Chapter 5

After that, I kept thinking about things that couldn't be changed now, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

After a night's sleep, I felt much more refreshed.

Perhaps that downcast mood was due to mental fatigue.

The bed I had slept in was made of wood.

Many parts were crafted by fitting and joining, with hardly any metal used. It was a magnificent piece of craftsmanship. On top of it was a futon that seemed to be covered with dry plants and fabric.

The futon occasionally pricked my skin with its fibers, which bothered me at first, but I gradually got used to it.

In fact, it turned out to be quite comfortable.

To be honest, it was far more comfortable than my old futon, which I hadn't replaced in over ten years.

I had gotten so used to it that I hardly noticed, but sleeping on that futon was almost like sleeping on the floor. Now that I think about it, that futon might have been the reason I found it hard to get up every morning.

I'm terrible at spending money on myself.

I regularly bought good-looking suits for work, but my casual clothes were in a terrible state.

Even the tracksuit I'm wearing now is almost at its limit.

The elastic in the waistband is so loose that it no longer serves its purpose. I have to tie the drawstring tightly to prevent it from slipping down easily.

Yesterday, while walking in the forest, it slipped down along with my underwear, which made me panic. With this body, my waist has become much slimmer, so it's only natural.

Stretching out, I looked toward the window, but the glass was fogged up, and I couldn't see outside clearly.

Still, the morning sun was strong and slightly warm.

I thought about opening the window to let in some air, but it seemed to be fixed and couldn't be opened.

When I got out of bed, the tracksuit jacket I had used as a blanket fell to the floor. As I bent down to pick it up, I didn't feel any creaking in my body, which made me feel young again.

By the way, I heard that breakfast is served at the inn.

You can choose to eat in the lobby or in your room, but either way, you need to go downstairs. I decided to finish breakfast before Ralph came to pick me up.

While yawning, I went down the stairs, and many people were already eating breakfast in the lobby.

Compared to the people walking on the street, the people in the lobby were mostly dressed in nice clothes.

For some reason, everyone seemed to look away from me or give me a second glance.

What's going on? I feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps dark elves are extremely rare.

Although no one was staring at me, I felt like I was disrupting everyone's meal. Not wanting to cause a disturbance, I decided to take my breakfast back to my room.

For breakfast, there was rye bread with a strong aroma and a hearty soup.

To me, who was used to eating fluffy white bread, the rye bread was hard and had a strong flavor.

However, as I slowly ate it while dipping it in the soup, I gradually got used to it. It might be delicious in its own way.

For someone who usually skips breakfast, this was very satisfying.

I sighed in relief after finishing the last sip of the soup.

Although I didn't say "itadakimasu" or "gochisousama," I instinctively clasped my hands together after finishing.

I sat on the bed to rest my stomach, and just then, there was a knock on the door.

The only person who would have business with me in this world is probably Ralph.

He came earlier than I expected. Or maybe I just woke up late.

I looked at my left wrist, but since I had come here while sleeping, I wasn't wearing a watch.

In the town, I sometimes hear the sound of a bell from somewhere. It probably indicates the time, but since I don't understand the system, it's just background music to me for now.

I decided to take the opportunity to clear away the empty dishes when I welcomed him. Holding the tray in one hand and the doorknob in the other, I called out to him outside the door.

"I'm opening the door now."

As I slowly opened the outward-opening door, I was greeted before I could even show my face. His enthusiastic greeting, like that of a new employee, warmed my heart a little.

"Good morning. Are you ready to go...?"

When I stepped into the hallway, his words trailed off. Was something wrong?

"Good morning. I'll return this and then we can go outside... Is something the matter?"

"No, I'll return it. And... you should put on a jacket."

Ralph quickly took the tray from my hand and hurried down the stairs.

After he left, I realized what he meant, closed the door quietly, and put on the jacket hanging on the bed.

I zipped it up to the top.

I made a mistake.

Wandering around in this body with just a loose running shirt on is a serious case of indecent exposure.

Everyone wasn't looking at me because I was a rare dark elf.

The gentleman, the impressive warrior, and the beautiful blue-haired lady were all looking away or giving me a second glance because of my revealing outfit.

Especially the lady, who kept staring at me after the second glance. I thought she was a strange girl, but she might have been trying to remember my face to report me.

I made a mistake by going out in front of people as if I were just going to get the newspaper from the mailbox.

I'll be more careful not to do that again...