Chapter 4 - Moonlit Inn

It was either a really big coincidence or this is my novel, Heavensward? Hundred Lives? No way in hell would that be a coincidence.

"Brother Leo... Where are we going?"

"Just Leo, we're brothers talk casually."

Rio smiled, he also began to hesitate way less while talking, which was good.

"Where are we going?"

We were walking through the slums

"Out of the slums."

"What!? They won't let us... we're dirty..."

"We bathed, didn't we?"

Of course, while walking I was looking around to see if those 3 men from yesterday were around, luckily it seemed we were in the clear.

Heading through an alleyway we reached the main street; it was noticeably richer than where we were. The streets were clean and there were a lot of people. There were some people who looked at us with disgust, but I ignored them.

"Leo..."

"Ignore them."

It's not like we were dirty, our bodies were actually pretty clean, it was just our clothes. Our clothes looked very dirty, but what could we do?

Though I didn't describe the capital in too much detail, I did remember writing about the Moonlit Inn. It was a popular inn that even nobles sometimes visited.

"Follow me closely."

"Okay..."

Entering the populated inn, there were many people drinking and just having a blast. Rio and I went to the counter and the worker greeted us paying no mind to our dirty clothes.

"What can I get you two today?"

"Is the owner busy?"

"Huh?"

"Jennette Cloudsly, I've got a way for her to make some money."

"Um... One second, Sirs."

The worker headed to the back

"Leo! What are you doing?"

"Making us some money."

"But how?"

"With music."

The worker came with the owner

"These are the kids?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Follow me."

She took Rio and I upstairs. Entering the room, she directed us to a seat in front of her desk.

"You know what happens when I dislike someone. Right?"

Rio was shaking, he was nervous. Even people in the slums knew of Jennette's personality, ruthless, rude, and would even kick a royal out. Of course, that's very exaggerated. She was a businesswoman.

"Of course, Ms. Cloudsly."

"Oh? I heard you called me out by name downstairs."

"If I didn't, would we have even been talking?"

"But now that we're making a deal, of course we should be respectful."

"Haha, I like your confidence."

"Now, what do you propose?"

"Ah, I don't like to brag, but I do have a pretty good singing voice, Miss."

"What?"

"In fact, I think my voice can even attract a demon."

"What are you trying to say?"

I remembered from my previous world that places would play music, and according to some study, a customer was more likely to stay and buy more if there was music. I didn't actually know how this worked, though I thought a businesswoman would.

"Don't you think some music would help?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say there are 2 apple stalls right across from each other."

"Right?"

"One of these stalls had a nice song to go along with buying an apple, while the other would have silence."

"Which of these stalls would you think have a repeat customer?"

Now I didn't know if this would actually work, to be honest, I was pulling that analogy out my ass. If it didn't work though, we might be fucked.

Jennette closed her eyes, while Rio whispered into my ear

"Leo, are you sure this is going to work?"

"I have no fucking idea."

We were sitting in silence for a minute or two before Jennette opened her eyes.

"Are you saying you could be that singer?"

It seemed like she put something together in her mind, and I dodged a bullet. Cause I had no idea whether this would work or not.

"I'd like to think I'm quite good at it."

"Sing me a song."

I smiled

"Okay."

"I used to be scared just to be myself

Right until I fucking caved and just changed myself

Twitching on the floor, I don't need no help

I need to dump my thoughts on someone else"

I sang another song from my world. I couldn't help it; I didn't know any songs from here.

"What do you want?"

"What?"

"What were you looking to gain from this deal."

"A place to stay, and some money."

"You got it. We have a deal."

Rio looked at me immediately and jumped from excitement

"Leo! You did it!"

"You should be saying "We did it" idiot."

Though I said that I couldn't help but smile as well.

We worked out the details for a while but ultimately, we came to a conclusion.

---

She took us to a double room and told us to get some rest for a little.

I immediately laid on the bed

"Ahh, this feels great."

"You should lay down too."

Rio came and laid next to me.

"...On the other bed, dummy."

"Oh! Sorry."

He got up and laid on the other bed.

We were able to chill for an hour or so before Jennette entered our room.

"Here."

She threw some clothes at both of us.

"Get dressed, it's time to work."

"Yes, Boss."

While I was singing to the patrons, Rio would be working there as well. He'd be cleaning tables, bringing out orders, and doing as needed.

All I needed to do was sing, sometimes it'd be inside, and sometimes it'd be outside. Rio and I would be making 2 silver a week each, which was about the average salary for inn workers. Though, I could keep any tips I received.

Obviously because I wrote my novel in a stereotypical way 100 silver would be 1 gold, and 100 copper was 1 silver.

We finished getting dressed in the inn's uniform.

"Wow, it was hard to tell with what you were wearing before, but you're pretty good-looking, Rio."

"Thanks..."

"You too..."

"Huh?"

"You look handsome too."

"Ah, Thanks."

Did I really not write Rio in my novel? Maybe he had a different name, he had main character vibes.