“Normally, I don’t come out to the store until the evening, but…”
He, the saint Fidelio, made a preface and sat in front of us at the table for four where we had moved.
“With this terrible weather, I can’t come in the morning… Well, let me introduce myself again. I am Fidelio, Fidelio of Ailia. I am a secular monk who worships the Sun God and work as an adventurer.”
The simple self-introduction of stacking name and birthplace represents someone without a family name or particular status. After a slight pause, he sipped the tea he had prepared for himself.
“I am absolutely not someone who should be called a saint.”
It was not out of humility but rather with strong pride and… a sense of self-restraint that carried weight in his words.
“My adventurer’s class is Jade. Though this rank is also more than I deserve, I am technically one of your seniors.”
Being a hero of legendary tales and someone in the adventurer community feared with the phrase “never anger him” isn’t for nothing. His standing is third from the top—practically second—as an incredible hero.
An adventurer’s class isn’t merely an indicator of strength but also a measure of trust from the adventurer’s guild. While a lower guild certificate isn’t a form of identification and merely a guild internal link, an upper rank signifies that the guild outwardly vouches for that individual’s identity and strength.
At the level of Jade, one would likely be allowed passage anywhere in the country, even through customs. It would even garner significant favor for international travel. A letter of introduction I received from Lady Agrippina would pale in comparison to the effectiveness of such status.
It means, therefore, that not only does one possess considerable combat ability but also the character that matches.
Humble postures are not considered virtues outside the upper echelons in the Threefold Empire. Therefore, denying one’s fame carries even deeper significance. Hence, the guild must have granted this high rank to an independent adventurer without forming a lineage.
It would be inconvenient for the guild to micromanage privileges, so…
“By the way, this isn’t an inn specifically for adventurers. I am here due to… ”
“My husband.”
“Uh… Well, through various connections, I am here by special invitation, but this is actually an inn tailored for travelers and merchants.”
Ah, we have sudden tension. Their past appears to carry a melancholic story, but it’s clear this marriage wasn’t out of mere responsibility or obligation. Deep love can be gleaned between them.
“So, usually, we decline business from adventurers. However, since you came specifically inquiring for me, was it through someone’s introduction perhaps?”
After a cough and inquiry, I mentioned the name of the bald adventurer I met at the gate, Master Hensel. Upon hearing this, Fidelio sighed deeply while scratching his curly hair as if saying, “Not again.”
“He is my friend. Though we don’t formally name a party, we often work together… Honestly, he’s a nuisance for sending over every kid he takes a liking to.”
“It’s precious to have a trusted friend like him. He should come over for drinks sometimes too.”
“In his case, curiosity is stronger. Besides, it’s troublesome when he drinks all the good liquor at home. He’s the type that just needs quantity, but he went for my Armanac…”
“Oh yeah, drinking it with ice. I’ve heard this a hundred times, you wine geek.”
Certainly, Armanac refers to the prestigious brandy distilled from apple wine that is savored warm for its fragrance. Pouring ice into a wine of such distinction and drinking it carelessly would… well, I see why the complaints persist.
In fact, such complaints would likely escalate into violence without a solid friendship. Especially with a bloodthirsty adventurer who sees liquor as their lifeblood.
“So, judging by appearances… well, you’re clearly amateurs, but you seem quite ‘capable’.”
The saint broke off from his complaints and cleared his throat again, adjusting his bearing. Just as he had seen through us, it seems we hadn’t mistaken him either. We weren’t naive rookies just hanging weapons and seeking fortune in Marsheim.
Indeed, at least for claiming the title of Level 1 Fighters, we aren’t inexperienced in rough work. Both of us had long since passed our first battles, so it was good we weren’t treated as amateurs.
“I trained a bit in the town militia and dabbled in guard work.”
“I was a hunter at the manor. Days playing with wild boars and deer made me somewhat adept with a bow and dagger.”
Still, before such a renowned power, we were akin to infants. This was modesty in its true sense.
“Hmm… ‘Somewhat’?” You seem to hint at something more, but nothing incorrect has been said.
“Hmm… Thus, it’s less about training and more about teaching the ABCs of being adventurers?”
Ah, what a pleasant thing to hear. While Mr. Lawrence taught me about lineage and customs through Ebbo, he didn’t share specifics of the trade. From Fidelio’s tone, it seems Mr. Hensel’s recommendation wasn’t purely out of goodwill but rather a plan to advance our ranks for potential tasks. But if we benefit, it’s all for the best.
“But isn’t that perfect timing? The previous lot just left…”
“Ah, well, it seemed fun somehow, no?”
“Not at all. Didn’t your father-in-law appear bothered when adventurers came here?”
“Your father is your father. What he feels and what you feel aren’t always the same, are they?”
Interrupting Fidelio’s hesitancy, Madame Chaimer arrived with a refill of tea, pouring generously for us as well before posing a question with a single finger raised.
“Tell me, you young ones. Are you skilled at household duties?”
The abrupt question had us glancing at each other.
The answer is affirmative. I had single-handedly managed all chores for a rather peculiar master as a maid. And Margit, though a hunter, had excelled in her bridal training, which is clearly visible from her skills in sewing and embroidery far beyond mine.
“Ah, you see, he was helping a group of adventurers over the winter. A young team of four with a magic-user among them who was greatly helpful.”
Madame Chaimer gracefully perched next to Fidelio, and his long tail swished leisurely, occasionally grazing Fidelio’s neck.
Ticlish as he seemed, yet unmoving, somehow I felt closer to him; I lived with cats in my previous home too.
“Hey, why don’t we let these kids stay at our place?”
“No, but, Chaimer…”
“Why not? You’ve had apprentices before anyway. You’re going to help them out, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I have work, and I’m planning to travel a bit this summer…”
“All the more reason.”
Don’t you understand how challenging it is for Father, with his knee issues, and for me to manage? This subtle suggestion left Fidelio speechless.
“Besides, knowing you, you’ll eventually get dragged in. Didn’t I see that with the last group? Despite treating them curtly at first, you eventually gave in and even taught spear practice.”
A saint teaching spears! How enviable… While my main weapon is a sword, if needed, I can wield a spear, so perhaps I might receive some tutelage…
“If you can help out in the mornings and evenings, I’ll reduce the 15-As lodging fee to 5 As. Please choose a place to sleep in our home. Operating as a duo can be tough, right?”
“Ah, come on, you always… jumping into things like this.”
With eyebrows slightly lowered, Fidelio showed a genuinely troubled expression. Madame Chaimer chuckled lightly.
“Isn’t that why you’re here?”
Faced with the wife’s strong push and past references, the husband was left with only a powerless sigh…
The room offered to us, intended for our use like a nest, was a humble yet comfortably furnished double bed.
The bed frames were large enough to accommodate even bulky species, with thick mattress covers devoid of fancy golden embroidery but soft and comfortable. The washed sheets carried a slight fading but smelled cleanly of soap.
The pillows were plump and supportive, likely stuffed with bird feathers.
The summer sheets, regularly aired on sunny days, were dry and free from any unpleasant mixed odors of sebum or dampness. At 15 As for simple lodging, this was a real bargain—perhaps even worth 50 As in the Imperial Capital.
For those intending long stays, there were arrangements for storage—a key-locked box and a wardrobe, which we transported ourselves—and a workspace with a writing desk and lamp for my needs. Of course, the fuel expenses were covered, but the improved light made writing jobs easier than the standard field lantern.
“Since you’ll be helping out, we’ll provide meals in the morning and evening. If you’re diligent, we can even do lunch. Regular meals have fixed menus offered at four As per meal, though special orders vary.”
Following the proprietress—so we were told—we learned about the routines of life at the Kitty Cat Rotating Inn. The building was in a C-shape design and featured an inner courtyard with washing facilities, a small steam bath, and a manual flush toilet connected to the drain—a hand-driven flush system, to be specific.
With sixteen rooms spread over three floors—no grand ones, only private rooms for two to six individuals—the structure was bold but always about half booked. Including long-term stays, about two-thirds were occupied, especially full during busy spring or autumn.
“The most amazing time was when tents were set up in the courtyard! Though, it interferes with laundry, so we rarely allow it unless necessary.”
Such cleanliness and service naturally attract visitors. There’s also a dining area separate from the bar, which is preferred by many staying guests.
Curious, I asked why they divided these spaces. Laughing, the proprietress simply said it was her hobby. Hmm, this somehow made more sense than any explanation.
The boast-worthy kitchen was a remarkable facility. A large oven for baking bread, professional-grade with three large stoves for cooking, smaller ovens for quick dishes, and a spacious chopping block made of polished iron that was even stamped with the holy seal of the Hearth Goddess—resistant to rust and impurities.
“The father put a lot of effort into this, right?”
A foreign sound unfamiliar to my ears suddenly overlapped with Madame’s explanation. Turning to its source, I saw a senior cat person with a cane standing nearby.
His elderliness slightly silvery his usually black fur. This large feline carried regal features typical of such large cats, though lean but towering, dressed neatly. Cotton pants and shirts well-tailored with a black apron marked with ledgers implied the innkeeper of Kitty Cat Rotating Inn.
He’s the father of the proprietress and the father-in-law of Fidelio.
His serious expression displayed both a practical merchant and an individual with a clear sense of taste, as evidenced in the separately maintained bar area.
Expertly balancing a twig in his mouth while fluently conversing in an unknown, non-human tongue, the proprietor seemed comfortable in his multilingual environment. The sound was a blend of human speech and bird-like chirps, a linguistic system far beyond common understanding.
Difficult to distinguish between a gentle conversation or an argument based on intonations alone. Structure-wise, it was a level beyond simply appending “nya” to human words—understandable why my past attempts at cat language failed.
As we nervously watched this foreign exchange, it finally concluded when the imposing innkeeper stood before us, his golden gaze scrutinizing us intently.
“Greetings, sir. I am Ehrich from Königsstuhl, and I hope to be in your care.”
“Likewise, Margit from the same. I look forward to your kindness.”
After all, greetings mark the start of any relationship.
The innkeeper, his gaze steady and assessing, moved the branch in his mouth and gave us a firm, peculiar pat on the head, then left.
Is this acknowledgment?
“That’s my dad, Adham. He’s a difficult old man like that, but he’s got a good heart—please bear with him.”
Laughing at our puzzled expressions, Madame Chaimer rolled up her sleeves and prepared to work. Simultaneously, through the kitchen door, Fidelio appeared with a massive wooden crate full of vegetables.
“A task before your adventure tales.”
The wooden box filled with carrots must be heavy, yet Fidelio handled it as if it were a light letter, declaring:
“This is before any teaching.”
Is our first task as adventurers “peeling vegetables”?
### Additional Notes (Translation):
”Tips”: Kitten Rotating Inn, managed by a family of cat people, is a place frequented by traders and travelers, serving as Saint Fidelio’s operational base until he gave a firm “warning” afterward.
It welcomes visitors openly but declines service to adventurers and mercenaries.
The rented rooms are modestly furnished but comfortable double rooms with beds large enough for bigger species. The bedding, even without golden inlays, is thick and comfortable. Washed sheets smell of soap, showing care. A thin summer quilt, regularly aired during sunny days, avoids the smell of sweat or dampness. At this price, it’s an extraordinary deal compared even to those in the Imperial Capital.
Longer stay guests may access locked storage boxes and wardrobes. Work desks and lamps provided for writing needs have better lighting than typical lanterns.
Madame offered meals if we helped with household chores. Normal meals have fixed menus for four As per meal.
The building is C-shaped, containing 16 rooms across three floors, with private rooms that accommodate two to six people. About two-thirds are regularly rented, even full during peak seasons. The most memorable instance included setting up tents in the yard.
It has a dining area separated from the inn to maintain cleanliness, a hobby of the madame.
The kitchen, a pride of the house, has a professional oven, three large stoves for cooking, and small stoves for quick dishes. The chopping block made of polished iron is marked with the holy seal of the Hearth Goddess, signifying durability and cleanliness.
The innkeeper, Adham, an elder cat person, spoke in a foreign language while still managing a twig in his mouth. His attire and ledgers showed his role clearly. Madame explained his practical approach, though he displayed a tough exterior, but held heart.
We were examined and acknowledged by the innkeeper.
Finally, Fidelio showed up with a large crate of vegetables.
### Final Thoughts:
Our adventurer education may start with peeling vegetables.
### Additional Notes:
Wooden inn lodging often provides basic sleeping amenities, and cooking facilities may be available for self-prepared meals, with occasional meal offerings.
A reminder of past experiences with similar scenarios, the conclusion emphasizes the importance of voting for the novel in “This Light Novel is Amazing” rankings. It highlights the potential impact of such results on sales.
