The group made their way downstairs and into the reception hall.
Waiting for them were roughly fifty staff members.
Around ten worked security.
The rest were a mixture of receptionists, cleaners, chefs, maintenance workers, and various other employees.
Small conversations echoed throughout the room.
But as Boros approached, the chatter gradually died down.
By the time he reached the front, the hall had become completely silent.
Boros dragged a chair forward and sat down.
Every pair of eyes remained fixed on him.
"For those of you still confused about what's going on."
He pulled the deed from his pocket and held it up.
"I am now the owner of this establishment."
Immediately, whispers spread through the crowd.
"Quiet down."
Boros raised a hand.
The room fell silent again.
He folded the deed and put it away.
"There's something you should know."
"I don't plan on operating this place as an inn anymore."
A wave of nervousness swept through the staff.
One employee hesitantly raised a hand.
"Sir?"
"What?"
"If this place isn't going to be an inn anymore..."
The man swallowed.
"What happens to our jobs?"
Several others immediately nodded.
Clearly, everyone wanted the answer.
Boros leaned back in his chair.
"I've thought about it."
The room tensed.
"This building is too large for me to maintain by myself."
He pointed toward Akeno and Kinuko.
"And those two are useless when it comes to cleaning."
"HEY!" Akeno shouted.
Kinuko looked away.
"I wasn't going to volunteer either."
A few nervous chuckles spread through the room.
The tension eased slightly.
"So I came to a decision."
Boros folded his arms.
"You can all keep your jobs."
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
For a moment, it looked like nobody had actually processed what he had said.
Then-
"R-Really?"
"Did he just say that?"
"We still have jobs?"
The room immediately erupted.
Relief spread across countless faces.
Several employees looked close to tears.
Others simply lowered their heads and let out long breaths.
Only now was Boros beginning to understand how much this place meant to them.
Ever since he arrived, everyone had been tense.
Terrified.
Waiting to hear whether they would still have a way to support themselves tomorrow.
Now that fear was gone.
"Thank you, sir!"
The shout came from somewhere in the crowd.
Then another followed.
"Thank you!"
Soon the entire hall joined in.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
Boros scratched the back of his neck.
The reaction made him strangely uncomfortable.
"Yeah, yeah."
He waved dismissively.
"Don't make a big deal out of it."
The staff only smiled harder.
Susan nearly laughed.
Boros immediately changed the subject.
"Anyway."
The room quieted once more.
"I'm putting Susan in charge of the staff."
Susan froze.
"...What?"
Boros pointed at her.
"I won't always be here."
"If anyone has questions, suggestions, complaints, or anything else, tell Susan."
"Then she can pass it along whenever she sees me."
Susan looked completely caught off guard.
"M-Me?"
"Yes, you."
"But I-"
"Congratulations."
Boros stood up.
"You've been promoted."
Akeno snorted.
Kinuko covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Meanwhile, Susan looked like she wasn't sure whether to cry or faint.
Boros stretched his arms.
"That's all I wanted to say."
Then he started walking toward the staircase.
"See you all tomorrow."
He placed a foot on the first step.
Then paused.
The entire staff was still standing there.
Nobody had moved.
Boros frowned.
"What are you all doing?"
The staff exchanged confused looks.
Boros pointed toward the entrance.
"Go home."
More silence.
Finally, one employee nervously raised a hand.
"Sir..."
"What?"
"Do you actually mean that?"
Boros blinked.
"Why wouldn't I?"
The employee looked hesitant.
"Mr. Rocky never allowed us to leave this early."
Another worker nodded.
"Sometimes we'd stay hours after our shifts ended."
"Just in case he needed something."
Several others quietly agreed.
Boros stared at them for a few seconds.
Then he turned back toward the stairs.
"That probably made sense when this was an inn."
He continued climbing.
"Customers might need help during the night."
The staff listened quietly.
"But it isn't an inn anymore."
Boros didn't even look back.
"So I don't have any reason to keep you here."
A brief silence followed.
Then his voice echoed down the hall.
"Go home."
He climbed another step.
"I'm not Rocky."
The reception hall became completely silent.
And for the first time that day-
Many of the staff genuinely smiled.
"ACK-!"
Boros suddenly let out a strangled yell.
Akeno had wrapped both arms around his head and pulled him directly into her chest.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Boros shouted, trying and failing to pry himself loose.
"You've seemed kinda down lately," Akeno replied, tightening her grip.
His face immediately became even more buried.
"Can you stop suffocating me while asking that?!"
"No."
Boros groaned.
A few seconds passed before Akeno loosened her hold slightly.
"Seriously though," she said. "Are you okay?"
For a moment, Boros didn't answer.
Then he sighed.
"I'm fine."
Akeno stared at him.
"If you say so."
Finally releasing him, she took a step back.
Boros rubbed the back of his neck and immediately headed up the staircase.
"Akeno."
Kinuko called.
"Hm?"
"I want to talk to you about something."
Akeno blinked.
"Okay?"
She turned around and skipped back toward the reception area.
"So what did you want to ta-"
Her words cut off midway.
Susan was walking toward them.
She stopped in front of the pair.
Then, without hesitation, she bowed deeply.
"T-Thank you."
Tears dripped from her eyes and splashed onto the floor.
"If it wasn't for your persuasion..."
Her voice trembled.
"We would've all lost our jobs."
Akeno scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Kinuko simply smiled.
"You're welcome."
Susan nodded repeatedly.
Then she straightened herself, wiped her eyes, and gave one final bow before turning around and leaving.
The two girls watched her walk out the door.
Then Akeno looked back at Kinuko.
"So?"
She tilted her head.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Kinuko sat down.
Akeno followed shortly after, dropping into the seat across from her.
"Earlier, while you were making arrangements for the rooms with Susan, Boros and I had a conversation."
Akeno tilted her head.
"About what?"
Kinuko took a slow breath.
"About why he's looking for the Fire Longinus User."
....
Akeno scratched the back of her head.
"So that's what you two were talking about."
A small grin appeared on her face.
"And here I was thinking he was confessing his love to you."
Kinuko stared at her.
Expressionless.
The smile vanished from Akeno's face almost immediately.
"Okay, okay. Sorry. It was a joke."
Kinuko sighed.
"I know."
"But this is serious, Akeno."
The grin disappeared completely.
"At least I finally understand why he's been acting different lately."
Akeno leaned back in her chair.
"Still..."
She looked toward the ceiling.
"I kinda wish I was in his position."
Kinuko frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Akeno laughed bitterly.
"I'd give anything to forget my past."
Her voice dropped.
"We were treated like trash back home."
"Even our own parents looked down on us."
Silence settled between them.
Then Kinuko spoke.
"How can you say that?"
Akeno blinked.
"What?"
"You've seen what this is doing to him."
Kinuko's voice remained calm, but there was disappointment behind it.
"You've seen how much it bothers him not knowing who he is."
"Not knowing where he came from."
"Not knowing if he has anyone waiting for him somewhere."
Akeno looked away.
Kinuko continued.
"And yet you're saying you wish you were in his position."
The words hit harder than Akeno expected.
"I didn't mean it like that," she said quietly.
"I know."
Kinuko's expression softened slightly.
"But you need to be careful with words like that."
She reached forward and took Akeno's hands.
"What if Shiro had heard you?"
Akeno lowered her head.
"I know..."
"I wasn't trying to make light of what he's going through."
"I know you weren't."
Kinuko squeezed her hands gently.
"But don't say things like that again."
Akeno nodded.
"...Sorry."
"It's alright."
Kinuko stood and pulled Akeno up with her.
"Come on."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Let's go upstairs."
Still holding Akeno's hand, she led her toward the staircase.
Neither of them noticed the silver-haired figure leaning against the balcony overlooking the reception.
Boros had heard everything.