We managed to reach the inn without any trouble, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that things could still go south. At least while we were inside, we could relax. Probably.

Not knowing how many days we’d stay in the city, I paid for three nights upfront. Our primary goal here was to buy furniture, so it seemed like a reasonable amount of time. A two-person room was 1,200 flons per night.

"By the way, I’ve got a question. Is that okay?"

After successfully securing a room, I decided to ask the innkeeper about the main reason we’d come to Raven.

"Of course, what is it?"

"I’m looking to buy some furniture. Do you know of any good workshops?"

"If it’s furniture you want, I’d recommend checking out one of the merchants that deal in a variety of products rather than going directly to a workshop."

That made sense now that I thought about it. But—

"I was hoping to have some pieces made using materials I brought with me."

"Oh, I see. In that case, the Beldran Workshop is well-known, though they’re not very accommodating to new customers. Another option might be the Grayard Workshop."

Her response was polite, but her phrasing suggested she wasn’t overly confident about either option.

Beldran Workshop, huh? It sounded like the kind of place with a grumpy craftsman who’d probably do excellent work if they decided to take on the job.

"Thanks! I’ll try the Beldran Workshop first."

"Of course. Take care."

With directions in hand, Rio and I left the inn.

"But first, food."

"I’m starving. Let’s grab something from one of the stalls at the central square."

The square was bustling with street vendors offering a variety of tempting snacks. We decided to try something other than the usual grilled meat skewers.

"What’s this white, toasted thing? Let’s try it."

The chewy, slightly charred snack had a texture that was both springy and firm.

"This is good! I bet it’d be even better with soy sauce."

"You’re right. It’s the kind of taste that makes you crave hot green tea."

The vendor overheard us and laughed.

"I don’t know what soy sauce is, but I’ve got hot tea. Want some?"

"Yes, please!"

He handed us two ceramic cups, which I carefully passed one to Rio. The cup was hot to the touch, though not unbearable.

Sipping the tea, I noticed it wasn’t quite green tea but had a similar bitterness that complemented the snack nicely.

After returning the cups and thanking the vendor, we finally headed to the Beldran Workshop. Located between the central square and the west gate, the workshop turned out to be a surprisingly modest establishment.

"Welcome!"

A young boy, no older than a first or second grader, greeted us from behind the counter.

Was this little guy the famed craftsman? He looked far too small, and his chubby cheeks gave away his youth.

"Mom! We’ve got customers!"

As expected, he turned and shouted toward the back of the shop.

"So cute..."

Rio whispered, clearly smitten by the child’s innocent charm.

Admittedly, he was adorable. I couldn’t help imagining that if Rio and I ever had kids, they might look like this. When I glanced at her, our eyes met, and her cheeks turned bright red as she quickly looked away.

She must’ve been thinking the same thing. My heart skipped a beat, but I forced myself to calm down. Now wasn’t the time to get distracted.

"Mom! Are you coming?"

The boy raised his voice, tilting his head in confusion when there was no response.

Just as I was about to comment on how endearing he was, a voice called from the back.

"Hold on, I’m coming!"

After a moment, a lively woman in slightly revealing clothing appeared, carrying the boy in her arms. Despite her youthful appearance, she was evidently the boy’s mother.

"Sorry for the wait. How can I help you?"

Straightening her posture, she set the boy down and faced us with a professional demeanor.

"I’d like to order some custom furniture."

"In that case, our products are available through several merchants. Would you mind checking with them instead?"

"I’d prefer to use some materials I’ve brought along."

"Oh, a custom material job? One moment, please. Let me call my grandfather."

Grandfather? So he was the workshop’s master craftsman?

The boy’s mother disappeared into the back, leaving Rio and me to exchange puzzled looks.

After a short wait, an imposing, bearded dwarf emerged. He had the classic stout build and rugged demeanor you’d expect of a skilled artisan.

"I hear you’ve brought materials. But what’ve we got here? A couple of brats? Get lost! I don’t deal with kids bringing in who-knows-what garbage!"

We were immediately hit with a gruff dismissal.