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The Fortress City of E-Rantel stood at the intersection of three borders - those of the Slaine Theocracy, the Baharuth Empire, and the Re-Estize Kingdom. It was so named because it was defended by three layers of walls. The districts enclosed by each concentric circle of the walls were distinctly different from each other.
The outermost district was sometimes used to billet the troops from the Royal Army, and so it was fully furnished with barracks and other military facilities.
The innermost district was the administrative area of the city. In addition, the district also contained storehouses for combat rations. Thus, it was heavily guarded.
Between these two areas was the residential district, where the people of E-Rantel made their homes. This place best fit the image that came to mind when one thought of a city.
There were several plazas here, and the largest of them was called the Central Plaza. It was filled with stalls selling vegetables, spices, and other such commercial products.
Amidst the crowds, the stall owners energetically shouted their sales pitches to the people walking by, while the older women haggled with the merchants as they looked for fresh food. Drawn by fragrant scents, young men purchased skewers of roasted meat which oozed with warm juices.
The rowdy, energetic atmosphere of this place should have lasted until the sun went down. However, it suddenly went silent as a pair of figures emerged from a five story building nearby.
Everyone in the plaza froze where they stood, their eyes were drawn to the two of them.
One of these two people was a girl, who looked to be in her late teens. Her tapered eyes gleamed like onyxes, while her thick and lustrous blond hair was curled into a tornado. Her snow white skin shone like pearls in the sun.
What drew their attention most was the air of elegance which surrounded her, followed closely by her flirty beauty that would make anyone do a double take.
Although the dark brown robe she wore was plain in make, it looked like an opulent dress on her.
And her Partner was equally handsome man, he had a pair of brightly glowing crimson eyes. An earring on his right ear. He also had a sword attached to his wrist.
The two of them looked around, and the handsome person took a step forward.
The onlookers watched the pair vanish into the distance, and then immediately began whispering about what they had seen. They did not seem afraid of their arms and armor.
That was because the building the pair had just left was called the "Adventurer's Guild," It was a place that only monster-hunting professionals would visit, so it was hardly strange to see armed people coming out of there.
In fact, several other similarly equipped people had left the building in the meantime. Those with keen eyes might have noticed a pair of copper plates hanging around the necks of that pair.
That said, the two of them had drawn all that attention because of the woman's beauty and man's handsomeness.
•••
The streets of E-Rantel bustled with activity as Solution and I navigated through the crowded commercial district. After successfully registering as adventurers, we were directed by the guild staff to an inn recommended for newcomers.
Shops lined the streets, their signs swaying slightly in the evening breeze. Merchants called out to potential customers, and laborers carried crates of goods to and from various establishments.
Among the sea of people, we searched for the inn by inspecting the signs, relying on the illustrations rather than the text—neither of us could read this country's written language yet.
Eventually, I found the symbol I was looking for. Without hesitation, I adjusted my pace, and Solution followed closely behind.
Upon reaching the entrance, I scraped the mud off my sabatons and climbed the few steps leading to the western-style saloon doors. With both hands, I pushed them open.
The air inside was stale and heavy with the scent of alcohol and unwashed bodies. The windows were shut, allowing only dim candlelight to illuminate the room. However, with my darkvision, the lack of light posed no problem for me—I could see every detail with perfect clarity.
The inn's first floor functioned as a tavern, its wooden tables and chairs arranged in a disorganized manner. A long counter stretched across the back, behind which stood shelves filled with dusty bottles of liquor. To the right of the counter, a closed door likely led to the kitchen.
A spiral staircase in the corner of the room led to the upper floors, where the guest rooms were located.
The moment I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.
A dozen pairs of eyes turned toward me. The patrons—mostly men—sized me up with wary expressions, some gripping their mugs a little tighter. A few whispered amongst themselves, their voices hushed yet filled with suspicion.
The only one who didn't react to my arrival was a lone woman seated at a corner table. She was hunched over, staring intently at a small bottle in front of her, completely lost in thought.
What was her name again? I forgot; it's been a long time since I watched Overlord. But since I am not going to interact with her, there is no problem.
I scanned the room, my expression remaining neutral despite my mild disappointment.
I had expected this place to be rough, but the level of filth exceeded my expectations.
The wooden floor was covered in stains and scraps of unidentifiable food, and the corners of the room were lined with moldy, decayed material. The air carried a distinct mixture of sweat, alcohol, and rotting wood.
I had seen filthy places before, in multiple worlds. Even the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick contained unpleasant areas, such as Kyouhukou's chamber or the Venomous Cave. However, the difference was that those places had purpose—this inn was simply neglected.
Suppressing an internal sigh, I shifted my focus to the innkeeper, who stood near the counter.
He was a broad-shouldered man, clad in a filthy apron, his muscular arms marred with countless scars. Whether they were from beast attacks or blades, I couldn't tell. He clutched a mop, though judging by the state of the floor, I doubted it was used often.
His rough, gravelly voice broke the silence.
"A room, huh? For how long?"
His tone was neither welcoming nor hostile—just blunt.
"One night," I replied evenly.
The innkeeper grunted. "...A copper plate, huh. Five copper. Food's oatmeal and vegetables. If ya want meat, that'll be an extra copper. Bread might be a few days old, but that's what ya get."
"If possible, I'd like a double room," I added.
At this, the innkeeper let out a snort.
"...Figures. Y'know, there's three inns in this town that cater to adventurers," he said, leaning on his mop. "Mine's the worst of the lot."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yeah," he continued, "and yet, the guild still sent ya here. Any idea why?"
I exchanged a glance with Solution before shaking my head. "No. Would you care to explain?"
The innkeeper chuckled darkly. "Hah. Thought so."
And with that, he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.
"Welcome to the beginners' pit, stranger."
~~~
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