Chapter 27

Hag and the blonde dread elf continued to bicker, but I had brought them to Lizard's Tail Inn, offering to treat them to a meal.

"I won't pay for the drinks, though."

"What, that's no fun."

"You're the one who ordered all the expensive stuff!"

"Well, whatever, but this buffalo steak is delicious."

I tried the salt-grilled meat that Hag was gnawing on. It was just cooked with oil, salt, and herbs, but it tasted pretty good.

It's worth the 3,000 yen, after all.

"Probably the buffalo I hunted. I stumbled upon it the other day."

"Wow, there are buffaloes around here?"

"Not yet, it's out of season. I stumbled upon it, killed it, and sold it."

"Wow, you hunted a buffalo by yourself, that's impressive."

The slender, muscular Native American elf was carrying a long, black, gleaming estoc, longer than his own height. But it was more than just an estoc; it was a crude weapon. The thick rebar used in skyscrapers, with a guard attached to the tip, only added to its sense of madness... or rather, its sense of being a weapon. A single light blow from it could easily kill someone. A crowbar wouldn't even come close.

"Did you kill it with that?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm. In my country, there were no elves, but they often appeared in stories, usually using spirit magic or bows."

"There are those kinds too."

Ah, I see.

"Hmph, this one is a rare breed among the weak elves. Most elf warriors prefer slender rapiers."

He explained while chugging cheap alcohol. He seemed reluctant, as I had promised to treat them on the condition that they wouldn't fight, but he wasn't trying to start a fight.

"I'm a warrior in training."

That's not what I expected.

When you think of elves, you think of their distinctive ears, but this elf's ears were long and pointed like bamboo shoots. Everything else was a far cry from the typical image. I mean, a dreadlocked male elf—does anyone even want that?

"Why did you come to this country?"

"Just by chance. I'll earn some travel money. I'll take on some commercial guild requests."

"What are commercial guild requests?"

"They always have requests for collecting profitable animals and plants. If you hunt without taking them, you'll get caught. Humans have decided that wild animals belong to the lords or the country. There's something called hunting rights, apparently."

"Oh, I see."

In my juvenile sense, I imagined that the adventurer's guild would handle all that.

"The adventurer's guild? What can you do in such a bizarre place?"

"Yeah, it exists."

"Indeed. But that place is a collection of oddballs, and it doesn't exist in this country."

"Well, it doesn't matter either way. I don't plan on getting involved with them."

I have no intention of becoming the protagonist of some light novel who becomes a star in the adventurer's guild.

"That's for the best."

But the idea that you can earn money from hunting is interesting. It seems impossible for me, but maybe I could manage with a light sword?

No, I don't think so. I don't even feel confident about taking down a rabbit. I'll give it a pass.

"Oh, right, I forgot. I'm Akira, what about you?"

"Yarrai. <Black Needle> Yarrai, they call me."

A nickname, huh? That's a bit much.

But I shook his hand firmly.

We had a pretty enjoyable evening. The cheap alcohol had a nostalgic taste.

Remaining balance: 1,357,280 yen.

Before going to bed, I prayed, "Looks like more trouble is coming, what's going on?"

---

"Hey, customer! It's me, Narnia!"

A shock to my stomach.

What's going on with this inn? Is it their job to disrupt my morning sleep?

"Narnia..."

I glared at the 12-year-old signboard girl.

"Here, open up."

Narnia, who was straddling my stomach, opened her mouth wide.

"...What are you doing?"

"Huh? Here, I brought the cleaning tools, so give me a candy!"

Ah, I see. But, Narnia, the world isn't that sweet.

"Sorry, I already got the cleaning tools. And it's called 'cleaning,' apparently."

I moved Narnia to the side of the bed.

"Whaaat! No way! You already bought them?! You said you didn't have money!"

"I said I'd earn it."

"But you can't buy them in one day, right?!"

The little girl was frozen in shock. Is it that surprising that I earned the money?

"Whatever, just do your job... wait, how did you get into my room yesterday? I locked the door."

"Well, it's an inn, so they must have a master key, right?"

She put her hands on her hips and struck a pose. I didn't praise her!

"That's an abuse of authority! That's a serious invasion of privacy!"

"...What's 'privacy'?"

Oh, it seems the concept of personal time that shouldn't be invaded doesn't exist in this world.

"Never mind. But don't just barge in."

"It's fine, I'm used to seeing people in the middle of... you know."

That's the worst!

"What are you saying, kid?!"

"Ah, by the same age, many girls are already married."

Really? This world is precocious.

"Sometimes people even give instructions while... you know."

"That's not good..."

In Japan, that would be an immediate arrest.

"So, I won't mind if you come back with Chelina."

What...?

"Hey, why Chelina?"

"Huh? It's already a topic in town. Chelina is in love with the foreigner."

Really?!

Is there an entertainment news show or something?!

...There's no TV, let alone a radio, in this world.

"The well is where information gathers."

Word of mouth is incredible!

It's like a well-side meeting!

"But Chelina and you being in love... it's true, isn't it?"

"Why would you think that? She's just a work partner."

"But you call her by her first name."

Oops. I just went with the flow.

"I was still half-asleep. I wouldn't call her that in front of her."

I did, though.

"Hmm, that's true, she is Chelina."

"Is she famous?"

"It's impossible not to know Chelina in this country. If it weren't for the Veriello Trading Company, this country would have disappeared long ago."

"Really? But why?"

"Because the Veriello Trading Company imports food from everywhere, so we don't run out of food. In the past, there were many traveling merchants, but the carriage tax kept going up, and they stopped coming."

That's not good.

This country will always rely on food imports. If they don't reduce taxes on food, merchants will leave quickly. It's common sense.

It seems that pig king has no political ability at all.

"Whatever, I'm going out."

"Okay, see you... mmph!"

I threw a candy into her mouth as she opened it to say goodbye.

I didn't check, but she's probably holding her cheeks and rolling around now. Enjoy it fully.