Chapter 10

Once we got back to the guild, Gravel went to turn in the commission while Alice and I went to sell the stuff we got from the hounds at the merchants side of the guild. We each got 50silver form the commission and hound pelts.

Having received our pay, we decided to celebrate my first commission with food and drinks from the guild bar. Unlike the fine dining from Mountains Rest, food in the guild is... should we say... hearty.

We got what looks like a gigantic turkey, a big plate of stir fry meat and vegetable, a whole lot of butter bread, a bowl of hot soup each, mugs of beer bigger than my head, and the main star on the table, a gigantic peace of roasted meat with a bone sticking out.

What is that even? A cow leg? It looks like food you'd only see in anime and manga, but here it is, right in front of me.

Gravel waste no time going straight for the stake, slicing off a big chunk and proceeding to tear it apart. Alice, in a more civilized manner, grabbed herself a leg from the bird, and so did I. It's no Kojo Bird from Mountains Rest, but it's pretty good. It's juicy and tender, tho it might be seasoned a bit too strongly.

Alice, "So what do you think of your first commission as an adventurer?"

"Well, with you two there helping me, it wasn't really a big deal. It was fun."

Alice, with purest smile on her face, "I'm glad to hear that, because I suspect we're going to be getting a lot more commissions coming in soon."

"Why is that?"

Alice, "Well, the town only started its expansion a few weeks ago, and ever since, the number of commissions that the guild receives has been slowly increasing. But once more people start moving in and construction reaches its peak. We are probably going to be receiving floods of commissions for a while."

"I see."

Gravel, "Arr ouu gooin tu dink dat?" With a mouth still full of food.

"What?"

Alice, "Swallow your food before you talk."

She takes a big swig of her mug before slamming it on the table, "Ahh... Are you gonna drink that?"

"Oh no. I don't like beer."

Then she took my drink and chugged it down in one go. "Ahhhhhh..."

Alice, "Take it easy. We still have to do commissions tomorrow. You know how it is when you get drunk."

Gravel, "It's fine, it's fine. I only had two."

"He he."

Over the course of the celebration, Gravel had a few more mugs and passed out. Alice gives a big sigh and tells me that Gravels kind usually aren't very good with alcohol. They get drunk very easily.

This girl is really carefree huh?

Alice needed to take Gravel back to their room, so we parted ways there. I also needed a room, so I went to the receptionist to get one. But, the person I see in the reception isn't Glendel, but a slender, blond elf women.

She has silver eyes that twinkles in the light and a warm, friendly smile. Her hair flows as she moves, elegant like wind. They're tied in two small braided strands on her right side, and from this distance, I also notice a silver hairpin. It look like a wing, keeping her hair afloat above her eyes.

"Hello welcome to the adventurers guild, my name is Silvia, I'm the receptionist here. How may I help you?"

"I was wondering if I could get a room."

"In order to get a room in the adventures guild, you first need to register as an adventurer."

"I already did that this morning." I slide her my guild card. "Is Glendel not here?"

"Oh, my apologies. So you've already registered with Glendel. She usually takes the morning shift and I take the evening shift. Here's your room key." She slides me a key. "It's 2copper a night and you can have up to 4 adventurers in one room. If you have any problems come to ask me. I'll be here all night today."

"All night? The guild operates all day and all night?"

"Yes, the guild operates all day and all night. The Kingdom of Eeasil is one that does not discriminate beast people, so our facilities have to accommodate for the nocturnal population as well."

"I see. It must be rough having to work throughout the night huh?"

"Oh no. This is only for tonight. The receptionist who usually works the night shift has some business to attend to, so I'm filling in for her tonight."

"Oh, I see. Is she one of the nocturnal people?"

"Yes she is. If you come down during the night, you might be able to meet her. Not tonight though."

"By the way. The guild wouldn't happen to have a bath would it?"

"Hehe. Unfortunately, no. Only wealthy people can afford to have baths, and I believe the only place in town with a public bath is Mountains Rest. But it's very expensive."

"Ha ha. That's unfortunate. Is there a shower here then?"

"If you pay for the room, you can use the wells outside to wash yourself."

Ha ha... I smile nervously at that.

Wells? Really?

She's smiling and looking at me like I said something strange. Well I guess technology isn't as advanced, so using well water to wash yourself might be the norm. I'll just have to get used to it.

I hand her the copper and take the key. "Thank you. I'll be going to my room now."

"Goodnight." She waves as I go.

I went upstairs to my room, and as I open the door, I suddenly realize why the rooms were so cheap here...

All I see is a roughly 3 by 4 meter room with a bunk bed on each side. I mean the beds and the wooden interior is nice but, there's nothing here. Sure, 4 people can sleep here, there's even some space to keep your equipment, but there is nothing else, not even a rug. Even my college dorm room was better than this...

Well... you get what you pay for I guess. I should go take a shower.

I left my stuff in the room and went down to where Silvia said the wells were and... Oh boy. I don't know what I was expecting.

As I open the door, I can see 5 wells with one meter high partitions between them. The whole area is walled but it has no roof, it's an open air shower.

I see two wooden buckets on every well, and I suppose that's how I'm supposed to wash myself. I don't mind this, I've washed myself this way before, but..

WHAT IS WITH THE LACK OF PRIVACY? I mean those walls are barely a meter high, why are they even there?!

Sigh... Guess I'll have to deal with it for now. Unless I want to go back to Mountains Rest... I probably could, and just stay there forever if I want, but that would raise some suspicion.

Well, nobody's here right now, I'll just take a quick shower and leave before someone gets here.

I then proceeded to draw water from the well and sat down on the stone floor to wash myself. They don't provide you with soap, so I guess adventurers are supposed to buy their own. And then the door opens... because why not.

I take a deep breath and instinctually turn around to see who it was, and I saw a beautiful, slender, fair skin elf women with green eyes and blond hair, walk in with nothing but a towel covering her.

As she noticed me, she smiles and nods at me, before proceeding to the well right next to mine. Why is this happening?! There are other wells!

She then sets her basket of toiletries on the floor, drew water and proceeded to shower like this is the norm! Meanwhile, I am here trying to keep my eyes off her and finish my shower as quickly as possible!

"You know... you don't have to be so tense. We're all adventurers here, I don't really mind. I don't think anyone who uses this place mind." She says while drawing the water.

"He he. Right..." I try to keep my eyes forward. But I feel a strange gravity pulling at the corner of my eyes.

"Let's get this tense atmosphere out of the way. Hello, my name is Lafina, I'm a silver rank and I've been an adventurer for 5 years. Nice to meet you." She says while pouring water down her back herself with her eyes closed, not even the slightest bit flustered. I guess she's used to it by now.

By the way.. I'm not looking alright. It's only the silhouette from the corner of my eyes. Yeah.

"Amm, my name is Ether. I'm a beginner. I just started today." Calm down man. You're a grown boy. This is nothing.

"Hehe. Well then, Ether, welcome to the adventurers guild. I hope you can enjoy your time here." She leans a bit closer saying that.

Ahhh! This is a bit too much isn't it!

"T-thank you." I quickly finish up my shower. "Well, I'm don't, so I'll be going now... I'll see you later. Good night."

Lafina, "A good night to you as well, Ether." she says while sliding soap across her body, not really caring that I'm still here.

Again. I'm not looking.

I wrap myself in a towel before standing up and walking to the door. I turn around, give her a nod before I leave, and she returns it.

I'm not looking.

Troubled by the realization of the situation I'm currently in, I quickly dress myself and head back to my room to collapse on the bed.

... it wasn't soft...

"Sighhhhhhhh...." Oh well, guess this is the situation I'm in right now. I need to try and maybe find a better place to stay. Somewhere where I can at least have my own shower in peace.

I'll try to look into it tomorrow. But for now... I need some sleep...