Chapter 005
I had played so many story-type RPG games that making guesses like this wasn’t hard for me.
But if my guess was right…
“Lana, the guest in Room 301 just checked out. Go clean it up.”
“Yes, James!”
‘Wait—why am I actually working here?!’
And he even used a fake name, James!
He could’ve just recommended me for the job and left it at that.
Still, after working with Jairen for a bit, I realized one thing—why players who knew his terrible personality still liked him.
He was tall—over 180 cm—with a strong, well-built body.
Even though he called himself a commoner, his steps were calm and confident, and his smooth black hair matched him perfectly.
Yes. Jairen was handsome.
I already knew it from the game’s illustrations, but seeing him in person was something else.
Even noble-looking guests who usually ignored commoners couldn’t help but look at him with admiration.
Well, that made sense. Jairen was actually a noble pretending to be a commoner, so they were basically admiring someone of their own class.
“Oh my, James is really handsome, isn’t he? Every time he talks to me, I get startled.”
“I know, right? It even makes dealing with guests easier.”
“Lana, you’re braver than I thought. Girls your age usually blush around guys like James, but you don’t seem affected at all.”
Of course not. He looks at me like I’m an insect.
So I decided to look at him the same way.
That’s how I became close with Jane, the woman who showed me around the inn on my first day.
She was in her mid-20s and a local. She had been working here since she was twenty and was about to be promoted soon.
She said her salary would match that of a deputy manager at other inns of this size.
“When I get promoted, I’m thinking of getting married. You’ll come to my wedding, right, Lana?”
“Eh?! You’re getting married, Jane?”
“Yep. I’ve been seeing someone since I was young. We’ve postponed it for two years, but this year, it’s finally happening. His trading company is doing really well now.”
“Trading company…?” I asked.
Jane smiled proudly.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? He’s working at the Roterose Trading Company. They’re getting financial support soon—from some noble family, I think.”
“…The Duke of Eikenros, right?”
“Exactly! You know about them?”
“Of course I do.”
‘So that’s it!’
All my earlier worries about Jairen started to fade.
The second son of the Duke of Eikenros was famous for “studying the world.”
He liked to disguise himself and work with small trading companies without using his family’s power.
‘Then maybe this side mission means I’m supposed to get close to Jane!’
Jane was kind, but she wasn’t very secretive.
It made sense that she’d share this kind of info with someone like me—just a young, friendly commoner.
‘Thank goodness. For a second, I thought this quest was about Jairen.’
[Side Mission 2: Stay at “Toto’s Hammer” Inn. (Completed)]
After finishing the second side mission, nothing new appeared.
The mission log still showed only up to number two.
That could mean one of two things:
Either I wasn’t strong enough for the next quest yet, or I was supposed to find the next one myself.
‘Alright, I’ll just stay close to Jane for now!’
A few days passed, and as I worked at the inn, I started hearing guests talk more and more about the Imperial Academy.
It seemed that the entrance season had begun.
Some guests were new students, while others were returning for the next term.
If things had gone normally, I might’ve been one of them too.
The inn got busier than ever. It wasn’t exactly a luxury hotel, but it attracted a steady stream of travelers—especially nobles below the rank of Count.
Because of that, I had more work to do than ever before.
But I didn’t complain. I was used to hard work, and with a ten-billion-debt hanging over my head, I needed every coin I could get.
“Looks like you’re busy.”
“Oh—James.”
“Want me to help?” he asked.
It was late at night, and I was carrying a pile of bed sheets to the laundry room when Jairen approached me.
“Don’t you have your own work, James?”
I said it with a smile, but what I really meant was, Go do your job instead of bothering me.
Of course, I acted innocent. I wasn’t stupid enough to pick a fight with someone like him.
“I finished already.”
“Wow… that’s amazing.”
I praised him automatically so I wouldn’t look annoyed.
‘He’s definitely close with the boss.’
Every time I saw him, he was just chatting with female guests.
Maybe that was his real job—talking to women.
When I looked at his handsome face again, it made sense.
A face like that could attract customers, after all.
‘At least the boss isn’t completely heartless, I guess.’
Jairen stared at me silently for a moment, then asked,
“Are you interested in the Imperial Academy?”
“Huh?”
“Every time someone talks about it, you look that way.”
“Oh, that? The Academy is just so famous, that’s all. I was curious.”
And honestly… it was a place I could’ve gone.
Of course I felt something when I heard about it.
Jairen looked at me again, then suddenly said,
“I can help you, if you want.”
“…What?”
“You keep saying that. Is it that surprising?”
“Well… yeah.”
His tone made it sound like helping me get into the Academy was no big deal.
But I knew what that really meant—he wanted to hint that he wasn’t just a “commoner.”
He smiled faintly, a picture-perfect smile that felt too carefully made.
“If you really want to enter the Academy, I could make it happen.”
‘Yep, he’s definitely trying to show off his noble connections.’
I had to respond. Should I ask him how? Thank him? Refuse?
‘No—let’s keep it simple and say no.’
“It’s okay. I’m just curious about the Academy, that’s all. I’m not planning to get in with someone else’s help.”
“I see… Is that so?”
“Yes. But thank you for the offer. I’ll go finish this now.”
“…Alright.”
I bowed politely and walked past him.
Then, finally—after days of waiting—my system window appeared.
[Side Mission Updated.]
[Side Mission 3: Receive a confession from “James” behind the inn’s trash yard. Time limit: 10 days.]
Thud!
I dropped the pile of sheets without even realizing it.
