“We didn’t make it in time for the stagecoach, did we?”
Arriving in the city, Rachel slumped onto the ground, dropping the backpack full of heavy luggage. Kent and his companions had been in a hurry to leave the forest to get to the daytime stagecoach after obtaining the “Fairy’s Tear”, but they were repeatedly attacked by monsters along the way. In the end, they arrived in the city after the daytime stagecoach had already departed. Most of the monsters were repelled by Al, but a few large, unpleasant bees had attacked, all of their potent insecticide being used up.
“Well, it can’t be helped that we didn’t make it. We have time until the night stagecoach departs, so we’ll have to do something to kill time.”
Kent said this, and they decided to think about how to spend their time.
“For starters, let’s do something about this luggage. I wonder if they have temporary luggage storage at the stagecoach stop?”
“That’s right. Shall we ask?”
Even if they were to spend time in the city, it would be too inefficient to move around with heavy, large amounts of luggage, so they decided to look for a place that could store their luggage temporarily. However, to their relief, they found out at the stagecoach information center that temporary storage was available for a fee. Their immediate problem was solved.
“It’s good that they’re holding onto our luggage. I didn’t want to wander around town with this, so it’s a lifesaver that it’s nearby.”
Rachel, now lightened, said happily.
“I’ll be resting here. Please, Master and Lady Rachel, go out together by yourselves.”
“Understood. You’ve been working nonstop. Please rest well.”
“Thank you for everything, Al. Well then, we’re off.”
Kent and Rachel told Al this and decided to take a stroll through the city.
“They seem to have left. As expected, I’ve used too much magic power and I’m at my limit. I would have liked to refill my magic power directly from Master, but seeing the two of them getting along so well, I can’t just barge in. I have no choice, so it’ll be inefficient, but I’ll generate magic power by bathing in the light.”
Al chose a spot where the sun shone well among the benches placed for passengers waiting for the stagecoach, lay down, muttered this, and fell asleep.
“Hey, hey, Older Brother, where should we go?”
“Let’s see. It’s not that big of a city, so I don’t think it will take long just to look around. Let’s check things out randomly.”
“That’s right. Then let’s eat something first. We were in a hurry, so we didn’t have lunch either. I got hungry once I calmed down.”
“In that case, let’s go into a restaurant.”
“I agree!”
The two decided to have a late lunch, as it was already past noon.
“Welcome! Just the two of you? As you can see, it’s empty now, so please sit wherever you like.”
Kent and his companions decided to enter a restaurant nearby. Upon entering, a vigorous old man welcomed them and guided them to a seat.
“Then, Older Brother, let’s sit here.”
“Yeah.”
Rachel sat at an empty table seat, and Kent sat opposite her across the table.
“Well, well, I haven’t seen your faces around here before. Are you traveling to this city or something?”
“Something like that.”
“I see, I see. This city only has hot springs for tourism. Are you heading there next?”
“Hot springs…?”
A woman, who seemed to be the owner’s wife, came out to serve Kent and his companions. They had actually come to this city as a relay point to search for the “Fairy’s Tear,” but when they pretended to be tourists to go along with the conversation, the madam seemed to think they had come to visit the city’s hot springs and told them about it. Of course, Kent and Rachel hadn’t researched anything about tourism in this city at all, so Kent, upon hearing about the existence of hot springs, couldn’t help but ask for clarification.
“Oh? You didn’t know there were hot springs? Did you notice the large chimney standing further down the street in front of this shop? There’s a facility there where many people can soak in the hot water and heal their fatigue. It’s a tourist facility, so the price is a bit out of reach for us commoners who live in the city for everyday use, but it’s popular among tourists who visit here. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
The madam said confidently.
“Older Brother, it sounds interesting. Shall we go after we eat?”
“That’s right. Shall we go?”
“Oh dear, I’ve been talking so much that I haven’t taken your order. I’m so sorry. What would you like to order?”
“Madam, what do you recommend at this restaurant?”
“Oh dear. Please don’t call me ‘Madam.’ This is a casual dining hall, so don’t use such a grand name.”
Saying this, the madam, with a happy-looking expression, said.
“Well, the dishes using wild boar and deer meat are delicious. There are plenty in the forest near this city, so the prices are cheap.”
“Oh. Then, please leave the dishes using those ingredients to me. What about you, Rachel?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Sure. By the way, how much do you want to eat, customers? If you eat a lot, I can bring you larger portions.”
“Normal is fine.”
“Me too, normal is fine.”
“Sure. Please wait a bit until it’s ready. You heard the order, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I’ve already started cooking.”
The madam shouted to the old man from Kent and Rachel’s table to pass on the order.
“Here you go. Since you left it to me, I’ve prepared something that will give you plenty of energy.”
“Energy… thank you. Then, let’s eat.”
“Yes, let’s eat.”
The madam placed the finished dishes in front of the table and said this. Although the madam called it something that would give them energy, she had prepared something to invigorate the two of them, who looked tired after walking around the forest, and they ate the food without much thought.
“This is delicious, Older Brother.”
“Yes, it is. The seasoning on this meat is excellent.”
The well-seasoned meat dish was just right to blow away Kent and Rachel’s fatigue, and they felt they should have ordered a large portion instead of a regular one.
“Thank you for the meal.”
After that, the two silently brought the food to their mouths and finished eating very quickly. Then they paid the bill and left the shop.
“Are you sure it was alright? From what I heard you talking, you sounded like siblings?”
“Yes, for young people to come to a place like this, it must be an elopement. Since they ate plenty of energy-boosting food, they should be able to enjoy themselves a lot once they get to the hot springs. Youth is wonderful.”
The old man and the madam watched Kent and Rachel’s retreating figures.
“Older Brother, is it here?”
“Well, it definitely is.”
As the madam had said, as they proceeded down the road, they found a building with a large chimney standing imposingly.
“It looks like a building that’s a mix between a public bathhouse and a hot spring inn.”
“That’s right. It looks like we could stay here too.”
Kent and Rachel felt that the building was the size of a medium-sized inn.
“Let’s go in for now.”
Rachel said this and passed through the gate. Kent followed her.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“No, we don’t have a reservation. We heard about this facility in town, so we stopped by.”
“Is that so? Thank you. Then, allow me to explain our facility.”
When they opened the door and entered, a woman employee greeted them.
“Our facility is a bathing facility that utilizes relatively hot water called onsen, which springs from the ground. We have two types: a large public bath for general use and private rooms for individuals or groups. We also offer lodging. However, the large public bath is currently undergoing cleaning and is unavailable. Therefore, while we do accept lodgers, we cannot accommodate those who wish to bathe only at this time. Private rooms can be used for bathing only.”
“Did you hear that, Older Brother? What should we do?”
“We have to be back by tomorrow morning, so staying overnight is impossible. That means we can only bathe, but they said only private rooms are available and since we came all this way, shall we try a private room?”
“That’s right. Since we came here, after all. Then, please, just the use of a private room for bathing.”
As Rachel said this to the female employee, she looked at them with a slightly suspicious gaze.
“Excuse me, but using a private room requires a substantial amount of money. From your appearance, you don’t look like aristocrats or wealthy individuals…”
“Hmm, it’s true that our clothes aren’t very clean right now since we just came back from the forest, but isn’t it cruel to judge people by their appearance?”
Having spent two days trekking through the forest, their attire was by no means neat. The female employee had assumed they were lodgers who would use the relatively inexpensive public bath, but when Rachel mentioned using a private room, it was understandable that she felt they were just stopping by without any money.
“First, we need you to tell us the price so we can determine if we can afford it.”
Since they needed to know the price before they could decide, Kent asked the female employee for the cost.
“For a single room for two people, with bathing only, it is one gold coin.”
“It’s cheaper than I thought. I expected it to be more expensive.”
“Eh?”
The female employee exclaimed in surprise at Kent’s reaction.
“Then, one gold coin.”
“Ah, yes. I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I will prepare your room now, so please wait a moment.”
Seeing Kent pay in cash, the female employee was taken aback. Realizing her poor service, she hastily apologized and proceeded to make arrangements for their room.
