LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 7: Alone in a room
The moment Zaroth entered, the sky was beginning to dim, signaling the approaching night.
"Better find a place to spend the night," he thought as he began walking through the city. The streets were bustling with all kinds of people—humans, elves, and even beastfolk could be seen from time to time.
After some time, he stopped in front of a nice-looking tavern. Considering how long it had been since he'd spent a night in comfort, he decided he wasn't going to spare any expense this time.
Upon entering, an old, muscular man with a gray beard greeted him.
"Kid, I won't give you any money," the man said, looking Zaroth up and down.
It wasn't surprising; his clothes resembled rags, fit for a homeless person, and his malnourished frame made him look like a child despite being an adult.
"I'm here to rent a room," Zaroth said, ignoring the insult.
"Rent? Do you have the money?" The old man's eyes filled with suspicion.
Without answering, Zaroth pulled a silver coin from his pocket and handed it to the man.
"The best room you have available. Oh, and keep the change."
*****
"Ah… This is the best!" Zaroth exclaimed as he lay on the massive, soft bed.
It might not be considered a luxury compared to the extravagant beds some royalty owned, but for Zaroth, it was pure bliss—something he hadn't felt in a long time.
…
'Well, I guess Luna's thighs are more comfortable…' he mused.
With that thought, he summoned Luna. The room shimmered slightly as her beautiful figure materialized from thin air.
"This is comfy!" she said, looking around the room, which was much larger than the humble hut Zaroth had previously lived in.
Luna quickly approached the door and locked it with the key already in the keyhole. Then, without hesitation, she immediately placed herself on Zaroth's lap, causing his face to flush.
"Zaroth…" she said with a mischievous grin. "It's night, and we're alone in a room. Do you know what this means?"
The sudden move startled Zaroth. Gulping, he asked, "No… what does it mean?"
Her smile widened.
"The perfect time to continue your physical training!"
Fifteen minutes later, Zaroth had managed a total of 60 squats and 30 push-ups. Unfortunately, there weren't any branches in the room like in the forest, so pull-ups were out of the question.
"I've gotten stronger," he said happily as he stood up.
"And you still have a long way to go," Luna replied, stepping out of the bathroom. While he had been suffering, she had been enjoying a hot shower!
Looking at her wet body wrapped in a thin towel, Zaroth felt his heartbeat quicken. Trying to hide his embarrassment, he stood up and approached her.
"Are you finally done? I want to take a shower too."
Once inside the bathroom, he realized there were no towels left.
"Oh, it seems since you rented the room alone, they only left one towel, so…" Luna said, cracking the door open and handing him a semi-wet towel.
"I guess you'll have to use mine."
With a sigh, he took it and had the most refreshing shower of his life.
All the blood, mud, and pain he had experienced over the past week were being washed from his body and swirling down the drain.
When he finished and exited the bathroom, he found Luna lying on the bed in her revealing outfit.
Her hair, still slightly wet from the hot shower she had taken earlier, coupled with her outfit, made her look like some kind of divinity descended to the mortal realm. Looking at her, Zaroth found it hard to control himself.
"Where's the black outfit that covered your entire body?" he asked, trying not to show his excitement.
Pointing at his clothes on the chair and the towel around his waist, she grinned.
"Since you're about to change, I thought I'd see how my current look affects you."
'I'm too tired for these stupid games,' Zaroth thought as he began changing, keeping eye contact with Luna the entire time.
'If you think I'll act embarrassed, you're wrong!'
Luna's confident expression faltered, replaced by bewilderment. Then, her face adopted a peculiar look as her eyes scanned his body. She bit her lower lip slightly, leaving Zaroth confused.
"So… this is what we're working with, huh?" she said slyly, glancing downward.
Ignoring her, Zaroth finished dressing and lay on the bed beside her, closing his eyes. Before she could tease him again, he said,
"Too tired to care. Just let me sleep."
Luna relented, letting him rest.
*****
The next morning, Zaroth went to a clothing shop and bought a good-looking suit that was on sale. It was black, with a white shirt and a red tie.
Now that he no longer looked homeless, he began searching for a carriage driver to take him to the capital.
"Sir, this is a long journey, so it'll cost two gold coins," the driver said.
Zaroth checked his savings and saw that he had three gold coins left. Without hesitation, he handed them over.
The driver's eyes lit up. "Pleasure doing business with you, sir!"
As the driver prepared to leave, Zaroth stopped him.
"Is there a problem, sir?" the driver asked.
"If you hear me talking or hear multiple voices from the back of the carriage, you haven't heard anything. Am I clear?"
"Yes! Of course, sir!"
Positioning himself comfortably in the carriage, Zaroth summoned Luna.
"Finally going to the capital?" she asked excitedly.
"Yes, finally. Although, I doubt one gold coin will be enough to join the academy, so I might have to steal some more money," he complained.
"There's no need for that anymore," she replied.
"Huh? Why's that?" Zaroth asked, raising an eyebrow.
"From what I know, you only pay if you lack the ability to use your class," she explained, pointing at his chest. "But you've already tamed a wolf, so you shouldn't need to pay for training."
With a sigh of relief, Zaroth stretched.
"That's good. Ah… I can finally relax."