「It’s not set in stone but, it’s always either daytime or nighttime, east or west, isn’t it? If you ask me, it looks like they only decide on a whim.」
Marcas, a speckled scalekin, replies in an unhelpful manner.
「However, if we keep wandering around like this without a clue, it will be spring before we know it.」
These two, plus myself, have been hanging out together for the past six months.
We are not all good at what we do but we are three guys who can hold our own against the rest of the crowd in terms of greediness.
As we were walking down the drinking street, talking and huddling our heads together, we saw a group of acquaintances coming toward us from the other side of the street.
They are both our comrades and arch-enemies. They are guys from the Schenker logistic department who are also hunting the phantom stall.
「Ah, the guys from the tannery, I heard they’re done for the day.」
The golden eyes shining in the darkness winked at us cheekily.
「Eh!? Where were they?」
「At the south city, hardware street. That’s what the guys from the fish farm said.」
「Darn! We missed it again!」
I can only let out a small sigh as Dutch curse.
I guess we failed again today……
「Arghhhh! Why are they acting like this? Why do they only have to sell one pot a day!」
「I’m not really sure but…..I think they are using a special seasoning so they can’t make a lot of it. What do you think?」
The dogkin from the logistic department tried to soothe the lamenting Dutch but I guess those who have fur on their tails don’t know how difficult winter is for scalekins.
「In any case, let’s go home.」
「Want a drink?」
「We’ve been doing this every night. Let’s go home early sometime.」
「Che, if every night is like this, you’ll miss it someday.」
We parted on the spot, completely dejected. We headed for our respective homes while exhaling white breaths.
-0-
As I return to the poorly built apartment building that the Schenker had rented for us as a dormitory, I unlock the door and enter the room.
The room was brightly lit and the warm, moist air gently caressed my gold face.
「Ah, I’m back.」
「Welcome back. You must have been cold. How was your day?」
「Same old same old. We’re just trying our luck.」
「Fuhn, do you want some tea?」
「Yeah」
I never drank tea by myself but since Cassio started buying it, I’ve been drinking a lot.
It’s not that it tastes good, but I like it better than just plain hot water.
「Here you go.」
「Yeah」
I sit in front of the fireplace and sip the barley scented tea.
The scales on my back are slowly warming up and my body, which had been feeling kind of sluggish, is starting to feel refreshed.
I’m not a fan of winter after all.
「By the way, what were you doing this late, Casio?」
「Ah, I’m making parts for watch.」
「Watch?」
「Yeah, my great grandfather taught me everything he knows. I’m using my paycheck to make a little progress.」
「You can do a lot of things. You also said you know numbers.」
「To some extent」
Yeah, this wise guy might know something about the phantom oden stall.
I mean, it’s not like I’m relying on a kid but at least I know that he’s a lot smarter than me.
「Casio, my friend says there must be some kind of rule about the street where the oden stall will sell but……we don’t know anything about it. Will you be able to figure it out using numbers?」
「You want to know where the oden stall will sell next? I won’t be able to figure it out out of the blue….」
「Maa, you’re right…..I guess you can’t.」
「Ah, no, that’s not what I mean. If we can get some information, we might be able to figure something out.」
「What? Really!?」
「According to what Kraft said before, you are certain that it is run by our fellow Schenker people, right?」
「Yeah, that’s what everyone was saying….」
「If that is the case, all we have to do is narrow down the list of places where the Schenkers can set up a stall….that should give us some idea.」
「Right!」
「And hey, it would be even better if we knew what day and time the stall sell.」
「Alright! I’ll ask around tomorrow!」
「No, you shouldn’t. Maybe I’m wrong.」
「That doesn’t matter. My friends and I have no idea what to do and we were just wandering around aimlessly every night.」
I patted Casio’s head. He happily said he’ll do what he can and went to bed.
I quickly fell asleep as I listened to the sound of a night owl grinding something.
