"Sir, this is your room. It's the most comfortable and luxurious chamber you'll find in the entire town, of course, except for the Lord Mayor's bedroom," The bartender, while making a humourless joke that wasn't funny at all, showed Ash his room. The room was on the second floor of the tavern.
This wasn't merely a simple room; it was a privilege. The second floor housed the tavern owner and his daughter, making it essentially their private residence. Granting access to this level signified the bartender's respect for Ash or his wealth.
While not vast by modern standards, the room was quite spacious for its time. Roughly 15 feet by 20 feet with high ceilings reaching 10 feet, it provided excellent air circulation and a sense of openness. The centrepiece was a magnificent four-poster bed. The frame, constructed from sturdy oak, was intricately carved with geometric patterns. Upon the bed lay a thick straw mattress layered with feather ticks for softness, all topped with luxurious fabrics. Fine linen sheets, perhaps even some rare silk, promised a comfortable sleep. Woollen blankets and possibly even a fur pelt provided warmth, while decorative pillows stuffed with feathers or down added to both comfort and visual appeal.
Ornately carved chests adorned the walls, offering ample storage for the guest's belongings. A sturdy writing desk with a high-backed chair sat positioned near the window for optimal natural light. In a corner, a washstand held a basin and pitcher, with a chamber pot discreetly hidden behind a tapestry.
For lighting, during the day, sunlight would stream through strategically placed windows with panes of oiled parchment, offering a brighter alternative to torches. At night, flickering candlelight in ornate sconces on the wall would provide a warm and inviting ambience.
On the left side of the room, there was an open private bathing chamber from which you could see the main door. Tucked into a discreet alcove, a wooden tub lined with hammered copper sat on a raised platform. A large clay jug filled with warmed water rested beside it, and fragrant lavender sachets were scattered amongst the plush towels.
The bartender, who seemed to know about his wealthy patron's taste a bit too much, also set up a stone hearth in a strategically placed corner of the room, further combating the evening chill. A polished brass mirror on the wall allowed the guest to check their appearance, and a strategically placed rug woven from imported wool added a touch of colour and comfort underfoot.
Overall, Ash could only gape in awe at the luxurious setup. Never in his wildest dreams had he envisioned such a beautifully decorated room. Now, Ash had to admit the bartender had a quite heavy taste. For this single reason alone Ash had to give him a silent thumbs up in his heart. Although he didn't know how much the bartender charged for this kind of luxurious room for a day, it shouldn't be something his meagre two-digit coins could afford.
It seems my acting skills are better than I thought, Ash mused as he observed the room more thoroughly, particularly the warm water in the bathtub, wondering when the bartender had heated it.
"Now, if you don't intend to sleep with me, then please go and do your work. I require no further assistance," Ash, still immersed in his role of a rich young master, said to the bartender with a poker face, who had even followed him into the room, clearly giving the wrong idea.
Clearly flustered by Ash's remark, the bartender stammered, "Ah, yes, of course... My apologies, Sir. If you need anything, you'll find me at the counter. Have a pleasant stay." With an awkward smile, he hurriedly exited and closed the door behind him.
"Phew, fooling people is such tiring work," Ash muttered with a chuckle. He quickly locked the room from the inside before throwing himself onto the comfortable bed. "F*ck, so soft!" he exclaimed with emotion. "Compared to my bed at Grandma Linda's house, the difference is night and day. Rich people always have a way of enjoying life to the fullest, no matter where you go." He rolled around on the luxurious bed, then got up, tossed his clothes aside, and headed towards the bathtub.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
"Sigh," Ash sighed wistfully. "If only there were also certain 'special' room services, then maybe I could finally say goodbye to my virginity. Alas, I'm probably expecting too much from a small tavern..."
...
[ GAME OVER ]
"Hoo boy, I finally feel refreshed! Time to face those two ogres and complete the quest." Ash's face stretched into a wide grin, one that even the pain of slitting his own throat couldn't erase. He casually closed the notification in front of him and hurried towards Jacob's farm.
"By the way, now that I think about it, how the hell did they find me? As far as I remember, I didn't make any noise and was hidden behind the bush the entire time. There's no way they could have seen me," Ash mutters confusedly. Now that his mind had taken enough rest, a lot of things he ignored previously started appearing in front of him one by one.
Maybe because ogres are different from humans? Their senses of hearing and smell should be more powerful, right? Since I was sitting in one place for too long, that empty-headed bastard, Dolf, may have smelled my scent and found my location. Hmm, that explanation makes sense. Next time, better stay further away from them, Ash thought and knocked on the door of Jacob's home.
While Ash was thinking hard, the door swung open, revealing a grumpy-looking Jacob. "Oh, it's you, brat. What do you want? Don't tell me Ronald kicked you out of his shop after seeing how big of a fool you are, and now you want to work for me again?" Jacob taunted as soon as he saw Ash, without any hesitation as if he'd been waiting for weeks to say those lines. which wasn't surprising, considering Ash had abandoned Jacob after only two days without even saying goodbye.
"Please don't tease me, Uncle Jacob. As if you don't know any better! Uncle Ronald is a very nice man and appreciates a hard worker like me. Even if I asked him to leave, he wouldn't let me go easily, let alone kick me out. Anyway, I have a request, but I'm not sure if you can fulfill it." Ash hesitated slightly, unsure how to ask about buying a sheep.
"Just spit it out, boy, don't waste my time. Since a certain brat left me alone, I have to take care of the sheep and other chores by myself. I'm not as free as you seem to be," Jacob spoke with his usual coldness and heartlessness, with an expressionless face. He held the edge of the door as if Ash hesitated any longer, he'd definitely slam it shut on his face.
"Well, someone asked me to buy a sheep, and I was wondering if you could sell me one? There's no requirement for age or health, as long as it's a sheep, it should be fine," Ash spoke hurriedly, fearing that if Jacob really got pissed off because of his hesitation, then he might have to die one more time just to buy a sheep.
"Oh, you want to buy my sheep, and without any requirements at that? You're not planning to use it as a sacrifice for some black magic ritual, are you?" Jacob frowned suspiciously, his gaze intense as if trying to pierce Ash's mind.
"I..."
Suddenly, Jacob burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Just as I suspected, an empty-headed fool! Can't you understand a simple joke? How could a pussy like you possibly perform black magic? Forget black magic, even if you could manage to learn some normal causal magic, I am willing to give you 100 coins... That lowly Healing spell, of course, doesn't count. That useless spell even a child can cast."
Ash watched, speechless, as Jacob laughed and taunted him in broad daylight with a serious expression that didn't look happy or sad. It was hard to understand what he was actually trying to achieve. If Jacob couldn't express joy, then maybe he shouldn't try at all. No one was particularly interested in seeing him smile anyway.
While inwardly cursing Jacob's entire family, Ash maintained an expressionless face, mirroring Jacob's own. He now understood: that when dealing with a strange old weirdo like Jacob, it was better not to play cards according to common sense.
Seeing Ash's blank expression, Jacob, who had actually laughed with something resembling genuine amusement for the first time in years, quickly turned serious and cold again. He realized he was just making a fool of himself. Clearing his throat, he brought the topic back on track.
"So, you want to buy a sheep, huh? No problem, that's one of my main businesses, otherwise, why do you think I raise so many of them in the first place? You can pick one for 100 coins." Jacob said indifferently, leading Ash towards the shed.