Episode 5. Welcome to the Ghost Story Hotel (9)
No one opposed the idea I proposed.
"Of course, this is still just a hypothesis, so today we'll experiment by breaking one of the usage rules. If the notices get redistributed tomorrow, we can get bolder from then on."
Everyone nodded as they looked at me, and Eileen was the only one beaming with a bright smile, saying it was a great idea.
"Then how about we start with the restaurant?! I want to eat three plates!"
"Hm... you sure that's okay?"
"Of course! What's the problem if we can eat a ton?!"
I envied her ability to think so simply, but my question was straightforward too, so I wished she'd catch on right away. And as if understanding my words immediately, Asha picked up where I left off and directed it at Eileen.
"After resolving the anomaly in the right-wing guest rooms, the right wing was completely closed off."
"Yeah, and?"
"Then, after resolving an anomaly in the restaurant, there's a good chance the restaurant will be closed too. You really okay with that, Eileen?"
"... Ah."
Only then did Eileen seem to realize, stopping her beaming smile and fidgeting movements.
"Doesn't matter to me. We've got plenty of ingredients, so I can just cook. No big deal."
"Ah, no, that's not okay...! Meals are important, we should keep the times... maybe break it on the very last day...?"
"Then just stay quiet now. You're distracting."
"Yep."
Asha's indifferent words made her slump, peeking at the wall clock before flopping onto the bed.
I smiled gratefully at Asha and continued.
"Like Asha said, breaking a usage rule might close off that space. So even if there's an issue, we should start with the less inconvenient ones."
"Then the fourth floor's best. If it gets closed, it'd actually be even better, right?"
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too."
The rules I had in mind to break first were numbers 6 and 7. Rule 6 about going in groups of at least two, and rule 7 about the fourth floor—both seemed the safest. And since I was prioritizing the fourth floor too, I nodded and stood from the sofa.
"So Asha and I will head to the fourth floor."
"Just you two... Hm. Actually, yeah, that works."
"Exactly. But feel free to keep worrying if you want."
"Whatever, kid. It's not even dangerous anyway."
Horn looked at me worriedly, then glanced at Asha linking arms with me and grinning, his concern vanishing as he flopped down indifferently.
But now wasn't the time to lounge on the bed.
"It's 10 o'clock anyway. Let's all go eat."
"Food!"
"Food!!"
Now we had to enjoy the mealtime that was down to just one hour.
And so.
Ten minutes to descend from the 32nd floor to the 2nd. Another ten minutes lining up behind the crowd rushing in since mealtime was so short. I stroked the heads of the three kids, who were on the verge of tears over wasting those precious twenty minutes.
Finally our turn came, and the three grabbed a plate each in both hands and started piling food like mad.
"I'll get the meat!"
"Then I'll do fish!"
"Pasta, noodles, and fried rice for me!"
United by food, the suddenly chummy twins and Eileen nodded at each other and dashed around do-do-do, scooping up dishes.
But still.
I could understand the growing twins who lost their parents early and trailed after me. But...
"... No matter how I look, she doesn't seem noble."
"It's fine. Easier if you don't think of her as one. I thought she was some forest beggar when we met."
"... Even though she's from a countess family in Haven Kingdom."
Eileen meant it sincerely, but she didn't act noble at all. After traveling together, I'd looked up Haven Kingdom books, and the Delfinium Countess house was an ancient founding merit family. Even setting that aside, they produced major ministers for generations. Their status was incomparable to Lucia's viscount family from that duchy, whose name was already fading from memory.
So.
"Ehehe! So good! Kids, just one bite of that! Nom!"
"No, you said one bite!"
A. Yeah, I genuinely don't get her either.
"Ain, you like this, right? Oh, and this too, so I'll get it."
"Uh... yeah. Thanks, Asha."
During the remaining mealtime, her sauce-smeared face as she crammed in more food made it impossible to tell if she was really noble.
Anyway.
The all-too-brief mealtime ended. We couldn't stuff ourselves to bursting, but we got a decent sense of fullness. As adventurers, we never overate anyway—it dulled you.
"Wanted one more plate..."
Please, moderate yourself. I didn't say it aloud, but I gave her a look conveying that.
Asha, standing beside me, shot Eileen a similar bug-eyed glare.
"Ehh, you two exchanging mean looks with your eyes already...?"
"Good you get it."
"Now you do."
"So mean! You two are alike! Equally rotten!"
Eileen pouted at our expressions, but with dinner done, that wasn't important.
"Alright, dinner's over. Everyone else, head up in the elevator first."
Now Asha and I would go to the fourth floor, and the others could rest safely.
Hearing that, old man Horn slowly grinned and raised his hand.
"Bellies full—who's up for billiards? Me first."
"Me!"
"Us too, to watch!"
"Haha... th-this time, I'll w-win."
Hm.
"Perfect. We're off to billiards then, kid. Work like a dog!"
"Wheee~"
"Haha... f-fight-ing..."
The five excluding Asha and me piled into the elevator, waving as they vanished.
"..."
"Shall we go too, Ain?"
"...Ah, yeah. Let's."
Something felt off, nagging at me. This irritable mood—what was it? Lips twitching with the thought, I got in the elevator with Asha.
It jolted, carrying us upward, passing the 3rd—we went up and down between 3 and 5 until the 4th appeared instead of 5. Finally, we got off on the 4th.
"Ain, fourth floor."
"Yeah, let's go."
I drew my sword just in case, but Asha grinned carefree and took my free hand.
Truth be told, the fourth floor didn't look different yet.
"Ain, how's the new gear by the way?"
"Great. So good I stashed the old stuff in the carriage ages ago."
"Pfft... glad you like it."
We strolled the hall chatting idly. No guests meant quiet stillness, and the long corridor showed no immediate anomaly. Peaceful so far.
Peaceful and calm, it even made us smile for no reason. My steady thuds blended naturally with her clicks, echoing days past.
Back in the Empire, her footsteps always rang in my ears. Wandering markets snacking, or sharing an umbrella in the rain.
Just like then, they synced familiarly now.
Lost in nostalgia, Asha's voice came from beside me.
"Ain."
"Yeah?"
"What'll you ask the golem after our stay ends?"
The question for the golem in two weeks.
"Hm, still thinking."
"About what?"
I had things I wanted to ask. More on Nasatya's traces, or curing the gray.
That was the point of the trip. But only one question, so prioritizing was tough.
"Can't just ask what I want with everyone here."
"Oh, I figured since you're the party leader, it'd be your question."
"Even so, that's too selfish..."
They were all good people. Idiots, but kind.
Even as leader, I couldn't be that selfish.
Anyway, chatting idly as we walked the hall...
"Oh."
"Oho."
Then monsters appeared.
All the long corridor doors slammed open with a bang, the mood shifting. Guess it didn't like us chatting casually like the fourth floor was no big deal.
And.
A grotesque creature burst from the room next door—only for Asha to smack its cheek hard.
The monster exploded.
A sound unimaginable for flesh hitting flesh echoed down the hall.
The monsters pouring from doors paused, momentum broken.
"Come on in."
Hm. If I were a monster, I'd retreat, lock up with triple security.