Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Keep Getting Mistaken for a Gangster (1)
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A new day dawned.
As dawn began to break and morning sunlight filtered through the inn's window, Asha woke up with a long, drawn-out yawn, slowly sitting up in bed.
“Yaaawn...”
Her languid movements suddenly froze.
An unfamiliar ceiling?
She blinked sleepily a few times—
“...Ah, right.”
She had come down from the mountain!
Finally piecing it together, she let out a cute squeak.
“Eeeeong—”
She stretched contentedly, her toes—which had been tightly curled—uncurling fully before tapping against the floor.
Her pointed ears, drooping in the remnants of sleep, perked up with renewed energy.
Asha turned her head and gazed toward the window.
Rattle, rattle. The old window frame screeched noisily.
If the wind picks up like that, my hair's going to be a mess when I head out today.
With that thought, she fiddled with the ends of her golden locks that reached down to her waist.
She kept telling herself she should cut it, but she'd let it grow out anyway.
Her mother in this life had adored this hair especially, back when she was alive.
She could almost hear that voice whispering every morning as she gently brushed it—saying it was like the finest silk in the world.
Golden hair as brilliantly dazzling as her mother's eyes. Her mother had taken even more pride in it than she did.
In the end, Asha always reached for a comb instead of scissors.
“What a hassle...”
Grumbling under her breath like that, her hands still moved diligently.
Just as her mother had taught her long ago, she neatly coiled her hair up and secured it with an ornament.
Cool morning air brushed over her newly exposed white nape.
Feels like it's waking me up even more.
With that thought, Asha finished getting ready and headed down to the inn's first floor.
Elysia joined her shortly after.
“Good morning.”
“Did you sleep well?”
They exchanged light greetings and finished breakfast.
Just before stepping outside, Elysia frowned slightly.
“The weather doesn't look great. Instead of pushing for a campout, let's aim to stay in the next village, even if we arrive early.”
“Sure, sounds good.”
Asha nodded, glancing at Elysia's waist.
She looked calm on the surface, but Elysia was still injured.
Asha had no intention of forcing a grueling schedule.
And so they left the inn.
As they crossed the village center—
A mouthwatering aroma rode the wind from somewhere, stimulating her salivary glands.
At the same time, snippets of conversation made Asha's long ears twitch involuntarily.
“I'll take seven coppers' worth.”
“That's too pricey. How about five?”
“Aw, come on, I'd make nothing at that. Six it is.”
“Deal.”
It flowed so naturally, as if six coppers had been the plan all along.
Asha stared blankly at the scene, then remembered her own finances.
It wasn't like she had to pinch every single copper.
Should I give it a try?
Haggling with a merchant for some food.
She'd been harboring a tiny doubt about her own social skills anyway.
Just look at Elysia, her current companion. Things had improved since they first met, but Asha could still sense her cautiously keeping distance.
Why was that?
The more she pondered it, the wilder her ridiculous speculations got.
She must have picked up some weird habits from living alone in the mountains too long.
And rather than asking Elysia directly, she wanted to test the waters with someone else.
Simple reason: Elysia might be the odd one out!
Asha pouted invisibly and spoke up.
“Lady Valtline. Mind waiting a sec?”
“Hm?”
“I wanna try that.”
She pointed at the stall where the haggling had just wrapped up.
Her eyes met the merchant's, who had been staring right at her.
Confirming Elysia's nod, Asha hurried over to the stall.
He just paid six coppers after haggling, right?
She eyed the meat skewers sizzling over the charcoal grill.
Considering the previous customer had taken one in each hand, that meant three coppers each.
Asha looked up from the skewers to the merchant's face.
“I'll take two. Coppers...”
“Six coppers.”
“...?”
What? Straight to full price?
Was this the same guy who haggled so hard?
As Asha prepared her counter for a discount, she blankly pursed her lips and looked up at him.
The middle-aged man mobilized every facial muscle into a beaming smile.
Should I just buy them like this?
It'd be easy, sure, but...
No, that defeats the purpose.
Asha tilted her chin up.
“Isn't that a bit steep? How about five coppers?”
“Of course! Right away.”
“?”
What the—seriously?
Asha paid with a bewildered expression and took the two meat skewers.
As she walked back, she wondered if this was that fabled beauty privilege she'd only heard about.
It had been way too easy.
“Pfft...”
A giggle slipped out before she knew it.
Even she thought she was getting too full of herself.
Well, good things are good.
Haggle successful, after all.
Asha grinned and returned to Elysia with light steps.
Meanwhile, the merchant—
“Huuuuh...”
G-God, I thought I was gonna die from nerves!
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Both hands were drenched, top and bottom.
The man cradled his temple with his other hand and shook his head.
Then he stared at the retreating figure of the elf girl.
Even her simple gait exuded an air of majesty.
Live long enough, and even I get an elf as a customer...
Living in the countryside, he rarely saw elves up close.
The few times, it was just distant glimpses of them passing through.
Why? Because elves had an unusually high proportion of nobles relative to their small population.
Wasn't that the case right there?
The girl had a battle-ready sword at her waist.
And her companion woman was decked out in fine gear too.
Judging by appearances, the elf girl was clearly a trainee knight!
Glad she passed without trouble...
Better to meet every demand than risk picking a fight.
It had worked out fine, so smart call.
One slip-up, and she might've slit his throat with a smile on that pretty face!
The merchant stood dazed, watching the elf girl go.
Such exquisite beauty... yet on the battlefield, she turned into a monster.
What an irony.
As Elysia had predicted, they reached the next village well before sunset.
A profoundly rural place, even quieter than the last.
Small population, and the inn was a modest building that doubled as a tavern—the only one around.
“I'll rest in my room.”
“Sure, take care.”
It was so small there were barely any rooms. And no other guests.
Thanks to that, they each got their own room without issue.
...So what now?
Asha sat alone in the back of the tavern, lost in thought.
Training time?
She'd skipped it thanks to all the travel.
But then it hit her: thinking of training first during free time.
She let out a wry smile.
Couldn't read without books.
Games needed playmates.
So many gaps to fill.
She quietly added to her mental bucket list: buy books in the city when she had spare time.
...Meanwhile, in the back of the tavern—
Whoa, an elf...
Lilliana, the young daughter of the innkeeper, peeked out just her head to observe Asha.
She'd heard all the rumors, but this was her first time seeing one in person.
She looked about mid-teens, same as herself. But how old was she really?
What brought her to a backwater like this?
She wanted to talk to her. Hear her stories!
Lilliana fidgeted with her fingers as fierce calculations raced through her mind.
Staying at a rundown inn instead of borrowing the cleanest house in the village from the mayor?
Knight or not, she probably wasn't wealthy.
Her clothes said as much. Clean shirt and pants, but worn enough to show their age.
M-Maybe just say hi?
Even as she thought that, she hesitated.
The tall tales from occasional mercenaries painted elf knights as downright monstrous.
Stories of fully armed elf knights—just five or six—cutting down over a hundred ragtag mercenaries like nothing!
Drunken brags from self-proclaimed heroes.
Of course, skill varied wildly even among knights or mercs, but rural girl Lilliana didn't know that.
What mattered was how disarmingly pure and lovely the demure elf girl before her looked compared to those rumors.
She didn't seem threatening at all.
...Except for the sword at her waist.
A-Alright. I'll talk to her!
What's the worst that could happen?
After a deep breath, Lilliana stepped out from the kitchen and approached the elf girl.
“H-Hi! I'm Lilliana!”
The elf girl smiled brightly in response.
“Hi. I'm Asha.”
Friendly! Lilliana's anxiety began to melt away.
“U-Um... It's my first time meeting an elf, so I'm just really curious...”
She trailed off, bowing her head slightly and peeking up timidly.
Asha quietly filed away the info.
Elves must have a small population, for sure.
Wonder if I'll meet others in the city?
“Perfect timing. I was getting lonely anyway and could use a friend.”
“Yay! I'll be your friend!”
Lilliana clapped with a pure smile.
Asha smiled back. This girl had a totally different vibe from Elysia—sparking her interest in chatting.
“Where are you from, Lady Asha?”
“Hm... I've been living deep in the mountains until recently.”
“Oh my gosh!”
Aren't there scary monsters swarming there?
Lilliana gasped innocently.
Which let Asha segue smoothly.
“So, wanna tell me some stories you know?”
“Just stuff I've overheard...”
“Anything's fine. Really.”
“Well then...”
Lilliana giggled shyly and unpacked her bundle of tales.
Asha chimed in so perfectly that soon no trace of anxiety remained.
How long did they talk?
Thirsty Lilliana excused herself to grab some water.
Asha glanced at the entrance, roughly gauging the time.
Just right.
Trustworthiness of the info aside, the chat had been pure fun.
Still, skipping training entirely with time to spare felt off.
Asha asked the returning Lilliana about a quiet open spot nearby, away from people.
“Tons!”
Lilliana beamed and gave directions.
“Cool. I'll head out till dinner and come back. If the knight lady asks, say I went for a walk nearby?”
“You got it!”
The energetic reply came back.
Smiles were contagious, it seemed. Asha felt her own lips loosening.
The quiet rural village of Haven.
A small place overlooked by nobles, save for the taxes they dutifully paid.
As sunset approached, a band of mercenaries entered the vicinity.
Strutting arrogantly, they made straight for the inn.
Villagers spotting them went on high alert.
They huddled and whispered.
“Those guys again?”
“Damn jerks. They ripped us off cheap last time too.”
“Wonder what crap they'll pull now...”
These mercs had a history of causing trouble on their last pass through.
No one had forgotten.
In an era where mercenaries and bandits blurred lines.
Law and lawlessness mingled hazily; might made right.
Wield weapons for havoc, you're bandits. Get paid, you're mercs.
They could turn raiders any moment.
“Make way! The great me has arrived!”
“Here! Food and booze for the headcount!”
With booming voices, the burly men barged into the tavern!
Gazes from locals finishing their day snapped to them.
“W-Welcome.”
Lilliana's father, the innkeeper, greeted them cautiously.