Episode 31

As I waited while drinking a glass of alcohol, the man approached.

He had gained a little weight and had a sturdy build. Because of that, his impression was warm and actually pleasant to look at. You could say he had an approachable feel.

It could be said that it was actually a favorable appearance for a merchant.

He rubbed his hands together softly and smiled.

"Ah, nice to meet you. I run a small trade caravan."

"Hello. I'm Mia, vice-captain of Harmony's Flame. May I ask how far you're going?"

"I plan to stop by the northern trade city of Poraka briefly and then head to the Winter Duchy."

"Then could we go together to the Winter Duchy?"

"Weren't you going to the capital? I thought you were heading straight to the mercenary group."

I'd like to do that, but the northern region and the capital are too far apart.

Despite being a fantasy world, it's awkwardly developed with no teleport machines, so going from the Forest of Temptation to the capital and then to the north would take several more months.

That's because the Winter Duchy is located at almost the very edge of the continent.

'I'll have to check on the mercenary group along the way.'

Anyway, since it's a large mercenary group, rumors must have spread everywhere.

"There's a place I must go first before heading to the mercenary group. If it's okay, may we go together?"

"Ah! Of course. We'd be grateful if you joined us."

He clapped his hands once and the merchant leader subtly approached.

Glancing at the three standing a step behind me, he bent down and whispered in my ear.

"I'm not disregarding you, Vice-Captain, but may I ask about the level of those behind you?"

"All three are about the same as me."

"Is that so? Then should I pay them separately..."

Usually, such sudden companionships don't involve payment. It's considered an implicit transaction where both sides provide accommodation and protection to each other.

But considering my fame, he's asking if it would be appropriate to pay something.

I shook my head from side to side and answered.

"Money isn't necessary, but could we just receive meals and lodging? That would be enough."

"Of course we should provide that! That much is basic."

"That's fine then. When do we depart?"

I could earn money once I reached the north anyway.

I could take on personal mercenary work or adventurer jobs. In this medieval-era place, flexibility comes naturally if you have strength.

"We depart tomorrow at dawn. If that's too early for you, we can delay it."

"No. We'll leave at that time too."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

After skillfully finishing the greetings, the merchant leader left.

As he disappeared from view, Seoryeong unni grabbed me from behind in a tight hug.

"Why didn't you take money? At our level, they'd probably give it if we asked."

"When it's not really necessary, it's better to help cheaply. That way, when I need help later, I can receive help too."

"Really? I always threatened them to give me rides."

"You're more trash than I thought. Did Aron just let that be?"

Though the question was directed at Seoryeong unni, my gaze turned toward Aron.

"Should I say it was that kind of era back then? It was an era where you tried with force first and used words if that didn't work."

"The older men said it was the romantic era... but it was just the barbaric era."

"Originally, the two are just a fine line apart."

At his confident answer, I sighed deeply and took coins from my pocket.

Checking the jingling coins, it seemed like enough for one night's lodging.

I stopped the passing tavern owner.

"Please give us 4 rooms with this. We'll just stay one night."

"Ah, we're short on rooms right now... I can give you one large room, would that be okay?"

"Didn't the mercenary group all leave?"

"There are still some mercenaries remaining and many adventurers have come. So we don't have many rooms. Or should I make a room available for you right away?"

In other words, he meant he would take a room from the weakest person with the least money.

"No. Then please give us that room."

"I'll prepare it right away. How about having a meal while we prepare it? Normally we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠serve breakfast, but I'll serve dinner instead."

It seemed he had eavesdropped on our conversation appropriately.

I wasn't particularly displeased.

It wasn't something we were trying to hide, and since he eavesdropped and acted considerately, it's win-win for both sides.

"Yes, then I'll ask for that too."

The owner nodded and disappeared with quick steps.

*

Perhaps because it was a successful establishment, bread, soup and meat came out together.

For food provided as part of basic lodging, it was quite well served.

Usually it's just bread and soup.

I softly tore the bread with my hands, put it in my mouth, and chewed.

Next to me, Eri and Seoryeong unni sat on either side of Aron. Perhaps their power struggle wasn't over yet, as they were glaring at each other while eating.

'How did they go on adventures like that? It probably wasn't easy.'

Since we came out, if you include their petty power struggles, they've essentially been at it non-stop.

Finally, unable to watch any longer, I looked at the three and asked.

"But if you both have so many power struggles, how did you travel together?"

At my question, the two who had been glaring at each other turned their gaze toward me.

"That's work. What we're doing now is personal time."

"That's right. While it's true that we like Aron, we don't neglect the work we have to do."

"Plus, the circumstances and timing of when we started liking him are different. Originally, only I liked him."

"That's not true."

"Why?"

"That crazy bitch was there too."

At Eri's words, Seoryeong unni let out a short sigh and trembled.

Aron, who had been eating with a calm expression, paused his spoon and said.

"Do you have to bring that up? I still get scared just thinking about her."

From then on, their conversation shifted to that 'crazy bitch'.

After listening quietly, I couldn't hold back and asked first.

"Who is she that all three of you have that reaction?"

"Her? She's a real crazy bitch. It's not a power struggle with her, you know? If she saw you clinging to Aron's side, she'd immediately try to fight."

At Seoryeong unni's words, Eri immediately added.

"If she just fought, that would be fortunate. Do you know she glared at me for a whole week just because I hugged him once? I really thought I was going to be assassinated."

"Me too. After I hugged Aron once, she subtly gave me less healing during battles, so I struggled."

"The fact that we can have these comfortable power struggles now is only possible because that bitch isn't here."

If their power struggle was like WWE, then the remaining one seemed like UFC.

"Aron, is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she that bad?"

"Is that how bad she is? She's a bit gloomy, but since she's my childhood friend, I'm used to it."

At Aron's indifferent response, Eri and Seoryeong unni shook their heads vigorously.

It seemed Aron was reacting leniently because she was a woman.

"She just sometimes sneaks into my bed, or makes a point of climbing on top of me every morning? Sometimes she suddenly comes in while I'm showering."

"She's definitely a crazy bitch."

It's just that Aron didn't realize she was strange.

Since he spent every day with women in such physical proximity, he probably thought of women too lightly.

"But why isn't that crazy bitch in the forest? Didn't everyone get cursed?"

"As the Saintess, she resisted the curse with divine power. But she exhausted all her divine power, so she returned to the Church to recover."

"She's been recovering for decades?"

"Isn't it because she needs that much divine power? We've been exchanging letters regularly."

I'd never heard that the first Saintess was alive or recovering.

The first Saintess doesn't appear in the game either.

Since Aron doesn't appear either, it might not be that strange.

If both were characters added in Black Nightmare 2, it's entirely possible.

Since Ivy became the Saintess normally, isn't this proof that there's no problem?

As I was briefly lost in thought, the tavern owner approached.

"Your room is ready. If you've finished your meal, would you like to go to your room?"

At his words, we all got up from our seats and were guided to our room.

The room had a surprisingly unique structure.

There was a large living room with separate bedrooms and bathrooms.

Is it possible to have such facilities in a remote medieval village? At this level, it wouldn't be inferior even compared to the 21st century.

Though I'd come for mercenary work many times, this was my first time seeing the actual interior of a room.

While I was looking around the room, Eri and Seoryeong unni smiled with satisfaction.

"The bed is huge."

"Right. At that size, it should be good for the first time in a while, don't you think?"

I glared at them at their suggestive atmosphere and tone.

"Just try anything strange. I really won't let it slide."

Aron looked at me with a disappointed expression.

I immediately snapped at him.

"What are you looking at? Don't have any strange thoughts... let's just do that."

We moved here right after training ended.

Normally I should be hugging Aron and smelling his scent, but since I couldn't do that, I'd become somewhat uncomfortable.

Aron, who understood my meaning, smiled and spread his arms.

"What, are you offering to do it voluntarily now?"

"...I'm doing this because if I don't, you might make me do something else."

Muttering quietly, I threw myself into his embrace.

Because I've grown more than before, when I hug Aron's embrace tightly, my chest gets crushed.

That pressure lets me feel Aron's heartbeat and body temperature, which feels good.

'If I get just a little more accustomed to this, it should be fine.'

Anyway, it's all just part of the growth process.

Seoryeong unni also said that in the beginning, you learn about beastkin through physical experience.

I take a deep breath in and out.

"Huuu..."

Seoryeong, who had been watching Mia in Aron's embrace, flinched.

She felt intense pheromones.

They were the kind of pheromones that could make a female recognize pleasure and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reach climax just by smelling them.

Eri standing next to her also seemed to sense it from the atmosphere, frowning.

"Now that I look at it, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠might be worse."

"Right. She always acts innocent and protected while taking everything she can get from Aron."

"I wonder what will happen when she meets that bitch."

"That will depend on Aron."

It was a moment of regret for their judgment of her as just a young wolf.