Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Astram
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"Wow! Waaah!"
Unlike her usual self, Renata was beyond mere admiration—she was outright stunned. Her eyes darted about in confusion, her ears twitching nonstop.
Astram wasn't the biggest city Renata had ever seen. Even if it was the largest in the east, it couldn't compare to the vastness of the imperial capital.
But for some reason, every single person on the streets was wearing a mask.
The folks who had just entered the city alongside Tae-jin's group had hastily donned masks too, leaving Tae-jin's crew as the only ones bare-faced.
Pavilion spoke up with a calm expression.
"Looks like a mask festival."
Tae-jin had witnessed festivals in places like Merka City or Gate Frontier City, but a mask festival was a first.
"Is it some local specialty of Astram?"
"Nah, nothing like that. Mask festivals pop up all over the place."
"Really? Why's that?"
"'Cause all you need are masks. Way easier to prep than other festivals. Shops string up a few lights, slap on a mask, and boom—done. Tourists even foot the bill for their own."
"Even so, I haven't seen one in any other city."
"Mask festivals are the merchants' desperate grab for peak season before the heat hits. Head north nice and slow from here, and you'll spot 'em everywhere. Not our problem, though."
And in this situation, the group felt obligated to join in the fun.
What would anyone think of tourists stumbling into a big city's festival, beelining for an inn to crash, then hopping a carriage at dawn? Yeah, it'd look sketchy as hell.
"Then how about we grab some food? Ariete won't tail us, right?"
The reply came from Richer.
"Yeah. War Mages rank high, but intelligence isn't our beat. Let's take it easy today. Gotta buy a carriage anyway."
A question flickered through Tae-jin's mind. They had enough cash for a few carriages, sure—but did they really need to?
"Buy a carriage? Can't we just keep riding the regular city-to-city ones?"
"No can do. So far, the big cities had plenty running between 'em. But up ahead? Good luck snagging one. Plus, we could turn into fugitives any second."
Fair point. If pursuers showed up and some patriotic driver boiled over with duty, kicking them off mid-ride? Disaster. Might even have to rough up the guy and steal it.
The tension in the five eased a notch. If they had to take it slow anyway, why not indulge for a day? Couldn't stay wired forever.
The five ducked into an inn. A bit of extra coin greased the wheels, but rooms weren't an issue.
"Ah, been too long since I could wet my whistle."
Richer looked downright giddy at the prospect. Though, truth be told, it hadn't been that long.
Pavilion and Garam wore much the same grin.
The five claimed a table, ordered food and drinks, and—of course—five glasses arrived without a fuss. No one in the group batted an eye.
"Renata can drink too?"
"What's stopping her?"
This came from Pavilion, who had her perched on his knee.
"She's a minor."
Garam paused mid-bite of some dry basic snack to answer.
"You think they give a damn here? That underage crap's a Korea thing. Kids Renata's age? Plenty already working jobs."
"I've seen it, but it still feels off."
"Continentals don't draw hard lines on kids or minors—it's all fuzzy. Kids are just pint-sized adults. That's the vibe."
It rubbed him the wrong way a bit, but it wasn't incomprehensible. He'd heard pre-modern Europe ran similar.
Soon enough, drinks, grilled sausages, and assorted snacks hit the table. The tiny glasses screamed potent stuff.
Garam topped off the group's shots and turned to Tae-jin.
"Truth is, Korea threw me off the most. Students built like adults, coddled as minors? Wild, right?"
"Eh."
How Tae-jin squared continental culture wasn't a dealbreaker. The group, the staff, the other patrons—no one blinked at Renata hoisting a glass.
He knocked back the liquor in his two-finger shot glass, and fire scorched his throat. Felt like 40 proof at least.
Renata downed hers without a flinch, then refilled her own. Born drinker material—iron liver and zero fear of pouring solo.
The group unwound, savoring the lazy hours. This was the romantic journey Tae-jin had daydreamed about.
After three platters of snacks had vanished, Tae-jin clocked that Renata was gone. Figured she'd headed up to crash, but nope. Pavilion—who should've hauled her upstairs—was facedown on the table, out cold.
Normal Renata would've nudged her dad awake and gone up together, not solo. Still, Tae-jin checked their rooms upstairs just in case. No sign of her.
"Hey, you see that rabbit beastkin kid from earlier?"
The server shot back quick.
"Went outside a bit ago."
Just let her wander off? The words nearly escaped, but it wasn't his place. They should've spotted her missing first.
Tae-jin, buzz humming and head swimming, stepped out to scan the area. No trace of Renata anywhere. Silver lining: rabbit beastkin were rare enough that asking around was straightforward.
"Seen a little rabbit beastkin kid about yay high? Comes up to my chest, ears reach my chin or nose—nice and perky, not floppy."
Passersby shook their heads, but merchants hawking to crowds spilled sightings.
Saw her pass by earlier. Headed that way.
It didn't take long to hit paydirt—a vendor muttering "just now."
A stall hawking cheap trinkets.
"Just peeped at stuff right over there and bounced."
"Catch which way?"
"Hmm, she was staring hard at this."
The merchant pointed to a cute hairpin decked with dainty charms. Yeah, cheap enough. Tae-jin fished out a few coins and handed them over.
The guy pocketed the cash and jabbed a finger left.
"Off that way. Not long ago—hustle and you'll catch her."
The direction led to a modest hill in the city proper. Little houses clung to its slopes like a hillside shantytown.
Tae-jin hoofed it toward the hill. The buzz made his head spin. By the time he was climbing, lungs burning, he could practically taste the sour booze on his out-breath.
One hope: please stick to the main path up, no side alleys. Any narrow lane, and he'd lose her for good.
But the worry fizzled quick. Before he'd crested even halfway up the gentle rise, there she was—Renata, plopped at the summit. Moonlight so bright her perky ears stood out clear.
Tae-jin slogged the rest of the way to her, legs heavy. Booze plus uphill? Bad combo.
He steadied his breath and said,
"What're you doing?"
"Just sightseeing. Haven't gotten properly tipsy in ages."
Ages? Kid started when, exactly?
"Sneaking off alone—what if?"
"Everyone was half-zonked. How was I s'posed to drag 'em? You were nodding off too, big bro."
Plenty he wanted to say. Tell someone if you're wandering. Kid alone is dangerous.
But the moon hung too huge, the night air too perfect for nagging.
Bright enough to pick out Renata's red eyes clear as day. That awkward late-spring-early-summer breeze, laced with sharp grass scent. Perfect.
In the end, Tae-jin sighed and plunked down beside her. Nothing fancy, just a humble nightscape—but overlooking the hillside homes and city from up top? Mood hit different.
Nah, not different. Best view he'd caught yet.
"Next time, wake me—even if I'm out. I'll tag along."
And he handed over the hairpin clutched in his fist. Half-forced buy from the vendor.
Renata just beamed ear to ear.
One-on-one with the group's lone kid, and something deep in Tae-jin stirred—the inner boomer vibe. Urge to unload tedious life lessons.
He didn't fight it. She'd already pushed his buttons plenty.
"What's your dream?"
"Dream?"
"Yeah. What do you wanna be when you grow up?"
"Dunno. Got none. How many folks really sweat that stuff?"
Prime boomer bait—kids need dreams!—but Tae-jin wasn't that far gone. Just felt the gulf between his home and this world.
Folks here weren't free from survival scrapping. Werewolves could crash any night, orcs raze a village tomorrow.
So this world didn't shove dreams down throats. Survive, spread some genes—that counted as thriving.
Tae-jin stayed quiet, so Renata picked up.
"Just wanna live happy, no side-eye. Rabbit village wasn't awful, but half-bloods were always outsiders."
"Outsiders?"
"Tiny place, so not brutal. Just... everywhere, a little wary vibe. Adults tried hiding it, but c'mon—not blind."
Kids seem clueless, but none quicker on the uptake. If Renata felt it, discrimination ran deep.
"Hmm."
"Lately's travel been solid, though. No wary glances either way, tons of new sights."
"Not sick of all the moving?"
"Nah. Stuck in one village forever. Roaming sounds good now."
As she spoke, Renata scanned downhill—then frowned, peering at something.
"Fight breaking out down there."
Tae-jin followed her point: two hazy silhouettes tussling in the gloom. Drunk as he was, they looked sloshed too.
Drunks scrapping, maybe.
But a sharp, glinting flash caught his eye in one hand.
"Wasn't that a dagger just now?"
"Yeah? Not my imagination?"
Best steer clear of trouble. But turning from someone in mortal danger? No dice.
The two bolted up and charged downhill.