Chapter 38: Sowing Seeds
Chapter 38: Sowing Seeds
Three days later, deep in the night.
The tavern Madrum.
Bunorak and Deubang had recommended the place.
When Jiha entered, a female employee waiting inside bowed her head deeply.
"Welcome. This is Madrum."
"Come, come. Commander. Please enter."
"We know this establishment well. Hurry..."
Bunorak and Deubang urged him on, but Jiha stopped at the entrance and surveyed the interior.
It was called a tavern, but it wasn't an open place like Yorn.
Rooms lined the corridor stretching left and right. It was a room salon.
"The places people live are all the same."
"Excuse me?"
"So now we go into a room and pick some girls, right? Laugh, shout, pour drinks, and throw up?"
At Jiha's words, Bunorak looked blank for a moment, then nodded hastily.
Deubang added,
"We have the best girls waiting. Please hurry..."
"Ridiculous."
Jiha let out a dry laugh.
Even in Warsland, where women dominate, men exist.
Most Normal Grades are male, and about a quarter of Rare Grades are men.
"How does a place like this even operate? A Unique Grade woman could fly into a rage and wreck the place, and no one would find it strange."
"Because there's no need to."
The answer didn't come from Bunorak or Deubang.
It was the female employee who had greeted Jiha, a beauty in a suit.
When Jiha turned, she smiled gently and explained.
"This establishment is a drinking house used by a small number of Normal Grade and a large number of Rare Grade men. We are legally licensed to operate."
"Spare me the textbook answer. Why do the ill-tempered female rulers, including Uniques, tolerate such desires? In a world where women are superior to men?"
If what Bunorak and Deubang said was true, there would be a second act.
The employee explained in a calm, measured voice.
"This culture has existed since long before the Thousand-Year War, since ancient times, and they see no particular need to eradicate it."
"Really? The powers that be just turn a blind eye?"
After hearing that much, Jiha guessed the inside story.
But he wanted to hear how this woman would answer.
When Jiha asked despite already knowing, the woman responded smoothly.
"To solidify their own ruling power, it is necessary to overlook some of the indiscretions of those beneath them. Though, of course, we do provide a certain amount of lubrication to our superiors."
"Hm."
Jiha looked the woman over once more.
The woman, her black hair falling down her back in a neat braid, added unprompted.
"Because desire never changes, no matter the era."
Jiha nodded.
"I like that. I'll take her."
"What?"
Deubang and Bunorak looked stunned.
For the first time, the woman also looked flustered.
"Ah, sir. I apologize, but I only handle the reception duties. This establishment has far better women..."
"You'll do."
Jiha said, then added,
"I can pour my own drinks. I have no intention of touching you either, so don't worry about that. Just sit next to me and talk, like you're doing now."
"Er, Commander, that's..."
The kobold Deubang tried to dissuade him, but fell silent under Jiha's gaze.
The flustered woman looked around.
The man sitting at the counter was looking at Jiha and stood up.
"If you don't want to, just say so. I'll leave without making a fuss, so no need to call your boys over."
Sensing the atmosphere, Jiha drew a line. The woman, who had been embarrassed, raised her head and smiled.
"No, sir. It's an honor that you chose me. I might make mistakes since it's my first time, but please, treat me well."
"Alright. What's your name?"
"It's Lijin."
Jiha nodded and started to move. The flustered Bunorak and Deubang hurried ahead to guide him.
As he listened to Lijin's footsteps following half a step behind, Jiha sorted through the situation.
'I've dodged at least one bullet with this...'
He had already confirmed through Uben that Pamin was preparing to take revenge on him.
Then the question was timing and location.
Instead of attacking him the moment he entered the tavern, they would likely get him drunk first and then make a move.
If so, the women meant to stick to his side had also likely been chosen in advance.
To drug his drink, or at least to coax him into drinking heavily with flattery.
By seating the entrance employee next to him, Jiha had preemptively blocked such tricks.
Third floor.
When Jiha entered the room, a U-shaped sofa greeted him.
"This is completely modern civilization..."
In terms of civilization level alone, Warsland was like Earth's Middle Ages.
Though the water supply facilities were advanced enough to rival 21st-century Earth, and the clothing had a fairly modern sensibility too.
Did people everywhere just think the same way?
As Jiha sat at the head seat with that thought, Lijin also carefully sat beside him.
Bunorak asked,
"Commander, are you really going with that woman? Another..."
Jiha cut him off with a wave of his hand.
Realizing that further words were useless, Bunorak and Deubang exchanged glances.
'Flustered because the plan has gone off script?'
Jiha was laughing inside when Lijin poured water into a glass and placed it in front of him.
"You don't need to wait on me."
Lijin worked in a tavern, but she wasn't a tavern girl. Jiha hadn't brought her here for that either.
But Lijin spoke gently.
"Just sitting still is boring. If it's not an imposition, may I do a few small things, meager as they are?"
A gentle but subtle self-assertion.
Jiha felt a mild interest in Lijin.
"What's your job? Your real job, outside of this place."
"I'm a student at Tavrol Academy."
"What's a college student doing here?"
The name Tavrol Academy came up often when reading books at the Barracks Library. It was a historic institution of higher learning.
"I took a leave of absence because I needed tuition money."
"And you chose this place because the hourly pay is good?"
If she really needed money, wouldn't it be better to work as a hostess, not a receptionist?
As Jiha observed her, Lijin was witty and well-spoken. A fresh, innocent beauty in a suit, her figure was both supple and feminine.
She must have been popular at the academy.
"My uncle runs this place. I'm helping him out."
"An uncle who puts his niece to work in his tavern because she says she doesn't have tuition money. I can't tell if he's kind-hearted or the opposite."
At Jiha's assessment, Lijin only offered an ambiguous, bitter smile.
Jiha had already sent Uben to investigate this tavern beforehand. The owner of this bar had been bought off with a generous sum by Pamin.
'I was curious how he planned to handle the aftermath even if he succeeded in killing me...'
A Purple Rare Grade killing a Blue Common? If this were to be exposed, Warsland would turn upside down.
A Common is the lowest of the low, but they are property summoned by Blue Seal's Legend Grades using precious resources.
Even if it's a dud card, wouldn't you be furious if someone else destroyed what you paid to pull? Especially if that someone was a long-time enemy.
So for Pamin, after killing Jiha, he had to cover up his involvement. That was why he prepared this tavern as a stage, bought off Bunorak and Deubang, and lured Jiha inside.
Bunorak and Deubang each picked human women and sat them down beside them.
"Do you two like human women too?"
"Well, no, I mean..."
At Jiha's question, the goblin Bunorak and the kobold Deubang hesitated. The women seated next to them flashed coquettish smiles at Jiha.
"Oh my, I guess the boss here doesn't like the likes of us."
"Don't be too angry. We'll work hard to please you."
The women in low-cut tops leaned forward, showing off their cleavage.
When women act cute and flash a bit of skin like this, most men tend to shut their mouths. When Jiha fell silent, the women gave him eye-smiles, linked arms with the seated Bunorak and Deubang, and fawned over them.
But Jiha's silence wasn't for the reason they thought.
'I should assume those women got paid too.'
To kill Jiha and cover his tracks, Pamin must have bought off the tavern owner and every employee.
The only variable on this stage was Lijin, whom Jiha had brought in himself.
Lijin then asked,
"Come to think of it, I haven't asked your name yet. How should I address you?"
"You're probably using a stage name yourself. Just call me Boss."
"This is my real name. Lijin Gandrol."
Didn't everyone working in a tavern use a stage name? Under Jiha's gaze, something distinctive was visible through the hair at the side of Lijin's smiling face. An ear that was shorter than an elf's but pointed.
"Ah..."
Lijin gave a bitter smile and shook her head slightly.
"I'm not an elf. My mother is an elf. I'm a half."
"A half-elf?"
"Please just treat me like a human. I've never belonged to elven society. And I'm only twenty-two years old in actual years."
To crush Leticia, Jiha had done some research into elves. Elves were extremely isolationist and pure-blooded, so relations with other species were truly rare. Even if they did mix, it was cases where a male elf and a human woman had a fleeting one-night stand.
He hadn't found a single story of a female elf bearing a child of another species.
While thinking this over, Jiha said,
"Order drinks as you like. Keep it moderate."
"Yes, understood. Commander."
Bunorak, who had been enjoying the women's flattery, immediately accepted.
When Jiha said nothing more, Lijin asked quietly,
"You're not asking anything?"
"No reason to."
Hiding ears with hair is something that gets found out immediately anyway. Lijin must have heard all sorts of comments about being a half-elf until now, but Jiha had zero interest.
Lijin said carefully,
"Thank you for being considerate."
"I came to drink and take care of business."
Jiha cut the conversation short and waited for the drinks to come. He needed to act drunk for Pamin to make his move.
The drinks had been going around for a good while.
"Truly, Commander, you are amazing!"
"Do you know how much we respect you, Commander? You don't. You don't know!"
Bunorak and Deubang were drunk and chattering excitedly. Gripping the breasts of the women beside them, they slobbered with pleased faces.
Jiha, his eyes droopy with an obvious drunk act, answered occasionally.
"Yeah? You're that loyal to me? Enough to give your lives?"
"Of course. Of course. We'll gladly sacrifice our lives."
"I would also die for you, Commander! Hey, pour him another drink, quick!"
Lijin silently filled Jiha's empty glass with alcohol. Then, without being asked, she poured water and placed it near Jiha's hand. She didn't push it on him, just made sure he could reach it whenever he wanted.
Then she wiped Jiha's dampened pants with a dry cloth. The way she did it quietly, without any sign of distaste, earned Jiha's silent admiration.
'She's sharp. In the old days, I'd have trained her as a secretary under me.'
Lijin was quite different from the women of Warsland he'd seen so far, the ones who lived by the female-superiority norm. Her Normal Grade and half-elf status probably played a part.
As Jiha kept drinking, the goblin Bunorak peeked over and stood up from his seat.
"Commander, I'll go take a refreshing leak."
"Clean yourself out and come back."
Jiha replied casually. When Bunorak closed the door and left, Jiha opened his eyes fully.
Rising from his seat, Jiha looked out the window behind the sofa. A window leading to the back of the building. In a place where no one should be passing by, a man stood alone. He had his back turned, but his ears marked him as an elf.
It was time.
"You said you'd give your lives for me, right?"
"Huh?"
Jiha turned around with a cold expression. Kobold Deubang blinked.
"One of you lives through today. Choose."
Because he needed someone to pin tonight's events on.
"Sir? Commander. What do you mean..."
"I said choose."
Jiha had been faking being drunk. The reason his thigh was soaked was that he'd spilled a lot of liquor while pretending to drink. Lijin, sitting right beside him, knew this but said nothing and merely wiped it occasionally. Her hands moving under the table would have looked to others like she was just touching and entertaining Jiha.
"C-Commander."
Jiha's demeanor had turned in an instant. Deubang reflexively realized something had gone terribly wrong.
"If you won't choose, then I will."
Jiha moved his hand to the sword hidden at the small of his back.
The sound of rushing footsteps could be heard. All the pieces were in place.
It was time to burn up the moths leaping into the fire.