I Opened an Inn Next to a Dragon’s Lair - Chapter 173



Only Noblemtl

Episode 173

What comes to mind first when you think of summer?

There are many to choose from, but the first thing that comes to Eugene’s mind is summer vacation.

Summer vacation!

It’s the height of the hottest season. At times like this, wouldn’t it be best to take a break from everyday life and rest for a few days?

With that in mind, Eugene mentioned the vacation to his employees.

“Did you know you can use your paid vacation?”

“Huh? Paid vacation?”

“Yeah. I said it in the previous job posting.”

“Eh. Was there something like that?”

“If you’re not sure, check the documents I gave you at the beginning. It’s written there.”

The staff’s response was lukewarm at first.

Most of the employees didn’t know even though we clearly told them from the beginning.

That’s understandable, since the concept of annual paid vacation doesn’t exist on the continent of Karnis.

Vacation? Where is that? There is no such thing in this world. If a store employee has a problem, he or she can ask the manager to take a few days off, but there is no official system.

No, aside from that, the concept of welfare itself didn’t exist in the first place. So, you can’t help but not know.

But, that was only until now.

“Eugene! So if this is true, we don’t go to work and go out to play, so we get paid?”

“yes.”

“wow!”

The lukewarm reaction soon turned into an explosive reaction.

“Then we’ll take a few days off! Is that okay?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Yay!”

“Oh, but you can’t just rest all of them.”

“why?”

“There has to be a minimum number of staff to work at the inn.”

“Aha. I see. Then it would be okay if we take turns resting, right?”

“That’s it.”

Thus, a vacation fever swept through the staff at Eugene’s Inn.

The employees’ expressions were more excited than usual.

During every break, employees gathered in small groups to discuss how they would spend their vacation.

“What are you going to do to relax?”

“Well, I don’t know yet because I haven’t thought about it yet. What about you?”

“Me too. I don’t know what to do.”

“Should I just not go on vacation and work?”

“Should I? I have nothing to do?”

Eugene’s heart was filled with frustration as he watched the employees’ conversation.

That’s understandable, since most people had no idea how to spend their vacation.

Oh my god. What the hell is this? Even if I try to feed it to you, you can’t even eat it!

It was truly a pity.

It was obvious why.

It might be because I’ve never really enjoyed a vacation.

‘They say that those who have played before are good at playing… ‘

Eugene was so frustrated that he stepped forward.

“How about taking a trip while you’re at it?”

“A trip?”

“Yeah. I’m sure there are places you’ve always wanted to go.”

“Hmm. Well? What are some places you’ve wanted to go?”

“No, you shouldn’t ask me that. That’s the place you wanted to go.”

“Is that so… … ?”

“… … .”

I have no words.

‘What kind of answer is that?’

Why do you ask others where you want to go?

This is truly an incredibly stupid answer.

But Eugene didn’t give up.

You could send them on vacation and ignore where they rest or not, but wouldn’t that be too affectionate?

But we’re still family. We’re also neighbors.

“Now, think about it carefully. There must be something you’ve always wanted to go to, right? For example, wanting to see the ocean, wanting to go out into the human world, things like that.”

“Hmm. If that’s the case, I can think of something.”

“What is it?”

“The Bellet Plateau! I heard from my grandfather before that the scenery there is so beautiful!”

“Yeah. Then it might be a good idea to go there while you’re at it. The Belet Plateau isn’t that far away.”

“Okay! I’ll go there then! Hehe. It’ll be fun. Any elves who want to go with me?”

Let’s solve one first.

But everyone’s tastes are different.

We had to provide consulting tailored to each person’s taste.

“Eugene, I don’t really want to go on long trips. I get tired of walking back and forth. Then what would be good for me to do?”

“Hmm. Then maybe it would be okay to go on a trip to a nearby place. For example, a valley?”

“Valley? Oh! That’s nice, isn’t it?”

Some employees chose to take a trip to the valley.

“I haven’t slept in a while, so I’m so tired. I don’t think I’ll be able to go on a long trip or a short trip. What would be good?”

“If that’s the case, then there’s no need to go out. Just stay home and get some rest. You don’t have to go out somewhere to be on vacation. Just staying home and getting some rest is also a vacation.”

“Oh! I see! What Eugene said is very true! Then I should just stay home and sleep!”

Some employees chose to stay home and rest.

Eugene gave advice to each and every one of them.

I had a strong feeling that I had become a nanny.

No, why would you ask your boss where you should go on vacation?

I’m not even a kid.

But, my heart is still happy.

Whatever it is, as long as the result is good and I feel good, isn’t it okay?

* * *

Carnius, who came to Eugene’s inn like any other day, tilted his head at the unusually quiet inn.

“What’s going on?”

“why?”

“Where have all your employees gone?”

“Oh, I went on vacation. Summer vacation.”

“What is a vacation?”

“What is a vacation? It’s just resting. It’s hot in the summer and you get tired from working. That’s why I sent you to rest for a few days and come back.”

“Ah, it’s like hibernation.”

Eugene was puzzled. Why hibernation?

“Our dragons also sleep when they are tired. When they enter hibernation, they sleep for at least a year. I guess vacation is a similar concept.”

“Well, it’s a similar concept.”

It didn’t seem that similar, but I said it was roughly like that. Either way, I think the meaning was understood.

“This body finished hibernation before the Sungryong ceremony. So this body will not be hibernating for the time being.”

“Really? That’s good.”

“Eugene, when is your hibernation period?”

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“why?”

“Why? Humans don’t have anything like hibernation.”

What hibernation? Are you hibernating now?

‘It’s not a bear.’

But Carnius’ eyes widened in shock.

“There is no hibernation? How can that be? All living things get tired when they are active. It is only natural for them to hibernate to recover from their exhaustion. Why don’t they do that?”

“No. And there are a lot more animals that don’t hibernate than those that do.”

“That, that can’t be.”

Carnius stared blankly for a moment, his face filled with shock, before looking at Eugene with pity in his eyes.

“Humans are a much more pitiful species than I thought.”

chuck!

Carnius put a hand on Eugene’s shoulder.

And then he knocked.

As if to comfort me.

And the pitiful eyes grew darker.

“I didn’t know that you guys were living such hard lives. You were a species that didn’t even hibernate and lived a hard life… … .”

“No, what are you thinking? That’s not it… … .”

“There’s no need to beat around the bush. I understand. It must have been hard for you.”

Eugene started to say something but soon shrugged his shoulders.

‘Oh, I don’t know.’

Think whatever you want.

Either way.

* * *

Carnius looked back on the past.

How have we learned and perceived the human race over the past 100 years?

Humans are a trivial race. They are a race that is as numerous as flies or mosquitoes and are just a nuisance. They are so weak that even if you just blow a little breath, they will fly away and hit something and die. That is the race called humans.

That perception was still the same even at the age of 101. I had a human friend named Eugene, but that was it, and humans were still a trivial and weak race, nothing more, nothing less.

However, there was one difference from before.

‘Humans are a pitiful species.’

That is to say, humans are a much more pitiful species than we think.

I found out this time.

Humans are an unfortunate species that cannot live long and are extremely frail, and on top of that, they do not even have a hibernation period, so they cannot replenish their tired bodies and live a difficult life.

‘Tsk tsk. How could that be?’

There is a completely different feeling between a race that is just insignificant and a race that is insignificant but pitiful.

While the former doesn’t evoke any feelings, let alone interest or hostility, the latter adds an element of sympathy.

Since ancient times, sympathy has tended to make the heart murky.

A single ray of sympathy blossomed in Carnius’ heart, changing his evaluation of humanity.

From ‘Those guys who don’t care how many die, it’s none of my business’ to ‘Those guys I feel bad for, so I want to help them a little.’

In fact, it is the same whether it is the former or the latter, but this was a huge change.

The dragon that used to look at humans like insects now feels sorry for them?

If this isn’t a big change, then what is?

Eugene felt the change on his skin.

“This time, this body has something it wants to do.”

“What do you want to do? What is it?”

“I think I’ll go on a trip to the human world.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“Just. I guess I just wanted to know a little more about humans.”

Of course, Eugene doesn’t know what kind of changes in Carnius’s mind were going through. How could he know that without even using mind reading?

I just feel it vaguely.

Ah, this guy seems to have had some kind of change of heart. I can only guess.

If not, then why on earth did you suddenly say you were leaving Yuhui?

For dragons, play means mixing in with the human world and playing a kind of human role.

Normally, play is something that dragons who are curious about humans do, so it was not something that Carnius, who had no interest in humans at all, would do.

“But, what kind of fun are you going to have?”

“Hmm. I haven’t thought about it too deeply, but I think a wizard would be a good fit for this body. Something like a great wizard would probably look good. What do you think? Does it sound good?”

“It’s up to you whether you want to go on a date or not. If you like it, then do it. If not, then don’t do it.”

“Okay. It’s decided. Just wait. Archmage Karnius will now be kidnapped.”

“Hey, that won’t do. You should change your name. You should use a fake name when you leave.”

“Is that so? Then let’s just say something like ‘Kar’. Okay. From now on, the great wizard Kar will appear in the world. Hmm. Since we’re going on a trip, let’s change our appearance a bit.”

pop!

Carnius used a transformation spell, and his appearance changed.

If his original human form was that of a blond man with sad eyes, he has now changed to the appearance of a young man with black hair and somewhat slanted eyes.

“Then I will go play with this body.”

“Okay. Do your best.”

Carnius leaves the forest like that.

It was the first step of the great wizard Kar, a man who would be remembered for a long time in human history.