Hospitality

I arrived in Alf Town in a carriage so excessively luxurious it felt entirely out of place against the rugged landscape.

It was a necessary task, I suppose, but that didn’t make traveling to this backwater Frontier Region any more pleasant. I spent the entire journey with a scowl etched onto my face, my mind racing with ways to vent my mounting frustration.

What could possibly be so appealing about this place? I wondered. "If he wanted to be a Lord, he could have chosen a territory much closer to home."

Of course, the answer was obvious. Had Yuri tried to claim a territory near the capital, my other siblings would have moved to block him immediately.

"He’d better have prepared a decent inn at the very least," I grumbled to the empty carriage. I knew the reality of the frontier; "decent" buildings usually didn't exist. I was bracing myself for a hovel where sleeping on the ground might actually be the more hygienic option. The mere thought of it sent my mood spiraling further into the depths.

Yuri hadn’t invited me, of course. I had come of my own volition just to find things to complain about. I was acting like a common pest, but I felt I had every right to be.

The carriage finally ground to a halt.

"Finally. Honestly, how long do they intend to keep me waiting?"

I stepped out of the carriage slowly, my eyes narrowed as I prepared to sneer. Now, let’s see just how tattered my foolish younger brother’s territory is—

"…Eh!?"

I froze. A massive, imposing City Wall loomed over me.

There was no way a rural Frontier Region should have a fortification this strong. Had I been taken to the wrong location? No, the travel time was exact; there was no doubt I was in the frontier.

Perhaps the family hadn't been able to send Yuri into the wastes with nothing, so they had secretly granted him a fortified stronghold instead of a mere village. It made sense; this land bordered foreign powers. If this place had been a defenseless backwater, it would have been a scandal.

Wait. Did Yuri realize that? Did he desire to become the Lord of this specific land because he knew its true value?

The realization that he was living a comfortable life made me grit my teeth in fury. Just how much income is he generating here? I’m his sister—I have a right to a cut of that wealth. I found myself spiraling into a greedy, impossible delusion.

Then, a voice broke my thoughts.

"Welcome, Older Sister."

It was Sasha. She grasped the hem of her skirt and bowed. Her dress was simple—nice enough, but it lacked the gaudy luxury of my own. Seeing her properly acknowledge her subordinate position finally allowed my mood to lift, if only slightly.

"Thank you for the greeting," I said, smoothing my features. "The fact that you’re the one here means there’s no mistake—this is indeed Alf Town."

"It is, Older Sister."

"But why are you the one meeting me? Shouldn't Yuri be the one standing here?"

"Big Brother is currently away on negotiations with another nation. We dispatched a fast horse the moment we heard news of your arrival, but it hasn't reached him yet."

"I see. Since this place is situated where it is, I imagine there are constant headaches to deal with."

"It’s a vulnerable position," Sasha replied, her voice pragmatic. "If another country attacked, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Big Brother is constantly on edge."

"Hee, is that so?"

If the territory is that much of a burden, then trying to seize it might be more trouble than it’s worth, I thought. Sasha noticed my expression, her eyebrows furrowing for a fraction of a second, but I was far too preoccupied to notice such a trivial change.

"Well, it can't be helped," I sighed. "By the way, is there actually an inn fit for my stay in a place like this?"

"Of course. Our options are limited, but I have prepared the absolute best we have to offer."

"I suppose I’ll look forward to it. I’ll try to enjoy myself, though I won't hold my breath."

I knew my sister's nature all too well. Miranda was the type to find a flaw in a diamond just to hear herself talk. I had made my preparations with that specific brand of pettiness in mind.

The primary issue was the lack of a proper Noble Inn, but I could gloss over that by blaming the frontier setting. What mattered was the interior. Yuri had performed extensive Magic Remodeling on the building, turning it into a facility packed with his latest Cutting-edge Magic Tools.

We arrived at the inn. Not even ten seconds passed before Miranda’s voice shrieked through the building.

"Why does this dilapidated shack have a Magic Tool that blows cold Wind!?" she screamed. "And why on earth does a mere inn have its own private Bath!?"

To those of us living here, these things had already become our new standard. To Miranda, they were marvels that defied everything she knew about the world.