Chapter 1-32 : The Girl Wanders Around The City At Night (part 1)
After filling up her stomach, Elle continued following Neige to the inn he recommended in the central district.
「Master, this is the inn that suits your budget.」(Neige)
「Whoaa…」(Elle)
When they got to the inn, Elle couldn’t help but look at the building in awe.
For a mid-class affordable inn in this city, this one had a huge seven-story building. It looked like a newly built building and had apricot-colored painted walls that gave a bright impression.
「Are you sure this is the one? It looks like a first-rate inn for nobles and rich people.」(Elle)
「Well, according to the map in my brain, this should be the one.」(Neige)
「Anyway, let’s get inside. If it’s too expensive, we can look for another inn.」(Yoyo)
「Yeah.」(Elle)
Agreeing with Yoyo’s suggestion, Elle walked toward the entrance.
There was a man dressed in a neat uniform by the entrance. He seemed to be a doorman.
Noticing Elle, the man shifted his gaze toward her and frowned. He didn’t look very friendly, perhaps because Elle didn’t dress like a rich lady.
However, after glaring at her for a few seconds, he silently opened the door for her.
「Th, thank you…」(Elle)
Elle awkwardly nodded at him and stepped into the inn.
The lobby was spacious and bright thanks to the magic-stone-powered chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. It had a well-maintained carpet that covered the entire floor and expensive-looking paintings and decorations.
There was a coffee shop and a dining hall on the other side of the lobby where people could get premium meals.
However, there was another thing that made Elle impressed with the inn.
This inn had an elevator, but unlike the old-fashioned elevators that were powered by water wheels or a primitive hydraulic system, this one was powered by magic stones. It had a translucent glass door, so you could see the outside when the elevator lifted you up.
Looking around the lobby, Elle saw some people who seemed to be the guests. They were all wearing neat clothes. Some of them were chilling and some others were carrying suitcases. They seemed to either want to check in or check out from the inn.
Elle couldn’t help but feel out of place when she looked at the plain dress she was wearing.
「Neige… I don’t think a room in this kind of inn costs thirty copper coins per night. I think it will cost at least one gold coin.」(Elle)
「Then, we should find out. Let’s ask the receptionist.」(Neige)
They went to the reception desk and asked the female receptionist there.
「Umm, excuse me. Is there an available room for one person?」(Elle)
「…..」(receptionist)
The receptionist raised her eyebrows when she looked at Elle. She seemed a bit confused.
「Little Lady, you’re not with your parents?」(receptionist)
While asking that, she glanced around the lobby, trying to find the people who seemed to Elle’s parents.
「…No.」(Elle)
「I, I see. But… Do you have money?」(receptionist)
「I do. It costs thirty copper coins per night, right?」(Elle)
「Thirty copper coins? No, no. That was the price two years ago when this was a middle-class inn. Now that we have upgraded our building and turned it into an upper-class inn, it costs one gold coin per night.」(receptionist)
「On gold coin… I see.」(Elle)
「So? Do you want to rent a room or not?」(receptionist)
「Umm… Yes, please.」(Elle)
Elle’s guess was right.
It was expensive, but Elle still had money. Thinking that staying there for one night wouldn’t hurt, she decided to rent a room and planned to look for a cheaper inn the next day.
Howeverー
「Alright. Can I see your ID card, please?」(receptionist)
「ID card…?」(Elle)
「Yes… Hold on, you… don’t have an ID card?」(receptionist)
Elle was confused. She had no idea at all that she needed an ID card to rent a room in an inn.
「I don’t… Do I really need it? I just want to rent a room.」(Elle)
「I’m sorry, but rules are rules.」(receptionist)
「I’ve never heard such a rule before. Since when has it been implemented?」(Elle)
「A yearー No, about ten months ago, I think. I remember it was a few months after the queen’s death.」(receptionist)
「I see… So, I can’t stay here?」(Elle)
「Yeah, I’m sorry.」(receptionist)
「Are there any inns in this city that accept people without ID like me?」(Elle)
「Unfortunately, no. You have to show your ID even if you want to stay in a cheap, run-down inn in the slum. Well, some of them might let you stay as long as the knights don’t find out, but I wouldn’t stay in the slum if I were you. It’s not safe there.」(receptionist)
「I see… Where can I get an ID card?」(Elle)
「The guild, but… I think they’re already closed at this hour. Besides, it’s quite far from here.」(receptionist)
「That’s… Unfortunate…」(Elle)
Seeing Elle’s sad face, the receptionist scratched her cheek with her index finger.
「I want to help you, but I’m sorry. I’m just a worker here.」(receptionist)
「It’s alright. I understand. Thank you.」(Elle)
After thanking the receptionist politely, Elle left the inn.
As soon as they got to the street, Neige stood in front of Elle and bowed apologetically.
「I’m sorry, Master… I thought it cost thirty copper coins… I had no idea about the ID card either… I’m such a useless artificial spirit… Uuuuu…」(Neige)
「What? No, that’s not true.」(Elle)
「Uuuuu… I was made two years ago, and it seems that the ‘knowledge’ planted in my brain is outdated…」(Neige)
「I see. Then, you’re not at fault. I don’t blame you.」(Elle)
「Yeah, you’ve done nothing wrong. Cheer up, will ya?」(Yoyo)
「Uuuu… Master, Senpai, you two are so kind…」(Neige)
「But… What should we do now…?」(Elle)
After stroking Neige’s head, Elle folded her arms, thinking.
「We can go to Mr. Forster’s house and stay there, you know? Well, if you want, of course.」(Yoyo)
「Mr. Forster, huh? He seemed to be a nice person, but… I don’t want to trouble someone I’ve just met today.」(Elle)
「I don’t think he will mind. He seemed to like you a lot and wanted you to stay in his house.」(Yoyo)
「But still…」(Elle)
「Speaking of Mr. Forster, why didn’t he tell you about the ID card? He has been living in this city for years, right?」(Yoyo)
「It’s because he had no idea either. Did you forget? He said he had been traveling around the country to find his friend.」(Elle)
「Oh, right.」(Yoyo)
Gilbert de Forster went on a journey to find his friend to help him rebuild the country soon after her daughter, the queen, died.
He hadn’t been in the royal capital in a while, so he had no idea about the changes that had happened in the city.
He gave up on finding his friend and decided to return to the royal capital today.
「If you don’t want to rely on that nobleman, how about Charlotte, then? She told you her address, right?」(Yoyo)
Charlotte was currently on a family trip. She and her family were staying in a townhouse in the royal capital for a while, and she told Elle the address before parting with her in the harbor.
「Charlotte…」(Elle)
「Yup. I bet she will be happy to see you again.」(Yoyo)
「I did promise her I would pay her a visit, but… Isn’t it too soon for that?」(Elle)
「Yeah, but it’s an emergency.」(Yoyo)
「Charlotte is kind to me, but I don’t know her family. Paying her a visit to play with her is fine, but I don’t think her family will let me stay in their townhouse.」(Elle)
「We can try, at least.」(Yoyo)
「Yoyo-senpai’s right. If you have acquaintances in this city, you should ask them for help.」(Neige)
「Umm… No, I’m not going. I don’t want to trouble Charlotte or Mr. Forster.」(Elle)
Saying that, Elle started walking down the dark street.
Yoyo and Neige then hurriedly followed her.
「Master, wait!」(Neige)
「Elle, you’re such a stubborn girl! Do you want to sleep on the street?」(Yoyo)
「No, I have a plan.」(Elle)
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