A short walk from the Cathedral, following the gentle murmur of the canal, leads to an inn called Le Bouquet, perched atop a small hill in the northwestern part of the Holy Court District.
The northern side of the Holy City serves as a massive commercial port facing the sea. Merchants, travelers, and tourists flow in and out constantly via the ships that dock there daily. Because of this, the Holy Court District—the area closest to the harbor—is packed with lodging facilities. Some are stately establishments with grand storefronts reminiscent of the high-end hotels from my previous life, capable of accommodating over a hundred guests with ease.
Within such a district, Le Bouquet, with its capacity of only twenty guests, might seem like a tiny place that a stiff breeze could blow away.
However, since it only opened a few years ago, the facilities are brand new, and the building is as chic and stylish as a refined restaurant. Being atop a hill, the breeze is always pleasant, and the view of the harbor stretching to the horizon is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s far enough from the crowded areas to escape the worst of the noise, and best of all, the meals prepared by the owner himself are incredibly delicious.
Since our party first arrived in the Holy City, we’ve been indebted to this hidden gem of an inn.
"—Oh my, welcome back, everyone! Goodness, you haven't been back in a month! I was worried sick!"
"Gyah!"
And so it went.
Fortunately, there were no other guests in the lobby, so we all gave our "I'm home" at the front entrance together—and this was the result.
"Let go! I said let me go—!"
"Now, now, Liesel-chan. Haven't you lost a bit of weight? Have you been eating? That won't do. You won't grow big and strong unless you eat properly."
"Shut up, you!"
The scene before me was the owner lifting my Master high in the air and spinning her around, while she threw a tantrum and kicked him repeatedly.
"Ow! Ow-ow-ow. Now, Liesel-chan, a lady shouldn't behave so unrefinedly!"
"Let! Me! Go!"
"..."
They’re certainly energetic.
A word on the owner and chef of Le Bouquet: Roze, also known as Rozexus.
First, to avoid any misunderstanding, I should clarify that he is very much a man.
His manner of speaking is feminine and he wears a light touch of makeup, but he isn’t exactly a cross-dresser. He has the sophisticated, polished look of a handsome bartender at a high-end club. With his subtle men’s makeup, short and refreshing amber hair, and an outfit consisting of an elaborate shirt and vest, he is genuinely cool even from my perspective. When someone is that handsome, even his unique way of speaking somehow sounds right on him; it’s a strange phenomenon.
He’s supposedly thirty-two this year, but as anyone can see, he’s an energetic dandy, and his bright, friendly personality makes him very popular with the guests. If I mention that Yulitia doesn't feel any awkwardness around him at all, you can probably guess just how pleasant a person he is.
While Rosche’s only flaw was being loud, Roze has the triple threat of good looks, a great physique, and a wonderful personality. He’s sharp enough to run a business, his cooking is professional-grade, and he’s even skilled enough in combat to handle a rowdy drunk with one hand. In my mind, I suspect he might actually be a perfect human. Honestly, I wonder if the man has any flaws at all...
"You brat—!"
"Ow, ow! Honestly, you'll never become a proper lady at this rate, you know?"
"I told you to shut up!"
Having taken a toe to the ribs, Roze finally surrendered and set Master down. He then turned to Yulitia, then Atri.
"I really was worried. I heard from Shannon-chan that Wolka-chan had been injured—"
The moment Roze’s eyes finally landed on me, his expression froze.
"Wolka-chan, you..."
Roze, who is observant and notices everything instantly, couldn't have missed my eyepatch and prosthetic leg.
Roze lost his words, and seeing that, the smiles vanished from Master and the others in an instant. The air in the stylish lobby fell into a silence as heavy as a funeral parlor. Hey, don't start a negative chain reaction all of a sudden; the atmosphere is so oppressive my stomach is doing flips...!
I was prepared for this, but as expected, it’s a heavy reaction. I’d be speechless too if an acquaintance suddenly came back missing an eye and a leg. I understand that the somber mood is unavoidable, but...
Once again, I realized how grateful I was for Rosche, who just laughed it off and said, "You aren't the kind of man who'd be finished by something like this, ha-ha-ha!" You guys don't have to take it so hard. It's fine, I really don't mind. For me, a light reaction like his is much easier to handle.
So, I tapped the eyepatch over my right eye with my finger.
"It’s a man’s badge of honor. Gives me quite a bit of character, don't you think?"
"—"
...I bombed spectacularly.
No, uh, sorry, I just thought I'd lighten the mood a little... Wait, wait, don't everyone look so serious! It was a joke, like, fifty percent a joke! Please just snort and laugh at how stupid I'm being! I'm begging you, just laugh it off!
Don't look like you're about to cry, Master! Yulitia, you too! I'm sorry!
In any case, we left the front desk to the employees and went to the back staff room to explain everything that had happened to Roze. Explaining why a trip that was supposed to take a week had stretched into nearly a month while sitting in an atmosphere that felt like the bottom of a dark pit was truly stomach-churning.
Setting aside Roze, who was seeing my injuries for the first time, Master and the others still started to spiral into depression whenever the Life Reaper was mentioned, which was hard on me as well. Master thinks everything is her fault as the leader, Yulitia thinks everything is her fault for triggering the teleportation trap, and Atri thinks everything is her fault for needing my protection... Every single one of them is blaming themselves.
"In that case, I'm at fault too for being clumsy enough to lose an eye and a leg."
"That is not true! Wolka, thou hast done nothing wrong!"
"And I don't think any of you did anything wrong either, Master. ...So, can we stop talking about whose fault it is?"
When I said that, they all made expressions as if they were suppressing some intense emotion.
"Why is it that thou... always only thinks of us...?"
"Senpai, please think about yourself more...!"
"...Wolka is too kind."
No, why? I'm just saying that I don't blame you, and you don't blame me, so let's stop blaming ourselves. Nearly a month has passed, and we're finally back in the Holy City. Let's start looking forward.
For the sake of their future, and for the sake of my stomach.
"I see... So that's what happened."
Roze couldn't hide his somber expression, but he listened to our story calmly until the end.
"It really must have been difficult. ...I knew Shannon-chan was hiding something, but I see, she couldn't say it. It must have been hard for her too..."
"What did Shannon say?"
"I heard that you were slightly injured and your return would be delayed. But even when I tried to ask for details, she dodged the questions. She just said you'd definitely come back, so it would be fine."
Shannon is the name of the girl who works as a clerk at the Adventurer's Guild in the Holy Court District.
When adventurers operate in a specific city for a long time, the guild staff naturally get to know them, and a relationship of "this clerk for this party" is naturally formed. The girl who was effectively in charge of our party was Shannon.
The moment Shannon’s name came up, Master’s shoulders trembled slightly, and she looked guilty. She timidly asked Roze,
"Um, Roze. Is Shannon... well, is she doing all right?"
"...No, she seems to have been brooding over it this whole time. If she knew the situation, it's only natural."
"I... I see..."
Belatedly, I recalled what I’d heard back when I woke up in the church in Luther.
"Come to think of it... while I was still out, she came to that town on a guild investigation, didn't she?"
"U-umu..."
"And Master drove her away."
"Uguu..."
Master shrunk back, fidgeting with her fingers.
"At that time, well, thou hadst not yet awakened, and I was... I was not myself...!"
She had apparently driven away Shannon, who had come to investigate the facts, with very harsh words.
I'm the last person who should be talking since I'm the reason for all of this, but since she was just doing her job, it’s a pitiful situation.
I wonder if Shannon is okay. I hope she hasn't taken it too hard.
"You should show her your face tomorrow. ...She looked truly pained, saying 'It's my fault.'"
...What? Why on earth does Shannon think it's her fault? She had absolutely nothing to do with the accident, right?
"Her fault? What do you mean...?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know the details. I thought if I pried too much, it might just make things harder for her."
Could it be that she thinks the Clear Approval Accident is the guild's responsibility, and therefore her fault? That’s an incredible leap. She’s a junior clerk and isn't in any position of authority. How did she reach that conclusion?
"Don't tell me, Master..."
Did Master, in her unstable state, say something to blame Shannon—
"I-I didn't say anything that cruel!"
Master shook her head vigorously and looked at Yulitia with a hint of uncertainty.
"...I didn't, right?"
"U-um... at least, you didn't do anything like blame Shannon-san..."
If Yulitia says so, then it must be fine. But then why does Shannon think this accident is her fault...?
"...I understand. I'll head to the guild tomorrow."
"Yes, please do."
Good grief, why has it turned out like this? It's already bad enough that Master and the others are struggling; if even Shannon has gone off the deep end, I won't be able to handle it.
Please, everyone, just laugh it off like Rosche... Dammit, I never thought the day would come when I'd miss that man’s loud voice.
"Um,"
Yulitia asked anxiously,
"Are there... rumors about us, by any chance?"
"No. The Clear Approval Accident in the dungeon became a huge topic at the guild, but it seems your names are still being kept secret."
Yulitia breathed a sigh of relief. ...This also seems to be from while I was out, but I believe Master and the others strongly appealed to the guild not to mention the name Silvery Grey regarding this matter.
I understand the feeling. When your friend is on the verge of death and you don't know when they'll wake up, having people in town gossiping about how that party was involved in an accident, how unlucky they were, or offering empty pity would have been unbearable.
"But people with sharp intuition might have noticed that your absence coincided exactly with the timing of the accident."
"...I see."
They say you can't put a lock on people's mouths. No matter how well Shannon and the guild filter the information, my appearance with one eye and one leg will naturally be linked to the accident, and speculation will eventually turn into rumor.
If people pity our misfortune and rejoice that we made it back alive, that would be the better outcome.
But among them, well, there will surely be those who say whatever they please. There are far too many seniors who are jealous of young, high-rank parties like ours.
...I intended to ease back into society in the Holy City, but it might turn out to be more uncomfortable than I thought.
If Master and the others find it too painful, maybe we should all just disappear. You can't stop people from talking, but they also say a rumor only lasts seventy-five days. As soon as my new prosthetic is ready, maybe we could sell off the Life Reaper’s drops and live comfortably in some other country.
At that moment, Roze’s somber expression softened.
"But... I don't know if I should say this, but Wolka-chan, you are amazing."
His eyes were gentle, yet filled with a sort of dazzling admiration.
"Even I know how terrifying the Life Reaper is. And yet, Wolka-chan, you protected your companions, you survived... and you came home."
"Well... at the time, I was just acting on instinct."
"Risking everything for the sake of others isn't something just anyone can do. For most people, in the end, they care about themselves the most. ...That's why, Wolka-chan, you are wonderful."
Roze has always been the type to notice the good in people and offer praise.
However, these words felt—steeped in real experience.
"—Welcome home, truly. Please, rest well today."
...Come to think of it, what was Roze doing before he started this inn?
Roze usually answers most things with a smile, but his own past is the one thing he has never told any of us.
However, one thing is certain: the intellect to run an inn, and the courage and strength to toss a drunkard out with one hand, aren't things one acquires just by living an ordinary life.
Perhaps Roze was—.
"...Alright, enough of the gloomy talk! Has everyone eaten? If not, I'll put my heart and soul into making something for you! Just say the word!"
"Yes."
However, Roze, having switched back to his usual smile, allowed no further pursuit. Atri, who was hungry, was the first to raise her hand.
"I want lots of meat."
"Okay! But you have to eat lots of vegetables too. Balance is the secret to beauty!"
"Boo..."
"Roze-san, I'll help too."
"Fufu, Yulitia-chan is so kind. But noooope, leave it to me today. In times like this, letting the adults show off is part of being a lady, isn't it?"
"I-is that so...?"
Swept away by Roze's cheerful personality, the heavy atmosphere in the room was replaced in an instant.
Perhaps what our party needs most right now is a mood-maker like him. I think it's truly a blessing for us to have a reliable adult nearby.
...Well, Master is the oldest by far, and if I include my previous life, I should be older than Roze too!
Whether it's Rosche or Roze, it seems heaven truly does give two or three gifts to handsome men.
A while after the sun and moon had swapped places, having filled our stomachs with delicious food and washed away the sweat in the shower, there was nothing left but to sleep.
In this world where there is no TV or internet, and where lights are rare, there is no reason to stay up late. Sleeping when it gets dark is common sense. As I was changing into my nightwear and doing some stretches, there was a soft knock at my door.
"Come in."
"Umu!"
When I called out, the one who entered was Master, clad in fluffy, ruffled nightwear.
She had removed the ribbons from her hair, and her silver tresses looked like a veil shining in the moonlight—she looked exactly like a fairy who had wandered in from another world. She was clutching her favorite pillow against her chest, dressed in a way that clearly said, "I'm sleeping with you tonight too"—huh?
Wait, we're sleeping together here too?
Master, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, crawled into my bed and began fluffing her pillow. No, no, no.
"Master, could it be..."
"?"
Master’s round eyes looked back at me, not doubting for a second that we were sharing the bed. Hmmmmmm?
"...Ah— Master. We're back in the Holy City now, so you don't have to sleep with me anymore."
"No."
Eh?
"Goodness, what art thou saying? It is forbidden."
"...M-Master?"
"Thou shalt not, okay? Absolutely not."
Master?
Is it because it's night that she looks this way? Master’s innocent smile was somehow incredibly beautiful—so beautiful it made a chill run down my spine. I felt as though an invisible rope had been placed around my neck so I couldn't go anywhere—
Was that just an illusion created by the faint moonlight?
In the next moment, Master had returned to her usual self. She glared at me with eyes that were half-worried and half-annoyed.
"...Wolka, thou didst as thou pleased at the ruins."
"Guh."
"Thou went off on thy own during the camp."
"Guh-ha."
"Just now too... saying it's a badge of honor, pretending thou art fine all by thyself again..."
Ah, you're bringing up the joke? I’d really prefer it if we could just act like that never happened...
"Anyway, it is absolutely not allowed. ...I will absolutely not let thee go."
"Gunu..."
That's cheating, Master. I can't say a word if you bring up the ruins and the camp...! It's my fault for acting on my own, I know. It is, but...!
Her gaze was incredibly sincere, yet tinged with a deep loneliness.
"...Wolka."
"..."
It seemed there was no way out for me. I could only reflect on how much worry I’d caused her, day and night.
I raised both hands in surrender.
"...Fine. But I'm waking up early. No throwing a tantrum saying you want five more hours, okay?"
"Umu!"
That said, back when I had just woken up, she was in such a state that she would start crying if I tried to refuse. Compared to that, her mental state must be recovering, given she no longer clings to me in tears.
That's right, isn't it?
Once I get a better prosthetic and start working again, she’ll feel safe enough to sleep in her own room, right?
I want to believe that.
Though the chill I felt for a moment when she said "No"—that sensation of having my hands and feet gently bound so I couldn't escape—
"Well then, goodnight, Wolka."
"...Ah, yeah."
Exhausted from the journey and feeling the relief of a real bed, I fell asleep the moment I lay down. I’ve always been able to fall asleep quickly.
And so, while I was drifting through dreams...
"—Fufu... Wolka..."
I thought I heard Master’s incredibly sweet voice right in front of me.
By the time I woke up the next morning, I didn't remember a single thing about it.
As the light of the magic stone lamps faded from Wolka’s room, a figure visited Le Bouquet just as it was closing for the night. The figure walked with a dignified stride that did not disturb the silence. At the sound of the gently ringing doorbell, Roze looked up from the front desk.
"Oh my, what a surprise at this hour, Rosche-chan."
It was Rosche.
He bowed and scanned the lobby. After confirming they were alone, he spoke.
"You haven't changed, I see. —Captain Rozexus."
"Oh dear," Roze said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Honestly, how many years ago was that? I've told you many times to call me Roze now."
"Forgive me. To me, you are still my Captain."
"No matter how much you flatter me, I'm not going back to the knights."
"Heaven forbid," Rosche said with a wry smile. Roze closed his ledger and stepped out from behind the desk.
"Have you come to check on your friends? Wolka-chan and the others are already asleep. Don't worry."
"That is part of it... but I also found myself worried that you might have been so shocked by Wolka's condition that you wouldn't be able to stand."
"My, you certainly say some things. I'm actually quite bold, you know?"
Roze replied with a bit of banter, but his expression clouded.
"...But I can't deny that I almost lost my footing. To think Wolka-chan... like that..."
"..."
"Hey, Rosche-chan. Wolka-chan, you know... he said his injuries were a man’s badge of honor."
One of Rosche’s eyebrows twitched. "Is that idiot serious?" was written clearly on his face.
"Was that... not a joke?"
"Yes," Roze answered as he leaned against the wall.
"My intuition says half of it was a joke to keep us from worrying. But the other half... he definitely meant it."
"...Honestly, that fool."
It was a sigh that sounded like a groan, the kind that only escaped Rosche when he was truly exasperated. Roze chuckled.
"But Wolka-chan really is wonderful, isn't he? Even after ending up in that state, he protected his companions to the very end."
He looked up at the ceiling. His eyes were distant, as if gazing at a far-off moon.
"—Honestly, he's so different from someone like me."
"...Captain, that was not your fault."
"I know. ...But it's not something you can come to terms with so easily. No matter how many years pass."
"..."
The man who was once a knight had left the Chrys Knights about six years ago. He had spent the fortune he earned as a Captain to start this small inn.
There were many grand hotels nearby, and anyone would have thought it reckless for an individual to compete in the same business, and yet.
Here, on this small hill, he built it.
"...Don't you ever lose it."
"...Yes. Of course."
The Inn Le Bouquet.
For whom exactly was that "Bouquet" intended?