Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-1. Iris
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It wasn’t an ordinary inn they were looking for. No one would believe it even if they were told. The place they sought was one where the owner of a Fragment worked as a waitress, no less.
A pure girl waiting for a prince on a white horse… no, waiting for someone who would believe in her no matter the circumstances.
Of course, even with such dreams, she possessed a Fragment, and her true profession left her with no hesitation when it came to killing. Depending on the situation, she could be quite cruel, making her dangerous.
But once you earned her favor, she wouldn’t stab you in the back unless you betrayed her first, which made her more trustworthy than anyone.
She was even Juda’s sole companion in the game’s original story—the only one who stuck with him to the bitter end when everyone else betrayed him. Sadly, that partnership ended with her death at Cain’s hands and the loss of her Fragment, but in this world, Cain was already dead, so there was no need to worry about that ending.
Curtain of Light.
That was the name of the inn as Juda remembered it.
He walked the streets, weaving past or ignoring the many adventurers and mercenaries who had come to the border city of Aitram from kingdoms like Phloria and Calypso on missions. For a frontier town, Aitram had wide roads and clean buildings, but with so many people staying there, it felt cramped.
“Is this it?”
After walking for a full hour, they arrived, and Arhil looked up at the shop’s sign as she asked. Elegant script spelled out “Curtain of Light.”
The sign gave the impression of a bright, hopeful new beginning.
A bustling noise leaked from beyond the closed door, suggesting quite a crowd inside.
“Yeah, it seems like this is the place. Come on, let’s head in.”
“You didn’t just drag us here without knowing anything, did you?”
“Remember Roxin from Uruun? He recommended this spot. Said the food was amazing and we had to try it.”
“…Ah.”
Arhil nodded as recollection dawned, and Lime took a moment to inspect the sign and exterior before stepping inside.
The interior was spacious and quite large. Naturally, that meant the first floor was packed with people. Some sat at the counter, drinking even in the middle of the day, while others huddled around tables laden with greasy food, deep in serious conversation.
As Juda’s group entered, a girl in a maid outfit approached and bowed her head politely. Her long straight hair and round eyes made her quite cute.
“…….”
Without a word, she smiled and gestured as if to guide them to a seat, then turned and led the way. Juda followed.
Suddenly, Lime, who had been trailing behind, placed a hand on Juda’s shoulder, leaned in close, and whispered softly into his ear.
“A maid outfit. This is truly a fine establishment.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I’m very satisfied with this place.”
When Juda glanced sideways, Lime wore a genuinely pleased expression, flashing a thumbs-up where Arhil wouldn’t notice. He walked along, his face free of any complaints, leering shamelessly at the waitress’s rear.
Well, it was understandable.
The frilly short skirt swayed with each step, revealing glimpses of black lingerie over garter belts and stockings. It was eye-catching, to say the least. Juda tried not to look, but with that glimpse of thigh—what they called “underbutt”—his gaze drifted there naturally.
They were led to a window seat overlooking the street. Warm sunlight poured in, pleasant without being blinding. A comfortable warmth. Arhil naturally took the seat next to Juda, while Lime claimed the window spot.
Thud.
The menu was placed on the table, and the maid bowed deeply before retreating. The moment she left, Arhil, seated beside him, grabbed Juda’s collar and made a fuss.
“Whoa, did you see? Did you see? You saw it, right? Her hair color and eye color are just like yours, Juda!”
As Arhil said, the girl who had shown them to their seats had black hair and eyes exactly like Juda’s. Black hair was common enough in Baekje of the First Continent or Gauri of the Second, but matching black eyes to go with it—and such pure black at that—was truly rare.
“I’ve seen black hair plenty, but black eyes to match? That’s a first for me too.”
“No way, is she like a little sister or some distant relative or something?”
Arhil nudged his side with her elbow as she asked. A little sister—regrettably, no such thing existed. As far as children went for parents he’d never even spoken to before their deaths, Juda was the only one.
‘…….’
Arhil had probably meant nothing by it, but the mention of parents suddenly soured his mood. He might not know about his parents from the original world, but his memories of this world’s were just of their cold, lifeless bodies.
“Yeah. Having a little sister like that… wouldn’t be so bad.”
Arhil caught the wistful look in Juda’s eyes and realized she’d said something wrong. Come to think of it, she didn’t know much about him yet. That careless remark must have been a mistake.
“Then, how about I be your little sister? Big brother?”
It was playful, but the instant she called him “big brother,” Juda felt a shock like a punch straight to the heart. Hearing such an uncharacteristic word from her beaming face hit hard. Lime, watching from across the table, coughed awkwardly—klhem, klhem—as if caught off guard, then changed the subject.
“By the way, that girl doesn’t talk much.”
“Huh?”
At that, Arhil turned to look for the waitress from earlier. On closer inspection, there were about four maids in outfits bustling around the large first floor, and three of them chattered brightly and cheerfully.
Welcome.
How can I help you?
Yes, yes. I’ll take your order.
Oh my, what do you think you’re touching?
I’m aaaall very expensive, you know. Not for sale.
Wellll…
They dragged out words, made nasal sounds, acted coy—each with her own charm. But the one who had guided Juda’s group was the only silent one. She simply hurried to tables that called for her, took orders, and if there was something to confirm, scribbled largely on her notepad and showed it.
“She must be… mute.”
Lime replied softly and cautiously. Yet for a mute, she did her job exceptionally well. She couldn’t speak, but she took orders accurately, bowed politely in greeting.
‘Everything’s just an act anyway.’
Juda watched her, chuckling inwardly without showing it.
On the surface, she was nothing more than a cute, pretty young woman. Her long straight hair, kind-looking eyes when she smiled, and those round pupils within seemed utterly innocent. Her slender arms and legs? Wrapped in white stockings, they looked so fragile they might shatter under pressure, and her arms seemed too weak to carry heavy loads, inspiring the urge to help.
But it was all an act. A performance to find someone who would help and believe in her, no matter the situation. The hurried scribbles on paper might be genuine, but the flustered fumbling and strained heaving of heavy trays were fake.
She could lift and move things that looked too heavy for two hands with a single finger, hundreds or thousands of times over. Even if a burly adult man charged at her with a body slam, she could stop him with one finger. Joint locks and slipping behind foes while hiding her presence? Child’s play.
And rightly so, for her true identity was the queen of the Shadow Kingdom, Moonlit Iris.
No one would ever suspect it. It was shocking enough for a faction leader to do such menial work, let alone play the role of a mute. She’d face great humiliation and rudeness from many. Yet despite her title as Shadow Queen, she worked here silently like a mute, using writing and gestures.
“Juda.”
Lime called out. While Juda and Arhil had been watching the waitress, he’d apparently decided on orders and slid the menu over—shff. After a quick chat with Arhil about what to try and settling on recommended dishes since they didn’t know what was good…
“Excuse me, miss! We’d like to order!”
The mute waitress turned at Lime’s voice and approached with quick, pattering steps. Her bright smile was so infectious that even knowing it was an act lifted his mood.
“?”
Tilting her head, she rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a card.
-What would you like to order?
The writing was in neat script, easy to read. The moment Arhil read it, her face lit up just like the waitress’s.
“Do you have any recom—”
“Hey! Mute!”
But before she could finish, a shout erupted from a table some distance away. There was no mistaking it—it was aimed at the waitress who had come to their table.