Volume 3 Chapter 95 Rumors Of The Demon
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I was just teasing! ──Come on, let’s go.”
”Damn it… I’m so gonna punch that guy later-nya.”
He sidestepped Ninini’s killing intent and stepped into the shallow part of the river.
The cold water seeped into his boots.
* * *
The village on the opposite bank was small, but up close, the houses showed the residents were doing alright.
Maybe they’re making money as a post town, since it’s on the road, or maybe they’re just temporarily flush because the ‘Storm Herd’ is here and they’re doing business with them.
It’s not like ‘Cockley Clay’ village, but everyone’s wearing sturdy fur coats and shoes without holes.
When Kian and Ninini appeared at the village entrance, the women doing laundry outside and the children playing tag all turned to stare.
Strong wariness, and a clear sense of exclusion.
It was obvious they weren’t welcome.
Kian cautiously walked down the unpaved dirt road that ran through the middle of the village.
The houses were separated from the road by flimsy wooden fences, and every yard had a wooden clothesline for drying fish and laundry, with bundles of garlic hanging from them.
By the way, the population is about 3-tenths human, 3-tenths cat Beastmen, and the rest are mixed-bloods.
There’s a good chance inbreeding is common here.
”Bad vibes, for sure. Silent and unfriendly. That’s why I hate Northerners-nya.”
”Aren’t you from the North, though?”
Ninini muttered under her breath.
”That’s why I ran off to the South-nya.”
”…Let’s go inside the inn. First, we check the notice board and gather information.”
”Nyah. I’m just gonna check if any Mercenaries are drinking here. I’m fine, but you, an Azraelian, stand out too much-nya.”
”Just farmers inside. No sound of swords or armor.”
Ninini looked at him like, “What are you saying, for a human?”, but then she saw that not a single horse was tied up in front of the inn, which was shaped like a ‘コ’, and she walked past Kian and headed straight for the building’s entrance.
The inn was built half-submerged, its wooden frame topped with a shabby, grass-thatched roof.
The entrance door looked like it could let a draft howl right through the gaps.
Still, the building stood tall, and the chimney had a certain rustic charm.
Peering through my ‘glasses’, I could see a barn behind the building──stockpiled with ales and mead.
(It felt like a well-loved village tavern, even if it showed signs of age.)
Following Ninini through the doorway, he couldn’t help but think about it.
Inside the inn, warm lamps flickered everywhere, bathing the room in a soft, inviting orange glow.
The entrance intersected perfectly at the concave space, making for a symmetrical layout.
The left side was a sleeping area, while the right was set up for dining and merriment.
In the center stood the kitchen, where the owner bustled about.
On the right side of the tavern, ten patrons were split into 3 groups.
A sullen quartet of farmers.
Three elderly men hunched over, whispering secrets with furrowed brows.
And 3 hot-blooded youths, full of vigor.
They were probably all locals.
The 3 young men were especially well-dressed, ordering plenty of food and drink.
They seemed to be engrossed in a famous card game from Guy’s collection.
Kian, quickly committing every face to memory, stood beside Ninini with his hands braced on the counter.
”I’ll have honey mead and dried fish.”
”I’ll cover this guy’s share too. Just keep the change for yourself-nya.”
With that, Ninini pulled out a silver coin and handed it to the owner.
The owner nodded silently, pointing to the only free table on the right side.
”Thanks.”
”──Are you Azraelian?”
Just as they were about to leave the counter, the owner suddenly called out.
The farmers’ group perked up, casting Kian a scrutinizing glance.
”Yeah. Is someone like me rare around here?”
”Ha! This is Alsas──the border with Ramsey. You won’t find any spice-scented dark-skinned fellows in these parts.”
”I’m an adventurer. I saw garlic hanging in the village yard. Heard there’s plenty of work to be had, so I traveled all this way.”
His tone was a bit rough, but it fit the moment.
His Azrael’s accent is deliberately thick when he says it.
The owner narrows his eyes and leans in, peering up at Kian from below.
”I heard Ramsey──the merchant city──is under lock and key. How did you come in from the south?”
”I took a detour through the forest.”
”You live in the desert──but you’re slogging through the woods like this? That’s dedication.”
”I know I’m an interesting sort. But as the innkeeper, what matters is whether I spend my coin here. Who I am──doesn’t really matter. ──’Storm Herd’ is here for drinks. Until they buy their booze, I’ll be staying. Just let me have my fill.”
Kian slides 5 silver coins into the owner’s hand.
The man widens his eyes and nods repeatedly, clearly convinced.
The lure of money outshines even a vampire’s charm.
Now, as long as Kian’s wallet isn’t drained, the owner won’t do him any harm.
Besides, in a poor village like this, running out of cash in a tavern is unthinkable.
With a polite bow to the quieted owner, Kian turns and heads for the furthest seat──where Ninini is sitting.
She spots him approaching and immediately presses her forehead, looking grave and serious.
”Are ya sure you’ve got enough coin-nya?”
”No worries. I’ve got enough to hold me.”
’Heh. Well, enough to buy this whole inn, at least.’
Kian shrugs off Ninini’s words and leans in close, whispering.
”I’ll go ask the other customers.”
”I reckon you should do that yourself-nya.”
”If Sarah finds out I’m making a lady work, she’ll give me hell.”
”In this line of work, gender doesn’t matter-nya. Just wait here.”
Ninini stands and strides over to the table of 3 old men, bold as ever.
She yells, “Three glasses of honey wine!” ──looks like she’s starting by buying their drinks.
Apparently, that’s her way of laying the groundwork.
”────”
Kian silently watches as his gaze drifts across the bulletin board, waiting.
Not long after, the owner comes out with honey wine and a few plates of food.
He’d only ordered dried fish, but somehow, 2 fried eggs had been slapped on top.
”Eat up. You came through the forest, huh?”
”Thanks. So, where do you think I can pick up some work? There aren’t any postings about taking down Bloodsucking Kinds on that board.”
”There’s no Adventurer Guild around here. But I’ve heard the nearby Mercenary groups are looking for monster-hunters for hire. Even ‘Storm Herd’ has been recruiting, or so those guys who came by for drinks mentioned.”
”So I might get some work at the fortress?”
When Kian said that, the tavern owner looked at him with a hint of surprise.
It seemed he hadn’t expected Kian to already know where the Wolfmen’s camp was.
”Yeah, that’s right. If you head to the fortress and mention you were referred by the owner of ‘Everyone’s Acorn Inn’ in Alsas, they should let you in to see the commander. But… are you confident in your skills? …You must be. You look strong enough.”
”Have there been any casualties around here?”
When Kian asked, the owner called over a group of 3 young men hunched over a table, chugging down drinks.
”Hey, that Nerea hasn’t come back for a while, haven’t they?”
”Huh? Yeah…”
”So, you’re just downing drinks.”
Kian pulled out a chair and leaned his elbows on the backrest.
”So, is this Nerea the one who got taken out by that monster?”
”Everyone’s saying that. Hey, you── I heard you talking with that old man at the counter. You’re the Adventurer here to slay the monsters, right? You gotta avenge Nerea.”
The young man looked at Kian with bleary, drunken eyes.
According to Friedrich and Maribel’s orders, they only needed to scout the area; they weren’t supposed to kill any monsters.
He had planned to track down and eliminate that lich later, but not the creature Ramsey had to deal with.
If the resurrected ‘Lion’s Companion’ was going after monsters, then they could handle it.
They weren’t doing quests for charity here.
Kian nodded firmly.
”Leave it to me! I’ll make sure to avenge Nerea! But for that, I need info. How am I supposed to take down a monster if I don’t know what it is or how to lure it into a trap? Can’t you lend me a hand for your best friend’s sake?”
The young ones nod and wheel their chairs over to our table.
The owner returns to the counter, first to deliver a drink to Ninini, then back to Kian.
After that, the 3 youths, plus the owner, proceed to fill us in on the recent happenings in the village.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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