Chapter 10

The inn called "The Blushing Sheep," run by Rass, was a three-story building located to the northwest of the square in front of the East Gate of the border city of Lester. The first floor, facing the street, was a restaurant that served alcohol, while the second and third floors, along with the attic, were rooms for guests, family, and staff. There was a garden at the back and a separate building for the stables.

By the time Al arrived at "The Blushing Sheep" after escaping from the two men, about two hours had passed since he had parted ways at the East Gate. It took him some time to recheck and make sure no one was following him. The first-floor restaurant seemed to be crowded with people. Al circled the area twice to ensure there were no suspicious figures before opening the door to the restaurant.

"Al, where have you been?"

Tally, noticing him, stood up and ran over, grabbing Al's hand. He seemed to be in high spirits, having had a bit of alcohol. He then led Al to the large fireplace, saying he had finally arrived.

Nearby, at a table, sat Rass, his mother (Rass's wife, Laurain), and his sister, Iris, who had shared a warm embrace at the city gate. They watched the scene with delight. At their surrounding tables, there were men and women who looked like adventurers, as well as a few elderly men and women who seemed to be staff.

"Everyone, this is Al, whom we were just talking about. Thanks to him, we were able to return alive. He came to this city as an adventurer, and we're thinking of letting him stay at this inn for a while. We hope you can make him feel welcome. Al, please say hello to everyone."

Al, feeling a bit bewildered, felt the gazes of the people in the restaurant and turned to face them, scratching his head. Just as he was about to open his mouth to greet them, Laurain ran over and grabbed his hands with both of hers.

"Mr. Al, thank you. I'm sorry it took me so long to thank you. Thank you so much for saving my husband."

She had tears in her eyes.

"Mr. Al, thank you for saving my father and brother."

Iris, standing next to Laurain, bowed deeply. She was about the same age as Al and had a bright, energetic voice.

"No, really, it was Barbara who took down the bandits... I just helped—"

"Didn't you also make warm soup for Rass and Tally and escort them back to the city? And I heard you took down the bandit leader with some amazing magic—"

"Um... that—"

Al was seated at the table, but it seemed that in the two hours before he arrived, Rass and Tally had told their family and the others about his significant contributions, which left him feeling quite bewildered. He tried to explain that he had mainly helped Nalesh and Barbara, but no one seemed to believe him.

"Just take it as a sign of how much Rass and Tally appreciate it. It's fine, isn't it?"

A man named Orson, who was staying at the inn long-term, patted Al's shoulder and smiled. He was in his mid-30s, about 170 cm tall, with black hair slicked back and a calm demeanor.

"That's right. I'm glad Father and Tally came back safely." "Yeah, yeah. I'm glad too."

Maddock and Nijella, a pair of childhood friends, nodded in agreement. Maddock was about 19 years old and over 190 cm tall, with a well-built physique. Such a large man was rare even in the capital. Nijella, though not as large as him, was also well-built. Both were staying at the inn long-term and were registered as warriors in the Adventurer's Guild, often taking on jobs to fight barbarians.

"Anyway, let's celebrate your safe return. We couldn't prepare anything special, but there's plenty of food. Mr. Al, please eat and drink to your heart's content."

The restaurant table was piled high with meat, which seemed a bit tough but was plentiful. An elderly female staff member brought forks, plates, and mugs. The mugs contained ale diluted with water. When Al looked a bit puzzled, Laurain explained that the local tap water was not safe to drink, and because of the abundance of monsters, cheap meat was widely available. However, vegetables, grains, and meat from cows, sheep, and pigs were still scarce, so meals often ended up like this.

"I was just in Milton to get supplies. It's really tough."

Rass chuckled. The city of Milton, to the north, had a proper port and was actively trading with eastern cities, bringing in grains, vegetables, fruits, and meats. It was a two-day round trip, but he went about once a month to stock up, which the restaurant then served.

"Next time, let's go together. It's better to have plenty of potatoes in the soup."

Maddock said seriously. "You're always thinking about food," Nijella muttered, and Rass, who had been hesitant, nodded, while Laurain bowed and said, "Please, we would be grateful."

"Actually, I have something I'm a bit concerned about. Have you seen a pair of men like this?"

After the conversation paused, Al mentioned the two men he had encountered. When he explained that they had attacked him in a deserted area, Iris's eyes widened, but the others didn't seem particularly surprised.

"You went into the southern part of Fourth Street, right? You should be careful there. You might not know, but from here, the area south of East Main Street to South Main Street has poor security. Brawls are a daily occurrence. And you don't look very strong."

"Hmm..."

Al scratched his head again, a habit of his. He had heard that the area had poor security, but he hadn't realized it was this bad. Maybe they were just ordinary robbers, not bandits. Maybe he had been overthinking it. It seemed no one had noticed the two men.

"Hey, I have an idea. You can use magic, right? Why don't you dress like a mage? If people know you're a mage, they'll be less likely to underestimate you, and such incidents will be less likely to happen."

Al shook his head thoughtfully at Orson's confident suggestion.

"That might be true, but dressing like a mage means robes and a staff, and I'm not used to such restrictive clothing. I've always worked alone, and I'm not that powerful a mage yet. I don't like putting on a show."

Orson looked puzzled at Al's explanation. From what he knew, mages were usually proud, but this young man in front of him was different. He reconsidered and shrugged.

"Well, if that's what you think, it's your decision. Do what you like."

"Thank you. Anyway, about the two men, it might have been my imagination, but there might still be some survivors from the blood-soaked bandits. Please be careful."

The inn's residents all nodded in agreement.

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April 14, 2023: Added line breaks and formatted the text.