Chapter 143: The Inn
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: The Inn
"Senior, your potions have gotten even more impressive."
"Haven't they? That’s my proudest modification yet. Not only does it take effect instantly, but you can transform into anyone you desire. Though, relatively speaking, the duration is much shorter."
"I feel like that could be used for some... very interesting things."
"Junior, doing anything naughty is strictly forbidden, okay?"
"I never said I was going to use it for anything naughty! Can't I just turn into someone else to do good deeds anonymously?"
"Giggle. If you say so, Junior."
As evening approached, the flow of people on the streets gradually increased.
After a long day of labor, in an era with little entertainment, most people still stepped out of their homes to enjoy the rare peace and prosperity of this street in the Lower District.
From the nearby riverbank came the clamor of voices and the screams of children; it seemed some sort of event was underway.
This was the most tranquil and beautiful time of day, and the moment Muen had been looking forward to most.
He was still flipping through that travel guide, quickly trying to determine if there were any other places worth visiting.
Even if his Senior didn't consider this a date, Muen still hoped to see her under the setting sun, her smile blooming like a flower, her hair gently tossed by the riverside breeze.
She would surely look beautiful.
But right at that moment, she suddenly bid him farewell.
"Well then, let's call it a day."
"Now?"
Muen’s hand, still flipping through the guide, stiffened slightly. He looked up in bewilderment. "It’s still early, isn't it?"
"It’s not early anymore, Junior."
Anna tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly. "I’ve had enough fun for today, and I have some private business to attend to next."
"But we barely did anything fun at all..."
Muen sighed.
This outing, which he had unilaterally considered a date, had been far from smooth from the very beginning.
In his imagination, today should have been filled with sunshine, flowers, a romantic lunch or dinner, a charming sunset, a night sky full of stars, and under that night sky—because the Academy gates would be closed—a young girl with a blushing face suggesting they squeeze into an inn together...
Scratch that last part. That sort of thing felt like it would never happen with his Senior. When he was with her, he was always the only one with a blushing face.
But of all the things Muen had hoped for, aside from the weather being decent, absolutely none of them had actually happened.
Instead, the day had been filled with distortions, a love battlefield shitshow, a sudden confession, and a young girl’s drifting killing intent.
He was truly numb. Could it get any worse than this?
"There's no need to be in such a rush, is there?"
Clinging to a final sliver of hope, Muen suggested, "The guide says there’s a special spring nearby. If you approach it with sincerity, you can see your future true love in the reflection. It sounds interesting. Don't you want to try it, Senior?"
"True love?"
His Senior’s gaze drifted, landing on some unknown point in the distance. "Sorry, I’ve never really believed in that sort of thing."
Her voice seemed to be caught by the wind, ethereal and drifting far away.
Muen dithered for a moment, unable to tell if what she didn't believe in was the gimmicky spring or the concept of "true love" itself.
"Then I’m off. See you at the Academy, Junior."
Anna smiled gently and gave a soft farewell.
In the gathering evening breeze, she turned, her skirt swaying as she vanished into the flowing crowd.
Watching her back, Muen instinctively opened his mouth, but he couldn't find the words to ask her to stay.
"Goodbye, Senior."
In the end, only a hollow farewell remained, crushed by the wind, disappearing into the rising dusk.
*
"Argh, seriously!"
After Anna left, Muen scratched his head in frustration. He tore up the travel guide—which had become wrinkled from being flipped through all day—and tossed it into a trash can.
"In the end, I still couldn't pay her back."
He sat on a bench meant for tourists, looking up at the darkening sky in the distance.
Originally, buying something for her or doing something for her had been his primary goal.
Yes, this wasn't even supposed to be a date.
Treating it as one was, at best, just his petty playboy tendencies acting up.
But in the end, aside from letting her witness a few laughable farces, he hadn't achieved anything.
Instead, his Senior’s figure seemed to be hidden in a mist, becoming increasingly difficult to see clearly.
"Senior, what exactly are you thinking?"
Amidst Muen’s whispers, fireworks rose into the sky, looking like countless stars gathering and then bursting apart.
The crowd nearby erupted in cheers, marvelling at the fleeting brilliance.
It only made Muen’s silhouette look a bit lonelier.
"Meow—"
A cat’s cry suddenly rang out.
Muen looked back. The milky-white kitten his Senior had rescued earlier had returned at some point. It was rubbing against Muen’s hand, meowing.
Muen reflexively picked it up and scratched its chin.
The kitten quickly tilted its head back, squinting its eyes and letting out a comfortable purr.
"You're such a stupid kitty," Muen said, unable to help but laugh in frustration at the kitten’s silly expression. "You didn't come when she was here, but you crawl over the moment she leaves."
"With a personality like this, you're going to end up being the death of yourself sooner or later!"
*
After watching the fireworks alone, petting the cat alone, and turning down a pass from a big sister on the street alone, the hour grew late. Muen decided not to bother returning to the Academy.
He found a fairly luxurious-looking inn and asked for a room with a private bath.
"I am so sorry, we only have one couple's suite left," the front desk attendant said apologetically. "There are events on the street recently, so there are many tourists. All our other rooms are fully booked."
"Is that so?"
Muen thought about it and decided to take the room anyway.
In a place like the Lower District, if the luxury inn rooms were all booked, the ordinary inns were likely overflowing as well.
Although staying in a couple's suite alone after a failed date felt incredibly bleak, Muen was physically and mentally exhausted after everything he'd been through. He couldn't bring himself to care anymore.
"Please take your key."
The front desk lady offered the key with both hands respectfully.
"Thank you."
Muen took the key with a smile, thinking to himself that the service at this inn was quite good.
Following etiquette, he left a small tip. Without thinking much more of it, he followed another attendant toward his room.
*
After Muen left, the front desk lady, who had maintained a perfect professional smile, suddenly let her expression collapse. She looked to the side, her eyes filled with terror.
"Is... is that enough?"
"Yes, that will do," a voice said from the shadows.
Beside the shadowy figure, a man who appeared to be the innkeeper was curled in a corner, trembling violently.
"You may resume normal business," the shadowy figure said, patting the owner on the shoulder. "But remember, you must not disturb me."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
The owner nodded vigorously, swearing with his eyes that no matter what noise he heard, he wouldn't take a single step toward that room even if his life depended on it.
"Very good."
The shadowy figure smiled with satisfaction and turned to leave, humming a song with a light step.
In the figure's hand, the spare room key danced nimbly between slender, white fingertips.
It moved just like her heart, which was currently brimming with excitement and joy.