Fluffy Bathrobe
Rumiel slowly looked around the inside of the hotel. As befits the name “Sleeping Tree Hotel,” the interior was filled with a warm, woody aroma. The walls and pillars were all made of sturdy wood, and candles and lanterns cast a soft light, illuminating the space cozily. The gloom unique to the underground village wasn't felt here at all. The hotel interior was surprisingly cozy and neat. The floor was spotlessly clean, and small potted plants placed here and there added vitality to the space.
When Rumiel approached the counter, a middle-aged man with a round belly greeted him cheerfully.
[Lv. 30 Bart]
“Oh, a new guest! Welcome!”
He greeted with a lively voice and took two keys from the shelf, placing them on the table.
“Are you here to get a room for the night? We have two types of rooms in our hotel.”
He held up one key and explained.
“This is the key for the regular room. You can use it for just 500 gold. It has clean and basic facilities.”
Then, Bart held up a key with a bit more decoration.
“And this is the premium room. 1000 gold. It's larger than the regular room, has a fluffy bed and a bathtub with hot water. Plus⋯⋯”
He added with a mischievous smile.
“The premium room is, well, a room for certain special guests. It's worth trying out once.”
Rumiel thought for a moment.
The price difference was double compared to the regular room, but the premium room was worth it.
First, the effects were superior to the regular room.
Basically, using the chair item to rest would slowly recover HP and MP, but if you slept in the regular room, the effect would be double, and in the premium room, the recovery speed would be even double.
Moreover, staying in the premium room for more than 10 minutes would reduce fatigue, making it quite useful for players exploring dungeons for long periods.
And, the most important point.
If you choose the premium room, a hidden quest that can only be progressed inside the room opens up.
This quest was a hidden element that only activated when certain conditions were met, and the reward was quite good.
Rumiel reached out and picked up the key for the premium room.
“Premium room, then.”
“Hoho, good choice.”
Bart nodded with a satisfied face and counted out the gold with his large hand.
Rumiel stared at Bart counting the money in amazement.
Just like at the food stall earlier, and now too.
He hadn't taken the gold out of his inventory and handed it over, yet the payment was complete.
Up until now, he hadn't thought much about it, but thinking about it, it was quite strange.
Originally, in the game, to use gold, you had to open the shop UI and select.
But now, there was no such process.
Just saying “Premium room,” the gold disappeared from the inventory, and Bart was counting it by hand.
Rumiel thought for a moment but couldn't come to a conclusion.
After counting the gold, Bart nodded satisfiedly and said.
“Got 1000 gold for sure. Here, the key. If you go up to the second floor, you'll see it right away.”
Rumiel took the key.
A small metal key. On the surface was engraved ‘2F-01’.
“Rest comfortably, adventurer.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Rumiel answered briefly and headed towards the stairs.
The stairs going up to the second floor were made of old wood, creaking with each step.
Following the handrail slowly up, a long corridor appeared.
The hotel's corridor created a cozy atmosphere. Framed pictures hung here and there depicting figures who looked like past adventurers, and faint moonlight seeped through the windows.
Rumiel slowly walked the corridor, glancing at the framed pictures on either side.
In the frames were portraits of individuals who could be seen at a glance as strong beings.
A warrior with intense eyes, a mage waving a long robe, an archer shouldering a large bow, a paladin holding a sturdy shield.
All of them maintained their dignity even in the old frames.
“⋯⋯These pictures.”
Rumiel looked at the pictures.
Because the appearances of the people in the pictures were familiar.
Memories from the past flashed in Rumiel's mind.
These weren't just simple warriors or mages.
They were legendary beings called the strongest in each era.
And the people who created the most important events in this game's world view.
The final boss of this game wasn't a being that could simply be defeated like a typical RPG villain.
It was impossible to “eliminate” him, and the only solution was “sealing.”
And it was these people in the frames who performed that sealing.
It was the core of the main quest and an event frequently mentioned in the early part.
But since the player couldn't directly experience the past, it could only be partially confirmed through books or records.
Rumiel quietly ran his hand over the frames.
The antique wooden frames, the faintly faded pictures.
It felt like they had been watching over adventurers here for a long time.
Rumiel quietly reached out and looked at the bottom of the frames.
Under the old wooden frame, faintly engraved writing came into view.
[Human's End, End of Growth.]
[Heroes who achieved 200 levels.]
Rumiel shrugged lightly and walked again.
The room was right in front.
When he inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it, the door opened smoothly.
The sight of the floor with thick carpet, warm lighting from soft candles, and the large bed in the center of the room came into view.
On top of it was laid fluffy white bedding, and on one wall was a subtly glowing fireplace.
It felt more like entering a room in an old noble mansion rather than a hotel.
After entering the room, Rumiel lightly stretched his body.
This place, where warm air gently enveloped him, was completely different from the cool atmosphere unique to the underground village.
Somewhere, a soft herbal scent was felt, and the fluffy mattress of the bed looked comfortable at first glance.
Rumiel closed the door and opened the inventory.
Short window appeared, and the various items Rumiel had collected so far were aligned in front of him.
Among them, what Rumiel selected by moving his fingers was.
[Fluffy Bathrobe]
“Wear.”
Instantly, the clothes changed lightly.
A soft sensation wrapping the body. The pleasant feeling of warm fabric brushing against the skin.
This light but well-insulating clothing could only be obtained through the hidden quest that could be performed in this premium room.
Rumiel lightly raised his arm to look.
The sleeve ends were slightly loose, and due to the soft material wrapping the body, a slight warmth seeped in with each movement, feeling good.
When he first obtained this robe in the game, he had thought of it as just a 'theme outfit'.
But now that he could actually wear and feel it, the satisfaction was much greater.
However,
“This outfit, I could only get it once⋯⋯.”
Rumiel suddenly thought that.
This bathrobe was a rare outfit obtainable only through the hidden quest.
In other words, once obtained, it couldn't be acquired again.
But, a memory suddenly came to mind.
“Lillian's quest could originally only be received once, but this time it could be received again.”
Then,
Could the hidden quest also be performed again tomorrow morning?
Rumiel propped his chin lightly and thought.
It was an item that couldn't be duplicated in the game, but in this world, it was working a bit differently from the game.
Like the Lillian quest, an event that should have ended as one-time could perhaps be repeated.
If so, if he performed the quest again here tomorrow morning,
He might get one more.
Rumiel's Babo-teol moved slightly.
She slowly walked towards the bed, thinking that it wasn't certain yet but she would give it a little hope.
Then.
Tomorrow morning, she had to check for sure.
She smiled lightly and laid her body on the fluffy bed.
“⋯⋯.”
Soft.
Instantly, her body sank deeply into the fluffy bedding.
It was warm and soft.
Unlike the cold air of the underground village, this room was appropriately warm, and the subtle heat from the fireplace gently enveloped her whole body.
Fluffy.
The clothes were fluffy.
The bed was fluffy.
She felt like the fluffy Demon King.
Rumiel rolled around a lot and looked at the ceiling.
The feeling of her body sinking deeply into the bed.
Rumiel's Babo-teol drew a faint curve.
Rumiel tossed and turned on the bed.
Her body was clearly tired, but oddly, sleep didn't come easily.
Lying buried in the fluffy bedding, but her mind kept spinning.
The events in the village, the burger at the food stall, memories from the ant tunnel, up to the underground village.
The events of the day kept coming to mind endlessly.
“Strange⋯⋯.”
Rumiel looked at the ceiling.
With such a good room, even a warm fireplace, why wasn't she getting sleepy?
Her body was fluffy enough to sink into the bed, and the temperature was just right.
But when she closed her eyes, her mind was clear.
“⋯⋯What is this.”
Rumiel lay on her side, lightly gripping the bedding with her hand.
The boingy sensation of the quilt was transmitted to her fingertips.
It was a pleasant sensation, but sleep still didn't come.
After tossing, she unconsciously hugged the pillow.
Thud.
The soft sensation of being enveloped tightly in her arms.
A feeling like warmth was being transmitted.
At that moment,
Her eyelids slid down.
“⋯⋯Ah.”
Rumiel pulled the blanket and hugged the pillow even tighter.
A cozy sensation enveloped her whole body.
After hugging like that for a while⋯⋯
Swoosh.
Her eyes closed.
And, Rumiel let out a deep breath and slowly.
Fell asleep.