Chapter 174: Funeral (6)

The coffin was departing.

The walls of the building we’d grown fond of, the special biscuits we’d eaten like snacks, and the grand resonance unique to the domed building were now farewells. We watched the coffin drift away from the balcony, wrapping our arms around each other.

Immediately after the elf commotion ended, the funeral concluded its proceedings peacefully, as if nothing had happened. There was a speech contest where Fabian called out names, with people claiming how much they respected or cherished him, and others who, trying to appeal to Wolf that they were truly sad, squeezed out forced tears until they passed out.

The funeral might have been very satisfactory for Wolf, but it was concluding in a form that made one doubt if Fabian had truly wanted this. Brilliant light reflected off the coffin, shining upon us. There were many words to describe the funeral, but all those events could be summarized in one phrase.

It passed in the blink of an eye. The elaborate ceremony tailored to grand formality, the dirges sung in unison by the people, the priests coming forward, sprinkling holy water, casting holy magic, and chanting blessings – everything flashed by like an arrow.

Except for one moment when our attention was stolen by an elf, our gazes were constantly fixed on No. 5. Seeing a person die wasn’t that novel an experience, but strangely, it felt intensely unfamiliar.

No. 5’s body was drifting far away with the crowd, yet we were still thinking about No. 5’s corpse. The face, sleeping as if dead, wouldn’t leave my memory. Taffy stroked my back and said.

“No. 5. You’ve grown so much.”

“Idiot. No. 5 was older than you originally.”

“Still, it’s strange. No. 5 changed like that. Their childhood face remains. And they’re not moving, eyes closed.”

“Right. Strange.”

It was truly strange. An indescribable, strange feeling filled my chest, making it impossible to breathe. I nodded, echoing her words.

“So strange.”

The sound of cannons boomed in the distance. It was the sound of cannons firing to mourn the dead. We leaned into the sound, leisurely closing our eyes.

Now that the funeral was over, it was time to go back. Taffy and I walked towards the city gates as if it was obvious we had to return. At the city gates, where the funeral events had ended, there were no priests; the soldiers were letting departing people pass with lazy expressions.

They were strict with those entering, but letting people leave was merely a flick of the wrist, like shooing away the summer heat.

“Pass. Pass. Pass.”

Watching them repeatedly say ‘pass’ and send people out, like clockwork mechanisms, made me chuckle. Taffy heard my laugh and asked.

“Evan. Did you have a happy thought?”

“Seeing that person working so carelessly made me laugh.”

Taffy listened, glanced at the guard once, then nodded and looked back at me. Then she gave me a bright smile. That expression was mechanical too, which made me laugh again. Taffy tilted her head as if she didn’t understand why I was laughing, and I patted her head, saying.

“Before we go, should we grab a quick bite? We can at least eat a meal, right? They say there are lots of delicious restaurants in the capital.”

Taffy’s eyes sparkled upon hearing my suggestion.

“I like meat.”

I agreed with her and pointed to a nearby restaurant. The restaurant proudly displayed a large drawing of meat on its sign, showcasing its specialty.

“Right. Meat is the best.”

Taffy’s eyes sparkled just looking at the sign, and I patted her back, saying.

“Let’s go! For meat!”

The smell of greasy meat and smoke rising as oil hit the firewood. The walls, thoroughly coated in grease, glistened, and people were sweating profusely while tearing into steaming legs of meat. From burly men to wealthy folks, everyone was sweating it out in front of their own personal grills.

“Wow, the capital really is different.”

“Evan. Let’s live in the capital.”

Taffy said, her eyes shining. I chuckled at her outlandish remark, patted her head, and asked.

“But is it okay for vampires to eat meat?”

“We can eat it.”

Taffy said, shaking her head vigorously. With her confident answer, I found a table and sat down. Looking around, there were quite a few pairs of men and women, like us, enjoying meat. Taffy looked around with me, then suddenly pulled out a chair and moved it next to mine.

And looking towards the kitchen in the distance, there was an elf arguing with the restaurant owner. Orange hair tied back, a slender waist, and long, straight legs. I remembered that elf.

“No, I mean! They said they’d let me go if I returned to the elf forest! I dropped my wallet at the funeral!”

The owner, a man with a mustache, shook his head dismissively and shouted.

“No, I mean. An elf famous enough to attend the funeral of the Hero Fabian-nim, saying they can’t pay because they don’t have a wallet? Bullshit! Huh? If you don’t have a wallet or money, why are you here eating meat? Huh? Aren’t elves supposed to eat greens?”

The elf said with a look of utter frustration.

“I told you, they’ll give it to me when I get back to the forest. If I were going to run, I would have just run, don’t you see that they asked me to write down my address here? Do I really look like some kind of deadbeat elf?”

“No! I mean! Forget the elf forest stuff! You must know someone here, right? Tell them to get the money for me through that acquaintance! Huh? Don’t you understand? If you were invited to Fabian-nim’s funeral! Someone must have invited you!”

The owner yelled louder, clearly unwilling to back down. Though his voice was muffled by the sizzling meat, I could see people nearby starting to murmur and turn their heads. The elf, blushing, rolled her eyes and said.

“No, well……. I can’t……. I can’t call any acquaintances here due to circumstances……. They, uh, they’re busy.”

The owner scoffed at the elf’s words.

“Right! They must be busy! Of course, they’re busy! Everyone’s busy! Why don’t you wait here until those ‘busy’ people have some free time! Anyway! You’re not leaving until you pay up!”

“No……! Really, uh……. Ah……!”

The elf let out a series of strange noises with a frustrated expression before finally burying her head on the kitchen table in resignation. Watching her scratch her orange hair and show her irritation, I snorted. Taffy asked.

“That elf. Went to the funeral. Why doesn’t the owner know her?”

“The funeral was only open to nobles and invited guests. The mourners are all watching Fabian’s burial right now. It takes time for rumors to spread.”

“So. Is that elf waiting around until then?”

I pondered. It wasn’t my business if some unknown elf couldn’t pay and got embarrassed, but seeing as she came to offer flowers to Fabian, she seemed to have been quite close to him. The elf was muttering things like ‘Ah, shit’ and ‘This can’t get out,’ constantly looking around, her eyes fixed on the entrance with longing.

“……What should we do?”

“Evan. Should we help that woman?”

If she was Fabian’s acquaintance, we couldn’t just leave her here as a freeloader. She could have been Fabian’s ex-girlfriend, or perhaps an assassin who worked with him on some mission.

“Let’s help. Seeing her lay flowers at the funeral, she seems like someone No. 5 knew.”

Taffy looked at me quizzically, then nodded at the mention of knowing No. 5.

“Ah……. Shit, I need to leave quickly before I come back.”

The elf was stamping her foot, looking anxious. The owner glared at the elf, his face practically steaming with anger. I tapped the counter with my finger to call the owner.

“Oh my, yes. How can I help you!”

The owner approached me with a bright smile. I pointed at the elf and said.

“I’ll pay for the meal that elf had too.”

The owner’s eyes widened upon hearing I’d pay for the elf’s meal. He looked at me, then asked.

“Huh? Oh, are you perhaps an acquaintance?”

Too lazy to explain, I nodded and replied.

“Yes.”

I returned to our table. Taffy stroked my hair and said.

“Evan. Good deed. Well done.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I bowed my head slightly and smiled at Taffy, who smiled back contentedly. The owner went to the elf and told her we had paid. The elf looked at us with a flustered expression, then back at the owner, looking bewildered as she headed towards the exit.

I tore into my meat without making eye contact with her. No thanks were necessary. What use is an elf? Eating delicious meat with pretty Taffy, that’s sex.

“Um……”

But it seemed our connection wasn’t so flimsy after all. When we came out looking satisfied after our meal, the elf was waiting for us in front of the restaurant door. She was fidgeting, glancing around nervously, looking quite cute.

I asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“No. I just wanted to say thank you.”

“Ah, yes.”

She might be Fabian’s woman. No matter how much of an incubus I was, taking in my friend’s woman was against the code. Judging by her appearance, she seemed quite sharp-tempered and not easily swayed. I nodded appropriately and tried to leave the city gates with Taffy.

“Wait, just a moment!”

But she called out to me once more.

What the? Is she actually a fucking easy one?

I turned my head, feeling confused, and the elf, covering her face with her top, said in a small voice.

“……I, I don’t have money for the trip back… could you lend me some?”

Fuck.

Did she sense something from my expression? The elf said urgently.

“If you write down my address, I’ll pay you back! I, I’m not a scammer! Really, I lost my wallet while laying flowers at the funeral…!”

What kind of bitch is this, really.