Manuke FPS Chapter 152

Published at 15th of August 2021 09:07:56 PM

After talking to the front desk, I was guided by Koti to my room. When I used the provided bathroom, the bathtub apparently used water and fire mana stones to provide hot water. I spent some time enjoying the bath before dinner.

While soaking, I played with the TSS’s window, and chose a mask to wear for dinner later. The mouth part would have to be open since I have to eat, should I use a bat-like mask, or a black panther venetian mask…? I didn’t know the atmosphere of where we’d eat, but I heard that masquerade was becoming popular within the capital, so I wondered if I should go with the panther mask.

I got out of the tub and wiped myself with a cloth.

It seemed that textile technology was not advanced enough to produce something close to a towel. Incidentally, there must have been some bath towels in the Continental’s restroom. When I bring it out to collect more wine, should I also collect the bath towels too…? With that in mind, everything that was placed within the living area of the Continental was high quality. The sofas, tableware, utensils and toiletries. Furniture, tools, and items were all luxury. For this world, there were exceptionally high quality.

A dot on my map began to approach the room. With the speed of movement and the light steps on the rug in the hall, it was likely Koti was coming.

Knock Knock.

“Shaft-sama, the preparation for dinner was ready, nyan.”

I opened the door and entered the hall. Koti was standing there, in a different outfit but still neat.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Normally, the first floor is the venue for meals, but tonight, we prepared a special lounge on the fourth floor.”

The room that I stayed in was on the 4th floor and the lounge itself was located further back on the floor. I walked down the hall that overlooked the courtyard. When I looked down, I could see that the courtyard also had tables and chairs. Most likely an outdoor restaurant.

I heard this was a high-inn restaurant, but what was different from an ordinary inn? In that case, not only the interior and setting of each room, but also the luxury of the space where you ate. You could enjoy the perfection while you ate and drank.

“This is the room, nyan.”

It seemed that the innermost side of the mouth-shaped building was the lounge. Two men in knight-like attire, based on the deep green color, stoof on either side of the double door. Were they knights of the Margrave?

“I have brought Shaft-sama, nyan.”

“Welcome, Shaft-sama. I believe Ophelia will be coming soon. Please enter and wait. If you have any weapons, we will keep them here.”

This might be natural. When I came before, I was only wearing the black german Waffen-SS outfit without the overcoat. Although I didn’t have the weapons I carried as Shaft, I took out a simple knife I kept in my chest pocket for emergencies before handing it over.

The inside of the lounge was wide, and it was likely a place to use for a large number of invited guests. But it seemed that tonight’s guests were just me and Ophelia. It was illuminated by magically lit candlesticks. Two chairs faced each other from opposite ends of a table.

I sat in the chair Koti had pulled out. She then bowed and left for the room assigned for the waiters.

I thought I was saved the trouble of looking for an inn, so I came here after Ophelia introduced me, but the flow up to this point… It felt like a date hotel.

I received the aperitif wine from Koti once she returned to the lounge. She waited as I stirred the wine but didn’t taste. The map in my view already showed three light spots coming towards us The first had child-like steps, the second was probably Ophelia, and the third must have been their escort knight due to their position on the map.

I placed the glass down on the table, and got ready to stand to greet them. Koti approached me at my sudden movement, but I held up my hand to stop her. I waited for the door to open.

“I wonder if I’ve made you wait too long, Shaft.”

“No —, I just got the wine.”

“I see, that is good then.”

“Ophelisama. I shall wait outside. Please let me know if you need anything.

A woman, who seemed to be the escorting knight stood behind Ophelia, said to her and then left the lounge. At that time, she looked at me for a moment, but I didn’t know what she was thinking behind her expressionless face.

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There was someone else in the room, an elf boy. No, I didn’t know who he was but he was petite. He pulled the other chair out for Ophelia. Seeing that, I also sat down as well.

“The introduction to the inn was helpful. Thank you Ophelia.”

Tonight, Ophelia wore a dark green backless dress. Her exposed back was draped with her long dressed up pink hair.

“You also seem to have a mask with an open mouth for eating. I was hoping to see our real face, so it’s regrettable.”

“I apologize for that. My real face isn’t something that should be seen by a lady.”

“Are you not confident? The thing that a woman wants from a man is not only his appearance, some women already are if that man has enough power.”

“Maybe that is the case, but isn’t it still better to have a good face? Especially if they spend a long time together. How much can you love another when an unpleasant part comes into their view whenever they see each other. That will determine how much love they have and whether you really love the other person.

“Behind the scenes, being called ‘Black Masked Shaft’, ‘Black Nobleman’, and yet he said something as if a maiden. So, I can’t think of you as a man who is feared as the ‘Head hunting Shaft’.”

“I’m not really interested in those marriages made purely just to continue a bloodline, like the magical aristocracy.”

“That’s a shame. The Margraves are looking for a strong man. With the monsters and beasts, paired with the friction with our neighbors, it is imperative that you’d need to have blood with strong magical power to handle all of them.”

The elf boy and Koti quietly brought in our meals. Of course, there should have been some explanations of the dishes, but the conversation between Ophelia and I went uninterrupted. So, to avoid obstructing it, they quietly carried the food and cleared away empty dishes as we talked.

“Shaft, what purpose do you intend to use your power for? For a man strong enough to subjugate a labyrinth alone, what you going to do in this country without being affiliated with anyone?”

“Ophelia, my back isn’t as wide as you’d expect. I can only hide a little of it. And besides, I have no intention of being involved in the conflict between countries. If I were to be under someone, that’d attach me to some kind of organization. In other words, attaching me to a country. I  am someone who has lost their homeland. I have no intention of gaining a new one.”

“Then how will you use your power in the future?”

“The labyrinth — I will continue to subjugate the labyrinths, and I will protect those who I want to protect, putting them behind me to protect them as much as I can.”

“Hmm… You are really a maiden, Shaft. But — I like you even more. I definitely want to be the one behind your back.”

Chapter end