The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

br>The signboard with its white and black border had Adventurer’s Guild written on it and is huge as well.
Only this adventurer’s guild building and the labyrinth’s cylindrical build were protruding out in height on this ring road.
They are easy to find, aren’t they?
First of all, it’s a good sign that I found the guild.
Let’s look for an inn next?
There are several inns and bars around this plaza.
… However, I will look in a different place.
Since I just finished going around the First Ring Road, I will have a look at other alleys, I suppose?
I choose an alley on the left side.
It’s on the left-upper side of the ring road, on the northern side.
Once I follow the gloomy alley for around one kilometer… I discover an inn with a questionable mood in front.
Many lights are leaking out from the entrance door that is located at the left front of the inn.
The lights’ origin is a small tower.
It’s an art-like, three-dimensional object which was decorated with many big lanterns on its metal-pole-frame.
I can feel mana from the lights.
The building behind that objet d’art is entirely round like an egg.
Matching with the brightness of the lanterns, an unbalance of light and shadows was created.
The left wall makes one feel an atmosphere as if it’s a full moon.
This place has a faintly nice ambience.
It’s plot is wide as well.
I descended from RollodeenHorse Lion.
I walk towards the brightly illuminated entrance.
Seemingly having returned to her small body, Rollo returned to her usual place on my shoulder.
At that moment, a sound, a cicada sound is audible from the inn’s entrance door.
It originates from under the overhang of the roof.
Once I looked at the top of the wall where the sound came from, I saw a large cicada staying there.
A different world cicada, huh? How big…
Will there be an outburst of cicada chirring? It’s already summer after all.
I have to get used to this sound and this heat for a while.
While feeling the summer’s heat, I arrive in front of the entrance door with its black lustre.
There’s a door plate that had peculiar vermillion characters carved into its wood.
Lodging Moon of the Labyrinth was written there.
Just as its exterior, even the name seems to reflect that.

“Let’s stay here.” (Shuuya)

“Nyao.”

『Okay.』 (Helme)

Rollo and Helme answer casually.
I push the stylish, wooden door with its black lustre open.
Once I do, the smell of alcohol assails my nostrils and the clattering of the guests reaches my ears.
The inn’s interior is big.
The right half seems to be the inn’s rooms.
There’s a stairway leading upwards at the side adjoining to the counter.
The huge dining room on the left side gave one the impression of a lively atmosphere.
A stage is located in the left inner part of the dining room.
The male troubadour who plucked the strings of an instrument similar to a guitar, played quite the nice tune.
As if surrounding the stage, there are ten-odd square tables for eating.
Some guests are drinking booze and eating food there.
There was also a round, luxurious table for playing card games.
At that table, a grim-lookin dwarf, a middle-aged human in military uniform, a noble-styled woman, a human with a moustache and a hat, and a woman with blue hair are merrily playing a card game while huddling together.
It stirred my interest as it’s a poker-like game they are playing.
But, my line of sight shifts to the right side.
There’s a pillar wall and a door on the right inner side.
A large bar counter is located in front of it on the right.
Twelve tall chairs are lined up there.
It’s a stylish bar.
As if making use of the space below the stairs that is right behind the counter, a cupboard has been built there.
Oakwood-like barrels and porcelain-made alcohol bottles were placed on the many shelves.
It looks like there are many types of alcohol.
It feels like one can enjoy drinking alcohol here.
When I was observing the inn’s appearance with that kind of arrangement from the entranceway, a beautiful woman approached me from the counter.
The pretty woman has honey-coloured hair.
Her hair flows to the sides and is contained by red hair clips.
She has a small, slender chin and the bewitching gaze of a woman at her peak.
Her light brown eyes and nose bridge are high.
Her chest is big and long, smooth legs, grew out from her slender waist.
Due to her red shirt sticking to her plump chest, my gaze ends up focussing on that part.
An inner shirt? She’s a Big Breast-san.
Below she wears a short skirt that had navy blue edges and a white apron.
With her wearing an apron, she’s one of the inn’s staff, I guess? She’s lovely.
— Oh, she’s beautiful, but it’s a surprise that her body is clad with magic source.
Moreover, it possesses a quality that overshadows any run-of-the-mill adventurer.

『This woman is smoothly manipulating the mana in her body.』 (Helme)

Just as Helme says, she’s no ordinary woman.

“Welcome dear guest! I’m glad to see you visiting 『Lodging Moon of the Labyrinth』.
I’m Mell.
I work as landlady here.” (Mell)

Huh? She’s the landlady?
She has a mannish type of voice, but she’s a young, beautiful landlady.
My tension goes up.
… A beautiful landlady that got NTR’ed.
The lewd sex life of a pretty landlady.
Dangerous, yabai. (T/N: MC uses katakana for yabai (dangerous) here)
In an instant, several obscene words popped up in my mind…
Let’s gloss it over.
After adjusting my line of sight, I address her with a serious expression,

“… I’m an adventurer.
The name’s Shuuya.
Do you have a free room?” (Shuuya)

The landlady also stared at me as if assessing me.
— For an instant her look turns sharp, but then she immediately faces me with a smile.

“… I do.
If you stay on the first floor, it will be five large copper coins per night, dinner included.
If it’s a large room on the second floor, it will be eight large copper coins.” (Mell)

Five large copper coins, eh? As expected, the price is reasonable and cheaper than that of a high-class inn.
Checking my item box, I confirm several gold coins.
What day of the summer season was it again…? The third? Then, until the end of the year would be…
— Ah, right.
I have to also ask about Rollo staying with me.

“Ah, one more question, This black cat, Rollo, is with me, but will that be alright?” (Shuuya)

Rollo voiced a gentle 「Nya」 without moving from my shoulder.

“Oh my, what a cute cat-chan.
She’s a familiar, right? By all means, it’s fine.” (Mell)

The landlady said.
Great.
For the time being, let’s pay the money for staying until the end of the year.

“Well then, please give me a corner room on the second floor with this.
It’s the share allowing me to stay until the end of the year.” (Shuuya)

I took out gold and silver coins from my item box and handed them to the landlady.

“Got it.
… I will receive it on deposit.” (Mell)

The landlady received the money in a hurry.
After the beauty-san bewitched me with her characteristic smile, she filled in the registry placed on the reception desk.
Thereupon, counter to the alcohol smell, the delicious fragrance of food wafts over from the dining room.
Rollo immediately reacts by sniffing with her nose.
Which reminds me, we still haven’t had any proper breakfast.
Can I eat a meal now? Let’s try asking.

“… Mell-san, do you have anything we could eat?” (Shuuya)

Once I ask that without any sense of hesitation, the landlady said that there should be something and told me to sit down on a seat over there while waiting.

“Kazun, can you cook up some food?” (Mell)

The landlady speaks towards the kitchen.

“Yeah~, I can.” (Kazun)

A stern, sombre voice replied from inside the kitchen.

“That’s how it is.
Please wait a moment.” (Mell)

I obediently follow the landlady’s words.
Sitting down on a chair at a table, I wait several minutes for the dishes.
Then the food was carried in.

“Thank you for waiting.
It’s meat congee with mushrooms.”

The dish that was placed in front of me is a stew that plentifully filled a wooden bowl.
A spoon has been prepared as well.
They even prepared Rollo’s share.
I immediately scoop up the stew with the spoon and put it into my mouth.
Yummy.
When I try to scoop up another spoonful, I discover a big, soft vegetable that’s similar to a potato.
Squashing the potato with the spoon, I scoop up the mashed potato and bring it to my mouth.
It’s soft and flaky.
There’s also mushrooms mixed in.
The meat-on-bone is tasty, too.
As I’m eating the delicious stew…
I suddenly remember the time when I got to eat the first decent meal in this different world.
The sight of the Goldeeba Village crosses my mind.
I wonder whether Rabi-san, who always made delicious food, is doing well?
I will be happy if master, who taught me various things, the cute Leifa, who was similar to a younger sister, and the brawny Raglen are in good health as well.
Recalling my dearly missed days of training, I eat the stew while floating a smile.
Once I finish eating, Mell tells me 「This way」.
Seemingly having waited for me to finish my meal, I was guided to my room by Mell who took a young girl as helper along.
Climbing the stairs that are located close to the entrance on the first floor, we head towards the second floor.
Reaching the end of the stairs, I’m led to a corner room inside a passage.
A decoration of two moons was carved onto the room’s door.
A large basket, where laundry can be put in, had been placed on the ground at the side of the door.

“Please put your laundry in this basket.
This child, Iriel, will take it away.” (Mell)

“Yeah.
I’m Iriel.
Please put your clothes inside this.” (Iriel)

Iriel is a girl.
She’s a waitress-san with an apron.
She has deep brown hair and eyes.
Her smile is cute.
There’s power in her eyes.
She’s a girl that looks dependable.

“Best regards, Iriel.
I will leave it to you at that time.” (Shuuya)

“This is the room’s key.
And, if you tell Iriel when you want to take a bath, she will be able to fill the large bucket inside the room with hot water.” (Mell)

I’m given the key after the landlady explains lightheartedly.

“That’s not necessary.
I can fill it myself.” (Shuuya)

“Oh, dear guest, you possess the water attribute, right? That’s great as it will save us some time.
Well then, as I still have some things to do, please excuse me.
If something happens, call me with a loud voice.” (Mell)

Loud voice… eh?

“Got it.” (Shuuya)

Once she hears my approval, the beautiful landlady produces a smile.
Mell returns to the first floor while leaving Iriel behind.
But a loud voice? Will it be that noisy around here?
While thinking about that question, I tried to enter the rented room.
At that moment—.

“Guest~? Do you have a moment?” (Iriel)

The door is stopped by her placing her small foot against it.
The one who called out to me like that while moving her thin arms that are not very womanly seductively was the servant Iriel.

“Mmh? What is it?” (Shuuya)

“Are you really an adventurer?” (Iriel)

What’s up? This child is…
Once I look properly, her face is that of a grown-up?
A red ring was put on her finger.
I can feel that the ring is filled with thick mana.
For such child to possess such high-quality ring that is a magic tool or sorcery tool…

『Your Excellency, this girl has clad her entire body with mana.
I don’t think that she’s a young human.』 (Helme)

I was warned by Helme.
This child isn’t normal, I suppose.

“As you are staying silent, is it something else?” (Iriel)

Such shamelessness on a first meeting.

“No, I’m an adventurer.
To begin with, why would you be the one to ask such a thing?” (Shuuya)

“— Humph, so you realized.
Currently I’m working as normal servant.” (Iriel)

After bending her beautiful face slightly forwards and moving her nostrils with a sniff-sniff as if smelling my scent, Iriel states such deeply meaningful remark.
She faces me with a slightly unwomanly smile, leaves the door by skipping and returns to the first floor.
What is this place?
It’s fine since the landlady is a beauty, but I don’t want any shady whacko girls around me…
I might have made a mistake in my choice of inns.
Well, but I already paid the money.
For starters I will check the inside of the room.
While feeling dissatisfied, I enter the room.
There are four beds with small side tables on the left inner side.
Inside there is a bay window with curtains attached.
There’s a small veranda and a big bucket has been left on the floor.
Since the bay window has been connected to the adjoining, slanting shingle, it’s possible to directly leave towards the top of the roof.
It’s a nice view as it’s the second floor, but I’m slightly worried about crime prevention.
However, I will be able to enjoy a cool breeze by opening the window at the time of bathing.
I also can observe the outside from atop the roof.
This is quite the nice view.
Even on the surface of the smooth floorboards of the veranda there is a properly depressed hole.
Since it’s a slope where the water can flow down due to the angle, I’m pleased with it.
It’s smaller than the single room at the high-class inn in Holker, but the walls’ design is refined and tidy.
The size is satisfactory, too.
As I’m checking the room, Rollo happily played by repeatedly jumping up and down on top of the bed with its tough elasticity while purring with a 「Nyaa」 as if encouraging herself, just like usual.
Since it’s a hard bed, there’s no flexibility, but it seems to be easier to jump on it than on a soft bed.
And then, seemingly having got bored of jumping up and down, Rollo spun around on the spot as if chasing her own tail, curled up and tried to sleep after settling down on the bed’s pillow.
… Cute.
I gaze at the cute cat that shut her eyes.
Let’s set this inn as base, I guess?
There’s a weird servant here, but it will be fine if I ignore that.
Alright, I secured an inn.
Should I head to the guild now?
After carefully checking what kind of requests are posted on the board, it might be nice to search for a special magic tool shop that sells magic scrolls and take a walk through the back alleys.
Well, with a spirit of what will be, will be, that is.