Unlike the trading city of Zain, the capital was impressively vast—easily four times larger. The Adventurer’s Guild had branches at each of the city’s major entrances: north, south, east, and west.

But for now, our priority was finding a place to stay. Since we’d arrived in the evening, securing lodging before nightfall was crucial. Nights in this world fell early.

“How can I assist you today?”

This was how we were greeted upon entering the Adventurer’s Guild in the capital.

“Ah, we’re looking for a place to stay, preferably with a bath. Could you recommend one?”

“A bath...?”

Though it was nearing the evening rush hour, the guild was surprisingly quiet. Unlike Zain’s sprawling Guild building, the capital’s branch felt cramped. Perhaps that’s because it was just a regional office.

Even so, the receptionist maintained the same air of professionalism. With their focus on appearances, maybe the guild managed to avoid unnecessary disputes.

“If you’re looking for something close by that’s popular with adventurers, I’d recommend ‘The Chirping Bird Inn.’ It’s near the noble district in the northeast.”

The noble district, huh? Zain didn’t have anything like that, but it made sense that a capital city would host its share of aristocrats.

“Got it. Thanks for the help.”

Having received the information we needed, we decided to head out quickly—getting tangled up with the wrong people again wasn’t on the agenda.

“Let’s go,” I said.

“Right behind you,” Rio replied.

Following the directions, we started walking north. After a while, Rio let out a big sigh.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“We’ve been tailed since we left the Guild,” she murmured.

“I know. But they haven’t made a move, so I’m letting it slide for now.”

“Hmph.”

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how to handle it either. Confronting them could lead to unnecessary trouble, and that was the last thing we needed.

“With what we’ve seen of the guards in Zain, pinning false charges on someone seems ridiculously easy for these people.”

“True,” she agreed.

While we traded grumbles about the situation, we reached the inn without incident. Maybe we were just overthinking it. A part of me wanted to believe we were being followed by some kind-hearted protector. Then again, trusting anyone in this world felt like a luxury we couldn’t afford.

“Welcome, dears. Are you looking for a room?”

The innkeeper was a kindly old woman whose warm smile instantly put us at ease.

“Yes. Do you have a room for two?”

“Of course. It’s 1,500 Flons for the night.”

Whoa, expensive. That was about twice the cost of a room in Zain. But then again, this inn was spotless, had a luxurious feel, and was located near the noble district. It seemed worth the price.

“Alright, we’ll stay for one night. Also, we’d like to use the bath.”

“Sure thing. You can bathe whenever you like. Towels and soap are provided.”

“Oh, that’s convenient,” I replied.

It seemed baths were included in the room fee. While prices in the capital were steep, having amenities bundled together made it feel less unreasonable.

“Your room is 306. Here’s your key.”

After paying, we took our key and headed upstairs to our room.

“Whew, I’m wiped out,” Rio said as she flopped onto the bed the moment we entered.

After flying for two days straight, I couldn’t blame her. Truth be told, I was pretty tired too.

As I lay down beside her, Rio snuggled up to me with a satisfied “Mufufu~.”

“At this rate, I might just fall asleep,” I said.

“Same. Let’s rest up and prepare for tomorrow,” she suggested.

“Good idea.”

Still, skipping a bath and dinner wasn’t an option. Summoning my last reserves of energy, I sat up.

“Alright, let’s hit the bath.”

“Yeah!”

The bath lived up to the inn’s reputation. The interior was clean and spacious, with a large soaking tub and even a cold-water bath—a huge plus in my book.

After getting refreshed, we went to the dining area on the first floor. The inn offered two dinner options: an 80-Flon meal and a more elaborate 120-Flon one. Naturally, we chose the latter.

“This meat is amazing!”

“The vegetables are so fresh and crisp. Delicious!”

“And this sauce… Is this mayonnaise?”

A faintly yellow condiment coated the vegetables. Taking a bite, I confirmed it tasted just like mayonnaise.

Wasn’t this supposed to be one of those things Japanese people introduced to other worlds? Guess that trope doesn’t apply here. Well, I’d take good food over bad food any day.

“But there’s still no sign of soy sauce or miso,” I noted aloud.

“Now that you mention it…” Rio agreed.

Fermented seasonings must be a challenge to produce here. And I still hadn’t seen any rice. The thought alone made my stomach yearn for it.

“I want an onigiri,” I muttered.

“Heh, me too. Especially a grilled one brushed with soy sauce,” Rio said wistfully.

“That sounds amazing. Let’s make that the dream.”

Imagining a perfectly grilled rice ball with a golden-brown crust was almost torturous. Despite choosing the fancy dinner, our hearts were set on a meal we couldn’t have.