7. Not a Parasite, a Pillar Husband.
We spent one more day in the mountains before heading back to Leventen. We made a beeline for the Adventurer's Guild.
It wasn't peak morning rush hour, so there weren't many people coming and going outside the guild. "Take a customer!" Bella kicked the door open and barreled inside. Instantly, the eyes of the few remaining adventurers inside locked onto us.
It was nearly lunchtime, so there weren't many adventurers left indoors either, but with the guild staff present, quite a few gazes turned our way. Whispers rippled through the crowd, pointing at us. Whatever. Bella strutted forward with her chest puffed out, proud as could be, treating their chatter like background noise. The rest of us, meanwhile, were mortified by the spectacle.
Cheong-ah let out a sigh. I quickly pulled her closer to my side. "......Haa."
"Cheong-ah, just pretend you don't know her. Turn your face away."
Whether she sensed our embarrassment or not, Bella glanced back when we lingered at the entrance instead of following. She seemed utterly unfazed by the stares, waving us over with an excited shout. It was like a dog wagging its tail to call its owner.
"What're you guys doing? Hurry up! Come on, let's report the quest done and get outta here!"
I shrugged at Cheong-ah helplessly and started after her, but snippets of conversation from nearby caught my ear. One adventurer, who clearly didn't recognize Bella, was asking his neighbor about her. The guy answering was someone I vaguely knew by face—a guild social butterfly with a middling reputation, neither good nor bad.
"What's going on? Who's that woman?"
"Dude, you don't know her? That's the Mountain Bitch."
"Mountain Bitch...? The elite mercenary from the Mercenary Guild?"
"Yeah, so watch your eyes. They say she beats the shit outta anyone who stares."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah, you know how Leven went back to his hometown a few days ago? That was 'cause she beat his ass."
"She really beat him just for making eye contact? That's straight-up gangster shit. The guild's not saying anything?"
"What're they gonna say? Elite merc transfers in, they just hush it up."
"Damn, she's fucking crazy....... But hey, that ass is fire though?"
"Heh heh.... You're fucked, man."
I committed that Leven guy's face to memory. From what I recalled, it wasn't just a casual beating. Vaguely, I think it happened while we were eating at the inn's restaurant. The drunk asshole staggered over, pointed at me, and started yapping about why I'd even be in a party. Cheong-ah got pissed and nearly sliced his pointing arm off with her sword, but Bella noticed and jumped in first to thrash him. If not for that, his arm would've been gone. And Bella only hit him three or four times—pretty merciful, if you ask me. He was lucky it ended there, barging in on two untouchable powerhouses having lunch.
Hearing them gossip without knowing shit pissed me off. I can take shit about myself all day, but trash-talking Bella or Cheong-ah? No way. Especially...... Yeah, fuck it. If I let it slide, I'm the idiot.
I let go of Cheong-ah's hand and turned toward the voices. "Hey, you loudmouth fuckers. Shut the hell up."
Something the old me never would've done. Hell, even me from a week ago couldn't have. I'm just riding their coattails. Someone watching might call it pathetic finger-pointing.
"The fuck, who're you?"
The one who didn't recognize Bella reacted to my curse. He clearly didn't know my infamous face either—probably a newbie or fresh to the city. His bronze badge marked him as Bronze-rank. Not many fresh Iron-badgers jumped straight to Bronze Badge.
Face twisting in annoyance at an Iron like me cursing them out, he lunged. His buddy—the social butterfly—grabbed him desperately.
"Fuckin' Iron-badge punk. You blind? I'm Bronze Badge, asshole. Should I kill you?"
"No, don't, you idiot. Touch him and you're shitting blood."
"Why, who's he?"
"That's Ian."
The guy froze mid-lunge at the name. Then he spat, "Ian? That parasite?"
"No, dumbass, don't say that nickname here—!"
"What, why...? Gah!? Gurk—!"
Suddenly, his eyes rolled back, foam bubbled from his mouth, and he collapsed. I whipped around at the prickling stare from behind. Cheong-ah again, huh.
The social butterfly gawked at his fainted buddy, then rushed over, dropping to his knees and grabbing my pant leg. "Oh man, Ian sir, this guy's new from another city, doesn't know shit. Please, just this once?"
"Forget it. Hey, social butterfly."
I shook off his hand and squatted to meet his eyes. Not knowing his real name, I used the nickname. He seemed to recognize it quick enough and nodded.
"Yes, sir. What is it?"
"That Leven or whatever fuckwit? I told Bella to beat his ass. You know that, right?"
"Uh, y-yes......?"
"Fuck, why play dumb? You know me or not?"
He bowed low as I scowled and cursed. I smirked and pointed at Bella, now turning our way amid the commotion.
"Yes, I-I know."
"Truth is, I've got that bitch Bella by the balls. She can't say no to me."
"Pardon?"
His blank stare made me snap. "Fuck, can't you get it the first time? Want me to have her beat you too?"
"No, sorry! Got it."
"Anyway, listen up. Spread the word right from now on. She's just my attack dog—does whatever I say. It was all my orders, got it? Don't fuck up the rumors. Hurts my pride."
"Y-yes, sir."
"Now drag that passed-out fucker outta here."
The social butterfly hauled his buddy away. Eyes bored into me from all sides, but I stood casually. Bella stormed up and smacked my head hard. Crack—my skull rattled.
"What the fuck, idiot?"
"What..."
"Just ignore 'em. Why stir shit up? Not like you. Backtalk's daily bread. You've put up with worse forever—why flip out today?"
I rubbed the spot as she griped. "Pisses me off."
"What? Suddenly pissed? You handle it fine usually. What, leader title got you cocky? Your rep's already shit—this makes it worse. Why pick fights?"
"Not that. I'd ignore shit about me."
"Then why lose it, dumbass?"
"Wasn't about me. It was about you."
"Huh? What do you......"
Confusion flashed across her face, cheeks faintly flushing. I stared into her pumpkin-orange eyes. "Couldn't ignore it 'cause it was you they were shitting on. Anyway, let's report and bounce. People staring's embarrassing."
"F-fuck....... Fine."
Ian trudged ahead nonchalantly. Bella followed two steps back, looking sulky. Cheong-ah sidled up beside her, whispering low enough for only Bella to hear, her voice icy. "......Bella."
"Y-yeah...? What?"
"Touch him like that one more time, and I'll really kill you. How dare you hit my husband's head......"
Bella flinched at the warning. She glanced down, mumbling, "......S-sorry. Got pissed in the moment. Bad habit. I'll watch it from now on."
Bella yielding without a fight? Cheong-ah blinked, stunned. It was so unlike her.
"Pardon? Uh, sure......"
"Good enough? Hurry up, Ian's waiting."
"......Right."
Bella shrugged and strode ahead. Cheong-ah watched her back, a twinge in her gut.
Quest reported, we headed back to the inn. It was lunchtime, so we figured on eating at the restaurant, but oddly, Bella suggested something out of character. "Hey, wanna wash up first before eating?"
"What's with you? Since when do you wanna clean up?"
"What 'since when'? Just feels gross. Don't wanna? Fine then."
"Nah, not bad. Still time till lunch. Wash up and meet downstairs."
"Yeah...... Got it."
Bella ducked into her room quick. I tilted my head at Cheong-ah. "What's her deal suddenly?"
"......No idea."
Cheong-ah spun and entered her room first. Usually she'd wait for me to go in ahead. What's with her too......