Chapter 10: The Man-Eating Room
If a fool gives away gold coins, of course Erika would be happy to accept.
After the mustached man left, the bald man could only slink off in frustration. The once lively tavern now felt a little emptier.
She had eaten, watched the show—now Erika, with nothing to do, clutched the gold coin in her small hand and ran over to the counter in search of Gladys.
“Miss, I really can’t go any lower. This is already the minimum rate.”
“Then put it on a tab. I’ll pay you back later.”
“Please understand, this is a tavern, not a charity temple.”
At the counter, Gladys was still negotiating with the tavern owner.
The owner was a middle-aged woman wearing an apron, her expression full of exasperation.
“We need to eat too. If every guest owed money like you, how would we stay in business?”
Gladys bit her lip, clearly upset.
She had run out of money. Her plan had been to find a room for herself and Erika to stay in temporarily, and then think of a way to earn some money.
But the prices here were far higher than she had expected. She had only a few copper coins—not even enough to rent a basement room, let alone a proper one. Of course the owner wasn’t willing.
Gladys wasn’t ready to give up yet. She had ways to make money—but she didn’t want Erika to follow her around with nowhere to live.
“Just for half a day…”
“No.”
The owner remained firm. A businesswoman talks about money, not feelings.
“Gladys.”
At that moment, Erika tugged on the hem of Gladys’s skirt. She had already figured out that Gladys was out of money and was about to offer her the gold coin the mustached man had given her.
But before she could, Gladys scooped Erika up affectionately, holding her like a child.
The tavern owner’s expression shifted slightly as she noticed the beautiful little girl.
“Your daughter? Or… sister?” she asked, pointing at Erika.
Gladys didn’t respond and prepared to leave with Erika in her arms. If this place didn’t want them, she’d find somewhere else.
Sigh.
The owner suddenly sighed and shook her head with a wry smile. “Miss, I actually have a room that was sealed off by the Holy Church.
Seeing that you have a child, I suppose I could let you stay there—for free, of course.”
Free? Erika’s outstretched hand immediately withdrew.
There was such a thing as a free room?
“Alright.”
Gladys agreed immediately.
“But I need to tell you this first,” the owner said with narrowed eyes. “That room has some strange rumors about it. People say it’s a man-eating room. That’s why the Church came and sealed it off.”
“Man-eating room?”
In Gladys’s arms, Erika blinked in surprise. “Does it really eat people?”
“You silly girl, of course it’s just a rumor!”
The owner sounded irritated. “It’s true that some travelers went missing there for no reason, but that doesn’t prove it was the room’s fault.
I don’t know why the Church sealed it, but it’s been five years now. Do you know how much I’ve lost because of that room?”
So it was a haunted room with a spooky backstory. No wonder the owner was willing to offer it.
“Anyway, if you’re willing, you can stay there. But let me be clear—I won’t be responsible for your safety. I’m not charging you, after all.”
She sounded righteous—but really, she figured that letting someone stay in that sealed room might finally prove it wasn’t dangerous.
For years, the room’s eerie reputation had driven travelers away from her tavern.
“We’ll take it,” Gladys said without hesitation.
“Top floor, end of the hallway. Here’s the key.
It’s fully furnished. No one lives there, but I still clean it daily.”
The owner handed over the key generously.
As they made their way to the room, Erika recalled the spooky story and felt a bit uneasy. She looked up at Gladys’s beautiful face.
“We don’t have to stay there.”
“It’s fine.”
Gladys gently stroked Erika’s hair, her voice as soft as ever. “Nothing will happen. I’m here.”
“No… I mean, I have money.”
“Hm?”
Erika used the opportunity to take out the gold coin the mustached man had given her and offered it to Gladys.
But Gladys didn’t take it. Her brows furrowed slightly. “Where did you get that gold coin?”
“A stranger gave it to me,” Erika answered honestly.
“Don’t take things from strangers again.”
“It’s just a coin.”
“Then why did he give it to you?”
“I… don’t know.”
“Remember what I said, Erika.”
Gladys’s expression was unusually serious. “No one in this world will pity you and give you benefits without reason. Everything has a motive. Don’t accept things from others so casually.”
“Okay…”
It was like being scolded by a strict elder. But Erika understood her point. She still had memories of her previous life and knew how the world worked.
“So… Do you want the coin or not?”
“You keep it.”
Gladys replied softly and then opened the door to the rumored room.
Inside was indeed clean—just as the owner had said.
The furniture was all in place, including a large bed in the center. Clearly, even though it had been sealed, the owner had kept it in useable condition.
Gladys set Erika down on the bed. Looking around, Erika started to think that the man-eating room story might just be a rumor.
She sat there for a while but quickly grew bored. Pulling at the oversized dress—clearly Gladys’s—she realized it didn’t fit her at all.
She had money now, so why not go buy some clothes?
With that thought, she ran over to Gladys. “I want to buy clothes.”
“Wait a little. I’ll take you later.”
Gladys responded calmly, pulling out a few glass bottles from somewhere. Erika didn’t know what she was doing but didn’t ask.
She blinked. “I can go on my own. I have money.”
“I don’t feel comfortable letting you go alone.”
“I want to go, Gladys. I’m not as weak as you think.”
Their eyes met. For a while, neither spoke.
“No.”
A flat refusal.
Tch. This woman really does treat me like a kid. I can’t even go buy clothes on my own?
Erika bit her lip, pouting.
“I want to go. Let me.”
“I’ll take you later. Be good.”
“I don’t know what you’re worried about, Gladys.”
Erika’s tone became firm. “I… even though I was just born, I’m not as fragile as you think.”
“That’s not what I meant. I just…”
“You’re afraid something will happen to me?”
Erika blinked. “Relax. It’s broad daylight. I’ll be fine.
I want to understand this world better. I can’t stay under your protection forever.”
…It worked.
Gladys’s expression changed slightly.
After a moment of silence, she smiled gently and stroked Erika’s silvery-white hair.
“Sorry. I was being overprotective.
You’re right—Erika, you should learn to face this world.
Be careful and come back soon.”