Chapter 18: Seducing
The inn was lively, filled with the chatter of travelers, merchants, and a few adventurers gathered around wooden tables. The scent of roasted meat and fresh bread wafted through the air, mixing with the faint smell of ale. The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the rustic wooden interior, creating a cozy atmosphere despite all the noises and clattering .
A well-built woman in her late thirties approached the table where Shennong and Romina sat. She had a beautiful face, her curves complimented by the snug fit of her medieval-style dress. Her auburn hair was tied loosely behind her, and she offered them a welcoming smile.
"What can I get for you two?" she asked, her voice smooth and inviting.
Shennong met her gaze and smiled back. "What do you have?"
"We've got meat stew, fresh bread, vegetable soup, beans, and porridge," she listed with practiced ease.
Shennong pretended to think for a moment before tilting his head slightly. "What do you recommend?"
The innkeeper chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Definitely the meat stew. Best in town."
"Then we'll take two of those," he said, flashing her another charming smile.
As the woman turned to leave, she stole a glance back at him. Shennong caught it and smirked slightly. Her cheeks tinged pink before she hurried off to prepare their order.
Romina sighed, arms crossed. "You really don't do this on purpose, do you?"
Shennong raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"
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"Make women act like lovestruck maidens, I noticed when we were walking in the town so many women looked at you." she replied, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, how did someone as good-looking as you end up living in a forest surrounded by demons?"
Shennong leaned back in his chair. "It's not a grand tale," he said simply. "I was left to die, and Yenissa found me. She raised me, and that's the end of it. About the good looking part! I don't really know about that because you're the first human I interacted with so I guess if you say so."
Romina's eyes widened slightly. "A demoness like Yenissa... adopted you?" She sounded genuinely surprised. "Not killed you?"
Before Shennong could answer, the innkeeper returned, carefully balancing two steaming bowls of stew. But before she could place them down, Shennong stood up and took the plates from her hands himself.
The woman blinked in surprise. "Oh, you didn't have to—"
Shennong smiled warmly. "I just wanted to help. Don't think too much about it."
He placed the bowls on the table, and as she turned to leave, she hesitated again, glancing back at him. This time, her gaze lingered, and Shennong could tell she was talking to one of the girls in the kitchen about him. The younger girl giggled, and they both sneaked another glance his way.
Romina noticed too, sighing dramatically. "Not just her... several other women are staring at you."
Shennong only smiled and picked up his spoon. He took a sip of the stew, his expression neutral. Internally, however, he was unimpressed. He knew it could be better.
After finishing his meal, he stood, deciding to head to the counter. But before he could take a step, something caught his attention.
A group of adventurer-looking men sat at a nearby table, their weapons and armor gleaming under the dim lighting. Just one look at them was enough to get Shennong salivating because of how armed they were.
They were clearly drunk, laughing loudly and making crude jokes. But what made Shennong's gaze sharpen was the way they were treating the innkeeper. One of them reached out, trying to grab her waist as she served their drinks.
The woman flinched, forcing a strained smile. "I got more tables to serve..."
"C'mon, don't be shy," one of them slurred. "Bet you'd like a strong man, huh? We are celebrating killing a whole orc."
Shennong's expression didn't change, but a gleam of mischief flashed in his eyes. He picked up his almost-empty bowl, walked towards them, and—
Splash!
He "accidentally" tripped, sending the last bits of stew pouring onto the lap of one of the drunkards.
"Oh! My apologies," Shennong said innocently, bowing slightly.
The man shot up, his pants soaked with broth. "You little—!" His face twisted in anger, veins bulging from his forehead. The others laughed at his misfortune but quickly grew serious seeing Shennong's face because they felt like they were looking at some kind of a prince.
The innkeeper stepped forward, worry clear in her eyes. "Now, now, it was an accident. No need for trouble."
Shennong glanced at her and gave a small wink, silently telling her to stay out of it.
The drunkard snarled. "You think this is funny?!"
Shennong only smiled. "No, not at all. Here, let me—"
Before he could finish, the man's fist slammed into his face, making a loud thud as the impact sent a red mark across Shennong's cheek.
The inn fell silent.
The innkeeper gasped. "Nooo! You—"
One of the other adventurers nudged the attacker. "Oi, enough. Look at her, she's calling the guards. We don't want any problems now..."
The drunkard followed his friend's gaze and cursed under his breath. The last thing they wanted was trouble with the authorities.
"Tch. Whatever." He spat at the floor and stomped toward the exit, his companions following him, still grumbling.
As soon as they were gone, the inn's atmosphere slowly returned to normal. The innkeeper turned to Shennong with concern. "Are you alright?"
Shennong touched his cheek, pretending to wince. "I think I'll survive."
She frowned. "You shouldn't have done that. They were pretty high-ranked adventurers."
He smiled at her holding his reddened eye.
Her cheeks reddened again seeing his smile, but before she could say more, Shennong dropped another critical bomb on her. "I'm glad you're safe. I couldn't let them harass you like that even if they are."
"..." She didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything because she was starting to feel weird. What is happening to her? She was a married woman so why was she feeling hot from a young man who didn't even look half of her age?
"Uhhh! Come inside, it would be better to use some water and wipe that wound before it gets bigger." She muttered finally after breaking from the trance she was in.
"Ehh? Are you sure? I don't have any extra money to pay," Shennong muttered, sounding surprised—even though he wasn't, as this had been his aim from the beginning.
"Nooo! I don't want money. I can't let you leave looking like this after you helped me. Let's go," The innkeeper grabbed Shennong's hand and led him into the house.
"Jeni, can you manage for a few minutes?" The innkeeper shouted at the young girl, who clearly looked like the innkeeper's daughter.
"I can, mother." She shouted back and the innkeeper smiled, as she led Shennong into the house. Romina also got up and followed them thinking to herself."What is he up to now?"
***
In the dimly lit private room of the tavern, the faint scent of herbal leaves mixed with the dampness in the air. The innkeeper carefully pressed a damp cloth against Shennong's reddened eye, her expression both gentle and weary.
"You are a brave young man," she murmured, dabbing at the swelling. "I have never seen someone trying to help...especially when adventurers like them act like that."
Shennong exhaled sharply. "They were trying to hurt you," he muttered. "I wasn't just gonna sit there. Real men always help women in trouble."
The innkeeper smiled faintly, shaking her head. "They are not the first to act like that, you know. Adventurers get drunk, tempers flare... it happens more than you'd think."
Shennong winced as she pressed a little harder. "Then why let them stay here if they're just going to cause trouble?"
The innkeeper paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Because I'm used to it and I need customers. If I act crazy and lashed out at them nobody would come here."
"Well, that's unfortunate!" Shennong muttered, but he was internally smiling because he couldn't wait for the juicy loots he is going to collect from those adventurers. It was almost like he had already laid out plans for them.
Meanwhile, the innkeeper set the cloth aside and turned her gaze toward Romina, who had been quietly watching from the corner of the room. The woman's tone shifted slightly, a hint of wariness creeping into her voice.
"And who is this young girl?" she asked, eyes flicking between them. "Your... girlfriend?"
The innkeeper paused as if she was hoping that was not the case.
Romina tensed, caught off guard. "I—"
"She's my sister," Shennong answered before she could struggle for a response. "We're from a faraway county. Came here looking for work. We heard the Percival Barony has plenty of job opportunities, especially in the mines."
The moment he said it, the innkeeper's face soured. The warmth in her eyes dimmed, replaced by something colder.
"Is that what people outside think?" she muttered under her breath.
Shennong frowned. "What do you mean?"
But she didn't answer right away. Instead, she just looked at them, her expression unreadable.
The room felt a little quieter, the weight of her reaction settling between them and finally, she opened her mouth."My husband died in the mines after a wall collapsed on him."