Becoming A God In Another World With My Crush-Chapter 55: Only One Bed

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The gates of Jregon stood like quiet giants with stone walls surrounded the city like a shield, tall and fortified, wrapped as soldiers patrolled the perimeter, and heavy carts rumbled through the wide, open gate as merchants barked prices and travelers haggled noisily.

Xander pulled his hood lower over his face as they stepped into the stream of people, doing his best to blend into the flow of cloaks, scarves, and armor.

"I look normal, right?" he muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

"You look like shit," Iris replied without looking at him.

"Wow thanks, Iris."

"Anytime." She smirked.

Alyhana stayed close to them, her cloak pulled snug around her shoulders as her wide brown eyes swept the crowded street. "There are a lot of people here," she murmured. "More than I expected."

"Jregon's one of the last cities holding out against the Beast King," she added softly. "It's protected by a mix of magic and militia, but they've been on high alert for years, I heard even the children here know how to fight."

"Lovely," Xander muttered. "Can't wait to be beat up by a twelve-year-old."

Alyhana bit her lip, her expression serious. "Still, we should be careful. There are rumors that the Beast King sends spies to infiltrate cities like this — to weaken them from the inside before a full attack."

"So you're saying we should act totally normal and suspiciously not magical?" Iris said cheerfully.

Alyhana nodded. "Basically… yes."

"I already hate it here," Xander grumbled as a stranger brushed past him with a muttered apology.

But despite the tension and noise, there was something almost comforting about being surrounded by people again real people, living and breathing, buying things and yelling and shoving each other and doing all the chaotic things that came with being alive.

Even if the city felt like it was one bad day away from burning.

Xander's gaze wandered over the towering buildings, the banners flapping overhead with the city's sigil — a silver sun wrapped in thorny branches.

"I don't trust it," he said under his breath.

"Because it's peaceful?" Iris asked.

"Because it's too peaceful," he corrected. "Something always goes wrong right after we start getting comfortable."

Alyhana's hand hovered near her satchel like she was ready to summon a shield at any second. "Let's just get to an inn. Keep your head down, don't talk to anyone who looks suspicious..."

Xander sighed, adjusting the strap of his sword across his back as the three of them disappeared deeper into the city streets.

The inn wasn't fancy — but after days of forest, haunted memories, and near-death moments, the humble scent of hearth-smoke and the sight of a stable roof felt like a miracle from the gods.

The main room was small but clean, with stone-tiled floors, dried herbs strung across the ceiling beams, and the faint smell of roasted meat wafting from the kitchen. A fireplace crackled softly behind the desk, where a plump middle-aged woman with tired eyes and flour on her apron smiled at them kindly.

"Three travelers, is it?" she asked, already reaching for a ledger as they modded I'm response. "Not many folks with enough courage to travel these days."

"We're just passing through," Xander said quickly, tugging his hood a little lower.

The woman didn't seem to notice — or didn't care. "Well, you're in luck. We've got one room left."

"Perfect," Iris said, stepping forward with her usual confidence. "We'll take it."

The woman hesitated, eyeing all three of them. "Just so you know, it's… uh, a bit cozy but...only one bed left in that room."

There was a beat of silence.

"…I'm sorry, did you say one bed?" Xander asked, blinking.

The innkeeper nodded proudly. "One large bed. Three pillows, the blankets are real warm, knitted them myself."

Another silence.

Iris looked like she'd slapped right in her face. "Well...that sounds intimate."

Alyhana's entire soul left her body. "W-Wait, what—"

She nearly dropped her satchel, catching it at the last second with a frantic squeak as color exploded across her face. "T-Three of us in one bed?! Th–That's not proper! That's not—!"

"It's not like we're cuddling," Xander said, trying to sound reasonable and failing completely. "I'll sleep on the floor. Easy."

"Oh gods, don't be dramatic," Iris snorted, tossing a few coins onto the counter. The woman gasped at the four Zeymari, probably thinking that amount of money was way too much for just one bedroom. "It's not like any of us snore. Except maybe you."

"I don't snore."

"You mutter in your sleep," she said, smirking. "And you kick...and drool too."

Alyhana was still covering her face with both hands, trying to vanish behind her hair. "W–We should take turns sleeping. Maybe someone can stay up and watch the door?"

Xander gave her a deadpan look. "We just survived a haunted house and a ghost girl who nearly ate our souls. I think we're allowed one night of actual sleep."

"I second that," Iris said, already turning toward the hallway. "Come on."

A young boy with shaggy brown hair peeked out from the kitchen at the chaos and gave a small wave. "You can use the bathhouse too!"

"Okay," Xander muttered, dragging a hand down his face. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

As they followed Iris toward the room, Alyhana still hadn't recovered. Her ears were bright red, her satchel was clutched to her chest like a lifeline, and her eyes refused to make contact with anyone.

Xander glanced at her, mildly concerned. "You good?"

She gave a shaky nod. "Y-Yes. I'm perfectly fine. Sharing a bed. With two others. In close proximity. Absolutely normal."

"…You're not fine."

"Not even a little."

Iris flopped onto the bed as soon as the door shut behind them, arms stretched dramatically. "Ahh. Soft blanket. No ghosts. Heated bath. This is the best day ever."

Xander leaned his sword against the wall and sat carefully on the edge of the mattress. "It's really not that big of a deal."

Alyhana stood frozen by the door, stiff as a statue, whispering something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer to the gods for inner strength.

Dinner was warm.

Not just the food, but the feeling of it — a quiet table tucked into the corner of the inn's kitchen, a low fire crackling in the hearth, and the simple joy of being alive without immediate threat of being eaten by a shadow monster.

The innkeeper served them a thick vegetable stew with spiced meat and warm bread rolls that were so soft Alyhana nearly teared up at the first bite.

"O–oh my gods," she whispered, clutching the bread like it was the last holy relic of her temple. "It's fresh. I can feel the butter in my soul."

Xander snorted into his bowl. Iris leaned over and stole a second roll off Alyhana's plate while she was too busy marveling to notice.

"Don't mind if I do," Iris said, already chewing. "Oh~fuckkk."

Xander glanced at her when Iris moaned at the taste, she sounded so lewd it was crazy.

After dinner, they made their way to the small bathhouse connected to the inn — nothing fancy, just a stone tub deep enough to soak in, and enough hot water to remind them what being clean actually felt like.

Iris stepped out first, towel wrapped around her head like a crown. "Ugh, they don't even have any pink soap. I feel personally attacked."

"You smell fine," Xander said dryly, pulling on his shirt as he stepped into the main room.

"Have you been sniffing me, Xander?" she replied. "You're such a pervert."

'i should have just kept my damn mouth shut.' Xander thought, rolling his eyes.

Alyhana followed behind quietly, skin flushed from the warmth of the water, her short hair damp and tucked behind her ears. She looked lighter, in more ways than one — like the tension she carried from the manor had finally started to loosen its grip.

They settled around the fireplace in their room, the single bed now freshly made with thick blankets and fluffed pillows. A kettle boiled quietly near the hearth, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was no weight on their shoulders — no fight, no fear, no ghosts.

Iris leaned back on her elbows, stretching until her spine cracked. "So. Anyone else weirded out that we still haven't found the Veylith?"

"We'll find it," Xander muttered, gazing into the firelight.

Eventually, Xander stood and walked toward the window.

The city of Jregon glowed outside, golden lights flickering along the rooftops like stars scattered through stone and fog. It was quiet out there too. Safe, even if only temporarily.

His hand braced against the edge of the wooden frame as he stared out at the night.

He didn't speak loudly. Didn't need to.

"I hope she's at peace now," he said softly, mostly to himself. "Elina."

Eventually, Xander stepped back and returned to the bed, letting out a long breath as he dropped down onto the edge.

"Alright," he said with a stretch. "If I kick in my sleep, just hit me."

"You say that like I need permission," Iris muttered, flipping a pillow as she cuddled up against him.

Alyhana giggled quietly despite her blush, then reached over to hand him a blanket. "Sleep well, Xander."

"You too," he said, voice soft now.