Dungeon of Niflheim

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Kathy’s inn

Once the group passed the gate threshold and officially entered Furano, the guardsman gestured for a handshake as he introduced himself.

“My name’s Kato nice to meet the two of you.” Frost smiled and shook his hand before responding.

“I’m Frost and this is my companion, Maya.” Maya smiled as she was mentioned although she was hoping for a more personal introduction instead of ‘companion’ but these things take time.

“It’s good to meet you Frost, Maya. What brings you to Furano?” The group started to walk, with Kato leading.

“A little sightseeing along with some business. We plan to register as adventurers here as well as enjoy the local specialties.”

“Hoh, it’s a good thing then that I was going on a break.” Kato had guessed when Frost used magic that he was either an adventurer or planning to become one. Most magic users, well most young people in fact wish to become adventurers at some point in their life. This was even more so for the people of the Northrend empire. Most of their diet is meat, monster meat, thus the food markets in the Northrend empire rely heavily on adventurers and hunters. Unlike in other countries where it’s seen as daredevil or barbaric work, in Northrend and especially Furano it’s a highly respected profession. Even their current lord and his son are adventurers.

“I guess then you’ll be needing a place to stay?”

.....

“For several nights yes.”

“That’s great, the inn I talked about is a great choice. It’s a little pricey but it’s well worth it, the food’s great and the beds have pretty good mattresses, the owner’s very friendly as well.” Kato spoke very highly of the inn, hoping to rope in Frost and Maya.

“You seem to know a lot about it.” Frost would be an idiot if he didn’t pick up on Kato’s hints.

“Ahahah... not to hide from you but I have a connection with the place. It’s run by my sister-in-law, so I am a bit biased but thanks to that I could probably get you a discount.” Kato awkwardly laughed.

“No need to feel guilty it’s only natural to praise your family, if it’s even half as good as you say it is then we’ll gladly stay there.” Frost patted Kato’s shoulder with a smile, he had no reason not to stay there especially given that thanks to Kato they’d receive a discount. Plus, if it’s an inn recommended by a gate guard it must be of sufficient quality, he didn’t want to stay somewhere shabby.

The group of three walked through the streets of Furano with Kato explaining certain areas of the town that they passed along with a few recommendations on the best food stalls.

‘Looks like Leo and Luna will be out of a promise.’ Frost remembered that Leo and Luna promised to show him around and tell him about the town’s best features, but Kato beat them to the punch.

Eventually they came across a massive three story building with a grand entrance.

“This is the adventurer’s guild; you can register here and then accept requests depending on your rank, but I’ll let the guild receptionist tell you all about that.” Kato then led them for another 300 metres to another building with the sign above saying, ‘Kathy’s inn’.

“This is the inn run by my sister-in-law, it’s called ‘Kathy’s inn’ after her. She started it up with her parents’ help around 10 years ago.” Happy chatter could be heard from behind the heavy doors.

“Seems popular.”

“Don’t mind the noise, most people here now only come for the food since it’s lunch time.” Kato then pushed open the doors and led them inside.

Popular was an understatement, nearly every single seat was taken up, Frost could see 4 waitresses dashing between tables and the kitchen without stopping.

The groups varied from old to young but each and every one had smiles on their faces as they chatted and devoured their meals. The smell coming from the kitchen was tantalising, even Maya was licking her lips as she saw a whole roast pig being carried out.

“Sis I brought you some customers!” Kato shouted with extreme volume causing Frost to blink in surprise but everyone else only gave a quick look before returning to normal.

‘Well, if he didn’t shout that loud, she wouldn’t hear.’

In response to Kato’s shout a pretty middle aged woman came out from the kitchen. She was tall and strong looking, with short brown hair and a few freckles.

“Kato you little brat, I’m busy enough without having to deal with you yelling across the room.” Kathy quickly walked over and rapped her knuckles against Kato’s head.

“Owwowwowo that hurts sis.” Everyone in the room simply laughed at the sight as if it happened on a regular basis. Once she was done punishing Kato she turned towards Frost and Maya with a perfect business smile.

“Apologies for the noise, are you the ones Kato was talking about?” Her eyebrows couldn’t help but shoot up when she saw Maya’s beauty, but she maintained her smile. She’d encountered a few incredibly beautiful elves and she was also considered quite a catch, so she was able to maintain the air of a professional.

“Uhh yes, he recommended your inn for us to stay in while we’re here in Furano.”

“Visitor I see, here on a honeymoon?”

“N...n...no just visiting.” Maya blushed when Kathy said honeymoon whereas Frost stuttered.

“Hmmmm ok then if that’s what you say.” She wasn’t entirely convinced, Frost and Maya were too close for there to be nothing going on.

“We do have rooms available; would you like to book in now?”

“Ah yes, if we could have one room with twin beds, please.” Frost struggled to look Kathy in the eye as he spoke to her.

“Would you like meals with that, we offer breakfast and dinner, lunch you’ll have to get yourselves or pay for separately, but we do provide bentos for an extra charge.”

“With meals would be great.” He couldn’t help but feel attracted to the meals constantly coming out of the kitchen.

“Ok that’d be 4 silvers with meals but since you’re coming with Kato, I’ll knock it down to 3 silvers per night.” Kathy immediately knocked off 25% since they came with Kato. 3 slivers seemed pretty good, so Frost responded right away.

“4 nights would be perfect.” Frost pulled out his coin purse and gave 12 slivers. Kathy took the coins with a smile.

“Great, welcome to Kathy’s inn, I hope you enjoy your stay with us.... Sorry I didn’t get your names.”

“I’m Frost and this is Maya.”

“Nice to meet you both, I can show you to your rooms now if you’d like or would you like to order some lunch.” As if on cue Frost’s stomach rumbled, causing Kathy to giggle.

“I guess you’d like some lunch first.”

“Yes please.” Frost answered slightly embarrassed.

“If you find an empty seat a waitress will come along shortly with the menu, once you’re done just speak to one of the waitresses and she’ll find me, and I’ll show you to your room.”

“Thank you, Kathy.”

“Thank you Kathy.” Frost and Maya both thanked her before she headed back into the kitchen, not forgetting to give Kato another rap on the head as she passed.

After mumbling a few complaints under his breath as his sister in law walked away, Kato turned back to face Frost and Maya.

“I guess my work here is done, I hope you enjoy your visit.”

“Thanks Kato, you’ve been a real help.”

“No problem, my pleasure.” Kato laughed before waving goodbye and heading out.

“Guess we should find a seat.” Frost said to Maya as his gaze covered the room looking for an empty table. Luckily there was one in the corner, just big enough to seat the two of them.

Once they sat down a young waitress came over with some menus.

“Welcome to Kathy’s inn, here are the menus, would you like anything to drink first of all?” The waitress asked politely but Frost could see her focusing on certain parts of Maya before comparing them to her own and lightly sighing.

“What alcohol do you have?” Maya smiled and thrust her chest out in triumph, proud of her assets.

“Sorry miss we don’t sell alcohol until the evening.” The waitress averted her eyes from Maya, realising she was caught.

“Eh!!!!!” Maya stood up abruptly causing her chest to bounce, drawing the attention of some of the men in the room.

“Sorry miss.” The waitress apologised but internally scoffed at Maya.

‘It’s not even noon and you’re already wanting to drink...wait is that how they’re so big?’ The waitress looked over Maya with curiosity.

Seeing as they were drawing attention to themselves, Frost placed his hand on Maya’s shoulder and forced her back down into her seat.

“What do you recommend miss?”

“.... Milk,” the waitress slightly out of sorts responded back without thinking.

“Milk?”

“Ah sorry no, I recommend ordering a fruit juice. Furano is famed for its acai berry and winterberry juice so I recommend one of them. they’re 8 coppers a cup.” Slightly blushing the waitress managed to regain her faculties before she said something she regretted.

“I’ll take a cup of winterberry and Maya?” Frost looked over in her direction. She was still a little upset about the lack of alcohol but...

“I’ll have the same please.” She answered back with slight enthusiasm.

“Ok, I’ll bring them to you shortly, please look over the menu while you wait.” The waitress quickly escaped back into the kitchen, patting her chest as she walked. She wasn’t exactly flat, about a B-cup but compared to her colleagues and certainly Maya, there was nothing to brag about.

“You’re a bit of an alcoholic, aren’t you?” Frost asked as he perused the menu.

“I prefer the term connoisseur.” Maya retorted with a sly look.

The menu in front of them was quite substantial for an inn, it’d put most restaurants to shame in fact. They had main meals, starters, drinks and even deserts.

‘No wonder this place is so popular.’ The prices also reached from cheap to quite expensive, catering to all demographics.

A bowl a vegetable soup and hard bread was 15 coppers whereas you could get frost wolf ribs for 1 silver and fifty coppers. Frost looked for that whole roast pig that he saw come out of the kitchen earlier, the two of them could share that.

‘1 silver, not bad.’ He turned around to Maya to see if she wanted to share. But before he could she had already spoken.

“I want the roast pig.”

“To share?” Although he knew that Maya was a fenrir, given her current small frame, being able to eat an entire pig to herself would certainly stand out.

“What do you think?” She looked back at him as if he was an idiot.

‘I’ll take that as a no then.’ With Maya’s meal set he looked for himself.

‘Artic boar burger with chips that sounds good, 40 coppers too.’ The moment he decided, the waitress returned with their drinks.

They came in glazed wooden cups, about a pint in size, most likely made from the trees in the Northrend forest. The liquid looked dark purple in colour and gave off a strong berry scent.

“Here’s your two winterberry juices.” She placed them gently on the table.

“Have you decided what you want to eat yet or do you need a few more minutes?” She brought out a paper pad to write on.

.....

“We’ve decided...”

“I want the roast pig!” Before Frost could finish speaking Maya rudely announced her order. He could only sigh and shake his head in annoyance.

‘What are you a five-year-old kid.’ The waitress was momentarily stunned as the roast pig is usually ordered by a group or large rugged adventurers but a simple once over cleared her of any doubt.

“And you sir?”

“I’ll have a winter boar burger with chips please.”

“Is that everything?”

“Yes, thank you.” The waitress then took back the menus and walked into the kitchen to relay the order.

‘I need to eat more.’ Her thoughts were consumed with how to increase her chest size, she made up her mind. If Maya finished the entire pig herself then she’d stop dieting and aim to increase her food intake.

Frost and Maya however were oblivious to the waitress’s feelings and simply sipped on their juice as they discussed their plans for the day. After their meal they planned to check into their room before heading off towards the adventurers guild. They’d visit the lord’s mansion tomorrow or the day after.