Published: February 1, 2026
The innkeeper stretched lightly, holding a broom in hand.
The otherworldly adventurers who usually stayed at this inn were not here now. He had heard last night that they would be going into the labyrinth today and wanted a packed lunch, so he had already handed over the homemade bentos and seen them off.
Since this inn didn’t often host many adventurers, he wasn’t entirely sure, but he had given them something similar to the bentos occasionally requested by other guests. He wondered if that was alright. According to a friend who also ran an inn, it was common to give simple foods like rice balls or bread, but there was no way he could hand out such things to those particular guests.
He hadn’t gone overboard like with the first flashy bentos he made, but he had given them nutritious bentos with colorful ingredients arranged neatly in the lunch boxes. They looked perfect for fully restoring stamina. Three servings cost one silver coin.
“The labyrinth always seemed dangerous, but they can eat proper bentos, huh…”
The innkeeper nodded, glad they wouldn’t have to move around hungry, though he was harboring some misconceptions. Eventually, his friend in the same profession would probably criticize him.
Still, if other adventurers asked for bentos, he’d probably make some rice balls with a little twist, so giving the tiered boxes to Rizel and the others had been a completely unconscious act.
While sweeping the dust that had gathered at the entrance, the innkeeper hummed softly. His friend had said the adventurers often got the entrance muddy, but it wasn’t dirtier than normal foot traffic.
“Don’t lump those adventurers and those three together, you fool,” he muttered with a grin, finishing the cleaning. Just as he was about to head to the back of the inn to change the sheets for when the three returned tired and ready to sleep, a flapping sound came from the open door behind him. It was the unmistakable sound of demonic birds flapping their wings—no Astarnian citizen could mistake it.
“Has the cavalry regiment come by here or something?”
He muttered anxiously, wondering if the patrolling cavalry had descended for some reason.
But even thinking of Nahas, who was indulging in aerial strolls with his beloved partner even on his days off, it wouldn’t be unusual for him to come down on personal business. The innkeeper turned around to greet him.
“Teacher, are you there?”
A bundle of cloth.
(There are so many things I want to say, but something about the atmosphere makes me hesitate… and before that, this person’s voice is insane!!)
The innkeeper shuddered at the low, sweet voice that reached straight to his waist. It was immediately clear it wasn’t an intentionally affected voice. The feeling of dissonance—how this voice emerged from a bundle of cloth—was utterly surreal.
This intense dissonance made him lose touch with reality; it had to be someone Rizel knew. The word “teacher” suited this person best, and the innkeeper gripped his broom tightly, waiting nervously for a reply from what seemed to be the cloth bundle.
“So… a noble guest, is that right?”
“Maybe.”
Quiet and calm, the person spoke softly, their voice never loud.
However, apart from the hypnotic voice and tall stature, and the fact they were wrapped in cloth, their aura was distinctly non-human, making their presence overwhelmingly strong. The innkeeper found himself watching their every movement, somewhat like Rizel.
He was completely on edge but still wondered whether it was okay to reveal information about the inn’s guests to someone who looked suspicious, at least based on appearance.
But if it was just to inform them of their absence, that was fine. After all, calling them “teacher” implied familiarity, and anyone passing by could probably guess that Rizel and the others had headed into the labyrinth.
“They’re out, apparently going into the labyrinth today.”
“Is that so.”
The cloth bundle said, then paused thoughtfully, motionless.