Chapter 185: A Guide to the Luxurious Inn
In the Fairy Valley Gorge Town, the streets are nestled at the bottom of a valley surrounded by steep slopes on either side. A crystal-clear stream flows from north to south, with the main facilities, including the inn where we will be staying, concentrated in the heart of the valley. It seems that in the past, the only way to reach this place was by traversing a narrow and treacherous path along the stream, and the town was not as prosperous as it is now.
“Welcome!”
As I walk along the stone-paved path, admiring the beautifully moss-covered garden, I am greeted by a woman who appears to be a staff member standing at the entrance. She resembles a traditional Japanese maid, dressed in a kimono that feels perfectly suited for an inn. I give a slight bow in return and step inside the building. A magnificent screen made from a single slab of wood, about three meters wide and polished to a shine, stands in front of the entrance, preventing anyone from peeking inside.
“Wow, this is amazing!”
Unlike Ivan, who seems a bit hesitant, Phonia can hardly contain her curiosity. She is reaching out to touch the screen, which is taller than her.
“Hey, Phonia, wait!”
Ivan hurriedly pulls Phonia back, but she exclaims, “Ah!” as she stretches her hand toward the screen, only to find it out of reach.
“Hehe, what a lovely young lady. Welcome! Are you here for an overnight stay?”
A woman in a luxurious kimono, more elegant than the one at the entrance, addresses us.
“Ah, yes. We’re a party of four. Do you have any rooms available?”
“A party of four, is it? Let me check for you. Please follow me to the front desk.”
Following her lead to the reception area, the kimono-clad woman moves around to the other side of the counter.
“Hurry up, Ivan-nii! Let’s go!”
Ivan, who has been acting suspiciously, is urged on by Phonia, who he is carrying.
“Alright, alright! Just calm down!”
“We have a room available for four guests called the ‘Pine Hermitage.’ It comes with an open-air bath and is our most prized accommodation.”
“Oh, that sounds great! Let’s take it!”
“How many nights will you be staying?”
Rio tilts her head, pondering the question. How many nights should we stay?
“Well, it seems like there’s plenty to see, so how about we start with ten nights?”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go with that.”
“Wait a minute, you two! At least let’s check the price of the room first!?”
Just as we were about to finalize our decision, Ivan interrupts with his exasperation. Honestly, does he dislike staying at unfamiliar inns that much? Look, even the smiles of the other staff members behind the front desk are starting to look strained.
“Oh dear, I apologize for the oversight. I assumed that as S Rank Adventurers, you wouldn’t be concerned about the price.”
Though we hadn’t presented our Adventurer’s Certificates, it seems our status is already known. We just arrived in town, but perhaps someone overheard our conversation with Barmy. When I assessed my status, it turned out that despite my appearance, my current occupation was listed as an Assassin, which might suggest I have a knack for Information Gathering. There are plenty of people who don’t work in jobs that match their appearance, after all.
“See, Ivan? Plus, it’s not about spending money because we have it; it’s about using it because it doesn’t diminish. That’s a crucial distinction.”
“Exactly! Otherwise, the economy wouldn’t function properly.”
“Eh!? Wait… what’s ‘economy’!?”
Now that I think about it, when we sold the refrigerator, Ivan and Phonia were busy looking at the merchant’s goods. They might not have known how much it sold for. I certainly didn’t bother to tell them about our savings.
“Well, that’s how it is, so don’t worry about money.”
“In fact, if there’s anything you want, feel free to ask. Phonia-chan, you don’t need to hold back either.”
“Okay!”
That said, perhaps due to their long lives as slaves, both of them rarely express what they want. They do show a longing expression when it comes to food, which makes it easy to understand, but usually, if we think something looks delicious, we just buy enough for everyone without saying a word.
“Thank you for choosing to stay with us. Ten nights, understood. I will have someone guide you to your room, so please wait a moment.”
“Got it.”
“Hey, hey, what’s an open-air bath?”
While we wait for our guide, Phonia’s eyes sparkle with excitement. She has taken baths in the Hideout and Camping House, but they were all indoor baths, so she might not know what an open-air bath is.
“An open-air bath is a bath where you can enjoy the view of the sky while soaking. It feels wonderful to relax in a bath while taking in the scenery.”
“Really? Is it better than the bath at my sister’s house?”
“Of course! An open-air bath has a sense of freedom that you just can’t get indoors.”
“Wow, I can’t wait!”
Phonia’s little dress flutters as she wiggles her bottom. She must be wagging her tail with all her might.
“I’m terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.”
As I explain the wonders of the open-air bath to Phonia, a person appears to guide us to our room. She speaks in a somewhat Kyoto dialect and wears a slightly disheveled kimono maid outfit. With her striking red hair and droopy eyes, she exudes a mysterious aura that complements her profession.
Just like the previous staff member, she seems to have a fairly high status. While there are occasionally high-status commoners, it’s still unusual…
—But what does it mean to have the occupation of “Dark Maid”? I can’t make sense of that at all.