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The innkeeper's gruff demeanor and annoyed retort didn't faze me in the slightest. I remained calm, my expression unwavering. Perhaps it was the lingering composure I had gained from my travels—after experiencing that, such minor confrontations felt insignificant.
That fight, and the knowledge I had extracted from the prisoners we had taken, gave me a better grasp of my own strength. It was because of this confidence that I could stand here unfazed, even as the tension in the room thickened.
The innkeeper studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if reassessing his initial impression.
"...You've got some guts, huh," he muttered. "Most of the people who stay here are copper or iron plate adventurers—rookies, like you. If you've got enough strength, you might be able to form a party here, if you're lucky. That's why this place is better than the others—for finding teammates whose strength matches yours."
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes before he added, "It's fine if you just want to rent a room, but without connections, you won't survive long. A well-balanced team is the difference between living and getting torn apart by monsters. That's why novices advertise themselves in places like this—where there are people willing to listen."
Then, he crossed his arms.
"I'll ask one more time. Do you want to stay in the dormitory, or do you still want a double room?"
"A double room," I answered, unfazed. "And I'll pass on the food."
The innkeeper snorted, shaking his head. "Tch. Another punk who doesn't appreciate good advice... or are you trying to say that you're stronger than you look? "That fancy full plate armor isn't just for show?" He grumbled but didn't push further. "Whatever. That'll be seven coppers—upfront."
I stepped forward, Solution following in my wake.
The moment we moved, the air in the tavern shifted.
A foot suddenly shot out in front of me, blocking my path.
I came to an immediate halt and turned my gaze toward the culprit.
The man who had stuck his leg out wore an annoying smirk, mirrored by the rest of his table. His companions chuckled under their breath, their eyes fixed on me and Solution.
Despite this clear provocation, no one stepped in to stop them—not the other patrons, not the innkeeper. They simply watched, their expressions ranging from amusement to cold indifference.
I exhaled softly, already knowing what was happening.
"Oh, they're testing me," I thought, recognizing this scene from my already forgotten memories of this world.
Even among those pretending to be disinterested, I noticed a few keen eyes carefully observing the exchange. They weren't just waiting for a fight—they were assessing my strength.
"...Give me a break," I sighed inwardly.
Rather than waste my time, I simply nudged the offending foot aside with a light kick.
The man instantly shot to his feet as if he had been waiting for an excuse.
He wasn't wearing armor, so his bulging muscles were clearly visible beneath his worn tunic. Around his neck, a dull iron plate swayed as he moved. He clenched his gauntlet-covered hand, the leather creaking as his grip tightened.
"Oi, oi. That hurt," he growled, stepping toward me threateningly.
We were roughly the same height, and we locked eyes. The tension crackled between us, the gap between a fight and conversation shrinking.
I decided to fire the first verbal shot.
"Is that so?" I said, my voice cool. "I must have missed your foot because of my carelessness … Or perhaps , your legs are just too short. Either way, that's my excuse. Can you forgive me for that?"
The man's face twitched, his expression darkening.
"...Bastard."
His gaze suddenly shifted behind me—to Solution. His smirk returned, greedy and lecherous.
"But I'm a generous guy," he sneered. "Tell you what. Lend me your woman for a night, and I'll forgive you."
A sharp chuckle escaped me.
"Ku, kukuku..."
She tensed, but I lightly raised a hand, signaling her to stay back.
The man frowned. "What's so funny?"
I tilted my head slightly. "Oh, nothing. I was just amused by how cliché you sound. Like a caricature of a thug from a bad novel."
His face turned red with anger.
"You—!"
"Before we start," I cut him off, "let me ask you a question."
His fists clenched, but he paused. "...What?"
"Are you strong enough?"
His brow furrowed in confusion. "What the hell are you—"
"I see," I interrupted. "Your reaction tells me everything. In that case…"
Without warning, I grabbed his neck and hoisted him into the air with a single hand.
A sharp gasp ran through the tavern.
The man didn't even have time to react. One second he was standing, the next, his feet were dangling helplessly. His eyes bulged in shock, his mouth opening in a choked noise of disbelief.
The onlookers stiffened, their previous amusement replaced with sheer disbelief.
How strong was I to lift a grown man like this effortlessly?
The man flailed, his arms clawing at my gauntlet. His boots kicked uselessly at the air.
Then, I threw him.
To me, it was a gentle toss.
To everyone else?
The man shot across the room, his body skimming the ceiling before slamming down onto a table with a deafening crash. Wood splintered, objects shattered, and his pained howl echoed through the silent tavern.
Of course, this time he did hit that red-haired woman, who was examining her potion.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Every set of eyes was now locked onto me. The atmosphere had shifted—from mere curiosity to shock and wariness.
Ignoring them, I calmly walked toward the counter and tossed six coppers onto it.
The innkeeper smirked slightly, then slid a small key across the counter toward me.
"First room on the right, upstairs," he said gruffly. "Chests at the foot of the bed. And don't barge into other people's rooms—unless you want a fight. Then again," he eyed the man groaning on the floor, "maybe you wouldn't mind."
"Understood," I said smoothly. Then, "One more thing—I need a basic adventurer's kit. The Guild said you'd provide one."
The innkeeper rubbed his chin, glancing at me and Solution before looking at my purse.
"Mm. I can have it ready by dinnertime. But you'd better be ready to pay."
"Of course."
With that, I turned toward the creaking staircase, Solution following closely behind.
As we ascended, I could still feel several sets of eyes burning into my back.
I smirked to myself.
Well, if they were testing me, I'd say I passed.
~~~
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