Talking About the Past at the Hunter’s Tavern
Let’s talk about that female swordswoman calling herself Bridget who came by yesterday.
First of all, that woman is without a doubt a noble.
There are countless reasons why, but just thinking of some obvious ones…her equipment is too high quality, her speech is too refined, she’s too unaware of the world, she mentioned belonging to some sword school.
Especially the sword school. Though she didn’t go into details, sword schools generally refer to those for fighting other people. There are practically none for fighting monsters.
And those who learn to cross swords with others are either military personnel, or nobles learning to protect themselves.
And military sword schools aren’t the type to conceal themselves. The “Earth Shield” guys use those openly too.
By process of elimination, she’s a noble. Concealing her school was probably because that alone could expose her family and background—not unusual.
Her reasons for hiding her status and applying to the guild aren’t clear, but I can make a decent guess. Or rather, there are some standard patterns.
Either some spinster daughter ran away to avoid an arranged political marriage, or she was too unruly that even without a political marriage, her combative blood stirred her into action.
In any case, the scary one is her parents.
If she was disowned and banished, told to never use their name again, there’d be no issue, right? But if that’s not the case, the potential landmines are no laughing matter.
For example, if that unruly daughter secretly slipped away from home to the guild.
Her parents would normally worry, and be vigilant about her being taken advantage of by lowly thugs.
What if their unmarried daughter had some relationship with a man? Then of course they’d make thorough, rough corrective measures. Don’t want any rumors, and mistakes must be nipped at the bud. “Oh I see, so you’re close with our daughter huh? Then die!”—they’d do at least that much.
If they had even a little parental love, parents with proper noble values would thoroughly erase any involvement between their daughter and some no-name guy, however unruly she may be. In this world, this era, that much can be done as a matter of course. Because they are nobles.
…Oh, no doubt she’s unruly huh?
The weapon Bridget was equipped with was a longsword. Proof she can use enhancement magic. And that she as a woman can proudly walk the roads alone likely means she has the skill to back it up.
Nobles are strong. I’m not sure why, maybe they have bloodlines making it easier to gain skills and gifts, or they receive that kind of education. But they get top-notch tutoring with ample budgets and have systematic combat arts drilled into them. Can’t think of those young ladies as normal girls. Frankly, even girls like that can likely fight far better than random military men.
If the parents are trouble, the children themselves are too.
Want to get close with important people and build connections?
That would be suicidal. I personally don’t recommend it.
Especially if you have an appearance that makes it obvious you’re a Sunglairian half-breed like me.
“At times like these, just drinking at the tavern is best…uunh, gulp gulp.”
Under the cold sky, I headed straight to the “Forest Bounty Inn” instead of the guild.
I’m a smart guild member after all. I’m taking Bridget’s “another day” words from yesterday literally as a warning.
Can’t read nobles’ actions like goblins. Another day might really mean another day for them. If there’s even a 1% chance, I’ll avoid such places.
Whether Bridget is a good or bad noble doesn’t matter. This is the only way to prevent getting suddenly killed.
“Here so early but open already…cheers, it’s bright out though…”
Beyond the door I opened was—
The tavern packed full of familiar guild member patrons.
“Oh, Mongrel’s here too.”
“Of course I’d come.”
“No seats left though. Gahaha!”
“Still no ale? None here yet?”
The abnormal heat and clamor I felt the moment I opened the door.
Is it payday today? Around 7pm? No wait, that’s not right. It’s a winter morning? What’s with the liveliness…well, I understand why.
“Why the hell are all you guys here in a place like this…”
“Same reason as you Mongrel. We heard about yesterday. Can’t stay at the guild, yeah?”
I heard Barlgar’s voice from somewhere in the crowded tavern, but couldn’t see where.
“Mongrel, I bet there are good open seats in the guild tavern now.”
“Where, Alex…You idiot, I absolutely won’t go to the guild today. Oh, just to make sure—there really are open seats?”
“Looks open? Some are using wooden crates as chairs…”
“Definitely Number One in Legol…but still.”
Well, they let in so many customers, yet the unit prices are surprisingly low, so profits are probably not that high…
But the owner likes liveliness. He’s probably happily watching the lively scene from the back.
“Hey, excuse me, lemme get through…don’t touch my butt! I’ll shoot out one of your balls next time that happens!”
“Bwahahah!”
“Scary, sorry, my bad!”
It was no use staying here, so when I tried to leave, a familiar face came from the other side of the rowdy male crowd.
One of Artemis’ female bow users, Raina’s big sister figure…big brother figure? Ulrika.
“Phew, so many people…Mongrel, if you’re going outside, I’ll join you. We’re going in another shop right?
“Hm? Well…yeah. Just randomly killing time today.”
“Then take me with you. Too crowded here.”
Must be tough for her. Can’t even expect when your drink order will come in that state.
Don’t know if anyone knows Ulrika is male, but he’d probably get approached weirdly too.
“Hey look! Mongrel looks close with an Artemis girl!”
“Whaaat! That’s against the guild rules isn’t it!?”
“What rules for…well, whatever. Wanna come along and drink nearby at the guild counter? I’ll treat you guys.”
When I said that, the guys who were just jeering immediately turned to face the table.
Such is the power of nobles.
“Well, let’s get going.”
“Yeah, les go. Dammit, isn’t there some cheap shop around?”
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And so, I ended up going to drink at some tavern with Ulrika.
After wandering the cold town for a while, the chilling winds were harsh for long walks, so we randomly entered a shop.
The shop’s name was “Hunter’s Tavern”.
It wasn’t too far from the guild or “Forest Bounty Inn”, around here it handled similar game meat. Even during this season it had some scattered customers.
It’s a bit pricier than “Forest Bounty Inn” so less popular, but the comfortable interior doesn’t try to cram in customers, and the ale isn’t too watered down either, which is the draw. Well, it still feels expensive though.
“I come here sometimes. When Artemis has a big haul, we bring meat here too to wholesale.”
“Oh, I see. Then next time Artemis catches something big, I’ll drop by.”
“Ah, but they probably won’t give as big of a discount.”
“Really?”
Can’t say out loud that it’s a stingy shop here. Might get my ale watered down from the back.
“Oh right, why’s Ulrika not with Artemis today? Aren’t you usually together?”
“Ah, yeah. Artemis is at the guild right now.”
“Why the guild of all places…”
“Oh, you noticed? Right, our leader said she wants to accept a job related to that female swordswoman if there is one. So she’s at the guild today.”
To willingly jump into that disaster herself…I knew Artemis was ambitious, but didn’t think that much.
…What’s Sheena thinking? Or is she used to handling nobles so it’s no problem?
I see…with an all-female party, mistakes are less likely to happen and the risks are lower too…yeah.
“So Ulrika got excluded huh.”
“Well, it’s just this time, so I don’t mind. And being excluded is for my sake most of all anyway.”
“That’s true. Best not to get involved with big shots.”
“Mongrel also dislikes nobles?”
“Not so much dislike as they’re almost natural enemies for me. Look at my hair, if they picked at me over something like this in a place like that, it’d be real bad.”
“Oh…”
There’s a white streak in my bangs. Proof of Sunglearian blood.
Don’t really care if local punks make an issue of this white streak. Annoying, but I can fight back.
But not against nobles. I could win in a fistfight? But then what? Nothing would protect me after.
So the best thing is to avoid those situations in the first place.
Keeping out of sight from nobles who’d pick fights is the safest course of action.
And if I did end up in such a situation?
I’d abjectly bow my head begging pitifully for mercy while fleeing at full speed. Chasing and killing innocent citizens for sport is a hassle and bad for their reputation, so even nobles won’t go that far. The guild looking out for commoners would back me up to some extent if it came to that, so I’d just have to endure and wait for that resolution…
If they still persistently harassed me after that, I’d have no choice. I’d have to use Chaos’ power to ruin that noble’s business. I don’t want to, but yeah.
“Ulrika’s light pink hair looks like she has some Union blood.”
“Yeah, supposedly from my grandmother’s side. But I’ve never been to the Union countries. I was born and raised in Legol County.”
“Well, that’s how it is.”
Ulrika’s light pink hair was tied up behind. This color seems to come from somewhere in the chaotic neighboring Union nations.
But as they’ve had lively trade for many years, it’s not that rare a hair color within the Kingdom of Harpelea.
“As for Mongrel…um, is it okay if I ask about this?”
“Me? My hometown was right near the border so, just a mix of pure Harpeleian and Sunglearian.”
“Whoa…how dramatic.”
“Nah, it wasn’t like that. Just a small village.”
Marriages in rural villages were like that.
Well, I don’t really remember much from back then.
No, honestly, I was desperately learning the language in my second life during my early childhood.
I didn’t have any leeway to be comforted by warm things like family, hometown, and the like at all.
“What was your hometown called?”
“You wouldn’t know it if I said. It got destroyed in the war.”
“Huh?”
“No really, it was in a spot right on the border, so it was destroyed pretty much as soon as the war started. First completely wiped out by the Harpelea army’s conscription, then the Suglaire army came and massacred everyone. I really thought I was dead.”
That event was easily Top 5 most dangerous in my life.
I definitely would have died if I didn’t have my gifts awakened.
“…Um, sorry. Mongrel. I carelessly…”
As I reminisced, Ulrika’s mood sunk to the floor across from me.
Not good, the atmosphere’s dead. Heavy topic.
“No no, don’t worry about it. It’s old news, I don’t think anything of it. I was less than 10 right?
“Even so…”
“Ah, Ulrika, what’ll you have? Let’s order drinks first. Some hot food too. Excuse meee!”
I did my best to liven Ulrika back up.
We were able to spend a warm time with delicious drinks and food too.
But she might see me as someone with a terribly sad past weighing on me now.
It’s really fine, I honestly don’t care.
I barely had any attachment to my hometown from back when I was desperately learning the language in my second life.
…Though this is something I can’t say out loud.
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