落とし穴１１５堀：コドモとオトナ (Part1)
**Pitfall 115: Children and Adults**
**Side: Mikos, Assistant Diplomat of Haiden**
"Good work today. Sorry for dragging you into this."
"N-no, not at all."
The conversation was between Shera and Kagura.
As soon as we returned to Weed, we had been helping guide a group of elf tourists brought from Shera’s village.
I had wondered why it had to be us, but since Yuki-sensei and the others were busy with the important task of reporting the events at the elf village to Queen Seraria and her senior officials, we had no choice. Eoid and Amanda were also helping guide the elves, who were visiting Weed for the first time.
To be honest, I was worried about whether we were up to the task, but the elves were well-behaved and asked questions whenever they were confused, so there weren't any major problems.
Ah, well, actually, there was one problem.
"Sigh. It’s painful how thin their concept of 'money' is. I completely forgot about that..."
"Ahaha... It was all barter, wasn't it?"
Kagura replied with a hollow laugh to Shera’s dejected comment.
That’s right. Because the elves had been cooped up in their village for so long, they knew money existed as a concept, but since they never needed it, they possessed almost no foreign currency.
Well, that’s common in the countryside.
It seems peddlers visit them, but they primarily trade through barter. In a rural village, items that can actually be used are naturally more valuable than money. Since there’s nowhere to spend money, it’s only logical that useful goods take priority.
Consequently, every single one of them had brought a mountain of goods and asked where they could sell them.
"...I should have checked the contents of their item boxes more thoroughly. And most of it isn't even worth much..."
Shera sighed again as she looked at the pile of luggage received from the villagers.
If these items could be turned into a decent amount of money, it would have been fine, but since they were mostly basic necessities for village life, they weren't worth much at all.
...At most, the value would be wiped out by a single night’s stay at a Weed inn.
Still, we couldn't just abandon these elves, who didn't even know such common knowledge, to be penniless. Shera explained that the items they brought didn't have much value and that money was necessary in Weed, then paid for their expenses out of her own pocket.
"...I’m not exactly hurting for money, but I can’t keep paying for them every time. For now, I have to tell them to try out some vocational training during the handover. I’ll have to clearly state this issue in my report, too."
"Agreed. I’ll make sure to report it to my superiors as well."
"That would be best. Thanks to this, I’ve been thoroughly embarrassed. Trying to pay for a hotel room with barter at the front desk..."
Shera covered her face with her hands, looking mortified.
Right, right. In the end, she had offered barter to the hotel staff, but she had initially tried to negotiate with the front desk using trade goods.
Normally, they would have been turned away, but since the staff had been briefed about the people from Shera’s village, they were stuck in a difficult position until Shera discovered them and apologized profusely.
It’s embarrassing when your own kin does something like that, isn't it? It was a trouble born from their lack of understanding regarding the necessity of money.
As I was wondering how to address the situation...
"Alright!! Let’s just forget about it!!"
It seems she decided to move on surprisingly quickly. Well, that’s all we could do.
"Kagura, you guys don't have any plans today, right?"
"Eh? Yes. We’re free..."
"Then, would you like to come over to my place? You know, we talked about showing you the children?"
An invitation to her home!?
That’s where Queen Seraria and Yuki-sensei live, right!?
In other words, the Royal Castle!!
"E-eh, ah, u-uh, I’m honored, but, um, if this is a formal visit, my clothes..."
Kagura’s eyes spun in confusion at the sudden offer.
No, no, that’s not the kind of situation this is.
"Ah, it’s a visit between friends, so don't worry about that. More importantly, I’m sorry I couldn't fulfill the promise sooner. I was the one who invited you, but I’ve been so busy."
"N-no! If that’s the case, I’d be delighted to... And, what about everyone else?"
Kagura looked at us.
"Of course I’m going!! I’m definitely going!!"
"Um, if it’s not an intrusion..."
"Yay! I’ve always wanted to see Master Shera’s home!"
"Amanda. I don't think it’s just a 'home.' Look, it’s the Queen’s place? It’s a castle."
"Ah!? E-E-E-Master Shera. By any chance, is the castle strict about etiquette?"
At Amanda’s words, Solo and I froze.
Setting Kagura aside, for me, the daughter of a minor baron, and Solo, a commoner, visiting a royal castle wasn't something that happened often.
Even though we had recently visited the royal castle of a major power on the If Continent and walked boldly into the Haiden castle, we hadn't built up any immunity to it.
Back then, we basically just stayed quiet. Plus, we had Yuki-sensei—an overwhelmingly powerful person who treated the concept of "kings" as if they were nothing—protecting us, so we hadn't been that nervous.
But this time, it was the residence of... not Yuki-sensei, but Queen Seraria.
Would we be beheaded if we did something wrong!?
However, after seeing our reaction, Shera blinked, then started to laugh.
"Ahaha, sorry. Yeah. I see. We are senior officials to Queen Seraria. You’d think 'castle,' wouldn't you?"
"???"
We could only tilt our heads at Shera’s unexpected reaction.
Seeing us like that, Shera suddenly grinned...
"It wouldn't be fun to give you the answer here, so let’s see it for yourselves. Oh, and don't worry about etiquette. Just be your usual selves."
What could she mean? While I wondered, Shera said it was a secret, so there was no reason to force it out of her, and since there was no malice, we headed toward the royal castle where Yuki-sensei and the others lived.
"Here we are. This is our home."
As Shera said that, gesturing for us to enter, what stood before us was...
"An inn?"
Yes, an inn. Without a doubt, an inn.
It was a type of lodging in Weed that Sota-sama called a "Japanese inn."
In other words, not a castle.
Shera, what does this mean?
"Your confusion is understandable. But if you consider the functions of a castle, there’s no problem at all. This place already has countless defensive measures that surpass any castle."
"Ah..."
Come to think of it, that’s true.
Weed is inside a dungeon. It’s impregnable from the start. And it’s filled with dungeon traps and monsters. There’s no point in building a castle. The government offices are in a separate building anyway.
"But why an inn?"
"That’s Yuki-san’s hobby. And it’s the first home we were welcomed into by him."
"The first?"
"Yes. We were brought into a dungeon—a den of monsters and traps—without knowing anything, and we were trembling, wondering when we’d be discarded. But that never happened. Yuki-san just appeared, and he gave us this inn, warm meals, a place to sleep, and hope."
Hope, huh.
Indeed, Yuki-sensei was hope for us, too.
The hope that overturned the "only death awaited us" ending in Baide.
It seems that was true not just for us, but for Shera and the others as well.
"So it’s an inn full of memories."
"That’s right. And it’s the house where we live. Of course, like any inn, there are plenty of private rooms, each with its own toilet and bath. Plus, there’s even an open-air bath, which is unique to an inn."
"Ooh!"
As expected of a place prepared by Yuki-san.
Even though it’s just for his inner circle, to be so well-equipped...
Hm? Isn't this more luxurious than a mediocre castle?
"Well then, come on in."
As the front door opened...
"Welcome!"
Yuki-sensei and the others greeted us with those words.
And then I realized. This was the chance Shera had prepared for us!!
Today, I’ll stick to Yuki-sensei like glue, and if the opportunity arises, I’ll sneak into his bed!!
"Hey, who’s the big sister?"
"Um, I’m Mikos."
"Then, Mikos-oneechan, play with us!"
"Over here, over here!!"
"Eh..."
There was a time when I thought that.
Currently, we are waiting in the banquet hall while Yuki-sensei and the others prepare a meal, but we’ve been completely surrounded by the children.