Chapter 73
“Still, we made it before the day ended.”
A two-story Motel came into view for Max’s group.
The building was built wide to maximize the number of rooms, with stairs installed on both sides.
Even so, it looked like it had fewer than ten rooms, a truly simple structure.
‘I’ll have to head to a Nomad Village tomorrow and buy gas first.’
Entering the Wasteland today, stopping by Chili Oasis, and reaching the Salami Motel, he had gone through so many jerry cans he’d lost count.
The pickup truck, a Brick99, didn’t have the best fuel efficiency, but since they had been driving all day, it was only natural to worry about the increasingly lighter cargo bed regardless of the vehicle.
“Oppa. Looks like they have quite a few customers here. There are barely any empty spots in the parking lot.”
“Ooh~ Guess business is pretty good. How everyone finds this place out here is beyond me.”
Max was grateful to Flora and Ellen, who had kept up an endless stream of chatter until they arrived. Thanks to them, the long drive hadn’t been boring.
“Let’s get out. Good work, everyone.”
“…Oppa went through the most trouble. We just sat there.”
“Oppa, you did great! You’re a good Driver!”
The three of them stretched as soon as they stepped out of the car, as if on cue.
Shaking off his stiffness, Max used Psychokinesis to neatly arrange the fuel cans from the cargo bed inside the vehicle and covered them with a waterproof tarp.
He finished up by making sure the doors were locked.
“This should be enough for now.”
If someone broke a window or applied a similar Impact, the alarm would go off.
In their current situation, resting while keeping an ear out was the best option.
“Let’s go.”
As Max moved toward the building, Flora and Ellen followed behind him, chattering away.
“If this were a rom-com cliché, there’d only be one room left. You know? And we’d have missed the last train.”
“You really don’t read your textbooks at the Academy, do you…”
Leading the two toward the Motel Counter, Max noticed an outdated Hologram scrolling across the wall.
It was a notice posted by the Salami Motel. Checking its contents, he instantly grasped their management style.
“Makes sense.”
The Salami Motel was a lodging facility. But the Wasteland was no tourist destination.
Because of that, they didn’t really expect customers who would just sleep for a day or two and leave.
The Motel’s main customers were nomads, and it seemed the Motel was looking for long-term guests who would stay for years at a time.
“I wonder if they even have a room to spare for just one night.”
Max pulled up his mask and rang the call bell sitting on the Counter.
A man who had been sitting in a chair fiddling with a radio approached, rolling his eyes through the narrow gap.
“How many?”
“Three, as you can see.”
“Hmm, how long are you staying?”
“One night.”
“…Tsk.”
Realizing they weren’t long-term guests, he openly clicked his tongue.
It was a familiar attitude that reminded him of Haze’s Lower District.
But the one thing that could solve all of this was, as always, money.
Showing off wealth in the Wasteland came with plenty of downsides, but there was nothing better for making someone overcome their refusal.
“I’d like a room for just one night. Since there are three of us, I’m willing to pay this much.”
As Max held out a stack of credits, the Owner’s pupils dilated.
He snatched the stack of money with plump, fleshy hands and slid over a key.
“There’s only one room. If you don’t like it, I can give you a refund.”
“No. This will do.”
The news that there was only one room reached the ears of Flora and Ellen, who were standing behind Max.
Both of their bodies twitched unconsciously. Their minds reeled. Their lips trembled with an inexplicable tension.
“Checkout is 11 AM, based on the clock in the room. An extra charge applies if you’re late.”
“Okay.”
“Disposable towels and soap are sold over there, so buy some if you plan on washing up.”
Max grabbed the key and headed over to the vending machine selling disposable goods.
The moment he saw it, his first thought was that the prices were steep.
“…Still, they probably sell well.”
To get items like these, you’d have to travel to a Nomad Village at the very least.
Leaving the purchases to Flora and Ellen, Max headed to another vending machine.
A vending machine that sold bottled water was a black hunk of metal with red and green holograms scrolling across it.
Although the products it sold were different, it was a vending machine model commonly seen in the city’s Lower District - a sturdy machine designed with the sticky fingers of the Lower District in mind.
“Is it a bit different from the ones in Haze? Maybe they brought it in from another city.”
First, he bought three bottles of water.
They boasted a hefty price tag, but it wasn’t a burden. Besides, they didn’t have much of a choice right now.
Max led Flora and Ellen, who had their arms full of disposable items, toward their room.
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When Max opened the door, the two couldn’t hide their dismay.
“Ah…”
“Ugh, how are the three of us supposed to sleep in a place like this?”
“Still, it’ll be more comfortable than sleeping in the car.”
The room was definitely cramped. It was about the size of the Studio apartment Max had lived in right after his regression.
The only facility was a restroom that doubled as a shower.
Naturally, there was no television or Refrigerator. The only Electronic Device was a clock hanging on the wall. Even that had quite a discrepancy compared to the time on their smartphones.
There was no bed, just some blankets and pillows piled up in the corner.
They just had to be satisfied with being able to escape the sandstorms and sleeping with their legs stretched out.
Meanwhile, Flora and Ellen were flustered by the unimaginably cramped room.
Max looked around the room, checking to see if any devices had been installed.
“Oppa. What are you doing?”
“Just checking to see if there are any cameras or bugs.”
“…Oppa, your professional paranoia is no joke.”
“It never hurts to be careful. You two get ready for bed first. I’ll step outside while you wash up.”
While Max finished his sweep, Flora and Ellen hesitantly took off their shoes and stepped into the room.
They set the disposable items they had been carrying on the floor and tore them open.
“Is this a towel or sandpaper? It’s so rough. It’s going to peel my skin right off.”
“It’s disposable, so it’ll probably soften up once it touches water. Just deal with it.”
“This Girl can’t even adapt herself, but she’s acting all foxy just because Oppa is here.”
“…Stop spouting nonsense. I’m not a fox; I’m a Wolf.”
The two of them bickered, bringing a lively energy to the cramped room.
Max liked that this mission wasn’t lonely. It even reminded him of the times he had spent with Usagi.
“Oppa, you know, right? No matter how much you want to look, if you peek, lightning will strike you dead! Got it?”
Max met Ellen’s joke with a chuckle and slipped his shoes back on.
“I’ll go keep an eye on the car, so call me when you’re done.”
Max kept watch over the car from outside while the two of them washed up.
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Max’s group spread out the blankets roughly on the floor and called it a day.
For starters, Max took the side closest to the restroom, Flora took the middle, and Ellen lay down against the wall.
“Girl. If you cross over, I’ll zap you with electricity, so watch it.”
“You’re the one who needs to watch it. If you cross over, I’ll burn you to a crisp.”
Flora and Ellen kept shoving each other’s shoulders, fighting for Territory in the already cramped room, making it impossible to sleep comfortably.
Peace only arrived after Max was asked to move to the middle, acting as a physical barrier between them.
The peace settled in quickly.
“Are they both asleep already?”
He could hear the sound of their steady breathing. The new environment must have worn them out.
Flora was the quiet type who didn’t move an inch even in her sleep.
But Ellen was the exact opposite.
“Mmm…”
Did she usually sleep with a body pillow? She was tangling herself around him like some kind of creeping vine.
“She made such a fuss earlier, telling me not to pretend to sleep-talk and not to hug her.”
Having Ellen act like this instead was quite flustering.
Her grip was so strong that he didn’t even dare try to move without using his magic.
‘…It’s not like this is some binding Spell.’
Max gave up and closed his eyes.
The warmth and peculiar sensation Ellen provided chased away his drowsiness, but he tried his best anyway.
Just as Max’s consciousness was slowly drifting away…
Ellen’s clinging body gave a sudden jolt! Max opened his eyes and looked to his side, meeting Ellen’s gaze.
A smirk tugged at the corners of Max’s mouth at Ellen’s flustered expression as he whispered.
“Did you dream you were falling?”
“…Yeah.”
“You must be growing.”
“I’m not a kid…! Ahem!”
Ellen removed the leg she had draped over Max, pulled her body away, and lay flat on her back.
As if embarrassed that she had been hugging him, she scratched her forehead and muttered softly.
“Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Sorry.”
“Suddenly? Did you cause some kind of trouble?”
“Not that…!”
Ellen tried her best not to raise her voice. She reined in her emotions and continued.
“You ended up getting dragged all the way out to the Wasteland because of me. I know I’m being a nuisance.”
“You brought me work, so how is that a nuisance? I’m grateful. Besides, it’s fun traveling together.”
Ellen’s eyebrows twitched. The corners of her mouth quirked up along with them.
“Really? You’re not lying? Being with me isn’t annoying, it’s fun…?”
“Why would I lie about something like this? I’ve never been annoyed with you, Ellen.”
Max broke his eye contact and closed his eyes.
But Ellen kept her gaze stubbornly fixed on Max’s profile. Feeling her stare, Max couldn’t help but speak up again.
“Go to sleep. We’re going to be busy starting tomorrow. If you lose focus, you could get hurt.”
“Still, if things get dangerous, you’ll protect me, right, Oppa?”
“I’ll do my best.”
It was a blunt answer, but Ellen could sense exactly how Max would act. A satisfied laugh slipped from her lips.
“Oh, right. Oppa.”
“Yeah.”
“Come visit the Academy sometime.”
What was she talking about? Max’s eyes fluttered open.
“Aren’t outsiders barred from even entering, in the first place…?”
“We can just meet out front. Come by during lunch and let’s grab a bite. It’s possible now since you’re close by.”
“Well, if I’m free, that sounds nice.”
The dead of night was making Ellen more emotional and affectionate than usual.
Even Ellen wasn’t immune to the unique atmosphere and sentimentality brought on by the Wasteland’s night sky and being in a closed room with a man.
“And you’ll come to my Academy graduation, right? Make sure to bring a pretty bouquet that suits me.”
“Flora is graduating, so of course I have to go.”
“Are you kidding me? You should be coming to see me.”
“Why would it be like that?”
“Because this is my first time sleeping with a man, you have to take Responsibility, right?”
As Ellen lightly pressed Max with a coquettish voice,
Flora, who had her eyes closed, twitched her Wolf ears.