bookpower Chapter 433: The Lion's Return (4)
Chapter 433: The Lion's Return (4)
A tavern in the 7th District, always bustling with explorers.
A place where cheap liquor flowed freely, empty bottles littered the floor, and drunken brawls erupted at the slightest provocation.
Crash!
The door swung open.
After all, every world has its gossipmongers.
Especially when there's money to be made.
"Extra, extra! Read all about it!"
"What's this? A newsboy?"
The tavern owner, a burly man with a gruff demeanor, approached the boy, rolling up his sleeves.
"Hey, kid, no soliciting in my tavern."
"But it's an extra, sir!"
"Extra, my foot. It's probably just about the victory parade."
"Yeah, kid! You think we'd be interested in that? We're too busy drowning our sorrows in booze!"
"You've been complaining about it all day, haven't you? How the whole city's in an uproar over nothing."
"Alright, kid, come back when you're older."
The owner lifted the boy onto his shoulder and headed for the door.
And at that moment...
"You fools!"
"Hahaha!"
"Bjorn Yandel is back alive...!"
"Ha, ha...?"
A sudden silence fell over the tavern.
But it didn't last long.
"The kid's spouting nonsense."
"How can someone who died over two years ago come back to life?"
"And besides, he's an evil spirit!"
"That's why he's back! And he's not an evil spirit anymore! While you're all here getting drunk, the whole city's gone mad because of this!"
The boy's words, filled with an indignant sincerity, made the owner hesitate.
And...
"Wait a minute, I want to hear more about this."
One of the explorers showed interest, and the owner put the boy down.
"Ugh, the smell of alcohol..."
The boy, brushing off his wrinkled clothes, approached the explorer's table, and the explorer tossed him a few coins.
"Tell me more. Bjorn Yandel is alive? Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! The Iron Marquis himself announced it in front of thousands of nobles!"
"...The Iron Marquis?"
"You see, it's like this..."
The boy trailed off, glancing at the explorers who were pretending to be uninterested but were eavesdropping on their conversation.
The other explorers sighed and tossed him more coins.
And so the story began.
It was a simple story, once you removed the boy's embellishments.
"So... Bjorn Yandel faked his death to complete a secret mission for the royal family, and the announcement about him being an evil spirit was also part of the mission?" RâNОΒʧ
"But what about Lihen Schuitz? Isn't he the Blood Spirit Marquis's man? The one who led the expedition force?"
"That's right. I was wondering how an unknown explorer could lead such a powerful team."
The return of a hero.
The explorers were intrigued and paid the boy to tell them more about the victory parade.
And after a while...
Crash!
Something shattered in the corner of the tavern, and the explorers turned to look.
Thud, thud.
A tall, muscular woman with a sharp gaze approached them.
"Um... what's going on...?"
The explorers, intimidated by her aura, remained silent.
Only the boy, despite his nervousness, asked her what she wanted.
"I heard your story, boy."
"...Y-yes?"
"Is it true? That Bjorn Yandel is alive? That he was Lihen Schuitz?"
Her voice was filled with a desperate longing.
The boy, sensing her sincerity, answered truthfully.
"...Yes! It's true!"
"I see... So that's how it was..."
The woman mumbled, as if in a trance, and then she pulled out a pouch and handed it to the boy before leaving the tavern.
The boy's eyes widened as he checked the amount.
"10,000 stones...?"
It was an exorbitant amount for a storyteller, especially one who frequented cheap taverns.
The other explorers were also surprised.
"She paid 10,000 stones for a story?"
"...To think there was such a wealthy person in a cheap tavern like this."
"Who was she...?"
"Hey, why are you so quiet?"
As they were wondering about the woman's identity, one man spoke softly.
"Holy shit..."
"You know her?"
"How many blonde female barbarians are there? And how many of them carry a giant greatsword on their back?"
"Just tell us who she is!"
"Ainar Frenelin, the Storm Sword."
The man's words stunned the explorers.
"What? She's one of the Seven Strengths?!"
"But... the Storm Sword... she was Bjorn Yandel's former comrade!"
"So that's why she was so interested..."
"It all makes sense now!"
"Wait, then even his former comrades didn't know he was alive?"
The tavern was buzzing with excitement again.
The patrons eagerly discussed the new information.
Only the owner was frowning.
It was a story that couldn't be told in a few words.
But...
"Nothing. It's just like the Marquis said."
I couldn't tell Raven the truth.
She was already burdened enough by helping me, an evil spirit.
And besides, she wasn't involved this time.
I couldn't burden her with our fight against the royal family.
"You seem distant today. Or rather, you've always been distant..."
"It's just your imagination."
"Yes, I guess so..."
An awkward silence followed.
Raven sipped her tea and then stood up.
Or rather, she tried to stand up.
Bang, bang, bang!
A loud banging sound came from the front door.
What? Is it a thief?
As I stood up, I heard a familiar voice.
"Bjorn!"
"Bjorn! Come out! Are you really alive?!"
It was my comrade.
It was like magic.
"Bjorn!"
I couldn't help but smile.
Heh.
I had reclaimed my name.
It was time for us to reunite.
'Only Misha and Bear are left now...'
It was time for us to gather again.
_______________________
Clatter, clatter.
The sound of cutlery echoed through the dining room.
Lee Baekho, chewing on the end of his spoon, cautiously spoke.
"Hey, Meowmeow."
"...I told you not to call me that."
"You don't like your surname, and you don't want me to call you by your first name?"
"Can't you understand? Just don't call me."
"Wow, you're so cold..."
He sighed and glanced at the others.
It was an ordinary meal, but everyone was awkwardly eating, watching his reaction.
Except for one person.
"Meowmeow."
"..."
"Why don't you go outside?"
"..."
"You're not a real cat, why do you never leave the house except for labyrinth expeditions? Look, your skin is so pale—"
Clang!
The Red Cat beastwoman slammed her spoon on the table.
And...
"I'm done."
She took her plate and went upstairs to her room.
Click.
Lee Baekho sighed as he heard the door close.
He looked at the others and asked for their opinion.
"She... she still doesn't know, right?"
The Ruin Scholar was the first to answer.
"You can't hide it forever."
"Yeah, I know, but... just be careful what you say. Okay?"
The Guide nodded.
"...I'll try."
"Good. Then that's it for today. Everyone, go do your own thing."
Lee Baekho smiled and left the dining room.
And...
Click.
He entered his room.
"..."
His smile vanished, his face hardening.
"Bjorn Yandel is alive..."
He didn't have any ill feelings towards Bjorn Yandel.
They were both evil spirits, after all.
He felt like he was looking at a promising junior.
He reminded him of his past self.
That's why he had taken Misha in, even though he knew she was an evil spirit. He was intrigued by her unwavering loyalty.
He genuinely felt sorry for them when they were separated.
But...
"This is interesting."
It was too late now.
He couldn't welcome Bjorn Yandel's return with open arms.
His carefully nurtured Ice Swordsman might be taken away from him.
Well, to be precise, he would be returned to his original owner...
"He should have come back sooner. This is just a nuisance."
Lee Baekho contemplated seriously.
"Should I just kill him?"
Eliminating any obstacles that stood in his way, regardless of his personal feelings.
That was his long-standing rule.