Chapter 204
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Noble Guests in a Humble Place -3-
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In the tavern, even fistfights barely register with the guild members anymore.
They keep sighing heavily while cooking and serving, probably just waiting for the moment the fight ends so they can bill the loser.
"Hold it back!"
The guy who shared my name tried to hold Alice back, but her eyes were already blazing with fury.
I had no idea what had happened, but the flames had fully ignited.
Yet the other two presumed party members reacted differently.
'Back in the day, they would've jumped in together, so why's he acting like that now?'
Even if he'd borrowed some liquid courage, the vibe of charging at me was gone, replaced by cowering from those blobs of fat.
"Don't stop me! Guys like this need to get stomped once!!"
-Screeech!!
Her declaration of war made Tero, perched on her head like a guardian, react fiercely as well.
The onlookers grabbed bottles of booze and drinks in hand and swarmed in eagerly.
As long as it wasn't Platinum or Sapphire ranks throwing down, hanging nearby wouldn't get you killed.
I didn't know why they were growling at each other, but it was entertaining anyway!
Most adventurers were starved for thrills to forget their grim reality.
'...These punks hit the jackpot.'
I pointed a finger at the cheering, jostling adventurers.
I flicked a peanut from the complimentary bowl meant for the milk, nailing the head of an adventurer blocking my view.
Thwack!
Too drunk on excitement to feel it, so I flicked another peanut harder, hitting him square on the head.
Crack!
This time he felt it, scratching his head and turning a scowling face my way.
"What the fu— Huh?!"
Our eyes met, and the adventurer froze. I raised my glass and politely asked.
"Clear the way in front. Can't see."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The peanut-struck adventurer slapped shoulders ahead, parting the crowd.
A gap opened in the encircling adventurers, giving me a clear view of Alice.
'All new faces?'
The blobs picking a fight with Alice didn't look like capital adventurers either—all complete strangers.
Even if I don't bother memorizing male faces, ones with such standout features? No way I'd forget.
Probably outsiders?
"..."
She looked to be in danger at first glance, but I had no intention of helping.
In this world, appearances were the least trustworthy thing. Plus, with ironclad rules in place and enforced, the outcome was predictably tame.
The guild's iron rule for disputes inside: no mana use in petty squabbles, skills forbidden too—like when Nottingham and I had our scrap.
Break it?
Adventurers shun you, and the guild penalizes for "force loss" or whatever excuse they grab.
These rules kept casualties down in guild-managed turf.
But for mages or priests with no church backup—double-dipping with other groups—it felt like a raw deal.
Fight without mana or skills? Unfair for mages or archers not built for close quarters.
That's why mid-tier vanguards strutted confidently inside the guild.
Probably why adventurers kept turning up in back alleys or hillsides with arrows or spells through their skulls.
Couldn't be helped.
The guild knew better than anyone they couldn't stop fights in branches outright.
For precious assets like mages, they'd likely be in parties anyway—so this was the bigwigs' best brainstorm.
"I said no! You crazy bastards!"
Alice's shrill voice pierced my ears as she rejected the men's persistent advances.
Considering her height and weight, even top-notch technique without mana?
Beating those hulks—each twice her mass easily—looked hopeless bordering on impossible.
Knowing that, the men just leered and snickered sleazily.
"Heh heh heh. Feisty half-decent girls like that? That's the flavor."
Those words tripped the trigger—Alice lunged.
"Die!!"
She threw a cute little fist that looked like it'd hurt her wrist more than them.
The hulk caught it in his palm with a smirk—then his elbow wrenched outward with a grotesque crack.
Pop.
"Aaaagh—!!"
Superhuman strength unfitting for a "mage" her size.
The guy clutched his arm, tumbling.
"Fuck, my arm...! Grab that bitch!!"
The hulk's eyes bulged red with pain.
Alice shoved her party member back, grabbed a plate, and smashed it down on the rolling hulk's head.
Crash!
That sparked chaos: the girl and the stunned blobs clashed in a brawl.
'Refreshing.'
Watching her bold moves made me grin.
Even half-beastkin, her physical prowess outclassed normal humans.
And she'd trained proper body techniques to boot...
In a no-mana dogfight, how many Gold-ranks could beat her?
Plates flew, chairs and tables crashed, bloody fists flew—and the tavern drowned in frenzy and cheers.
-Go, miss!!
-Teach those mage-haters a lesson!!
-Wasted on those fatasses!
Clack. Clack.
With the front-row spectacle holding everyone's eyes, no one noticed the figures descending the stairs.
"..."
Led by a sturdy woman who could pass for a man, familiar women filed down.
"Wh-what is this?"
The Saintess looked deeply flustered at the blood-splattered melee.
"Uh... Happens all the time!"
Suel said that but hid behind Mazella in fright.
"Mazella... You sure we shouldn't stop it?"
Mazella sighed at the roaring crowd and shook her head.
"It'll be fine. The Church can't meddle in guild internal matters."
"I see... Ah!"
The Saintess party's eyes met mine.
The bread girl and Saintess bowed politely, so I stood and returned the greeting.
Basic courtesy for courtesy shown.
They'd aimed for the back but found the path blocked by swarming adventurers, leaving the trio hovering awkwardly at the stair mouth.
'Why'd they come down?'
Her letter said she'd quit adventuring and turn in her plate—but apparently not.
Even a Saintess needed reception clearance for the adventurer-only tavern, so there must be good reason.
'No way they're heading here...?'
I was the sole occupant here, their gazes fixed my way.
A guy flew over, jaw unhinged, collapsing nearby—startling them visibly.
From their hesitant moves, they'd wait till Alice wrapped up before budging.
Even her paladin escort looked sour—no intent to force through adventurers.
"Ptoo! Worthless punks..."
-Screeech!
Alice spat bloody saliva and kicked away the last fallen man.
Wiping her torn lip with her hand, her feral vibe clashed deliciously with her mage role and girlish looks—fun to watch.
The second-fallen guy clutched a chair, staggering up, yanking his sheathed sword.
Shing.
"You fucking bitch...!!"
He ignited aura without hesitation, raising the blade overhead.
Clear intent to kill.
Shocked gasps and jeers erupted from the crowd.
-That psycho!
-Clueless hick...
-Idiot! This is the capital branch!
"Alice!!"
Her party member finally clocked the danger and stepped up—but the sword swung faster.
Alice grimaced, drawing mana for a quick kick, bracing for the hit.
Thud.
One hand gripped her calf, the other seized the sword.
"No mana in petty squabbles."
"...!!"
The man's eyes shook wildly, aura flickering in my bare hand.
"Sleep it off and cool your head."
Thwack!
I released her leg, shoved his forehead barehanded—his eyes rolled back, body slumping like slime to the floor.
-...He dead?
-Loot quick if so.
Adventurers swarmed the fallen, rifling pockets eagerly.
I chuckled at their quick adaptation—figures.
"Th-thank you!"
"Can't drop your guard till the end. Rules or not, no mana contract means some break 'em."
Alice snapped to attention, gut tight, voice barked.
"Yes, sir!"
"Not bad overall. Promising future."
I pulled a minor potion as critique fee, pressing it into her palm.
"...!"
"Drink now. Scars otherwise."
I patted her dazed shoulder and returned to my seat; adventurers dispersed, chattering critiques like theatergoers post-play.
'That trio's definitely aiming here.'
At the stairs, they silently waited out the returning crowd—Church folk through and through.
At this point, curiosity piqued.
Munching peanuts in wait, Alice beat them here, standing by me.
"Why?"
"To thank you!"
Blood traces lingered on her lips, but fresh skin already budded—she'd chugged the potion.
Seizing opportunity without refusal: adventurer savvy.
"Forget it. Had time to kill anyway."
Time to spare widened her eyes; she hesitated, then squeezed them shut.
"If-if I'm not a bother and you have time...! I'd be grateful if you'd harshly critique my moves' flaws!!"
"Flaws...?"
"Please!"
Plenty to nitpick if pressed.
But formally trained in martial arts, advice must fit that framework.
I scratched my chin, pondering.
-Screee.
Trouble dragging, Tero climbed me to my head.
"Mind if we join? My treat!"
Seeing her hustle for growth chances, I smiled and nodded.
"Fine by me. Your party?"
"He needs alone time with his girl. I'd cramp 'em."
My namesake eyed the place oddly; I glanced, he averted fast.
"Good. No freeloading off Gold, so this covers it."
Tossed her a gold coin for milk refill.
Add whatever she wanted; grinning, she dashed to order.
Post-Alice, the Saintess trio pushed through murmurs.
I asked them.
"Care to sit?"