No amount of bravado could hide the truth: Momonga was nearly broke.
Between Carne Village's donations and Gazef's gift, Momon had enough to survive—but only modestly. Certainly not enough to indulge in luxury.
Which was why, when she wandered E-Rantel's streets and spotted the gleaming sign:
The Golden Pavilion
—her fate was sealed.
It was the most prestigious inn in the entire kingdom. Aristocrats stayed here. Foreign dignitaries. Wealth that she, as Suzuki Satoru, had only ever seen in movies.
Her heart fluttered.
"A little indulgence won't hurt… right?"
She stepped inside.
A chandelier glittered overhead. Plush carpets softened her steps. Everything reeked of money and refinement. She felt like an imposter—but a very excited imposter.
"Welcome to the Golden Pavilion, honored guest," a perfectly-poised receptionist greeted. "Will you be staying with us tonight?"
Momon nodded proudly. "Yes. One night, please."
The receptionist checked the ledger.
"We have only our Royal Suite available."
Royal.
Suite.
Momonga's brain short-circuited.
But her mouth said:
"That will be fine."
Why?
Why did she say that!?
A moment later:
"That will be this much, paid in advance."
Momon froze.
The number was… monstrous.
It was literally all the money she had.
A single night. One room. One dinner.
The receptionist waited politely.
Suzuki Satoru, a lifelong Japanese salaryman incapable of saying "no" to customer service workers…
…paid in full.
And went bankrupt.
"Uwaaaaaaaaahhhhhh—!!"
Momon collapsed onto the Royal Suite's luxurious bed, face buried in the sheets as she screamed silently into the linens.
The suite was huge. Exquisite. Beautiful. Worth every coin.
But she wanted to die.
"I can't believe I did that—! I'm ruined! Ruined on day one!"
She rolled helplessly across the giant mattress, burying herself deeper.
Eventually, she sat up, slapped her cheeks, and tried to think rationally.
"...Okay. Calm down. I still have options. I just… need to earn money. Fast."
Which meant:
Adventurer registration.
And so she went to the guild.
"May I take the most difficult quest available?" she asked earnestly.
The receptionist, Ishpen, blinked.
"...Apologies. Copper-ranked adventurers may only accept copper-ranked quests."
"But I can use third-tier magic. And I'm a warrior."
The guild hall stirred.
Whispers.
"What did she say?"
"Third-tier? As a warrior?"
"She's a monster!"
Even Ishpen blinked in surprise—but her answer remained firm.
"Rules are rules."
Momonga wilted.
Of course rules were rules. Why wouldn't they be?
"Very well… I'll return tomorrow."
She walked out, shoulders slumped.
Inside her armor, she mourned the death of her finances.
Outside, the entire adventurer guild burst into chaos.
A third-tier magic-wielding, breathtaking warrior woman—Copper rank!?
By sunset the whole guild was gossiping about Momon nonstop.