Investigation Request: Heaven

I'm Uzoh, an adventurer. A veteran C-Rank warrior, if I do say so myself.

Together with my partner, the scout Muzoh, I've completed countless commissions.

This time, our request is to investigate a dungeon that just went through its [Transition Period].

"It was originally just a dungeon with nothing but goblins, right? Should be a piece of cake."

"Don't let your guard down, Muzoh. Dungeons undergo drastic structural changes after their [Transition Period], and there are times when monsters increase dramatically."

"Man, you worry too much, Uzoh."

Seriously, Muzoh is far too careless for a scout.

Though I know that comes from his own confidence in his abilities.

"Heeh, check it out, Uzoh. There's an inn right by the dungeon entrance. We heard about it, but still."

"How about we stay the night here and dive into the dungeon tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sounds good to me."

It was quite an impressive building. We went inside right away.

Behind the counter sat a woman dressed in a cute black and white outfit.

The frilly fabric caught my eye.

"Welcome to the [Dancing Doll's Pavilion]!"

A beautiful girl with a Paveran accent. She had features as refined as a doll's, and… well endowed, to say the least.

I wonder if the "doll" in [Dancing Doll's Pavilion] refers to her? I found myself captivated before I knew it.

Collecting myself, I asked about the rates.

Fifty copper per person per night, one silver for two people. We rented a double room.

Hmm, isn't this pretty cheap for somewhere so deep in the mountains?

It might be tough for newbie adventurers, but for a C-Rank like me, it's pocket change.

"Ah, meals're extra though. But ya can use the bath as much as ya want!"

"Bath? Hooh, so this inn has a bath."

"That's right～. It's called a hot spring, a bath where lotsa people can get in together. Oops, they're pretty common in Pavera, but are they unusual 'round here?"

They're unusual in Tsuia, but I'm a C-Rank adventurer. I've been to other towns, including Pavera, and I've used public bathhouses before.

"We also got a bathing outfit lendin' service. Oh, and for meals, we got everythin' from A-Rank to G-Rank, put a lot of thought into it!"

"Heeh, so for something special like A-Rank… wait, what?! A gold… coin…?!"

"That's right～, the A-Rank premium meal is one whole gold coin, super expensive! But in return, it's monumentally delicious! I guarantee it! So good ya might die～!"

A-as expected, that's out of my reach.

What on earth could it possibly be…?!

"Hmmm, maybe I should just go with C-Rank… eh, five silver…"

"That's right～, C-Rank is five silver coins. That one's pretty tasty too. Wanna hear the details?"

"No, I'll pass…"

Looking at the price list, A-Rank was one gold, B-Rank was fifty silver, C-Rank was five silver, D-Rank was one silver, E-Rank was fifty copper, F-Rank was five copper, and G-Rank was one copper.

"Uzoh, I've decided. I'm going C-Rank!"

"H-hey. That's the same as the reward for this whole quest! What are you thinking? You'd be in the red! I'm not lending you money, you know?!"

"Hahaha, we can get separate rewards for whatever we find in the dungeon, right? Then it's fine. Hey Ojou-san, what's your name? When do you get off work? I'm Muzoh, a C-Rank adventurer."

Muzoh, what are you doing hitting on her? Don't be so faithful to your desires, oi.

"Ooh～, is that so～, thanks for yer patronage, take yer time～. Ah, what about the other Onii-san over here? I'd recommend at least D-Rank～"

"… I'll take D-Rank then. Still, one silver for it, huh… that's pricey."

"It's just that good～. Thanks for yer patronage～… Ah, feel free to hit the bath first. Want me to have yer food ready by the time ya get out?"

"Yeah. That'd be great."

"Heeey, at least tell me your name～?"

Setting aside Muzoh getting brushed off, I paid our money. I received these things called meal tickets on the spot. Apparently we can exchange them for meals when we go to the dining hall later. I see.

Then we got our room number and borrowed our key… Let's put our luggage in the room and head straight to the hot spring.

When I unlocked the door, the room had shelves, a dresser, and bedding. There weren't any light magic tools, but there was a lamp… I wonder if oil is sold separately?

… Hm, what's with this bedding? … Is there cotton in it?

Given there was a bath, I'd steeled myself for the bedding to be wooden planks, but… ooh, my hand sinks right in! This alone is worth fifty copper.

Alright, time to try out the bath.

The changing room had lockable shelves. They had these in Pavera's bathhouses too.

Hm, so this is the bathing outfit. She definitely said we could use them freely. I took off my clothes and changed into the bathing outfit, then stored my clothes on the shelf… Hm, isn't this bathing outfit better tailored than my own clothes? I almost want to just wear it home.

Then I entered the bathing area… This really is incredible.

A magnificent stone bath. Steam rose from the hot water filling it.

… To use this much water so deep in the mountains. I wonder if there's a water source nearby.

That must be why they built an inn here.

Without delay, I cast [Purify] on myself and got in the bath.

"O-ohhh…"

A voice escaped me involuntarily… This is good. Really good.

This is definitely a selling point for the inn… I haven't even eaten yet, but I'm already very satisfied.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

Muzoh came in partway through and was very impressed.

Getting out of the bath. I definitely want to come back… well, since I'm staying here, I can use it as much as I want. Let's get in again tomorrow morning.

… Hm? What's with this chair… is that a slot for copper coins?

Looking closer, I saw an explanation written on the wall. Apparently it's a chair that gives massages. A magic tool found in the dungeon, perhaps.

However, if you fall asleep in the chair, you can't complain if someone else pulls you out and rolls you onto the floor.

… One copper for five minutes, huh. This massage chair has caught my interest, might as well give it a try.

Sitting in the chair, I inserted a copper coin.

After a satisfying clink, the chair suddenly started vibrating.

O-oh, wh-what is this? I've never felt a massage like this before… Ohhh, ohhhhh?!

The vibrations had a gentle rhythm of intensity, and this really is, ohhh…

"Oi, wake up, Uzoh. You'll catch a cold sleeping in a place like this, you know?"

"Fwah?! O-oh, Muzoh. Right, looks like I fell asleep."

It seems I was sleeping soundly until Muzoh woke me up. Hmm, this massage chair… formidable indeed…

"Hehe, let's go eat then. I've got the five silver C-Rank meal, and I'm starving."

"Oh? Come to think of it, I've got the one silver D-Rank meal. Wonder what the difference is."

We were told meals would be served in the dining hall, so we exchanged our meal tickets for our food.

We didn't have to wait at all; the food came out immediately.

"Here you go."

A young, brown-skinned beastkin brought out our meals. She was dressed in the same frilly outfit as the woman at the counter. Very cute.

Several dishes were arranged on a square tray… a deep brown soup, bread, and salad. This is one silver? No, I can already tell from the wonderful aroma that this is high-quality food.

"Bread refills are ten copper each. Also, you'll receive dessert after your meal."

"Dessert? Can't we get it now?"

"It's cold, so I wouldn't recommend it right now. Is that still okay?"

Cold? What kind of thing could it be?

Let's just follow the recommendation and have it after the meal.

"Oh? What's wrong, Uzoh? Too little?"

"No no, this is plenty. So that's C-Rank, huh? That's a lot."

"Well yeah. Mine's C-Rank, five times what Uzoh's paying! Hahaha."

As for Muzoh's meal, compared to mine, he had one extra dish: a steak. He also had two pieces of bread.

I'm a bit envious of that thick steak… Huh? His soup is a different color. His is white.

"Plus this comes with dessert?"

"Mine does too… Steak, huh. Looks good, what kind of meat is it?"

"Isn't it boar? … Whoa?! What's with this bread, it's so soft and sweet?!"

"More importantly, it's white… what is this, this bread is amazing… oops, the bread's gonna be gone before I even touch the soup at this rate."

I hurriedly brought the soup to my mouth.

…?! I'm astonished. This flavor is incredible. It tastes like meat. Actually, looking closely, there's meat in it. Lots of it. Vegetables too, packed with ingredients.

"Whoa, what is this, rabbit? … No, boar? Don't tell me it's minotaur…"

"Hahaha, minotaur? How would they turn a profit on one silver? Besides, we're still the only customers."

"True… Even so, my soup is a different color from yours… oi, what's in yours?"

"Hm? Mmm…?! Wow, it's rich and creamy, with a fluffy texture. What's this, milk? I think it's a soup called stew made with that… Aah, right, I've had this in the Imperial Capital."

"Looks good. Give me some."

"No way, this is mine!"

Yeah, I wouldn't want to give up my soup either.

I shoveled down the salad… ?! Wh-what is this, what is with this food? Even the salad surprises me.

… What is this dressing? It's yellowish, white… oil?

"Oh, yer diggin' in. How is it, good right～? So tasty～. Ah, that on the salad is called [Mayonnaise]～"

The woman from the reception came over and sat next to me… Whoa, she smells really nice…

"Hey, come sit next to me instead!"

"Haha, sorry～, I don't like pushy people～. But I was bored so I came to explain stuff. Lessee, that white soup. An-chan got it right, it's a soup called stew made with milk. Ya don't see it much around here, but they eat it pretty normally in the Imperial Capital."

Heeh, so what Muzoh said was correct.

"And that brown stew. Don't be too surprised, yeah? It's beef stew!"

"… Huh? Beef, as in, that beef from cows? Eh, isn't that for celebrations?!"

Beef is something I hear you only eat at celebrations or when an old cow is slaughtered.

Apparently there are ranches near the Imperial Capital where you can eat it at other times, but it's supposed to be very expensive.

"W-wait a second. Then his brown stew is better than my white stew?!"

"Hahaha, that's not true at all… That steak over there, it's beef too. Right now we don't have many customers… actually, yer our first customers, so we put in some extra thick ones as a bonus, yeah?"

"Seriously?! … Whoaaa, th-this, this is beef… it's easily worth more than five silver."

I see, so it just opened. In a sense, the grand opening is also a celebration.

… The quality of this meal is incredible. Is that because it's special too?

"A-ah, right right. We're in a special period right now, so normally it'll probably be boar or somethin'. Actually, we're preparin' all sorts of stuff to practice, so we can properly welcome the adventurers who had this inn built."

"The adventurers who had this inn built?"

"… They're A-Rank adventurers is all I can say, the rest is a secret～. It's work, ya know～"

A-Rank adventurers, huh… to give them a proper welcome, it's not surprising they'd slaughter a cow.

So this food is the leftovers from the chef practicing with beef, then.

Still, with seasonings and spices like this, even if it were boar meat instead of beef, it would easily be worth several silver.

The bread was delicious too, and I polished off everything clean.

"Oops, it's about time for dessert. Senpai! Bring it out～!"

"Y-yes…"

The beastkin from earlier brought out our dessert.

White… no, yellow. It was shaped like a trapezoid, and from above it looked mysteriously like a flower, with brown sauce drizzled over it.

"What is this…?"

"It's called [Pudding], a dessert. Ah, this only comes with D-Rank meals and above, which is why I recommended it… brace yerself when ya eat it… it'll melt ya with its sweetness～"

With a gulp, Muzoh and I swallowed our saliva together and picked up our spoons.

The woman watched us with a smirk.

Plunging the spoon in and scooping it up. The [Pudding] wobbled.

And then…

… That day, I saw heaven.