Of course Erika was happy to take gold from a fool who was practically giving it away.

As the mustached man walked away, the last bald man could only slink off after him. The tavern, which had been lively just moments ago, now felt rather empty.

She’d finished eating and watching the show, and with nothing else to do, Erika clutched the gold coins in her little hands and headed over to the counter to find Gladys.

“Miss, I really can’t lower the price any further. This is already the going rate’s rock-bottom.”

“Then let me owe you for now. I’ll pay you back later.”

“Please understand, this is a tavern, not a Temple that shows mercy to all living things.”

At the counter, Gladys was still trying to negotiate something with the tavern’s owner.

The tavern owner was a middle-aged woman wearing an apron. She looked exasperated. “We have to make a living. If every customer owed us money like you do, how would we stay in business?”

Facing the landlady’s firm expression, Gladys pressed her red lips together, looking troubled.

She was out of money. She’d planned to rent a room for herself and Erika to stay in for a while, then figure out how to get some money.

But the prices here were far higher than she’d expected. She had only a few copper coins—not nearly enough to rent a room, or even a basement. The landlady had no reason to agree.

Gladys still didn’t want to give up. She had a way to get money, but she didn’t want Erika to be left wandering from place to place with her in the meantime.

“Just for half a day…”

“No.”

The landlady was just as firm. Businesspeople talked about money, not feelings.

“Gladys.”

Just then, Erika tugged at Gladys’s skirt from below. She’d realized Gladys was out of money, and was about to hand over the gold coin the mustached man had given her.

But before Erika could even reach out, Gladys scooped her up in an affectionate embrace, holding her like a child in her arms, just as she had before.

When the landlady saw that Gladys had brought along a pretty child, something shifted in her eyes.

“Is she your daughter… or maybe your little sister?” the landlady asked, pointing at Erika.

Gladys didn’t answer. Holding Erika, she turned to leave. If they couldn’t stay here, she’d just have to find somewhere else.

“Sigh…”

The landlady let out a sigh and shook her head with a wry smile. “Miss, actually, I have a room that the Temple sealed off. Seeing as you’ve got a child with you, you must be having a hard time. If you don’t mind, you can stay there. Of course, I won’t charge you.”

Hearing that it was free, Erika pulled back the little hand she’d been about to reach out with.

A deal like that really existed?

“All right.”

Gladys quickly accepted on the spot.

“But there are a few things I need to make clear first.”

The landlady narrowed her eyes. “There are some strange rumors about that room. People say it eats people. The Temple even sent people to investigate and sealed the room off.”

“A room that eats people?”

Safe in Gladys’s arms, Erika looked surprised. “Does it really eat people?”

“You innocent girl. Of course it’s just a rumor!”

The landlady sounded annoyed as she went on. “A few travelers did disappear from that room without a trace, but that doesn’t mean the room was to blame.

“I don’t understand why the Temple sealed it off—and it’s been five years now! Do you know how much I’ve lost because of that room?”

So it was a room with a ghost story attached. No wonder the landlady was willing to offer it…

“Anyway, if you’re willing, you can stay there.

“But I want to make one thing clear: I won’t be responsible for your safety. After all, I’m not charging you.”

The landlady spoke with righteous conviction. In her heart, she thought that the room was sealed off and just sitting there unused anyway. She might as well let the two of them stay in it.

If nothing happened to them, wouldn’t that prove there was nothing wrong with the room?

After all, for the past few years, the room’s eerie rumors had driven many travelers away from her tavern.

“That’s fine. We’ll stay there,” Gladys said with a nod.

“It’s the last room at the end of the second-floor hallway. Here’s the key.

“It’s got all the furniture you’ll need. No one’s staying there, but I still clean it every day.”

The landlady generously handed her the key.

On the way to the room, Erika remembered the ghost story and started to feel uneasy. She looked up at Gladys’s stunning face.

“We don’t have to stay there, you know.”

“It’s all right.”

Gladys reached out to stroke Erika’s hair, her voice as gentle as ever. “I’m here. Nothing will happen to you.”

“No… I mean, I have money.”

“Hm?”

Taking the chance, Erika brought out the gold coin the mustached man had given her. She was going to hand 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 just now,” Erika answered honestly.

“Remember this next time: don’t take things from strangers.”

“But it’s only a gold coin.”

“Then why would he give you a gold coin?”

“I don’t know…”

“Remember what I told you, Erika.”

Gladys’s expression turned serious. “In this world, no one gives you something for nothing out of pity. Everything people do has a purpose. Don’t accept things from others so carelessly.”

“Oh.”

Gladys sounded stern, like an elder scolding her daughter. But Erika understood the reasoning—she still had the memories of her previous life, after all. She knew how these things worked.

“Do you want the gold coin, then?”

“You keep it.”

Murmuring softly, Gladys opened the door to the room with the ghost story.

It really was clean inside, just as the landlady had said. She cleaned it every day.

It had all kinds of furniture and wardrobes, and a large bed stood in the center. It was clear that even if the landlady hadn’t offered them the room today, she’d planned to put it back into use eventually.

Gladys set Erika down on the big bed. Erika looked around. Maybe the rumor about the room eating people was just that—a rumor, exactly as the landlady had said.

After sitting on the bed for a while, Erika got bored. She tugged at the oversized dress she was wearing. It was obviously Gladys’s, and it didn’t suit Erika at all.

Now that she had money, why not go buy herself a few outfits?

The thought struck her, and she hurried over to Gladys. “I want to go buy some clothes.”

“Wait a little. I’ll take you later.”

Gladys replied calmly, then pulled several glass bottles from who knew where. Erika couldn’t tell what she planned to do with them.

Erika didn’t ask. She just blinked. “I can go by myself. I have money.”

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go alone.”

“I want to go, Gladys. I’m not as helpless as you think.”

At that, Gladys turned to look Erika in the eyes. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment.

“No.”

In the end, Gladys flatly refused.

Damn it, was this woman really treating her like a little kid? She wouldn’t even let Erika go buy clothes by herself?

Erika bit her lip, looking sulky.

“I want to go. Let me go.”

“I’ll take you later. Be good.”

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, Gladys.”

Erika’s voice grew serious too. “I… may have only just been born, but I’m not as weak and helpless as you think.”

“That’s not what I mean. I just…”

“You’re afraid something will happen to me?”

Erika blinked again. “Don’t worry. It’s broad daylight. Nothing’s going to happen to me.

“I want to try to understand this world, too. I can’t stay under your protection forever.”

Erika’s words were undeniably effective.

After hearing her out, Gladys looked a little surprised.

She was silent for a long while. Then she smiled faintly and gently stroked Erika’s gray-white hair.

“I’m sorry. I was being too overprotective.

“Erika, you should learn to face the world.”

“Be careful, and come back soon.”