Chapter 154

Chapter 154
Willy withdrew his hand from his brow and reset his posture.

It came as a shock that direct heirs of the Asteri Family were securing Egg Coins despite the punishing difficulty setting, yet conversely…

‘As anticipated.’

He had no alternative but to concede.

Not that he had remained entirely blind until this moment, of course.

Marquis Petrik needed no introduction, and the successor of Rikschel possessed a remarkably sharp intellect.

Was that not the very reason he was currently expanding his enterprise through that ingenious concept termed the ‘Hot Spring’?

Nevertheless.

‘Regarding Young Master Lion, however…’

He remained an enigma.

Having reached adulthood, his eventual formal participation as an Asteri would inevitably entangle him with Easter, yet intelligence regarding him was sparse.

Furthermore, the reputation preceding him amounted to little more than that of an eccentric oddity.

‘My initial meeting made it clear he was nothing of the sort.’

Simultaneously, deeper truths eluded his grasp.

Consequently, this trial involving the ‘Egg Coin’ served concurrently as a subtle gauge of Young Master Lion’s true capacity, daring though the measure might be.

Only through this assessment could Easter determine its future course of action.

The Asteri Family could be indulged out of familial ties, but Easter shared no such bond, did she?

‘Should a single decision of mine cause the hotel to stumble…’

What fate awaited the villagers whose entire livelihoods depended upon this establishment? What of the staff?

Their potential ruin outweighed any personal misfortune Willy might face.

Thus, he found himself presumptuously weighing the eldest son of the Asteri Family.

Had such audacity come to light… the mere thought caused a shiver to run down his spine.

Even so, Willy had no choice but to press forward.

He did so for the proprietor, and for the hotel—which he valued above the life of ‘Easter II,’ who had nurtured him since childhood!

With Easter II reduced to such frailty that movement was nearly impossible, Willy’s choices effectively represented Easter’s choices.

‘If he is found wanting… he must be relentlessly pruned away.’

Verification had to be absolute and unyielding…

Yet, before a definitive judgment could crystallize, an Egg Coin had already been won.

With a heavy sigh, Willy prepared to resume speaking.

An employee, struck by a sudden realization, chimed in belatedly.

“Ah! B-but reports suggest he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself.”

“Pardon?”

What prompted this abrupt mention of the guest’s amusement?

“Ah, my apologies. The manager invariably poses that exact query at the conclusion of this assessment, so I assumed you would inquire.”

“…Quite right.”

The manager felt as though a physical blow had landed upon him.

‘Indeed. I am accustomed to asking that.’

Was not the greatest happiness for Willy hearing that guests experienced a delightful stay?

Yet, consumed entirely by thoughts of the Egg Coin and the eldest son of the Asteri Family, that fundamental priority had slipped his mind.

His entire focus had narrowed to adjusting the difficulty parameters of the Egg Coin.

What purpose had the Egg Coin served initially?

Was it not conceived as a mechanism to allow patrons deeper enjoyment of the hotel’s amenities?

A sense of embarrassment and self-reproach washed over him.

Had the proprietor witnessed his current state, a severe reprimand surely would have followed.

“Prioritize the path that brings joy to the guests above all else. Whether Easter functions as a hotel or a humble inn is of no consequence. Do you comprehend?”

“Heh heh.”

A hearty chuckle escaped Willy despite himself.

Perhaps the presence of high-ranking visitors had simply stretched his nerves to a breaking point.

“Very well. In particular, which aspects seemed to please him?”

“He mentioned a deep appreciation for the comfort provided to the animals staying on the grounds. Additionally, he raised a thoughtful point regarding the snack acquisition process.”

“Snacks?”

“Indeed. He questioned whether creatures dwelling within the forest or those of a wary disposition might be excluded from receiving treats.”

“……!”

A valid point.

Yet it was precisely the sort of detail easily forgotten while absorbed in one’s own leisure.

A fleeting pang of sympathy might arise initially, soon supplanted by the fascination of observing charming or enigmatic beasts.

Even so.

‘Once departed from the premises, wouldn’t that lingering regret surface?’

Ah, were those poor creatures neglected after all?

Naturally, the hotel staff attended to them, but an inexplicable unease remained—sentiments of that nature.

Consequently, a pleasant hotel experience could conclude with a bitter aftertaste.

Though a minute detail, management required acute awareness of such matters.

At the very least, posting a notice confirming that ‘These animals are receiving proper care’ would suffice.

‘Did Young Master Lion deduce even that?’

Certainty eluded him still.

Instead, a fresh sentiment stirred within Willy’s chest.

The impulse to exclude had vanished, replaced by an eager anticipation of what further insights might be harvested through this young man’s acute perception.

‘To achieve that……’

The established plan required no alteration.

Every scheduled phase would proceed as intended.

“And the remaining facilities?”

“No other guests have secured an Egg Coin as of yet, though with dinner hour approaching, several wins are highly probable.”

“Understood.”

Whether such meticulousness manifested solely toward animals or extended further remained to be observed.

—

“Whew. Appetite is peaking.”

“……Indeed. I am famished.”

Lion stretched his refreshed limbs and strolled at a leisurely pace out from the ranch.

Beside him, Rikschel presented a somewhat exhausted figure.

His entire frame remained rigid.

While riding the deer was hardly unpleasant, unfamiliarity with animals had caused every muscle to tense involuntarily.

Ordinarily, such a predicament would evoke pure irritation…

A sideways glance.

At the periphery of Rikschel’s vision stood his elder brother, wearing a smile that seemed to ask whether he had failed to enjoy the outing.

‘Still, I am glad Older Brother found pleasure in it.’

Brushing away a stray hair of deer fur clinging to his outer garments, Rikschel offered a subdued chuckle.

Should another opportunity to visit arise in the future, however.

‘The Family Head ought to be recommended to experience this.’

Would it not be fitting to subject him to this hardship—no, this unique experience at least once?

Such an experience was far too valuable to keep to oneself.

“Older Brother. What shall we select for dinner?”

“Shall we dine on-site?”

While private room service offered quiet leisure and dining, Lion was resolved to investigate every corner of Easter’s offerings.

Dining in the public spaces seemed far more conducive to discovering Egg Coins or hidden surprises than ordering privately.

“Agreed. Then let us proceed in that direction.”

Navigating with the familiarity of someone possessing an internal map, Rikschel expertly led the way toward the restaurant.

Passing through the lobby toward the dining hall, a mouth-watering aroma drifted forward, where staff members stood aligned to escort patrons to their tables.

“Allow us to guide you within.”

Acting as though intimately familiar with the itinerary of every hotel resident, the employees effortlessly ushered them to dining spots without demanding identification.

The table assigned to Lion offered an expansive view of the exterior scenery through a generously proportioned window.

‘This resembles a high-end restaurant far more than a simple dining hall.’

Neat tableware and bowls rested before him, crowned by a clean handkerchief and a menu description rendered in graceful calligraphy.

A singular detail proved somewhat unusual, however…

“Ahaha!”

“It’s a playground! A proper playground!”

Adjacent to the dining area, an indoor play zone allowed younger guests to expend their energy freely.

The subtle distinction lay in the materials; rather than garish plastic tailored to juvenile tastes, the structure was crafted from finely carved, premium-coated wood, imbuing it with an air of sophisticated craftsmanship.

“The architecture here is quite unique. Dust does not appear to be an issue, but if you find this arrangement unsuitable, I can arrange for immediate room service…”

“Negative. This is quite acceptable.”

Lion waved a hand dismissively alongside an approving smile.

‘Such a feature is preferable.’

The heartwarming atmosphere, absent from previous visits, stirred an unforced sense of well-being.

“Does that playground meet with your approval, Older Brother?”

“Indeed. Children harbor a relentless urge to run, even while partaking in meals.”

Ah, that reminded him—had Rikschel not mentioned operating a ‘spa’ venture nearby?

In light of that… *sniff* Perhaps dropping a casual suggestion was in order?

“A waterproof slide might prove somewhat challenging to implement, wouldn’t it?”

“……!”

“Now then, let us examine the menu.”

Lion shifted his attention to the bill of fare, leaving Rikschel—who appeared to have been struck by a sudden wave of inspiration—frozen in place.

Ranging from appetizers to substantial main courses, the selections utilized premium ingredients without a single misstep.

Yet…

“Hmm?”

Lion’s brow twitched faintly as his gaze dropped to the dessert section.

『 Easter Special ‘Secret’ Chocolate Bonbon』

* Restricted to children and minors. Patrons unable to consume alcohol will be provided with a chocolate crunch substitute.

This entry stood in stark contrast to the straightforward naming conventions of the other dishes.

‘Secret, eh….’

A brief survey of the surrounding exterior followed.

Come to think of it, despite holding the title of the world’s premier hotel, ‘that’ particular feature remained entirely out of sight.

‘Then again, it may simply be absent.’

Intuition whispered that it was likely concealed with utmost discretion.

In truth, what location could serve better for fleeced nobility?

“Older Brother.”

“Yes?”

“My gratitude. Once again, you have bestowed invaluable insight. This concept truly ought to bear your name…”

“Ah. The dishes are arriving. Shall we satisfy our hunger before conversing further?”

Deliberately cutting off Rikschel’s trajectory, Lion tore into a freshly baked, piping-hot roll, slathered it liberally with butter and jam, and unceremoniously deposited it into Rikschel’s mouth.

“…….”

Silence descended upon Rikschel as his mouth was occupied.

Such an action directly contravened aristocratic etiquette.

A sense of grievance flickered within him, yet because the bread buttered by his Older Brother’s own hand tasted exceptionally fine, business discussions were postponed for another hour.

“Exquisite flavor.”

“Does it not?”

Given that Rikschel’s sole commentary was “good,” the culinary standard was clearly exceptional.

Furthermore, as each course was served, the staff provided polite elucidations regarding the ingredients, adding a pleasing auditory backdrop to the meal.

Curiously, despite the ambient chatter of numerous diners nearby, the atmosphere remained free of harsh noise.

A gentle, pleasant murmur hung in the air.

Some form of acoustic magic was undoubtedly at work.

Thanks to this consideration, patrons could immerse themselves fully in their dining experience.

“Good grief, I should poach their head chef for our own estate.”

“To think the interior could be cooked to such absolute perfection!”

Furthermore…

“Please do not hesitate to request additional portions should your appetite demand it.”

This luxurious repast featured unlimited refills!

Staff even prepared neatly packaged boxed lunches for patrons with modest appetites to carry away, alongside dedicated menus tailored specifically for children.

‘Commendable service.’

The designation as the Empire’s finest hotel was well-earned.

From a hospitality standpoint, the execution was breathtaking.

Nodding in satisfaction, Lion swallowed his final morsel of meat.

Recognizing the meal’s conclusion, an attendant swiftly cleared the plates and poured steaming, fragrant tea into porcelain cups.

“Did the meal meet with your satisfaction?”

“Exceedingly so.”

“It was quite acceptable.”

Beaming at the response, the employee presented the final course.

“This dessert incorporates spirits brewed directly on the Easter grounds. Additionally, it features crunch chocolate containing malt puffs manufactured via an proprietary Easter technique.”

Naturally, as a minor, Rikschel received the non-alcoholic chocolate crunch alternative.

“…….”

A look of mild dissatisfaction crossed his features.

As an heir apparent, instruction in fine spirits had undoubtedly already commenced for him.

Ordinarily, a word of solace might be offered… but attention required focusing squarely upon the chocolate at hand.

As anticipated, the attendant offered a supplementary clarification.

“For your information, select portions of these confections may conceal Egg Coins within them, so we advise consuming them with care.”

“……Egg Coins?”

As the employee’s announcement rippled through the hall, a sudden wave of murmurs swept across the restaurant interior.

An event of this nature!

Expectation flared brightly across the faces of the assembled guests.