Episode 20: Shortage of Accommodation

 

---

 

A colossal body weighing over a hundred tons.

 

Well, it's understandable to react this way when suddenly faced with it.

 

"Probably an area boss."

 

"I see...? An area boss!?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"After various things, we defeated it ourselves."

 

"Various things!?"

 

The receptionist continued to express surprise.

 

Since she seemed curious about the details, I had no choice but to explain it step by step.

 

"In other words, we found an area boss near the test site and defeated it... I can't believe it. With a 'Red Dragon', you'd need at least ten or more B-rank adventurers to take it down... And for you two to do it, you must be stronger than at least B-rank adventurers..."

 

Muttering to herself.

 

"More importantly, can I get an estimate?"

 

"Ah, sorry! Right, please wait a moment!"

 

Saying that, the receptionist called another guild staff member to proceed with the assessment.

 

After about thirty minutes of careful checking, they finally got the result.

 

"We apologize for the wait. It's provisional, but the purchase price will be ten million jewels."

 

"Ten million!?"

 

In this world, one jewel is worth about one yen, so in my sense, it's like getting ten million yen. Of course, I've never had such a large amount of money in my hands.

 

Considering we didn't even spend an hour to defeat it, it's an astonishing hourly rate.

 

However, there was something bothering me in the receptionist's words.

 

"What do you mean by provisional?"

 

"For high-value purchases, we need approval from the guild master. However, he's currently unavailable... It shouldn't be less than ten million jewels, but the payment will have to wait until tomorrow."

 

"I see."

 

In games, valuable materials like these from area bosses are usually sold between users. I didn't know they could be sold through the guild.

 

If that's the rule, then there's nothing to be done about it.

 

"Got it. Then I'll just take today's mission reward and leave."

 

"Thank you for your understanding."

 

So, I left the adventurer's guild after receiving today's mission reward of ten thousand jewels.

 

---

 

Since the assessment took some time, it was already close to eight in the evening. I was quite hungry, but finding a place to stay tonight was more urgent.

 

In this world, unlike games, inns have a limited number of rooms. Every inn I passed had a sign saying "No Vacancy" at the entrance. Naturally, if there are no rooms available, you can't stay.

 

It seems that inns closer to the adventurer's guild are more popular, as every inn I found was already full.

 

--- Ten minutes later.

 

Finally, I found an inn with a sign saying "Room Available".

 

The price was standard, five thousand jewels per night. I'll stay here tonight.

 

I quickly went to the unmanned front desk and rang the bell.

 

After a while, the innkeeper came out.

 

You can tell he's the innkeeper from the name tag.

 

"I'd like to stay from tonight. Just for one night, with the option to extend."

 

Since the rule of inns in this world is common among adventurers, it's a bit special. By adding the extension option, you can pay the accommodation fee day by day if you stay for several nights. Therefore, if you don't like the inn, you can move to another one from the next day.

 

"For one night with the extension option. Um, are you two a couple?"

 

"No. We want separate rooms."

 

Why are you asking this right away...?

 

And I'm curious why Milia seems happy.

 

"I see. Actually, there's only one single room left."

 

"Eh..."

 

"If it's okay to share a room, I can show you to it... But it's probably impossible, right?"

 

Of course, it's out of the question.

 

To spend a night under the same roof with a man and a woman... It would bother Milia more than me.

 

Although we finally found an inn after struggling, we might have to go back to square one...

 

Just as I thought that.

 

"Isn't it okay?"

 

"Eh?"

 

"We're just sleeping, right? It saves on the accommodation fee, so I think it's fine!"

 

Could it be that Milia doesn't really understand what a single room means?

 

"If there's only one bed, it means... that you and I will sleep together in the same bed, right?"

 

"I understand! It's really nice... I mean, I don't mind at all!"

 

Did she really understand it properly?

 

If Milia is okay with it, I don't have a reason to object... No, that's not the issue here.

 

"We might not find another place, and this one might get filled up while we're looking."

 

"That's... true."

 

Well, it's not like spending the night in the same room is inherently bad.

 

As long as nothing happens. As long as...

 

"Got it. Let's stay here tonight then. Please show us to the room."