The Eternal Journey With My Elf Wife: The Legendary Hero and His Beloved Wife Journey Across the World They Saved 100 Years Ago 11

Chapter 11: The Run-Down Inn

The post town of Yankers is the largest in the surrounding area. Most travelers heading to the Ishtar Kingdom pass through here.

It also seems that the royalty and nobility of the former Ishtar Kingdom always use this place as their lodging when they travel to the capital of the Fortuna Federation for their alternate attendance duties. It’s what you’d call a main encampment.

Therefore, a line of magnificent inns, suitable for nobles to stay in, stood side by side.

I took a quick look, and there were even super-luxury inns that cost ten gold coins a night.

“Even if a beautiful maid did this and that for you, it wouldn’t be worth it,” I couldn’t help but remark.

Of course, even if such services were offered, I wouldn’t stay. Because I love my wife.

Besides, I couldn’t stay even if I wanted to.

Even that top-class inn had its “No Vacancy” sign out.

Apparently, it was the season for alternate attendance, and nobles from all over the Ishtar Kingdom were staying there. In that case, no matter how much money you have, you can’t stay at the big inns.

The only ones left are the small inns.

“Should we not push ourselves and head to the next post town?”

“I’d like to, but when I see the effects of the hot spring in this town…”

I looked at the sign posted at the town’s public bathhouse. The effects of the hot spring that welled up in this town were listed as: “scrapes, bruises, women’s ailments, and fertility.” In other words, the perfect water for newlyweds was bubbling up here.

“That certainly makes me want to stay, no matter what.”

“Exactly. Well, let’s give up on the fancy inns and look for a small one. Even if the inn doesn’t have a hot spring, we can just come to the public bath.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s a shame we can’t use a private family bath, though.”

“…Oh, you.”

After that exchange, we found a small inn located away from the main street.

An inn with a sign that read,
“The Dawn Fig Inn.”

It was an elegant and tasteful name, but the building itself looked like it might physically collapse by dawn.

“This place looks like it could crumble to dust tomorrow.”

“W-Well, it looks that way, but the inside might be clean.”

Fina cautiously peeked inside, but her expression clouded over.

For her, who always sees the positive in everything, to make such a face meant the inside was probably even shabbier than the outside.

“Shall we try another inn?” Fina suggested reservedly.

“All the inns we’ve looked at so far were full. The sun is setting, so let’s just stay here for one night.”

“You’re right. There’s no need to stay for a long time.”

“But if there are fleas or mites, we’re finding another inn immediately.”

I didn’t even want to imagine the sight of my beloved Fina’s skin covered in red dots, scratching away.

We cautiously entered.

It was dusk, but the inside was pitch black.

The location was already bad, and they were probably skimping on lamp oil to cut costs. As far as we could see, there were no other guests.

The innkeeper, far from being unmotivated, didn’t seem to expect any guests at all, and there was no one at the counter.

On the counter was a note that said, “Please ring this bell for service.” I rang the small bell, but the innkeeper was nowhere to be seen.

“Zero hospitality.”

“They must be busy.”

As we were discussing our impressions, a small girl came from the back.

She was a red-haired girl of about eight.

She came bustling over, saying, “Yes! Coming!” and bowed deeply.

“My father isn’t here right now. If it’s about the debt, he said he’d like to pay it back in full at a later date, and while he’s positively considering how to deal with it, he intends to repay it systematically, or so he hopes,” she said.

“…”

I was dumbfounded.

Fina timidly asked,
“U-Um, we’re not debt collectors, we’re customers.”

“What!?” the red-haired girl exclaimed in surprise, her pigtails bouncing.

“W-What did you just say!?”

Fina was a bit taken aback by her intensity, so I answered.

“We came to stay the night. Do you have a room available?”

“Of course we do. We have rooms with fleas and rooms without.”

“We’ll take one without, please.”

“Certainly. But are you sure you want to stay at our inn?”

“It’s the only one with a vacancy.”

“Come to think of it, it is the season for the nobles’ visit. Not that it has anything to do with our Dawn Fig Inn.”

“Still, you probably get more guests from the overflow during the season, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. —At least, we used to.”

“Used to?”

“Yes. A long time ago, the Dawn Fig Inn was a prosperous establishment.”

“Oh? What on earth happened?”

“That’s…”

The red-haired girl hesitated. Then, a man’s angry voice came from the back of the inn.

“You idiot! Mia! I told you to bring me some booze!”

“…F-Father.”

“Is that drunk your father?”

“…Yes.”

After muttering that, she turned back towards her father and said,
“Father, the alcohol can wait. I’m with a customer right now.”

“What’d you say!? Are you talking back to me, the pillar of this family and a genius chef!?”

“…”

That was a long time ago, the red-haired girl, Mia, said in a voice as small as a mosquito’s buzz.

“—It seems there’s some kind of story here,” Fina whispered to me.

“Yeah, what a pain.”

It was a pain because I knew Fina would inevitably stick her nose into it.

She’s the type who can’t abandon people in trouble.

Knowing this, I solidified my intention to stay here and signed our names in the guest register.