QUAGMIRE Inn & Diner

[Thank you soo much!!!!!] (??) 

[Eh?!] As soon as we arrived in front of the place Nene told me they live in, a beautiful lady, as well as a man that stood beside her, bowed their heads at me.

[Erm....they are?]

[Mom, Dad, you're troubling him by bowing your heads] (Nene) 

[Ah...sorry. I was just happy, rather thankful. Once again I thank you for saving my daughters from harm] (??) The lady this time stopped bowing her head and just looked at me thankfully as she shakes my hand. 

Phew. I thought of what it was, turns out it was because they were the girls' parents. 

[You're welcome, it was only by coincidence but if you mean it, I'll take the thanks] 

[Now then let us stop the heavy atmosphere! I am hungry!] (Nene) She said before going inside. 

The man and woman then gave me an apologetic smile...I guess she was impatience because she missed home food.

[Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Marie, their mother and the owner of this inn. Nice to meet you] (Marie) Areh? What a bright smile nee.....it's blinding....too blinding?!

[I'm her husband and their father. My name is Matthew, nice to meet you, lad!] (Matthew) Their father slapped my shoulder strongly....strongly. A bright smile arched on his face, but it was somehow covered by the almighty lumberjack beard he has on his face. However I knew the expression clearly because I have a lot of people I knew who have exquisite beards like him.

[I am Jack Coo.....Just Jack] Right, I was glad I stopped saying my family name. I asked Nene beforehand regarding names, it was the same here for nobles are the only ones bearing a family name. Of course, bearings aside, I look like an awful person with my outfit. 

Rags, if I may call them, were the only ones covering my body because of how dirty it has become, of course, the ones I am wearing right now are still decent. The clothes I got after reincarnating into my younger self were just a plain white t-shirt and cargo pants and then a pair of outdoor shoes with socks. It was by sheer luck that the bastards have some decent clothes that match the fashion sense of this world.

[You seem uncanny in your outfit, the bath is ready, would you like to take it before dinner?] (Mary)

[Eh?! It's fine?]

[Yep yep~It's on the house today] (Mary) The inn mistress smiled as she pushed me inside to the busy dining area of the inn, followed of course by the bear of a husband she has.

...

..

.

Areh? 

The piercing cold wind penetrates the gap in the window of the Inn where I am staying. 

[Oh? It's morning already] I sat upright on the bed and looked at the window...light was penetrating the blinds that I dropped down last night. 

*Knock Knock Knock!*

[Hngh?!] The knocks were strong?!

[Jack!!!!~~~ It's morning already, are you awake?] (Nene) The resident/ daughter of the inn owner went ahead to wake me up. 

[Yes yes, I am changing so...] Ah, it was Rikka. That was surprising.

[Okay, then please come down after. Breakfast is ready, be fast or else you won't be having it] (Rikka)

I opened my INVENTORY and searched the clothes that I put in the folder labeled "decent".

[A gray shirt, shorts, and sandals] Not bad, they looked fine too. 

I then opened the door of the room just in case, but all I saw was a basin filled with warm water and a towel. A note was left too.

"PLEASE USE THIS TO CLEAN YOUR BODY, THE BATH HOUSE IS CURRENTLY FULL" 

[Hooeh?] Well I have indeed sweat a lot, especially since the climate of this place seems to be somehow just between Canada and Florida, hot and cold. Mornings are usually cold, just like here where the cold wind pierces to the bone.

[Haaaah...clean and warm wet towels are the best] Before changing into new sets of clothes and underwear, I first did the bed some work so that by the time someone comes here to deal with it, the burden would be less. 

[Oho? These are...] It seems that the short has these belt guides, so they should also fit the belt I was wearing yesterday. 

Cotton was what the fabric was made of. Cool, a bit flexible, and it was comfortable to wear. Just like the old days...

I wonder, I looked so young right now, but I wished my memories were reset. I have a lot I wanted to forget after all.

Ehem, enough of that Jack. This is another world, this is your 2nd life, and nobody is going to stop you from doing the things you haven't done before. 

[Jaaaaaack~!] (Rikka) 

[I am going down okay!] Hearing her call, I immediately wore the clothes I laid on the bed and got out to eat.

It was the 1st day of the week, and numerous daily clients stormed the dining area with glee...why? Well...

[Order for eggs and sausage coming right uppppp!!!] (Alurra)

[Uwah!? So many customers!] (Tanya) 

[Now now Tanya, they're just elated to see all of you fine and have returned home] (Marie) Miss Marie quipped as she handed her the tray filled with a customer's order on the cart. 

A 2 story inn within the city of Miruzo seems to have more clients in their diner than usual. The noisy office workers of the guild took their usual breakfast with smiles on their plates, and the rowdy adventurers tired from their early quests eased up as they saw the maidens and the flower girl of the Quagmire Inn ikka their usual orders.

The youngest, Tanya, is serving the customers their beverages. Alurra arranged the chairs and tables as Emma cleaned the ones that were used. Nene noted down multiple orders on her tickler notepad with a pencil.

[Here's your order of two boar stew and bread, ale is here too~] (Nene) 

[Hohohoho, the food smells great, right?] (??)

[Exactly! That is why I eat here] (??)

[One order for coffee please!] (??)

[Coming right up!] (Nene)

Rikka on the other hand is the one responsible for cleaning the rooms upstairs, hence she was not at the scene.

In short, these girls were the reason why the inn was flourishing. The smiles they gave to their customers as well as the happy atmosphere around them give it all, Quagmire inn was a business magnet for people with tired minds.

I can't help but smile at the happy atmosphere of this diner/inn as the voices of happy clients drown the noise outside the place.

Now that I have thought of it, they really are good people. They always persisted even though they were struck badly by the sudden disappearance of the girls, I guess they did not lose hope. 

Why am I having a monologue again? Ah! Breakfast!

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Quagmire Inn. It is a fairly popular inn and diner situated near the entrance gate in the eastern part of the city. Why? The adventurer's guild is situated at the very front of it. 

[Wow...so that was why it was quite busy yesterday] Come to think of it, a lot of the people who were in the crowd had weapons hanging at the waists. From swords to daggers to guns and crossbows. I guess the weapon variety here is many, as expected of another world. (Guns as in flintlock and muskets)

Also, the grilled sausage and eggs paired together are delicious, ahhh...coffee too, what a feast!

[Hey now! Just eat slowly...why are you crying?!] (Nene)

[Ugh...good food...the last time I ate decent food was eons ago] I can't help but bawl my eyes, as far as I have remembered, it's either canned food or instant noodles. But most of all...I missed eating good food with other people.

I can't help but to eat while crying, I also cried last night during dinner....the food here is just too good....

[Were you that poor to eat improperly?] (Rikka) I am currently having breakfast together with them, not in the diner, but in the kitchen where the rest ate as well.

[Huh? No, it was just that I had no time to cook decent food for myself, so I just basically ate whatever was on hand]

[That is no good young man, growing men like you need to eat more!] (Matthew) Gahak! His shoulder slap hurts.

So he was the reason why there was a certain amount served on my plate, milk and coffee too were served alongside the platter.

[My my~ Just eat slowly, you might choke] (Marie) The inn mistress gave a motherly smile, almost blinding me....it was so bright.

These people...are good people.

[Then let me eat more! Please!] I shamelessly displayed my liking for food and pushed the emptied plate with an embarrassed face.

[Ara~?] (Marie) The food is delicious, I fear that I might get fatter by the time I notice it.

Their family is really closely tied, and it makes me want to protect their smiles...something compels me to stick in and get along with them, after all, I also longed for my parents who were already left behind in the past world I was in. 

[You okay?] (Tanya) 

[Hmmm?] Sensing my melancholic expression, Tanya suddenly asked me.

[Yes, I am] Phew, this family, really resembled them....I miss them already. 

I ate 3 more servings for breakfast, it was shameless, but I can't help but to be one when faced with kindess. I mean, who can't accept another serving when it is being offered with the brightest smile possible?

[Phew~ Thanks for the delicious food] Saying my grace after the meal, I helped with the clean up. The kitchen is quite wide, considering how they cook a variety of food. Miss Marie move around here and there to facilitate the cooking process, by herself, that is.

When I think of it, she is amazing in more ways than another. I mean she is cooking stew right now in one of the magic stove, but she's also baking bread in the oven next to her while also chopping onions to be added for the stir fry vegetables.

[Is something wrong?] (Marie)

[Ah, no. Nothing] She asked with concern as I spaced out while watching her.

Sir Matthew, who was not at the kitchen is the one facilitating the reception for the inn which is situated right after you enter the entrance to the inn and diner. 

The girls, their daughter, are the ones serving the food while taking orders from their numerous clients which are mostly adventurers. 

I should also help, but what do I do? I feel shameful enough just by staying here freely, moreover food is free too....but I feel compelled to do something too. I feel restless not doing anything.

[So that is why you're asking me what you should do to help?] (Matthew) I asked someone I feel comfortable to talk around, and that was Sir Matthew.

[Yes, it is that feeling that I should do something, otherwise this feeling of being shameless will consume me] 

[Hohoho, in the first place there is hardly anything for you to do. The girls are capable of doing almost everything as Marie and I trained them in case both of us retire of old age] (Matthew) Ah, so that was why.

Indeed, when one thinks of retirement especially when you own an Inn, it is to the daughter or son to handle it as the next heir in line. That is indeed understandable.

[Then what should I do then?] 

[Hmmm...since the girls seems like they already taught you a few common sense, I think the only thing you can do for now is to learn the ropes of what it feels like being an inn receptionist] (Matthew) 

That was how I started racking experience as an inn receptionist.