Getting Rooms

"…Umm, maybe there is like a tavern in this village? We can use the Soul Beast part to take a room," Emma slowly said, glancing at the group.

Noah's eyes lit up. "Yes! We can look around for a tavern here. There must be one with the way they were prepared for newcomers to come here."

"We can ask a villager for the location," Victor said, looking around to see a nearby villager.

They spotted a man basking in the evening sun outside of his house. The group glanced at each other before Noah moved toward the man.

"Excuse me, do you know where we can find the tavern?" he politely asked the middle-aged man.

"Yes, go straight before taking a right turn. There, you will find a two-story building. That's one of the taverns," the man lazily replied without even opening his eyes.

Noah nodded his head. "Thanks for the help," and soon returned to his group.

"Let's go," Noah said before moving to the front of the group.

…

The group soon arrived in front of the tavern, a decent two-story building with a wooden sign saying 'open,' swinging gently in the breeze.

"So this is the tavern or inn, huh," Leah said while looking at the tavern.

"Let's head in and see what they'll charge us," Noah replied, pushing the door open. The group followed him inside.

The interior of the tavern was cozy but bustling with activity. Several villagers and adventurers were seated at tables, sharing drinks and stories.

A young woman stood behind the counter, her gentle eyes and warm smile welcoming them. She wore a simple but neat dress.

"Welcome," the woman said, noticing their weird choice of clothes. "How can I assist you?"

Noah stepped forward. "We're looking for rooms. What's the price?"

The receptionist glanced at the group, her eyes briefly pausing on the bag of beast parts they carried. "Rooms here are one E-rank Beast's tooth per night per room. We provide basic accommodations, meals, and access to the bathhouse."

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "A tooth for a room? Isn't this daylight robbery?"

The woman smiled softly and explained, "Looks like it's your first day here. This is the cheapest price you can get for a room. After all, the E-rank beasts are the weakest, and you can defeat them in a group easily. But if you still think it's expensive, then you are free to negotiate accommodations elsewhere."

Victor shrugged. "It's fair enough. We can afford it for now."

Noah nodded and handed over five teeth from the bag. "We'll take five rooms."

The woman accepted the teeth and placed them in a small chest behind the counter. She handed them five wooden keys with a bright smile on her face, each engraved with a number. "Your rooms are on the second floor. Enjoy your stay."

Each of them took a key before ascending the stairs, splitting off to find their respective rooms. Each room was small but clean, with a simple bed, a desk, and a small window that offered a view of the village.

Noah sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his longsword standing against the wall.

His mind kept replaying the events of the day, thinking about how everything had changed abruptly.

"Mom… Dad… Mia… I wonder how they are doing currently," he said with a soft sigh. "Maybe… maybe the life in my last life was better, even if it was uneventful."

"…"

"Sigh, no point thinking about it. I need to first survive in this hellhole. Those guys aren't half bad. I can team up with them for now and hunt," he said to himself.

"But Daniel… why does that bastard seem so unreliable, even though he was useful? Haa…" He released a tired sigh as his mind replayed the events of the day.

After a while, another thought crossed his mind as his gaze landed on the sword again. He had never wielded a sword before, and his clumsy movements during the fight had been painfully obvious.

He couldn't afford to rely solely on luck and the others' skills.

"Fuck it, I need to survive first if I want to even survive," Noah said with a determined tone. Standing up, he grabbed his sword before leaving his room.

The hallway was quiet, with the others already settling in for the night.

He made his way downstairs and exited through the back door of the tavern, finding himself in a small open area that seemed to be used for storage and deliveries. It was quiet and dimly lit, perfect for practice.

Standing in the middle, Noah took a deep breath, unsheathing his longsword as he prepared for training.

He planted his feet firmly and tried to recall what little he knew about swordsmanship from movies and books.

"Alright, let's start with the basics," he muttered to himself.

He practiced holding the sword correctly, adjusting his grip until it felt natural. He then moved on to basic stances, trying to balance his weight evenly and keep his posture steady.

The sword felt heavier than he expected, and his muscles hurt with each swing.

"Bloody hell, this is harder than it looks," Noah grumbled, sweat forming on his brow as he repeated the motions.

His swings were slow and awkward at first, but he focused on improving his form rather than speed. Each movement became a little smoother, a little more precise.

The sound of the sword cutting through the air filled the quiet backyard of the tavern, accompanied by Noah's rough breaths.

He lost track of time while being immersed in his practice. His arms ached due to overexertion, but he pushed through the discomfort, knowing that solidifying his basics could mean the difference between life and death in this world.

Unbeknownst to Noah, a pair of eyes watched him from one of the tavern's second-floor windows. Emma stood at the window, her eyes bright with admiration as she looked at Noah's dedication.

"I-I need to be like him. I can't keep dragging my team back," she softly whispered, her fists clenched with determination. But looking at the late night, she sighed and closed the curtains.

Back in the courtyard, Noah finally lowered his sword, panting heavily. His muscles screamed in pain and exhaustion, but his eyes flashed brilliantly as a faint smile formed on his lips.

"That's enough for tonight," he said, sheathing the sword and heading back inside. His form had visibly improved, as his control over his body was far greater than an average human due to Soul Energy.

"If my stance was half as good as right now back when we were fighting that wolf, I wouldn't have suffered as much as today." He took a deep breath before heading back inside.

Soon, he reached his room and dropped down on the bed, the day's exhaustion finally hitting his body as his eyes grew heavy.