Kazuki, still standing tall amidst the chaos, turned toward Amira. His handsome face returned to its usual calm expression.
"What else should we do?" he answered with a shrug of indifference. "Nothing can be done, so just leave them." He glanced briefly at the lifeless bodies, showing not a hint of regret or concern.
"Wow, do you do this too often?" she asked carefully, her eyes observing Kazuki's reaction. "Did you also kill many people in our real world like this?"
The question made Kazuki turn quickly, his black eyes widening slightly in surprise. For a moment, there was an expression like a child caught in the act of mischief on his usually stoic face.
"Hey, in our real world, I rarely use my power," he answered quickly, with a slightly defensive tone in his voice. He scratched the back of his head that wasn't itchy, a gesture too human for someone who had just taken five lives without blinking. "I'd get scolded by my mother if I did something like that."
That innocent answer almost made Amira choke. Imagining the terrifying figure she had just witnessed being afraid of getting scolded by his mother was an almost comical contrast. A small laugh escaped her lips before she could hold it back.
"Ohh," she said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Is that why you didn't want to tell me about your power?" She stepped closer to Kazuki, "Were you afraid I would be a little hesitant around you?"
Kazuki averted his gaze, not daring to look directly into Amira eyes. "Hmm, I guess it's something like that," he answered softly, his voice almost inaudible.
Amira smiled gently. Although she had just witnessed Kazuki's dark side, somehow she didn't feel the fear she should have felt. Perhaps because she had seen other sides of Kazuki—the side that protected her, the side that brought her safely through various dangers since they arrived in this world.
"Don't worry," she said in a gentle voice, daring to touch Kazuki's arm lightly. "I won't be afraid of you like that. You've saved me several times, so I won't think badly of you." There was a gentleness and conviction in her voice that made the tension in Kazuki's shoulders ease slightly.
Kazuki looked at Amira with a gaze that was difficult to interpret—a mixture of relief, gratitude, and perhaps a little bewilderment. "I guess this is why you're so popular at school," he said with a thin smile.
"Eh?" Amira tilted her head in confusion.
"We should leave this place," Kazuki finally said, breaking the silence. "We need to find a place to spend the night."
◇ ◇ ◇
They had been walking for almost thirty minutes along the increasingly deserted streets of the town. Oil lanterns hanging along the main road illuminated their steps. Some residents could still be seen passing by, mostly merchants clearing their stalls or night guards beginning their patrols.
Amira was already feeling tired when they finally found a building that looked different from the other structures around it. The building towered high, more magnificent and modern compared to the simple stone houses that dominated the town. Its walls made of white marble gleamed under the moonlight, while large pillars supported the curved roof adorned with intricate carvings.
"This looks like an inn for wealthy people," Amira murmured, admiring the building that resembled a mini palace with amazement. Her wide eyes traced the magnificent architecture before her—towering marble pillars, intricate carvings along the facade, and crystal lamps glittering behind tall windows. "Do we have enough... whatever they use as money here?"
The question hung in the air, but Kazuki didn't seem worried. Instead of panicking about financial issues, his face displayed a mysterious calmness. His hands were hidden inside his Black Hoodie, where he kept the gold and silver coins he had taken from the robbers they had just encountered.
Indeed, without Amira knowledge, Kazuki had secured quite a lot of money from their previous attackers. With quick movements almost invisible to the eye, he had taken bags of coins from the lifeless bodies of the robbers lying in that dark alley. Their money supply was now more than enough, at least for the time being.
Kazuki didn't answer Amira question. He just smiled mysteriously. With confident steps, he walked toward the magnificent entrance, Amira following hesitantly, still unsure whether they would be accepted in such a luxurious place.
As they approached the entrance, something unexpected happened. The door—which Amira thought was a large wooden door with intricate carvings—actually moved by itself, sliding smoothly to the side like an automatic glass door in a modern shopping center in their world. There were no creaking hinges, no guards opening it, just a smooth movement that was almost silent.
Golden light from inside the building burst out, dazzling their eyes that had grown accustomed to the dimness of night. The sparkle of crystal lamps radiated from within, making the contours of both their faces appear sharper and more dramatic.
"This..." Amira stammered, her eyes widening as she witnessed the technological anomaly. Her fingers reflexively gripped the sleeve of Kazuki's robe, seeking assurance that she wasn't hallucinating. "How is this possible...? Isn't this world still in the medieval era?"
This surprise was like a cognitive dissonance—something that shouldn't exist in the middle of a town that appeared primitive with its traditional markets and simple stone houses.
"It seems this world is not as simple as we thought," Kazuki answered softly, his eyes narrowing calculatingly. "This world might have layers of reality more complex than we imagined."
They both stepped through the automatic glass door and were immediately stunned by the luxury that greeted them. The inn's lobby was vast and magnificent, with marble floors polished to transparency, reflecting light from large crystal lamps hanging from the high pillared ceiling.
Its towering walls, three meters high, were covered with cream-colored wallpaper featuring elegant floral motifs, with gold accents at every corner and junction. Luxurious furniture made from dark mahogany wood was tastefully placed in various corners of the room—plush sofas covered in red velvet, small tables with intricate carvings, and tall bookshelves filled with antique-looking leather-bound books.
A small fountain was situated in the center of the lobby, shaped like a water statue. Large paintings in gold frames adorned the walls, displaying fantastic landscapes and portraits of important people they didn't recognize—aristocratic faces with luxurious clothes and haughty gazes.
"Welcome!" A melodious voice, clear as crystal, greeted them, diverting both their attention from the mesmerizing luxury.
Behind the long, gleaming reception desk—made of black wood with silver accents on each side—stood a young woman with almost inhuman beauty. Her long platinum blonde hair fell like a golden waterfall down her back. The woman's eyes were clear purple, like rare amethyst gems.
Her pale white skin seemed to glow with an almost unnatural perfection—without flaws, without blemishes, like fine porcelain carefully sculpted. Her enchanting smile revealed a row of perfect teeth.
The woman wore a formal uniform of dark purple with gold accents at the edges—an elegant dress that more resembled noble attire than a worker's uniform. The dress fit perfectly on her slender body, following every curve with captivating grace. A small pin shaped like a snowflake was attached to the chest of her uniform.
"Yes," Kazuki replied politely, stepping closer to the reception desk with Yuina following behind him.
Amira couldn't stop admiring the interior of the inn. Her eyes moved from one luxury to another, trying to record every detail. How contrasting this place was with the medieval town impression they had seen so far—simple stone houses, uneven rocky streets, traditional markets with merchants selling goods from wooden carts.
*How can a place this luxurious and modern exist in the middle of a town that appears so primitive?* she wondered curiously. *Is this exclusively for nobles? Or perhaps for the 'heroes' they heard about earlier?*
"How do we book a room?" Kazuki asked the beautiful woman when they reached the reception desk. Kazuki's attitude was calm and confident, his back straight and his voice steady, as if he were accustomed to staying in luxurious places like this. There wasn't a hint of doubt or awkwardness in his movements.
The woman smiled more broadly. "You just need to fill out this document," she answered in a voice that sounded like silver bells, while placing a luxurious parchment on the desk. The parchment looked expensive, with golden edges and a subtle watermark in the center. "And how many rooms would you like to book? Is it a room for one person or a room for two people?"
Amira suddenly became very aware of their situation. The girl felt her cheeks heating up, a pink blush beginning to spread to her ears. She and Kazuki, two teenagers who had never lived together, now had to decide whether to share a room or not. Various thoughts and scenarios began to race through her mind, some of which made her face redden even more.
*Ehh, wait a minute,* Amira suddenly snapped out of her reverie. Her eyebrows furrowed in sudden confusion. *How come I can understand this woman's language?*
Indeed, without Amira realizing it, Kazuki had used his power to give her an understanding of this world's language. He had done it very subtly when they were at the clothing store earlier.
Kazuki had manipulated Amira mind so that the girl could understand this world's language and automatically speak in that language when communicating with locals. However, he chose not to tell Amira about this.
Kazuki seemed unperturbed by the dilemma Amira was facing. With a calm movement, he took the parchment and examined it carefully. The writing on it looked like foreign letters—a combination of elegant curving symbols and firm intersecting lines. However, both Kazuki and Amira could understand it perfectly, as if it were their own language.
The document requested basic information such as name, origin, purpose of visit, and duration of stay. The bottom section listed room types with their prices in a neat table. There were various options, ranging from standard rooms to luxurious suites with city views and private facilities.
"Well, do you want one room or separate rooms?" asked Kazuki, his voice calm and neutral.
"Eh, that..." Amira stammered, still trying to control her racing heart. She looked at Kazuki with disbelief, confused by the young man's calmness. "Why do you look so calm like that?"
Kazuki shrugged casually. "It's because I've stayed in hotels before," he answered simply, as if that were explanation enough. "So it's normal for me."
*Hotel?* thought Amira, her forehead creasing. *Has he stayed in hotels? What kind of hotel has he stayed in? Was it a love hotel?*
That wild thought made her face redden even more. But then Amira realized something more important. *Wait... this place is also similar to a hotel...*
Indeed, the more she observed, the clearer it became that the place they had entered was not a traditional inn as might exist in the medieval era. The structure, interior design, even the room booking system was very similar to modern hotels in their world. Another anomaly that further strengthened the suspicion that this world was far more complex than they had thought.
"Hmm, alright, let's book two different rooms," Amira finally said, after managing to control her thoughts. She waved her hand with a firm gesture, trying to look mature and authoritative even though her face was still flushed. "It's impossible for us to sleep together, that's forbidden. We are clearly still minors," she added quickly.
The receptionist woman who had been observing their interaction smiled with amusement. "You two are a cute couple," she commented with a sweet, teasing smile.
"We're not a couple!" Amira quickly denied, her voice a little higher than she intended. Her face was now as red as a ripe tomato, and she didn't dare look directly at either Kazuki or the woman.
Kazuki, on the other hand, remained calm. Without responding to any comments, he began to fill out the booking document with neat and orderly handwriting. His fingers moved efficiently over the parchment, filling in each column with necessary information (and some that he made up to fit this world).
After the document was completely filled out and the financial transaction completed—Kazuki paid with gold coins he had taken from the robbers, which were accepted with a satisfied smile by the receptionist—they received two room keys made of metal with intricate snowflake-shaped engravings, just like the pin on the woman's chest.
"Alright, we'll meet tomorrow morning at this place," said Kazuki while pocketing his key. He turned to Amira, his expression returning to its usual calmness. "Good night."
"Yes, good night to you too," Amira replied softly, still a little awkward about the situation they had just experienced.
After that, they both walked toward their respective rooms, following the directions given by the receptionist woman. The inn's corridor was no less luxurious than its lobby—walls covered with elegant wallpaper, thick maroon carpets that muffled footsteps, and crystal wall lamps.
Kazuki's room was at number 10, while Amira room was at number 6. The distance between their rooms wasn't too far—only about four doors—but enough to provide the necessary privacy. With one final nod, they parted ways toward their respective rooms.