Ch.15Bar Talk

“Welcome. Beer? Whiskey? Or would you like a meal?”

“Beer, please.”

After putting my luggage upstairs and coming down to sit at the bar, I ordered a beer. Immediately, a lukewarm beer was served in what looked like a 0.5-liter glass. I’ve always believed beer should be cold to taste right, but there’s no way Grantis would have a refrigerator, so I gulp it down in one go despite my disappointment.

“You look like an adventurer. First time in Oxville?”

“Oh? Can you tell just by looking at me?”

“I’ve been running this place for nearly 30 years, so I’ve got an eye for these things. There’s a certain aura adventurers have, and it shows in your belongings and attire too.”

“Do many adventurers come here?”

“Not really. Even when I first opened, the pioneering fever had already cooled down. Most of my customers are peddlers or transporters.”

Oxville was established about 50 years ago. It’s the first city built after the western pioneering project began.

Being the monumental first western city, it must have been bustling with people in its early days, but after several decades, there’s probably no hidden treasure or profitable work left in the area.

“Do you ever get native customers?”

“I’ve rarely seen elves, but dwarf customers come occasionally. Our whiskey has a good reputation among them.”

“What about beastfolk?”

“Hahaha, that’s a funny joke. Beastfolk guests? That’s absurd.”

Beastfolk guests are absurd, he says. Does that mean beastfolk approaching human cities is unthinkable? I need to find out more.

“Are beastfolk not allowed in the city? I heard not all tribes are hostile.”

“True, tribes like the White Rabbit clan or Silver Wolf clan get along fine with settlers. But would any of them come all this way to stay here?”

“Ah, so it’s a distance issue… What about legally?”

“That I’m not sure about. For Oxville folks, beastfolk are just some natives living far west… that’s about the extent of it.”

“Hmm? What’s this? Interested in beastfolk, adventurer?”

Just as I was about to ask the barmaster more about beastfolk, a man drinking beer in the corner interrupted.

He was a somewhat short man in his late thirties with an unkempt hairstyle and a beard.

“And you are?”

“Jonathan Beth. I’m a peddler dealing mainly in crafts.”

“I’m William J. Kim, adventurer. Do you know much about beastfolk?”

“I pride myself on knowing more than the folks in Oxville. Some of my trading partners are beastfolk natives. Buy me a whiskey, and I’ll answer whatever I can.”

“That’s easy enough. Master, a whiskey for this gentleman.”

“Right away.”

I’m not sure how much this man knows about beastfolk, but from what the barmaster said, it seems difficult to get information about beastfolk from Oxville residents. If that’s the case, investing in a whiskey to get information from a peddler who trades with beastfolk seems worthwhile.

“Ahh, that’s good~ So, what do you want to know?”

“Well… first, I’d like to know if beastfolk can enter western cities.”

“Depends on which tribe. In the Third Western City, there’s even a shop with a White Rabbit clan girl working as a clerk, but no city would let in members of the Beast King clan.”

White Rabbit clan… so bunny girls!? That’s very interesting, but right now solving the black cat girl’s problem is more important than white rabbits, so I’ll save the bunny girl investigation for when we visit the Third Western City.

“What about the Wild Cat clan?”

“The Wild Cat clan… should be possible, one way or another. They’d still need a guarantor, though.”

“A guarantor?”

“Do you know about residence permits?”

“No, that’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Then I should explain residence permits first. Basically, you need a Frontier License to enter western cities, but natives with treaties, like elves or dwarves, can get residence permits at the main gate even without a license, allowing them to stay in the city for up to three days.”

“What about natives without treaties?”

“That’s where the guarantor system comes in. A settler becomes a guarantor, vouching for the native’s behavior in exchange for a residence permit. However, while the native stays in the city, the guarantor cannot leave, and if the native causes trouble, the guarantor is punished along with them.”

Those conditions don’t seem too problematic. Seti seems to be the type who doesn’t want conflict with settlers, so as long as I warn her about the detection field, she won’t commit any crimes. And since Jessica and I aren’t in a hurry, there’s no issue with staying in Oxville while we buy travel supplies or learn about obtaining a Frontier License.

“Where do I apply for this residence permit?”

“All residence permit matters are handled at the sheriff’s office… but let me give you some advice: don’t take vouching for a native lightly. Especially if a hostile tribe is trying to trick you into helping them infiltrate a western city—you never know what they might be plotting.”

“Ah, that’s fine. She’s just trying to get a Frontier License to become an adventurer.”

“A Wild Cat clan adventurer? You believe that?”

“At least to me, she seemed trustworthy. My basis is… well, I guess you could call it an adventurer’s intuition.”

I have no reason to doubt Seti’s desire to become an adventurer now, but objectively speaking, it’s impossible that she would deceive us to infiltrate and sabotage a western city.

After all, what we were asked to do was purchase travel supplies on her behalf, or at most, find out how to obtain a Frontier License. Bringing Seti into the western city was entirely my and Jessica’s idea.

“Since we’re on the topic, can a Wild Cat clan native obtain a Frontier License?”

“That I don’t know. Why not visit the pioneering office tomorrow and ask?”

“I’ll do that. Thanks for the information.”

“Enjoyed the whiskey.”

The Frontier License issue remains unresolved, but learning how beastfolk can enter the city is already a significant achievement. I thanked Jonathan, downed the rest of my beer in one go, and headed upstairs to knock on Jessica’s door.

“Is that you, Will?”

“Yeah. Can I come in?”

“It’s open, come in.”

When I opened the door, Jessica was lying on her stomach on the double-sized bed, dressed in casual indoor clothes.

I carefully avoided staring at her fair legs and soft-looking bare feet—usually hidden by band stockings—as I sat down on a chair by the table.

“What were you doing?”

“Hmm~ Blood circulation?”

“Corsets and stockings, huh… male adventurers wouldn’t understand such troubles.”

“Before being an adventurer, there are things I won’t compromise on as a woman. So, did you learn anything useful?”

“Yeah, I heard some pretty good information.”

I gave a thumbs up and briefly summarized what I’d learned at the bar downstairs.

How the barmaster and I were talking when a peddler named Jonathan Beth joined in,

How non-treaty beastfolk need someone to be their guarantor and get a residence permit from the sheriff to enter the city,

And the two issues to be mindful of when becoming a guarantor. By the time I finished, Jessica’s expression had brightened considerably.

“…That’s about all I learned downstairs.”

“I didn’t know about this guarantor system. So even Wild Cat clan members have a way to enter the city.”

“I didn’t expect things to work out this well either. Seti will be able to stay in Oxville for three days from today, so even if the Frontier License matter takes time, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“That’s fine. It’s not like we have urgent business in the west. I’ll go to the sheriff’s office, so could you bring Seti here?”

“You’re going to the sheriff’s office, Jessica?”

“Having someone with a higher license grade as guarantor might make it easier to get the permit.”

“OK, I’ll head out first, and you can meet us outside the east gate when you’re done at the sheriff’s office.”

“Got it. I’ll change clothes and head out soon.”

With our plan decided, there’s no need to waste time. I’ll bring Seti before sunset and show her around the western city.

Wait for me, Seti. A warm room with a bathroom awaits you.