Welcome to the Ghost Story Hotel
Lying on the fluffy bed, buried under thick blankets. Ignoring the time entirely, just letting myself drift off however I pleased. It had been so long since I'd rested like this that the memory was now just a hazy flicker.
Thinking back on it, probably not once since starting this journey. To save money, I'd only slept in cheap lodgings, which usually offered nothing but a hard wooden plank and threadbare quilts. On days when even that felt too extravagant, I'd curl up among the wagon's cargo, using my robe as a blanket to catch some shut-eye.
Of course, I had to skimp on food too, so every morning I'd hit the market early for the cheapest stuff, scraping together enough to make stew in the wagon by myself. If I hadn't done that, I'd have run out of cash constantly, turning into the kind of adventurer who scraped by day-to-day, eating and sleeping just enough to survive.
The grand ideals I'd started with would have faded away, leaving me as just another nobody. I really was pathetic. Leaving the warmth and peace of home for a journey that didn't suit me, everything I did was so stingy and small-time.
Adventuring life cost way more than I'd imagined, and the savings I'd scraped together working since childhood vanished fast. With my clumsy swordwork and half-assed adventurer act, making a living was brutal. Fail even one commission, and I'd have to cough up a penalty fee.
I'd seen a party member die to kobolds on a joint quest—trampled, screaming for mercy until his skull cracked open. Those eyes still haunted me. Confidence in the gutter, I couldn't even pick monster-slaying jobs; I'd clean sewers instead. The stench that made you gag, scraping walls alongside others as broken as me—those memories popped up often.
A mana-less hack adventurer like me? That's the kind of protagonist who wraps up in a bitter, overlooked tale, not even worth flipping a page for. No shining adventure story, no bright path ahead, despite all my hopes.
So why? I should've crashed and burned, story over. But here I was, with a bracelet on my scarred wrist. And in the hidden pocket inside my worn robe, two colorful orbs clinked together—clack-clack.
So I went back to sewer cleaning. Back to monster extermination quests. I blew my savings on sword lessons to build my pathetic skills. Ignored the sneers calling me worthless. Kept going until people started acknowledging me, cheering me on, until companions filled the spots around me.
Well. If we're being precise, grabbing my hand dragged them into my penny-pinching life too.
Anyway. Three years later, finally savoring a proper rest. Fluffy bed, thick soft blankets, quiet peaceful room. And a gentle hand stroking my forehead, excited breaths, the sound of swallowing...
"...?"
Hold up. There shouldn't be anything extra in a bed I was sleeping in alone.
I thought that as I opened my eyes and turned toward the sensations. There was Asha.
"..., Asha?"
"Yes, Ain. Sleep well?"
The excited breaths and spine-chilling gulps I'd felt so vividly through my half-asleep haze were gone now.
"I... thought I heard something weird."
"Huh? Maybe a nightmare?"
There was only Asha, beaming her usual sunny smile, gently stroking my forehead. Tilting her head innocently, looking oh-so-cute, like she had no idea what I meant.
"Mm, maybe..."
"You've been through so much for so long. I'll bring some warm tea to help you relax, Ain."
She said that, wiped the sweat from my brow with a handkerchief, got up from the bed, and looked back at me.
"Ah, yeah. Thanks."
"No need to thank me. It's only natural."
She flashed that bright smile again, opened the door, and headed to the kitchen—her back even graceful and kind. Guess that creepy feeling really was just a nightmare.
But. I'd definitely locked the door because I wanted to sleep alone for once.
"...?"
Or not. Hard to remember.
"Ain, I brought some warm herbal tea. Drink up and take it slow getting up."
"Ah, thanks, Asha. I'll enjoy it."
"Sure thing, Ain."
I just took the steaming cup from her and sipped. Fragrant and warm, it settled my mind nicely.
Life at the hotel had begun.
"Rookie, dining hall's almost closing and you're just now up? What the hell."
"No way... you waited without eating?"
"Nah? We all went and ate already. Pretty damn good. Not sure if golems are cooking, but the chef's got skills."
Horn grinned at me and patted his belly—thump-thump.
"...?"
"Eh, the lady next to you didn't eat, just waited. Go grab something if you're hungry. Forty minutes left."
With that, Horn sauntered off with surprising agility, and I turned to Asha.
"Why didn't you eat and wait?"
"Wanted to eat with you, Ain."
She straightened my bedhead as she answered.
"What if I hadn't woken up?"
"I'd have waited till you did, obviously."
She said it like it was the most natural thing, fetched my outer coat, and helped me into it.
Then...
"...?"
"Let's go eat, Ain. Eileen said it's as good as noble food."
Beaming, she took my hand first and stepped out of the room.
We reached the dining hall. On the way, we passed guests who looked like monsters, but Asha just glanced casually and led the way.
"Ain, elevator's slow—barely any time left."
Veritas Hotel Rule #2: Dining hall hours are 9 AM to 1 PM. Strictly adhere.
I checked my pocket watch—about 25 minutes left.
"Gotta eat quick."
"I'll grab what you like. Sit and wait."
"No, let's go together. How do you even know what I—"
"It's fine. I know everything."
She sat me down anyway, smiled, and went off alone to plate food. I sat there awkwardly, watching her.
Other latecomers like us ogled her face and chest while plating, faces flushing. Some idiots even tried talking to her; others sidled up like they were "helping," hands out.
"..., those fuckers crazy?"
I stood to head over, but no need. Asha mumbled something, and the creeps blanched, scattering. One burly musclehead even hiccuped nonstop—hic-hic.
"What the...?"
Words alone scaring them that bad? What'd she say?
Anyway. Asha coolly swept her gaze over them, then resumed plating. Soon she returned with a full plate.
"Ain, food's here. All your favorites—eat up."
"Uh, yeah. But what'd you say to make everyone... like that?"
Food could wait; I was more curious about her words.
"Oh... them? Just said no help needed, and they backed off."
"..., really?"
She glanced at me briefly, like gauging my reaction, then brushed it off with a sunny smile.
"Yeah, Ain. Ahh—try this."
"Ah—mmph.... Yeah, good."
"And this one too, right?"
"Yeah, but slow down... mmph. Mm, good, mmph..."
No clue if she was just feeding me my faves or trying to shut me up. Either way, right up to closing, she stuffed my mouth, beaming as I chewed.
So. How'd she know my tastes? They'd changed a lot over three years outside the Empire, but she nailed it perfectly.
"Asha, how'd you know I like those—"
"Oh, fourth floor. Let's go, Ain."
"Wait... uh, okay."
Of course, my question got buried under hotel interruption.
I gripped the necks of every guy approaching me with mana. My pupils' hexagrams spun subtly in response.
Of course, I kept the mana so fine-tuned that Ain, a bit away, wouldn't notice.
This much won't show from afar.
With blades at all their throats, I murmured softly.
"...Before I kill you all."
My eyes gleamed coldly as I continued.
"Get your filthy eyes and hands off."
Maybe because revealing my gray identity didn't draw those lecherous stares and grabs, it felt a bit easier.
Anyway, no one missed my warning. The creeps fled in an instant, and I went back to picking Ain's favorites.
Ah. Of course I knew his tastes. I'd rewatched the past illusions dozens of times in the duchy—memorized it all.