Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 397: Arc 6, - 13: Border of North and South

Chapter 397: Arc 6, Chapter 13: Border of North and South

"So, Jotou did you take care of the business you had in the morning?" the magician could not stand the silence any longer.

Jotou broke out of thought and turned to face her, "Yeah. I’m surprised a post office would open that early, but the package is sealed and should be headed to Tamara Palace."

"Yay!"

Forestry began taking over the road southwards. Hours out, they had left Dolpool. "Wait, where are we now? Hotaru?" Asobi leaned over and turned towards her.

"Hm?" the wolf-girl unfurled the tail she was stroking on her lap. She accidentally bumped gazes with the blonde across; her expression soured for a millisecond before they both faced something else.

Hotaru sighed, "I thought I already told you we’ll be passing through Fordwin. We’re making a beeline straight to Tourenshire, but we’ll have to stop and stay in Belle-Ventrialis for a night."

"Oh yeah! That’s what I wanted to ask you, what’s Belle-Ventrialis like?" Asobi continued with glittering eyes.

"Tis the city famed for its splendorous shimmering rivers and waterways, unperturbed by the shifting of the seasons. During the season wherein frost is born, flakes of ice drape the surface by a needle’s breadth.

Taken by the river’s flow they are; an illusory spectacle of moving hoarfrost that entrances the mortal eye. However, tis time wherein blossoms of plenty breathe life only to fall petal by petal.

Flowing with this world’s blood, the blooms shall drift till the tides, harkening to the sea’s rhythm to dance upon the waves and stride onto shore- Ahem. Apologies.

However, the elation of this otherworldly being ought to be thine insight into the majesty of Belle-Ventrialis~" Tiffany, previously excited, lowered her head quietly.

"Is there a theatre there?" Fumeko queried.

"Indeed... Tis grander than Winnefred Opera House and it lies by the bay."

There was no surprise on Fumeko’s face.

"Well, besides the rivers, it’s also a beautiful city," Hotaru stated. "A lot of the roads and streets are small, because the main form of travel is by gondolas.

There are several markets that float by the riversides and boat cafés. Many restaurants too, they’re quite romantic-" though her tail regained some vigour, her ears immediately fell and she shut her eyes. "It’s a beautiful city; it’s a shame we can’t stay for longer."

’Of course she’s excited for it... Sigh...’ Jotou leaned her head against the window. Dark green shrubbery and forests they passed, with other roads directing into small towns and villages along the path.

"Are you excited to go to the guild Tiffany?" Asobi asked.

"Y-yes. It’s a bit nerve-racking, but I can’t wait to b-be registered," she forced a small smile.

"Where d’you sleep last night?" Fumeko’s eyes darted to the blonde against the window.

"The spare room," Jotou replied.

"Oh."

"Oh so that’s why you were there in the morning! Was there a problem in your room?" the elf tilted her head.

"You could say that," Jotou did not face away from the glass.

Hotaru scowled out the other window.

"This’ll be a fun two day trip..." Fumeko snarked as Asobi wilted.

_

Shimmering rivers indeed and narrow streets they were, but all the bricks flanked waterways twisting and churning around buildings thin and high.

Dozens of boats floated through every channel and even in the night, nothing was out of view by the darkness. Lights were strung from lamppost to lamppost across the waterways and oil lanterns decorated each boat in a different pattern.

Some had a single flame bright enough for the boat to move and dim enough for those within. While others paraded a multitude of colourful lanterns from bow to stern.

Even though they were far from the beachside, a cold breeze blew the blossoming vines and plants that dug roots into the bricks of bridges and walls.

Fluffy green moss painted a lot of the street sides and the fashion mixed in with the flair was not only native to Dolpool after all. Couples were out by the hundreds, at the restaurants or taking walk in the lit streets.

Stars and wispy clouds were reflected in the clear waters below, only disturbed by the gondolas that moved through. The River-City as some would call, was teeming with life and light. It seemed the news of the cult hardly had an impact to their merriment.

What a romantic city. ’What a nightmare.’ Jotou’s lidded eyes gazed around. The expensive perfumes and dressed up couples filled her with annoyance and envy as she unbuckled her bags off the carriage.

Her eyeline met with the redhead, who had just walked out of the small hotel they were moving into. Hotaru turned her head, only for her lips to tighten, noticing all the same.

Jotou crossed her arms, "I don’t suppose I can ask you out on a date?"

Hotaru’s head slowly turned, "You very well can."

"Are you sure about that?"

"I’m not opposed to it if you want to. Are you relying on me to make the decision?"

Jotou turned with a roll of her eyes, "I’m not indulging this."

Hotaru sighed and shook her head. She awaited the rest to gather at the front of the hotel, "I booked four rooms, two are by the window to look over the river. Thought you two might like it," she handed a key to Fumeko.

Tiffany’s head slowly turned away and she shrank her shoulders.

Fumeko pursed her lips, "Aru... Me and Tiff aren’t... together..."

"Oh," Hotaru retracted her hand. "I’m sorry, I thought... Never mind." She handed a key to Fumeko and Tiffany separately. Hotaru palmed her own face and, "Jotou," she called over. "They only had four rooms left."

’Then room with Sobi. Ugh, how petty do I wanna be.’ Jotou groaned and swiped the key from Hotaru’s hand, "Come on already," she dragged both her and Hotaru’s luggage with her.

The wolf-woman’s ears fell, feeling childish. "Sobi, you don’t mind that it’s not a river-view room right?"

"I don’t mind at all!"

"Here," Fumeko forfeited her key to Asobi. "I’ll take the other one. Can we go get dinner? I’m starving."

"I shall relinquish mine temporary abode to thou detective. I needn’t the view of a measly body of water, when my eye can peer into the sea of stars and the void grants one such as I infinite sight into worlds beyond. In comparison, tis a trifling view!"

"I don’t need to see the river either, just keep it," Fumeko replied to Tiffany who had posed looking away and her hand out with the room key.

"Now that that’s settled, there should be a good few restaurants around. Plenty of fresh seafood, fresher than Dolpool even. What’s everyone hungry for?" Hotaru guided once their bags had been settled in.

Golden lights lit up the restaurant made up of white tiles on the walls. Red and white checkered table cloths draped the small number of tables within.

Most couples opted to sit outside, while the smell of various breads and sauces floated inside from the kitchen. The tables however, could host three people at most, leaving two on their own.

"Do you wanna split a pizza?" Jotou kept her eyes on the menu.

"Sure," Hotaru did the same. She looked up to the waiter, "I’ll also have a champagne." The waiter bowed after their orders and departed back to the kitchen.

"You sure that’s a good idea?" Jotou eyed the few flowers in the vase in between them. Both were out of their adventuring attire, wearing something simple yet elegant.

"If you think I’m gonna drink my problems away, you’re wrong," Hotaru folded her arms on the table and surveyed the atmosphere.

"Just don’t get drunk."

"I have a spell for that."

Jotou pouted her lips to the side. ’Father Keel’s advice went in one ear and out the other huh.’

"You chose to sit with me," Hotaru continued.

"So did you."

"Isn’t a carriage ride with us enough for them to deal with?" the redhead replied as if the other three were not sat a table right behind them.

"What happened to not letting our problem getting involved with everything else?"

Hotaru raised her brows, "It’s harder than I thought, sorry I was wrong," she said unapologetically.

"Well let’s at least enjoy the pizza."

"I didn’t hear what toppings you ordered," she placed her chin in her hand.

"Just a basic pizza with some olives. The only pork they had was ham, so ham too. You like pork, right?"

Hotaru slowly faced the wall.

"What? You want me to change it?"

"No. Stop looking at my chest."

Jotou glared, "I was looking at the flowers, not your, ugh," she grunted.

The corner of Hotaru’s lip facing away from Jotou rose ever so slightly.

"Pervert."

"I’m the pervert?" Hotaru looked back to her, eyes glazed over.

The blonde met her eyes, "Am I wrong? Go on, prove it."

"You’re just as much as one as I am; just because I start things."

"Sounds like an excuse to drag me down into your perversions. It’s more like you put new thoughts into my head."

"Is that so? Then maybe you shouldn’t enjoy it," Hotaru leaned a little closer with a leer.

"Oh please, as if my protests do anything," Jotou replied with an eye half-closed.

...

...

The two first smiled, then allowed the slight laughter to catch up to them. They looked at each other losing their composure slowly but surely. Then their little titter died down with a sigh from both...

...

Hotaru pulled her head back with a deep breath, "We’re at the border of north and south, we’ll be at the guild tomorrow. Should we get separate rooms, or?" she looked away.

Jotou’s face grew more serious, much like the wolf-girl’s, "We’ll see when get there."

"Fine by me."