**Side: Prim**
Honestly, men argue over the most trivial things.
But I did get to see a childish side of Yamato, and it had been a continuous strain since arriving at Helios Orb. So, perhaps having an occasional incident like this isn’t so bad.
“Now then, I’ll guide you to your inn, but are you sure about this?”
“Sure about what?”
We decided to stay at an inn recommended by Rex, rather than at Marquis Frederica’s mansion.
While Marquis Frederica’s mansion is a place where even the Hunter’s Master wouldn’t dare to casually make a move, if we were to impose on them, it would become a perfect reason for the Hunter’s Master to visit.
That’s why we chose to stay separately, to avoid attracting Mother’s attention.
So, Rex introduced us to an inn, and it turns out to be quite famous in Feel, with quite a few Hunters also staying there.
“Ah, I see. But if someone were to attack you inside the inn, they’d be caught by the Order’s Guild, and wouldn’t even have an excuse. I doubt many idiots would do something so foolish.”
I understand Mina’s concern, but camping outdoors would be far more dangerous.
Of course, I intend to stay in a room where they absolutely cannot enter, so the security should be quite reliable.
Oh, we’re here.
This is the inn we’ll be staying at, and it’s called the Silver Ore Inn.
It’s a sturdy, stone-built, three-story box-shaped building located one street west of the Central Plaza where the Hunter’s Guild is.
I’ve heard the food is delicious too, so I’m looking forward to it.
“The Silver Ore Inn has delicious food, but its most famous feature is the large public bath. Twice a week, it’s opened to the public at a very low price.”
“There’s a bath too? That’s amazing.”
I can tell her tail is wagging furiously.
In Helios Orb, only Royalty and Nobles typically have baths.
Normally, people would just use Supplication Magic Washing to quickly sweat it out.
With magic, heating water isn’t difficult, and water can be drawn from wells, but preparing enough water to fill a bath is quite a chore, and it can also lead to monopolizing the well. Therefore, for ordinary households, owning a bath is prohibited unless they own a private well.
There are magic tools that dispense water, but those are quite expensive.
That’s why the Silver Ore Inn opens its large public bath to the public, but there are other inns that do the same, and there are also public bathhouses, so some people seem to go every day.
I can totally relate.
Well then, let’s get checking in.
“Welcome. Ah, Mina, what can I do for you today?”
As we entered the Silver Ore Inn, the lobby opened up, with a reception desk in the back where a female Ulfy was seated.
“Good evening. I’m here to guide these guests today. Oh, do you have any rooms available?”
“Yes, we do.”
“Then, please take care of these two.”
“Certainly. What kind of room would you prefer?”
Mina seems to know quite a few people. Perhaps it’s because she’s Rex’s sister.
Now, about the room. Of course, it’s already decided.
“Do you have any House Rooms available?”
There are things I don’t want others to hear, such as Yamato being our guest, my being from the Duke Hydransia family, and our opposition to the Hunter’s Master. Especially since the Hunters currently in Feel are untrustworthy, I don’t want unnecessary contact.
“Certainly. Payment is in advance. The rate is 1,000 El per person, per night.”
It seems to be the same as the inns where we stayed in Zack and Emosion. Well, even if it’s a bit expensive, it’s no burden for us at the moment.
“What about meals?”
“We have dinner and breakfast. You can eat in the dining hall, but if you pay an additional 100 El, we can bring it to your room.”
This is an extra charge. That makes it more expensive than Zack’s place, but it’s still not as high as I expected. And more importantly, I don’t want to run into any Hunters, so I think I’ll have it delivered.
“Prim, it’s okay to have it delivered, right?”
“Of course. Then, I’ll request it for about ten days.”
It’s one thing to book for a day or two, but I don’t think we’ll be able to return for several days after going to Mylight. Still, there’s value in securing the room, so I don’t think it’s a waste.
“Thank you. Now then, I’ll guide you to your room.”
After paying 22,000 El, a guide arrived. She’s a Fox like me.
“Since we’re here, Mina, why don’t you have dinner with us? Of course, I’ll escort you back.”
Before I could even finish speaking, Yamato handed another 1,000 El to the receptionist. The meal isn’t that expensive, but with the tip included, the receptionist was beaming.
“That’s a good idea. Come on, it’ll be a thank you for guiding us.”
I understand Yamato’s intention. If we let Mina go back alone now, she might be attacked by those idiots. So, Yamato plans to ensure Mina’s safety by escorting her to the Order’s Guild outpost near the gate, and simultaneously keep those idiots in check. It’s a little jealous, but I agree. It might be enough to escort her to the headquarters in the Central Plaza, but still.
“N-no, not at all! This is my job, so there’s no need to thank me!”
“If you’re going to say that, then hunting monsters is our job too.”
“You weren’t registered as a Hunter back then, were you?!”
Mina’s voice rose, and in response, I saw some idiots approaching with smirking faces. How utterly unpleasant.
“Hey, what are you guys doing here? You don’t have money to stay, do you?”
“Then, we’ll let you stay in our room. All you have to do is entertain us for a night.”
“We’ll take the guy. He’s quite cute, and they’ll probably be happy.”
Both the man and the woman are utterly idiotic. However, I can’t cause a scene here, and it will probably spread by tomorrow that we are G-rank. If that’s the case, perhaps showing them our Licenses will make them back down. As I thought that, Yamato, before me, thrust his License under the nose of the woman who had spoken.
“G-rank?! And level 57? You’re lying!”
The woman’s companions were also startled by her voice, and under Yamato’s cold gaze, they fled without looking back.
“As expected, there are many idiots who judge by appearance.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll pay the appropriate price later.”
I agree with that. Well, even if they learn their lesson the hard way, some idiots will probably show up claiming the Hunter’s Master is backing them.
“Well then, shall we head to our room? Excuse me, could you guide us?”
“Certainly. This way, please.”
Mina still looks like she wants to say something, but there’s no turning back now. For my part, I feel like Mina and I will be spending a long time together, so I want to deepen our friendship through this.
**Side: Yamato**
“This is our inn’s House Room. Inside, there’s a living room, and from there, five bedrooms, a terrace, and a small bathroom. There are also two toilets in the living room, so you can spend your time comfortably without leaving your room.”
“Wow, it’s a nice room.”
The living room is more spacious than I expected, with a sofa and table that look quite expensive. I didn’t expect a terrace either. And the bath, though called small, is larger than Zack’s inn’s, and about five people could fit in at once. It is smaller than Emosion’s, but I don’t mind at all. It’s really a nice room.
“Five bedrooms and a pretty large bath, and it’s only 1,000 El per night? Are you making a profit?”
“Yes. This room is often used by high-rank Traders. It’s the best room in our inn, so we pay close attention to security and use high-performance magic tools. Therefore, there’s no need to worry about theft. Also, only those with keys can access this floor, so there’s no danger of being attacked late at night.”
If there’s no need to worry about theft or attacks, Traders would happily stay here. And yet, 1,000 El per night is quite cheap. I gave the guide about 200 El as a thank you and asked them to bring our meal, then sprawled on the sofa in the living room.
A tip of 100 El, about one silver coin, is the standard, but it’s not always necessary to give one. It’s rare for Hunters or ordinary travelers to have enough to spare, so the staff consider it a lucky bonus if they receive one. Of course, this doesn’t apply to Nobles, high-rank Hunters, or high-rank Traders.
“Still, the monster attacks were so frequent before coming to Feel that our purchase prices have increased, but living like this from the first day in Feel is making me lose my sense of money.”
Since arriving at Helios Orb, I’ve earned an incredible amount of money in just a few days. I have more than enough money to live a normal life, but I can’t afford to be complacent. I need to buy clothes, and I need to eat. There will likely be times when I need emergency funds. If I live like this, I’ll run out of money immediately.
“I couldn’t agree more. Well, I’ve already accepted the next request, and tomorrow we’ll prepare for it and test our weapons to get a feel for them.”
“Right. Dinner will be here soon, and I’m tired from all the things that happened today, so let’s just relax.”
After leaving Prada Village in the morning, we were attacked by Glass Wolves and Green Wolves multiple times before lunch. After we ate lunch, Wind Wolves showed up, and after defeating them, Black Fenrir and Green Fang even made an appearance.
We arrived in Feel in the evening, then registered as Hunters at the Hunter’s Guild, explained the situation to the Provincial Governor, Order’s Master, and Sub-Hunter’s Master. Just before this, we were looking at weapons and armor at the Albert Workshop, so the sun has already set, and the town’s lights will probably go out in less than an hour.
“That sounds good. Mina, don’t just stand there, sit down somewhere.”
“R-right, excuse me…”
“That’s right. It’s getting late, you should stay here tonight.”
“Eh!?”
The moment Mina sat down, leaving a gap between us, Prim’s bombshell statement dropped.
“Because the town lights will be going out soon, and in Feel right now, even I think it’s dangerous for a woman to walk alone. Even if you’re an Order, no, especially because you’re an Order, you could be targeted?”
“Ah, that’s possible. Especially since Mina is Rex’s sister, she’d be a prime target for Hunters who hold grudges against the Orders.”
“Th-that’s not true! I may still be an I-rank Order, but I consider myself to have considerable skill!”
Yeah, that’s dangerous.
While waiting for the Provincial Governor at the Hunter’s Guild, Rex and Rosemary told me that for the first year after joining, Orders are in a probationary period called T-rank. Until level 20, they are equivalent to a Knight, and only upon reaching level 21 do they become C-rank, officially allowed to call themselves an Order. Mina is the youngest in the Order’s Guild, Feel branch, but she is also the only I-rank Order, and is prohibited from moving alone.
Even if Mina claims to be skilled, it carries no weight. I was planning to escort her myself, but we took unexpected time at the Hunter’s Guild and Albert Workshop, so that’s no longer feasible. After all, once we eat dinner, the inn’s entrance is locked and we won’t be able to re-enter. Of course, the money paid won’t be refunded. I can’t afford that. Some guests go to brothels, and in that case, if they give the staff a tip, they seem to be able to wait until around midnight.
You might wonder how I know such things. The Ulfy receptionist, who I tipped generously along with Mina’s meal, secretly told me. It’s true that I’m a man, and I can’t say I’m not interested, but I don’t feel like going right after being told. Prim and Mina’s eyes are also intimidating.
Putting that aside, letting Mina go home alone is problematic. In that case, as Prim said, it’s better for her to stay. Fortunately, this is a House Room, so as long as we pay the additional fee, they should allow her to stay without any issues.
“Ugh… Fine, I understand.”
Mina slumped her shoulders, but she didn’t seem to dislike the idea that much. I suppose I’ll need to contact Rex, but there’s the Order’s Guild headquarters in the Central Plaza, so I can ask them to relay a message there.
“Well then, I’ll make a quick trip to the Order’s Guild. It’s close, and it shouldn’t take too long.”
“Oh, in that case, I’ll go with you. It would probably be better if I explained myself instead of you, Yamato, so everyone would be more convinced.”
Ah, that’s true. If I suddenly went to the Order’s Guild and said, “She’s staying in my room,” they probably wouldn’t believe me. It would be better to have her come along so as not to cause any strange misunderstandings.
“That’s true. Then I’ll change and pack the Battle Dress I’m taking to the Albert Workshop. It should be the right time.”
Come to think of it, Prim has been wearing her Battle Dress all day. Well, she didn’t have time to change, and it’s normal for Hunters anyway. However, tomorrow at the Albert Workshop, we’ll be replacing the iron armor pieces like the breastplate and shoulder pads on her Battle Dress with Magic Silver, so it would be a good idea to change and prepare now. It’s just a matter of whether to prepare before sleeping or now, but since we’ll just eat and sleep tonight, there’s no problem.
“Understood. Then I’ll go on a quick trip. Have the meal brought inside the room when it arrives.”
“Okay. Have a good trip.”
“I-I’m going.”
And so, I’m heading to the Order’s Guild headquarters in the Central Plaza with Mina. I’ve already informed the reception of our destination, and it won’t take long, but it will be reassuring to get their approval. It takes a little over five minutes one way from the Silver Ore Inn to the Order’s Guild headquarters in the Central Plaza. Most of the buildings on the street where the Silver Ore Inn is located have their lights out, but the Central Plaza, with the Hunter’s Guild and bars, still has lights on. In fact, it seems they stay on normally until around midnight.
“Well now, young fellow. Where are you taking such a beautiful lady at this hour?”
“She’s too good for the likes of you. Be grateful, we’ll escort her for you.”
This is why such idiots also inhabit this place. I’m truly glad I didn’t let Mina go home alone.
“Don’t ignore us! Do you know who protects this town?”
Moreover, it’s not just drunken idiots who are bothering us, but some thugs who have a lot of misconceptions. Frankly, it’s a waste of time to deal with them, but this kind of person will only get bolder if they see weakness. However, I can’t lay a hand on them either, so it’s annoyingly problematic. They’re simply impossible to reason with. In short, I want nothing to do with them, from the bottom of my heart.
“What are you yelling about?”
Just as I was thinking that, several Hunters who seemed to be their companions came out of the bar. About a third of them are women. Snake Bite was all men, but considering the gender ratio in Helios Orb, this is normal, or perhaps even on the low side.
“This guy is ignoring us!”
“Hoh, you dare to defy the Noble Diars? You’ve got some nerve.”
What Noble Diars? They’re just thugs.
I guess I can’t just ignore them any longer.
“Sigh… I never imagined the Hunters in Feel would be so idiotic…”
“Who are you calling an idiot?!”
“You, of course. I just arrived in Feel, so I haven’t figured everything out yet, but I hear that some people don’t accept Guild requests, resort to violence immediately, and even arbitrarily take food and potions by making up excuses.”
“We’re not exactly based in Feel. To be honest, we don’t care what happens to this town, or even this country.”
“But they sealed off access to the town due to an An, so we can’t leave either. In other words, we’re trapped.”
“Normally, we wouldn’t care about a town that’s trapping us, but we’re protecting it. So, this is the least we deserve.”
They’re not just idiots, they’re scum. I have no choice but to provoke them a little and capture them.
“You guys, how can you call yourselves Hunters while spewing such selfish logic? Ah, I see. You’re just emboldened because you have the utterly hopeless Hunter’s Master backing you up.”
“What are you saying? Aren’t you the idiot here? If the Hunter’s Master says white, then it’s white even if it’s black.”
“That’s just idiotic. A mere Guild Master can’t possibly hold that much power. Furthermore, a report is to be sent directly to the Grand Hunter’s Master. When that happens, the Hunter’s Master will be finished, and as those who rode their coattails, you’ll all be finished too.”
“So how are you going to report it? We finished Viscount Archlight’s Wyvern, and there are Ans outside. The moment we go out, we’ll be eaten.”
Oh, I heard something interesting. Capture them alive, then.
“That was quite a story. Well then, good night.”
“Huh? Gyaaaaaaah!!”
I activated the fire-attribute B-rank wide-area targeted magic, Shock Coat, and the so-called Noble Diars convulsed and fainted as if they had been tasered.
“I can’t believe the Noble Diars killed Viscount Archlight’s Wyvern…”
“The rest is up to the Order’s Guild. Come on, let’s head to headquarters.”
Or so I thought, but it seems they heard the scream, and I can see several Orders running this way.
“Stop! But… Mina? Why are you here?”
“Good work. Actually…”
Mina explains the situation to the female Order who seems to be the leader. Information about myself and Prim seems to have been communicated within the Order’s Guild, so I wasn’t particularly suspected. However, when the topic of Viscount Archlight’s Wyvern came up, the Orders’ expressions quickly turned to anger.
“These guys are responsible for Viscount Archlight’s Wyvern!”
“This is a more serious matter than expected. Someone, go back to headquarters and get reinforcements. You can ask the substation for help too.”
“Understood!”
One of them quickly heads back to headquarters to relay the message. Mina should ideally help, but the Orders, with very kind expressions suggesting they understand everything, gently declined, and we decided to return to the Silver Ore Inn. On our way back, Mina’s face turned bright red, but I wonder what all that was about?
