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After we parted with Temuru, we headed towards Gadius’ store that we were told about in advance. It was an important place that would become our inn from now on.

It was a decently wide site a little deeper in from the main street. On those grounds was an inn with a big enough horse parking lot to hold several carriages at once.

It stood three stories tall, and had both a stable and a sturdy-looking warehouse. It was a little too big for an ordinary inn, but with Gadius’ assets in mind, it was probably on the modest side instead.

Like the rest of us, he also had the Evil Dragon materials in possession. His assets rivaled a small kingdom.

“Well, this simplicity and fortitude is Gadius’ style.”

It had a swing door that was left half-opened. This was probably to show that they were in business and also in consideration for the clients to enter more easily.

As we found the store, I heard gulping sounds from beside. It came from Cloud and Michelle.

The two hadn’t seen anything aside from the Adventurer’s Guild in Raum, so they were nervous.

“It’s okay. It’s Lord Gadius’ inn, so nothing unexpected should happen.”
“But big sis Finia. What if we get involved with scary Adventurers there…”
“If that happens, Cloud will put his body on the line and protect us.”
“Huh, I’m the one doing it?!”
“That is the dependability a man should have. Please do your best.”
“Big sis Finia, you are actually quite merciless aren’t you…”

Finia had complete trust in the Six Heroes, so she wasn’t that nervous. In the first place, Cloud and Finia had received training from Gadius, so they knew very well what kind of person he was.

They should know full well that Gadius wasn’t one to treat the kids entrusted to him by his friends half-heartedly.

“Come now, we’ll bother people if we just stand here, so let’s go and greet him.”
“That’s true. We’ll be living here from now on after all.”
“So yeah, Cloud, you’re up.”
“Me again!?”

Cloud got cold feet at the last moment. It was natural that he was nervous still, considering this was the inn where one of the Six Heroes lived.

Passing the door with awkward steps and entering the dim interior, an orthodox pattern of bar plus diner came to sight.

On the other side of the dwarven-use counter that was a level higher than the hall, a dwarf that was polishing a glass—Gadius, glanced towards us.

After realizing that it was us, his stern face twisted into a big smile. It honestly looked scary.

“Oh, you have finally arrived!”
“Gadius, we’ll be in your case.”
“Of course. Your room has been prepared on the second floor. You are fine with single room I take?”
“Yeah, thanks.”

Seeing Gadius unusually welcoming, the other guests who were currently dining raised shocked voices.

“What the… that Gadius actually laughed?”
“Who are those children?”
“There are some awfully adorable kids among them… Could they be his illegitimate children?”
“Don’t be an idiot, how could an illegitimate child be so cute!”

Gadius was showered with all kinds of jokes, but he apparently couldn’t forgive that last comment after all, he took a potato prepared for cooking and threw it towards the customer with terrific force.

“Shut your traps you damn fools. These are the children entrusted by my good friends. I will not forgive anyone who tries to mess with them.”
“Friends?”
“You had friends?”

That careless comment cost that customer another potato. Huh, I was wondering how he could do business with his unsociable nature, but it looks like he’s getting along with his customers just fine.

But I think it was a bit too much to knock out customers with every throw. Look, Michelle and Finia are shrinking back.

“Uhh, Gadius, no need to go so overboard, okay?”
“Worry not, they are not dead.”
“Are you worried about us… The solace of heart that this inn needed has arrived!?”
“Flowers finally blooming in this inn? I wonder if they will wear waitress clothes for us?”
“Oh s̲h̲i̲t̲, I’m getting excited!”
“You lot, do you want another potato?”
“We’re good!”

The customers bowed their heads all at once. Looked like his training had an effect.

“Oh, right, the rest of your rooms are prepared too. Here are your keys. Make sure you do not lose it. Go and greet everyone too. They are still your seniors even if they are like that.”
“Ah, okay.”

I took four keys from Gadius, and twirled around at the counter.

“Err, I’m Nicole. Let’s get along from now on.”
“She is Lyell and Maria’s daughter. If you lay your hands on her you will not live to see another day… Or rather, you will wish you were dead.”
“Huh, you mean…?”
“Yeah, the daughter of those heroes.”
“Seriously!?”

Hearing about me, the place turned noisy.

“While we are at it, I suppose it is in her blood, but she has quite the mastery of the blade. Do not underestimate her.”
“G-Got it, nice to meet you!”

The senior Adventurers bowed with their hands raised. I was relieved that they seemed to be quite the affable bunch.

In some places, Adventurers tend to hate and get rid of their rivals or try intimidating them. But the ones at this inn seemed to be a friendly bunch.

“I’m Cloud. I am a shielder for the most part. Nice to meet you.”
“He is also my disciple. Do give him strict training.”
“Uhh, I’d rather you go easy on me?”
“Do not be such a baby.”
“Huh, the old man’s disciple…? It’s surprising that you’re still alive.”
“Is Gadius really that strict?”
“I do not do anything so big.”

I could see how strict he was on the pale expressions of the Adventurers. Cloud’s training was pushing the limits too, so I guess it was in dwarf’s nature.

“I’m Michelle. Err, let’s get along.”
“So cute.”
“So big.”
“I want her as my daughter.”
“If you touch Michelle, I’ll be the one to kill you.”
“Thank you very much!”

How should I put it, were the Adventurers of this inn really alright in the head? I started to get a little anxious. I felt something in them that reminded me of Raum’s Adventurers.

“I am Finia. Good to meet you.”
“Please be my wife.”
“Umm, I belong to Lady Nicole.”
“I smell yuri!”
“Finia, that was a bit misleading don’t you think!?”

The customers were fueled by our introductions in a strange direction.

There were some who got too worked up and tasted Gadius’ potato strike, but they were still fundamentally a good-natured bunch, so it was a relief.

Looking at the state of things, the weak-willed Michelle and docile Finia would do fine here.

There didn’t seem to be anyone holding prejudice against half-demons either. Gadius had also filtered out people and chose this kind of bunch as his regulars.

And with that, we had come to take up our residence in Stollar.