Chapter 162: Deciding the Names…
Once Erika had calmed down, she led me to the second floor and showed me the structure.
Rooms lined the walls all the way around; the number of rooms was nineteen—quite spacious.
She had designed it so that every room had a window, Erika explained proudly while thrusting out her chest.
In the center a conversation space had been set up, with tables and sofas installed.
Even in the conversation space the floor was covered with silver-wolf carpet; I thought it was bold of her to go that far in a world where the concept of outdoor footwear still remained.
Five rooms near the stairs would be rented to adventurers, and the remaining fourteen to students.
Tilting my head and asking Erika whether fourteen rooms would really fill up, she answered with a triumphant, alluring smile.
"Actually, nine rooms are already filled."
"Already?"
"Yes. Most are from our own academy. Among them, even Seelin-san and Rulen-san have rented rooms."
"Hoh, those two..."
The fact that Roy’s two lovers had also rented rooms meant there was a possibility Roy himself would visit here.
Considering the events, it would make dealing with them easier and movement freer.
All the adventurer rooms were already filled; suddenly curious, I looked at Satur and the others following behind and asked Erika.
"Have Satur and the others rented rooms as well?"
"No, they declined. They said using the [Suzuya] inn is fine, and that they want to stay near the person they are escorting."
"Haha, I can’t hold my head up."
"Indeed."
When the two of us looked at Satur and the others, they noticed us looking and tilted their heads.
I waved one hand as if to say it was nothing and followed after Erika into the conversation space.
It really must have cost a lot of money... This carpet is the kind sold at Marika’s place.
Even though it costs a fair amount, she used it thoroughly for attracting customers; I ended up sending a respectful gaze toward Erika’s back.
While sending such a gaze, Erika turned around, looked at my face, and smiled as she spoke.
"When deciding the name for this place together with Croana-san, we named it the Fia-Lea Dormitory."
"...Could that be from Fia and Lea’s names?"
"Fufu, correct answer. Croana-san said she wanted to leave proof that her older sisters had been here."
"That... you opposed it, right?"
"It seems she has not informed them."
Ah~, this is the kind of thing Fia and Lea will get embarrassed about once they find out.
It looks like Croana’s unilateral decision, so I’ll have her take the responsibility.
Erika sat down on a sofa and indicated with one hand for me to sit opposite.
When I sat on the opposite sofa Erika crossed her arms and, as was customary, rested her breasts on her arms and made them sway.
Even though I had grown used to it, I slightly averted the gaze that threatened to go toward her breasts.
"While deciding the name here I remembered— I would like you to give names to the inn, the tavern, and the bathhouse as well."
"Yeah... that would be better. The Fia-Lea Dormitory is also part of [Suzuya], right?"
"Yes. When I consulted Nimi-san first, she gave me a suggestion for the tavern’s name. ’Rude Tavern,’ she said."
"...That’s fine. Rude Tavern is good."
My name, and my father’s name.
Noticing that, I slightly lowered my gaze, closed my eyes, and felt gratitude for Nimi’s consideration.
I know that once I die I will be scolded and looked down upon, yet she left the name of the previous generation—my father.
Ah, against Nimi... I can’t win.
Nimi, who had noticed me carefully avoiding the subject, had deliberately done this.
In that case I raised my face and, to the gently smiling Erika, proposed a name for the inn.
"Simple, but please make it Nifa Inn."
"Kusu, putting Pafa-san’s name in is kind of you."
"I think Nimi would have done the same."
"She would, wouldn’t she... Understood. I will register Rude Tavern and Nifa Inn with the kingdom. What about the bathhouse?"
"The bathhouse, hmm..."
I crossed my arms and rubbed my chin with one hand while thinking, yet I have no naming sense.
While pondering what to do, Aurora and the others came up the stairs.
That bathhouse was made to heal the students’ bodies, so a name related to that would be good.
Because they are academy students... nn~, shall I borrow the academy’s name?
"Is ’Filim’s Spring’ all right? I can’t think of anything else."
"...Is that fine? It is your property, you know?"
"It’s fine. I made it for the students; it would not be an exaggeration to call it the academy’s."
"You really have no greed, do you?"
"I do. And I’ve already obtained it."
Saying that, I gently smiled and gazed at Erika.
Apparently realizing the meaning of my gaze, Erika blushed and slightly averted her face.
It is not that I have no interest in money or do not want it, yet having the students heal for me would be unbearable.
Besides, if we are talking about desire, having gained lovers has rather satisfied mine.
Money is certainly important, yet I end up thinking I do not want it enough to place precious things on a scale.
I shall leave such matters to Erika and Elysia; I learned my lesson with the Setenia affair.
Recalling it made me a little embarrassed, and I rubbed the back of my neck with one hand.
The discussion with Erika finished, and we took the luggage out of the magic bags into Aurora and the others’ rooms.
Today the Foria sisters had gone hunting and we could not meet them, yet Aurora and the others said they would pass the message along.
Once the unloading was finished Aurora and the others eagerly began arranging things in the rooms, and I was told to rest and received kisses.
Only Win, however, held out the back of her hand saying she wanted me to leave a mark after the kiss, which made me smile wryly.
No wonder she had a handkerchief wrapped around one hand—when I said it would become impossible to remove, Win looked so happy that I was defeated.
They are songstresses and should have many opportunities to appear in front of people; I had been worried they might receive complaints or strange rumors from fans.
My worry was nothing of the sort; Win smiled happily and said, "It’ll work out somehow~."
Well, it probably will work out somehow, but...
Promising to meet later and going outside, I stretched my back and bent my waist on the main avenue under the afternoon sun shining directly overhead.
When I carry heavy things or work in a half-crouch, I sometimes feel like doing this.
It is not that my body is truly stiff; I recognize this as a habit from my previous life.
In my previous life I was fifty, and my body had been stiff beyond help...
Thinking that and smiling wryly alone while casually looking toward the academy, I saw familiar nun’s robes on the main avenue ahead.
Narrowing my eyes and looking carefully, Maya and Atla were walking while chatting happily.
Even from a distance what stood out was not only the nun’s robes; the breasts that could be seen swaying even from afar.
No, they really are alluring... Crossing my arms and gazing, Maya and the others apparently noticed me, stopped, and looked this way.
...Hey hey, there’s quite a distance. How did they notice?
While I was surprised at being noticed, the two came toward me at a light run, large breasts swaying.
Arriving in front of me, they regulated their roughened breathing and spoke while looking at me with worried expressions.
"Raide-san, weren’t you supposed to be resting?"
"Did you sleep properly?"
At the two’s words I blanked, tilted my head, and recalled.
Come to think of it, if asked whether I slept... I haven’t, have I...
Yesterday I had spent the night with Felica, then helped at the tavern as is and came here.
Smiling troubledly and opening my mouth to reply to the two’s words, before I could make a sound my shoulder was suddenly grabbed from the side and I looked sideways in surprise.
There stood Erika with a scary smile, gripping my shoulder with one hand.
"You again?"
"No, wait a moment..."
"I will not wait. Maya-san, Atla-san, could you please escort Raide-san home?"
"Leave it to us."
"Even though I told you so many times not to overdo it..."
Before I could object, both of my arms were hugged by Maya and Atla, and I was half-forcibly walked toward Nifa Inn.
Erika crossed her arms and stared at such a figure of mine with an exasperated face.
Maya hugged my left arm, Atla my right; the sensation of their breasts sandwiched my body.
While walking and looking at the two who peered at me with worried faces, I spoke while feeling apologetic.
"...I won’t run away, you know?"
"That may be so, but..."
"We’re worried. Please let us do this."
The two strengthened the force with which they held my arms with a kyu and peered into my face.
Smiling wryly at such two and conveying my thanks, they smiled as if a little relieved.
There are various things I want to ask, yet it is probably better not to pry.
The fact that they know I did not sleep means they know I was with Felica yesterday, and moreover Felica should be sleeping by now.
How they found out, whether they are in contact—there are many things that interest me.
Yet since it is out of worry for me, I feel reluctant to dig them out.
...Without rushing, I shall wait until the day they tell me.