落とし穴外伝：冒険者に変身 (Part2)
If we didn't enforce these measures, the commercial district would be overrun by people wandering about, splattered in the gore of monsters or their own blood from untreated wounds. It was a unanimous decision that, from a sanitation perspective, such sights must be avoided at all costs.
"And so, that is why the rule stands: whether you are heading to the commercial district or any other sector, you must first resolve any such unhygienic conditions."
"I see," the three of them murmured in unison.
With their understanding secured, we arrived at the street where the adventurers’ inns are located.
"This is the inn district."
"..."
For some reason, the three of them fell silent. I turned back, wondering if something was amiss, only to find them wearing expressions of utter astonishment.
"What’s wrong? Is there something that surprises you?"
"Oh, um, well..."
"Eh? Huh?"
For some reason, Orelia and Yayui seemed too flustered to answer my question. That left only Hovis.
"Well, to be honest, I’m quite surprised."
"Why is that?"
"When you think of an 'inn,' you think of a place that offers hospitality, right? This is just so different from the commercial district."
"Ah, I see."
I turned to look down the row of inns. They were indeed a far cry from the grand establishments found in the commercial district. They were, after all, little more than plain, unadorned houses that had simply hung out signs declaring themselves inns. Yet, that was unavoidable.
"The inns in the adventurer district are intentionally stripped of such decorations. The rooms are quite small, too. Of course, there are more luxurious inns, but they come at a higher price than these."
Once I explained that, they seemed to grasp the situation.
"Oh, is that it? To keep the lodging costs down?"
"Exactly. Adventurers, by and large, have no money. Only a handful ever become wealthy. And on top of that, they risk their lives every day. While it’s true that the potential for striking it rich is higher than in other professions, whether it’s actually worth the risk... haven't you heard as much from Mauve, Ovik, and the others who have been training you?"
"..."
"Adventurers have dreams" is a pleasant sentiment, but there are many who never see those dreams realized. Worse, there are those who lose their lives in the heat of battle. Even so, the profession never disappears because people must find a way to survive. Unlike other trades, there is no such thing as a "full capacity" limit.
It is, after all, self-employment. You accept work at your own discretion and receive your reward accordingly. Furthermore, the threats of monsters and bandits show no sign of vanishing, and for those needing minor errands run, hiring through the Adventurer’s Guild is the swiftest path. For the employer, it is convenient; there is no need to consider long-term employment or worry about the individual’s future livelihood.
Of course, some do transition out of being adventurers, but those who possess such specialized skills usually enter those professions from the start. The vast majority of adventurers are here simply because they couldn't make ends meet otherwise.
But, putting that aside.
"I will take your silence as understanding. These inns are—well, calling them 'bottom-tier' would be rude to the adventurers, so let's call them 'budget-friendly, quality inns.' They offer little more than a place to sleep with a bit of personal space—barely better than a communal sleeping hall—but since they are provided by Weed, they are actually quite popular."
They were originally prepared to accommodate adventurers exploring the dungeon, after all. Though now, many adventurers passing through on their travels use them as a stopover.
"Well, that’s enough explanation for now. Let’s start walking around."
As the wives always say, the foundation of any investigation is legwork. If we are to look into adventurer-related trouble, we might as well become adventurers ourselves. It is what one might call an undercover investigation.