Chapter 89
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Porter's Diary - 2
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"Uncle, are you really an adventurer?"
"Uncle? Kiddo. You aren't calling me uncle, are you?"
"Huh? But aren't you?"
"I can't believe this. How can you look at this handsome face and call me uncle? Looks like the folks in this village have some serious eye problems."
"Sigh... Please, just stop and get lost."
Ian kept dropping by Eram's house.
Every time, Eram tried chasing him off, but he was no match for Ian's nimble moves.
In the end, Eram threw up his hands and half-accepted Ian's visits.
"Eram, don't overthink it. Needless worries just bring on sickness."
"And those worries are all because of you."
"Haha, what are friends for? That's why you call me Ian."
"You're driving me crazy."
How had he gotten so chummy already... Eram sighed, and Ian tossed a sack in front of him.
"What's this?"
"Payment for the food you gave me before. Dug it up from the forest myself. Hope it suits you."
"Hmm... Thanks, anyway. But what's this?"
"What else? Meat. You telling me you've never had meat before?"
"We've had meat. It's just rare around here."
"Phew... Good thing. I was worried you might not know how to cook it."
"Did you hunt this just to eat it yourself?"
"Eram, good things get even better when shared."
"And that means less for you to eat."
"Then I'll just hunt more."
Eram was utterly fed up with Ian's brazen attitude but sighed and checked the meat he'd offered.
The muscles were still twitching—clearly fresh off the slaughter.
"So what kind of meat is this? Doesn't look like rabbit."
"That's giant boar meat."
"Giant boar?"
"You don't know? I saw one with piglets over in those woods."
"I know of 'em. Vicious bastards, right?"
Giant boars.
House-sized wild swine that lurked on the outskirts of the Dark Forest. They were the monsters the village hated most.
Unlike other beasts that targeted people, these omnivores craved crops even more.
If an adult giant boar raided the village, that year's harvest would be wiped out.
"No way—you took down one of those massive things?"
"It wasn't much of a hunt. It was just in my way, so I killed it."
"Uncle, you're that strong?"
"I'm not your uncle."
'But he totally is, right?'
Ian looked about twenty-five, judging by his face.
Old enough to have a family of his own. Considering the age gap with Eram's young daughter, 'uncle' wasn't off-base at all.
But Ian clearly hated the label. He patted Eram's little girl Colin's head and scolded her gently.
"Where's an uncle this handsome?"
"Right here?"
"Hey now! True, but don't say that."
Eram was dumbfounded by the uncle act, but today he let Ian's antics slide.
Because he'd brought meat.
Meat really was the truth.
...
"Eram, I've been meaning to ask."
Growing used to Ian's habit of raiding his booze, Eram watched as Ian poured them both drinks.
"What?"
Eram had zero interest in drinking with Ian, but figured it was smarter to down it himself than let this bum guzzle it all. He took the cup.
"We've known each other a month now, but you've never shown me your wife. Hiding her 'cause you're scared I'll steal her?"
"She died last year."
"Oh... Sorry. Didn't mean it like that."
"You sure stick your nose in other folks' family business."
"Eh, I've lived my life being nosy like that up 'til now."
The man who'd pushed the drinks started downing his first, mumbling as the booze hit him.
"All of it was pointless. What was I hoping for, doing all that?"
"I didn't ask about your past."
"Oh? Right. Haha... Sorry about that."
Ian smacked his own head and laughed it off cheerfully, but a flicker of pain crossed his face for a split second.
Watching, Eram thought, Even a guy like that has his dark history, huh.
Probably some affair story he had no business sharing.
"That bit about seducing the noblewoman you mentioned? Too much passion's a sin, y'know."
"Hahaha. What can ya do? Lonely married women are the hottest."
"You're insane."
Eram despised layabouts like Ian—guys who burned through the present without a thought for tomorrow. Pathetic.
But he loved Ian's tales.
Stories of love, courage, and bold challenges were worlds away from life in Lugeron Village.
"When I first lopped off an ogre's head, I unleashed a golden aura—the same color as my hair."
"Aura? That's knight-exclusive miracle stuff. You're full of hot air—lies start when the boasting gets too thick."
"It's true! Can't show you now 'cause I'm out of shape, but I wielded aura."
"Unbelievable. Right after that childhood friend crush of yours being a duke's daughter."
"For real!"
He especially loved the adventure stories.
For Eram, who'd never left Lugeron Village, Ian's worldly exploits were a ticket to the outside.
"The Holy Kingdom has this fizzy drink called coke. One sip and you're hooked forever."
"A drink like that? How's that even possible?"
"Haha, no clue on the recipe. Top scholars from the Tower of Wisdom put their heads together. What do I know?"
"You make the Holy Kingdom sound like some magic land."
"It is. Only country led by nymphs—those mythical beings."
"Nymphs that amazing?"
"Tsk tsk. That's why you country bumpkins are hopeless. Don't even know how great nymphs are."
"Dunno about nymphs, but I know your head's gonna end up in that cup soon."
"Heh, kidding. Normal folks don't study theology, so it's no surprise."
"Fine, how great are they?"
"Nymphs were sent to the mortal realm by the goddess of love and hearth, Hestia, out of pity for us wandering humans."
"Wandering humans? People back then different from now?"
"Dunno the details, but in the Mythic Age, the border 'tween gods and mortals was thin. Gods answered prayers easy. Not so much these days. You've prayed your heart out and gotten zilch, right? That's why."
"Yeah... Of course."
Who in Lugeron Village hadn't prayed?
At least once, begging to be spared the monsters.
But if the gods weren't listening...
"So our prayers are pointless, no matter what?"
"That's why Hestia sent the nymphs. To guide us in the gods' stead."
"Then nymphs answer our prayers?"
"Yep."
"So why aren't they here? God's proxies, right?"
"Hmm? You mad at the nymphs? 'Cause the gods ignored you?"
"Nah... Just checking if you're full of it."
"Sorry. Short explanation on my part. Nymphs got their reasons. Back when they showed up, the old Nine Kingdoms hunted 'em like mad."
"Humans hunted the gods' own envoys?"
"Yeah. Coveted the divine discs—the source of their miracles."
Ian didn't seem to like the topic much. He took a swig and shared his take.
"If those old Nine Kingdoms hadn't hunted nymphs, this village would've been like the Holy Kingdom."
"So you're saying my life's miserable 'cause of those Nine Kingdoms bastards?"
"If it came off that way, sorry. But it's true. Without those sons of bitches, I wouldn't be suffering this oracle crap!"
"Th-that so?"
Ian seemed to hold a grudge against the Nine Kingdoms. Embarrassed to snap at the guy chugging booze, Eram held back.
"Oracle, huh?"
"Forgot? I'm the hero chosen by the Church of Light."
"That delusion? Didn't think you'd stick to it."
"Not a delusion—real!"
Now fully sloshed, Ian started rambling incoherently. Eram stayed quiet, ready to end the drinking session by force.
'Gonna go till morning at this rate.'
Shaking off his own buzz, Eram was about to shove Ian out when—
"That's enough. Out you go."
"Wait, aren't you putting me up tonight?"
"When did I say that?"
"You did. I remember clear as day. You said with your own mouth you'd let me stay tonight..."
"Waaar beeeaaar!"
A scream from outside snapped their drunken haze.