I stared blankly into the lifeless eyes of David. Even I still hadn't gotten over the fact that he had died just like that.
Raising my hand from his chin, I saw how it shook as blood dripped between my fingertips.
'I guess this can be considered the first death...'
I never expected to live my life in this world with clean hands, so I'm somewhat relieved I got to experience this sooner than later, although I doubt the strange feeling would go away even with the second one...
"You sure are something, kid. Most kids your age would be crying at the sight of a corpse, but you're just staring it straight in the eyes, hehehe."
"Why should I cry over the death of someone like David?"
"Heh, I guess that's true too."
Derek rubbed his chin as he smirked.
"Well, this completes the deal, so I guess some congratulations are in order." Derek took a step back as he clapped his hands. "To the new boss of the Midnight Inn!"
I looked over slowly as I got up from the puddle of blood.
Indeed, this was the content of the deal I had made with Derek. In exchange for helping him expose David, I would take over the inn which would now have a power vacancy with David out of the picture.
It was essential if I wanted to continue living while protecting the girls.
'...Look at me now. When did I take up such a big responsibility?'
I suppressed a sigh as I remembered my original aspirations.
At first, when I had just recalled my past life, my only goal was to survive. Getting closer to the girls, working extra shifts in the morning for Boarrat, and even being submissive to David and the others—it was all for the sake of survival.
But now, when I had a clear and easy route of following Ave and becoming an alchemist apprentice, I chose this instead.
Just goes to show how much the girls had affected me during that time.
I couldn't just leave on my own and abandon them in that hellhole. It would go against my core principle.
"Well, now that you're officially the new owner, we'll have to do some work to finish the handover, but first, let's do something about your appearance." Derek smirked as he eyed me from head to toe. "Can't have you looking so...'scrappy', you know?"
"...What do you have in mind?"
"First, we should cut that awful hair off you. I seriously don't know how you could see behind those bangs. We should also do something about those clothes...hmm?"
Derek suddenly smirked as he watched my blood-soaked form.
"I think the color red suits you..."
***
A day later, the Midnight Inn functioned the same as usual despite four of its members being missing.
Without Dale or Bale to guard the inn, Boarrat had to step up as the intimidating factor, occasionally stepping out of the kitchen with a bloodied butcher knife in hand to scare off anyone with ill thoughts.
The girls continued their work as usual, serving customers even though they didn't want to, especially with David missing. But the fear of what he might do if he came back and saw that they had abandoned work kept them from fulfilling such idle desires.
"Where did Kayle go..."
Nana mumbled to herself as she absentmindedly washed the dishes.
She had been worrying since she noticed Kayle disappeared yesterday afternoon, her anxiousness intensifying when she saw that he didn't return even after the night had passed.
"Nana! Table two and four have finished and already left—hurry up and go clean them!"
Mana popped her head in through the kitchen doorway, startling Nana out of her daze.
"Ah—yes! I'll be right there."
Nana hurriedly focused back on finishing the dishes she was washing, but as she did so, she couldn't help but feel that sense of loss again.
'...Usually Kayle would bring those dishes for me.'
Her thoughts started to idle again even though she had just snapped out of her daze.
Mana saw her sister's state and couldn't help but frown.
Although she didn't want to admit it, she too felt Kayle's absence since he left the inn. It felt like their efficiency had dropped by at least half as the girls had to do the work he usually did.
Clean the tables, guestrooms, sweep the floors, pick up trash, clean up the mess of the patrons.
All of these tasks they had originally paid little attention to now felt like a mountain of work had been dropped on them now that they had to manage them all.
"Damn it, just where did he go?"
Above all, Mana also felt worry like her sister.
The other girls were busy working in the dining hall, carrying drinks and food on trays as they dealt with the customers.
Lena had mostly recovered from her illness thanks to the medicine from Ave and the subtle help from the other girls, and was back out working in the field, stealing the gazes and hearts of the men around the inn.
Kana, Yana and Hannah were also working at equal pace, not wanting to be outdone.
Just then, from the entrance of the inn, a few dangerous-looking men walked through the open door, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks.
The noisy chatter of the inn slowly died out as more and more seemed to pour in from the narrow door, crowding the area near the entrance.
Everyone felt increasingly nervous as the number of men finally started to dwindle to a stop. In the end, there were more than fifteen men surrounding the doorway as some of them started to disperse through the inn, creating an encirclement around the guests and dining hall.
Some people even tried to get up from their seats, but with a single glare from one of the men, would quietly sit back down.
Boarrat even tried stepping out but stopped near the kitchen entrance, holding his butcher knife in hand as he nervously glanced at the men. Recognition seemed to flash in his eyes as he lowered his butcher knife.
Nana also popped her head out from beside him, watching the scene unfold from the kitchen entrance.
Just then, a well-dressed man walked in through the doorway, a casual smirk on his face that had a scar near the corner of his upper lip.
"Hmm, has everyone gathered?" the man asked as a smaller figure stepped out from behind him.
Few people's eyes flashed with recognition, most of them belonging to the employees of the inn when they saw the person.
His black hair was combed neatly to the back and tied into a small ponytail. His face that was always hidden was now visible as his dark gray eyes scanned the inn.
"...Yes. This is everyone." Kayle spoke after seeing all the employees of the inn had gathered, frowning as he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt as if he wasn't quite used to them.
He was wearing simple black pants, a red waistcoat and white shirt, yet it had elevated his original sewer-boy appearance to that of a young aristocrat, making it hard for people who didn't know him personally to recognize him.
Nana, Mana, Lena and all the other girls stared in shock seeing him standing next to the scary-looking men as if it was natural.
"Well then, since everyone has gathered, I have a few simple announcements to make!"
Derek suddenly shouted, turning to face the guests gathered around the dining hall.
"First, the original owner of the Midnight Inn, Mister David, has unfortunately passed away in a terrible accident."
Derek's casual words caused a stir among the regulars and employees of the inn, many of their faces widening in astonishment.
"Secondly, to replace him, a new manager has been selected to oversee the running of the inn." Derek rested a hand on Kayle's shoulder as he spoke. "I'd like you all to welcome the new Boss of the Midnight Inn!"
Derek's voice boomed across the hall, silencing all the commotion as everyone's gaze shifted to Kayle.
***
Seriously, did he have to be so dramatic?
I frowned slightly as I turned to face everyone.
"Good evening. I'm happy to see everyone enjoying the meal, but I regret to inform you that the inn will be temporarily closing for a while as it has to go through some renovations. You may finish your meals and drinks before you leave, but we'll be closing early tonight."
My eyes shifted over the displeased gazes of several patrons as I continued.
"For compensation, everything will be on the house for tonight. Please enjoy."
My words seemed to ease the hostility in their eyes as the guild members surrounding the dining hall finally started to disperse, walking outside until it was only me, Derek and two other guild members.
"With this, the handover has officially been completed." Derek smirked as he glanced down at me.
"Indeed."
My eyes glanced over my shoulder, noticing the many gazes of customers as they whispered to each other while shooting glances my way.
I also noticed the cautious gazes of the girls stationed around the inn.
"I leave these two to help you manage the inn." Derek pointed to the two people stationed beside him, one being a scar-faced woman and the other being an average-looking man with baggy eyes. "The woman is Dalia, and the man is Wrench. They'll help you manage the inn. You can treat them the same as David treated Bale and Dale, although I wouldn't recommend it."
Derek smirked as he finished his words with a glint in his eyes, the meaning clear.
These two weren't here to assist me, but to monitor me, most likely so I don't turn out like David.
"...Understood."
"Heh, I really admire how clever you are, kid."
With those final words, Derek turned on his heel and walked out of the inn.
I glanced at Dalia and Wrench. Although they tried not to show it, I could still see the slight look of disdain in their gazes.
Guess they weren't too thrilled to find out they'd be 'babysitting' a 14-year-old brat.
Turning around myself, I took another glance over the dining hall, noticing the gazes of the girls staring at me, but I couldn't bring myself to meet them right now.
Taking a step forward, I maintained my pace as I walked up the stairs, arriving before David's office.
Although I guess it's more accurately 'my' office now.
Opening the door, I saw that the mess I had left before still remained.
"Hm, both of you can stand guard outside the door. I wish to rest for a bit. If anyone asks for me, tell them I'll see them once all the guests have left."
"...Understood."
Dalia and Wrench nodded slowly as they naturally positioned themselves on either side of the doorway.
Closing the door behind me, I entered the messy room, walking over the scattered stacks of paper and stationery as I made my way to the office chair at the end of the room.
"Haaaah..."
Sinking into the soft cushion, I leaned back as my gaze landed on the wooden ceiling.
Glancing around the room from where I sat, I saw all the places I used to clean and quietly shift around so as not to disturb David.
'So this is how David saw the office...'
Sighing, I leaned back into the chair once more.
"This is it. There is no going back now..."
It took only till now, but I had finally started to accept the new reality I had carved out for myself.
No longer am I a servant boy at a brothel, but now the owner of it.
It'll be a lot of work to manage everything, but I'm sure I'll be able to handle the business-related aspects of it with my past experiences.
'But I'm still not sure how to manage the girls...'
Another sigh escaped my lips but I had already set my resolve in stone.
Now that I'm the official owner, I'm going to grow this place out of the dirt.
"...It all starts here. How did they usually title these things back on Earth?"
Recalling the titles of several isekai novels and games from my past world, I quickly came up with one that suited my situation.
"The start of my underworld business empire in another world."