Chapter 29: In Search of Fame VIII
Translator : Solo
We arrived safely at the 1st floor of dungeon, the Adventurers’ Guild.
It was just after noon, which was the period of time when there were the most people. It was also the period of time for information gathering. As the posted requests had been updated, the quest board was crowded with people. A line of people who wanted to discuss their future adventures with their person-in-charge, who had just returned from lunch, had also formed.
People had gathered for a variety of other reasons as well, but——
「Wow」
Even so, it was really crowded. Weren’t there twice as many people was usual? It was like an event venue.
I naturally held Rana’s hand. I didn’t do it because I had ulterior motives or anything.
「Ea, don't get lost in the crowd」
「That won't happen. It’s not like I’m Onee-chan」
「It only happened twice」
Rana had gotten lost four times before. She was the type of person who was unable to see anything around her when she had something on her mind.
「Hey, did you hear?」
I overheard the words of some adventurers who passed by us.
「Yes, the evil title, right? They say that a greenhorn party defeated it」
It was a rumor about us.
The bustling crowd of adventurers were all gossiping about the party that had defeated Midoranga.
「You’re kidding, right?」「No, it’s the truth, I tell you」「There’s no way it can be defeated by a greenhorn party, isn’t it?」「The Guild’s materials departments are out in force, you know?」「It’s got to be a hoax, right?」「I was told that a kin of Gladvain was—」「Even a party of the Hohens school magicians couldn’t defeat it!」「What?」「How did they do it?」「Even though everyone had already given up……」「Who else was also present?」「I’ll have to take a look at them」「Fufufu, strong rivals have appeared, haven’t they?」「My lady looks happy」「What’s the leader’s name?」「It’s undoubtedly a famous guy」「It’s definitely a lie, isn’t it?」「Someone must have made a mistake」
While picking up bits of conversation, we left the Guild.
「What do the two of you want to do after this?」
「I'm hungry」
「Oh, me too」
「In that case——」
『Team member Souya, there’s a communication from Irvin-sama. Izora will put you through』
I received a communication from Izora, which was transferred to Irvin without delay.
『Souya, can we meet up at Master's store? I’ll pay for lunch』
「Understood」
Perfect timing. I informed the sisters and we went made our way to the『Raging Bull and Silver Fox Bar』. Even the adventurers that we passed on the street corners were talking about the party that defeated the evil title.
The news had spread quickly. Was it such a popular topic of conversation?
It was a little bit unsettling.
There certainly were those who would harbor petty suspicions. Could we continue to conceal the truth from those kinds of people?
If such things were hidden poorly, it might even impact the merit of the original achievement.
As I was organizing the various problems in my head, we arrived at the barkeeper’s store. Even though it was already past noon, it was still thriving.
The waitress, who was working in a variety of different jobs, greeted us.
「Welcome! Souya, I’ve been waiting for you-nya!」
I had completely forgotten about this problem.
Despite the fact that Rana was there, Tyutyu clung on to me like a koala bear.
「Somehow, the welcome seems more over-the-top than usual, doesn’t it?」
Ea gave her nonchalant impression on the welcome.
「Dear, did you do something?」
Rana’s sentiment was very natural.
「Madam! Listen to this, Souya——」
GYAAAAAAAAA!
「Th, the other day, I saved Tyutyu when a ruffian was about to assault her」
「Nya?」
Tyutyu tilted her head in confusion.
Please, read, the, air. Even I myself didn’t know the meaning of what I had uttered. I was confused and in a tight spot.
「Even though I was waiting for him, Souya didn’t come to the store, so I was sad-nya」
She puffed out her cheeks.
Hawawa, hawawa.
This girl wasn’t listening at all.
「Where were you waiting? What were you waiting for?」
Rana had a puzzled expression on her face. Fortunately, it looked like she didn’t understand what was going on at all. I had to defuse this bomb now. On top of that, I had to do it while I was exhausted both physically and mentally from having just fought with my life on the line.
It was grueling even though I had brought it on myself.
「Rana, first of all, The store that Tyutyu works in is——」
「It's the Roomen’s brothel, right?」
Ea stabbed me from behind. What a splendid <i>backstab</i>.
I'm dead.
「Ohh, you’re a kin of Roomen?」
「Yes-nya」
Tyutyu nodded happily at Rana's question.
Looking askance at me, who had turned pure white,
「I'm hungry so I want to order」
Ea urged me into the bar. The tables were all full, so we made our way to the counter seats. I ordered food for three from another waitress.
By the way, Tyutyu was still clinging onto me. I couldn’t summon the will to pull her off, so I just sat down on the chair with her still hugging me.
I couldn’t genuinely enjoy the soft, plump sensation of her buttocks and smallish breasts.
「And?」
「Yes, madam」
When asked by Rana, Tyutyu spoke the truth without any sign of guilt.
「When Souya came to the store, he got caught up in some trouble-nya. At that time, Souya protected Nya with his own body-nya. The opponent was Varner-sama, the beast hunter. He’s a blood relative of the Second Pope, and the hero who had wiped out 500 beastkin, who had risen in revolt, all by himself without even getting stained by a single drop of their blood-nya」
I could only think of someone like that as a mass murderer.
But he’s a hero in spite of that?
「He didn’t even flinch at a frightening opponent like that. On top of that, he did it for the sake of someone like Nya. Madam, your husband is a wonderful person-nya」
「Dear」
It’s time for my death sentence to be delivered.
Is it going to be death by fire, or maybe crucifixion, or maybe even death by the ice magic that Rana had just learnt. Worst of all, can it be settled somehow with just my life, I wonder? I can’t bear dragging Tyutyu into this.
「Why didn't you tell me about this? Isn't it something praiseworthy?」
「Huh?」
Her reply wasn’t what I had expected.
Where in that story was there anything worth praising?
「Rana ………………Umm, aren’t you angry?」
「What for? Oh, is it about you picking a fight with that hero? But he's a Hemu hero, and I believe he has nothing to do with us elves」
How should I broach the subject?
「No, that’s not it, Onee-chan. Onii-chan is probably apologizing for sleeping with Tyutyu in the brothel」
「I haven't slept with her yet. It’s only attempted!」
「Huh? But she’s a kin of Roomen, right?」
「Huh? Souya, why are you apologizing to your wife-nya?」
I was ignored, and the two involved parties stared at me with question marks floating above their heads.
「Ea, help me please」
I haven’t the faintest idea what’s going on.
「It can’t be helped. I studied up a little about Onii-chan’s country when I was free. They practice monogamy, and it seems that the husband isn’t allowed to play around with other women or go to brothels behind the wife’s back」
「What a strange country-nya」
It's a strange country, but it's a place with common sense.
「Ea, when did you do something like that?」
「And, Onii-chan, in the first place, you don’t know what a kin of Roomen is, am I right?」
「Yes, I don't know」
I spoke in a very, very small voice.
Was Roomen not just a god that beautiful-looking and promiscuous people contracted with?
「I could have told you about any number of things if only you had asked me」
There’s no way I’m going to ask you such things.
「Souya, you don’t even know something like that-nya? It’s not like you’re a child. The kin of Roomen are servants of the flesh who yearn for and obey adventurers-nya. When I’m wearing the collar, don’t think of me as a person……umm, I don’t know how to put it-nya. Oh, that’s right. Something like expensive wine-nya. There’s no wife who’ll get angry at her husband just for drinking wine-nya」
Once again, I casually slipped in my excuse.
「By the way, I haven't slept with Tyutyu yet, alright? Rana, various things happened, alright? Rana?」
「Hmm, is that so?」
Came Rana’s seemingly uninterested reply.
Why? Why am I the one who’s shocked?
「Onii-chan」
Ea patted me on the head.
「By the way, Onee-chan and me have different mothers, you know? At its peak, I had eight mothers」
「That’s right. If you included the mistresses, there were thirteen in all」
That person had seemed like such a reserved person, and yet……
「That's just how it is, Onii-chan. You were troubled because of……is this called a difference in values? There, there. You’re a man, so we won’t get mad even if you have a mistress or two on the side. That’s how elves are. To be attracted to only this many……I was surprised when you kissed Bel though」
「However, Lanseal is an exception. Also, E………………it's nothing」
Is that so?
I was tilting at windmills again, wasn’t I?
This is a different world. There are times when modern common sense and principles won’t work. I’ll switch gears and move on.
In my world, there is a saying like this:『When in Rome, do as the Romans do』
………………Huh, is this okay?
「Your regeneration point is lower than others, so you need a way to augment it. Besides, being able to sleep with the kin of Roomen is proof that you’re a full-fledged adventurer」
「We spurn adventurers with no achievements-nya. We’re not cheap-nya. Souya is the only one among the greenhorn adventurers, so I think that it’s something that you can be proud of. Oh, but did you hear about this-nya? It appears that there’s a greenhorn party that defeated the Dragon-Tortoise Midoranga that has been the hot topic for the past two days-nya. If it’s that party, they might be able to enter the Roomen’s brothel-nya」
While I was still lost about how to take it all in,
That greenhorn party appeared.
I made eye contact with Irvin and raised my hand slightly as a greeting.
I got glared at by Bel. The cause, Tyutyu, was pulled by her ear and marched off to the back by another waitress.
In turn, the barkeeper appeared.
「Hey, Irvin, I’ve heard about it. Wait one moment」
He carried a big long table on his shoulder by himself.
「I'm sorry, you guys~. Get out of the way. Make some spaceー」
The screams of adventurers rang out.
The barkeeper was pushing tables together with his foot for some reason. Of course, people were still seated and eating at those tables. The alcohol and plates of food were caught just in time by the adventurers.
In the space that he had opened up forcibly, he placed the long table that he had on his shoulder.
Four chairs were lined up on top of it.
「Irvin, Shuna, Beltoriche, and Zenobia. Up you go, you guys are the stars today」
A stir swept through the bar.
Even though Irvin and the rest were confused, they did as barkeeper said, and sat down on the chairs on top of the table.
Everyone in the bar focused their attention on Irvin and the rest.
Even more people had gathered before I even realized.
The bar was packed full of people, and there were even adventurers who were peeking in from the outside.
While feeling proud, I was worried as I had been deprived of the opportunity to hash things out with Shuna.
「Quiet down!」
The crowd replied the barkeeper’s loud voice with silence.
「Rasta Oru Razva, on behalf of the Adventurers’ Guild and King Lemuria, brings word to all adventurers. Dragon-Tortoise Midoranga has been subjugated. I'll make known the names of the adventurers who defeated that evil title right here」
In the crowd, I found the knights of St. Lyridias.
It was the blasted hero-sama and his knight-companion.
「The leader of the party, Irvin Foz Gasim, former knight of St. Lyridias. As praise of his unyielding shield, the nickname of “Dragon Scale” is bestowed on him by King Lemuria」
Cheers spread through the crowd.
Looking satisfied, the two knights clapped their hands.
「Irvin, the Dragon Scale!」
Someone cried out,
『Irvin, the Dragon Scale!』
The other adventurers took up the cry.
「Praise St. Lyridias!」
「Praise that person’s teacher, Zamonglass!」
Those two were from the knights.
「Next, Shuna, the swordsman. He is a follower of Ukazor, the Tree Spirit King, and the kin of Gladvain, the Stout Arm. As praise of his sword techniques that cut through that Dragon-Tortoise, the nickname of “Dragonshell Slasher” is bestowed on him by King Lemuria」
Cheers that were twice as loud as the ones for Irvin rang out. The owners of those voices stood out as rough-looking men, and they were probably the kin of Gladvain.
『Shuna, the Dragonshell Slasher!』
Their manly voices rang out together.
One after another, they yelled out words of praise.
「The renowned Gladvain!」
「Praise that person’s teacher, Regure, the Graceful!」
「To the fame of the young swordsman!」
「To the new dragon killer!」
「Our brother that follows our martial creed――――――」
The kin of Gladvain in the crowd all raised their cups.
『Glory upon him!』
The bar shook from their spirited voices.
Unaffected by them, the barkeeper went on to introduce Bel and Zenobia.
「Beltoriche of Azorido, and Zenobia of Fosterk. As praise of your dedication and support, and for your skill in magic, King Lemuria bestows on the two of you letters of introduction to the Jumikura School and the Hohens School. Next, it’s the reward for the party, but since it’s an evil title on the lower floors and it hadn’t caused much damage, it’s 50 gold coins」
The barkeeper laughed audaciously.
「However! On King Lemuria’s tab, food and drinks are free for adventurers until tomorrow morning!」
『UUWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!』
A great cheer erupted.
Ah yes, I see it now. People had gathered because it was this kind of event......
「Well then——」
「Please wait a moment」
Irvin stopped the barkeeper, who was about to dismiss the crowd.
He stood up from his chair and, to the gathered adventurers, he said.
「This subjugation of Midoranga wasn’t accomplished with our skills alone」
What?!
「At this time, I would like to introduce the people who helped my party from the shadows」
Our secret had been exposed so easily.
「Princess Rauaryuna as well as Princess Ea of Heures forest. Foreigner Souya. Please come up here」
The sisters looked at me.
I froze up at the too sudden development. Including my earlier problems with women, my brain had been pushed to its limit.
「Come on, go ahead-nya」
With Tyutyu pulling me by my arm, I got on the table in spite of myself. The sisters followed me up as well.
「Souya's strategy. The magic and the archery of the elven princesses. Without these, the subjugation of the evil title wouldn’t have succeeded. Praise their name as well!」
A buzz swept through the people present.
However,
「Souya, the foreigner! The beautiful elven princesses!」
Sparked off by Tyutyu’s shout, praises for the sisters and me came one after another.
The sisters were bewildered as their faces turned red, and I had trouble accepting their praises meekly.
With dispassionate expressions, the two knights turned on their heels. That cloak disappeared into the crowd.
「So cute!」
「What a beauty! 」
「Gloomy four-eyes!」
Befitting words of praise also came forth.
Or rather, dear assembled adventurers, you just want to get it over with quickly so that you can eat and drink, right?
I signaled the waiting barkeeper with a look.
It's enough already, please move the proceedings along.
「Alright, you guys! Drink! Eat! Sing!」
The waitresses brought out a large amount of alcohol and a huge heap of dishes. Cheers and yells rang out. After that, they devoured the food and drink like wild beasts. There was alcohol, food and song. They drank and sang, and they ate and drank. A minstrel performed a poem praising Irvin and the rest. Fights were already breaking out…… The mayhem had even spread outside. At this rate, this would probably continue until tomorrow morning.
How frightening.
It’s a tragedy that I was beginning to get quite used to.
Without getting swallowed up by the commotion, I spoke quietly to Irvin with a biting chill in my voice.
「Irvin, we’ll have a review meeting first thing tomorrow morning, alright?」
「Al, alright」
I couldn’t take any more today.