Chương 32: Not Bad

I reached out and gingerly tapped the top coin of the shimmering golden mountain. The second my fingertip made contact, the laws of physics decided to take another coffee break. The pile didn't just sit there; it burst into a swirl of sapphire glitter, racing up my arm and soaking into my skin like I was some kind of human gold-magnet. I felt a weirdly pleasant hum settle in my chest as my internal display updated with a very satisfying jingle.

I gave Alice a polite little nod, trying to look like a high-rolling professional adventurer instead of a guy who was internally screaming with joy.

"Much appreciated, Alice. You've made a very tired man very, very happy," I said, offering her my best non-creepy hero smile. She simply maintained that polished, professional grin as I turned on my heel and sauntered away from the counter, feeling about ten pounds lighter and infinitely richer.

Once we were back out in the cool night air of Inizio, Dimitri took the lead again, moving through the winding streets with a rhythmic, heavy stride that suggested he was already mentally preparing for the next chapter of our epic saga.

"Now that our pockets sing the song of prosperity, we must find a sanctuary for our weary bones, my brother Arthur!" Dimitri boomed, his voice echoing off the stone walls like a warm, Russian lullaby.

"To rest is to prepare the soil for tomorrow's harvest of glory! A warrior who does not sleep is but a candle burning in a hurricane!" He steered me toward a corner of the city where the buildings looked a bit more lived-in and significantly less likely to charge me for the air I was breathing. We eventually came to a halt in front of an inn that sat comfortably in the "budget-friendly but probably won't give you a plague" category.

It was a sturdy-looking structure of dark wood and weathered stone, looking old enough to have seen a few centuries of rowdy adventurers but still standing tall and proud. It wasn't a palace, but it had a certain rustic charm that promised a bed that wouldn't feel like a pile of rocks. Dimitri came to a halt outside the inn, turning toward me with a look of such profound sincerity that I half expected a choir to start humming in the background.

He placed a massive, heavy hand on my shoulder, his eyes gleaming with the light of a man who genuinely cared about my survival.

"The moon has claimed the sky, my brother Arthur, and it is time for the warrior to find his peace!" Dimitri boomed, his thick Russian accent turning the evening air into a warm embrace.

"Let us reunite when the sun first kisses the horizon tomorrow! I shall lead you to the halls where the steel is forged, for to face the challenges of the second floor without the proper raiment is like trying to catch a waterfall with a sieve! We shall clothe you in the garments of victory so that your journey remains as bright as your spirit!" Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Yeah, sounds like a plan, Big Sunshine," I replied, giving him a final, weary nod of appreciation.

"I definitely think I'm one good sneeze away from falling apart, so some actual gear would be a fantastic investment. See you in the morning." I watched him lumber off into the night before turning my attention to the inn. I pushed through the heavy door and found myself in a lobby that smelled of old cedar and beeswax. An old man was stationed behind the wooden counter, looking like he'd been part of the furniture since the city was founded.

He offered me a crinkly, gap toothed smile as I approached, his eyes twinkling with the practiced hospitality of a man who had seen a thousand adventurers limp through his door.

"A fine evening to you, traveler!" the old man chirped, his voice sounding like dry parchment rubbing together.

"How might this humble roof serve a young man such as yourself on a night so fair?"

"I'm looking for a room, just for one," I said, leaning my elbow against the counter and trying not to look as exhausted as I felt.

"Preferably one with a bed that doesn't have a personal vendetta against my spine." The old man reached under the counter and produced a heavy, slightly rusty iron key, sliding it across the dark wood with a satisfying click.

"You have found the right harbor, then!" he said with a chuckle.

"A single room will cost you but one gold coin, and I shall throw in a hearty meal to ensure your dreams are as full as your belly. You will find your quarters on the second floor, located immediately next to the stairway. It is a quiet spot, perfect for a hero in need of a long slumber." I looked at the key, then at the stairs, feeling the sweet siren call of a horizontal surface finally starting to win the battle against my remaining willpower.

I summoned my gold interface with a flick of my wrist, watching the numbers shimmer in the air before reaching into the digital ether to pluck out a single, gleaming coin. I slid the payment across the counter, the gold clinking against the wood with a sound that felt surprisingly heavy for just one night of sleep. I snatched up the rusty key, gave the old man a tired wave, and began the slow, agonizing ascent up the wooden stairs, my boots feeling like they were made of lead.

I finally reached the second floor and found the door right where he said it would be. I turned the key, the lock yielding with a groaning protest, and stepped into my temporary sanctuary. The room was simple, bathed in the flickering, amber glow of a wall mounted torch that danced against the stone. I walked over to the window for a second, looking out at the city of Inizio.

It was a sprawling sea of lamplight and shadows, a living, breathing fantasy world that felt a lot more real now that I wasn't currently being chased by it. I turned away from the view and looked at the bed. It was covered in a plain white sheet and looked about as luxurious as a sack of flour, but to my battered nervous system, it might as well have been a cloud imported straight from heaven.

I sat down on the edge, and even though the mattress was definitely on the firm side, it felt like a five star resort the moment my aching muscles made contact. I let my weight fall back, collapsing onto the pillow as the sheer exhaustion of the day finally caught up with me. This was my very first night in this strange, beautiful, and occasionally homicidal world. If you had asked me twelve hours ago how I thought this would go, I probably would have predicted being stuck in a monster's digestive tract.

Instead, my first day had actually turned out better than I could have ever dreamed in my wildest, most optimistic hallucinations.

"Maybe having a friend," I whispered into the quiet room, my voice barely a rustle against the flickering torchlight.

"Is not that bad after all." The thought of Dimitri's blindingly bright smile was the last thing that crossed my mind before the darkness of sleep rushed in to claim me, shutting out the world of Eteria before I even had the chance to pull up the covers.