Half an hour later, elsewhere in the city…

Straf and his group are aimlessly meandering about in search of a place to stay. When he glances over his shoulder, he sees that Cycelia is barely awake, and Lily is struggling to keep her eyes open too. Only Nona seems to be somewhat unbothered, but she too shows signs of weariness in her amber eyes, which blink back at him when she tilts her hooded head. He looks ahead, stopping at a crossroads, and takes a quick look around.

Straf takes a turn down what seems to be a commercial district, with glimpses of bars and eateries visible through the open doors behind departing customers. The lanterns grow denser as the group walks deeper in, nearly blocking out the sky with their sheer volume. Moreover, some of the lanterns hanging by the sliding doorways have text painted on them in black ink. Straf walks past one, stops to take a look at it, then grimaces a little as he thinks, furrowing his brows.

Confused, Cycelia glances at the two complex characters on the lantern, then look back at Straf. He shrugs and nonchalantly heads for the building from which the lantern is hanging off of. Straf slides the doors open, and enters. As soon as he's in, he's met with a rather jarring smell of something vaguely, but not exactly herbal. It burns his nostrils, being almost unpleasant, but never quite getting that far. The fragrance must be an acquired taste, as the women inside don't seem to mind.

「Ah. Welcome, customer.」

One of the women behind the angular counter breaks her conversation, turning to Straf as he enters. She leans onto it with her elbows, revealing her somewhat exposed cleavage even further.

「How much for a night? I want four rooms.」

With his hands in his pockets, Straf asks as he steps up to the counter. The women behind it immediately furrow their brows in surprise, both at his words, as well as at Cycelia and the rest.

「A night?」

The large-breasted woman echoes back as her head recoils back.

「Yeah. A night. As opposed to?… A few hours?…」

A little confused at their reaction himself, Straf nods his head and shrugs.

「…So, do you have four rooms?」

He asks again, glancing at the three pretty, but grimacing women behind the counter. The three exchange troubled glances.

「…Customer, you might have the-」

One off to the side says, but then another right beside her covertly tugs at her sleeve and shakes her head, interrupting her.

The woman speaking to Straf takes notices, then turns her eyes back to him.

「For a night? Well, let's see…」

She thinks for a moment while looking at the women behind Straf.

「Ugh. What is that smell?… It's a little like a burning building.」

Lily remarks while pinching her small nose, greatly displeased by the lingering fragrance.

「It's strong, but I don't mind it… It's actually slowly growing on me.」

Cycelia replies in a hushed voice, smiling a little at Lily.

「Huh? What smell?」

Nona tilts her hooded head, blinking at the two with confused orange eyes.

「…Customer, we provide entertainment through the customers' stay. Are the ladies with you here to be… Entertained as well?」

The woman behind the counter asks Straf, then glances at the two beside her. They peek at Lily while she's talking with the other two, then turn their concerned gazes back to the woman.

「Huh? Yeah, no. They're all pretty wiped out, they'll fall asleep as soon as they're in a bed.」

Straf glances at Lily, Nona, and Cycelia, then points his thumb at them over his shoulder as he explains.

「I see… So it's entertainment just for you?」

She asks, leaning in a little further, speaking with a hushed voice.

「Yeah, I guess I'll see what you've got.」

With his mouth aslant, Straf throws his arms up into a wide shrug before placing his hands back into his pockets.

「I see… How does three gold sound, then?」

「Three fucking gold?…」

The woman asks, to which Straf immediately cringes in deep internal pain, placing his hand on his face.

「Yes, a little discount from us, since you will be the only one getting entertained.」

She replies, nodding her head. Another woman enters the room from a side passage, and approaches the counter with her hands in her sleeves and a curious gaze.

「…Three fucking gold is after a discount?… Why does everything have to be so fucking expensive here?」

Straf pulls his freshly earned coins out of his pocket, and drops three of them on the counter with a heavy, sad thunk as he grumbles under his breath.

「…So, which one of you will take care of our dear customer?」

「I'll do it.」

The woman at the counter scoops the gold coins away from Straf and turns her gaze to the other two. Before they can even open their mouths, the fourth woman with her hands in her sleeves chimes in, approaching Straf with her head gently tilted. As soon as she comes near Straf, a very sweet, pleasant fragrance fills the air, seemingly seeped into her sash-wrapped robes.

「Ah, Springflower… Could you? The ladies only want free rooms to themselves.」

The woman behind the counter finally notices the fourth woman, then nods up towards Straf's group.

「Of course, leave it to me…」

Springflower nods her black-haired head and walks past Straf to the stairs leading up.

「…Please follow me, dear customer.」

She says over her shoulder with a remarkably frigid and expressionless face, yet a warm and inviting voice.

「Yeah… Hey, Lia, Nona, Lily, we're going!… We got rooms.」

Straf nods, then calls out towards the girls. They interrupt their conversation and quickly follow after him. The workers all perk up at Straf's words, with Springflower glancing back as she climbs the stairs up ahead of him. She leads Straf up to a hallway full of wooden sliding doors, then turns around and waits with Straf for the rest to catch up.

「Here are the rooms for the ladies…」

Springflower says as she presents three closed doors with a sweep of her hand.

「…And here is yours, dear customer. Please follow me.」

She adds, and turns for a door a few paces away on the opposite side of the three rooms.

「Ahh… I'll be right there, give me a minute or two to handle something real quick.」

Straf says to the woman just as she reaches for the door. Her brows rise a little, before fully turning to Straf and bowing with her hands in her robes' sleeves.

「I understand… I will wait for you inside, then, dear customer.」

Springflower replies, then enters Straf's room, softly sliding the door shut.

「Right…」

Straf nods then turns around, only to see Lily crossing her arms, and all three staring at him with puzzled and somewhat expectant gazes.

「…What? What are you waiting for? Pick a room and get some sleep.」

He asks, quizzically spreading his hands.

「…These are our rooms?」

Lily asks, glancing at the three doors beside them.

「…Yeah? Is there a problem?」

Straf confirms with a light nod and a gently raised, confused brow.

「No, there is no problem at all. I will head to sleep, then. Goodnight, Straf.」

Lily shakes her golden head, then nonchalantly slides the closest door open and enters.

「Yeah, see you tomorrow, Lily.」

He nods and bids Lily goodnight as her pale face disappears behind the sliding door. Nona slides the door to her room, then tilts her head.

「Hm? Where's the bed?」

She asks, blinking her confused amber eyes at Straf. He walks up and takes a peek in.

「Ah, so it's like that…」

A little amused and with his mouth aslant, Straf rolls his eyes.

「…That's really to be expected… It's that flat thing in the middle, Nona. Their beds are a little different. It's a cultural thing.」

Straf replies while looking at a mattress covered by a blanket in the center of a mat-floored room.

「Huuuuuuh? They sleep on just that!?… That's really weird!…」

Nona's brows shoot up as she points at the eastern bed, and walks into her room.

「…Goodnight, Straf.」

「Yeah, goodnight.」

She turns around and says while gripping the door, to which Straf replies with a nod with his hands in his pockets. Her amber eyes disappear behind the door as it shuts.

「Okay… Still want that sword?」

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Straf asks, turning his eyes to Cycelia. She nods her chestnut head with a tight-lipped grimace.

「…Alright. I'll just pull your baggage out for the night, then. Make sure it's all packed back up before we leave.」

「Okay…」

He adds, and nonchalantly slides the door to Cycelia's room open. He walks in, then reaches into his [Portable Storage] and pulls her baggage out.

Thunk!… Crrrrrreak!…

The mat creaks and deforms somewhat as he sets the large baggage out down on the ground, raising his brow at the sound. He shrugs, then heads for the door.

「Goodnight, Lia- Ah. I almost forgot… This is a pretty expensive, high-end inn. They entertain guests, apparently. I told 'em you're all too sleepy for that, though…」

Straf exits into the hallway and grabs onto the door, but then his head perks up, and he begins explaining.

「Eh? Really?… Yes, I don't think I'm in the mood for any games, plays, or music…」

Her emerald eyes widen in mild surprise, before slowly drooping back down to their previous, obviously fatigued state as she gains a little smile on her face.

「Right… Speaking of music, she might get something out. I'll humor her a little and listen, but I'll tell her to keep it down. If it's too much, feel free to stop by and let us know.」

He adds with a shrug and a bored gaze while watching Cycelia retrieve her sword from her baggage.

「Right… Okay. Goodnight, Straf.」

Cycelia nods, fiddling with her sheath for a few moments, then peels away the blanket from the mattress on the floor.

「Yeah, goodnight.」

Straf replies, then slides the door shut. He turns for his own room, then slides its door open.

「I'm back…」

He announces as he walks in, and shuts the door behind himself.

「Welcome back, dear customer…」

Springflower bows while kneeling by a very low table. There is a white ceramic bottle with a broad, flared mouth on the table, as well as two small cups. A three-stringed instrument similar to a guitar lies on the mat right beside her. She straightens out to meet Straf's bored gaze with her frigid eyes. He lazily sits down just across the small table.

「Just a quick note, the girls are trying to sleep, so if you're going to play that, better do it now… And try to keep it quiet, will you?」

He says, pointing his thumb at the door over his shoulder.

「Of course, dear customer… Will you be drinking? We have very fine sake… It's included in the costs.」

Springflower nods as she takes the instrument into her lap and prepares to play it, before tilting her head slightly to ask a question, pointing her hand at the white bottle.

「Tsk… Son of a bitch… Yeah, if it's included in the costs, it'd be a waste not to, huh?… Go on, play the best tune you can think of, and make it quick.」

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Straf leans onto the table with his elbow and hurries the woman along. She nods, and returns her hand to the strings…

…

Five minutes later…

…Plink!

The woman flicks the string with her index finger, all while constantly maintaining her expressionless face. She lifts her frigid eyes up to Straf, who is nodding his head in approval, albeit with his mouth aslant, and still staring at her with bored, and somewhat unimpressed gaze. She sets the instrument back down by the unoccupied space at the table, where it's harder to reach.

「…Not bad. That's enough, though. Lily must be getting murderous thoughts already.」

Straf remarks, takes the cup into his hand, then reaches for the bottle with his other one.

Springflower snatches the bottle before his hand even gets near, and shuffles over closer.

「…Would you like me to drink with you, dear customer?」

She asks while carefully pouring the clear liquid into his waiting cup.

「Huh? No fuckin' way I'm sharing that. For three gold, this better give me crazy fucking buffs…」

Straf replies with his eye narrowed and mouth corner raised in ridicule. He shakes his head a little, then throws the entirety of the small cup's contents into his mouth.

「…Yup, it's booze.」

He remarks after a few clicks of his tongue, tasting the vaguely fruity, sweet drink. He looks in the corner of his vision, and gains a tight-lipped grimace.

After a second, Straf shrugs and holds his cup out for a refill. The woman smirks ever so slightly, and obliges.

「…May I ask you for your name, dear customer?」

She says, raising her eyes up to his while she pours his drink.

「Straf. Katastrof. Vindict… But I doubt you've heard of me, and I'm pretty tired of hearing that.」

Straf enunciates his name, then takes another gulp and holds his cup out again.

「I see… I will remember that name… Where do you come from, Mr. Straf? What do you do?」

She asks with a very faint smile while pouring more, and once again glances into his eyes.

「…From the west. And I do everything… Seriously, everything… But doing everything was pretty fucking tiring and bad for the pacing, and now I'm here…」

Straf hesitates for a moment, then returns a vague reply.

「…Seriously, if I had to do another magic school arc, I'd have to call in a bomb threat. I wonder how he'd deal with that.」

Straf mumbles to himself, and takes another gulp.

「I have guessed, yes… Those women with you… You are their guide?」

She asks, raising one brow. Straf mirrors it.

「Why does everyone keep asking if I'm a guide or some shit? Do I look like a local?…」

Straf asks, narrowing one eye at her while she pours him another drink…

…

Around the same time, in Cycelia's room.

…Plink.

The muffled music comes to a stop, and Cycelia glances at her closed door.

《…I'm so tired, but I can't sleep.》

She thinks, and lets out a long sigh as she rolls in her bed.

《…What kind of entertainment does this place provide, anyway? I know the culture is different here, but do people really come to inns to be entertained, and not to eat and rest?…》

Cycelia ponders while her eyes aimlessly drift around the darkness, resting her cheek on her pillow.

《…Straf isn't the type of guy to ask for special entertainment, is he?》

She thinks as her heart begins to beat faster, and her brows furrow in worry.

「Ngghh… What am I thinking? I'm a terrible person… Straf takes me along on a trip and takes care of everything, and I'm doing this again…」

Cycelia groans as she violently rolls in her bed like a wild haybale tumbling downhill.

「…Heh.」

《…It does feel kind of nostalgic, though.》

She lets out an amused, self-conscious huff from her nose, before turning her concerned emerald gaze towards her door again…

…

A little over ten minutes later…

「…By the way, do you know of any places that exchange drakes? I've got drakes, but barely any gold and silver.」

Straf asks after taking another gulp, clicking his tongue in his mouth to savor the taste.

「Drakes?… Like the western money?…」

Springflower asks, tilting her head while pouring another. She glances down at the cup with a frigid gaze.

「Yeah yeah yeah, exactly. Know any?」

Straf nods, pointing his finger at her, before splashing the contents into his mouth.

「…Well, I know her Divine Embodiment's palace always seeks foreign money. They offer favorable rates, too.」

The woman replies after a moment of thought, then pours more sake into Straf's cup. She then weighs the bottle's contents in her hands, furrowing her brows very slightly.

「Her Divine Embodiment?… Who the fuck, or what the fuck is that?…」

Straf asks and tries to take another gulp, but ends up splashing most of the contents over his lips. He furrows his brows in confusion, wiping himself on a reflex with his hand.

「You've never heard of her Divine Embodiment?… Her incarnation lives at the palace, where she guides us through challenging times.」

Springflower appears a little surprised by Straf's question, raising her brows and tilting her black head as she pours the rest of the bottle into Straf's cup.

「Yeah, okay, but what fucking palace? I saw some really big place up on a mountain…」

Straf nods, quizzically spreading his free hand as he struggles to bring the cup up to his mouth. He helps himself by lowering his head a little, and sips the contents while she watches.

「…It looked like a palace to me. Was that it?」

He asks, clicking his tongue over and over as he furrows his brows with a puzzled look on his face.

《…Hold on, why is my tongue numb?-》

Thud!

Straf thinks as he collapses on his back, staring at the ceiling…