The streets of the kingdom bustled with life, filled with the sounds of merchants shouting their prices, the clatter of hooves on cobblestone, and the laughter of children playing with wooden swords. The polished stone roads gleamed under the sun, and noblewomen in elegant gowns walked with grace, their servants trailing behind them. It was a lively, vibrant atmosphere, and yet, Satoshi felt a deep sense of weariness. His journey had been long and arduous, and despite the beauty around him, his mind was elsewhere.
The inn he had just entered was a welcoming sight, its wooden beams and stone walls standing proudly in the center of the busy marketplace. As he stepped inside, the warm air wrapped around him, and the smell of freshly baked bread and roasted meats filled his nostrils. Behind the counter stood the innkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard and a welcoming smile.
"Welcome to the finest inn in the kingdom!" the innkeeper boomed as Satoshi approached. "What do you want, young man?"
Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "How much is a room, and how long can I stay for at that price?"
The innkeeper scratched his chin and thought for a moment. "That would be 125,000 Gelts for a two-week stay," he said, his voice thick with pride.
Satoshi's eyes widened. "What the hell? That's like one-fifth of the money I just earned!" he muttered under his breath.
The innkeeper chuckled. "Let's make a deal, then. Pay me 200,000 Gelts, and I'll accommodate your girlfriend as well. Don't worry; the walls are soundproof," he added with a sly wink.
Satoshi blushed and shot a look at Rosalie, who had been standing quietly beside him. She flushed a deep shade of red, her face turning almost crimson. "We are not a couple!" she shouted, her voice filled with indignation. "Plus, I won't be staying here," she added firmly, crossing her arms.
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow. "I see. What a shame," he said with a shrug.
Satoshi decided to ignore the innkeeper's odd remark. "I'll take the room," he said, his voice resolute.
"Good decision!" the innkeeper exclaimed, tossing Satoshi a brass key. "Here's your key, room 315."
Satoshi nodded and took the key from the innkeeper's outstretched hand. "Thanks."
With that, he made his way up the creaky staircase to his room. As soon as he stepped inside, the exhaustion from his travels seemed to melt away. The room was small but cozy, with a comfortable-looking bed draped in soft linens. Without hesitation, Satoshi threw himself onto the bed, his body sinking into the softness with a sigh of relief.
"So soft," he muttered, closing his eyes for a moment. "I haven't slept in a comfortable bed for a very long time."
Rosalie, who had followed him up to the room, smiled softly but didn't say anything. "I wish I could show you around the place, however," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of regret, "I have to make sure everyone knows that I'm alright. See you soon, and if you need anything, the market is in that direction," she said, pointing through the window.
Satoshi nodded, his thoughts already drifting to the numerous tasks he had yet to complete. "Alright, thank you, Rosalie."
"See you, Satoshi," she called as she walked out, leaving him alone in the room.
Satoshi lay there for a moment, his mind racing. "Come to think of it, I haven't taken a bath in three days," he thought. "I smell horrible. I definitely need to try out their hot springs." He sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. "Oh, crap. I almost forgot about the academy. I really need to enroll there and fast. The faster I become an adventurer, the better."
With that in mind, Satoshi headed toward the hot springs located inside the inn. The thought of a long, relaxing bath was the only thing that could lift his spirits at the moment. As he entered the bathhouse, he felt the steam rising from the warm water, and his tense muscles began to relax.
Just as he was about to undress and step into the water, something caught his eye. A girl was standing near the edge of the pool, looking at him with a mix of confusion and anger.
"Wait, what are you doing in here?" Satoshi asked, his voice startled.
The girl turned to face him, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "I should be asking you that question. This is the women's bath, pervert!"
Satoshi's face turned crimson as he quickly tried to explain. "I'm sorry! I didn't know! I swear, this is a mistake!"
The girl's eyes flared with fury. "You're dead. You will not leave this inn alive, you hear me, peeping Tom!" she yelled, taking a step toward him.
Satoshi backed away, his heart racing. "I wasn't peeping, I swear. This is all just a misunderstanding," he pleaded, but it was no use.
With a sharp glare, the girl stormed forward, her magic flaring up around her. "You're dead!" she shouted, her voice full of venom.
Panicking, Satoshi quickly retreated, mumbling to himself. "Women can be scary sometimes. I really need to be more careful." He made his way back to the main hall of the inn, still shaken by the encounter. "The inn provides clothing for you as well," he muttered, glancing at the outfit they had given him. "I guess the money I paid for the stay was worth it after all."
Satoshi made his way out into the streets once more. "Since I'm here, I guess I'll explore the kingdom," he thought aloud. "Maybe I can get better gear, stock up on potions, and buy some food. I'm starving."
The market was alive with activity, the sounds of merchants haggling and customers bargaining filling the air. A vendor called out to him, holding up a basket of fruit. "Get your fruits, freshly picked from the orchard! Look at this beautiful, juicy red apple! Smells good, right? Only 250 Gelts!"
Satoshi stopped in front of the vendor, glancing at the apples. "I'll take two," he said, handing over 500 Gelts. "These will do for now," he muttered, taking a bite of the first apple. The sweet, tart flavor hit his tongue, and for the first time that day, he felt a bit of relief.
"Now, where do I even go to find this academy?" he wondered aloud. He had no idea where to start.
As he wandered aimlessly through the streets, he noticed a commotion in a narrow alleyway. Two girls were backed into a corner, surrounded by a group of rough-looking men. One of the girls was trembling, her face pale with fear, while the other stood protectively in front of her, trying to keep the men at bay.
"Hey, you girls look nice," one of the men sneered. "How about you hang out with us, cutie? What do you say?"
The brave girl raised her hands in a defensive posture. "Listen, stay back. I don't want to hurt you."
The men burst into laughter. "Hurt us? We're adventurers, equipped with swords and armor. What makes you think you can hurt us?" one man jeered.
The brave girl summoned a small blast of ice magic, but it only sent a cold chill through the air, barely affecting the men. "What were you hoping to accomplish with that weak ice magic of yours?" another man mocked. "Freeze us to death? Ha!"
Satoshi stepped forward, his hand tightening around the hilt of the knife he had sheathed at his waist. "Ganging up on little kids like this? You're fully grown adults, and you're harassing them? That's just insane," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "All of you are scum."
The men turned toward him, their expressions shifting from amusement to anger. "How dare you!" one of them shouted, drawing his sword.
Without another word, the men rushed at Satoshi, their blades flashing in the sunlight. Satoshi was calm as ever. With a flick of his wrist, he unsheathed his knife and muttered, "Blade Enhancement." The knife glowed with a bright light, its edge sharpening and glowing with magical energy.
The first man lunged at him, his sword raised high. But before the blade could even make contact, Satoshi's enhanced knife sliced through the man's sword with ease, cutting it in half like butter. The man staggered back, his eyes wide with shock.
"What—how?" he stammered.
Satoshi didn't hesitate. "Flash Step!" he shouted, and in an instant, he was a blur of motion, moving faster than the men could react. He delivered swift blows, knocking the men unconscious one by one with precision and ease. Within moments, the alley was silent, the men sprawled out on the ground, defeated.
Satoshi stood over them, his chest rising and falling with exertion, though he was barely winded. He glanced back at the two girls, who were staring at him with wide eyes.