Chapter 161: Basically Women-Only
Pulled by the hand by Erika, I entered the building.
Inside, it felt wider than the building I was lending to Erika.
In terms of size, perhaps about twice as large.
The open first-floor area had nothing obstructing the view, and sofas, tables, and the like had already been installed.
With this, one could already invite people right now.
Still, it was impressive that they had prepared this much in just a few days. The floor was covered with a carpet decorated with silver wolf pelts spread out.
Erika explained while laughing happily that she intended for users to spend time barefoot.
While removing my shoes at the slightly raised entrance, I turned my face toward Erika and spoke with a wry smile.
"Amazing. It must have cost a considerable amount, right?"
"It did, but it is a necessary advance investment."
"Advance investment?"
Erika also bent down while swaying her breasts, removed her shoes, stepped onto the carpet, pointed at the ceiling with her index finger, and smiled mischievously.
I too stepped onto the carpet, feeling the fluffy sensation with the soles of my feet while tilting my head and directing my eyes to the ceiling.
Looking at the ceiling it was entirely ordinary. Was what Erika meant not the ceiling of this floor?
If not, then the second floor...
Crossing my arms and thinking that far, I noticed something and, thinking "it can’t be," turned my face toward Erika.
Erika, who had been watching my state happily, smiled as if urging an answer, and I made a wry smile as if exasperated toward such an Erika and checked the answer.
"You rented out the rooms on the second floor... that’s why those two came out of the building?"
"Correct answer. And that is not all. I intend to rent this place out basically as women-only. Of course, this first-floor area may be used by anyone who has used the bath. In that case, don’t you think security becomes a concern?"
"...If it’s the adventurers from [Suzuya], their strength should be more than enough."
"Yes. When I brought this up, everyone was delighted. However, there is a limit in terms of numbers..."
Erika advanced deeper while smiling troubledly and told me what had happened at the tavern; hearing that, I also ended up laughing with a troubled face.
The female adventurers who heard there was a limit on numbers had, with tremendous intensity, made unrelated male adventurers create lottery tickets and drawn lots.
Those who lost had lamented, while those who won had raised cheers.
Seeing that, the male adventurers had kept their distance with slightly recoiling faces, yet had apparently been levied upon by the female adventurers who had lost.
Ah, I feel sympathy... Next time I should treat them to drinks at the tavern.
They probably could not refuse, and it must have been frightening.
Women at times like that are scary...
"And those I am thinking of giving priority for moving in are the academy students."
"Like a dormitory for the academy?"
"I am conscious of that. I have already spoken with Croana-san about it. The portion by which the rental price was lowered can be recovered through light meals and such on this floor, according to my calculations. Also, there were requests, so I prepared several kinds of alcohol as well."
Hearing "alcohol," I directed my gaze toward the two adventurers who had followed behind and entered the floor.
It has to be the adventurers, requesting something like alcohol...
When I directed a gaze close to a half-lidded glare, the two who noticed my gaze turned their faces away.
No, mimicking whistling only makes it look more deliberate, you know?
While directing such eyes at the two adventurers, Erika continued speaking while laughing with kusu kusu as if finding it amusing.
"My, it is not only the adventurers. There were also requests from the female students."
"...Please make them drink with moderation."
"Of course. Since they are academy students, I will be careful on that point."
In this Overwald world the age at which one may drink alcohol is not fixed.
That is only natural; at noble parties and the like there are those who begin tasting it as early as thirteen or fourteen.
It is not that one must drink; there are also those weak to alcohol, so a fair number do not drink.
Yet it is not a world where one can say soft things like "only from age twenty" as in my previous life’s world.
For nobles, social connections are the most important; far from being disliked, depending on how one handles relations it can immediately connect to one’s life.
Encountering situations like this, I reconfirm that the common sense of my previous life does not apply in this world.
It is not completely unnecessary, yet asserting it is wrong, I think.
Even if someone agreed with the assertion, if someone died because of it one could not take responsibility.
If this Overwald world grows globally like my previous life it will naturally become so, and rapid growth only invites conflict.
Well, even without worrying about such things people will probably fight...
When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I could not do that I would already be dead, and I have no intention of changing it.
While thinking such things Erika pulled my one hand and, with the hand not linked, pointed at what looked like a bar counter in the corner and spoke.
"Besides light meals, we can also provide accompaniments for alcohol."
"That’s thorough service. Even I will end up wanting to come drink."
"My, if it is you I do not think anyone would complain even if you entered?"
"Hey hey, give me a break. It’s men-prohibited, right?"
"I do not intend to make it so strict as to call it a prohibition. There may be those who have lovers, so I plan to decide times when entry is possible. It is human nature that the stricter something is made, the more one wants to break it."
Erika walked while pulling my hand toward the counter, smiled troubledly, and looked at me with only her face.
I nodded in agreement with Erika’s words and smiled wryly.
I also have memories of it... no, even now it is true that words like "absolutely" or "definitely" make one want to break them.
In that case, rather than tightening things rigidly, it is better to ease them as in Erika’s plan.
If something happens the adventurers will be present and can deal with it, and security and crime prevention should also be fine.
Breathing out as if impressed, I rubbed the linked hand of Erika with my fingers and spoke.
"If it is going to be broken anyway, it is better to ease it from the beginning... is that it?"
"Yes. So you may truly come to drink, you know?"
"Yeah... I’ll have you let me come occasionally."
"Besides, with this even if Hirbyde-san enters it should be safe, right?"
Erika brought her mouth close to my ear and said that; at the words I was a little surprised.
Looking at Erika who had separated her face and was smiling mischievously, I breathed out as if convinced.
With a method I had not thought of, Erika had secured Hirbyde’s safety; I drew her close with one hand.
Gently hugging her with one arm, I put feelings of gratitude into my words and spoke.
"You’re truly reliable. Thank you."
"Fufu, it’s fine."
"She’s acting like a maiden!"
"Look look, Erika-chan is all lovey-dovey!"
"Minty, pointing is no good."
At the happy voices I turned behind and saw the three adventurer girls looking this way and laughing.
The three songstresses and Porte had also entered the floor, looking around the room and chatting happily with the two adventurers.
Noticing Erika who had begun fidgeting and peeking at her face, she was blushing with embarrassment and trying to hide her figure with my body, wasn’t she?
Looking at such an Erika, a mischievous heart sprouted; when I sent a gaze with only my eyes to the three adventurer girls they had the same faces.
Moving my body so that everyone could see Erika’s figure, Erika noticed my action, looked up at me in a fluster, and spoke.
"Please hide me!"
"Hide what?"
"My figure! You really love mischief, don’t you!"
"Hahaha, that’s you too, isn’t it, Erika?"
"Not as much as you!"
Erika, cutely angry with a pun pun, began lightly striking my body with posu posu.
Everyone on the floor who noticed that looked at Erika’s figure with amused smiles; realizing she was being watched, Erika used me as a shield as if to hide.
It was such cuteness that one wanted to ask where the mature allure from earlier had gone.
When I kissed such an Erika’s forehead, she began striking my chest with posu posu again and I laughed out loud.