The story of the black silk female knight

The current appearance of Chuyun City, part of the Four Islands Alliance, looks like a replica of the island nation that is China's neighbor, much like Tokyo before it was bombed by the US military.

Unlike the Franco people who prefer to live in stone houses or castles built with earth magic, the Four Islands Alliance people seem to have a special fondness for wooden houses. At a glance, more than 90% of the houses in Chuyun City are made of wood, and they rarely exceed three stories in height.

Of course, there are still some tall stone houses. For example, there is a seven-story stone brick building about 400 meters away from Valensa and the others at seven o'clock. The exterior is covered with rectangular tiles with exquisite patterns, which makes the whole building look high-end and classy. It stands out against the backdrop of the surrounding low wooden houses.

That's where we'll be staying.

Seeing that everyone's attention was drawn to that building, Chiba smiled and introduced it:

"The Emperor's family runs an ultra-luxury hotel that is exclusively for VIP guests. It operates on a membership system, and even the cheapest room costs 100 gold coins per night... It's not something you can just pay to stay in. Many minor nobles and small merchants can't get a room even if they pay."

According to the hotel's rules, at least one of three conditions must be met to check in.

First, those at the Radiant Rank can stay unconditionally; they just need to pay.

Second, one must possess a title of earl or higher, or pay a one-time membership fee of 2 gold coins.

Third, friends recognized by the Ditang family.

Our Chiba family and the Teido family are both among the three great families, and are Her Majesty the Queen's right-hand men, so direct descendants can naturally bring friends to stay.

"Of course, my elder sister, who possesses the Imperial Family's VIP insignia, can do so now too."

With the opening of the new trade route, Valensa had long since regained the spending power befitting a noblewoman. Although the extravagance of this inn sounds outrageous, it was nothing to Valensa.

"Go and have a look."

She quickly made a decision: first, she would check into a hotel and have a local specialty lunch, and then start exploring the sights in the afternoon.

The others were fine with it, and the group quickly crossed several streets and arrived at the inn.

When we were about 20 meters away from the red carpet in front of the hotel's main entrance, several hotel security guards dressed in black samurai outfits came over.

Facing Valensa, who was dressed as a high-ranking paladin and possessed an extraordinary air, the innkeepers first bowed very respectfully before saying:

"Excuse me, Miss Paladin, this is a members-only inn. Please show your credentials."

“This should be okay, right?”

Valensa smiled and took out the cyan hexagonal snowflake badge.

"Of course, this way please, distinguished guest."

The security guard glanced at the badge, then became even more respectful and made way for him.

After Valensa and her entourage had passed, the security guard who had stopped Valensa to question her earlier immediately shouted loudly towards the hotel entrance:

"Six VIPs, the highest level."

This sentence seemed to be some kind of activation command, and magical light immediately shone on both sides of the inn's main entrance.

Under Valensa and the others' curious and interested gazes, one after another, fox-girl lolis with animal ears, dressed in maid outfits and white stockings, materialized from magical light and stood on both sides of the red carpet, lifting their skirts and bowing in sweet voices:

"Welcome, esteemed guest!" xN

"what?"

At first, Valensa thought these beast-eared loli fox maids were just magical projections, and even reached out to touch the face of the nearest fox maid.

Unexpectedly, it was soft and warm to the touch, just like the face of a real beautiful girl. The fox maid who was touched showed a corresponding shy expression.

But after her initial shyness, the fox spirit showed no fear or anger. Instead, she stepped out of the line with a graceful smile and led the way, saying:

"Thank you for your request. It is my pleasure to serve you. This way, please."

Valensa became even more curious about the fox-girl lolis... She was quite certain that these fox-girl lolis were some kind of artificial magical creatures, as it was impossible for all normal creatures to look exactly alike.

However, she resisted her curiosity and didn't rush to ask, intending to check in first.

VIPs, of course, can't personally go to the counter to queue up for check-in; they can simply wait in the lounge area with soft sofas while sipping iced tea.

Soon, another fox girl with animal ears walked over, clattering in high heels. However, unlike the loli fox girl maid who had greeted and led the way earlier, this fox girl was a tall, mature woman in a uniform consisting of a shirt, a pencil skirt, and flesh-colored stockings. She was probably a counter clerk at the store.

Of course, the magical energy flowing through this waitress was also very obvious; she should be a magical creature like those loli fox maids.

After the uniformed fox-girl greeted Valensa and the others respectfully, she handed them a thick, hardcover booklet from her bosom. The booklet contained various types of hotel rooms, which Valensa and the others could choose from.

Valensa and her friends flipped through the catalog and discussed it briefly before quickly choosing a suite on the top floor of the hotel.

Although it's called a hotel suite, this room is actually quite similar to Valencia's luxurious penthouse from her previous life, with a total area of ​​over 300 square meters. It has three bedrooms, two living rooms, and a kitchen, and each bedroom has a spacious ensuite bathroom and a shower room with a bathtub.

Valensa naturally shared a bedroom with Tia, Chiba shared a bedroom with Melody, and Gil and Harry shared a bedroom.

Of course, this is just what Valensa told the waitress. In reality, Chiba might very well sneak into Valensa and Tia's room in the middle of the night and attack Valensa while Tia is asleep. And there's a very high probability that Melody will choose to live with Gilhari and act out love triangles every night.

Check-in was completed quickly. Thanks to the highest-level VIP badge, Valensa and her companions didn't even need to pay a deposit. They could even pay the bill when they left, as long as they had time to come back later.

After a brief explanation, the mature, fox-like waitress gave Valensa six room keys, bowed, and turned to leave.

The loli fox maid reappeared, leading Valensa and the others up the stairs to the top-floor suite.

Seeing that there was no one else around the stairwell, Valensa finally couldn't resist. She reached out and touched the fluffy fox ears of the loli fox maid, asking curiously:

"Would you mind telling me what exactly you are?"

"Oh? Don't you know us, esteemed guest? Oh~~ then you must be from another country, right?"

The loli fox maid was touched by Valensa and felt very shy, but she still answered seriously:

"We are shikigami... Originally, we were just ordinary red foxes living in the wild. Our master subdued us and gave us human form and intelligence, providing us with a safe and stable living environment. In return, we work for our master to repay him."

"Shikigami? Isn't that a unique technique of the Tsuchimikado family?"

Valensa frowned slightly, then looked at the thousand-leaf clover, which she also found very interesting:

"Cao Cao, you've never seen them before?"

"No."

Thousand-leaf grass shook its head:

“Our Chiba family owns property in Chuyun City and rarely stays in hotels… I did come to this hotel a few times with my second sister before, but she has a long-term guest room here, so we never have to check in. I’ve hardly ever seen any of the staff here… I do remember seeing some maids, but they all seemed to be ordinary humans?”

"We shikigami generally don't show ourselves."

The loli fox maid smiled and continued to explain:

“Normally, the inn’s guests are served by ordinary staff. Only when the highest-ranking VIPs, who carry blue snowflake-shaped badges, arrive to check in, will we shikigami represent our master to welcome them.”

"I see……"

Valensa nodded, then asked:

"But isn't shikigami magic a family tradition of the Tsuchimikado clan? Your master must be a member of the Teido family, right? Why would he know Tsuchimikado family magic?"

"I know that, I know that!"

Before the loli fox maid could even speak, Chiba Grass answered first:

"Big sister is so silly... Although our Chiba clan has served Her Majesty the Queen for generations and has never intermarried with other clans, the other two of the three great families, the Teido family and the Tsuchimikado family, often intermarry."

"Regarding that incident back then, although the Tsuchimikado main family was swiftly wiped out by the Queen, many Tsuchimikado descendants who married into the Teido family through marriage still retained their bloodline. It's quite normal for the Teido family members to know some of the Tsuchimikado's shikigami spells."

"exactly."

The loli fox maid nodded, agreeing with Chiba's answer:

“Our master’s grandmother was the eldest daughter of the Tsuchimikado family. The magic that turned our Red Fox clan into shikigami was something our master learned from his grandmother.”

"Understood……"

While the group chatted, they quickly climbed the seven-story staircase and arrived at their room.

As one of the best suites in a top luxury hotel, this room is truly worth the price.

The interior is decorated with luxurious furnishings comparable to those of a grand aristocratic mansion, not to mention the fantastic location on the top floor of the hotel.

This inn is arguably the tallest building near Chuyun City Port. It is surrounded by small wooden houses that are only two or three stories high. Even the city lord's mansion is only five stories high. From this room, you can have a panoramic view of almost the entire port, which is quite spectacular.

Not only that, the loli fox maid gave Valensa a bell before leaving, saying that the bell could be used to summon the loli fox maid and the mature fox maid to serve her in the room at any time, from serving tea and water and cleaning to sleeping with her and warming her bed.

"Distinguished guests, please rest assured."

When it came to the final part about sleeping with someone and warming their bed, the loli fox maid, though a little shy, still managed to finish her sentence clearly, mainly addressing Gil and Harry:

"We shikigami and our human guests are reproductively isolated... Whatever your needs may be, we sisters can fulfill them, and you don't need to worry about blood leakage. This is one of the main reasons why our master chose us to entertain our guests."

"Okay, I understand. I'll summon you if needed."

Valensa smiled and nodded, then took the bell.

To be honest, this arrangement is quite thoughtful.

Luxury hotels of this caliber usually have an unwritten rule: if a VIP guest takes a fancy to a maid or waitress working at the hotel, he or she can take her to his or her room at any time. The maids or waitresses who are taken away don't mind, because it's an opportunity for them as well.

However, those who become VIPs in such luxury hotels are usually powerful or noble people. These people are very careful to keep their bloodline from leaking out, so they will restrain themselves or take protective measures when enjoying themselves, which inevitably makes it difficult for them to fully enjoy themselves.

The reproductive isolation between shikigami and humans can prevent the problem of blood leakage. In addition, these fox girls are all charming and attractive, so it can only be said that this is indeed a worthwhile consumption.

"Let's all choose our rooms and rest for a bit first. We'll go to the restaurant for lunch later, and then we can start exploring properly in the afternoon."

"Row."

After the loli fox maid left, Valensa and the others each chose their own rooms.

. . . . .

Meanwhile, in an office on the third floor of the Imperial Palace Hotel, a young man dressed in a magnificent brocade robe and holding a folding fan, dressed in the typical attire of a noble young master, slowly opened his eyes.

He frowned for a moment, then sighed helplessly, and finally tapped his finger lightly on the desk to activate a communication array.

The magic circle was quickly activated, and a male projection appeared above the desk.

The man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, dressed in a neat kimono, and his appearance bore a resemblance to the young nobleman in the office, suggesting they were likely related.

The man looked at the young nobleman through the projection, frowned slightly, and then said in a deep voice:

"It's you, Xiaobu... You actually contacted me via emergency communication, is it something important?"

"Yes, Uncle, a very special guest came to my shop today."

The young nobleman bowed respectfully to the projection before speaking:

"It's the legendary Sunflower Duchess from Fran, who has suddenly become famous in recent years. She came to Mirror Island with some friends for a trip, and yesterday she killed a giant centipede at sea, saving one of our family's large merchant ships and earning the Blue Snowflake Badge."

"Yes, I know about that too."

The man in the projection nodded slightly:

“Mr. Sakura and the captain reported to me yesterday that I personally approved the delivery of that blue snowflake badge… This Sunflower Duchess is not only a legendary figure, but she should also hold a high position in the Church of the Sun, and she is already engaged to the heir of the Bretania family. She is destined to stand at the pinnacle of the Frenoia continent in the future. Maintaining a good relationship with her is definitely beneficial!”

Since she has chosen to stay at your shop, you must treat her well and not neglect her in the slightest!

“I would never dare to neglect her; I have already arranged for her to be treated as a top-tier VIP.”

The young nobleman, known as Xiaobu, first patted his chest in assurance, then hesitated, feigning some difficulty in speaking, and said:

"It's just...just..."

"Just what? Just say it!"

The man in the projection immediately became somewhat displeased:

"Xiao Bu, you're always like this! You're quite capable, yet you're as timid as a woman!"

"……I see."

The young nobleman gave a wry smile, took a deep breath, and then spoke quickly:

"This Miss Sunflower is indeed very capable. No matter what kind of crisis she encounters, she can turn danger into safety and save everyone with her own wisdom and courage, but... isn't she a little too unlucky?"

Uncle, you must have just looked at her information, right? Ever since she started to show her talent, she has been constantly involved in various incidents... She encountered a beast killer while taking an entrance exam, she encountered revelers causing trouble while attending a merchant festival, she encountered cultists while training in self-defense skills at a noble girls' school, and even a military stronghold on the Franco border that had been safe for hundreds of years was breached by beasts because of her!

The months she spent in America last year were filled with turmoil... either a fog demon infiltrates human society to cause trouble, or a super serial killer who had been committing crimes for many years reappears, and finally, an entire city's population is kidnapped by a necromancer... tsk.

Of course, I admit that Duchess Sunflower was very capable. All of her experiences ended without serious harm, but it wasn't without its losses... At the very least, the entire city of Poliland truly disappeared from the map of America.

Personally, I have no ill will towards Duchess Sunflower; in fact, I admire her quite a bit… but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s practically a jinx, causing trouble wherever she goes… and she’s currently in Mirror Island, Chuyun City, planning to travel here for a while…

"To be honest, Uncle, I'm really worried... She always gets involved in major incidents, and I don't think I can handle it."

"..."

"Actually, you can't say it like that."

The man in the projection remained silent for a while before speaking seriously:

"Miss Sunflower does indeed have a fate of easily getting involved in trouble, but those troubles do not disappear just because she doesn't get involved; in fact, it is precisely because she encountered them that they did not cause too much loss or harm."