Chapter 69: The Inspector Who Forgot to Stay Awake

A guest from the royal capital had arrived at the Rose Inn.

“Is this the place?”

The Rose Inn. 

A small inn on the kingdom’s frontier.

How had it made it to the final candidates?

“To think I’d have to come all the way here for evaluation.”

The man, with dark circles under his eyes, scanned the inn’s exterior.

‘Nothing particularly special here.’

His sagging shoulders and bloodshot eyes made him look exhausted.

He was Roman, the evaluator for the “Kingdom Inn Evaluation Festival” held every autumn.

“Hmm….”

He entered the inn with slow steps.

“Welcome. This is the Rose Inn.”

The lobby staff greeted him brightly. For a frontier place, they were quite friendly and polite.

Still, it wasn’t enough to earn especially high points.

“I’d like to stay here for a night.”

“What kind of room would you like?”

“A quiet one, please. I have severe insomnia.”

“Severe insomnia? We happen to have a sleep package at our inn—how about trying it?”

“A sleep package?”

This was a service he’d never heard of before.

“Fine. Let’s do that.”

“Then, I’ll guide you to your room.”

In the meantime, Roman’s dark circles seemed to deepen, and he showed signs of fatigue.

He followed the staff’s guidance. Having barely slept last night, his head throbbed.

His nerves were already sensitive, and changing sleeping places made it even harder to fall asleep—staying at an inn irritated him.

He’d tried various things to overcome his insomnia. He’d changed his bedding and exercised regularly.

There had been some meaningful effects. 

But due to his sensitive personality, even a little stress would bring the insomnia back in full force.

‘How about trying sleep herb?’

‘That’s a poisonous herb used on monsters.’

‘Don’t you know the saying that even poison can be medicine if used well?’

‘Is that so?’

At a friend’s recommendation, after much deliberation, he started brewing and drinking sleep herb. 

The effect was undeniable. 

As soon as he took it, he’d fall into such a deep sleep that he wouldn’t notice if someone carried him away.

It felt like he’d returned to a normal life.

But it was an illusion. 

It only seemed that way when he took the herb; his insomnia had actually worsened, and over time, the dosage increased.

Thinking it couldn’t go on, he tried quitting the sleep herb, but he ended up going back to it repeatedly. 

He feared he might have to take it for life, but he thought it would be fine if he controlled it well.

However, his dependence grew, eventually reaching the point where he couldn’t sleep without the herb.

Then, the problem exploded.

‘Where were you wandering around at dawn?’

‘What are you talking about? When?’

‘Don’t you remember? Last night, you suddenly went out and came back an hour later.’

He didn’t remember at all. It was a side effect—wandering around while asleep.

He quit the sleep herb immediately. He felt like something bad would happen if he continued.

Reversing his body, accustomed to the sleep herb, required grueling effort and determination.

Still, he gritted his teeth and endured the temptation of the sleep herb, getting through day by day. 

His insomnia still fluctuated between severe and improved.

Would he have to live like this forever?

One day, as he lived in resignation.

‘How about becoming an inn evaluator?’

He turned his flaw into an opportunity. 

With his sensitivity to sleeping conditions, he became a more picky and skilled evaluator than anyone.

“This is your room.”

Lost in thought, Roman had arrived at the door before he knew it.

Click-

Roman opened the guest room door. 

A subtle floral scent wafted through the crack.

The moment he inhaled the gentle, natural floral aroma, it felt like his sharp nerves were calmly settling.

“Mr. Roman. Please come in.”

Roman, who had been momentarily dazed, nodded and entered the guest room.

“…The room is nice.”

It wasn’t empty words.

Elegant embroidered curtains. 

Comfortable yellow lighting. 

Carpet on the floor.

Neatly arranged bedding.

He acknowledged it was a luxurious room, but luxury and good sleep were separate matters.

“I’ll draw a warm bath for you.”

“Huh? I can do it myself.”

“It’s included in the sleep package.”

Roman couldn’t hide his bewilderment. 

Drawing bathwater for him?

While the staff filled the tub, Roman scanned the room once more.

For the first impression, he definitely had to give high points.

But he hadn’t found anything worthy of special points yet.

A short while later.

“Soaking in warm water makes you drowsy and helps with sleep. I’ve prepared warm water in the tub, so relax and enjoy.”

Roman headed to the bathtub.

As the staff said, the tub contained just warm water. 

He’d wondered if there was some unique method prepared, but this was disappointingly ordinary.

“Hmm….”

For a proper evaluation, he immersed himself in the tub.

Warmth enveloped his body. 

Roman scooped up water and washed his face.

The water also carried a fragrant floral scent. 

It was the same aroma that had filled the room since he entered.

Closing his eyes, the pleasant scent evoked images of a field blooming with countless flowers.

Soon, Roman was lost in imagination.

He was lying in a field, basking in warm sunlight. Blossoming flowers surrounded him, and with each breeze, a fragrant floral aroma spread.

For a while, Roman’s mind was a flower field.

In other words, his mind was utterly clear. 

The clutter that always filled it had momentarily emptied out.

“It’s comfortable… Huh?!”

Roman couldn’t understand the words he’d just uttered himself.

‘What did I just say? Did I really feel comfortable?’

He had no idea what had happened.

Come to think of it, the pressing headache from earlier had subsided somewhat, and warmth returned to his cold fingertips.

“What is this…?”

Just from soaking in warm water? 

Was that possible?

“No.”

It couldn’t be just from soaking in warm water. Maybe for others, but not for him.

Shaking his head repeatedly, Roman rose from the tub.

When he came out, the staff was still waiting.

“How was the bath?”

“It was decent. My headache subsided, and some tension in my body released.”

“I’m glad it was effective. I’ve prepared a meal, so please sit here.”

“What’s all this?”

Food was already set on the table.

“A full stomach helps with sleep. I prepared foods especially good for sleep.”

Roman approached the table. It wasn’t his usual meal.

No potatoes, and beside it were raw plant leaves. It was too plain for a salad, with no dressing.

As Roman hesitated with a puzzled look, the staff who had been guiding him smiled and spoke.

“I’ll explain how to eat it from now. This is ‘ssam,’ enjoyed in the Eastern Continent.”

“Eastern Continent food. No wonder it seemed unfamiliar.”

“These are sesame leaves and lettuce. Put rice on them, add a bit of ssamjang on top, and wrap it to eat. The nutrients good for the body will help with sleep.”

Roman started making ssam as explained. 

It was a bit clumsy, but a plausible ssam was completed.

Food wrapped in leaves. It seemed healthy, but it looked bitter at a glance.

Roman hesitated to put the leaf in his mouth.

“You have to put it all in one bite.”

“One bite?”

The staff nodded.

Gulp.

For a proper evaluation, Roman mustered courage and shoved the ssam into his mouth.

“Mmph….”

With his mouth full, it was hard to move his jaw. He felt the texture of the leaf on his tongue. 

As expected, a faint bitterness lingered.

“Chew thoroughly.”

Munch munch.

At that moment.

“Hmm?!”

The more he chewed, the sweetness from the rice grains and the freshness and unique aroma of the vegetables stimulated his appetite.

Above all, the sauce.

It was salty yet sweet, slightly spicy yet nutty, and even umami-rich.

It dramatically elevated the flavor of the ssam.

“What is this sauce?”

“It’s ‘ssamjang.’ A mix of gochujang, doenjang, and sesame oil.”

Gochujang, doenjang? Roman didn’t know the listed ingredients, but he could tell special ones were involved.

Roman looked at the ssam with affectionate eyes.

It was a truly shocking taste. Intense enough to make his body sway momentarily, but a pleasant shock.

Roman quickly moved his hands to make another ssam. 

This time, he adjusted the amount to fit in one bite. Instead, he added more ssamjang.

Crunch crunch.

With each chew, the harmony of the fresh, crunchy ssam vegetables and the glossy, flowing rice. 

The ssamjang hit the peak of flavor.

A feast of tastes unfolded in Roman’s mind. There was no room for stray thoughts. 

Right now, he only craved to savor the food.

“I’m happy….”

Roman muttered to himself without realizing. 

But this time, he wasn’t surprised. 

The taste on his tongue was honest.

Roman leisurely finished his meal.

“How was the meal?”

“It was really delicious. I wonder if I’ve ever focused on food like this in my life.”

Even after eating everything, there was no burden. It was truly fresh and wondrous cuisine.

What on earth was this inn’s identity? 

Just the food made the inn seem different.

In Roman’s heart, wariness faded, and admiration for the Rose Inn stirred.

“It might be burdensome to sleep right after, so how about a cup of tea to aid digestion?”

“Let’s do that.”

The staff cleared the meal, and soon teacups arrived. Small petals floated in the teacup.

Come to think of it, the pervasive aroma in the room and the scent in the bathroom were the same as this.

“What is this?”

“It’s chamomile. A herb with a subtle apple scent. It has nerve-calming and sleep-inducing effects.”

“Ah, I see. So that’s why….”

Roman trailed off. 

But the staff smiled as if understanding without words.

Only then was Roman certain.

Everything had been the inn’s plan from the start, and above all, it was working precisely.

Strangely, this place had become comfortable at some point.

If someone asked later what it was like, he’d first recall the fragrant flower field and delicious ssam.

Already, good memories of the inn filled Roman’s heart.

Slurp.

Roman’s lips curved up as he sipped the tea.

The staff drew the curtains and said,

“Sleep in as much darkness as possible. Light interferes with sleep.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“I’ll be going now. Rest well.”

Left alone in the room, Roman approached the bed. Somehow, he felt like he could sleep well tonight.

As he lay on the bed.

Soft.

It felt like lying on a cloud. 

The soft bedding warmly enveloped his entire body.

A warmth reminiscent of a mother’s embrace, long forgotten in memory, was conveyed.

“Ah, it’s so comfortable.”

An exclamation escaped naturally. He wanted to stay lying like this.

Ah, I need to turn off the light. But… it’s a hassle to move….

Zzz.

Roman soon fell into the deep sleep he’d dreamed of.

Knock knock.

***

The staff knocked on the guest room door. 

It was well past noon, so he thought the guest would be awake by now.

But there was no response. Had he left without a word?

Just in case, he gently opened the door and peeked inside.

Snore snore.

A snoring sound came through the crack. He was still asleep.

Without needing to confirm with him, it was clear the effect had been excellent.

The staff turned away with a pleased step.