Section 4 "The First Customer"

Hmm. Here I thought I would step out and loosen my sword arm about a familiar mountain, only to find myself at a hot springs inn instead.

I must have crossed a certain boundary without realizing. But which bond called to me?

No doubt I will be unable to return should I cross this bridge, but then, it is not every day one has the chance to be spirited away.

Whichever way this turns...it should make for a good drinking story.

Fujimaru! Cheep cheep, you fixed up that guest room to make it usable!?

Chirp... Tamamo did tell me you would be doing some large-scale renovations, but I'm still surprised at how fast you work...

Oh no, no need to apologize, chirp. I'm just surprised at how fast you work.

My sparrows and I could never find the time to get to it, so I'm grateful!

？！

I guess I'll have to reconsider the way we do some things around here.

After all, the more rooms we have available, the more guests will show up.

Fou?

Pardon me. Am I correct in assuming this is a hot springs inn?

A guest! It looks like someone showed up already, Senpai!

Chirp chirp! Thank you for coming all this way, sir!

...

Is something wrong, sir? Actually, may I ask which god you might be?

...Hmm. I can tell from your face that you've seen a lot of bloodshed.

I have no intention of being judgmental, but it's also my job to keep all my other guests safe.

Honored traveler, this is a place of healing and hot springs. If you mean to purify yourself, chirp, I suggest you try another inn.

I assure you, madam, you have me wrong. I killed not a single person in life.

I am simply a humble mountain dweller who ended up as a Servant purely by mistake.

I have no intention of causing a disturbance, nor am I beset by would-be rivals seeking a challenge.

I merely happened upon this inn by chance...or perhaps by a stroke of karma.

At any rate, I am quite taken with this solitary atmosphere. Might you have a room available?

A Servant, chirp... Does that mean you're a Heroic Spirit familiar, like the ones Fujimaru mentioned?

Indeed I am. Hm? Madam, did you just say "Fujimaru"?

Kojirou! So you're the one who came here!

？！

I see. So it was not my bond to an inn that led me here, but my bond to a human.

You must tell me how this came to be another time. Madam, would you be so kind as to show me to my room?

I would rather my acquaintances not see me while I am exhausted. I must first rid myself of the grime accumulated on my journey. Hahaha.

Ch-chirp, I'll show you to your room then, chirp! Here, let me take your bag, chirp!

...There's something suspicious about that man. You say you know him?

Yes, we do. His name is Kojirou. And the fact that he knows us must mean he's the one from Chaldea.

I see... I can't put my feather on it, but there's something about him that irks me...

Wandering samurai like him or Ms. Musashi always smell like trouble.

...Huh?

？！

Sh-she's not here anymore, chirp chirp! She did stay here once, but I banned her for causing too much of a ruckus!

Though I suppose you could say she's still lingering around in one sense...

Anyway, pay it no mind, chirp. I'm willing to let that suspicious-looking samurai stay here.

I already promised Tamamo and the others that I wouldn't interfere with your work.

Besides, all the cleaning you've been doing has been a big help.

So go ahead and do whatever it is you need to do.

As long as you conduct yourselves properly, I'm sure Lord Enma won't mind.

This is great, Senpai. Now we have official approval to renovate the Enma-tei.

If we keep improving it at this rate, I'm sure we'll be able to gather enough gratitude in no time!

？！