【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 9: Old Man Gets Flustered by the Incoming Call on the Communication Stone

A few days have passed since Alesia came to our inn.

“Welcome~~ Is it for two people~~?”

Amazingly, these are our third guests today. Maybe handing out flyers has paid off, as the number of customers has gradually increased.

Well, we’re not fully booked yet, but there’s no doubt that the inn is now operational.

Whew, I’m relieved. If the number of customers had remained zero, I wouldn’t have been able to pay Liena or Alesia.

The guests, this time, appear to be an adventurer couple from another country.

When Liena finishes the reception duties at the counter, Alesia guides the guests to their room.

“W-welcome! I will guide you to your room… now! L-let me… no, I’ll carry your luggage!”

Alesia, dressed in a maid outfit, awkwardly serves the guests.

Her lines may be flawed, but this is a significant improvement. On her first day, she was like, “You! What are you here for?”

But still… Isn’t her skirt too short?

It’s risky when she goes upstairs.

The husband, walking behind Alesia, trying not to look at certain fluttering things, is being glared at by his wife. But it’s beyond his control; I hope she forgives him.

Come to think of it, what kind of inn has a princess at the reception and a Sword Saint as a porter?

As I pondered this, Alesia returned to my side before I knew it, on the verge of tears.

“W-what happened?”

“M-master, I’m sorry… I…”

Alesia was holding a doorknob in her hand. Apparently, she twisted it off in her nervousness.

For now, I ask Liena to have the guests move to the room next door.

“Master… I did it again.”

“It’s okay, Alesia. Just imagine yourself using your swordsmanship skills. You can do it properly if you keep a calm mind. And don’t worry about the room; we have plenty more. Let’s fix it together later. Let’s increase what you can do little by little.”

“Sniff… Yes, Master.”

Well, it’s natural that she can’t do it. Alesia has never done customer service before, so it’s apparent that she would be clumsy initially. Plus, she’s a bit shy and sometimes chooses the wrong words.

I’d be the same if someone suddenly told me to run a clothing store. I need to learn the current trends and how to take measurements. Everyone’s the same.

Little by little, we’ll get used to it.

“Well, now that work has settled down a bit, let’s have lunch—”

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz

“Whoa!?”

Huh? What?

Bzzz Bzzz Bzzz

What is this? What’s happening!?

“M-Master! What’s wrong!?”

“Alesia~, something’s shaking my body! I’m buzzing!”

Specifically, it’s mainly my lower half vibrating, but I can’t say such a perverted thing in front of a woman.

“Ah, Baldo-sama~ That’s probably the incoming call vibration from the communication stone. Didn’t someone contact you?”

Liena, who had returned from upstairs, pointed at my pants, prompting me to fumble around in my pocket.

Wait, did she notice my lower half was buzzing?

Sure enough, the communication stone I left in my pants pocket vibrated. I had forgotten I got it from Princess Mariessia of the Fridania Kingdom.

Wow, I feel ashamed after pompously talking about ‘keeping a calm mind.’

“Um, I think I just press here…”

I press the red switch in the center of the communication stone. The buzzing stops, and then—

“Baldo-sama!! Why haven’t you contacted me at all?! Why do I have to be the one to reach out to you?! It’s the man’s job to do such things! I’ve been so lonely!!”

I don’t really get it, but I got yelled at out of nowhere…

“P-Princess Mariessia. Uh, I, um, forgot how to use this… I’m sorry.”

“Well, is that so! You weren’t ignoring me, then!”

“Of course not. I’ve been greatly indebted to you, Princess Mariessia. I couldn’t thank you enough.”

“Oh my, oh my, oh my! So it was!”

Whew! Princess Mariessia is in a better mood now.

“Baldo-sama, where are you right now?”

I briefly informed Princess Mariessia that I am in Natol and have just started a small inn.

“Oh, my~ such hardships you’re facing…”

Did I convey it wrongly? It’s not pessimistic, but I’m happy she’s so concerned, even for a regular old guy like me.

Then, Princess Mariessia starts asking a string of questions.

“Are you eating properly?”

“Are you brushing your teeth?”

“Are you taking baths?”

Hey, am I your kid? I’m a 39-year-old adult, you know.

For some reason, the noise starts escalating behind me as well, “I’ll brush Baldo-sama’s teeth~! I’ll even help him in the bath, yay♡,” “Idiot! That’s my role! Um… about the bath, erm… shuffling.”

For the record, I can take care of all that myself.

“Oh, I almost forgot! I have an important report!”

According to Princess Mariessia, even though Prince Genus lost terribly in the invasion war, he’s using covert funds to fully mobilize and suppress domestic opposition.

“But where is all this abundant financial resource coming from? Funds are definitely being moved from sources other than the national treasury. It seems something is going on behind the scenes.”

“Who knows. Maybe he owns a gold mine?”

“………”

Ah, I messed up… I shouldn’t have said something so arbitrary.

Princess Mariessia went silent.

“About that matter, I will continue to investigate. My brother has not yet given up his foolish ambitions of continental conquest. The time may come when we’ll need Baldo-sama’s help.”

I don’t know what she expects from an innkeeper like me, but if it’s Princess Mariessia’s request, I’ll do what I can.

“By the way—”

Uh-oh? The tone of Princess Mariessia’s voice suddenly became sharp…

“Ever since a while ago, I’ve been hearing adorable giggles in the background. Baldo-sama?”

“No, um, that’s the voice of my employees.”

“Is that so? You’re not getting cozy with another woman besides me, right? Baldo-sama?”

This is bad; her mood has suddenly turned sour. I want to end the call as soon as possible.

(Liena, come here a moment. How do I turn off this communication? Can’t I just casually disconnect?)

(Oh, Baldo-sama, don’t pull it so hard~)

“That’s not the case, right? Baldo-sama?”

(Eh? Liena? Do I press here? Here? What’s a long-press?)

(Ah, Baldo-sama, don’t be so rough… oh!)

(Move! Liena! I’ll slice this with the Holy Sword!)

“What are you whispering about! I can hear multiple women’s voices! We’ll have to communicate more regularly, Baldo-sama! Hmph!”

Click—

With those final words, Princess Mariessia’s communication ended.

Whoa… Scary… I’ll get a notification regularly now…

What should I do… This is a smooth life.