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The arrival of four unfamiliar figures, clearly foreigners, drew the watchful eyes of passersby. They eyed the group suspiciously as they walked down what passed for the main street in Sirent—a mere town by Amitia’s standards, with a roughly gravel-paved road.

Despite their youthful appearance, the passersby maintained a cautious distance, their curiosity tinged with unease.

“It’s getting late, so let’s find an inn for the night and check out the shrine or whatever tomorrow,” Joey proposed, and Fiore signaled her agreement with a raised hand.

“That works. I’m curious about staying in a common inn. It’s too much hassle to go back to the castle or find a fancy hotel. Let’s just stay nearby.”

Hiyuki supported Joey’s suggestion with enthusiasm, almost as if persuading someone. “I’m merely the princess’ guard, so I follow her wishes,” Shizu nodded, accepting Hiyuki’s stance without question.

“Let’s start looking for that inn, then. Hmm…”

Joey scanned the main street and noticed a robust stone building that stood out among the rest. He identified it as an inn by the characteristic sheep-designed signboard hanging from the eaves and pushed the door open.

Inside, they found a simple setup resembling a pub, with a hearth and basic tables and chairs.

“Hello! We’d like to stay the night, is anyone there?” Joey called out towards the deserted counter, his voice echoing until a grumpy old man emerged from the back.

“A group of four… planning to stay, are you?”

Sensing potential issues, both Hiyuki and Fiore wore expressions of dismay. Joey, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned as he casually began to negotiate with the old innkeeper.

“——”

The innkeeper scrutinized the group, particularly noting Hiyuki and Fiore’s refined appearances. He then nodded curtly and stated, “We have one large room available. It’s 5 silver per person, so 20 silver for all four of you, or 30 if you include meals.”

Each silver coin was valued at approximately 1500 yen, putting the cost for four people at about 40,000 to 50,000 yen in total.

“Thirty silver for four in one room? You’re joking, right? At least provide separate rooms for the ladies.”
“If you don’t like the price, feel free to find another inn.”

Joey attempted to bargain, but after the innkeeper’s firm response, he turned to the group, his expression querying, “What do you all think?”

“I-I can share a room with Master. I mean, we’re used to taking turns keeping watch outdoors, so it’s not much different. And I-I trust Master.”
“Same here. Besides, you’re too much of a wimp…ahem, I mean too cautious to try anything funny.”
“Rest assured, any funny business and arms will be flying.”

“Arms… flying?” Joey shivered at Shizu’s ominous warning but eventually relented and paid the lodging fee.

◆◇◆◇

A manservant led the four to a room on the second floor designated for four people. However, the room contained only two beds; the manservant proceeded to lay out two thin mattresses on the floor, effectively offering a two-person room for the price of four. After briefly consulting with each other, the group agreed to secure all their belongings in their «Storage Bag» before leaving the room.

“Seriously, we paid so much only to end up in this shabby room. In Alra, we could have each had a luxury room with a bath for this price.” (Fiore)
“Oh, is that so?” (Hiyuki)

This was Hiyuki’s first experience in such a modest room, even if it was an inn. She turned to Fiore, who was unusually agitated, to ask about it.

“I guess this is what they call a rip-off, huh? He probably jacked up the price because he saw we aren’t locals.” Joey shrugged, resignedly dragging his thin mattress to a corner of the room away from the girls.

“It’s a common tactic in rural areas. They probably reserve the better rooms for nobility or other honored guests who might arrive later.”

“Wouldn’t it have been satisfying to fling a gold coin or a jewel in that old man’s face as a comeback?”

“…That would mean picking a fight with another customer, which isn’t advisable. Plus, we’d make ourselves prime targets for future rip-offs if we set such a precedent.”

Joey shook his head at Hiyuki’s suggestion, dismayed. Suddenly, he noticed the room had fallen silent and looked up to see three pairs of eyes admiringly fixed on him.

“Incredible insight, Master! I hadn’t thought that far ahead… I’ll definitely remember this!”
“Unexpected. I was convinced your brain was made of jam. Well, perhaps I should revise my opinion of you… from -600 to -500.”
“The same Joey who seemed so clueless when we first met, who I thought was a complete dolt, is finally making sense. They say, ‘A man can change in three days if you don’t see him,’ and it seems to hold true.”

The group voiced their appreciation for Joey’s astuteness, although he himself seemed dissatisfied with the recognition.

“I can’t believe you all thought I was an idiot… But Hiyuki, it’s merely ‘observation,’ plain and simple!”

◆◇◆◇

Hiyuki and her companions arrived at the inn just after 4 PM. With no significant attractions nearby and the day drawing to a close, they opted to stay in their room, spending five hours strategizing their next day’s activities. By the time they concluded, it was well past 9 PM, and they decided to head down for dinner.

Hiyuki sighed deeply, sinking into a chair in the corner of the crowded pub on the first floor, propping her chin on her hands.

“Hmm, is it normal for meals to take this long to prepare?”

For Hiyuki, commoner food was a luxury, contrasting sharply with her usual unconventional diet. Accustomed to having three meals a day since her human days, she was eager to try the local cuisine. However, the lengthy wait from ordering to serving left her muttering in frustration.

“Perhaps. Inns usually prepare meals for everyone at the same time, so they might be waiting for more guests to arrive before serving.”

Prompted by this, Hiyuki scanned the room, noting its occupants: soldiers, knights, merchants, coachmen, and local residents like farmers and artisans mingling among them.

“I see. It’s about efficiency then—feeding everyone at once with minimal effort.”

The tavern’s tables could seat eight, but no one dared join the group of four. The other guests stole glances at them as if they were rare specimens.

Fiore appeared uneasy under the scrutiny, while Joey, accustomed to such attention, remained indifferent. Hiyuki also ignored the stares, and Shizu, viewing all humans as mere prey, was utterly indifferent.

Dinner was eventually served, comprising solid bread, watery sour wine, a mysterious meat soup, rice porridge, and some additional meat. They ate in silence, each displaying a distinct expression: Joey looked accustomed, Fiore resigned, Shizu apathetic, and Hiyuki determined.

Dinner, served dish by dish, took two hours to complete, feeling more like a drawn-out ordeal than a meal. Afterwards, Hiyuki and the others returned to their room in pairs, where they promptly indulged in sweets and juice to cleanse their palates. Seated on the beds and thin mattresses, they sighed in relief.

“Still, isn’t their behavior a bit too standoffish? After all, we even have an official letter from Sirent itself.”

“Well, I can’t blame them for doubting he’s the reincarnation of a hero,” Shizu remarked sarcastically, casting a sidelong glance at Joey as he sulkily munched on a marshmallow.

“If that’s the public sentiment, I doubt we should expect any better from them.”
“That makes sense.”

At this point, Hiyuki appeared somewhat resigned, sensing the futility of their venture.

“Though we haven’t gleaned any insights about the Holy Kingdom of Aeon as hoped, we’ve also encountered no obstacles. As long as we remain on their good side, we should be fine,” Hiyuki concluded, resigning herself to potential setbacks.

◆◇◆◇

A massive longsword was lodged in a stone statue, modeled after the Meylan Aries but rendered with exaggerated grotesqueness, towering three times the height of an average person. The statue’s sinister appearance seemed to embody the essence of an ‘Evil God.’

The sword, embedded deeply in the statue’s chest—giving the impression it might animate at any moment—was weathered and worn by the years, yet it held a mysterious serenity and its steel still gleamed.

A young girl, about fifteen or sixteen, stood before the sword. She whispered to it, grasping the hilt with delicate hands, as if communicating with an unseen presence.

“Indeed, the hero you’ve awaited for so long is finally near. Soon he will be here, and you’ll regain your freedom… it’s only a matter of time.”