Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Tavern Confessions
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Leaving the tavern.
"Roman... You don't seem the least bit interested in elves? Is it because of the young lady?"
At Kitty—no, Eclair's rather sharp question, I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"No interest, huh? Does it really look that way?"
"Believe it or not, I lead a group made up mostly of men. From a human perspective, elves are the epitome of beauty... It's strange not to feel even the appreciation one might have for a work of art, setting aside base desires. Nothing wrong down there, is there?"
The Captain of the Imperial Knight Order was no ordinary person, that much was clear in moments like this. Doubting a man's health just because he stayed unmoved by elves.
She seemed to be posing the question with unexpected seriousness, propping her chin up with both hands as she gazed at me.
"Nothing hurts. I'm perfectly fine."
"Really?"
Your order has arrived~
The food we'd ordered arrived at an awkwardly timed moment, slowing the conversation's rhythm for a beat.
"It's only natural to wonder why an adventurer notorious for his womanizing shows no reaction to elves with their flawless features."
"...And there's even a reason why it feels 'natural' to question it?"
Our mission here was to blend into Limno, pinpoint Cutler Dwyer if possible, and ideally track down any related individuals.
In this tavern, all we could really do was check for lookalikes or overheard rumors based on the limited info we had.
Rather than sitting here discussing the commission outright, exchanging idle chit-chat while occasionally scanning the room was actually the smarter way to carry out our task.
"I've read about men, heard about them, studied them in books. But when it comes to my 'friend' Roman, I realize I know nothing."
Eclair glanced around at the rowdy atmosphere, then flashed a small, smooth smile.
"Perfect timing for some conversation, then."
"What about booze?"
Was there anything stranger than a group ignoring the nearby eateries to eat only at a tavern with poor value for money?
Unlike her initial suggestion, Eclair accepted readily.
"A little is fine."
The image I had of Eclair Dreitna was of someone who only drank fancy wines or fine liquors from elegantly carved glasses.
Unexpectedly.
She seemed to like the cheap rum that a few coins could buy.
"This stuff isn't bad at all. Wild flavor, maybe... I like how strong the natural taste is."
"Didn't peg you for it. Thought it wouldn't suit your palate."
She drained her glass, then picked up the bottle and poured—glug glug glug—into her cup and mine.
"Hearing that just confirms we don't know each other at all."
Hoo!
She downed the full glass in one go, hot breath escaping her.
Aware we were on the job, I savored the slight buzz dulling my senses before burning it off with mana.
"Shall we tackle Kitty's first question?"
"..."
"No fun if I just tell you. Why not take a guess? It's true, I'm not interested in those elves. Why do you think that is?"
Eclair glanced at the elf servers drawing heated gazes regardless of race or gender, then offered a few guesses.
"With her around, you can't be gay... Simplistically speaking, maybe looks don't even register as a prerequisite. Or a aversion to their race itself?"
"Kitty~, to find the answer, start close to home. It's nearer than you think. You've collected more rumors about me than anyone."
I knew how much intel the palace had scraped together on me before assigning the commission.
Eclair stared into her rippling glass, then lifted her head with an incredulous look.
"No way—preferring virgins ranks above all other conditions? Don't tell me that rumor..."
"Not something I brag about, so I don't advertise it. But confirming the gossip for a friend—you guessed it."
I raised one scarred finger and tapped it to my forehead.
Her dumbfounded expression was the perfect drinking snack.
"Knights and nobles who make restraint their trade sometimes abstain, but a famous adventurer who's drunk unicorn blood? First time I've seen one..."
Adventurers prized freedom above all; one shackling himself voluntarily was a rare sight.
"Never met another. Might be others who just don't talk about it."
"No reason to advertise... Does she know?"
Her 'she' meant Rike, so I nodded firmly.
"Of course. Been plenty of chances to mention it before we got this close."
"No idea what led to bringing it up, but... your relationship gets more fascinating the more I see."
I ordered more snacks, and a wooden bowl of nuts and dried fish arrived.
Munching on peanuts dusted with salty powder, I refilled Eclair's glass this time.
"This isn't work, right? Spit out whatever you're curious about."
"...True. This isn't the place to hold back."
"Just no leaking to outsiders."
Eclair emptied her glass at once and replied with a hint of amusement.
"You said what you did earlier knowing it wouldn't leak, didn't you?"
"...Sharp as ever."
"Then I'll indulge my curiosity without holding back."
"Fire away."
I chewed dried fish while awaiting her question.
"Not sure of the details, but if you've drunk unicorn blood... No regrets? Boundless vitality free of ailments feels like happiness, but doesn't it become just another normal thing over time?"
"Regrets? Sure, plenty of great women out there beyond purity. Before my values fully set, I did wonder 'what if' about some and felt pangs of regret."
"So now that your values are set, no more regrets. Because of her?"
How to explain this in my head.
I spun the fish—head gone, tail only—like a pen, pondering.
"Kitty, remember what you ate five days ago for dinner?"
Most would say no immediately, but she thought long and hard.
"No. Can't recall."
"I had lamb with mint jelly. Nothing special, but I remember."
"...Just good memory?"
Eclair showed an innocent face unfit for a drinking session.
That was the highlight of nights like this.
"Don't take it personally, Kitty. 'Knights are honorable, adventurers free'—but peel back the layers, and we're stabbing guts with swords and bashing skulls with pommels to survive."
"I know. Doesn't offend me."
"For guys like that, extinguishing lives, drenched in blood their whole lives—what really matters is after returning alive—"
Crunching the tailless fish, Eclair picked up my words.
"Managing battle aftereffects or stress?"
"Smart as always—exactly. Booze or bed are classic for adventurers."
"My knights aren't much different... Bringing up dinner five days ago—does that mean you manage stress through eating? Very wholesome."
"Surface level, yeah. But not gorging or gourmet—what if?"
"If you're hiding the real meaning... You've beaten around the bush enough."
I topped off her glass for the last pour.
"Pleasure helps manage the mind. Undeniable fact. Can be bed, or booze you drink till blacked out."
"..."
"From here, it's my personal take—keep that in mind to understand."
"Got it."
"Pleasure from bed or booze is simple, intense. But leaning on it every time the mind frays raises the bar, dulls the thrill. Eventually, you need both, or unethical, depraved acts just to cope."
Eclair kept ears open and downed the final glass.
"I hit burnout once, tried everything. Skip the boring path—conclusion: not overwhelming pleasure or happiness, but constant awareness of steady, small joys keeps the mind whole."
"...Anyone can do it, which makes it hardest."
"For me, even dinner five days ago is a fragment of that vow. Lamb was great, but Rike's cute, tense face worrying if I'd like the strong mint jelly? Adorable."
"Ha—!"
As Eclair let out a hollow laugh at the end, I wrapped up.
"Further—if Kitty's little sister prepped dinner for you. Tasty or not, you'd be happy eating it?"
"...Yeah."
"How to amp up that happy feeling? Recall her buying ingredients, prepping, cooking for you. That's the start! Simple as that."
"Link every action like that in your imagination...?"
"To appreciate, not take for granted, all my woman does for me? Natural."
"...Too alien for an imperial man."
"Federation style?"
"Not even that. Too... unique."
How'd we get here?
Right—regrets over unicorn blood.
"Back to the start: I regretted it once, but now? Doesn't matter."
We left the tavern without major gains, deciding on quick work.
Split up to check suspicious shops, meet back at the inn.
"For today, just circle the suspect spots and call it."
"See you after."