Chapter 11: The Inn

Zenith cast one final gaze at the half-built house before setting out. The journey stretched for eight hours, traversing through dense forests, towering mountains, and vast plains. "Zenith, you can get out," Kurogane announced as he brought the wagon to a halt.

Unbeknownst to Kurogane, Zenith, lost in his slumber, failed to hear him. Puzzled by Zenith's delayed response, Kurogane ventured into the wagon to find him sound asleep.

Observing Zenith's peaceful repose, mischievous thoughts crossed Kurogane's mind. Deciding to play a prank, he exited the wagon and elevated its temperature until it reached a boiling point.

Suddenly awakened by the stifling heat, Zenith stirred, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. In a groggy, half-asleep state, he began to complain, "Why the hell is it so hot in here?" Kurogane couldn't help but chuckle at the unintended consequence of his playful prank, all while Zenith tried to make sense of the sudden heat in his drowsy state.

The wagon's temperature continued its ascent, fueling Zenith's growing frustration. Desperate for relief, he frantically searched for an air conditioner, reminiscent of his car, within the confined space. In his quest for coolness, his hand inadvertently brushed against a metal part of the wagon, prompting a sharp scream, "Ah aah ah," as the searing heat jolted through him.

Hearing Zenith's distress, Kurogane pondered aloud, "Maybe I heated it up too much." The realization dawned on him as he acknowledged the unintended consequence of his prank.

In the midst of discomfort, Zenith swiftly exited the wagon and sprinted to the nearest water source. Plunging his hand into the cool water, he grumbled, "Why the hell was that wagon so hot when it wasn't even close to that outside?".

Upon hearing Zenith's reaction, Kurogane inquired, "How was the prank?"

"So you think cooking me alive is a prank?" Zenith retorted, his frustration evident.

Kurogane defended himself, stating, "You know I wouldn't have done that."

"I don't know, because you burned my hand," Zenith countered, pointing out the unintended consequence of the prank.

Kurogane, unapologetic, replied, "Not my fault you touched a metal part."

Sighing, Zenith changed the subject, asking, "Why did we stop?"

"I thought we could take a break for a bit," Kurogane explained.

Curious, Zenith inquired, "A break where?"

"There's an inn in the opposite direction you ran," Kurogane disclosed.

Realizing their change of plans, Zenith remarked, "So, we are staying there for a day."

"Yeah, that's the plan," Kurogane affirmed.

Zenith simply nodded, and they made their way to the inn. Constructed from dark brown spruce wood with robust metal pillars providing reinforcement, the inn emanated an air of sturdiness. As they entered, the deserted atmosphere within became apparent.

Inside, only three individuals occupied the space. The first, an elderly man nearing his eighties, appeared to be the owner, a deduction Zenith made. The second was a girl with a light blue bob cut, blue eyes, and a petite stature, giving her an overall endearing appearance. She busily passed a drink to the elderly man. The third and final figure donned a rugged black-greyish cloak with a hood shrouding his face from Zenith's perspective, adding an air of mystery to his presence.

Kurogane approached the elderly man, with Zenith trailing behind. Kurogane inquired, "Are you the owner?"

"Yes, I am," the elderly man confirmed.

Kurogane continued, "How much is a room to rent for a day in this inn?"

"It's 10 bronze coins," the elderly man replied. Zenith, who didn't know the currency of this world, found himself intrigued.

Kurogane, displaying unexpected generosity, said, "You can have a silver coin."

The elderly man, taken aback, remarked, "You're quite generous, young man. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask my daughter here," pointing towards the girl who had been passing drinks moments earlier.

Approaching them, the girl introduced herself, "My name is Sara. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to ask."

"Okay," Kurogane acknowledged and then turned towards the elderly man, inquiring, "Room keys?"

The elderly man promptly responded, "Oh, yes, right here," handing over the keys to Kurogane.

"Can you show us where our room is?" Kurogane requested.

"Of course, follow me," Sara replied. Leading them to their room, a cozy space with twin beds, a writing desk, and a functional wardrobe. Sara inquired, "Is there anything else you need?"

"Nope, we're fine," Kurogane assured her.

"Okay, I shall take my leave then," Sara said, exiting the room.

Kurogane, ever observant, remarked, "You seemed to have become quite silent after you saw that girl. Do you like her?" He playfully teased Zenith about his apparent change in demeanor after interacting with Sara.

Zenith chose to ignore Kurogane's playful jab and instead sought the information he was actually intrigued by. He inquired, "How does the money work here?"

Kurogane, assuming a matter-of-fact tone, replied, "What do you mean here? Money works the same in all four kingdoms."

Zenith clarified, "Like I said before, I am not from the four kingdoms."

"Oh, right. I forgot," Kurogane admitted. He proceeded to provide a brief overview, saying, "There are three coins in the four kingdoms used as money. Bronze coins are the least valuable but cover most basic necessities. Keep in mind not to pass 3 bronze coins for house old supplys to avoid scams which I have fallen for. The second coin is a silver coin, and one silver coin is worth a hundred bronze coins. Lastly, there is the gold coin. One gold coin is worth 100 silver coins, which means it's equivalent to a thousand bronze coins."

"So, if I get gold coins, I can buy anything?" Zenith sought clarification.

Kurogane tempered the expectation, explaining, "Not really. High-end gear and artifacts can cost a lot of gold coins. For instance, the katana I have is worth at least a few thousand gold coins."

"A few thousand?" Zenith exclaimed in shock.

Kurogane elaborated, "If you're from a rich family, that's nothing. And my katana isn't even close to other high-quality weapons and gear."

Zenith processed the information and simply responded, "Okay."

"That's the best I can explain how money works in the four kingdoms, but there are a lot of scammers in this world, so don't buy anything without consulting me," Kurogane cautioned.

"Okay," Zenith acknowledged and then inquired, "What are we supposed to do for the rest of the day?"

Kurogane responded, "There is usually a training ground in inns. You can go ask the front desk if you want to use it. But, be warned, if you push yourself too much, I'm not going to allow you to train ever again." The stern warning hinted at Kurogane's concern for Zenith's well-being.

"Okay, I won't," Zenith affirmed and promptly left the room, eager to explore the training ground before he could change his mind. He swiftly headed to the front desk, hoping to make the most of the available facilities.

Upon reaching the front desk, Zenith discovered that the elderly man was gone. However, Sara was seated at one of the tables, engrossed in something she was reading. Zenith approached and lightly tapped her on the shoulder.

Startled, Sara let out a surprised "aha ha" and instinctively punched Zenith in the face.

"Guess I can't catch a break from getting hurt," Zenith remarked after the unexpected encounter.

Sara, realizing her mistake, profusely apologized, "Please forgive me. It was a complete mistake, and I am very sorry."

"It's okay, mistakes happen. I didn't call out your name, so there's a bit of fault on my part too. It's fine," Zenith reassured her.

Sara, having calmed down, expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you. What do you need help with?"

Zenith inquired, "Is there a training ground here?"

Sara confirmed, "Yes, there is, but it's quite old."

"That will be fine," Zenith assured her.

Sara then guided Zenith to the training ground. As they approached, he couldn't help but notice the aged appearance of the area. it bore the marks of time, with weathered wooden structures, faded markings on the ground, and a palpable layer of dust covering the equipment.

"I am very sorry about the condition of this place," Sara apologized.

"It's fine," Zenith responded, appreciating her efforts to assist him.

"Do you mind if I watch you train?" Sara asked, her curiosity evident.

Zenith, surprised by the request, questioned, "Watch me train? Why?"

"I just want to see, if that's okay with you, of course," Sara explained.

Zenith, after a moment of contemplation, replied, "That's fine." Internally, though, his heart raced with anticipation. 'A girl going to watch—I cannot disappoint her,' Zenith thought.

'A girl going to watch, you're going to absolutely disappoint her,' Abyss chimed in.

Zenith retorted, 'You sure do have timing.'

'Of course, I do,' Abyss responded.

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