While walking through the thick forest trail, the group came to an unexpected halt. Before them stretched two diverging paths, veiled under the dappled shadows of the trees.
Silvia stepped forward, her long ears twitching slightly as she surveyed the fork in the road. "The path on the right leads to the Kingdom of Paniola," she said, her voice steady and clear. She then glanced to the left. "And that one leads to the Kingdom of Azalea."
She turned to Raizo, her vibrant green eyes expectant. "Where should we go, Raizo?"
Fenra and Shekiah also looked at him, waiting in quiet anticipation. The forest was still, as if even the trees paused to hear his answer.
Raizo said nothing at first. Instead, he knelt down and picked up a fallen branch from the forest floor. He stood up, holding it upright, and gave a small grin. "We're going to let fate decide."
Fenra blinked in confusion. "A branch… is going to choose our path?"
Raizo nodded. Without another word, he tossed the branch into the air. It spun, twirling toward the heavens, before landing with a soft thud, pointing in the direction of the left path.
Raizo looked at it, then at the others. "Looks like we're heading to the Kingdom of Azalea."
Without hesitation, the Dilhaze party began walking down the path fate had chosen.
As the sun dipped lower into the horizon, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and gold, the grand outer walls of Azalea finally came into view. The scent of flowers and spices lingered in the air, carried by the soft breeze. The sound of faint chatter and the clanking of metal echoed faintly from beyond the gates.
Approaching the entrance, the group was stopped by two armored guards, standing tall with spears in hand.
"Halt. State your business," one of the guards said firmly, though not unkindly.
"We're travelers and adventurers," Raizo replied. "We're here to rest and take on requests."
The guard gave them a once-over, then nodded. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Azalea."
"Thank you," Raizo and his party said in unison.
Before stepping further, Raizo turned to the guard again. "Excuse me, sir. Is there an inn nearby where we can stay?"
The guard smiled slightly, his voice more relaxed. "Yes. Turn right twice, then left. You'll find the Lunivar Inn—it's well known around here for its delicious meals. The sign has an 'L' on a shield. You can't miss it."
Raizo gave a small bow. "Thanks again."
The guard nodded once more. "Safe travels."
Following the directions, the party made their way through the bustling streets of Azalea. Lanterns began to light one by one as the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow over the stone-paved roads. Eventually, the group found it—the Lunivar Inn, just as described. A large wooden sign with a painted shield bearing the letter "L" swung gently in the evening breeze.
They stepped inside.
The warmth of the interior greeted them immediately. Soft candlelight flickered from the chandeliers above. Wooden beams held the ceiling, and the scent of roasted meat and herbs filled the air. There were only three other adventurer parties present, scattered across separate tables, enjoying their meals and drinks.
As the Dilhaze party entered, quiet murmurs rippled across the room.
"Who are they?" someone whispered.
"They must be new here," another muttered.
One adventurer narrowed his eyes, sensing something. "I feel powerful mana from that boy… the one with the crimson and brown eyes."
From another table, a man raised an eyebrow. "I've never seen a party like that before. A therianthrope, an ogre, and a high elf? That's rare."
"Yeah," someone agreed. "That boy's lucky… he's surrounded by beautiful girls. A harem?"
Raizo paid them no mind, though he could feel the gazes. He walked confidently to the reception counter, where a woman with soft brown hair and a welcoming smile greeted him.
"Good evening! I'm Dawn, the innkeeper here. Welcome to Lunivar Inn."
Raizo gave a short nod. "Nice to meet you too, Dawn."
"Are you planning to stay the night?" she asked warmly.
Raizo nodded. "Yes. Four rooms, please."
Dawn quickly turned around, took four keys from the rack behind her, and placed them gently on the counter. "Here you go," she said, smiling. "Four rooms. Second floor. Just follow the hallway upstairs."
"Thanks," Raizo said, handing each key to his companions.
Fenra took hers with a nod. "Thanks."
"Much appreciated," Silvia added politely.
Shekiah reached out her arms. "Wait, why are you giving me a key? I thought we're sleeping in the same room tonight."
Raizo blinked at her, deadpan. "Exactly. Why would I give you a key if we're sharing the same bed?"
Shekiah giggled, scratching her head. "Oh! Right, hahaha. I totally forgot."
Dawn chuckled as she handed out bowls of warm soup with freshly baked bread. "Dinner's on the house tonight. A welcome gift."
Raizo took the bread and bit into it. His expression twitched slightly. "Hey Dawn… is there anything inside this bread?"
She shook her head, puzzled. "No, just plain bread. Why?"
Raizo smiled faintly. "Ah, no reason. Just wondering."
But in his mind, Raizo was already planning. So there's no jam or cheese fillings in this world's bread… if I can make some and sell them… it'll be a goldmine.
Back at the table, he couldn't help but smile.
Fenra leaned closer, curious. "Why are you smiling like that, Raizo?"
He quickly shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just excited for tomorrow."
Silvia tilted her head. "Because of the market?"
Raizo grinned. "Exactly. We'll be selling a ton of monster corpses from my item box. All the monsters we've defeated recently? That'll turn into good money."
Silvia nodded. "We've earned it."
They ate with hearty appetites. The soup was simple but warm, and the bread was dense and filling. Despite the earlier whispers, the rest of the adventurers seemed to leave them alone, perhaps sensing they weren't to be trifled with.
After dinner, Raizo and Shekiah headed to their room while Fenra and Silvia returned to theirs. The hallway was quiet, the air slightly cool.
As Raizo unlocked the door, Shekiah hummed beside him, her hands behind her head. "Feels like forever since we slept in an actual bed."
Raizo smiled faintly. "Yeah… it does."
Inside, the room was cozy. Two beds, a window overlooking the kingdom's quiet street, and a small table with a candle. Shekiah immediately flopped onto the bed, groaning contently.
"Soft," she mumbled. "I'm not moving."
Raizo laughed softly and sat on the other bed, removing his boots and leaning back.
Outside, the moon began its ascent into the sky, casting silver light over the sleeping kingdom. And for the first time in a long while, Raizo allowed himself to relax.
Tomorrow would bring business. Maybe a new adventure. Maybe a new ally. Or perhaps, fate would spin things in ways they never expected.
But for tonight… they rested.