Ch.191191. You crazy bastard, I’m seriously asking because I don’t know.

“You’ve lost weight? I might not have recognized you if we met in another territory.”

How should I describe this feeling…

Just looking at him made me feel unpleasant and dirty.

I also wondered how a person’s facial features could be so irregular.

When I saw him, I barely restrained myself from throwing a punch at his face.

Since I’d promised not to cause trouble as Jawil Wilson.

“Brond, it’s been a while.”

When I casually waved my hand, everyone sitting in the tavern stared at me with their mouths hanging open.

Even Wortman beside me.

Did I make some mistake?

Brond also seemed dumbfounded by the current situation and burst into laughter.

“Ha!! ‘Brond, it’s been a while?’ You’re looking me straight in the eyes, aren’t you?”

“…Is that not allowed?”

“You bastard!! I’m trying to live a good life in my old age, but you’re making me lose my temper after all this time!?”

Brond grabbed me by the collar and applied pressure.

You crazy bastard, I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know.

This is uncomfortable, extremely uncomfortable.

What’s making this even harder than Brond shaking me by the collar is that his face is getting closer to mine.

‘This is bad.’

I instinctively knew it was dangerous.

His face was already too close, and I had a strong conviction that if Brond opened his mouth, his breath would assault my nostrils, and I would throw a punch without hesitation.

I quickly shook my head and spoke as kindly as possible.

“I was just greeting you after a long time. If I offended you, I’m sorry.”

Only then did Brond’s “lid” that he mentioned earlier seem to close somewhat, and he released my collar.

“You said you’d never come back to this territory, so why are you here again?”

This guy’s mouth…

I need to be careful.

Didn’t I almost naturally blurt out “Why, am I not allowed?” just now?

Taking a deep breath, I continued.

“I just wanted to see Wortman and Berik.”

“Surely you don’t want to see Clara too!?”

“No, I really came to have a drink with Wortman and Berik.”

“Clara, did you know Jawil Wilson was here too?”

The gaze of Clara, sitting at a distant table.

Judging by their appearance and the way they dressed, the people with her clearly looked like Brond’s friends.

Why is she sitting with his group even though she rejected his confession?

From her expression, it seems like she might be sitting there against her will.

When Clara shook her head, Brond and his companions all burst into laughter with their disgusting faces.

I clenched my molars to avoid causing trouble.

“Hahaha! Seeing that sword, did you really become a knight?”

“Yeah, somehow I ended up becoming a knight.”

“A noble family that would accept you… I bet they’re nothing special?”

I wasn’t particularly angry about him insulting the family.

Honestly, except for Selden Alphonse’s parents, it was true.

I gave Brond an artificial smile.

“Well, they’re not a famous family.”

“Has your swordsmanship improved?”

“Just enough to barely hunt monsters?”

“Wow!! Jawil Wilson, who used to wet himself at the sight of monsters, has become something special?”

Once again, mocking laughter filled the tavern.

Wasn’t there a saying that if you endure three times, you’ll avoid death?

I regretted telling Jawil Wilson not to worry.

Should I just turn the entire Pandera territory upside down?

‘Sigh… I am not Jawil Wilson. I am not Jawil Wilson. I am not Jawil Wilson. I am not Jawil Wilson. I am not Jawil Wilson.’

After repeating this to myself several times, Brond seemed to lose interest. He tapped my chest with his fist and returned to his seat.

I had bitten down on my molars so hard I could taste blood.

Still.

In a way, I was proud of myself.

Normally, I should have thrown a punch, right?

To survive in this world, you can’t always act according to your temperament.

The thought that I had developed patience somewhat calmed the anger that had risen to the top of my head.

“Jawil Wilson!!”

As the commotion subsided, a man who appeared to be Berik approached.

As Jawil Wilson had said, he had a mole next to his nose and a large build unsuited for a magician.

“Berik, it’s been a while.”

“…Should we go outside first?”

Just as I was about to leave the tavern at this welcome suggestion, Brond raised his voice while still seated.

“Surely you’re not trying to run away like a rat, just like when you were a kid!?”

I was about to ignore him and leave, but Wortman and Berik plopped down at the table instead.

“Sit down.”

“Let’s just eat here!”

They spoke loudly, but their expressions clearly showed fear.

Still, they seemed to want to protect their friend’s dignity, showing how much they cared for Jawil Wilson.

‘Sigh… things keep getting complicated.’

After enduring this much, shouldn’t I get what I want?

I sat down in the chair after inwardly grumbling.

“Berik, it’s been a long time.”

Berik grabbed my hand on the table with his thick hands.

“I really thought I’d never see you again until I died.”

“I’m sorry, I was immature then and spoke out of anger.”

“It’s okay. You’re back now.”

“I didn’t come to settle down, just to see you guys.”

“Right, you must have already established yourself somewhere, so there’s no need to live here again.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s there to thank me for? By the way, I overheard your conversation with Brond earlier. Which family are you with?”

I was more nervous than when I met Selden Alphonse’s friends after being possessed.

Jawil Wilson might be a troublemaker, but he’s still my comrade, isn’t he?

I wanted to properly maintain my comrade’s image.

“The Alphonse family. They’re quite well-known in the Eastern Continent.”

“R-really? How did you get in? Tell me the story.”

I don’t know how Jawil Wilson became a knight of the Alphonse family either.

So I casually made up a story as best I could.

“…So that’s how you got in.”

“Haha! It wasn’t much.”

“So what do knights do?”

“The young master is currently in Lake territory. I serve him, train, and regularly hunt monsters to keep them away from the territory.”

Berik hesitated for a moment before being startled.

“Isn’t Lake territory the place that stopped the monster wave!?”

Huh?

I thought Pandera territory wouldn’t know about the monster wave news—did I underestimate them too much?

Hiding my surprise, I spoke.

“How did you know?”

“We sometimes go down there for equipment and supplies. That’s when we heard the news! Are you really a knight of the family that stopped the monster wave?”

“…I didn’t stop it myself. It was thanks to the young master and the other knights.”

“Still, you’ve made it big? Are you going to pretend not to know us later?”

“What are you talking about? I came all this way to see you guys.”

After that, Wortman and Berik continued asking questions enthusiastically, and I quietly drank while answering them.

“Want to have another drink at my place?”

“Sure!!”

Fortunately, after that, Brond and his group just gave us unpleasant looks without picking another fight.

We safely arrived at Wortman’s house, and the drinking resumed.

“When Brond grabbed Jawil Wilson’s collar and shook him earlier, I almost threw a punch without thinking!”

“That’s ridiculous. You were trembling next to Jawil Wilson.”

“Berik, do you want to die?”

“You think you’re a match for me, a magician!?”

“You didn’t help either, just stood there!”

“I-I work with Brond…”

“So you couldn’t help because you were worried about getting in trouble.”

As Wortman and Berik’s voices began to escalate, I slammed my glass down on the table and spoke.

“Hey, are you going to show me a fight when we’ve just reunited after so long?”

“N-no, it’s just that Wortman started it…”

“Forget it. I have something to ask—do you know where the magic herb is?”

Wortman just blinked, apparently not knowing what magic herb was.

Fortunately, Berik seemed to know.

“Why do you need magic herb?”

“Sometimes I get poisoned while hunting monsters, and I take antidotes. The magic herb from this area seems more effective.”

Berik stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up.

“Ah… so that’s why.”

“What do you mean?”

“The village chief has been managing the magic herb for some time now.”

“The v-village chief manages it?”

“Yeah, and there are guards protecting the field where the magic herb grows, so we can’t enter freely.”

Suddenly, various thoughts swirled in my head.

The rumor that Pandera territory’s magic herb was good for hair had spread from some noble gathering.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Is the village chief secretly selling it to nobles behind the villagers’ backs?

‘This smells suspicious…’