Ch.82EP.23 – The Knight Conducts an Interview (1)

“Damn it, no seats again today? Hey, Matt! Make some room!”

“If you want a seat, bring your own chair and table. Why are you making a fuss when I’m busy!”

“Is that how you talk to a customer!”

“Bums like you aren’t my customers, so get lost!”

“You bastard…!”

Though a customer and what appeared to be the shop owner were arguing, nobody paid them any attention.

Such incidents were commonplace.

Rather, some people enjoyed watching these quarrels as entertainment.

Public House.

It was a public space, a kind of tavern and inn frequently used by commoners.

Many people shortened it to “Pub.”

The pub was always bustling and noisy, and even late at night, drunks would gather, making it a place where loud voices and fights never ceased. Fortunately, serious incidents rarely occurred.

For good reason.

“Hey, I don’t mind the fighting, but keep the Guild out of it. Otherwise, you’ll be the only one who loses.”

“……”

Most pubs like this one were typically affiliated with a Guild.

That’s why it was common sense for disputes to end quietly.

“Tch, I’ll let it slide. Just give me some of your disgusting food.”

“…This guy just asks for a beating with every word.”

Also, while the taste wasn’t guaranteed, you could get a hearty meal at a cheap price, and the alcohol and coffee were inexpensive too, so it was disadvantageous to be on bad terms with the pub owner.

Knowing this, the carpenter offered an apology with a tip, and people, facing the entertainment that ended in an instant, drank their flat, cheap lager with disappointment.

Amidst all this commotion, on the third-floor lounge of the pub—where one could enjoy a drink in comfort if they paid enough—two people were sharing drinks.

Or more precisely…

“Where do you think you’re drinking?”

“B-but I’m an adult!”

“You may be an adult, but don’t you know that Academy students are prohibited from drinking and merrymaking until graduation? You’ve got some nerve trying to break school rules in front of an instructor.”

“…That’s too harsh.”

Only the man ordered alcohol, while the timid young man had to sip orange juice with a dejected face.

Having juice when alcohol was right in front of him—nothing could be more pitiful—

“—Huh? This is delicious?”

His dejected expression didn’t last long as he found the orange juice refreshing and cool.

In other words, it was tastier than he had imagined.

Wasn’t this place supposed to sell only cheap stuff?

The man, Ihan, looked at his surprised expression with a smirk and said:

“The good thing about this pub is that if you pay enough, they give you quite decent items. The ingredients used in that orange juice are specially sourced from the south, making it quite unique. You can’t drink alcohol, but it should be enough to satisfy your craving.”

“That’s amazing.”

“The kingdom’s food culture is quite good, which is why the alcohol is especially delicious. Make sure to try it after you graduate.”

“…*gulp*”

“Kid, so you’re a drinker after all.”

Contrary to appearances, he seemed to know the taste of alcohol.

Well, it’s not unusual for someone who can’t properly express their inner thoughts to relieve stress with alcohol.

‘Should I have let him have one drink?’

…Hmm, no. This is the right approach.

Both he and that kid had positions to maintain.

It’s better not to do anything that could be criticized from the start.

Ihan firmly suppressed his weakening resolve and downed his ale.

The rich aroma and depth of barley.

They used high-quality barley and didn’t dilute it, making it exceptionally flavorful.

It was easily five times more delicious than the beer he used to drink in his previous life.

‘I don’t know about other things, but the kingdom really makes good beer.’

Indeed, the ale properly aged in oak barrels was excellent.

“I prefer ale to lager after all.”

Though it had less refreshing quality than lager, it had a subtle fruity aroma that made Ihan prefer ale.

Well, either way, they were worth the money.

“Aren’t you overdoing it? The third-floor lounge must be quite expensive, and the menu items must cost a lot too…”

“But it’s worth it. It’s quiet, and you can eat delicious food.”

Unlike the first and second floors, the third floor was somewhat expensive, but it was worth the price.

If they had drunk on the first or second floor, they would have ruined their palates with lukewarm, watered-down beer.

It’s better to spend a bit more for something good.

“Two things I don’t skimp on are equipment and food. So eat heartily. It’s my treat today.”

“…I’ll eat with gratitude.”

“No need for gratitude, I’m buying because I’m thankful.”

“Haha….”

Derrick awkwardly laughed, feeling uncomfortable with Ihan treating him so well.

He knew it was a way of expressing gratitude for making the potion, so it was hard to refuse.

Honestly, he desperately wanted to go home and sleep, but…

‘This isn’t so bad.’

The food, the atmosphere.

It wasn’t bad at all.

He rarely had such leisure in his busy life.

“Come on, order whatever you want. My wallet is full today.”

“…Then, just a few more.”

“Sure, sure.”

He felt a warm gaze.

A gaze that seemed satisfied just watching him eat.

Derrick, facing this honey-dripping gaze, felt that Ihan was quite grateful to him.

Was the potion that pleasing?

‘I-I did put effort into it.’

As the one who made the potion, he felt both satisfied and embarrassed.

He had only done his best to repay a debt of gratitude, but—

“—Haha.”

Flinch…!!

In that moment, Derrick trembled, feeling a chill.

‘W-what’s this?’

When his eyes met with the man who was laughing contentedly, an indescribable chill ran down his spine.

The thief skill [Danger Sense] was sending desperate warning signals…!

It felt like meeting the eyes of a predator eyeing its prey, and Derrick recalled having felt a similar sensation somewhere before.

‘W-where have I felt this before?’

A reception that didn’t just convey gratitude, but seemed to have some ulterior motive.

Amidst the uneasiness, he tried to recall the memory lurking in a corner of his mind.

‘…Ah.’

And suddenly he remembered.

When he had felt this sensation before.

It was when he had become a private first class in his previous life…

‘W-when the Sergeant Major took me to a rib restaurant and asked if I wanted to become a specialist…!?’

*drip*…!

Derrick suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

…Somehow, it felt like he had voluntarily walked into a tiger’s den.

‘T-thank goodness I can’t drink alcohol.’

Derrick was relieved that he couldn’t drink alcohol.

Because there was a possibility of escaping from a situation where he might have been swallowed by the tiger’s den.

Meanwhile, the instructor who had been harboring intentions of how to use him as an assistant…

‘This timid kid, rolling his eyeballs around like he’s planning to escape… Tsk, he’s caught on.’

…Anyway.

‘This is why I don’t like perceptive kids….’

The instructor was disappointed!

* * *

…Though there might have been a dubious(?) purpose, the food was delicious regardless.

Gambas, quality octopus dishes, roast beef, and other meat dishes.

It was undeniably high-quality and delicious food and appetizers that one wouldn’t expect from a pub.

However, Ihan only drank two ales and didn’t go for a third.

When asked why someone who looked like he could empty an entire oak barrel only drank two glasses:

“Alcohol is just for light enjoyment. Besides, I don’t have anyone to drink heavily with, so two glasses are enough.”

“…Hmm.”

A reasonable answer.

The young man, steeped in a culture of drinking by the crate, made a curious expression.

…Seeing his more wholesome side than expected, he once again doubted if this man was from his homeland.

‘H-he can’t really be a martial artist, right?’

Thinking that would make him too much of a hybrid, Derrick swallowed hard.

“Why are you eating so hesitantly? Eat up, eat up.”

“…A-yes.”

Seeing him fuss and encourage eating like this, he did seem like someone from his homeland…

‘…No, that’s just my imagination too.’

Derrick admitted he was being overly sensitive to all of the man’s actions.

Someone he might be meeting for the first time… someone who might be in a similar ‘position’ as him.

Hence, he was trying to attach meaning to even the smallest actions out of excitement.

It was a disease.

A disease called [Overthinking].

‘Let’s not read too much into it right now.’

Even if he were from his homeland, their current positions wouldn’t change.

If he were to openly show signs of being from his homeland and reveal his true feelings first, that would be different, but that wasn’t the case.

…And he didn’t have the courage to reveal his true feelings first.

At times like this, he really disliked his own personality.

‘Why am I so frustrating?’

Derrick made a dejected face.

“…You’re quite the entertainer by yourself.”

“!?!!”

“Worrying, furrowing your brow, and suddenly looking dejected… Someone might suspect you of schizophrenia.”

“N-no, it’s not like that!”

“Don’t deny it, your current state is exactly like early-stage schizophrenia. If there’s something dangerous, tell me, and I’ll give the back of your head a good smack as your instructor.”

“…Wouldn’t that burst my head and kill me…?”

“I’m confident in controlling my strength. I’ll just fix your head.”

“…Even if I develop schizophrenia, I’d rather go to the temple.”

Derrick was sincere.

Rather than believing in folk remedies, he’d just trust the temple.

“Well, if you’re fine, that’s good, but if your mind is complicated, sometimes sharing with others can be a solution. You can consult with me as your instructor, or it might be good to share with your girlfriend.”

“K-Karin and I are not like that!”

“…I didn’t specifically point to Pororo?”

“!!?”

“Hmm, I should moderate the salt-rubbing in front of a single person. My fist might become a means of punishment rather than treatment.”

“I-it’s really not like that…”

Trailing off, Derrick expressed his sincerity, but the man didn’t seem to believe him, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.

Realizing that one of his weaknesses had been caught, Derrick couldn’t help but look dejected.

At that moment.

“-Still, what I just said is sincere. If your mind is complicated, it’s good to have someone to share with. I don’t recommend suffering alone too much.”

“……”

The man’s sincere advice.

It wasn’t advice given by someone who had lived a bit longer, but advice based on experience from someone who had lived a similar life before him…

That’s what Derrick thought.

That’s how deeply it resonated with him.

Truly…

‘What kind of person was he?’

Derrick blinked, finding it curious that he was so interested in someone else’s past.

…Meanwhile, unaware of Derrick’s curiosity about his past, Ihan narrowed his eyes as he took a sip of water.

‘Tsk, I won’t be able to come to this shop anymore.’

Ihan shook his head, sensing the presences densely filling the first and second floors.

Some might think it’s just a popular place with many customers, or that he dislikes crowded places.

But that wasn’t why he was thinking of changing his regular spot.

‘It’s full of rats.’

Half of the noisy people on the first and second floors.

From each of them, he sensed an awkwardness.

From those deliberately picking fights with the shop owner to those talking unnaturally loudly—there were quite a lot of them.

And all of them were focusing their attention on his movements, listening intently.

Wasn’t there a saying that daytime words are heard by birds, and nighttime words by rats?

These were exactly the rats practicing that.

‘…How annoying.’

He had wanted to have a serious conversation with the kid today.

With alcohol in the mix, he had been prepared to delve deeply into topics like ‘this world setting,’ or even ‘past life’ or ‘possession.’

That’s why he had spent money to secure a spot in the lounge…

‘I won’t be able to talk freely anywhere for a while.’

In the current state, he shouldn’t talk freely anywhere.

Even at home, he couldn’t be at ease.

Among informants, there might be [Mystery Holders], and he had heard of mysteries that could borrow the ears of sparrows or cats.

‘So this is why attention is scary.’

With Ihan’s reputation growing the previous day, interest in him had likely increased.

Hence, the number of people trying to figure him out in such a pathetic way had grown.

And he could roughly guess who these people trying to test him were.

‘Information Guild.’

Further, he suspected it might be the [Guild Union] that had stepped in.

Tap tap.

Ihan lightly tapped the table, pondering.

Wondering what to do with these pathetic individuals.

‘…Should I rough them up?’

He did need a practical test anyway.

It would be good to check how much his body condition had changed by engaging in some knife work.

Ihan subtly focused on the feel of the hand axe he had tucked inside.

A sensitive sense that kept his tactile awareness heightened, ready to draw it at any moment.

As his aura was about to surge…

“…Huh?”

─He blinked at the unexpected appearance of a figure.

He wondered if his senses were mistaken, but unfortunately, his senses boasted performance like a drug-sniffing dog that could distinguish scents from 3km away.

Thus, he blankly opened his mouth at the appearance of a figure that didn’t fit this pub at all.

“…Gomsun?”

His pupils shook.

Levi Polte.

Sensing the presence of the honor student girl, Ihan was rarely caught off guard.