The Inn in the Mountain Wilderness
The world of this place is...
It’s not my original world.
I see... Well then, please stay strong together!
After about half an hour of rest.
After shaking off a bit of the aftereffects from dimensional travel, Lily approached me and tried her best to comfort me.
Her determined, affectionate expression was truly endearing.
All right... Everyone seems to have recovered their senses. Hero, what do you think we should do?
The goddess asked about the plan.
For the next week, we would have to live with abilities at the level of ordinary people.
If there were monsters or similar threats in this world, even meeting them would put our lives in danger.
We couldn’t take it for granted that they were the same people. Even in Terra, humans had killed each other as ruthlessly as the demons.
It seems this world also has monsters or similar dangers. Below the mountain lies a large city, and with so many people around, accidents are bound to happen.
Based on the information the goddess provided, I reached my conclusion.
Let’s head to the city. A big city should at least have some basic security. We can use the offering we brought to handle any problems that arise.
The pocket was heavy with gold coins.
Even if the currency differed, gold and silver would be universally accepted across worlds, so money wouldn’t be a problem.
Too much wealth could itself become a disaster, but if we didn’t flaunt our offering, we should be fine.
The party began packing their belongings and started descending the mountain.
The forested slopes rose around us. A cool breeze blew in, and the sky was clear.
Whoa. The air here feels great. Just breathing it in makes me feel refreshed.
Raha, the dragon, seemed to be enjoying the clean natural surroundings.
The other companions were also thrilled by the beautiful scenery, like travelers on a day out.
But their joy didn’t last long.
Hah... Hoo...
The path is a bit rough.
At the level of ordinary people... There are far more problems than I expected. Just walking makes you tired.
The terrain was steep, and the road poorly maintained. Your stamina drained twice as fast as it would on flat ground.
Let’s rest a bit.
We took breaks in between and descended the mountain for half a day.
We were still deep in the wilderness.
Is the mountain huge? Or are our footsteps just slow?
Or maybe the sun is already setting. Should we prepare for camping?
Wild camping... I never thought I’d have to do it again after defeating the Demon King.
Hero, what should we do?
Just as I was about to decide, my gaze caught a man-made structure off to the side.
【Taeun Inn. Business Open.】
Hey, everyone, look over there.
An inn? In our world, that would mean an inn, right?
An inn in the middle of nowhere? That doesn’t make sense. It must mean there’s an inn quite far down the mountain.
I asked if we could read the foreign letters, but my companions didn’t even seem suspicious.
It wasn’t important, so we moved on.
Everyone is tired. The sun is setting. Let’s rest here in the inn.
After getting everyone’s agreement, we entered the inn.
As the sun dipped toward twilight.
The inn was lit by just one candle and felt dark and stuffy.
I wondered if they were closed for business, but one man lying on the table suddenly sat up.
Oh, a guest has arrived, but the fire wasn’t lit. If Mother finds out, there’ll be trouble... Ah, come in. I’ll light the fire and take your order right away. Please sit wherever you like.
The man who seemed to be the staff hurried to the hearth, stoked the fire, and lit the lanterns.
Then he disappeared somewhere and returned with an old woman.
Oh, my back... Since you’re here at this time, I can prepare dinner and lodging.
The old woman and the young man prepared the meal in the kitchen without listening to us.
When the dishes were finally served, the young man noticed something strange.
Um... Is my vision off? Your appearances are very unique.
Our companions were exceptionally beautiful, but the real difference came from their races and clothing.
Saintess Lily had black hair like the locals here, but she wore elaborate priestess robes adorned with countless symbols.
Elf Mage Yunia was an actual elf. Her long pointed ears stood out, along with golden hair and blue eyes. Her thin clothes were revealing, but they somehow felt noble and refined.
Knight Sakaha had red hair as vibrant as crimson silk, and she was clad in a magnificent plate armor that looked like a work of art.
Half-dragon Raha had massive horns and a tail. Her blue hair shimmered with scales, and she was a half-human, half-dragon who blended the two races.
And finally, Ribbon, the goddess who weaves fate.
Her white hair and large red ribbon, along with her enormous, prominently accentuated breasts, were striking. Yet her absolute holiness made those features seem insignificant.
Compared to the young man at the inn, whose clothes were tattered and skin tanned from the sun, we really did look like people from another world.
You’ve come from very far away. Do you have any other requests?
Ah, no. Please enjoy your meal with your utmost delight!
When Sakaha glared, the young man shrank back in fear.
But he kept stealing glances at Sakaha’s beauty and couldn’t focus.
Compared to the porridge I ate near the Demon King’s castle, this is edible.
Yeah, yeah. The ingredients are similar. It really brings back old memories.
The dishes were just cooked vegetables and grains.
The table was sparse and unappealing, but after a day of walking, our party wiped our plates clean.
This is my treat. It’s called Mobaeqju. After eating, one cup is said to warm the body and benefit a woman’s health.
Oh, thank you.
Sakaha, who liked drinking among the group, received the bottle and poured a cup for everyone.
Unlike the poor meal, the liquor tasted excellent.
Mmm. It’s clean overall, with a nice sweet finish at the end.
After just one cup, heat spreads through my body. It really does seem good for women.
Hey! Bring enough liquor for the whole party!
Once the alcohol flowed, the atmosphere grew lively.
Wine was essential on adventures, and good liquor turned heroes into children. And turning children into heroes was the tradition.
Hey... Hero! There’s no time to dawdle. Let’s get through the first night! How long are you planning to keep this body as a virgin!
During our adventures, we never got drunk and made mistakes.
But thanks to the aftereffects of dimensional travel, our physical abilities had weakened. So the companions quickly got drunk after a few cups.
Starting with Sakaha’s words, the others began clinging to me.
Hero-nim. Hehe... Hero-nim. I just called you. Hero-nim... Please love me.
Lily whispered sweet words into my ear.
Perhaps because the alcohol was rising in me, I felt like kissing her.
So I didn’t hold back and pressed my lips to hers.
The kiss was deep and sweet, like the rich scent of the liquor was swirling in my head.
Aaaah! How shameless! A kiss full of love right in front of us! Give it to me too!
Yunia clung to me like a spoiled child, pouting.
Oh ho... You don’t have to hold back anymore, right?
Raha looked ready to strip off her clothes and pounce at any moment.
I squeezed the last of my sanity to stop them.
That’s enough for today. We have a long day ahead tomorrow too. Let’s rest.
My decision was met with reluctance by the companions, but they followed without complaint.
We entered the room prepared by the inn, closed our eyes, and fell asleep.
Everyone was so exhausted that they dropped off almost immediately.
***
I woke up with a bad premonition.
Outside the door was still dark. It seemed I had slept only two or three hours.
Everyone, wake up. Time to get up.
If this had been during our adventuring days, the companions would have opened their eyes and prepared for battle at once.
But all of them seemed relaxed.
They were tired, had drunk a lot of alcohol, and something had been added to that liquor, so the companions couldn’t wake up easily.
In the end, I had to shake each of them by the shoulder.
Uuuugh... What is it, Hero-nim?
Uuuh. Oh, it’s the first day, and we can’t even rest easy.
One by one the companions opened their eyes, and when I realized why I had woken them, they quickly understood.
Ambush? Hero. How many?
I don’t know. What matters right now is that the enemy is right in front of us.
I drew my sword, kicked open the door, and stepped out.
What? You said you drugged us! Why are you fine?
Oh? We were all asleep just a moment ago.
Hmm. You definitely drugged us, right? Then... you’re not ordinary guys.
Thick wooden clubs. Iron rods. Chains and nightsticks.
Eight armored men armed with weapons that didn’t match their ragged clothing. And beside them stood an inn staff member carrying a torch, perhaps acting as a guide.
If you’re not an idiot, you’d understand the situation.
Still, I asked again with my words.
If you’re inn guests, don’t worry and enjoy yourselves. The meal may be simple, but it’s edible. Otherwise, what business do you have with us?
Oh. You have great courage. But don’t overconfidence your own strength. Everyone on Taeosan Mountain is targeting you because word has spread that a saintess has descended.
Are you declaring yourselves bandits? Then drop your weapons and head down the mountain to start over as civilians. If you do, I’ll spare you tonight’s rudeness.
Kuuuk. Your spirit is truly fiery. I have one request. Just let me take one woman. Then I’ll let the rest of you go.
Do these guys think of women as nothing more than objects?
Further conversation was pointless.
When I pointed my sword at them, the burly leader of the group spoke directly.
I am Gu Jaha, the fourth of the Taeo Bandits.
Park Yeon.
After raising my concentration, I leaped into the middle of the bandit group.
Clang.
The sound of metal ringing out. The thrill of battle. A faint scent of blood slowly seeped from within.
Heh! It’s not as impressive as I thought! I thought I was facing some great expert! Honestly, I was terrified!
By clashing our swords, I understood.
I was weak.
Strength. Physique. Speed. None of them were superior to the opponent.
Even the enemy wasn’t more than eight men wielding weapons.
Yet there was no chance of defeat.
Kuuk! Cowardly surprise attack from behind...
Cowardly? Do you think even a saint can face me? Well, I am part of the Hero’s party.
But I have companions I can trust with my life.
With Sakaha and Raha’s timely intervention, the two of them fell.
I plunged into the enemy formation, disrupting their ranks, while Sakaha and Raha dealt with the gaps.
You bastard! Your arm regrows like a lizard’s, and you even have two lives? What kind of world is this where you fight so stupidly!
One arm was severed, and one eye was gouged out.
If the sword had gone just a little deeper, his face would have been split in half and he would have died.
In contrast, Gu Jaha had no wounds.
But in this battle, the victor was me.
While claiming to kill your opponent, you didn’t even have the intention to die yourself. No, you hesitated even over a small wound. That is why you lost despite being stronger.
The fourth bandit of the Taeo Bandits, Gu Jaha, told me the reason he had to lose even though he didn’t want to.
Hah... Huaaak!!
When the leader fell, the small fry panicked and fled.
Among them was the inn staff member who had drugged us.
Should I chase and finish them?
Sakaha asked.
Reducing the enemy numbers was always helpful, but the situation wasn’t favorable.
Leave them. We need to get down the mountain as quickly as possible.
My premonition was bad.
We needed to escape this mountain as soon as possible.
Hero-nim. I can’t use healing magic, but I can at least provide emergency treatment.
Saintess Lily used a healing potion she had prepared for emergencies.
The potion’s effect was weakened because we were already weakened, but it was enough to stop the bleeding and replenish our stamina.
As dawn broke in the dense forest.
We hurriedly left the inn and descended toward the foot of the mountain.
But...
Where do you think you’re rushing off to?
At the path leading down from the mountain, far more bandits than before were waiting for us.