Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Those Who Left, Those Who Returned (6)
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Breakfast was simple yet hearty. On the large plates were two sunny-side-up eggs each, next to them crispy bacon and plump sausages bursting with juices, and beside those were high-calorie fried potato patties made by shaping minced potatoes into rounds, topped with cheese. Small bowls held simmered beans mixed with tomato sauce, along with a bit of mustard and mayonnaise. There were also small omelets stuffed with minced vegetables like onions and carrots. And the main attraction...
“The smell is incredible.”
Three golden-brown pancakes stacked neatly. Drizzled generously with syrup enough to jolt anyone awake, topped with a large pat of bright yellow butter. They looked cozy and inviting, straight out of a storybook.
“I’ll dig in.”
I picked up my fork and knife, slicing off a piece of pancake. The cross-section soaked in syrup, slathered with butter, went into my mouth in one bite...
“Mmm...”
The pure sweetness of molasses syrup blended with the rich, creamy butter and the fluffy pancake texture, melting smoothly on the tongue. Just a simple, delicious flavor. Classics never fail. To think such a basic combination could be this satisfying...
I shared the stray crumbs that had fallen from the pancake with Pipi, then cut another slice.
“Legion, say ‘ah’.”
「Theo. Ah.」
Its tiny mouth opened wide. I fed it a forkful of pancake. It ate it right up, as expected.
By the way.
“Callisto, skipping breakfast again today?”
“Skipping?”
“Yeah, I mean, passing on it this time too? Not eating?”
“Ah. Yes. This is plenty for me.”
All Callisto had eaten were the beans and omelet. And even that, just pecking at it... Impressive how it could make such tasty food look unappetizing.
“Hmm, alright then...”
Callisto casually pushed its plate toward me, as if it were routine. How embarrassing. But leaving good food behind isn’t right. I pulled the plate in front of Legion. Not because I was hungry—it was just that sharing with Legion meant I needed more food proportionally. I muttered that excuse to myself, then sliced the omelet with my knife.
The omelet was springy yet moist inside, so soft it nearly dissolved in my mouth. Probably loaded with butter in the eggs. I sprinkled pepper on one half and placed the unpeppered half in front of Legion. Oh, and a few beans too.
「Theo. Ugh. Beans.」
“Eat a variety to grow big and strong.”
Beans are so good for you. But Legion clearly hated them, ignoring them until it had devoured the omelet, only forcing them down at the very end with a scrunched-up face, swallowing them whole without chewing. This guy...
The bacon, baked to a crisp that was almost too crunchy, felt like a snack—no heaviness at all. Salty, greasy... Perfect with the omelet. The sausage oozed juices the moment I cut it—clearly made from prime pork. Spread with mustard that still had half its seeds intact, it went down refreshingly. Great pairing.
No need to mention the cheese-topped potato fries. Potatoes and cheese—a foolproof winning formula. Dipping the crispy potato balls in a bit of mayo with the slightly melted cheese... Ah... Makes me crave beer in broad daylight!
We polished off those huge plates clean, to the point of being dishwasher-ready, then stood up. Ha, the simple life is the best. It felt like ‘home cooking’ in a pseudo-medieval land? So filling. So satisfying.
“What are your plans for today?”
The innkeeper asked me as she wiped her hands on her apron. With the mercenaries who survived Sequoya Forest returning to Corin, the territory’s residents had caught wind that some ‘incident’ had occurred in Sequoya Forest, putting the whole domain on edge. She seemed to sense we were involved in it. Though she didn’t ask outright.
“We’ll rest up today. Got a dinner appointment.”
“Oh my. I was planning to make a ton of donuts!”
“...Could you save some for us?”
“Of course. I’ll stack them up in the kitchen—eat as many as you like when you get back.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Stepping outside the inn, I saw mercenaries bustling about, preparing to leave the city. Those severely injured in Sequoya Forest had to stay in Corin for treatment, but the rest were eager to shake off this nightmare and head to other cities.
If they left now, they wouldn’t get their completion bonuses. Or the rewards. If they waited until Lady Corin sorted things out and the lord woke up, they could claim compensation for Dawood’s actions. But mercenaries don’t know patience. Most prioritize the present over the future. And besides...
‘They must be anxious.’
Clearly, most were desperate to flee Corin before ‘something else’ happened again.
The reward Dawood had posted was huge to begin with, so leaving now wasn’t a total loss for them. Above all, they’d saved their precious lives and bodies intact...
‘Corin’s in trouble.’
Once the mercenaries left, rumors that Corin was cursed would spread everywhere. Braggarts would embellish the truth with lies and exaggerations. That would tarnish Corin’s reputation for sure.
‘Especially since the heir was ensnared by heretics...’
The Barak Empire’s many eyes would turn to Corin. And that was far from good.
Of course, the lord, his wife, and their son Lewis would handle it well enough.
For now, though, the lord and Lewis’s poor conditions were worrying. Lady Corin felt the same—she wanted my help. Specifically, my ‘testimony.’
Sharing information on the ‘Crows’ behind it all: that Corin wasn’t their base, that all the tragedies were Dawood’s doing. And how the Crows ‘manipulated’ people like Dawood—their methods.
The Crows were stirring trouble everywhere, yet no one knew about them—not ordinary folk, mercenaries, mages, nobles, or even national leaders. To prove that disasters and bizarre incidents were their handiwork, my testimony was essential.
Lady Corin knew that well. That’s why she asked for my help. She could’ve buried it all for Corin’s honor, but instead, she chose to confront the Crows’ existence.
I can’t stop the Crows alone. Obviously. So, I had no choice but to join hands with them.
Just as in Lüset and Dihid.
We headed to Corin Castle. Unlike my first visit with Lewis, the castle was chaotic and hectic. Because of what happened in Sequoya Forest. They couldn’t cram all the injured mercenaries into temples, so priests dispatched from each had set up tents inside the vast castle grounds to treat them.
On one side, soldiers were reorganizing their ranks. Likely reinforcing defenses in case remaining orc packs seized Sequoya Forest during the chaos.
Beyond that, people cooking for the injured soldiers and mercenaries, carrying medicine and supplies, compiling mercenary intel...
Corin was buzzing with activity. Lady Corin’s resolve shone through it all.
“Lady Corin is waiting.”
The head butler, who’d been awaiting our arrival, guided us to the study. There, in the center, sat Lady Corin. Despite her small stature, her presence was immense.
“You’ve arrived.”
I bowed briefly to Lady Corin and took a seat. The butler offered tea and pastries, but the mood wasn’t right for eating or drinking. Instead of taking a cookie myself, I broke one in half and fed it to Legion on my shoulder, then looked at Lady Corin.
“The castle’s running at full throttle.”
“...I’m ashamed. I didn’t want to receive you in such shabby conditions.”
“It’s fine. Faces aren’t what you should worry about now.”
“Thank you for understanding, Theodore.”
We talked about Dawood for a bit. By law, the heir’s funeral should be grand, but Lady Corin firmly stated it was impossible. I agreed. The victims Dawood sacrificed hadn’t even been properly mourned—holding a lavish funeral for the murderer was absurd.
Fortunately, we saw eye to eye on that. The funds for the heir’s funeral would go toward honoring those sacrificed. Lady Corin promised it clearly—even if Corin’s finances suffered, compensation for victims would happen, selling heirlooms if needed. Resolve burned in her eyes as she said it.
“...I’ll have to sell my horses too.”
Amid our discussion, a familiar voice came from behind.
“Lewis!”
There at the door stood Lewis. Bandages wrapped his head, crutch under one arm, but it was him. Recovering this fast! El and I stared in surprise, while Lloyd just smiled silently. Lewis hobbled toward us on his crutch with determined steps. His face was a bit pale, but his eyes burned stronger than before.
“Theodore.”
He came straight to me, extending his scarred hand instead of formal greetings or flowery words. Heh. I chuckled briefly and gripped it firmly.
“Thank you.”
Just those two words, yet they carried so much.