Chapter 15 (1/2)

Rei muttered as he stopped on the road with Set. Though people passing by avoided Rei and Set, they ignored them and looked up at the signboard.

Drawn on the signboard was a sun setting on the horizon, a sheaf of wheat was dyed red by the evening sun. 『Dusk Wheat』 It could be said that the name of the inn was expressed on the signboard.

The size of the inn was about the same as the other inns Rei saw on the way from the guild. Traditionally, the first floor has a bar and dinning room, the second and third floors were inn rooms. The difference was the size of the stables that was built at the back of the inn. It was the same size as other inns combined. Originally, large caravans with mercenaries or visiting nobles with attendants would frequently stay at the Dusk Wheat. By the way, in the previous example, it was common for a noble to spend a few White Gold coins to stay a night at the inn.

The door made a gyi~ sound as he opened it. Because it was not past the afternoon, there weren’t many people. A few people were dinning in the bar on the first floor.

「Welcome. Are you here for a meal? Or are you staying for the night?」

A stout middle-aged woman called out to Rei when she saw him enter.

「I would like a room. Also, I would like to leave a monster I tamed in the stables.」

The woman nodded with a pleased smile when she heard Rei’s words.

「Yes, thank you very much. The inn charges payment in advance, it’s 3 silver coins a night with morning and evening meals. However, in the case of staying for 10 days it’s 2 gold coins and 7 silver coins. With that, what is the tamed monster?」

「It’s a Griffon.」

「……I see.」

Although she stopped moving for an instant after hearing Griffon, she immediately pulled herself together, showing more guts than the men in the neighbourhood, and returned her eyes to Rei,

She had interacted with adventurers and mercenaries on a daily basis.

「A Griffon is big……including the fees for feed and space in the stables it is 2 silver coins a night. For 10 days it’s 1 gold and 8 silver coins.」

「Ah, thanks.」

He nodded and took out 5 gold coins from the bag in his chest without any problems.

In the first place, he heard that this was the only inn that he and Set could stay in, since there wasn’t a choice, he didn’t mind it.

「Thank you, here are 5 silver coins change. Someone from the inn will guide you to the stables immediately, can you take the Griffon with you?」

「Okay. The first floor seems to be a bar, but can you eat here as well?」

「Yes. However, it costs extra to the morning and evening meals.」

Listening to the woman’s words, he gave one of the silver coins he received.

「Please prepare lunch, I would like to have it after going to the stables and dropping off my luggage. Some for the Griffon as well.」

「I understand. ……It’s a bit late to say it but I’m Lana, the proprietress of the Dusk Wheat.」

「I see, I’ll be in your care for a while. I’m Rei. The Griffon in the stable is called Set.」

「Yes, nice to meet you. ……Ah, he seems to have come. That kid will guide you to the stables.」

A young man who looked about 20 was called by Lana. It could be Lana’s son, their features were very similar.

「This kid called Dram is my son. You can talk with this kid about the monster since he’s in charge of the stables. Dram.」

Prompted by Lana, Dram bowed his head. Similar to his mother, he wore a honest smile on his face.

「Nice to meet you, I’m Dram. Going to the point, I’ll guide you to the stables at once.」

「Ah. The monster is in the stable.」

「Yes, then please come with me first. We must be cautious around monsters.」

Nodding to Dram’s words, the two people headed to the stables. By the way, after seeing Dram off, Lana headed to the kitchen to ask them to prepare the meal that was asked for.

「Uwaa~……it’s a splendid Griffon.」

Was the first thing Dram said when he saw Set. Rei heard it and looked at Dram with a surprised face.

Since coming to the city of Gilm, Dram was the first to raise his voice with pure admiration on his face, others who saw Set were all frightened with fear on their faces.

「Guest, um, is it safe to stroke it?」

「Guru~」

On the contrary, he even asked if he could touch it. In this situation, Set, and not just Rei, gave a favourable response, giving a happy cry.

Rei nodded while having a strange smile on his face.

「Ah. It seems like Set likes you.」

「In that case, pardon me……」

He stretched out his hand to stroke the smooth silky hair that had grown on Set’s back.

「It’s great……this is the first time I’ve touched a Griffon, it has a smooth feel.」

Dram was impressed as he said that, of course, the smooth touch of the Griffon was specific to Set, normal Griffons had coarser feel.

「Well, could you guide him to a satisfactory place in the stables?」

「Ah, yes! I’m sorry. I’ll guide you there immediately.」

Following Dram’s guidance, they went through a side road close to the entrance of the inn, soon, the stables came into view.

As expected, it was suitable to accommodate large caravans and mercenary parties, it was almost the same size as the first floor of the Dusk Wheat.

「Here, please.」

Although there was a peculiar smell of animals and monsters as they entered the stables, according to Dram’s words, it was kept clean. In addition, the figures of the horses of customers staying as the Dusk Wheat could be seen.

However, most of the horses wouldn’t calm down and looked around restlessly when they saw the appearance of Set, moving their bodies little by little.

The difference in status may have been felt instinctively.

「Ah, I’m sorry. You can see the state of some of the other customer’s horses, I’ll let this child rest in a separated place.」

As Dram apologized, he took Set to the place furthest from the horses.

「So then, I wonder if it is okay for Set to stay here.」