kscans

Chapter 16 - To the Inn for Now

"Well then, Dareth. I look forward to your future endeavors."

"Th, thank you very much. I will take my leave."

The audience was over, and we came out of the Throne Room. Next to me were Militar, Senji-san, and Shion. We had more members than when we first came here.

"Well, I guess I'll head back to my inn. Shion, do you have a place to stay yet?"

"Of course I don't! I was brought here without any notice!"

Shion had been pouting this whole time. Don't show it on your face so much. You're forty, after all. And Militar was standing by my side, acting as if he wasn't even there.

"Hey, what's with that tone toward Dareth-dono! And what does 'notice' even mean! Speak properly!"

"H, hey now, stop it!"

Senji-san slapped Shion hard. He seemed like a polite person, but he was actually very strict. Or so I thought, but then he turned to me with a very kind expression.

"Where are you staying, Dareth-dono?"

"I've taken a room at an inn in the lower town."

"I see, then we shall accompany you part of the way."

We left the Royal Palace and after a short walk, we arrived at Teru-san's inn. I was still staying here. Because Militar said, "Shion's stare is creepy," Shion was made to walk at the very front.

"Well, I'll be going in here."

"I shall also be staying here tonight."

"Understood. Please have a good night."

So Militar's staying at the same inn again today. She sometimes stayed here. I wonder if we'll be made to sleep in the same room again. I swear, absolutely nothing has happened between us.

"Ah, Dareth-san! Welcome back! You're late, I was worried about you."

"Sorry, sorry, some things came up."

When I opened the door with a click, gachatto, Teru-san came out. She smiled and pulled my hand, guigui. I'm grateful that she's happy to see me, but I wish she'd stop pressing her chest against me. It's bound to cause misunderstandings. And it makes Militar grumpy. ...Hmm? I feel like I hear a strange grinding sound, girigirigiri... coming from behind me. I turned around to see what it was, and Shion was grinding his teeth with an incredibly frustrated look on his face.

"Why are you the only one with beautiful women!"

"H, huh? What's with you all of a sudden?"

Shion suddenly snapped. The veins on his forehead were popping out so much I thought they'd burst. H, hey, calm down.

"Let me stay here too!"

"Eh... well, but..."

"There's no way you're staying at a nice inn like this! Your inn is the stable across the river!"

"We don't accept dirty old men like you either."

Before I could say anything, Senji-san and Teru-san rejected him completely. Hearing that, Shion got even more angry.

"A stable?! Are you kidding me! I'm a guild master!"

"'Was,' you mean! Stop lying! Now walk! Don't make me waste my time!"

"D, don't hit me!"

Shion was hauled away by Senji-san. He was still yelling something the entire time he was being taken away.

"The lodging fee is free, of course!"

"Of course it's not free, you bastard! It's one silver coin a night!"

Our dear guild master (former) was made to wade across the river, jabujabu, while being slapped by Senji-san.

◆◆◆ (Side: Shion ④)

"Here! This is your inn, you bastard!"

"Guaaah!"

I was kicked by Senji and fell hard onto the ground. It was smelly and wet, and I scraped my knees. It was the absolute worst.

"Try to get along with the horses. Now hurry up and give me the lodging fee."

"W, wait. Are you really going to take my money? For a cramped, filthy stable like this?"

Of course, this wasn't a place for people to stay. There were only horses around. The stench of animals and their waste was choking.

I was deeply envious of Dareth's inn.

"My orders are to take you to Tamon Forest if you can't pay. Want to be coddled by the monsters?"

"I, I get it! I'll pay, so just don't do that!"

This was still better than a forest swarming with monsters. I paid him my last few silver coins.

"I'll be watching all night to make sure you don't run away."

Senji spat out the words and left the stable. I was left all alone. There's no way I could sleep in a place this smelly and dirty. The horses around me had expressions of utter annoyance. Are you guys making fun of me too... Unforgivable. I'll show you the difference in status between humans and animals.

"Hey! You guys, move over there! I'm an important person!"

I yelled at them, but the horses didn't even twitch. And in the next moment, they kicked dung at me.

"Ugh! It's disgusting! H, hey, stop it!"

There was nowhere to run in the cramped space, and in no time, I was covered in horse manure. Dareth was under one roof with beautiful women (two of them!) flirting until morning. Meanwhile, I was covered in manure. ......

"Why is this only happening to meeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"