Chapter 104: Just Go
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: Just Go
"Ugh."
What a tiring morning. Beside me, Sera was fast asleep, the blanket pulled up to her chin. Faint streaks of sunlight began to leak through the gaps in the closed curtains.
It had been a while since I’d last drank, but I didn't have a headache. My body had automatically activated Ursus's Liver, breaking down the alcohol in an instant. My lower back and shoulders were a bit stiff, though. It was just muscle fatigue, anyway.
I shifted my form to use different muscles and moved around a bit; my body returned to normal immediately.
As I was washing up in the en-suite bathroom, Sera must have woken up. She called out my name piteously from the bedroom.
—Yoo... Yoo Eon...?
"Sera! I'm in the bathroom! Just rest a little longer!"
—Mm... Okay....
Perhaps she thought I couldn't hear her, because a desperate wail and the sound of blankets being kicked frantically echoed from outside the bathroom.
—Stupid, stupid...!! I'm such an idiot...!!
It sounded like she had buried her face in a pillow, but my hearing is just too good for my own sake. When I finished my shower and stepped out, Sera greeted me wrapped from head to toe in the blanket like a kimbap roll, the fabric damp in patches.
"H-Hello..."
"Yes. Good morning, Sera."
"I don't think it's a good morning..."
"Haha..."
Her face was still flushed bright red, and she couldn't even meet my eyes. She had been so good at eye contact when we first met; she seemed much more embarrassed now than she was back then.
"Sera, you should wash up first. It's already morning. We have to head back to the inn."
"Mm... Okay...."
Still wrapped in the blanket, Sera scurried toward the bathroom with short, quick steps. She poked her head out for one last peek at me before disappearing inside.
Since we had taken most of our clothes off before the actual foreplay, the clothes themselves were fine, but Sera's excuse for underwear had been damp all night.
Fortunately, the coat I was wearing was long enough that it reached down to the middle of her shins. If she buttoned up the front tightly, it would be fine.
"The bed is..."
It looked like a father who’d enjoyed a rare beer had paid a visit. Calling it a 'world map' would be an understatement; this was more like a 'galaxy map.' I felt a bit sorry for the person who had to clean it, but then again, isn't that what they're paid for?
Since this was an expensive place, I trusted they would be professional about it.
* * *
Dressed in my suit trousers, a white dress shirt, and a vest, I left the room first. Sera wasn't quite ready yet, but I headed down to the first-floor lobby to handle the checkout.
"Room 304, correct?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Understood. We will finalize the checkout in one hour."
Surprisingly, the costs had been prepaid. I thought the women's clothing was expensive, but it turned out Ms. Ariel had a scheme. The price of the clothes apparently included the cost of using this place.
"Terrifying..."
The payment was settled, and I hadn't forgotten anything. Upon checking out, I received the items I had left in their care: the dirndl and leather boots Sera had originally been wearing. I wondered if I should go back up and give them to her now, but she’d be wearing the coat over everything anyway.
I was waiting for Sera on a sofa in the lobby when a woman sat down nearby and struck up a conversation.
"You're quite handsome, aren't you?"
"Pardon? Me?"
"Yes, you. Haven't you heard that before?"
"Ah... well. Occasionally... Thank you...?"
"Hehe."
The sudden compliment caught me off guard. The woman sat on the sofa next to mine, swinging her legs in the air as if waiting for someone.
'A pink-haired one.'
In this world, where the spectrum of hair colors is as varied as a box of crayons, it was surprisingly the first time I’d seen that specific shade.
"What's your name?"
"My name? Why do you..."
"I'm just curious. My name is 'Terry.'"
"...I'm Aven."
"Aven? I see!"
I thought she was waiting for someone too, but after chatting for a moment, she suddenly stood up and headed for the exit.
"What was that about..."
Even as she walked out, I felt her glancing back at me. Are there a lot of eccentric people like that in the Northwest? It was strangely chilling, enough to give me goosebumps.
"Yoo Eon... did you wait long...?"
"Ah, you're out? It's fine. I didn't wait long."
As expected, with the coat wrapped around her and buttoned up, her outfit was a reassuring sight with less than ten percent skin exposure. She was still wearing the high heels, which couldn't be helped, but it was fine.
"Shall we go, Sera?"
"Yes... Okay...."
At the 'Chateau,' if you pay a little extra, they provide a carriage for arrivals and departures to anywhere except the Southeast. And so, we boarded the carriage back to the inn, starting a journey that would take about an hour.
Sera dozed off repeatedly on the way, so there wasn't much conversation. To be honest, it was a relief. If we talked now, there wouldn't be anything to discuss except what happened last night.
I spent the time admiring Sera's sleeping face, and before I knew it, the carriage had arrived at the inn. I woke her gently and we stepped out, where we were greeted by Tresha, who was out early sweeping the front yard. To be precise, she ignored me and greeted Sera intensely...
"S-Sister! Welcome back!"
"Ah... Tresha.... You're up early...?"
"O-Of course! Hurry, let's go to your room!"
"Tresha, wait. Take these clothes."
I handed the paper bag containing the clothes to Tresha as she tried to lead Sera away. She checked the contents and then looked at me with eyes full of bewilderment.
—S-Sister..! Are you not wearing anything underneath right now...?!
—No..! It's—it's not like that...
They whispered back and forth. I could hear them perfectly, but I pretended not to.
'Having hearing this good is quite inconvenient...'
I went up to the second floor and opened my room door, only to find Father sleeping on my bed. He was wearing his usual frumpy white tank top, and since his upper body was so small, he had no bottoms on. He was sprawled out like a dead frog with his belly exposed.
"Wait, Father. Why are you sleeping here? Father?"
"Ugh... Is the lad back...?"
A puddle of drool, smelling of Father's alcohol, stained the pillow I’d kept so clean. I picked up the half-conscious Father, laid him down roughly on the hallway floor, closed the door, and changed my clothes.
The fancy clothes were nice, but comfortable clothes are always best.
When I finished changing and opened the door, Father's forehead went thud against the wooden door.
"M-Marta?!"
He rubbed his reddened forehead, looking around frantically as if he thought Auntie had hit him.
"Father, get up now. Why were you sleeping in my room?"
"Ugh... Marta said I smelled like booze and told me not to come into the room...."
He scratched his belly with his right hand while his head kept nodding off. He kept mumbling something under his breath... but since his body was currently that of a child, it couldn't be helped. Physically speaking, he was at an age where morning sleep is precious. I put him back on the bed for now and went down to the first floor.
With no schedule for the day, I was enjoying a rare moment of leisure. Though my head throbbed slightly at the thought of explaining the situation to Auntie once she woke up.
"Come to think of it, I wonder what happened to Delbaheim."
Delbaheim was nowhere to be seen in the inn. It seemed she had returned to the Mayerbridge Union Clan after finishing her work the previous evening. We had our terms, but it was only right to thank her.
"Phew."
I went outside, picked up the broom Tresha had tossed aside, and swept the front yard. I straightened the slightly disarranged chairs and checked the kitchen supplies; it looked like we were running low on meat.
I moved the existing stock to the front and replenished the supply with fresh meat from my skill.
After a while, Sera and Tresha came out of their room, and Auntie finished washing up and headed to the kitchen. Soon after, the breakfast guests came down from the second floor. Because we were so busy, there wasn't much time for conversation.
It was around 11 AM when most of the work was finally finished. Tresha, having finished cleaning the dining area, approached me.
"Brother."
"Ah, Tresha. What is it?"
With a rare, solemn look in her eyes, she stood there with her arms crossed, glaring at me while a fidgety Sera stood beside her.
"Are you going to take responsibility for my sister?!"
"Huh...?"
Father, who had been listening nearby, looked back and forth between Sera, Tresha, and me.
"Did you make a baby?"
Whack!!
He was retired by a long-range ladle strike to the back of his head. Undeterred, Tresha asked again.
"What are you going to do! About my sister!"
"T-Tresha..."
Sera tried to stop her by tugging at her sleeve, but Tresha had no intention of stopping.
"You d-did it with her, didn't you!"
"Well... Tresha..."
"You k-k-kissed her!"
"Uh..."
Tresha's face turned bright red. She was so embarrassed that steam practically rose from her head.
"Haha... Of course I have to take responsibility...."
"I-I'll be watching you!"
With that shout, Tresha dragged Sera away toward the hallway.
"Wait, where are you going, Tresha?"
"Sister has a b-baby now, so she can't work! You do all the work, Brother!"
"Uh..."
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't even grab her; my hand just hung in the air. Father, who was rolling around on the floor, approached me and asked:
"What are you going to name it?"
"...Just go, Father."
"Got it."