INN-AUGURATION
Chapter 2- Inn Management System
Perched upon her innkeeper's seat, Willow surveyed the small circular table arranged in front of her counter, where anticipation lingered in the air. With nimble hands, she prepared something delightful, her focus unwavering.
On one side of the table sat Vivienne, her usual witch attire replaced by a comfortable night shirt and knee-length pants. Her inky black hair was elegantly tied in a bun, and an air of boredom clung to her, mingling with the subtle excitement beneath the surface.
Opposite her, Gideon, the formidable warlord, donned a loose white shirt that could barely contain the power emanating from his well-defined muscles. The stool beneath him creaked under the weight of his imposing stature, unable to match his presence. Though he attempted to appear nonchalant, his impatience was unmistakable, his thoughts etched across his face for all to see.
Their collective anticipation was palpable, but their gaze was fixed upon a single point—the arrival of Lou, the divine chef, and her culinary masterpiece.
With a sense of purpose, Willow rose from her seat, clutching a wooden sign in her hand. As she hurried towards the main door, the sign's board whispered tales of endless possibilities. On one side, the word "Open" beckoned like a siren's call, while the other side remained eternally untouched, bearing the word "Closed." Willow knew, with unwavering certainty, that she would never rotate that sign to close, for the inn was forever open to the whimsical character’s that awaited to barge in.
"With this, the Whispering Willow Inn unfurls its doors," Willow proclaimed with pride, settling upon her seat. Yet, another source of equal excitement beckoned her heart—a wondrous creation known as the System, a magical interface bestowing upon her the power of sorcery. Patiently she waited, her eyes fixed upon her seat, yearning for its magnificent arrival. Alas, it did not manifest, leaving her bewildered.
"Vivi," Willow called out with a gentle sweetness, hoping the witch would grant her an answer. Vivienne turned her gaze, a question lingering in her bewitching eyes. "The inn is now open, but why does my System withhold itself from me?"
A mischievous glimmer ignited within Vivienne's Eyes, “Oh”, Witch said nothing further, implying that she would relish in toying with Willow until their lunch arrived. However, the alluring temptation, oh, how it beckoned! Unlocking her precious System was a siren's call she could not resist.
"Would you kindly elaborate?" Willow whispered, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness, concealing her hidden frustration.
"It is simple," the Witch began, her words hanging in the air, cautioning Willow to tread carefully. How far was she willing to plunge into the depths of suffering for the sake of unlocking her treasured System?
"Simply," Willow prompted, her voice daring, her eyes craving a glimpse into the forbidden. And yet, as she ventured forth, there was no thrill, no exhilaration—only a chilling sense of foreboding. This was, after all, the Witch, a being whose sole pleasure lay in tormenting her hapless prey.
"Simply, you need to..." Vivienne's lips twitched, a playful dance upon her face, as she fought to contain her imminent laughter. Her eyes shimmered mischievously, reminiscent of a cunning feline. "Purr like a cat, thrice."
"What!?" Willow's voice erupted with a shriek, shattering the tranquility of the inn. Gideon, stirred from his half-awake stupor, stumbled from his stool, grasping onto the reception counter to prevent his inevitable fall. Wide awake now, he glanced at Willow, then at the witch, bewildered by the peculiar exchange unfolding before him.
"I instructed you to purr like a cat, not shout like one," Vivienne retorted, a hint of amusement lacing her voice. Her triumphant smile revealed it was a long-awaited opportunity, one that Willow had only just realized, albeit too late. Yet, even if she had known, the outcome would have remained unchanged.
"Maeo..." Willow attempted, but her efforts fell short, lacking the grace and finesse of a feline's melodic purr.
"Not quite, close, try again," the Witch encouraged, her tone laced with delight.
"Maeow..." Willow made a second attempt, her voice tinged with frustration and embarrassment.
"Almost there. Try to eliminate the 'A' from your note. Again," Vivienne guided, her words dripping with a mix of cruel pleasure and feigned kindness. Willow, miserable and downtrodden, received her guidance with a wretched sense of longing. Her face flushed crimson, as the blood of shame surged, and she could almost feel the steam emanating from her heated cheeks.
"Meow..." Willow managed, the sound trembling from her lips, wavering in the air like a fragile whisper.
"That was good enough. Do it two more times," the Witch declared.
"What? I just did it three times!" Willow protested, her voice filled with confusion and exasperation.
"Only the perfect one counts, and you were not supposed to speak in between, so do it three more times," the Witch declared, her voice dripping with malicious glee.
"Meow," Willow reluctantly purred, her heart heavy with frustration.
"Meow," she repeated, her pride crumbling with each forced utterance.
"Meow," she concluded, the sound of her misery blending into the air like a dissonant melody.
"Ah, those cries of misery are like music to my ears," the Witch gloated, reveling in her torment.
"Where is my goddamn System...?" Willow's voice quivered on the edge of tears, her desperation laid bare.
Gideon observed the entire spectacle from the sidelines, a silent observer. He had no desire to be entangled in their petty squabbles.
"Now, now, don't cry," the Witch consoled, her tone feigning sympathy. "Look into the drawer. There lies a nameplate. Write your name upon its worn back, and you shall officially become the Innkeeper of this establishment. Only then will your cherished System be made available to you."
Willow rummaged through the lower drawer, her fingers brushing against the aged and worn wooden plate. It bore the marks of time, much like everything else in that place. With a pen she found within, she carefully inscribed her name upon its surface, her strokes imbued with a mixture of hope and resignation.
Behind the reception counter, an empty wall laid barren, its purpose left to Willow’s discretion. It was her domain, after all, and she alone held the key to its destiny.
"And done," Willow declared, her voice filled with a mix of relief and anticipation. Carefully, she hung the nameplate upon a conveniently placed nail, its worn surface now proudly displaying her name for all to see.
In that instant, a vibrant violet screen materialized before Willow, adorned with intricate graphics that danced upon its surface. At its center, in bold letters, the words "Welcome to the Whispering Willow Inn Management System" greeted her. A gentle prompt urged her to touch the screen to continue.
With a touch, the interface transformed before her eyes. Rows upon rows of columns unfurled, each adorned with headings and numbers. An accompanying small "i" icon stood adjacent to each column, tempting her to seek additional information.
Her gaze instinctively gravitated towards the topmost section, segregated under the heading "Tier-I." Willow deduced that it was a realm she need not concern herself with on her first day. She had dabbled in enough games to understand that tiers were often reserved for more experienced players. For now, she chose to leave that mystery untouched. Her eyes laid upon the status.
Name: Whispering Willow Inn
Age: Unknown
Innkeeper: Willow
Hospitality: 1
Reputation: 4 (a reflection of the acquaintances Willow had made and the invitations extended to them, perhaps a measure of the potential customer base)
Cleanliness: 0
Efficiency: Unclear (yet to be determined until the first guests arrive to assess the inn's operational effectiveness)
Food and beverages: 20 (with a separate category for beverages at 0)
Staff Morale: 70%
Decor: -10 (indicating a slight negative aspect, perhaps in need of improvement)
Sustainability: -100 (an alarming figure, suggesting a lack of eco-friendly practices)
Specializations: None (no specific areas of expertise or unique offerings at present)
Resources: None (lacking in additional assets or supplies)
Customer Satisfaction: Unclear (awaiting further data to gauge the satisfaction levels of guests)
Pricing: Undetermined (yet to establish a definitive pricing structure)
Willow observed them intently but for a moment, She decided not to delve too deeply into analyzing each aspect just yet,
As Willow explored her newfound System, her curiosity led her to a corner of the screen adorned with a human icon. Eagerly, she tapped on it, and the vibrant violet hue transformed into a soothing white with a subtle blue tint. This was her personal status screen, a glimpse into her own being.
Name: Willow
Race: Human [Are you sure?]
Constitution: To be Absorbed
Age: 125
Shards: 1200
Level: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 6
Dexterity: 9
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 10
Skills: None
Combat Skills:
Melee: 2
Ranged: 1
Magic: 0
Crafting Skills:
Cooking: 3
Gathering Skills:
Herbalism: 1
Fishing: 3
Social Skills:
Negotiation: 1
Persuasion: 2
Leadership: 0
Specializations:
Path: Inn Keeper
Secondary Path: Arcanist
Magic Specialization: None
Attribute Points [Available]: 2
Equipment:
Weapon: None
Armor: Old garb (Hey, I'm wearing perfectly fine clothing!)
Reputation: 4
Factions:
Friends of the Warlord of Rosaria (-120 Reputation) [Status hidden - Negative effect nullified]
Friend of the Witch of Elder Seat (-1000 Reputation) [Status hidden - Negative effect nullified]
Friend of the Elder Dragon (-90 Reputation) [Status hidden - Negative effect nullified]
Achievements:
Opened The Whispering Willow Inn [Reward - Inn Management System]
Willow's gaze lingered on the achievement section, her eyes drawn to the two individuals mentioned in the counter. A sense of astonishment washed over her as she realized that her association with a literal demon lord had would cause less harm to her reputation than her connections with these seemingly friendly and carefree individuals.
"Why is my age listed as 125? And why is it questioning whether I am truly human?" Willow inquired, her curiosity tinged with a hint of disbelief.
Vivienne, wearing a knowing smile, responded, "Well, my dear, perhaps you should remember that before labeling me an old hag. As for the 'human' classification, this is your second life, so there may be some uncertainty surrounding your true nature."
Gideon, observing the conversation with a calm demeanor, interjected, "Appearance can be deceiving, indeed. Who would have guessed that the one I affectionately referred to as 'little innkeeper' would surpass me in age?"
Gideon, at 115 years old himself, understood the insignificance of age in their current circumstances. Yet, for Willow, it was a matter of personal sensibility.
"Frankly, I do not have a definitive answer," Vivienne admitted. "It's possible that in your previous life, you reached an old age and have since been reincarnated here. Although, in the grand scheme of things, I'm not certain it truly matters. You appear human, and your constitution aligns with that assumption."
Willow fell into a pensive silence, her mind consumed with contemplation as she revisited her status, seeking deeper meaning within the layers of her newfound existence.
As Willow immersed herself in deep contemplation, her questioning nature brought forth a new inquiry: "What is a constitution?"
“Constitutions are—”
“Let me explain,” Before the Witch could provide an answer, Gideon unexpectedly interjected.
"Constitutions," Gideon began, taking charge of the explanation, "are what determine a person's path in life. They shape whether one becomes a mage, a warrior, a warlord, a witch, or simply remains a civilian."
Willow nodded intrigued by the concept he was unraveling.
He continued, "In a world where everyone possesses a system and can level up by killing others, a balance must be maintained. To prevent rampant power escalation, there was a cap imposed on individuals. However, to surpass this cap and unlock greater potential, one needed to acquire a constitution—a core extracted from a monster.
"It embodies their abilities and powers. The possibilities are endless, as there are countless constitutions to be absorbed. The specific core one absorbs determines their path and abilities."
“I, for one, have absorbed core of Lowest Level flame emperor, as you saw, I can perform ability related to them.”
Willow marveled at the vastness of this revelation, and of course, Gideon being the one explaining in his powerful voice was another touch of Hype.
However, Gideon, ever thoughtful, added an afterthought. "By the way, the level cap is reached at level 15," he mentioned casually, prompting Willow to recognize that until she reached that point, the intricacies of constitutions need not burden her.
With a nod of understanding, Willow acknowledged that there was still much to discover and that she would delve into the specifics of constitutions when the time was right. For now, she would focus on her journey, embracing the potential that lay before her.
Then, amidst the sea of information, Willow's gaze fell upon a small, intricate icon adorned with a cursive "S." Her curiosity piqued, she tapped on the icon, causing everything to vanish before her eyes. In its place, a mesmerizing web of spiraling patterns emerged, entwining her senses and captivating her attention. Yet, the intensity of the visual display overwhelmed her, prompting her to avert her gaze.
Bewildered, she turned to Vivienne, seeking answers in the depths of her enigmatic eyes. "What is that?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a mixture of dread and confusion.
Vivienne, momentarily perplexed, scanned the unfolding scene before her. "What...?" she mused, struggling to grasp Willow's experience.
"It seems you have stumbled upon the skill tree," Vivienne finally deduced, a hint of realization coloring her tone. "When one's path forward is not yet clear, the skill tree reveals itself as a seemingly infinite web, vast and intricate. No system in existence can access such a wealth of information, and thus, it becomes temporarily unresponsive. Rest assured, it will return to its normal state in due time. It is a common occurrence among the young and inexperienced—curiosity often leads them astray."
The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. "Wait...both of you cannot see my status screen?" she asked, her voice betraying a mix of astonishment and curiosity.
"Of course not," Vivienne replied, her tone filled with a hint of caution. "Imagine the chaos that would ensue if everyone could freely peer into one another's statuses. Such knowledge must remain guarded. However, there are certain skills that grant individuals the ability to perceive aspects such as reputation and blessings."
Willow nodded,
"So, if I cannot see my status screen, how will I acquire skills?" Willow questioned.
"By practicing the things you wish to learn, my dear. Skill trees form once you have honed your abilities and molded yourself to acquire them. Until then, diligent practice will suffice. Gideon can teach you the ways of the sword, and as for me... I shall guide you in the arts of… Magic." Vivienne's voice, like a siren's call, carried a hint of intimacy and allure
Before they could delve deeper into their conversation, the tantalizing aroma of their meal wafted from the kitchen. Lou, their divine cook, emerged with a platter filled with divine sustenance. The heavenly scent tantalized their senses, causing their stomachs to rumble in unison. Yet, they maintained their composure, promptly ignoring the orchestral grumbles of hunger that echoed within them.
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