“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Pelerian literally foamed at the mouth.
“Tourist attraction? A place to visit with children?”
It was unclear exactly what had happened.
But it was certain that the dungeon of Pelerian, once called the ‘Heaven Defying Archmage’, was being treated as a tourist attraction.
If this were the modern world, it might have been mentioned in blog posts with Google search keywords like ‘Places to visit in Calea City. Recommended restaurants in Calea City.’
Probably with comments like, “Our child really enjoyed it. A must-visit course for families with children!”
“How can my honor be so thoroughly torn apart and violated!”
Thinking he was overreacting, I gave him a piece of my mind.
‘Well, it seems you were raided long ago. It probably became a tourist attraction because you were so famous, old man.’
“How can a dungeon become a tourist attraction!”
‘Why not? Don’t you have war memorials or something like that here?’
“… What are you talking about.”
‘You were quite infamous, weren’t you? People are usually drawn to villains. If there’s a dungeon created by that villain, even I would want to visit.’
“Is that so…”
I feel like I’m getting used to dealing with a loud, hot-tempered old man.
Pelerian was still fuming red and blue, but at least he stopped shouting.
“We must go see. We must go and see.”
‘Of course we should go.’
I’m also very curious about what state the dungeon is in.
It’s being called a local famous tourist attraction, after all.
But first, let’s get a room and unpack.
“Give me your best room. Two beds and clean.”
“Oh, good. Go to the second floor. There’s a vacant room at the end of the corridor.”
“We haven’t eaten, so it would be nice to have a meal too.”
The innkeeper brightened up.
“Our inn is the best in Calea for food. We have roasted chicken as the main dish and cherry pie with cream for dessert. Shall I bring a beer too?”
“It’s midday, so skip the beer. Do you have juice?”
“We have fresh squeezed orange juice, and coffee too.”
“One juice and one coffee. No… two juices and one coffee.”
Roil modified the order after I tapped him.
“Payment in advance.”
The inn we found and the room we got were quite expensive.
Considering the money Roil barely makes from one trade trip, it was a place we could hardly afford to stay at.
But Roil paid the amount without hesitation.
As soon as we entered the room, Roil immediately took off his coat.
I fell to the floor with a thud as soon as he took off his coat.
And with surprising speed, I claimed one of the beds.
‘Wow! A bed!’
A mattress filled abundantly with clean straw.
And a blanket stuffed with duck down.
Ah, to think that I, who once thought a rotten tree hole was like a hotel, would now enjoy such luxury.
I was so happy that I jumped up and down on the bed.
The elasticity of the mattress makes jumping fun.
“Wow, it’s a bed!”
Seeing me, Amain also climbed onto the bed next to mine and started jumping up and down.
The dog Jackie also barks excitedly.
It’s so much fun.
“Hueeeeh…”
Roil collapsed with a thud, as if he had been extremely tense.
His hands are trembling.
What a timid human.
“My heart is pounding.”
At this rate, he won’t live long if he gets so nervous over such small things.
I approached Roil.
Fortunately, he was no longer afraid of my approach.
I took out the notebook and pen Amain had given me and wrote:
‘Don’t be afraid.’
“Ah, yes. I’m fine now.”
Roil was an honest merchant.
He was grateful that I had saved his and his son’s lives.
He will help me until we investigate Pelerian’s dungeon.
I made him swear to keep my existence a secret.
Still, I was a bit worried, so I lied and said I had placed a curse that would make both Amain and Roil vomit blood and die if they didn’t keep the secret.
Judging by how pale Roil’s face turned at that moment, it didn’t seem like he would betray me.
Of course, being a merciful snake, I intended to pay him for his services.
I took out a piece of gold from my subspace.
Thud.
What fell in front of Roil was a crafted pure gold bar.
‘Sell this and exchange it for silver coins. You can use it to buy what we need and keep the rest for yourself.’
It was one of the gold pieces I had taken from Pelerian’s dungeon.
I hear it would fetch a higher price if sold properly in a big city, but it can’t be helped.
Roil carefully picked up the pure gold.
Then he burst into tears.
“To give me such a precious thing… Not only did you save my life…”
Roil hugged the gold and cried loudly.
Amain, who had been jumping happily on the bed, also cried and hugged his father.
“Even half a year of trading couldn’t earn this much money…”
Heck, was it that expensive?
It would be too much to ask for half of it back now, wouldn’t it?
“Thank you, master. Hiing.”
With even Amain whining and crying now, it would be too cruel for even me to do that.
I just smiled benevolently.
“You’re acting so generous with my things.”
‘Isn’t what’s yours mine and what’s mine yours, old man?’
Roil bowed and left the room.
While Amain and I remained in the room, the innkeeper brought the food.
The roasted chicken leg was steaming hot with a sweet brown sauce poured over it.
The cherry pie with plenty of cream was especially amazing.
‘Delicious!’
It’s as if they used only the flesh of cherries preserved in honey.
And even black coffee to go with it.
It was a happy meal after a long time.
After the meal, I placed a food bowl, no, a flowerpot on the windowsill.
I planted the chimera snake’s seeds in it.
I also gave it some water.
It’s a place with good sunlight, so I hope it sprouts.
Roil returned a while later.
He had even diligently gathered more information about Pelerian’s dungeon.
“It’s open until 6 PM. Free admission for locals. 1 silver for adults and 5 copper for children under 13!”
I wonder how much it would be for a snake.
It might be expensive, so I’ll have to sneak in.
In any case, shall we go?
