I Opened an Inn Next to a Dragon’s Lair - Chapter 149



Only Noblemtl

Episode 149

Actually, I don’t know about Pello, but there were quite a few people who came to Eugene like Pello.

They were people who asked for help, saying that their stores were going under, and they were all people who had opened inns in the Delphi Forest.

It was a bit funny. How could it not be? It must not be pleasant to have stores with similar layout and interior to my store popping up one after another at the same time, but they came to me like this and asked for my help, telling me my secret?

Of course I feel bad… … .

No, Eugene surprisingly didn’t feel bad.

“Brother. Why are you laughing so hard? Is it time to laugh now?”

“That’s right. These people are looking down on Eugene. They need to be punished!”

“Chloe is right!”

The staff were furious, but Eugene felt better. The fact that he copied everything about his inn’s interior, building layout, menu composition, and even the furniture arrangement in the guest rooms means that he is doing well, right?

“There’s no need to get angry. I guess that’s possible.”

“No, that can’t be!”

“No. Okay, think about it carefully. Let’s say I just said something to them. They’d scold me, saying, ‘Why did you come here when you copied and sold something?’”

“yes yes.”

“You’re blocking them from doing business, and no, they’re already on the verge of ruin, so if you just leave them alone, they’ll either disappear on their own or barely be able to make ends meet. Will that solve this fundamental problem?”

“That’s right. Since the people who built the inn following Eugene are gone, then the guests will only come to our inn again.”

“No. It doesn’t work.”

“No? Why?”

The staff didn’t understand. Eugene continued his explanation after taking a sip of cold water.

“It’s simple. The upward route to Delphi Forest is currently popular in the outer human world. If you go through Delphi Forest, you can cut the upward travel time by half. You all know that, right?”

“Yes, I know. That’s why we have so many human guests.”

“Yes. I know that. If I continue on, the fact that there are many merchants passing by means that there is a lot of floating population. If you set up a lodging facility on that road, business is bound to be good. Do you think the people outside don’t know that?”

Places where people gather develop. Buildings are built, and eventually they develop into villages. It’s a very natural thing.

Even though a few guys ruined the inn business, it is obvious that there are still many people passing by. It is rather absurd to say that there is no one who covets it.

So, it’s easy to assume that the void left by the failure of the business and the departure of the forest will be filled by other humans.

Eugene explained the obvious fact to his employees.

“… … That’s how it is. Do you all understand now?”

“Hmm. Now that I hear it, that’s true.”

“I think what Eugene said is right.”

“Human greed is truly enormous. They would do as you, Eugene.”

Fortunately, all the staff members were convinced. Rather than understanding Eugene’s explanation 100%, their understanding was only half-hearted, stemming from their fundamental prejudice against the human race.

-Humans are inherently greedy, so that makes sense.

Well, I guess you could call it this kind of understanding?

But what does it matter if it’s only a half-understanding? As long as you understand the meaning correctly, that’s all that matters.

“Well, Eugene, I have a question.”

“Yeah. Tell me anything.”

“If humans keep coming, why don’t we just stop them from coming?”

“Huh? I see.”

“Just stop them from doing business!”

“We have the power to do that.”

“We have Eugene, our queen, and Carnius!”

“And we are stronger! Thanks to you, Eugene!”

“That’s right! I can use intermediate spirits too!”

The staff chirped and chirped like baby birds. Eugene smiled and shook his head.

“I know what you mean, but that’s not right.”

“why?”

“Then will the guests come? Rumors will spread that we’ve stopped doing business and our inn’s image will be completely ruined.”

“ah?”

To be exact, even if that were the case, guests would still come.

It’s a good money-making route, but there’s only one inn on the way? Why would you miss it?

You don’t come because the inn looks bad? You don’t want to make money? That’s because you don’t know much about merchants. Merchants are a group that will do anything for money.

So business will still be good. Monopoly is such a scary thing.

But the image may be blown away. The good and kind image we have now.

That was a fatal blow to Eugene, because the main purpose of business is not money.

The pure joy of expanding the store and the fun of communicating and breathing with customers. But for that, you create a bad image for customers?

‘No way, absolutely not.’

And what? Carnius?

“And Carnius is even worse. If it becomes known that the dragon is actively intervening, the ascending route through Delphi Forest will disappear altogether.”

That won’t work either.

‘Am I crazy? How did I create the image that Delphi Forest was safe?’

In fact, it is now known that there is a dragon called Carnius in the Delphi Forest.

That’s why some people are afraid.

But what if that dragon isn’t dangerous?

What if it’s a kind dragon that quietly passes by as long as you don’t touch it?

The story changes.

Although Carnius himself may not know it, his current image was exactly like that.

So that means it won’t work.

“aha.”

“I understand.”

Aside from that, I wasn’t angry in the first place.

It has to be something worth getting angry at, right? No expert would get angry at newbies who can’t even play the game in the first place.

Well, that’s it.

* * *

Eugene looked at the man in front of him. He was a merchant with a fierce face. It was Pelo.

Pello was glancing at Eugene with a helpless expression. His face was filled with guilt.

It made sense. He must have felt ashamed even if he thought about it.

“Honestly, I’m angry. Even if you were President Pello, I think you’d be angry, right?”

I’m not angry. It’s all an act.

“Yes? Yes, yes! Of course! I thought so! How could it not be so? Actually, I am sorry. What qualifications do I have to come here and ask for help? I deserve to be cursed at. Of course.”

“But I will forgive you, President Pello.”

“Yes, yes? Really?”

“yes.”

Fellow, who had been bowing his head, looked at Eugene with trembling eyes.

“Why, why do you forgive me?”

“Well, it’s not like it’s someone else’s business.”

“Me, other people’s business.”

“Yes. In fact, I have also failed in business once.”

That’s a lie. This is my first time doing business.

“That’s why the boss said that.”

That’s true. It’s just so sad.

The important thing about lies is to mix truth and falsehood appropriately. That way, they will be more likely to be accepted.

“That, that kind of thing.”

Fellow’s eyes trembled even more.

“There is such a thing as morality in this world, but how many people can there really be who cry to heaven without feeling ashamed? I used to be like that, and so did the boss. So I decided to forgive him. You could call it a case of sympathy for one another.”

“Hey, Mr. Eugene. Ugh!”

Fellow’s eyes became bloodshot. Soon, he began to shed tears.

He looks so evil, but he cries easily. Is he sensitive?

Rather, it might be because I’ve been so emotionally troubled recently.

“Thank you. Thank you so much! How can a punk like me be so kind… … Hehe!”

Fellow was very impressed. Who in the world could there be such a person?

“If you help me just this once, I will really live a good life! I will not have bad thoughts and will do business with integrity! Really!”

* * *

Eugene willingly agreed to help Pello.

Why did you decide to help? Just because you wanted to?

I wonder why it failed, and that’s it. It’s definitely not because it reminds me of the alley restaurant consulting program of a famous restaurant franchise representative I saw on Earth.

At first, I was just going to give advice, but I changed my mind and decided to go there and do a field survey and check the situation.

“This is my inn.”

Pello’s inn was not too far from Eugene’s. In terms of distance alone, it would take about 12 hours at the pace of an average adult male.

Of course, it was a long distance, but considering how vast the Delphi Forest was, it wasn’t really that far.

“Here, if you come in this way, you will see the empty lot of our inn. That is the main building of the inn.”

Eugene somehow managed to find his way to Pello’s inn. Pello began to guide Eugene around his business establishment.

“It’s quite spacious.”

“Yes, I was a bit greedy. I wanted to make a lot of money, so I expanded recklessly. Looking back now, I think it was a waste of time. Hehe. Okay! This way!”

He entered the inn. The familiar first-floor interior and the tinkling sound of the bell greeted Eugene.

The table layout, counter location, and even the kitchen location were very similar to Eugene’s inn.

The interior looks like a franchise store to anyone who sees it.

Perhaps because he was embarrassed, Pello couldn’t raise his head.

“I’m so embarrassed. Really… … .”

“It’s okay. I’m going to keep showing you things, so you won’t just bow your head, right? So, raise your head.”

Eugene quickly looked around the interior.

It was similar to his own business, but definitely different.

First of all, the biggest thing was the kitchen.

There were no expensive modern refrigerators, microwaves, gas stoves, spacious sinks or cool running water here.

Instead, there was only a kitchen facility that looked crude to Eugene.

But I couldn’t point that out.

Can’t you just order everyone to have a modern, earth-style kitchen?

Well, it’s still usable as is, so there’s nothing to point out.

Because everything that was there was there.

“How is it?”

“Not bad.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The kitchen is fine to this extent. However, you should pay more attention to cleanliness.”

“Honey, are you talking about cleanliness?”

“Yes, it is the most important. Cleanliness is the number one priority.”

“ancient!”

I kept looking.

The restaurant tables were neatly cleaned, and the floors were cleaned well. But I guess that’s the basic level.

However, the problem is the price.

“Food is too expensive.”

“Huh? Rain, it’s expensive?”

“Yes. It’s too expensive. The price should be lowered.”

“Ha, but, if I don’t do this, there’s nothing left… … .”

“Don’t lie. Are you planning to cheat your peers in the same industry?”

Fellow felt a pang. What Eugene said was true.

Honestly, there’s a lot left. It must be so expensive. It’s more than twice the price of the average restaurant in the city.

But it’s still a good business, because this is a forest.

Anyway, the guests will have to use it while crying. It is not possible to leave the inn and go camping, right?

“There are no staff here. There are no eyes to look at, so you can be honest. There’s a lot left, right?”

“yes…….”

“Cut the price down. Then it will be better than it is now.”

“All right…….”

Fellow’s face darkened. Eugene chuckled to himself as he looked at Fellow’s face.

It seemed like they really didn’t want to lower the price.

Well, that’s the human mind.

But what can I do? I have to get off if I don’t want to perish.

If you still don’t like it, then just perish.

“Okay, let’s go up to the second floor.”

“yes…….”

Eugene continued to check the situation. What on earth could have caused the number of customers to decrease?