Chapter 4

As the day grew late and it was time for dinner, the lower floor suddenly became noisy. The guests must have returned to the inn.

The main guests of the "Golden Star Inn" are adventurers. Many adventurers visit this Heilberg to explore the labyrinth just outside the city walls, but since our inn's rates are cheaper than others, it tends to attract beginners who haven't earned much yet or those who are just barely getting by.

The first-floor dining room and bar must be bustling with adventurers who have returned from the labyrinth. Honestly, since I'm feeling fine, I should probably go downstairs and help out... Just as I was thinking this, there was a knock, and my sister Sophie peeked in.

"Big brother, Mom said to bring this to you."

She handed me a tray with soup and bread.

"Thank you. Do you have enough help?"

"Big brother, you have to stay still today."

I got scolded by a four-year-old. Sophie looks like a girl, but she's scary when she's angry. Well, I guess I should obediently do as I'm told.

The soup had finely chopped vegetables and meat floating in it. I dipped the hard, crusty bread, which is made to last, into the soup and ate it. It's not that I'm still recovering from an illness; this is just the normal meal for the Krüger family.

...Actually, the guests are mostly eating the same thing. If they want something else, they can buy it from a street vendor or go to another restaurant.

As for the taste, to me, it's not particularly delicious. The soup has a unique aftertaste and the bread is flavorless and hard. Honestly, ○○○○ is definitely more delicious. Still, I was hungry, so I finished it in no time.

"Big brother, you really are feeling better, huh?"

"Yeah, I'll start helping out properly from tomorrow."

"Yay!!"

Looking happy, Sophie took the empty dishes and left.

I thought about what I would do from tomorrow. Lying on the bed, I traced Luka's memories, but even with a six-year-old's understanding, I could tell that our inn wasn't in a good financial state.

I don't know much about other inns, but the one next door also caters to adventurers, and our rates are cheaper. Otherwise, we wouldn't get any guests.

First, I need to properly grasp the current situation. I need to see with my own eyes what the cause of the inn's difficulties is and how to improve it.

* * * * *

The next morning, I went out to the front of the inn with a broom. As I swept up dust and fallen leaves, I looked up at our house. The first floor is made of stone, and the second floor and attic are made of wood and plaster, with a red-brown tiled roof. Compared to the surrounding houses, it's a solid building, but it needs some maintenance.

"But, it needs some maintenance."

In some places, the plaster has peeled off, making the whole building look old and cheap. There probably isn't enough money for repairs. The interior is the same. The first floor is a dining room and bar, and the windows have gaps where cold air can get in, and the walls are damaged.

I haven't checked the second-floor guest rooms yet, but they're probably in a similar state. There are four two-person rooms, four four-person rooms, and two large rooms that can accommodate about eight people. There are many guest rooms, but...

"Alright, that's enough."

I finished sweeping and was about to go back inside.

"Hey, Luka. Are you feeling better? I heard you were bedridden."

I turned around at the unexpected voice and saw Mrs. Weber from the neighboring "Sword and Spear Inn." She's actually more of a grandmother, but...

"Ah, yes! But I'm completely better now."

I spun the broom over my head to show her.

"Hehe, you look energetic. Well, I guess this is a waste then."

Mrs. Weber shook the basket in her hand.

"What is it?"

"It's a get-well gift for you, Luka! I baked your favorite fig cake."

"Really! Ah... thank you."

"It's fine, it's just a recovery gift."

"Thank you."

She smiled and handed me the basket.

"Don't eat it all by yourself and get sick."

"I won't! I'll share it with Sophie. Girls get scary when you make them angry."

"You know that for a kid."

Mrs. Weber laughed and left. The woman who runs the inn is always energetic in the morning.

"Mom, this is from next door. It's a get-well gift for me."

When I returned to the dining room, it was crowded with guests who had come down for breakfast. I peeked into the kitchen and handed the basket to my mother.

"Oh, I need to thank them."

"I'll bring this out."

I carried the soup and bread on plates to the dining room. I'd like to show off my fancy serving skills from my old fast-food job, but as a little kid, I can only carry one thing at a time.

"Boy! Bring one over here."

"Can I have more bread?"

I answered the voices from the tables and kept going back and forth to the kitchen.

"Here you are, please."

"Thank you, boy. You seem to be completely better."

I saw that the young mage from yesterday was sitting at a table with his party members.

"I'm sorry for worrying you. And... thank you."

"No, it's fine. I'm not sure if it really helped, though."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you definitely had a fever, but there were no other symptoms. We never found out the cause."

The young mage's gentle face clouded over. I seem to have made him worry. Okay, let's change the subject.

"I know, but kids get fevers all the time... Are you going to the labyrinth today?"

"No, we need to buy some supplies."

"Today is the market day, which happens once every ten days."

"Hmm," one of the party members said. Good, the atmosphere is getting lighter.

"Is that so? I hope you find some good deals..."

"The boy is small but reliable."

The oldest, a light brown-haired swordsman, said admiringly. Well, I'm actually a thirty-something man. I've been trying to sound like a kid, but...

At that moment, a loud voice came from the table diagonally across.

"Tch... Good deals are for the naive. Newbies will end up with their butts plucked."

Oh no, I just created a warm and cozy atmosphere, and now it's ruined! Look, the newbie party is getting tense. What should we do?

"What did you say? Who's a newbie?"

Sure enough, the swordsman answered in a confrontational tone.

"Hey, I'm just giving you some advice."

Ah, that kind of thing should be done at the Adventurer's Guild, not here.

"Hey, if you can give advice, it means you've had your butt plucked, right?"

"What!?"

Oh no. Should I cry? It's okay to cry. I'm a six-year-old. In the tense atmosphere, a voice rang out.

"Let's stop this."

...Dad! You're here! I mean, thank goodness!

"Stop teasing the young ones in the morning, Gerhardt."

"What, Maximilian, are you taking their side?"

"Whether they get cheated at the market or not, it's part of the experience."

"True... I guess."

Dad, who is intimidating, came out, and the man who was causing trouble calmed down.

By the way, how intimidating is Dad? He's taller than the others, with a well-built, muscular body. He has a scar running diagonally across his left cheek, and his left hand is missing, replaced by a hook. —Yeah, if he weren't my dad, I'd avoid him.

"It's almost time for our breakfast. The kids are hungry."

"Fine, I'm leaving. You guys should go to the market or something quickly. He's scary."

The man left with his luggage, heading for the labyrinth, and the atmosphere finally relaxed.

"Sorry for the commotion."

"Sorry."

The newbie party apologized, probably reacting to the "scary" comment.

"It's fine... It happens often. You shouldn't react to everything."

"Yes..."

Dad went back into the kitchen.

"Gruff..."

"Mr. Dad is cool..."

As a son, I mostly agree, but it feels like a flag is being set up and ignored. Well, if it's brought up, I'll just despise it!