It was a ghost silent Inn when the last of the soldiers left and the old man's commanding voice faded into the dark. This is when I rolled up my sleeves and began... Questioning where should I start?

It was dance floor of work; stools sleeping on the floor that made a great exercise course for the rodents that squeaked for the crumbs around. Puddles of purple drink foamed on the floor making the nocturnal mice drunk, the tables misplaced, some even overturned, and stained with whatever soup or broth that wasn't eaten. Not mention the wooden mugs, knives and bowls scattered here and there.

Any source of water wasn't in sight as I briefly forgot what era this world is in. Although, I remember a well somewhere out there near us, but it was too dark for my liking.

I never thought I would miss bright light bulbs, running water taps, and any cleaning amenities that would help me right now. Until now, I never knew how much a sturdy mop could mean to me.

That all aside, I stoked another wood in to the fire place, started with flipping up the stools and chairs. Simple enough and chased off the bigger hissing rodents that didn't scurried away from me. Taking a dirty cloth I found under the bar I began to wipe the uneven rough tables. Crumbs, scraps, and alcohol I swept and used an empty mug as a bin.

Once that was done I placed every stool on top of the tables, and went on to the final task. Collecting the wooden mugs, knives and bowls into a large wooden basin where I stowed it all into the back of the Inn.

Then a new problem arose when I was picking up the last mugs. Under the bar a barrel was cracked. A puddle of dark violet liquid was seeping out and was already making the cockroaches drunk.

All in day's work. All in a day's work. All in a day's work...

Breathing in and out, I put my spine to work and pulled it out. It almost drained me to just to move it out a few inch. Well, the barrel is clearly full and large, but surely I have my own powers. Heck, Allan lifted me in a ladder single handedly. Either way, I stopped my plan and instead just used an empty wooden mug to collect the the precious dripping drink.

“Haah! Service please... Haa! Ha!”

A familiar and exhausted voice called out as I heard the door open.

I popped my head up as to meet that recognizable voice.

“Ha! See... told you... he'd be the bar tender in just a day.”

Neil arms wide like he won a hundred dollar bet.

“Oh, thank god... she's asleep.”

Allan holding his groin. Which I thought weird since he didn't got the kick treatment.

“And at least there's still fire in here.”

Roland rubbed both of his hands.

Sweaty wet, dirt ridden, scratch ridden, and tattered clothing while holding a hefty sack on their back. Fun, was smeared all over their smiles that showed missing teeth. Their hair were ruffled with mud and pupils diluted as they wheezed out their breath.

“It's late, and I'm cleaning up.”

I said as they took the stools I tidied up and sat down while tossing their loot on the floor.

“Plus, should we ditch it?”

I lowered my tone.

“A bar closing before dawn?”

Wheezed and smirked Neil out loud not caring for the innkeeper sleeping.

“Are you new to this business?Nonsense. One of your finest please.”

He added resting his elbow on the bar.

“No. Seriously though, are we leaving?”

I pressed them further.

“That's bad business practice if you ask me, also hit me.”

Replied Allan.

“Just give us some drink and we'll talk. We're just parched.”

Said Roland chucking out a silver coin to the threshold. It was larger than an ordinary coin back home and was whole unlike the bent and halved silver the dopey mucus ridden soldier gave to me.

“I... Look, I Don't know the price,

plus I'm too young to serve alcohol to other under aged teens,”

If such law exists in this world.

“Plus, come on tell me if were leaving. This is our only chance.”

“Calm down, we're not leaving yet, I don't want to go out of the wilderness without what's going on.”

Spoke Roland crossing his arm.

“Serafina said we should wait until she has convened from the goddess for answers. Looks like gods in this world are proactive ones.”

Said Allan as he rested his head on the bar.

“Also, I don't want to go to a foreign country without knowing where we are, what country we're in, the political stuff and the social rules of this world.”

Neil then demanded his drink or was going to talk to the manager of the establishment for my poor performance.

With them giggling, I raised my hands up and rolled my eyes and gave him the wooden mug that I was using earlier as a catch basin from the broken barrel.

“You sound like Neil, but not the Neil who I know.”

I said as I took two more mugs and let them get filled up.

I know for one that Neil is tactical but whenever playing, RPG, Jrpg, MMO, or DnD he would always went to explore rather than inspect or plan something when going inside a dungeon. It always results in our uncountable death, but he was always somehow blessed by Rngjesus.

“Heh. I know. The young me would beat me and force me to leave this place by the morn’ Time will change you, you'll know it soon enough.”

He raised his mug and drank with heart.

“Ah... Strong and refreshing.”

“Serves up.”

I said as I filled two more mugs and gave it to Allan and Roland.

Roland immediately grabbed it while Neil rubbed Allan's back to wake him up.

“For not getting our sacks destroyed? ”

Yawned Allan as he raised his mug, rubbed the sleep away from his eyes, and smiled.

“Hahaha.”

I would toast to that.

“To hell with you. ”

Roland's mug hit Allan's.

“Next time you're facing that hag with your legs wide open. Ok?”

Same with Neil.

I shook my head as they chanted ‘For not getting our sack destroyed.’ and drank a mighty gulp.

“Either way, why are you still up at this time. It's nearly dawn you know.”

They inquired, I didn't know myself that it was that late, but I am sure I did this one time back home. Helping mom and the crew wash the grease traps, oven trays, cauldrons, and the such until 2 in the morning.

“But it's around like 2 or 3 a.m.”

Said Neil.

“Staying up all night is bad for you... Sonny. Hehe.”

Smiled Roland as he gave me the mug and asked for another.

“Well, I don't know my self, either way, what's your guys excuse?”

I already have my own vague guesses on why are they're all battered looking. Giving another shot to Roland I asked what were they doing on this late on this medieval world.

“Testing.”

Yawned Allan again as he gave me the mug a quarter pint still remaining. He didn't want more.

“Testing what?”

I asked.

“Abilities,”

Spoke out Neil.

“We tried to scale the wall earlier, and Allan here had the most back broken.”

Playing shadows to the men up on the battlements, stealing their coins only to return them, and scaring some kids who were awake and perching on their windows. Then, by utter sheer stupidity they decided to have a free for all fist fight. No one won.

“I expected Roland to choke the two of you.”

His hands are no joke, I am glad I am his friend.

“Not if he fights the two of us.”

Smiled Allan.

“Yep, like a bunch of cowards!”

In other words, having the time of their lives while having to see the world outside the wall.

“W-what's outside then?”

I neared my ear and attention to them.

Little I could do to quell the thumping heart of my wonder. Surely, having to scale walls with nothing but bare hands and exploring wilderness with nothing but you was something far richer and throbbing than... Working... On this menial kitchen work... I kinda betrayed myself when I said that.

“Well, it's just fields upon fields of crop land; Wheat, hops, barley, veggies, wooden walls and pastures. Nothing to see much yet.”

Said Neil as he patted my shoulder.

“Either way, don't get too excited, for now our course is clear. While we wait for answers as to why were reincarnated on this world we figure out how to deal with that cow.”

“Cow? You mean the innkeeper?”

I asked.

“Is that what we call the woman that obliterated your sacks now?”

Snickered Allan, whom Neil replied with a raising both his eyebrows and a raise of his mug before drinking.

“There's a limit on being cocky, Allan.”

Pointed Roland with a rumble under his tone.

“Welp, that's bedtime calling.”

Said Allan as he stood, yawned and stretched.

“What?”

Said me and Roland.

“Yep.”

Agreed Neil. Chugging his drink, he rested the empty mug and wiped his mouth before tapping Roland's back.

“Come on you old sod. I don't want to see Catherine suddenly showing up in this world because we got you legless again in a far away pub. And yes she's worst than my wife, worst than any demon lord perhaps.”

Explained Neil as he helped Roland off his chair.

“What do you meansh? I... Am... Nowt... Derruur.. -- Uumphh!”

“Take it outside!”

I quickly croaked out while simultaneously grabbing a mug to catch whatever was coming out. Thankfully, he held his stomach's innards in his mouth bloating his cheeks like a hamster filled with sunflower seeds. Only this time it held something that I don't want to deal with.

“Oh, and clean this this place up, we have a surprise for you tomorrow.”

Both of them waved as they drag Roland and their loot out of the Inn.

*****

The lights began to dwindle as I have finally finished cleaning. It was the innkeeper that kept from killing the candles and fire.

Lifting her up from her shoulder, I woke whatever semblance of consciousness that still lurked in there to get her feet to work.

“Ahaha. Elfien... Elfien...”

She hugged me and rubbed her cheek to mine while bombarding me with alcoholic stench. She was way, way, more heavier than my mother. Yet, just like my mother the innkeeper refused to let go of her drinking cup.

We did manage to reach the top and to her room soon after. Kicking open the door, and breaking a final lap to her bed.

The floors groans and creaks at the impact of us falling on her bed.

The bed was hard and the cushion was anemic of anything soft. The pillows were the second soft thing that caught my body when the innkeeper snatched me down and pressed me to the first soft thing.

I slipped out of her clutches and began tucking her in. Unbuttoning her shirt a bit, I brushed her hair up and somehow got the mug put of her hands. Using the blanket I wiped the sweat around her head, collar bone, and legs. After that, I spread the blanket to cover the innkeeper.

It was hot, and I was already using my clothes to wipe my sweaty brow. Navigating my way to the window I opened it ajar for some chill and refreshment.

This caused the some fraction of the moon's light to burst inside and reveal to me the history of the innkeeper.

Unlike the barren room she used to lock me up hers was filled with assortment of artifacts of shinning swords, gleaming shields, and glossy pearly earnings and other exotic shells and colorful feathers.

Some I recognize, some otherworldly. Small kite shaped glass like shields shimmer with brilliance near a full armor of black that made my heart jump a little until I saw on it's crusader like helmet was a straw hat with a fake sunflower on it.

There was a lot more items that the light couldn't spoil. I would open the window to let the moonlight show more, and tell me more. But I stop when I saw a flute of smooth and elegant design with blue rings on it's blow holes. Then, what caught my eye to most was besides the flute. It was modern familiar item. One that made me look twice and ask if it was real... And it was real when I picked it up and looked at it with trembling hands looking at it.

Why is it here!? I burned this one back home!

“Elfien... Please forgive me.”

Spoke out the crying innkeeper. Returning the item back to the table I closed the window and left the room with a bit of shudder in me as went down.

I returned down stairs to snuff out the few strong lanterns. The heart that was roaring was now a purr of flames when blew it out.