Chapter 19
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
As I swing open the door and enter the building, I see a spacious dining area inside, with a staircase leading to the second floor and a reception counter next to the entrance.
I had heard that this place was an inn, so I guess the second floor is where the guest rooms are, and they handle the reception here.
Well, right now, there’s no one at the reception desk… maybe because all the rooms are fully booked?
”Welcome! Would you like to eat?”
A woman, likely a shop employee, asks me with a rather casual tone.
I can’t confirm she’s an employee because she’s not wearing a uniform.
But… all the shop employees I see moving around inside are beautiful women, and their eclectic outfits are quite eye-catching.
Among them, I notice a distinctive feature that sets them apart.
Some of them have something like a scarf wrapped around their necks, while others don’t.
Their outfits are all different, but the scarves are all red, which is quite intriguing…
”Uh, excuse me?”
As I look around the shop, I’m asked again by the employee, and I respond with a bit of hesitation.
”Yeah, I’d like to eat.”
”Okay, well, even if you ask about the inn, there are no vacancies. So, please take a seat at an empty table.”
”Okay, thanks.”
As I try to pass by the employee, she whispers to me in a low voice.
”Just so you know, looking is free, but touching or taking someone to the room is a paid service, okay?”
I realize I was staring at the ‘scarves’ and other things, and it seems she noticed.
She didn’t seem angry, but rather like she was giving me a warning or explaining the shop’s rules.
Well, with that explanation, I’ve confirmed that this shop is… a ‘certain’ kind of shop.
The sign outside didn’t indicate that, and I’m curious about the pricing, but for now, let’s focus on eating.
Today, I earned a decent income, and knowing the food situation in the city isn’t a bad idea.
I need to be careful, though… Even if I make something using “Imitation” skills, it’s hard to tell if it’s a fake or not, and I might be able to use it to make money.
But for now, I’m making a living in the dungeon, so that’s not an option.
So, I sat down at the counter seat, which was empty, and the shop assistant came over to take my order right away.
This person doesn’t wear a scarf, huh.
”What can I get for you? If it’s a special course, it starts from 5000…”
The minimum price is higher than the inn’s rates, at least.
”Since it’s ‘from’…” the price will probably go up depending on the time and such.
But is this expensive or cheap…?
According to the adventurers who came back from the outside town, the prices in this city are pretty high, but… well, I’m here to eat.
”For today, I’ll just have a normal meal.”
”Huh? You’re a newbie, and you’re short on cash?”
”Yeah, that’s about right. So I want something decent, but not too fancy.”
”Okay. How about a 500-coin set? If it’s any cheaper, you might not get full, and the flavor will be weak, and it’ll be a waste, you know?”
”Sounds good to me.”
”Okay. When you have some extra cash, I’ll take your order too, okay?”
The shop assistant said that and headed to the back, and soon brought out the food.
Tonk!
”Here you go. This is a service, by the way~♡.”
Squish, squish…
As the shop assistant placed the food in front of me, she raised my left hand and said “ah, thanks”――and she naturally make me to touch her chest..
As I sat down, I had already taken off my leather gloves, so the sensation was only blocked by the fabric, and when the food was brought out, judging from the sway… it seemed like it wasn’t fixed in place at all, and maybe she wasn’t wearing any underwear underneath her bra either.
What a delightful service, but is there no problem?
She’s trying to be discreet, not letting the other customers see, but from the counter, it’s clearly visible.
I thought so, but it seemed like the counter staff only came over when they were serving food, and it was a timed service.
The service ended in about 10 seconds, and my left hand was released.
I heard that touching is also charged, so I thought this might be a free sample, and I only paid for the food.
As I glanced around, I saw people giving what looked like tips, and I considered doing the same, but… I had just said I didn’t have any spare money, after all.
Of course, there was no further service, and the shop staff left with “that” thing, which was quite large and had a certain sensation.
If I get the chance… I’ll see her again, or so I thought.
Anyway, let’s switch to eating.
The set consisted of bread and stew, with the bread being a bit hard and the stew containing a decent amount of meat and vegetables.
Considering the time it took to prepare the stew, it was probably worth the price.
However, based on my current standards…
In my past life, if I didn’t have time, I’d just drink jelly drinks or nutritional supplements, so I don’t have any complaints about the quantity.
As for the taste… is salt the main seasoning?
The vegetables were ordinary, familiar ones, and the meat was rabbit.
I’d never had it in my past life, but I’ve had it in this one.
Well, since I don’t remember my past life yet, it feels like this is my first time, though.
The bread is a bit stiff, but I can still feel its softness.
If I use this kind of money, will I be able to get bread as soft as it was in my past life?
Hmm… if I create high-quality goods with “Imitation,” I should be able to make a decent profit.
It’s going to be a hassle, and I won’t be able to trade directly, but…
I can use Magic Armor to disguise myself, so I should be able to trade with someone without revealing my true identity… but that’s a story for after I’ve stopped being an adventurer.
As I’m thinking about this, someone calls out to me from across the counter.
”You’re not going to eat anymore? It’s going to get cold!”
”Uh, yeah, I’ll eat now,.”
I respond to the store clerk and try to resume my meal… and that’s when I realize.
”Hey, aren’t you Ms. Linna?”
”You didn’t notice until now? I was watching from the moment you got service from Tirica.”
”Uh…”
So, it seems that the store clerk who brought out my food earlier is named Tirica.
I didn’t see Ms. Linna when I looked around, but maybe it’s just a timing issue?
I’m not particularly close to her, so I don’t have any reason to be guilty… but it’s still awkward.
Ms. Linna seems to have noticed my awkwardness and said,
”Well, it’s normal for good customers to get that kind of service. I don’t approach customers I don’t like, though.”
”Y-yeah, that’s true.”
At least, it seems that Tirica thinks I’m a good customer.
Maybe I should have tipped her?
After all, it’s not like we have a personal relationship, so there’s no need to avoid it in terms of business.
So, let’s put that aside for now. If Ms. Linna is here, I can confirm it.
”Ah, that’s right. What about the lodgings? I heard it was full when I entered the shop.”
When I asked that, Ms. Linna’s expression turned slightly awkward.
”Ah… well, it’s okay, don’t worry about it.”
”That’s a vague answer. Are you planning to put me up in some storage room or something cheap?”
She said she’d provide service, but I wonder if she’s planning to put me up in some unusual place like a storage room or attic for cheap?
”Ah, no, no! It’s not like that… just lend me your ear for a sec.”
She beckoned me, and as I leaned in, she told me about the unexpected lodgings.
”It’s… prepared, my room, but is it okay?”
Huh? Did the reservation get messed up, and when I came back, there were no more vacancies?
But when I decided to stay here, she said, “There’s a room available, anyway.”
So, does that mean I’m staying in her room as planned?
”Uh, are you lending me your room even though we just met?”
”Well, from what I’ve seen, you don’t seem like a bad person, and you’ve got some earnings, so it’s okay, right?”
I guess she judged that I wouldn’t be a thief or anything, given how much I’ve earned.
”That’s… well, the room itself is not a problem, but what about you, Ms. Linna? Are you going to stay in a guest room?”
I thought that maybe her room would be empty at night, and that’s why she could put me up.
I asked her, but she looked at me with a sly gaze.
”…I’m planning to sleep in the same room too.”
”Eh, is it okay? I’m a guy, too, and I can’t say I’m not interested…”
I asked her if she was worried about her safety…
”If it’s not good, I won’t get ‘tangled up’ in it.”
said Ms. Linna, her face slightly red as she pointed to the red scarf wrapped around her neck.
But I didn’t know what that scarf meant, so I didn’t get it.
She seemed to notice and explained the meaning of the scarf.
”Ah, people who wear this are saying they have a prior commitment or they’re not feeling well, so don’t hit on them. On the other hand, people who don’t wear this color or don’t wear a scarf at all are saying it’s okay to ask them out.”
”Hmm, is that a custom just around here?”
”I wouldn’t say it’s just around here, but maybe around this city area? At least, I didn’t see it until I came to this city from my hometown.”
I see.
The girl I helped at the city entrance, who was being bothered by some guys, wasn’t wearing one, so she must have come from a place where this custom doesn’t exist.
That means, from those guys’ perspective, hitting on her wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
Well, it did look pretty forceful, and she was refusing them, so I didn’t do anything wrong by helping her, but I guess I need to be more aware of these things from now on.
I mean, if wearing a red scarf has that kind of meaning, can’t it be used freely as a fashion statement?
I wonder who started this custom…but anyway, that’s Ms. Linna’s business for now.
”So, does that mean you’re turning down customers for tonight to accommodate me?”
”That’s right, but…today, I’m wearing it because I have a prior commitment.”
”Eh, a prior commitment means…”
At that point, she looked around and leaned in close, turning her ear towards me as she whispered.
”I did say I’d serve you, didn’t I?”
It seemed I was being treated like her ‘customer’.
There was no reason for her to go that far, but…it wasn’t like it was late at night or anything, and I couldn’t guarantee I could find a decent room from now on either.
Anyway.
After finishing my meal, I was invited to Ms. Linna’s room, and I decided to receive the service she had promised.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Report Error Chapter
by
Tags: