The tavern was a really cool place in terms of atmosphere and weather. Those buildings sure knew how to keep the heat away… Aion was thankful for it.
Regardless, even though it was noon, the place had quite a lot of people there drinking, and they all looked like travelers. All of them had weapons, though. Those curved single-edged swords that made Aion recall scimitars from Earth.
"The tavern keeper knows a lot," The black-bearded man said and then tossed the gold coin back. "If you buy a few things, she should be able to sell information for you as well."
Aion nodded and then approached the tavern keeper after taking back his money and noticed that she was a woman in her thirties. She had long black hair and tanned skin, and she also had quite a pair of bazongas. So, Aion thought that the first thing he should ask for was milk. Trying to convince himself that it was just a coincidence.
"My… we don't see travelers like you around here," The tavern keeper said while showing a sweet smile.
"I will take that as a compliment," Aion returned the smile and then sat in front of the balcony. "Give me a large cup of milk and the recommended lunch set."
"Understood," the tavern keeper said and then left for the room in the back for a short while.
It didn't take long until Aion saw a steaming red soup and a large cup of milk. It was a weird combination, but Aion assumed that they would help him because he liked spicy food, and he could tell that the soup would give him some heartburn.
"I got lost in the desert, and I think that the caravan that I was in won't be waiting for me anywhere," Aion said while passing the gold coin. "I noticed that there are a lot of armed people that also carry weapons, something happening nearby that requires warriors."
"Maybe, would you fight a battle for a country that isn't your homeland?" The tavern keeper asked. "Also, you don't have a weapon, and while you look well built, you also looked a bit young to be a mercenary."
"Appearances can be deceiving," Aion said and then ate a spoonful of the soup. "Ouch, hot, hot!"
"Indeed…" the tavern keeper showed an amused smile. "I don't know if you are crazy enough to try or if anyone will hire you in the first place, but someone known as the draconic wanderer is trying to invade our country. Your caravan was probably transporting supplies for the war, but you didn't hear anything about it?"
"I only heard that I had to fight monsters and that the pay was good, and we had to cross the desert," Aion replied.
"I guess you have been scammed by them, and your boss planned to dump you along the way," The tavern keeper shrugged. "In any case, the draconic wanderer and his minions are trying to target our country and attack the primordial firebird in order to eat it and gain power. That guy already destroyed one of the neighboring countries, and we are planning to stop him."
"That is quite the name… and he becomes stronger by eating monsters?" Aion furrowed his eyebrows.
"So the rumors say, no one can affirm or negate that, but he looks a bit like a dragon, and it is a fact that he defeated and ate one, the last one that lived in the neighboring country," The tavern keeper replied.
Aion wondered if all that was a coincidence and if he should get involved… Arlana didn't mention anything that someone else targeted the bird in the past or in the future.
Aion wanted to ask which year they were in, but it would only make him look suspicious, so he decided to forget that. He tried to ask things about the countries beyond the ocean, but the woman just called that… the country beyond the ocean.
"... I read in a book that the primordial firebird was targeted by a mutated man eight hundred years ago," Aion suddenly heard a voice in his head.
"Who said that?" Aion asked while thinking.
"... It was my wife," Arc replied after a long sigh. "She has a great interest in legends and in battles like these."
"Oh, hey, it is grandma. How do you do?" Aion asked.
Aion didn't hear anything in response… Maybe calling her a grandma was a landmine. Regardless, it was weird that she decided to talk only now.
"Did I say something that she disliked?" Aion asked.
"Your casual attitude is the problem," Arc replied.
"Well, I am thankful for the explanation anyway…" Aion thought. "Regardless, eight hundred years and the monster is already famous… is that thing immortal?"
Aion was more interested in that than in the guy who becomes stronger by eating monsters. The reason for that was the fact that History showed that he failed since the bird could still be found in the future.
"... The story that I know, the draconic wanderer didn't have an army," Aion's grandma said.
"I see… this sounds like an intervention from another timeline," Aion rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "By the way, what is your name?"
"... Annalee," Aion's grandmother replied.
"We sure have a lot of people with names that start with A," Aion furrowed his eyebrows. "By the way, grandpa, if you are having a hard time, you can ask me for help to convince people to help. As long as it is something reasonable, I am in."
"Once you subjugate the beast, let it rest at the top of the castle once you repair it," Annalee said. "Do that, and you will have my cooperation as well."
"You two sure want to make Vangel think that I am planning something," Aion said and then sighed.
Aion's grandmother sure had a strong voice and a dominating tone, so he wondered if it was fine for him to do that favor in exchange for her mana.
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