Chapter 9

Finally, the management of the "Golden Star Inn" was getting on track. Today, we closed the restaurant early to gather in the attic for the monthly sales tally.

"Like Luka said... If this keeps up, we can repair the inn."

"But we have to consider what will happen while the inn is closed."

"What, do we need to close the inn?"

"Are we taking a break?"

"It's been a long time since we've been able to maintain it. I think the repairs will be quite extensive. If we have to fix the kitchen, we won't be able to serve meals either."

"Still, we should try to fix the windows and walls before winter comes."

"You're right."

We decided to get an estimate from a carpenter, and that concluded the family meeting for the day. If we want to renovate before autumn, we need to reduce the number of vacant rooms. The vacancy rate at the "Golden Star Inn" was around 70-80%. It has improved a bit and is now hovering around 60%.

There are actually a lot of things I want to do. I want to introduce our own services and hire more staff. I also want a bath. The bath is more of a personal dream, so it can wait. The road ahead is long.

After that, we had a small family gathering. The attic had become the living room of the Krueger family, with a living room between my parents' room and mine and Sophie's. The separation of the parents' bedroom and the children's room is not something to think too deeply about.

We usually eat in the kitchen, but today we brought the food to the living room. It was a rare fish dish, which was exciting. Since we don't live near the sea, the only fish we can get are dried or from the Loire River that runs through the city. Dad was also drinking tonight, but he didn't seem very drunk.

It was as if the days of sighing over the coins in his hand last month were a lie, and the Krueger family was wrapped in a peaceful night.

****

The next day, a small incident occurred at the "Golden Star Inn."

"Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?"

A brown-skinned woman in leather armor appeared, speaking.

"What is it? Are you staying here?"

Mom responded gently.

"Yes, but..."

Her words were hesitant. What was going on? As I approached the woman, I saw an unexpected companion. It was a large white tiger-cheetah hybrid.

"Wow! Wowww!"

"Big kitty!!"

"A white leopard... That's rare."

Sophie was excited next to me, while I was just making a fool of myself. Dad was completely unfazed.

"I'm sorry to surprise you."

She bowed her head.

"Are you a beastmaster?"

"Yes, as you guessed, I'm a beastmaster named Tajera. I just arrived in town, but all the inns with stables are full..."

"Could it be..."

"Can I stay here with this one?"

Tajera bowed even deeper.

"I've been turned down by all the other inns. This is my last chance, please."

Mom's eyes darted around, unsure what to do.

"How long will you be staying?"

Dad stepped into the conversation.

"Three days. After three days, there will be a vacancy in the stable. Until then, please."

"But we have other guests..."

"Can this white leopard climb to our roof?"

"Yes, I think it can."

"Then we'll let you use our attic."

Wow, that's a bold decision.

"Really!?"

"Yes, but please enter and exit through the roof window. We don't want to surprise the other guests."

"Thank you."

And so, Tajera became our irregular guest. Her beast, Kai, jumped silently onto our roof at her command.

"Amazing..."

"Wow! So cool!"

"Sophie, calm down a bit."

Sophie was overjoyed, while I was a bit taken aback.

"This is the attic."

"Thank you."

Dad led Tajera to the attic. When we opened the window, Kai slipped inside.

"You can use this living room, is that okay?"

"Yes, no problem."

"I'll bring a bed up now."

"No, that's not necessary. Can I use this sofa?"

"That's fine, but are you going to sleep there?"

"Compared to camping, it's nothing. Besides..."

Tajera's gaze fell on Dad's left arm.

"Is it because of this? I can carry a bed."

"Then I'll help too."

Dad and Tajera moved a bed from the large room downstairs. They really have incredible strength. During Tajera's stay, we would sleep in the large room. As we packed our clothes and belongings, Sophie said happily,

"Big brother, it's like a trip!"

"It's our own home, nothing will change."

Despite my words, I was a bit excited. It was the first time I would stay in one of the inn's rooms. The large room can accommodate about eight people, so it was spacious enough. Three days wouldn't be too bad.

"How about meals? Should we bring them to your room?"

"If possible, that would be great. I'll take care of Kai's food."

"So it's true that beastmasters don't like to be separated from their beasts, even for a moment."

Dad, you're the one most interested in beastmasters, aren't you? Sophie is also quite interested. She's been following Kai with her eyes. We can't keep pets at the inn, after all.

After that, Dad and Tajera talked about the Heilberg Labyrinth, which seemed to make Mom's mood sour.

Tajera apparently entered and exited through the attic window, so we rarely saw her except at meal times.

"Can you bring the food to the attic, Luka?"

"Sure."

On the last night of Tajera's stay, I was asked by Mom to bring food to the attic. When I entered, I found Sophie sleeping, wrapped in Kai's fluffy belly fur.

"Sophie!"

"Yes, Luka... It seems your sister has fallen asleep."

"Sorry... Hey, Sophie, wake up."

"Mmm, fluffy, fluffy..."

"Sophie!"

Tajera was smiling at us. Kai looked completely at ease.

"Let her sleep until she's done eating. By the way, Luka..."

"Yes?"

"Is that the flag of a clan?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Is this place closely related to the 'Golden Star'?"

"Yes, my grandfather led the clan, and this used to be their meeting place."

"Really! I see..."

"Have you heard of the 'Golden Star'?"

"Yes. When I was a child, my dream was to become a member of the 'Golden Star' clan."

"It was that famous..."

"It's more than famous. There are plays and songs about it, and no adventurer of my generation doesn't know about it."

—Plays and songs. Oh, I definitely don't want to see them. It would be embarrassing.

"I'm sorry. It's not the same grand inn it used to be..."

"No, this is a kind of fate."

She said, narrowing her eyes and gazing at the 'Golden Star' symbol woven in gold thread for a long time.

****

The next morning, when I went to the attic to wake Tajera, there was no sign of her. The attic was empty except for a note and a gold coin on the living room table. The note read:

"To the dreams of the past and the dreams of the future."

"Too much for a gold coin!"

Mom wanted to return the substantial amount through the guild, but she was politely refused. They said to keep it as a compensation. I remembered Tajera's side profile as she gazed at the clan flag.