Chapter 19

In situations like this, it's best to quickly deal with the hate. Should I just cut him down immediately?

"Huh? Are you angry? Want to do something about it?"

The man said this, jingling the sword at his waist.

"Master, his aim is to make you angry, get you to hit him, and turn you into a criminal. Just drawing a sword inside the Adventurer's Guild could result in your expulsion."

"...I understand."

Thanks to Haru, I regained my composure and checked the man's occupation and level.

[Fist Fighter: Lv18]

I see, if it really comes to a fight, I can fight without drawing my sword. The sword on his waist is just for show, I guess. Margaret mentioned she used to be a Fist Fighter, too.

"Who do you think you are, talking like you know anything, Celisro?"

"...Celisro?"

Come to think of it, the bandits also called Haru Celisro.

"Celisro is a derogatory term for beastmen. It means 'Cerianthropus,' where 'Cerian' means wild animal and 'Anthropus' means human. Beastmen are very different from wild animals, so the term has fallen out of use in recent years, but it's still used as a slur in various places."

Ha, what a terrible thing to say.

I can't forgive this. And to think that Katusha, a beastman herself, can say such things so loudly.

"Master, I'm fine no matter what they say."

Haru said this. It hurts to hear such a sad thing.

But she's right. If I get angry here, it would play right into his hands.

"Hey, are you one of those noble's lackeys who wanted to buy Haru?"

"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about."

The man grinned. Ah, I see, that's how it is.

"Rumors say that the noble who wants to buy a white wolf slave has a strong influence in the Adventurer's Guild. His messenger is coming to this town in nine days. If he finds out the white wolf has already been bought, it would be a huge disgrace for the noble. Who knows what he might do, like hiring an assassin."

It's a blatant threat. But it could really happen.

"You scrawny, rotten carrot, you'd be killed right away."

"Master."

Haru said this in a strained voice. I get it, I won't fall for such provocation.

"Please give me permission to tear him apart. It's unforgivable to insult you like this."

"Wait, wait! Haru, I appreciate your feelings, but no! It's an order! No! It's a trap."

At my command, Haru's tail drooped.

"Katusha, I don't need the magic stone, but can I at least get the bounty for the bandits? I'll leave right away."

Katusha, realizing that causing trouble in the guild would be a problem, quickly prepared the money.

"Hey, are you running away? How about we fight on the stage?"

"Wherever we fight, it's the same. If I become a criminal, I don't know what my little sister back home would say."

"Huh? You don't know? Fighting on the stage is a duel. Even if you kill your opponent, it's not a problem. However, using weapons is forbidden. I'm not just good with a sword, but also with my fists."

He placed his sword on the table. You're not a swordsman, but a Fist Fighter.

You want to fight in a place where you have the advantage.

"The bounty for the thief we brought in last night is 8,000 cents."

"Thank you."

I received eight bundles of silver coins. 800,000 cents. A substantial amount of money.

And then,

"Katusha, where is the stage, and can anyone use it?"

"The stage is behind the guild, and only Adventurer's Guild members can use it, but party members can also use it, so you can use it, Ichinjo-sama."

"Master, please give me an order. Let me fight."

"I don't think Haru would lose in a sword fight, but without a sword, it's tough even for Haru. The opponent is a Fist Fighter."

When I saw through his true identity, the man's expression changed.

"I won't fight today. But there are still nine days until the noble's messenger arrives. If you don't cause any trouble, I'll fight you once before then."

With that, I left the Adventurer's Guild with Haru.

It's best to deal with hate quickly. But if you're going to deal with hate, you have to do it overwhelmingly.

Overwhelmingly.

"Haru, do you know how to become a Fist Fighter?"

"I heard that a lumberjack can become an axe user at level 5, a hammer user at level 7, and a Fist Fighter at level 10."

Lumberjacks have heavy armor and physical enhancement settings.

Well, in a world without chainsaws, strength is absolutely necessary.

"Alright, let's go to the dungeon after we eat."

Following Haru's lead, I asked if there was a restaurant where we could get delicious fish for about 20 copper coins, and she led me to a restaurant on the outskirts of town.

Before entering, I decided to check something.

"Um, Haru, it's my first time in a place like this, but do you know when to give a tip?"

In Japan, it's normal to just pay for the food, but in Western countries, it's common to give a tip. I heard it's becoming less common these days.

"Master, please look at that sign."

I looked at the sign Haru was pointing at.

There was a hand symbol and a copper coin symbol inside a circle, with a large X drawn over it.

"That sign means 'No Tip.' The staff are paid a salary, and the tip is included in the meal price."

"Really? I see."

"There are disadvantages to 'No Tip,' such as a potential decrease in service quality, but it avoids problems related to tips."

I see, I see.

"Let's go in, then."

"Okay."

We entered the restaurant. It had a casual yet stylish Italian atmosphere, somewhere between a diner and a high-end restaurant. There was a terrace at the back, and a garden beyond it. Since it was empty, we asked the waiter to show us to a terrace seat.

We sat down—

"Haru, aren't you going to sit down?"

"I'm sorry."

She said this and tried to sit on the floor.

"Wait, wait, not there, sit in the chair—"

"Is that okay?"

"No, it's not okay. It's not right to make a woman sit on the floor."

"Slaves usually don't sit at the same table as their masters."

"Is it against the rules of the restaurant?"

"It's not that—"

"Then sit down. I'm not usual."

"Understood."

Finally, Haru sat down in the chair.

The waiter brought water and placed it in front of me.

"Is the water free?"

"Yes, it's free."

"Why only in front of me?"

"Water is only provided to those who are eating."

...I see, they didn't think she would be eating the same meal.

While being aware of how slaves are treated, I looked at the menu—then closed it.

I can't read it!

But the right side of the menu is all numbers.

So, the most expensive item is a three-digit number. Ten silver coins should be enough.

I rang the bell on the table to call the waiter.

"Two of the chef's recommendations, one for her. She's a customer, so bring her water too."

"Understood. Please wait a moment."

The waiter left, and Haru asked, "Is that okay?"

"I'll be in trouble if I go to the dungeon hungry. Besides, I want Haru to have a good meal, even if we're not going to the dungeon."

I said this with a smile, but I was thinking about how to take down that Fist Fighter in a satisfying way.