Chapter 13: Gina’s Inn

With Shou still in his arms, Falco made his way to Gina’s inn. He set her down in front of the wooden door, pushed it open, and was immediately met with the warm atmosphere of a tavern. The interior was entirely wooden, giving it a rustic, homey charm.

"Shou, Falco, welcome!"

Gina greeted them brightly from behind the counter.

"Gina, we’ll be in your care."

"Shou, such a polite boy."

Gina smiled warmly at her, then turned her gaze to Falco.

"I’ve prepared the double room with a sitting area, just like you asked."

"Yeah. I’ll be looking for a house soon, but we’ll be staying here for now. Also, Shou wants to help out. If you’ve got anything for her to do, feel free to use her."

"Well, I’d be happy to have her help anytime. But she also has to go to the temple, right?"

Shou tilted her head.

"The Sage hasn’t said anything about that yet. Cain just told me to meet up tomorrow."

"Oh? So you’ve already been accepted by the kids’ group, huh? Funny, I had you pegged as the shy type."

"Shou doesn’t talk much, but now that I think about it, she’s never actually been shy."

Back in her old world, Shou had worked in furniture sales. She wasn’t naturally sociable, but her job had trained her to interact with people properly.

"First thing tomorrow, we’ll head to the guild to register you as an apprentice."

"Once you’re registered, you’ll get a pouch. You can finally put away that long stick, right?"

"A pouch?"

"Shou, when you register with the guild, they give you a belt and a pouch. The belt has loops for potions, and the pouch has a small expansion enchantment. The beginner’s version can hold about… oh, enough space for your stick to fit in, both lengthwise and widthwise."

Oh! That sounded familiar. Like those inventory slots in games that could hold 99 of an item.

"99? What’s that? No, no, it’s not a number—it’s just about how much space it has. Beginners usually hunt rock lizards, so it’s sized for that."

"Then what about yours, Falco?"

"Mine? Oh, mine’s huge. I could fit a whole Red-Winged Saurus in it."

Shou had no idea what that was.

Just then, a voice called out from the tavern’s corner.

"Hey, Falco!"

Falco turned.

"Jene! Bival! You’re back? What happened with the frogs?"

"There were a lot this year, but with enough hunters, it got wrapped up fast."

"Good to hear. You should’ve come to the northern cabin after."

"The guild didn’t post that request later on, did they?"

"Well, no, but if they were more flexible—"

Gina cut in.

"Honestly. You two left Falco all alone in that cabin, and he’s not even mad?"

"Where a hunter chooses to hunt is their own decision."

"Yeah, but would a mother really put her own son in a tough spot? Lyla, honestly."

"She probably assumed I’d be going too. Didn’t mean to mess things up, I bet."

"This whole town struggled because of it, you know?"

…Oh.

That sounded like a complicated story.

So, Falco’s mother took the hunters who were supposed to be at the northern cabin somewhere else?

"Well, if I had been at the northern cabin, I wouldn’t have found the little stray I picked up. Guess it worked out."

"Yeah, heard about that. Falco, we made the right call going to the marshes instead."

"Can’t exactly wander around when you’ve got a kid tagging along, huh?"

…The stray was right here, thank you very much.

Shou silently raised a mental hand.

Falco, on the other hand, bristled.

My Shou? A burden?

Far from it—she was adorable.

Those two had missed out.

If he said anything, they’d just laugh at him.

…So Shou cut in first.

She trotted up to them and met their gaze.

"Oh? What’s up, kid?"

"You’re tiny."

Both men had the same bright blonde hair and blue-green eyes as Leon. Maybe a little older.

"I’m Shou."

"Oh. Uh, Jene."

"Bival."

"Falco’s been taking care of me."

Then, she smiled.

Just a little.

And froze the two men in place.

Gina chuckled.

Mission accomplished.

Shou turned back—

"W-wait, Shou."

The two were rummaging through their things.

"Here. Some grape candy from the marshes."

"And some dried fruit from the plains."

Oh!

Sweet things!

Shou’s face lit up.

She held them up high for Falco to see.

Falco, of course, couldn’t be mad anymore.

"Lucky you, Shou."

"Yeah! Jene, Bival, thanks!"

"O-oh."

"No problem."

"Would’ve given ‘em to some big girl eventually. Might as well give ‘em to a kid instead."

Shou proudly showed her treasures to Gina next.

"No eating before dinner, though."

"Got it!"

Jene and Bival winced.

Yeah.

Not a burden at all.

"Our bad. Hey, can we bring her something next time?"

"Bribing her, huh? Well, do what you want. See you around."

"Yeah, see you."

Shou and Falco left, both in high spirits.

The room had a small table, chairs, and a couch.

A door led to the bedroom—one big bed.

…Fine.

She wasn’t going to argue.

Another door led to the bathroom and sink.

The bath was downstairs.

Compared to the cabin, the space was small, but it was plenty for two people.

Of course, it was an expensive room.

"We’ve got plenty of money."

Falco said it so casually.

So reliable.

Tomorrow, life in the Northern Town would begin.

Chatting quietly, they both drifted off to sleep.

"Hey, should we have told Falco that Lyla ran off with some new boyfriend to another marsh town?"

"Tch. He doesn’t wanna hear about his mom’s love life."

"True. Honestly, it’s good he didn’t go to the marshes with her."

"Jene, Bival, tell me more about that."

"Gina? Thought you hated Lyla."

"It’s not about me. It’s for Shou."

"Yeah… Lyla’s the type to show up out of nowhere. And she wouldn’t care that Falco has a kid now."

"Eh, it’s not a big story. Just met the guy during a frog hunt, that’s all."

The night at Gina’s tavern continued.