Chapter 26: No Need to Worry About Tomorrow

The city of Munhel, Holy Imperium

With a population of 200,000, situated between the Bohemian region and Benetsa as a transportation hub, and the hometown of Emperor Mattis, this place possessed a scale and power second to no other city within the Holy Imperium.

In the very sense of the word, a well-established location steeped in history and tradition.

At the heart of this vast city stood a renowned tavern.

Named Kascheit, it was one of the empire’s preeminent breweries, with a superstitious belief that those who tasted its beer could never forget its flavor.

A place of outstanding reputation, backed by its exceptional brews.

As such, it was always bustling with people, its interior raucous with patrons drinking and unburdening themselves of the day’s woes.

A vibrant atmosphere, separate from the continent’s turbulent circumstances.

And at the center of it all was a woman deftly serving mugs of beer with practiced movements, as she had countless times before.

Clad in a maid’s attire, her hands carried several heavy beer mugs as she effortlessly navigated between the tables.

Her voluminous, slightly tied red hair, coupled with ruby-like red eyes and a remarkably beautiful complexion, was complemented by a radiant smile as she placed the mugs before the customers.

“Here you go! Your ordered beers have arrived!”

Her voice, brimming with energy and warmth that seemed to brighten the very atmosphere, prompted the customers receiving their beers to feel a sense of relief from the day’s stresses as they eagerly accepted their drinks.

“Much appreciated. I shall savor it.”

“Please, call if you need anything else.”

After delivering the remaining mugs to the other patrons with swift movements, her energetic demeanor allowed the customers to momentarily set aside their troubles and complexities, surrendering themselves to the pure enjoyment of the moment.

Undoubtedly, she was the driving force behind the tavern’s lively ambiance.

Once her hands were free of mugs, she promptly returned to the counter to retrieve the next round of orders – beverages and appetizers.

“Polena, could you take these to table number five, please?”

“Yes, of course!”

Responding with her characteristic vibrant tone, the woman named Polena swiftly carried the food and drinks to the designated table.

Shortly after, Polena arrived at table number five, where a pair of customers – a man dressed as a traveler and a woman donning the attire of a holy knight – awaited.

“Here you go, young guests! Your ordered food and drinks have arrived.”

As always, Polena addressed them with her upbeat, effervescent manner.

However…

“…”

“Thank you.”

The man remained silent, while the woman responded in a subdued tone, contrasting with Polena’s words, which could have brought a smile to the face of someone on their deathbed.

Tilting her head slightly, yet maintaining her ever-present smile, Polena remarked to them.

“My, my… It seems you two have some troubles weighing on your minds? To wear such gloomy expressions while enjoying drinks at this fine establishment.”

“…Haah…”

“…Yes… We have certain circumstances…”

In response to Polena’s words, the man heaved a heavy sigh, while the woman spoke with a tinge of bitterness.

Retaining her bright smile, Polena glanced at them and inquired.

“Is that so? What circumstances could possibly cause a dashing knight and a lovely lady such as yourselves to appear so dejected? If you don’t mind sharing, this Polena might be able to offer some counsel.”

Having worked at this establishment for some time, Polena’s role extended beyond merely serving food and beverages – she also aimed to uplift the ambiance.

Throughout her tenure, she had lent an ear to countless patrons’ woes, striving to bring at least a fleeting smile to their faces during their time at the tavern, a source of satisfaction for her.

To Polena, this somber pair, the sole individuals maintaining a gloomy atmosphere amidst the smiling, lively crowd during these tumultuous times, presented an irresistible ‘target’.

“Come now, do share. As the old saying goes, ‘A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved.’ If you have troubles weighing on your mind, it might help to voice them freely.”

Polena spoke with an infectious smile, her demeanor suggesting she would persist until they opened up.

Realizing this, and guided by her words about venting their frustrations to someone, the two of them reluctantly began to speak.

However, the content they shared contained elements far graver than Polena had anticipated.

As we poured out our pent-up feelings, the waitress Polena, who had initially exuded confidence, gradually adopted a more serious expression, tinged with discomfort – a stark contrast to her earlier lightheartedness.

“I see… So, in the end, it was Emperor Mattis.”

“Yes, which has caused much unease for travelers like ourselves.”

“…Indeed, considering the one slated to become the next emperor…”

Polena slowly nodded in acknowledgment of Cazeros’s words.

The news of the emperor’s demise was something we had only recently learned through one of Shaylok’s acquaintances.

As the official announcement and funeral proceedings were yet to take place, this information could be considered the latest development from the perspective of ordinary citizens.

However, even accounting for this, Polena’s reaction seemed far graver than we had anticipated.

In this world without the internet or newspapers, relying solely on official announcements posed clear limitations in comprehending the full implications.

The impact of Emperor Mattis’s death and the actions of his successor were matters that only well-informed merchants or nobles could realistically grasp, not the general populace.

Yet, despite being a mere tavern worker, Polena appeared cognizant of the repercussions, a fact that surprised me.

Truthfully, as we recounted the events, I had expected this tavern woman to either misunderstand or dismiss them casually.

However, contrary to my expectations, she reacted with notable gravity.

As if she had finally witnessed the inevitable unfold.

While perplexed by her demeanor, I soon recognized a plausible explanation.

‘Come to think of it, working at a tavern might actually expose her to international affairs… After all, this is a bustling place frequented by patrons from various regions, relatively facilitating the acquisition of information…’

Rationalizing the possibility, I found a way to reconcile my initial doubts.

At that moment…

“Well, but even so, honestly, what good will it do for us to agonize over it endlessly here?”

“Yeah, I suppose…”

“That is… true…”

Unexpectedly striking at the crux of the matter, her words elicited an involuntary agreement from us.

Observing our reaction, Polena continued with a radiant smile.

“Exactly. So, for now, let us drink merrily! Fretting over matters beyond our immediate control is utterly futile, is it not? If troubles do arise, we shall face them then. For the present, simply enjoy the moment and smile!”

“…Hahaha…”

“…Well, you don’t… speak falsely.”

Polena’s words, seemingly light yet surprisingly apt, disarmed us of any rebuttal.

Recognizing her persuasive manner and feeling a slight easing of the previous tension, we began to raise our mugs with faint smiles.

However…

-Bang!-

“?”

“What… was that?”

The next instant, a raucous sound erupted from outside.

Our gazes turned toward the source of the commotion, and for a fleeting moment, Polena’s previously jovial expression was replaced by a chilling demeanor.