After lazing around waiting for a while, ãRed Oathãcame down to the dining room on the first floor.
As they got off the stairs, the light on the dining room was cut off to minimum for saving.
And in the kitchen, the owner and his wife already finished washing and cleaning, they was doing the final check for tomorowâs preparation.
ãWhat do you girls come down here for?ã(Kuma-san)
ãWell, weâd like to ask you some question about ãMaidenâs prayerãã(Mile)
As the owner asked when he spotted the girls, Mile threw a fast straight ball right in middle. (T.N: Baseballâs refer for direct question)
ãWhat? Did that had anything to do with you girls? Or you was asked by someone else?ã(Kuma-san)
The ownerâs eyes became a little scary, but then his wife also came out of the kitchen to hear the story.
ãWe donât really have anything to do with it or we was asked by anyone.
However, we want to know the circumstances behind all this because it seems interestingã(Rena)
ãWhatâs with that?ã(Kuma-san)
As he heard Renaâs reason, the owner shouted.
However, as he thought about it, he realized it was just childrenâs curiosity rather than bad intention.
Thatâs why he put his guard down and tried to reply like an adult.
ãYou are just some un-related peoson, itâs not nice talking behind their back. Thatâs why just leave it alone.ã(Kuma-san)
Of course, the owner would say but itâs not like the girls would easily withdraw.
ãThat was a shop policy, right?
But you called us ãun-related personãwas wrong.
We arenât completely ir-relevant to this matter.
Thatâs why we want to know the circumstances behind all this.ã(Pauline)
ãWhat...!?ã(Kuma-san)
The owner raised his voice again when he heard Pauline said so.
ãBecause we stayed over there last night.
We paid a foolish lodging fee and meal fee because they are lacking personnel.
So we have the right to know the reason!ã(Pauline)
As Pauline pointing all that out, the owner and his wife had a bitter smile.
And then, Mile joined the talking as well.
ãWell, we would like to ask about ãMaidenâs prayerã, but before that I have something else that I want to ask as well!ã(Mile)
ãWh, what?ã(Kuma-san)
ãHow could you get such a young and beautiful wife?ã(Mile)
ãGuaaa, shut up!ã(Kuma-san)
After exhausting in various way, eventually, the owner started talking about ãMaidenâs Prayerã
And according to the ownerâs story, the circumstances were as follow:
The two inns have been operating from a long time ago to now, and despite being a rival inns, the relationship between the owners was good.
Because they were peers and their troubles were almost the same, they have consulted and cooperated with each other.
Bith theirãgrandparents generationã and ãparent generationãwere on good terms with each other as good friends.
And at their generation, because their age were close, Dylas the son of ãMaidenâs Prayerã, bear-san and one of the three daughter of neighbor general shop, Aira were close friends. Yes, until the marriageable age ...
ãSo, the ownerâs wife was one of the 3 daughters of the general store, Aira...?ã(Mile)
ãNo, itâs differentã(Kuma-san)
The Owner immediately denied Mileâs question.
ãBut if it wasnât for such thing! If she didnât get used to you as childhood friend, you wouldnât be able to get married with such a beauty!ã(Rena)
ãHow rude can you girls be!ã(Kuma-san)
The owner also retorted to Renaâs remark.
ãAbout, Lyrise ...
At that time I was helping with the inn when my parents were still running it.
I met her when she went to pick up firewood in the forest.
And I help Lyrise that was about to be attack by a monsterã(Kuma-san)
ãAs expected, after all, the place you two met must be the woods, because you are a bear ...ã(Mile)
ãShut up!ã(Kuma-san)
Heard Mileâs rude remark, the onwer raised his voice again.
ãOh, that was wonderful! The owner was exactly like the knight that rescue the princess!ã(Maevis)
And the owner scratched his head shyly with Maevisâs praise.
ãSo what was that monster? Goblin? Kobolt? No way, was it an Orc ...?ã(Maevis)
The Owner diverted his eyes from Maevis.
When everyone had a strange look, the ownerâs wife responded from the side instead of the owner.
ãAh, it was aãHorn Rabbit ã, it didnât look like a monster ...
I thought that there wasnât much danger if I was keeping my eyes on it and I wasnât really worried about one horn rabbit that was moving closer to me.
Yes, I was too naive that I wasnât worried about it at all.
And then ãThatâs a beary (very) vicious horn rabbit, be careful!ãIt was my husband who came running while screaming and rescue me from a life-threatening danger...ã(Kuma-sanâs wife)
The girls saw a terrible fraud.
Maevis glared at the owner with eyes like seeing filth.
Rena and Mile had a scary face.
And Pauline was,...ãThat was quite good ...ãshe said so as she was a little impressed.
ãWell, apparently the lady owner seems to be 10 years younger than you!
How old were you at that time?
That was a criminal act ...ã(Maevis)
Apparently, once Maevis admired something but turned out wrong, she felt betrayed and she couldnât forgive it.
However, the lady owner stopped Maevis who stood up and seemed about to grab the ownerâs clothes.
ãNo, I knew it from the beginning, obviously.
I wasnât an in-door lady living in the city or anything, I live around here and did you think I wouldnât know about horn rabbit.
Ah, I thought that he was a funny person thatâs why I played along.
Also, I guessed he just wanted a chance to talk to me by any means, I didnât know if he was serious or said it as a joke, that stupid excuse...ã(Kuma-sanâs wife)
ãLyrise, you realized, ...!?ã(Kuma-san)
ãIt was natural, but for you to not get it until now, such an idiotic bear!ã(Kuma-sanâs wife)
Ufufu, the lady owner smiling at the owner, the owner was stunned.
And then they were staring at each other ...
ãUwwaaaaaa! Please do it later in your room!ã(Rena)
She didnât want to see other people lovey dovey flirting. Especially, when one person is a bear.
Everyone agreed with Renaâs shout.
ãThe talk has diverted!
So, the owner helped the lady, and then later you got married with each other?ã(Rena)
Rena pointed that out, and both the owner and his wife nodded.
ãDylas and Aira also got married. Even if each of us got married, our friendship didnât change, Lyrise joined the 3 of us and became the 4 good friends.
And Dylas and Aira had 3 children, it was a happy life until ... 5 years ago. Aira got sick and died.
We also tried to help Dylas take care of the children and helped in various ways as well, but it seems like they were still having a lot of trouble ...ã(Kuma-san)n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
ãããã............ãããã(Red Oath)
ãAnd last year, Dylas also died.
Leaving alone 3 daughters, his eldest daughter Meliza was only 15 years old and youngest child Aryl was still 7 years old
... Really, that idiot is ...ã(Kuma-san)
Owner squeezed words with a mortifying, sad face.
ãAnd, not only that ...
After Airaâs death, Dylas couldnât run the inn while looking after the 3 young daughter.
He hired a young chef to cook and the neighbor old woman (T.N: Obaba) to manage the money.
Children were managed by the eldest daughter Meliza, the second daughter Rafia also helped out and look after the sister Aryl.
Their inn managed somehow, but after the death of Dylasm, things were changed.
In order to protect the shops left by their parents and to be able to live together without being separated, the sisters were enduring their sadness so that they could somehow continue the shop.
And then, the old woman ran away with the money she managed.
And, just when the sisters struggled, the hired chef tried to take over the inn by making the sisters his, all 3 sisters...ã(Kuma-san)
ããããU wa~...ãããã(Red Oath)
Since yesterday, the girls had thought the 3 sisters should hire chef or waitress to help, but rather than help, it was the biggest problem.
((((Not only the eldest daughter, but all three ...!?)))) (Red Oath)
The girls thought so.
ãThe old woman was caught later, but the money was lost.
All familiar customers knew about the chef making a move on the sisters, they beat him up and kicked him out.
However the sisters became distrust of other humans.
They didnât hire people anymore and decided to continue the inn by themselves.
With the sisters desperately tried hard, people in the town that knew the circumstances tried to help them somehow.
The commercial guild was also lending them loan with zero interest, used the inn as collateral.
Well, Iâd say enough for the sisters to live normal, and be able to earn some money ...ã(Kuma-san)
ãDidnât you said you also tried to help?ã(Mile)
When Mile asked that, the owner answered with a sad expression.
ã... But you knew what happened, right?ã(Kuma-san)
ããããAh ... ....ãããã(Red Oath)