The last snowfall in Dragon Gold City ended on February 9.
After that came the season when winter snow melted away.
She had heard adventurers say that snow never fell on the Road to Prison south of Wilderness Village. Catherine thought that she probably would never again see the same scenery as those two who had "run away from home."
More regrettable than that was the fact that it was already March—
In the five months since they had left home, she had not received a single letter from them.
"Those two bastards who don't celebrate the Harvest Festival."
This was Dragon Gold City slang.
The Harvest Festival usually meant being grateful for a year of hard work, so what she was really complaining about was that the two of them did not miss her.
Yawning, she walked downstairs and slowly pushed open the doors of the [Golden Oak]. The orange glow of the setting sun shone over the [Closed] sign. Silently, she flipped it to [Open], then picked up a broom and gave Merlin and Melard, sleeping in front of the tavern door, a few taps. "Gentlemen, please stop playing homeless drunkards and collapsing in front of the tavern. You're hurting my business."
Merlin's explosive afro was smacked hard enough to send dust flying, and his snores gradually stopped. Hearing Catherine's resentment, he could only explain awkwardly, "Boss, you know me. After selling my property and paying off my debts, I really have nowhere to go—"
Though the Red Scarf Gang's inner workings had been exposed, the debts were real enough.
The dividends from the Guide had earned Merlin quite a bit of money. Together with the sale of his real estate, it was just enough to cover the loans.
Catherine pointed at Melard, who was still sleeping like