episode_0005

“Excuse me. Any room will do, can you stay right now?”

“No, not now. There are people who plan to sleep in the stable.”

Failure.

“Are there any vacant rooms?”

“No, there aren’t. Even if you go to any inn in Borea now, it will be difficult to find a room.”

“I understand.”

Another failure.

At a point where the sun had already set and darkness was setting in.

There would likely be many people trying to take the Mad Train from Borea Territory for the Ardente Academy entrance exam tomorrow, but I didn’t expect the crowd to be so overflowing that they couldn’t find a single room.

‘I should have known this since I’ve never arrived the day before…’

I’ve almost checked all the inns in Borea.

With a sigh, I headed to the last inn I hadn’t visited yet.

If even this place doesn’t have a vacant room, then sleeping outside is certain.

“Is there a room available by any chance?”

“Lucky you. There was originally a reserved room, but it suddenly got canceled, so one is left.”

“Please proceed with the accommodation under the name Yukal.”

‘What a relief.’

Honestly, I was preparing myself mentally to sleep outside, but I managed to find a room.

With my exhausted stats, after overexerting myself for more than three days, I was desperate for some rest even just for a day.

As I handed over the accommodation fee, the innkeeper smiled and handed me the key.

“Go up to the third floor, it’s the room at the far left. Room 301. It shouldn’t be noisy on the third floor.”

As I was about to take the heavy steps with the key, a small voice from behind made me stop in my tracks.

“Um… Can I get a room by any chance?”

“Oh no, what should I do. I just rented out the last room. I’m sorry, miss.”

“No, it’s okay.”

She answered dejectedly, covering her whole body with a robe.

Although her appearance was hidden by the robe, her voice was recognizable.

To forget but unforgettable, she was like a thorn in my side.

‘Claire.’

She was a colleague who had been with me through 400 tries.

Among the Sungyong users, there is a saying.

‘Newbies, abandon the idea of playing the game without Claire. Memorize it! Claire is a survival necessity.’

The reason for this is her unique ability ‘Blessing.’

It is a pure buffer that blesses and raises stats for a certain period of time, the only one in Sungyong overall.

In the early stages, the augmentation amount was considerable, and later on, it was enough to slightly exaggerate so that even Village Residents B could stand up against Imperial Knights.

For the average user, Claire is a must-have. For an ‘average’ user.

The problem is that her buff applies only to a single stat.

For someone like me who evenly distributed stats, its significance was inevitably blurred.

Still, back then, I could receive a buff for at least one stat, but now, with the balance – when stats are balanced, all stats double. If balance is not achieved, all abilities decrease by 99%.

It’s gotten to this point, so how could I receive a buff?

‘But still, she’s a great help to other colleagues.’

Taking this opportunity to repay her debt wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Originally, Yukal had no business staying at this inn, and since Claire likely stayed in the last room the previous day.

“Just a moment!”

Claire, who was about to leave the inn desolately, looked over here with a puzzled expression.

“Here’s the key to Inn Room 301. Please take it.”

“Yes…? Thank you, but I’ll just take your kindness. I haven’t checked out the other inns yet.”

“I’ve checked all the inns in Borea today, and this was the last place with a room left. You’ll just waste your time going to other inns.”

“….”

Throwing the key, she caught it unexpectedly and seemed flustered.

“So, what are you going to do…?”

“I have reserved two rooms because I have companions. Don’t worry, you can sleep with my companions.”

“Thank you… How should I repay this kindness?”

“It’s okay. You must be tired, so go up quickly and rest.”

Refusing her attempt to give money, I sent her off, sweating.

“Weren’t your rooms supposed to be one?”

The innkeeper asked quietly.

“If there are no rooms, what can we do? Even if Boreya is known for its good security, we can’t leave a girl to sleep outside.”

“You little rascal! Just wait a moment.”

Seemingly pleased with me, the innkeeper gave me a blanket and pillow.

“Thank you.”

“Why take just this much? If you come tomorrow morning, I’ll let you take a bath.”

After thanking the innkeeper, I laid a blanket in the alley next to the inn and lay down. Perhaps due to adaptability, it wasn’t as bad as I thought.

Feeling tired, I quickly fell asleep.

“Wake up, Yukal.”

Someone called me, and as I rubbed my eyes and opened them, the innkeeper from the previous day was in front of me.

“Aren’t you going to the Ardent Academy to take the exam? You should clean up, or you might get kicked out. It’s before opening hours, so hurry up.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“If you’re grateful, order an expensive breakfast or something.”

Sniffling his nose in confusion, the innkeeper went back inside.

After a refreshing bath, I sat in the inn waiting for a meal when I heard someone coming down the stairs.

Seeing the hood, I recognized it was Claire.

“She’s diligent. It’s not even 7 o’clock yet.”

As she looked around, she spotted me and walked over, sitting in front of me naturally.

“She usually doesn’t eat facing strangers, right?”

I felt slightly embarrassed.

It’s true that I helped Claire, who couldn’t find a room, but Claire isn’t the type to face someone like this just because of that.

“She’s very cautious of people.”

As I gazed at her, Claire blushed slightly and spoke.

“Thank you so much for helping me last night. I want to express my gratitude once again.”

“Don’t mention it. We haven’t even introduced ourselves yet. My name is Yukal. No last name.”

“Oh, I’m Claire. Likewise, no last name.”

After a brief silence, wondering if I should speak first, Claire hesitated and glanced in my direction.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yes, I slept deeply after a long time.”

Thanks to adaptability, it was true that I slept deeply. I couldn’t even get up until the innkeeper woke me up.

Claire seemed displeased with my answer, and I noticed her biting her lip.

“Why… why are you being so kind to me?”

“Do you need a reason to help someone in trouble?”

“And it’s dangerous outside.”

“…”

“In that case, please allow me to treat you to a meal.”

“Alright. I’ll accept gratefully without refusing.”

There were no further conversations, and we parted ways after the meal to catch the train.

Having made contact with Claire before enrollment, wouldn’t it be easier to recruit her as a colleague later?

With such pointless thoughts, I boarded the train.

Although the sleeping arrangements had changed, fortunately, I was able to wake up on time.

After a simple bath, I put on my robe.

If it hadn’t been him yesterday, I would have had to sleep on the street, so if we meet, I should at least thank him.

As I was about to open the door and go down, the innkeeper called me.

“Miss, can you spare a moment?”

“…If it’s just a moment.”

He led me to a warehouse-like place, and my hand instinctively went to the dagger at my waist, but soon his words dispelled such thoughts.

“Do you remember the guy who gave up his room for you last night?”

“Of course. I’ll go and thank him-”

“He only had one room, not two.”

What is this man talking about?

“I distinctly remember telling you that I would be staying with my companions yesterday.”

“If there was only one room, he must have lied because he thought you wouldn’t accept it.”

“He slept in that alley after you went upstairs.”

Confusing.

“Why would he…?”

“Hmm. Based on my expertise as a love doctor, it’s clear that he likes you.”

A stranger, how could this be?

“When I asked him why, he said it’s dangerous for a girl outside. Where can you find a man who can put a girl he likes to sleep outside?”

“….”

“Have a meal with him at least. You owe him.”

In the midst of the bewildering situation, I found myself sitting in front of him before I knew it.

After exchanging names, we hesitated, and finally I asked.

“Um… Did you sleep well last night?”

“Yes, I slept deeply after a long time.”

A lie. There’s no way he slept deeply sleeping in an alley.

Could what the innkeeper said really be true?

“Why… Why are you being so kind to me like this?”

“Do you need a reason to help someone in trouble?”

“And it’s dangerous outside.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say more to him, fearing my heart might become strange.

After finishing the meal, he left the inn early to catch the train.

Why is he doing this for me, sacrificing himself by saying he likes me-

“What a fool.”

But when I think of his smile and words, what is this fluttering feeling in my heart?

Unaware, Claire smiled at the thought of Yukal, not realizing she was smiling.