As everyone knew, the current contract's daily wage was ten thousand gold coins.
If they summoned it again and again within three years without any restraint, the price would climb in turn to "one hundred thousand gold coins a day," then "one million gold coins a day"...
And it was priced by the day.
Granted, given the scale and grade of the base they were about to build, even hiring it for five days at a billion gold coins a day would be more than worth it.
But... who's actually that loaded?!
Rose finished the mental math in an instant and spoke thoughtfully:
"So what you're saying is, fifteen days from now, if there's something about the new place we're not happy with, then within what we can afford... we actually still have a shot at a second round of revisions, right?"
Leon's mouth twitched a little at that, and he asked back, somewhat taken aback:
"You mean... one million gold coins is still within your mental budget?"
As he spoke, he glanced around at the group. Even the three newcomers, Iri, Margaret, and Lydia, showed not the slightest flicker on their faces at the figure of "one million."
Hold on, am I seriously the only one wincing over that astronomical "million-a-day" wage?!
The whole way back, the ladies were still excitedly debating all the different ideas for the new home, every voice brimming with irrepressible delight.
Leon walked quietly behind them, just listening, though the corners of his mouth lifted along with theirs without his noticing.
...
They passed through the quiet alleys and came out onto the bustling main avenue.
Along the way, the crisp wind and snow carried a faint scent of pine needles. The group walked and paused, walked and paused, now and then bending to pick up a pinecone fallen in the snow, or crouching to pack together a fluffy snowball, their laughter ringing clear through the streets.
Every face wore a bright, relaxed smile that came straight from the heart.
Just then, passing a lively night-market alley beside a small plaza, everyone slowed their steps as if by unspoken agreement.
"Want to take a look around?"
"This place looks pretty lively."
"Let's go!"
Christmas had passed, but around the New Year, business at these stalls was still booming.
It couldn't match the sea of people during the festival, but the foot traffic wasn't far off from a normal day on Adventurers Street.
Looking at the dizzying array of snack stalls along the edge of the plaza and down both sides of the road, Leon's eyes lit up:
"I'm gonna go grab some food."
"You all look around first."
Leon called out to the group, then shamelessly flipped on his "Falna switch" on the sly, turned, and nimbly squeezed into the milling crowd.
"Hey, wait!"
Unfortunately, before Kureha could even finish her sentence, Leon's figure had already vanished in a streak into the throng.
Rose watched all this, fighting back a laugh.
She took Kureha's hand and said to everyone:
"Don't mind him. Big guy like that, he's not gonna get lost."
"Come on, let's go shopping too!"
"Yay!"
...
And just as the ladies eagerly joined the crowds of shoppers...
Leon, a foodie through and through, had perception like a precise gourmet radar. Within a few breaths, he'd pinpointed his favorite stall exactly.
Of course, even without relying on instinct, just the length of the line in front of the stall was enough to prove the owner's skills were no joke.
"Hey!"
"What's up, bro?"
The stall owner's greeting, carrying the accent of the Altena region from the great magic nation, made the corner of Leon's mouth twitch ever so faintly. He took off his coffee-colored wool fedora and leather gloves, pointed at the hot dog sausages sizzling and oozing oil on the griddle, and rattled off his order with practiced ease:
"Boss, one hot dog. Salad, tomato, honey mayo mixed, medium spicy, easy on the onions. And add a grilled chili pepper."
"Plus a large 'Fruit Family Platter,' extra cantaloupe and watermelon, light on the sugar."
"And one lemonade, extra ice."
Before he'd even finished, the owner had already fired up his hot dog magic with practiced ease.
"OK!"
Watching the man's swift, precise cooking technique, Leon couldn't help marveling: no wonder so many people lined up. This guy's skills really were something else.
...
In under five minutes, the several snacks he'd ordered were handed over.
Six hundred Valis in all, less than the price of a plate of pasta.
But he got to enjoy triple the happiness.
"Delicious!"
Without bothering about whether it'd burn his mouth, Leon, who'd been dying for it for ages, opened wide and took a huge bite the second it was in his hands.
"Hss... so good!"
Hearing the praise, the owner broke into a hearty grin:
"Glad you like it!"
"Next!"
...
Leon tucked his fedora under his arm, alternating a bite of hot dog with a bite from his fruit family bucket, now and then taking a sip of the icy lemonade. On this snowy winter day, there was nothing more satisfying.
It felt... as refreshing as slipping into a fresh pair of underwear right after a bath!
"Leon, over here!"
From a distance, he spotted Laurier in her cute knit cap, scarf, and gloves, hopping and waving at him.
He looked up to see that his lovely ladies had each somehow gotten their hands on a snack of their own, happily indulging in the treats of the street.
"Coming!"
He grinned, shoved through the crowd without an ounce of shame, and walked over to them.
Once they'd regrouped, Leon curiously sized up the assortment of snacks in everyone's hands, while spearing a chunk of watermelon with a bamboo skewer and handing it to the little elf beside him, who was already waiting open-mouthed to be fed, and struck up some idle chatter:
"Kureha, what'd you get there, the 'fried potato balls'?"
Kureha, unbothered by the heat, chewed on the potato balls coated in cheese and butter while fanning her mouth with her hand, answering through a full mouth:
"Mhm! This is absolutely a treasure of a snack!"
"Look, the stall's right over there, it's got dozens of flavors..."
"I've been eating potatoes for years and I never imagined potatoes could be made this tasty!"
"Huh? So how do they usually cook potatoes back where you're from?"
Kureha lowered her head and thought for a moment, counting on her fingers:
"Um... mashed potatoes? Mashed potatoes? Or mashed potatoes?"
"Pfft..."
Rose, beside her, couldn't help laughing out loud.
Even Jeanne bit her lip, and the look in her eyes as she watched Kureha turned helplessly pitying.
After all... when it came to good food, as the Holy Maiden of France, Lady Jeanne did have quite a bit of authority on the matter.
Leon looked at the Sword Saint lady lavishing such praise on fried potato balls, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Now he was sure of it: the culinary scene back in Kureha's hometown was probably cut from the same cloth as a certain King of Knights' homeland from his memory.
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