After hours of exploring the city that felt like a living painting from a medieval history book—with stone buildings, cobblestone streets, and residents wearing classic clothing—Kazuki and Hanah finally found something so contrasting that it made them stop in their tracks.
"Wow, is this a palace?" asked Hanah with a tone of amazement, her eyes wide open staring at the magnificent building before them.
"Isn't this city medieval? How can there be a place like this?"
Before them stood a building that looked very inconsistent with its surroundings.
Their previous journey was quite long. With a few gold coins created by Kazuki, they had managed to find a simple food stall at the edge of the town square.
The stall was small but crowded, run by a middle-aged woman with a friendly smile and her teenage daughter. They enjoyed a bowl of warm soup with meat and vegetables they didn't recognize, accompanied by still-warm bread and a glass of light fermented drink that had a refreshing sweet-sour taste.
After their stomachs were filled, they realized that the school uniforms they were wearing were too conspicuous. Luckily, they found a clothing store that was still open on the main street of the city. The store was filled with various types of clothing from simple to luxurious, depending on the social class of the wearer.
The shopping process took longer than they had anticipated. Hanah turned out to be quite meticulous in choosing clothes, trying on several dresses before finally finding one that suited her. Kazuki didn't buy any clothes for now and had to be patient waiting for Hanah to finish. When they exited the store, the sky was already dark.
Now, Kazuki and Hanah stood staring in amazement at the luxurious building before them. From the large glass windows, they could see the brightly lit interior with sparkling crystal lamps—lighting technology clearly not from the medieval era.
"This seems to be a hotel," murmured Kazuki after observing several people entering and exiting the building carrying suitcases or bags. "Let's try going in. I think this is a suitable place to rest tonight."
Hanah nodded in agreement, though still with a confused look. They stepped closer to the entrance made of thick glass with elegant carvings on its edges. Once they were about one meter from the door, something surprising happened.
The glass door slid open automatically, without needing to be pushed or pulled.
"Wow, there's even an automatic door!" exclaimed Hanah in surprise, reflexively stepping back in shock. Her eyes widened perfectly witnessing technology that shouldn't exist in a medieval world. "This is getting stranger, Kazuki."
Kazuki just nodded, his face remaining calm although there was a flash of interest in his eyes. "This world is more complex than we thought," he murmured softly before stepping in, followed by Hanah who was still fascinated.
The hotel's interior was even more amazing than they had imagined. A spacious lobby with white marble floors that gleamed like mirrors reflected light from the giant crystal chandelier on the high ceiling. Furniture in a classic yet modern style was scattered throughout the room—comfortable sofas in maroon with pillows in the same color.
Several people were passing through the lobby—some wearing luxurious clothes different from other city residents, others looking like hotel staff in neat uniforms.
They walked toward the reception desk at the end of the lobby—a long desk of dark polished wood with intricate carvings on its sides. Behind the desk, a beautiful woman with neatly styled platinum blonde hair smiled warmly at them. She wore a dark blue blazer with gold details on the collar and sleeves, giving a professional yet elegant impression.
"Welcome to our hotel," greeted the woman with a melodious voice, a professional smile spreading across her lips that were coated with soft pink lipstick.
"Yes, I'd like to book a room," Kazuki replied directly. "How do I do it?"
The woman's eyes sparkled with understanding as she observed their appearance. She took out a thick cream-colored paper with neat writing on it and an elegant feather pen from her desk drawer.
"Well, it seems you are newcomers, right?" she asked in a friendly tone. "You just need to fill out this document and pay, then it's done."
The woman paused, her expression changing to a slightly regretful one. "Currently there's only one room left, so I hope you're willing to share a room," she explained.
Kazuki turned to Hanah. "What do you think? It seems there are no other rooms available. Are you willing to share a room with me?" he asked in a neutral tone.
Hanah felt her cheeks heating up. The prospect of sharing a room with a young man—even if it was Kazuki whom she had known as a quiet classmate at school. She glanced at the large clock hanging on the lobby wall, its hands showing ten o'clock at night.
"Ah, that..." Hanah bit her lower lip, an old habit that emerged when she was thinking hard or feeling nervous. She weighed their options, which were actually very limited. Going out and looking for another inn in a foreign city at night was clearly not a good idea. "It seems there's nothing we can do, right? So I'm... okay with it. Besides, it's already late," she finally answered, her voice soft but clear enough.
Indeed, time seemed to pass so quickly when they were busy shopping earlier. The process of choosing suitable clothes, trying them on, and bargaining with merchants speaking foreign languages (fortunately Kazuki could somehow communicate with them) took more time than they had anticipated. When they left the last store, the sky was already pitch dark and the city streets were becoming deserted, with only a few night guards patrolling with lanterns in hand.
"Oh, alright," Kazuki nodded, his expression remaining flat as usual. He turned to the document offered by the receptionist and began filling it out.
Hanah peeked from the side, surprised to see Kazuki filling out the form very smoothly, writing in letters and language she didn't recognize at all. His hand movements were quick and efficient, as if he had done this often before. In just a matter of minutes, Kazuki had completed the form.
"Here is the card," said the receptionist after Kazuki completed the registration and paid with several gold coins that he seemed to have created again. The woman handed a thin golden-colored card with the hotel symbol and room number engraved on its surface. "You just need to insert it next to the door. Your room number is also written on the card," she explained with a professional smile.
Hanah observed the card with great wonder. Access card technology like this shouldn't exist in a medieval world.
"Alright, thank you," Kazuki replied politely, taking the card and putting it in his pants pocket.
The two of them walked along the spacious and luxurious hotel corridor, their steps almost silent on the thick maroon carpet with intricate golden patterns. The corridor walls were adorned with paintings of landscapes and portraits that looked antique yet well-maintained, illuminated by wall lamps that emitted a warm yellowish light.
Hanah walked beside Kazuki, her eyes never ceasing to admire the luxury of this so-out-of-place hotel.