Chapter 40
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Information Gathering
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Exhausted from the long journey, I lay in bed for a while and then went downstairs for dinner before I accidentally fell asleep.
As with most inns, this one also served food. Glancing at the dishes on the tables, the chef seemed quite competent.
I sat down at an empty table, and a waitress, bustling around the inn, approached me with a menu.
“What can I get for you?”
I scanned the menu and ordered without hesitation,
“A hamburger, a beer, and a sausage platter.”
“Right away.”
Due to its proximity to the Vulcan Mountains, Hamburg had a frigid climate, and beer—known for warming the body—was considered a common beverage.
This was likely a cultural influence from the dwarves, who frequently visited the city. As a result, beer and sausages were a popular combination.
But that alone wasn’t enough to satisfy one’s hunger, which was why hamburgers were often ordered as well.
Hamburgers were a local specialty, similar in appearance and taste to the ones I knew from my previous life, with a few key differences: the patties were made with lamb, and the buns were enormous—likely to provide more calories in the cold climate.
I sipped my beer and surveyed my surroundings.
As expected of an inn, most of the patrons were travelers, not locals.
Nobles and wealthy merchants visiting the nearby hot springs, high-ranking adventurers, mercenaries – the clientele was diverse.
If I had chosen a cheaper inn, I might have encountered unsavory characters, but this establishment seemed to attract a more respectable crowd.
“Hey! Bring me more beer! More beer!”
…Of course, there were always exceptions.
I glanced disdainfully at the drunken, rowdy mercenaries and pulled out a magical tool from my pocket.
It was an artifact called “Thief’s Ear,” with a simple but useful function: it allowed the user to eavesdrop on conversations at any table, regardless of the surrounding noise.
While I planned to infiltrate the Margrave’s residence later that night, I wanted to gather some information about the current situation in the human kingdom.
I hadn’t heard any news from the kingdom since entering Doom Land, relying solely on rumors.
I put on the artifact, which resembled wireless earphones, and scanned the room, deciding which table to eavesdrop on.
I chose a group of merchants, their faces glistening with oil.
Merchants were usually well-informed, so they might have some valuable information.
I cupped my hand around my ear and focused on their conversation.
“With things so uncertain lately, shouldn’t we leave Hamburg?”
“Don’t be foolish. Don’t you know that danger breeds opportunity? No matter how strong the demons are, those in power won’t abandon Hamburg. If they lose this city, the capital will be in danger.”
“That’s true, but I still have a bad feeling. The demons have been acting strangely lately. And we haven’t heard anything about the Hero’s party.”
“Winter is coming. There’s no need to worry. The demons won’t make a move until spring. So, don’t be so hasty and act cautiously.”
The two merchants were discussing the recent fall of Hamburg Fortress.
It was understandable that they were worried, as the fortress, which had stood for nearly a hundred years, had been captured by the enemy.
One was planning to flee, while the other saw it as a business opportunity.
While their conversation was interesting, it wasn't particularly useful to me. I shifted my focus to another table.
How about the nobles?
“Father, we have two days until Baron Sesibong’s party. Why don’t we enjoy the hot springs in the meantime?”
“That sounds nice. Do you have a place in mind?”
“I heard the sulfur hot springs near the iron ore mines are excellent. People come from all over to visit them.”
“Then let’s go there tomorrow. I could use a good soak.”
It was a typical conversation between a father and son. A heartwarming display of familial affection, but not particularly informative.
I was about to shift my focus to the adventurers when I noticed the group of mercenaries who had been causing a commotion earlier.
Despite their rough appearance, they seemed to have money. The group of five was laughing and chatting boisterously.
“Captain, did you hear about the Head Mage of the Emerald Tower in the capital?”
“That grumpy old hag?”
“I heard she reached the seventh tier. The whole capital is in an uproar.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I have my sources. Anyway, the Emerald Tower is packed with people every day. Mages from all over the continent have flocked to the capital to witness a Hepta Spell.”
I abruptly stood up.
I approached the goateed mercenary who had been talking to the captain.
“Could you tell me more about that?”
The captain, a bear-like man, stood up.
“Huh? Who the hell are you? How dare you eavesdrop on our conversation?”
I instinctively reached for my staff, then stopped myself.
Causing a scene would only attract the guards.
I forced a smile.
“What do you want? If you tell me more about what you just discussed, I’ll compensate you accordingly.”
The bear-like mercenary burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha! This is ridiculous! To be spoken to like this by a stranger! You underestimate the Black Bear Mercenary Company!”
The surrounding merchants and adventurers began murmuring among themselves.
“The Black Bear Mercenary Company? They’re a well-established group, all B-rank adventurers or higher!”
“I heard they earned a fortune for their service on the front lines during the recent war between noble families.”
“That man looks like a retired soldier. He might have picked the wrong fight.”
They were more famous than I had anticipated.
Well, ordinary mercenaries couldn't afford to stay at a ten-silver-per-night inn.
The mercenary captain, a fierce-looking man, looked down at me.
“Apologize now, and I’ll let you go. But if you ignore my warning, you’ll regret it.”
“What if I insist on hearing your story?”
The mercenary captain stroked his bandit-like beard, amused.
“You have two options. Fight me with this,”
He held up a massive battle-axe, capable of felling a tree in a single swing.
“Or beat me at this.”
He pulled out something I recognized.
“I’d rather avoid bloodshed, so I’ll choose the latter.”
“Hahahaha! You’ve got guts!”
The mercenary captain laughed heartily and addressed his men.
“Alright, get ready!”
His men began setting up.
“Everyone else, get out of here!”
“This inn is about to become a battlefield!”
The commotion attracted more onlookers.
The innkeeper and staff, seemingly accustomed to such events, calmly continued serving food and drinks.
The mercenary captain sat across from me at the long table, a smug look on his face.
“I’ve never lost a fight in my life.”
I shrugged.
“Then I’m sorry to be the one to break your winning streak.”
“…You’re a cocky bastard.”
The mercenary captain growled menacingly.
But he was nothing compared to the demons I had faced, so I maintained my composure.
The goateed mercenary from earlier, acting as the referee, looked back and forth between us and explained the rules.
“Best two out of three. The loser agrees to the winner’s demands. Do you both agree?”
I nodded.
“I agree.”
The mercenary captain nodded as well.
“Agreed.”
The goateed mercenary solemnly declared,
“The duel is hereby official.”
We swallowed our pride and, in unison, shouted,
“DUEL!”