Summoned by Ruby's call, Myla and Ria entered the room. A bright lime vial rested on the table. Ria took her seat, picking up the potion with an enchanted expression.
"I've never seen a potion with such purity… Thank you, Sir Karion. Words alone cannot fathom just how much gratitude I have."
Myla, suspicious of Karion, quickly interjected, "My lady, not much time has passed for him to create such a high-quality potion! There must be something else he's hiding!"
She pointed to Ruby with a harsh glare, "That cow fetched a bucket of Trent Sap, did she not?? That material is only used for lethargic effects!"
[Eh?! Was that so?? I didn't even know Trents were monsters until minutes ago..!!] Karion's face remained calm, but his thoughts were troubled. Simultaneously, he was irked at how Myla referred to Ruby as just a cow.
"If that's the case, why don't we have the potion appraised? Guilds have that type of service, do they not?" Ria faced Myla with distaste, "I understand your aversion, but you're being very rude."
["Appraised"..?! There is such a thing here??] Assuming his appraisal ability came from the gods, he never expected to hear those words.
"My lady, I-"
"If this is indeed a health potion, are you ready to accept the consequences?" Ria's tone shifted deeper. Myla grew silent.
"…Ruby? Could you go and get them?" At a stalemate, Karion asked Ruby to get the appraiser in their stead.
"Y-Yes, sir." Ruby bowed, exiting the room.
For the moments of Ruby's absence, the room was filled with deafening silence. Myla had a frustrated look on her face but silently stood behind Ria as her guard. Ria sat in silence with dignity, her eyes closed. Returning with a middle-aged man in uniform holding a monocle, Ruby returned to Karion's side.
The employee picked up the potion, using the monocle to take a closer look, "Is this the one?"
"Yes, what quality of potion is it?" Ria asked.
"It's… undeniably an S-Class potion… The highest grade..!" The man almost hesitated to answer, "Just who was able to make such a potion?!"
Before Ria could give an answer, Karion spoke, "Unfortunately, the Alchemist's Organization keeps such information confidential."
Ria grinned at Karion's response.
"Ah- Yes, of course…" The man stepped back, "Thank you for using our services. The appraisal fee is-"
"Something I will pay, " Ria raised her hand, "Add the fee to the cost of renting this private room."
"Of course," the man bowed before exiting the room.
[Ah, I should've appraised the man…] Karion was interested in the man's ability to appraise items. Whether it came from the monocle he used or was an inherent skill, he was clueless.
"Now, is there anything else, Myla?" Ria faced her guard.
Myla's face of frustration grew as she clenched her fist, but with a deep breath, she walked to Karion, lowering her head, "I apologize-"
"Stop!" Karion interjected.
"What..?"
"You were just doing your job, you don't need to apologize to me. If anything, I'd be suspicious if a random guy conveniently got a high-grade potion too," Karion's complexion changed as his voice sharpened, "However, I can't overlook what you called my Ruby."
"Master…?"
"I did introduce her as my slave, but I also introduced her as my partner. Calling her a 'cow' isn't something I can let go."
"Ah…" Ruby's flushed face was something she couldn't easily hide as her tail swayed and her ears wiggled.
Ria's smile only grew, "Myla?" She called.
"Yes!" Lowering her head to Ruby, she continued, "I apologize for my previous rudeness, Miss Ruby."
"P-Please raise your head..!!" Ruby waved her arms, "I-I am unworthy of such words.!!"
Ria cleared her throat, "Now, about payment. If I recall correctly, the highest grade of health potion is auctioned at 1,600 bryas at the least. So why don't I quadruple the amount?"
[6,400 bryas..?!] Karion almost choked on his words, "I'll gladly sell to you for that much!"
"Excellent! Myla?" Ria snapped her fingers.
Pulling a pouch of bryas from her storage, Myla handed the pouch to Karion. He opened the pouch to confirm the amount he received, almost doubtful of how much he was able to make with just one potion. Confirming the amount, he placed it in his storage. Karion was barely able to keep his hands from shaking under the excitement.
"It certainly is 6,400 bryas… Thank you."
"Congratulations, sir!" Ruby smiled, "With this, buying your house will be achieved sooner than expected!"
"A house?" Ria questioned.
"Yes. We planned on moving into a house soon. We can't stay at an inn forever, right?" Karion caressed Ruby's cheek. She leaned into his hand with a smile. [If it makes living for us easier, I'll do anything for her.]
"I see… In that case, meet me again here within two days," Ria demanded.
"Pardon..? Didn't you need to deliver the potion to the Viscount?"
"Ah! That's right… In that case, Myla?"
"I will follow your command, my lady," Myla bowed.
"Then it's settled!" Ria smiled as she held her hand to Karion, "It was a pleasure doing business with you!"
They shook their hands, completing the deal. Ria and Myla swiftly left the guild, entering a horse-drawn carriage parked in an alley beside the guild. Returning to their daily lives, Karion had assumed they would never cross paths again. Just as promised two days later, Myla waited for Karion and Ruby at the adventurer's guild.
Exchanging a quick greeting, Myla guided Karion and Ruby to the edges of Qirsley. Many vacant lots with only a single house at the back, Myla walked to the doorstep.
"My lady insisted on purchasing a house for you. This lot was the largest, so she bought it without hesitation. The two days is what it took for the blacksmith and carpenter to create the house. Since the property itself was purchased, you don't have to pay for rent."
At the sudden information, Karion and Ruby were speechless. The two-storied house before them only covered a fourth of the property. Continuing to speak through their silence, Myla explained the house's appliances.
"The first floor has three main rooms - a kitchen, dining room, and living room. A hallway separates the kitchen and dining from the living room."
Myla handed Karion the key to the property, "The end of the hall leads to the washroom and stairs - the second floor is just one large room for the bed."
"H-Hold on, isn't this too much??" Karion finally was able to speak.
"To my lady, apparently it was too little," Myla replied, "The house was built with the remaining travel funds she had to use in search of an alchemist. With your potion, she had no further use for money, and decided to spend the rest on you."
"B-But this surely is too much…"
"You might've saved a Viscount, you know?" Myla rested her hand on his shoulder, "Take some pride in that, you've done a great service to the household I serve."
Karion was silent once again. Myla cleared her throat to continue the conversation, "I suppose I should show you the washroom."
Guiding the duo to the end of the hall, the washroom held a small room for the toilet, while the majority of the room was made with an empty tub inside the floor.
"It's like a bathhouse..?" Karion unconsciously muttered.
"You know of these?" Myla asked with surprise, "I thought I needed to introduce these as commoners aren't often able to bathe."
"Ahahaha…"
Karion could only laugh at Myla's words. Though he didn't correct her, Myla's face assumed Karion was of noble status. Exiting the house, Karion walked to the door with her.
"Tell Lady Ria how thankful I am," he said.
"That's her line," Myla chuckled. Her face grew soft as she bowed once more, "Allow me to apologize again. I'm very sorry for my previous behavior."
Karion rested his hand on her shoulder with a reassuring smile. After exchanging their farewell, he watched Myla walk in the distance. Turning to Ruby, it was only then that he realized her frozen expression stuck in shock.