Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Free Today Only
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rosalind Vandimion's exact purpose in visiting Greenveil was unknown.
However, now that it was clear she was heading to the Adventurers' Guild, a few possibilities could be narrowed down.
The first was a "mission commission."
It was the guild's most representative service.
Things like subjugating criminals, hunting monsters, or scouting regions.
But there was no reason for her to come in person just to hand over something like that.
Then, perhaps to form a partnership with the guild?
All sorts of goods flowed through the Adventurers' Guild.
For instance, spoils from monster subjugations, or supplies and seized items from wanted criminals.
They also handled rare artifacts unearthed from ruins or grave robbing.
So, as the head of a major trading company, Rosalind had plenty of reason to take interest.
Forming close ties with the guild would allow her to trade such items at reasonable prices.
But even this wasn't reason enough for her to visit personally.
Therefore, her personal visit meant it was something she needed to see and confirm with her own eyes.
In that case...
"Hoo."
Ailin steadied her ragged breathing as she smoothed her disheveled hair and clothes.
Fortunately, she had arrived at the guild before Rosalind's carriage. It had been possible by weaving through the alleys for the shortest route.
'...!'
The moment Ailin passed through the guild's archway, the eyes of everyone in the hall snapped to her all at once.
It was always like this. Though she carried the bearing and attire of a commoner, her striking beauty—like a flower blooming amid wild grass—always stood out no matter where she went.
That she'd chosen the most refined outfit she owned, considering the status gap with Rosalind, had surely helped.
Moreover, to these rough adventurers accustomed to sleeping outdoors and getting blood on their hands without hesitation, she was bound to catch their eye.
Ailin had always found such gazes unpleasant and ignored them with effort, but not today.
The current situation would definitely work in her favor. So, she had to make use of it.
"Hello."
Sure enough, one of the adventurers approached and spoke to her before she knew it.
"My name is Roger. I'm a ranger with Grayshade."
Roger was a tall man with well-defined muscles. Though not quite on Damon's level.
Not just Roger—even in this adventurers' guild, few looked as sturdy as Damon.
There were a few men with absurdly massive builds, but their fierce looks only inspired aversion.
In any case, she'd achieved her initial goal.
'Now I just need to time it right.'
Ailin decided to buy time first.
"Yes, hello."
The red-haired beauty didn't bother introducing herself, but Roger didn't seem to mind much.
It was natural. He assumed innocent country girls were supposed to act that way.
And breaking down such wariness was surprisingly easy—like slipping over a snake fence. Once they did, women were creatures who gave everything to the man whose heart they'd allowed in.
Roger was a man confident in his knowledge of how to make a woman slip over.
"It seems like your first time at the guild. If it wouldn't be rude, may I offer to guide you?"
First, approach with pure goodwill.
"It would be a great honor for me to assist someone as beautiful as a lady."
Then praise her beauty to build favor.
Usually, at this point, she'd wave it off saying it was far from true.
"A lady?"
Just like tha—
"I'm not even fifteen yet."
"...Pardon?"
Roger's eyes blinked at the completely unexpected response.
"F-Fifteen?"
"Yes. I'm still a minor."
It was then, as the girl answered so innocently.
"Step back, ranger."
A voice sharp as a blade's edge stabbed at his back. At the same time, the adventurers in the hall began to stir all at once.
"It's Bellatrix...!"
"No way, that's the Swift Sword Bellatrix?"
"So the rumor that Vandimion's Fang came to Greenveil was true...!"
Swift Sword Bellatrix.
Vandimion's Fang.
Whatever the world called her owner, one thing was clear: she was a striking woman who immediately captured Ailin's gaze.
Shoulders held confidently broad, back straight and erect.
Sleek armor fitted perfectly to her form.
A longsword at her waist proclaiming her honorable knighthood.
The knight with rare purple hair cut neatly just before touching her shoulders possessed a dual beauty—fierce yet alluring.
"Ah, uh..."
Roger, his face stunned, moved his lips. But the knight didn't wait for a reply.
"I said get lost."
"Yes, ma'am!"
As Roger scurried away, the knight's gaze turned to Ailin this time.
"...You're saying you're not even an adult yet? Is that true?"
"Y-Yes, it is."
Ailin bowed her head in courtesy as she answered.
It was her first time facing the knight.
Feeling tense was only natural.
"Then what are you doing here? This isn't a place for a child like you."
She had to answer very carefully here.
Bellatrix, bearer of the epithet "Vandimion's Fang," was known not only for her exceptional looks but also for her rare noble character.
On the other hand, she was sometimes dismissed as rigid due to her intolerance for injustice.
As a female knight, a role often scorned, she was undoubtedly stricter with herself.
Especially when another woman was being insulted—she showed no mercy.
'That's how she became the Vandimion family's guard knight.'
Though their reputations were polar opposites, as the saying goes, opposites attract, so they might suit each other well.
In other words, it was a golden opportunity for Ailin.
She'd be far easier to deal with than the notoriously cunning Rosalind.
"Well..."
It was just as Ailin finished her thoughts and was about to reply.
"What's the commotion?"
A chilling voice seeped in from beyond Bellatrix's shoulder.
'...Tch. So it comes to this after all.'
Ailin bit her lip hard.
Elves, by nature, did not mingle with humans.
But there was one exception—that outlier was Elfriede.
Most non-human races, elves included, rarely ventured beyond their innate domain, the Spirit Realm.
But the silver-haired elf was different. She frequently came and went in human civilization.
Elven domains were dull and monotonous, while the human world overflowed with far more interesting and wondrous things.
Moreover, human society was ever-changing, always offering novelty.
Of course, to humans, her visits felt spaced out over very long intervals, but not to her as an elf.
In any event, Elfriede had long visited human villages and sampled various foods.
She was indiscriminate in her tastes. Among them, what she especially loved was meat.
Elves were inherently vegetarian, making her truly worthy of being called an outlier.
And at this very moment.
The roast beef before Elfriede was incomparable to any food she'd tasted before.
Its surface glistened with luster, and the perfectly cooked interior made her mouth water just looking at it.
"Look at that color..."
"Pardon?"
The elf, flustered after blurting out lowly(?) words unwittingly, hurriedly covered her mouth.
"Ah, no. It just looks so delicious..."
"Then don't just look—eat up. You too, Mother, Father."
Damon said, scratching his head.
At his awkward reaction, her cheeks flushed for some reason. She cleared her throat with a hem-hem and speared a piece of meat with her fork, bringing it to her mouth.
Hans and Deborah followed suit right away.
'...'
For a while, the only sounds at the table were the mastication of meat.
Eventually.
Gulp.
After all four swallowed their bites simultaneously, it was Damon who spoke first, as expected.
"Hm, not bad at all. Good thing."
Heads turned at once at his nonchalant expression.
"This is 'not bad'?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Deborah spoke in disbelief, and Elfriede nodded deeply in agreement.
"This is way beyond 'not bad'! It's insanely delicious! So good I'd pass out mid-bite and not even notice!"
"Hm."
Hans didn't show quite that level of reaction, but Deborah, who'd been with him so long, could tell.
That her husband was extremely satisfied right now.
For him, that was as good as doing a 360-degree flip in ecstatic joy.
"Glad you like it."
All four picked up their forks again.
And another bite.
The moment the meat touched her tongue, the well-seared exterior melted away despite its crispness.
As for the inside—no need to say.
It was so tender there was zero resistance against her teeth. As it tore along the grain, the deep, savory smoky aroma infused throughout wafted richly.
'Ahh.'
Elfriede sighed inwardly. Not because the taste was lacking.
It was sorrow that the other elves didn't know this heavenly flavor.
How wonderful it would be if they too could eat this and realize the bliss of fine cuisine.
At that moment.
"...Ms. Elfriede?"
Her eyes met Damon's, who looked somewhat surprised.
But what was going on?
Her vision rippled dizzyingly, as if she were underwater.
"Wha—what? Why am I..."
Elfriede hurriedly wiped her eyes. An unfamiliar wetness touched the back of her hand.
Deborah and Hans gazed at her with startled eyes too. For some reason, that made even more tears flow.
"No, th-this... It's because it's so good, too good..."
She mumbled desperately, hanging her head as if she'd committed a crime.
It was clearly delicious—why were tears coming?
This wasn't right. It might even offend Damon, who'd kindly cooked for her.
She felt pathetic about herself, but Damon offered no rebuke.
He just smiled gently and spoke in a soft voice.
"Then come anytime you want to eat. I'll make as much as you like."
"R-Really?"
She snapped her head up and asked back.
"Yes. But you'll have to bring the meat yourself. It's free only today."
"Y-Yes! Of course! A hundred pounds, a thousand—I'll bring as much as it takes...!"
Hahaha.
Deborah burst into laughter. Even Hans, not one to show emotion easily, had a smile on his face.
Watching them, Elfriede smiled back and thought.
She'd make sure the other elves tasted this delicious dish too.