Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Umpah-Umpah Tribe (1)
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I took a spoonful of the soup and nodded.
The flavor was deep.
I could tell right away that it was made with care.
I heartily praised Iriel, who had prepared breakfast with such sincerity.
You have to acknowledge a job well done if you want it to happen again.
“It tastes great. Good job.”
“Don’t.”
“?”
But Iriel’s reaction was a little different.
They say even a whale will dance for praise, yet this one was shooting me sharp glares instead.
What was that about?
There was nothing in my brief words but praise.
No room for misunderstanding.
“Stop praising me all the time.”
At least she wasn’t twisting my words.
Still, she always veered off whenever I complimented her.
And “all the time”?
“This is the first time I’ve praised you, isn’t it?”
“Whatever. Just don’t.”
Amused, I looked at Allen.
He shrugged as if to say he had no idea what was up with her.
I turned back to Iriel and asked,
“Did you hit your head or something?”
“Don’t worry about me either.”
……I wasn’t worried; I was being sarcastic.
What the hell?
Her fangs were still on display, but lately something felt off.
Before, she’d only bare them when she had reason to be feisty,
but these days she did it out of nowhere, for no reason I could grasp.
Like right now.
She really was an unpredictable creature.
Shaking my head, I asked Allen,
“How much farther to Porsen Port?”
“Just over that hill.”
He pointed to a low ridge.
Once we crossed it, the sea should come into view.
* * *
“Waaah—!”
Iriel spread her arms wide and faced the cool breeze.
Atop the mountain peak, the view opened up wide,
revealing the colorful rooftops of the port city Porsen and the near-white walls of its buildings in a single glance.
It felt just like a fairy tale.
And behind it all, the vast blue sea stretching out endlessly.
Gazing at the waves sparkling like silver scales under the sunlight,
the stuffiness that had clogged my chest suddenly cleared away.
Staring at the long horizon, Iriel thought to herself,
‘I’ll let this wind carry it all away!’
She poured every feeling she had for Genes into the passing breeze,
wishing for it to scatter into nothing.
Once, she had denied her feelings for him entirely,
but the moment she admitted she liked him, she’d switched to trying to erase them.
Yet it wasn’t going her way.
Lately, even the chore of making breakfast—which she’d hated—felt oddly enjoyable.
Meaningless chats with him left her heart fluttering like a breeze she couldn’t shake off, driving her mad.
‘Maybe I really am crazy.’
She admitted it plainly.
Hadn’t she put her heart into the soup this morning without realizing?
Lost in these thoughts, Iriel naturally glanced at Genes standing beside her.
He was quietly taking in the Porsen scenery as well.
The wind lifted his hair, revealing his face clearly:
skin transparently pale, contrasted by jet-black hair and eyes.
A straight nose that cast a shadow, firmly set lips.
And his usual dry expression.
Frankly, he was strikingly handsome.
Genes spoke without turning from the view.
“What are you looking at?”
“Huh?”
“What’re you staring at?”
Startled, Iriel whipped her head away and blurted,
“You’re ridiculous! I wasn’t looking at anything! I just happened to glance over while turning my head toward the horizon! So why are you making a fuss? Geez!”
Like the one who farts gets mad first—she was mad for no reason.
This guy.
Did he have eyes on the side of his head too?
No room for even a moment’s carelessness.
She’d been careful with her mutterings lately,
and now she had to watch her gaze too.
‘Ugh, my life.’
Allen, standing nearby, changed the subject.
“Has Nederman sorted any info yet?”
Oh, right.
That guy was down there.
At Allen’s words, Iriel finally remembered Nederman was around.
Judging by his usual antics, she couldn’t expect much diligence from him.
Genes seemed to share the sentiment.
“If he wants to live long, he has.”
* * *
The dockside where fishing boats were moored.
Sun-darkened fishermen hauled their catches along the front.
Beyond the alley in that dock, salted with sea brine and fish guts,
lay a fine tavern catering to the rough masculinity of seafaring men.
Called “Romantic Sea Tales.”
Ding-a-ling.
A server hurried over at the clean bell chime.
I said,
“I’m looking for someone who’s about to die.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. Found him.”
I easily pinpointed the voice coming from across the room.
This place was a tavern doubling as a gambling den.
A hallway from the dining area led to small rooms lined up.
I strode ahead and stopped before one door.
Nederman’s voice rang clearly from beyond.
“Hey, I know a real gambler. Get him here, and I’ll empty your pockets, so keep him around.”
“Puhaha. Same old gambler talk. Your pockets’ll be empty before he shows.”
The group laughed at Nederman.
Amid the laughter, he grumbled,
“When’s this monster showing up? I’ll lose everything at this rate. Damn……”
Click.
I opened the door, cutting the chatter as eyes turned to me.
Nederman lit up the moment he saw me.
“You’re finally here!”
I gave him a cold look.
“You’ve been hanging out here, so I assume you’ve got results I’ll be satisfied with?”
“Long time no see—gotta jump straight to business? We’ll get to that. Come, sit first.”
He jumped up to offer his seat.
Three men sat around the round table, eyeing me curiously while puffing cigars.
One spoke up at me standing there blankly.
“If you’re scared, drop dead.”
Ha, really.
Ridiculous.
I looked at Nederman.
“What’s this?”
“I’ve lost a fortune to these bastards the past few days. They’re no joke.”
“Tch. Pathetic.”
“They’re big names in these parts. Help me out once. I’ll end up spinning webs for food at this rate.”
Shaking my head, I took his seat.
How could a cat pass a fish shop without trouble?
Not really for him.
Just couldn’t stand the cocky pricks in front of me.
Nederman kneaded my shoulders as I sat.
The others watched me with interest.
“What, you really gonna try?”
“No way the gambler you mentioned is this green kid, right?”
They sneered at me.
Guys like this only learn after getting crushed.
I said,
“What’re you waiting for? Deal the cards.”
When I entered Romantic Sea Tales as the sun hung midday high,
I didn’t leave until it dipped low in the afternoon.
Pockets heavy.
Nederman followed, shoulders high.
“Amazing, really. Knew I had an eye for people.”
“Wherever I go, I won’t starve.”
“What’s your secret? Teach me.”
I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
“No secret. Pure talent and instinct. If you can’t win with that, quit gambling. Want me to chop your hands off?”
“That’s scary talk. Reminds me of those steppe wolves begging for my arms every night. Terrifying.”
“Terrifying? You lose every day because you’re like that.”
“True enough. I am a bit of a coward. Hey, isn’t that Iriel?”
Nederman pointed at Iriel ahead, arms crossed, glaring at us.
We’d reached the inn amid our chat.
Iriel fired up before greetings.
“You! Why’re you so late from that place earlier?”
“Hey, Iriel, been well? Long time.”
Nederman waved cheekily, but she rolled her eyes and snapped,
“Not glad to see you! Don’t act friendly.”
“What’s with the anger after so long? Got rejected by someone while I was gone?”
“Who got rejected by who?!”
“Reaction says yes. Who was the guy—”
“Long time, Mr. Nederman.”
As they bickered, Allen emerged from the inn.
Nederman hugged him warmly, playing along.
“Haha, doing well? Grown some hair, huh. Shame. Bald was better.”
“Spare the horror stories. Why so late? We waited till our necks ached. Were about to go look.”
“Oh, that. Got held up with important business.”
“Yeah? Get any useful info?”
“Info? Look at this pouch. When’d I have time? Was busy winning.”
Fair enough—time flies when you’re raking it in.
I’d forgotten why I went to fetch him while doing just that.
But that money? I won it just now.
I said,
“You had plenty to do here.”
“Of course. Think I’d forget?”
“Good.”
“Won money too, so now we handle it step by step.”
He grinned.
Without a word, I reached for my sword.
Shing.
“Whoa, touchy! Can’t take a joke?”
Nederman panicked at the half-drawn white blade, waving hands wildly.
“I’ll tell you everything that happened, so sheath that ugly thing.”
We moved to the dining hall to hear his tale.
He’d arrived here a month ago.
“Soon as I got here, I hit Romantic Sea Tales. You wouldn’t know, but the booze is killer. Fresh fish as anju? Out of this world. Seafish beat river fish by miles.”
“What? No branch visit?”
At Iriel’s question, Nederman kindly explained.
“What good’s the branch? You’d take time to arrive, so fresh in Porsen, had to announce myself.”
Translation: boozed and fooled around.
Shing.
“Wait. Not done talking. You got testier while I was away.”
“Cut the crap. Get to the point.”
“Man, no fun. Storytelling basics—”
Shing.
“Fine, fine. Temper’s the same. Anyway, after a week enjoying sea views and drinks, I hit the branch. Not ’cause I remembered my purpose.”
He glanced at my hand and rushed on.
“No useful info there either. As expected. Regretted not staying longer, threatened them: a merciless monster with a sword comes soon—gather info or die. They paled and nodded.”
“Didn’t stake your own life?”
“Of course. So I drowned my blues at Romantic Sea Tales again.”
Shing.
“Not just gambling! Please, that sword—let a man speak. Valencia folk hear tales to the end.”
“Point.”
“Got it. Almost there. Don’t freak at my genius. Why go back otherwise? I spread word of City of Immortality script, offered bounty.”
Nederman’s eyes gleamed.
“50 gold to anyone who can translate it or knows who can.”
Solid strategy.
“Results?”
“Gamblers hooked on vice and cash. Huge turnout as planned. Even fishermen heard. Chaos—everyone claiming they could do it.”
He grinned.
“Most were con men or drunks, but who am I? Finder of pearls in muck.”
He puffed up, eyeing me confidently.
“I found the one who can decipher the City of Immortality.”
Leaning back smugly.
Like he’d accomplished something huge, untouchable now.
Thought he’d just eaten and played, but he did work.
Still, I gripped my scabbard.
Shing.
Seeing it, Nederman jolted like he’d been shocked, yelling desperately.
“Ah, why!”