Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Village Chief's Daughter - 2
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"This bastard?!"
Dressed like an adventurer, the sturdy pig of a guy charged at me in a frenzy.
It reminded me of a Giant Boar's charge, but that was all it was.
I lightly blocked his rush with one hand, and just as I was about to smash his head with the other...
"Stop it!"
A commanding voice rang out from upstairs.
Judging by his clothes and the authority he radiated, he seemed to hold a high position in the guild.
"If you cause any more disturbance, I will impose sanctions as guild master."
At the guild master's shout, the adventurers who had gathered upon hearing the commotion quickly scattered.
"Tch, and it was just getting fun."
"Let's go. Trouble's inbound."
Not everyone dispersed, though.
A few kept drinking their fill, my-way-or-the-highway types, while others, intrigued by me, watched from afar. The pig was still glaring daggers at me, oblivious to the gap in our strength.
'Hm?'
That's when I spotted a familiar face.
Unlike the adventurers, he had the bearing of a knight—clearly a Fourth Circle knight at that.
'Why's he staring me down like that?'
But just then, my attention shifted as the guild master descended from upstairs.
The guild master was a gaunt man, his face etched with exhaustion from dealing with adventurers day in and day out.
"You must be the esteemed guest visiting Lugadrion today. I apologize for the poor hospitality."
"You know me?"
"Haha, how could we not recognize the guest who arrived with the nymph?"
The guild master seemed to have sharp ears; he clearly knew a fair bit about me.
That made things quicker.
"I'm looking for an adventurer named Colin. Do you know where she lives?"
"Ah, you mean S-rank adventurer Colin..."
He looked troubled by my question.
Just like before—mention her name, and everyone gets antsy.
"If I may ask, why are you looking for that crazy bitch?"
"She's a family friend; I have a letter to deliver. But why do you call her a crazy bitch?"
"She causes one incident after another."
Unable to elaborate, the guild master clammed up.
I couldn't press for more intel, so I got her address and left the adventurer's guild.
Adventurer guilds in novels are always so romantic. Why do I only get shitty experiences?
Where'd she go?
"Be careful. The alleys are a lawless zone right now, crawling with beastkin."
"Thank you for your concern. But this is our private matter now—no need for the guild master to worry further."
Following the info he'd given, Navira and I headed into the alleys.
"Haa... that guy's still tailing us."
The pig from before, unfinished business thanks to the guild master, was shadowing us.
And he wasn't alone. He'd brought his goons to intimidate me, but they were no threat.
"Sian..."
"No need to worry, Navira. I've handled more ogres at once than that bunch."
"...That's even scarier."
"Country bumpkin, let's see how long you stay arrogant."
The pig hefted his mace, grinning like he was already picturing bashing me with that thick weapon. He started getting hyped up solo.
"Attack!"
"Hm?"
As the pig and his thugs lunged at me, one man from behind the pig suddenly cleaved through the group with a halberd.
It was the knight who'd been staring me down from the guild.
'Aura... and at the mature stage of the Fourth Circle.'
Stronger than the knights Camilla kept around—a talent who could lead a knight order.
Why was someone like that masquerading as an adventurer?
The knight who'd dispatched the pig in my stead approached courteously.
"Are you Sian of Lugeron Village?"
"I am. And who are you?"
"I was once a knight in service to Earl Anitul."
He removed his helmet.
Then it clicked who he was.
"Sir Gregor?"
"An honor that you remember my name."
"Well, it's a fairly famous one."
Gregor.
One of the finest knights under Earl Anitul in the west.
Sure, he went down in one hit, but holding form after my strike was impressive.
"Since you're here before me, is this revenge?"
Earl Anitul had violated the nymph protection edict, so the imperial family exterminated his entire clan nine generations deep and seized all his power and titles.
It didn't stop there—nobles linked to him were on thin ice too.
Naturally, his knight Gregor was in no better shape.
Working as an adventurer now suggested his own title had been stripped.
To him, I—the root of it all—was surely an archenemy.
"Not revenge."
Contrary to my assumption, Gregor knelt before me.
"Failing to stop my lord Earl Anitul's atrocities was my own failing. I have no cause or justification to retaliate against you, Hero."
"Hmm... Then why appear before me?"
"I wish to become your knight."
"My knight?"
"Yes. Though I failed in my duties as a knight under Earl Anitul, I still yearn to be an honorable one. I want to achieve that dream under a true hero like you."
"Hmm..."
I pondered his words from a political angle.
'To him, I'm a lifeline.'
His history with Earl Anitul had isolated him from noble society.
A knight no one would serve under would eventually wither from thirst for honor.
It was a good opportunity for me too.
In a few months, I'd be an earl—but a nominal one, starting from tiny Lugeron Village.
What we desperately needed was talent.
Gregor was a jackpot in that regard.
'The question is, can I trust him enough as a vassal?'
After some thought, I replied.
"If you want to serve me as a knight, show me what kind of knight you are."
"As you command."
And so, I picked up a skilled knight off the street.
...
To meet Village Chief's daughter Colin, we headed into Lugadrion's alleys.
As typical city backstreets go, these reeked of danger.
The guild master hadn't warned us for nothing.
"My lord, stay cautious. That sweet scent is moon petals—a drug made by catfolk."
"Drugs, huh... Does Catkit Merchant Company deal in this too?"
"Rumor has it. Catfolk say it gives awakening effects."
I heeded Gregor's advice, just in case.
'Even with my poison resistance, addiction's another story.'
We passed through the dingy back alleys, spotting plenty of vagrants, but they took one look at me and Gregor alternating glances and steered clear.
Navira flashed a faint smile at how smoothly things were going now.
"With two strapping men guarding me, I feel like a noble lady."
"...Enjoy it while it lasts."
"This seems to be the place."
Amazed by Navira's unflappable nature in any situation, we arrived at Colin's inn.
"Motherless Bastard Inn... What a psychotic name."
Fitting for someone dubbed 'rabid.' Anyway, deliver the letter quick and bounce.
"Wha?!"
The moment we entered the inn.
I ran into that beastkin boy from before.
"The little kid from earlier."
"Hiiiek?!"
"???"
The beastkin boy spotted me, bolted in panic, then started screaming for his mom.
"Mooooom! He's here! The monster I told you about is here!"
"Monster..."
"Yeah, you should've calmed him down better."
Navira scolded me for scaring the kid.
This was unfair, though.
"Haa... fuck, what a pain."
In response to her son's desperate cries, the boy's adventurer mom stormed in, sword drawn and spewing gritty curses.
She pointed her blade at me right away.
"You the scum who messed with my Aida?"
"There's some misunderstanding here..."
I tried to protest, but the fierce mom ignored me and attacked first.
For real?
Clang!
"My lord, I'll handle this."
Gregor stepped up as expected, but the cramped inn hindered his heavy armor mobility.
Plus, knightly honor kept him from going all-out against a woman, and he started getting pushed back.
"Urk! Impressive skill. Now I'll go all-out!"
"Hah? That wasn't my all! Big lug!"
Gregor amped up, blue aura flaring on his halberd, while Mom matched with red aura on her twin blades.
"Both of you, stop."
Things could turn into a disaster, so I intervened.
Gregor obeyed, but Mom brazenly defied me.
"Fuck off!"
"Hey? Kid's present—watch the language."
With a sigh, I activated <Inventory> on her.
All her weapons and gear vanished into my <Inventory>.
"What? Monster, you're a mage?"
Suddenly stripped bare, she finally panicked.
"Tch... Not a mage. Here, cover up with this."
"Hm? Sis Navira?"
"Finally notice me? My sister-in-law hasn't changed a bit."
"???"
"Are you by chance Colin, daughter of Lugeron Village's Village Chief Elam?"
"Yeah. Who the hell are you, knowing my name? Fuck, a stalker?"
"......"