That so… rough on you… All right, let’s say ten gold coins.”
I had no idea what ten gold coins was worth, so I nodded.
“Sounds good.”
“Excellent! Here you go.”
A jangle as ten coins were placed in my hand. Roughly 500-yen-coin-sized, with a lion engraved in relief. This was my entire net worth. Going to spend it carefully.
“By the way — is there an inn in this town? I’d like to lock in lodging before sundown.”
“There’s one straight down the road on the right. Sign says Silver Moon — you’ll spot it easily.”
Even if there’s a sign, I can’t read it. Still, I could just ask someone. Speaking worked.
“Got it. Thanks again.”
“And — if you come across any more unusual clothing, bring it by.”
I said goodbye to Zanac and stepped outside. The sun was still high. I pulled my phone out and turned it on — just before 2 PM.
“Even in the carriage I wondered — is this time even accurate over here?”
Well, judging from the sun’s position, it couldn’t be too far off.
On a hunch I opened the maps app. The full town appeared, marking my current position and the names of shops. Wouldn’t get lost. The Silver Moon inn was clearly labeled. Although…
I turned to look back at Zanac’s shop.
“This sign… Fashion King Zanac… is what it says?”
Faintly judging his naming sensibilities, I started walking toward the inn.