Frieren blinked at the hospitality worker, then she stared at the fallen book.
"Oh… I must've fallen asleep," Frieren murmured, blinking at the forgotten book to hide it.
"I–I'm sorry, really! I didn't mean to!" the worker said as she waved her hands, and bowed.
Frieren picked her book up from the ground, then looked at her.
"No problem." she said.
The worker let out a nervous laugh.
"I've been waiting for you for hours to give you your breakfast… I knocked multiple times."
"But I was worried about you, so I opened the door with the staff keys."
Frieren stared at the key on the desk, then looked at the sunlight.
It's already afternoon? I didn't realize I slept that long… she thought.
She rubbed her eyes slowly, as if her body still hadn't caught up with her mind.
The worker shifted anxiously, unsure whether she had stepped out of line.
Frieren sighed softly, more at herself than at anyone else.
Her fingers tightened around the book, a quiet reminder of how carelessly she'd let herself drift off.
She blinked slowly, already wondering why humans would touch anything without asking."
The worker rubbed her head. "Good book… I liked the drawings. They were vivid—especially that thing with wheels." she said with a small laugh.
Frieren flipped to the page with the camera. "This one?" she asked, pointing at the drawn camera.
The worker waved her hands. "No, no!"
Frieren flipped the page again; her expression didn't change.
"This one?" Frieren pointed at the car.
"Yes! Exactly!" the worker said.
Oh, so they call it a car then… Frieren thought.
"Do these metal beasts ever sleep?" she asked.
The worker blinked, clearly unsure whether Frieren was joking or genuinely confused.
She stared at Frieren, brushing her finger over the drawing of the car.
"I always hear them cry out… especially when someone climbs inside." she said.
Frieren tilted her head slightly, the way she always did when faced with something both mundane and utterly baffling.
The worker swallowed, realizing she'd have to explain something she barely understood herself.
Frieren waited patiently, her gaze calm and unblinking.
"I—I—I will bring the breakfast for you!" the worker said. She stepped back slowly, her gaze still fixed on Frieren.
Her smile seemed more like self-preservation than politeness."
Thud!
She won't come back, will she? Frieren thought as she blinked at the closed door.
The hallway outside fell silent, almost too quickly.
Frieren exhaled softly, more curious than bothered.
She glanced back at the drawing, still unconvinced it wasn't some kind of creature.
Then she noticed the breakfast already beside the door.
Her eyes widened slightly as she noted the worker had already slipped away.
After sketching the elevator, Frieren closed her book.
She removed her hat; her gaze traced the flower decorations, absorbing their mundane charm, then she adjusted her hair before putting her hat back on.
She stepped toward the Lazy Susan.
Grabbing a sandwich, she stared at it, her expression a mask of calm curiosity.
Her fingers hovered briefly over the food before she carefully lifted it.
Frieren sniffed lightly at the sandwich, as if testing its nature.
Just as her teeth were about to reach it, a small tapping came from the window.
Tap tap.
Tap tap.
Frieren tilted her head slightly, listening for the source of the tapping.
Frieren stepped forward to check it, each step measured, her ears attuned to the faintest sound.