54 - CHAPTER XII -- A TORQUE INNER WITH HEAVY HAND

After leaving the Adventurers' Guild, I finally take a break. I feel like I've overdone it, and I'm a little nervous about the future, but I guess I'll just have to let things run their course.

"Yuta. Are you heading to the inn already?

（Yeah. I need to take a break and call Bell and the others.)

No one is around, but he lowers his voice and talks to Sylphy. It's a hassle, but I don't want people to look at me like I'm crazy.

We head for the inn we've been told to go to with the map. Ertina says that it's a bit pricey among the middle class inns, but the food is delicious and they put a lot of effort into it. I'm looking forward to it.

Yuta. What should we do about the person from the Adventurers' Guild who is following us at a certain distance?"

...... tailing you?　I was briefed on the inn I'm going to by the guild, so I'm sure they know what they're doing, so what's the point?

(What kind of person is he?)

"You seem to be lounging around, adventurer style, chilling in your store, but you're clearly aware of us."

So Sylphy can spot a tail. That's reassuring. The question is whether the Adventurers' Guild sent the tail to keep an eye on me, or whether Karl and the others are trying to take revenge, or if there's a third force I don't know about... No, there is no third force. I don't know what I'm talking about.

(Sylphy. Can you keep an eye on that tail?　It would be helpful if you could also tell me what you're after.)

"Okay. I'll keep an eye out and see if I can find somewhere to report it."

（Thank you. Nice to meet you.)

I feel like a genie is the strongest ninja. Only those who have a high affinity with spirits can countermeasure against them, but spirits are everywhere in the town, so it seems difficult to countermeasure.

You said that it is rare for people to be able to talk to spirits, but I can dream of establishing an intelligence agency that holds all the world's secrets. ...... is kinda cool, but it's more trouble than it's worth. Let's live a normal and happy life. I don't know if I'm being followed, so I'll just wait and trust Sylphy.

The Torque Inn ...... is the place. The name "Gou-oum" makes me a little uneasy, but I hear the food is good and it looks nice. I open the door and enter.

"Welcome. Are you alone?"

Once inside, a chubby lady cheerfully calls out to you.

"Yes. I was referred to you by Eltina, is there a room available?"

"Oh. Ertina introduced you, so you're an adventurer, huh?"

Yes, I am. Well, I'm a newbie who just registered today.

"I didn't know that. ...... being an adventurer is hard work. You don't look like you've been training very hard.

Ohh. He's coming on strong. I feel something peculiar to aunties, something irresistible. I thought I'd gotten a lot fitter with all the earthworks and killing the undead, but I guess I'm not there yet.

"Well, I'm trying to make it work, don't worry."

"I see. Don't take it too hard. Oh, you're staying overnight. How many nights?　Ours is 12,000 elt including breakfast and dinner. 10,000 elts for an introduction to Eltina. My name is Martha. Nice to meet you.

He doesn't seem like a bad guy, but it's hard to keep up with the tempo of the conversation. However, I got the impression that Ertina was reluctant to introduce me, but I wonder if I can ask her for a discount.　......Well, I'll do you a favor.

My name is Yuta. Martha, it's nice to meet you. Can I stay with you for the next seven nights or so?"

"Seven nights. Okay. But you're very polite for an adventurer.　Oops, I shouldn't have asked the adventurer to pry into his past. Sorry."

You're a spirited man. You talk and talk and talk.

Seven nights in the labyrinth city will give you a head start. We should buy some things so that we can improve our living environment in the land of the dead.

No, that's all right. Here's 70,000 elts.

"Yes. Sure. We pride ourselves on our cooking. Have fun. Hey, Kark, you got a visitor, show him around.

Oh, yes. I'm looking forward to it."

Mr. Martha raised his voice and called out "Kark," and a boy came running.

"This way, brother!"

Apparently, he's going to show us around. I was glad to see an innkeeper who seemed to be at home or ...... well, not too fussy.

Here is my brother's room. Here's the key, don't lose it."

He just said what he wanted to say and ran off. Is it because he doesn't listen to me, or is it because he's of Martha's blood?　Open the door and enter the room.

The room is about the size of ...... six tatami mats. There is a bed and a small desk. ...... There is not much stuff, but it smells of civilization. Oh no. I'm going to cry.

I touch the bed nervously for some reason. Wow. It's a little hard, but it feels like a proper bed. I thought a straw bed would be enough. I've been licking other worlds. I'm sorry.

"Sylphie. This bed is decent, but is this what bedding is like in this world?"

"What?　I've never used bedding before, so I don't know the details, but it's roughly the same as the beds we have here. Of course, there are luxury beds and cheap beds."　

"Is it a luxury bed or ...... what kind of bed is it?"

Maybe there is a higher level of civilization than we think. I'm not sure what this bed is made of.

"If you are interested, I can take you to a store that sells bedding. But the expensive ones are made of expensive materials, so they are quite expensive.

"Hmmm. I would like to have a bed in the fountain house, and I need other things as well. I'll wait to get a luxury bed when I earn more money and buy the things I need for my daily life.

The bed in the inn is comfortable enough, but there's also a sofa, a table... Dishes, cooking utensils. Clothing, protective gear, knick-knacks. Grains and other foodstuffs. We need seasonings. We'll have to earn our keep. Then again, I guess I'm lucky in a way that my troubles at the Adventurers' Guild paid off.

So... how's the guy who followed you?

I saw him enter the inn and now he is back at the Adventurers' Guild. I'll let you know if anything happens.

Did they really want to make sure we were staying at this inn?　He pulled out soon, so I guess we don't have to worry about him too much.

"Thank you. Please."

I thank him and lie down on the bed. Oof. It's nice to have a soft back. And I'm glad I don't get sand on my face when I roll over. I'd like to go back to sleep, but Belle and the others are probably waiting for me, so I'd better summon them.

"Okay, I'll summon them. Let's all go for a walk."

"Hmm. I guess so. I think she'd like that."

First, we should summon Belle. I imagine Bell in my mind and summon her. With a pop, Belle appears in front of me. It only takes a second.

"Yoo-tah. Belle came!"

I hold her in my arms and nuzzle her cheeks. Her cheeks are nice and chewy.

"Belle, wait a minute. I'm going to call Rain, Tulu and Tamamo.

"Yes, sir."

With a docile Belle in his arms, he summons Rain. She rubs her head against him. He strokes her head, calms her down, and then tucks her in. She summons Tamamo, too.

We've arrived safely in the labyrinth city. Were you guys good?"

"I was a good boy." "Queue." "Yes." "Coo."　

I pampered Belle and her friends with plenty of pampering while listening to their cheery replies. I missed them a lot even though I was away from them for only half a day or so. Am I dependent on them?

"Okay. Let's all go for a walk in the labyrinth city."

Walk... cue... take a walk... coo-coo...

"You can't answer me once you're outside. And I can't give you anything too expensive, but if there's anything you want, just let me know."　

He answered cheerfully, "Yes," but he didn't seem to understand very well.

"Sylphy, let me know if you find something you want too," he said. Let me know if you find anything else that would make a good souvenir for Dine and the others.

"Hmmm. In our case, we'll be fine if we give them alcohol. If you can find a liquor store, can you buy some liquor for us?"

Sylphy, you're not so sure?　You told me to give myself alcohol. ...... Well, it's easy, so that helps. I'm kinda lonely.

"Okay. I'll make sure to get you a drink while I'm here."

When I say this, her cool-beauty face breaks into a smirk. That was really easy. You say so yourself.

"Well, let's get going. We don't have a specific destination in mind today, we just go into the stores we see and buy what we like.

I'm sure Martha will give us a lot of information if we ask her, but it's a labyrinthine city. It would be fun to walk around without any prior knowledge of the city.

I leave my key with Martha at the counter and walk out of the inn. Dinner is supposed to be served in a couple of hours, but there is still enough time for a walk.

I think it would be more trustworthy to buy armor from a store I've been introduced to, so I decide to look around for food this time. We wander through the labyrinth city, gawking at the chemomimis and tails. It's fun just to look around.

"Yuta. The person who followed us reported to Guilmas of the Adventurers' Guild. From what I have heard, it seems that the purpose was to confirm Yuta's whereabouts.

(Copy that.) Thank you.)

I'll whisper my thanks. I was so fascinated by this otherworldly city that I forgot I was being followed. Well, it seems to be all right.

I wander around aimlessly until I come to a street lined with food stalls. Yikes. I love the smell of burning meat. The desire for meat that I had been suppressing is released at once.

"Yuta. I want some of this!" "Queue!" "Meat!" "Coo!"

The belles were already waiting in front of the skewer stall with their desires in full swing. They were quick. I nodded to Bell and the others and called out to the man at the stall.

"Hey, old man! What kind of meat is this?　How much for a stick?"

Even as I ask, my eyes are glued to the meat. It looks like chicken. The fat from the meat is dripping onto the fire and smoking. Yakitori. ...... can't get enough of it. Too bad they grill it over regular wood. I would have asked for charcoal.

Welcome. Is this your first time in Labyrinth City?　This meat is from a bird called a rough bird that can be hunted on the sixth level of the labyrinth. It's cheap and tasty, a specialty of the labyrinth city. It's a specialty of the Labyrinth City.

Chicken, after all. Yakitori and premium beer to commemorate your arrival in the labyrinthine city. Shall we?

"Wow. Is it a specialty? Then I'll eat it.

I pay 2,000 elt and make small talk with the guy at the stall. Bell and the others are free and uninhibited, peering into the grill and sitting on the man's shoulders, and my heart is pounding inside.

What's that?　BELLE. Lane. You're drooling. Tamamo, my tail is on fire. Are you okay?　Tulu waits quietly, his eyes focused on the meat.　

Finally, he receives the grilled chicken and puts it in his magic bag. He is disappointed that Belle and the others don't eat it right away, but he can't make a ghost story out of a yakitori floating in the air in a busy place.

We pick and buy a little bit of food we like at the street stalls. I stow them in my magic bag. The belles pull me back to the inn. Everyone seems to want to eat meat right away. Well, I'm not complaining because I'm the same way. I want meat now.