Chapter 48 – Master and Disciple (8)
After following the twin sisters, the building they arrived at is the Adventurer’s Guild. To be more precise, it is a bar/restaurant area belonging to a guild.
Even though it is midday when the sun is rising high, the impatient writers are drinking without caring about it day or night, so the atmosphere is quite lively.
It was difficult to tell whether they were adventurers belonging to a guild or simply drunkards. They were busy exaggerating their adventure stories as if they were in their own world or sharing obscenities, and the smell of alcohol mixed with side dishes placed on each table stimulated their noses.
The adventurer’s guild tends to be crowded with adventurers in the morning when they start the day or in the evening when they return from a mission, but even though it was lunchtime, the restaurant area was almost half full.
The four of them, seated at a round table for four, greeted the familiar adventurers appropriately while passing them by, chatting for a while before the food they ordered was served.
“I couldn’t believe it because the direction I was going gradually overlapped with the adventurer’s guild, but I didn’t know that they would really bring me here.”
“I guess you didn’t use the restaurant attached to the guild while you were living in this city?”
“Right now, it’s a bit better, but personally, I don’t like the overly noisy atmosphere like the adventurer’s guild in the morning or evening.”
“It’s a typical Assassin’s remark. Mr. Roden.”
Even though she chatted excitedly with Roxy about her success in magic a moment ago, Merim, who listened to the conversation between her brother and Roden, voiced a nasty voice. Roden pretended not to hear and continued speaking calmly.
“And in my experience, the food served at the tavern attached to the guild wasn’t very promising.”
For Roden, the tavern connected to the adventurer’s guild… It is just a space where adventurers whose wallets are rich after receiving the commission fee exist only to eat and drink while bragging to their partners around them, providing only enough food to serve as a side dish for drinking.
“Don’t worry about the taste. We also stopped by adventurers’ guilds in various cities before staying here, but at least the food served here doesn’t feel like a waste of money.”
Speaking so confidently, Roden and Roxia, who had never tasted the food here before, had a subtle curiosity and anticipation at the same time.
“Oh, it’s out!”
Soon after, a yellow stew made mainly of corn, two pieces of large grilled chicken legs, and an additional fresh salad were placed in their respective seats.
The two people who visited this place for the first time were amazed at the taste that exceeded expectations.
“It’s the first time I’ve eaten here with my uncle, and it’s delicious.”
“That’s why it feels like eating at a normal restaurant rather than an adventurer’s guild.”
The salad was average, but the corn stew was savory and sweet. In particular, the light taste of the well-grilled chicken legs was excellent.
“I heard that the chef who works in our guild used to work at a high-class restaurant in the capital.”
“Well, it’s a simple rumor with no basis whatsoever. By the way, Marill, did anything interesting happen during this request?”
Marill slowly continued her meal, but as soon as she heard Merim’s question, she began to release what she had been through the previous day that popped into her head.
“Hmm… Actually, yesterday, I, Junoa, and the captain. When the three of us went deep into the mountains to find targets to subjugate, Junoa, who was scouting, said that he smelled of humans and orcs a little far away, right?”
“Yep.”
“So we thought someone was being attacked by an orc, so the three of us made an agreement and ran towards it, and as Junoa said, humans and orcs were together.”
Not only Merim, but Roden and Roxia, who were opposite her, were also focusing on her story.
“If you look carefully, you can see that they were walking around holding each other’s hands tightly, right? That… Like a couple. By the way, humans are male and orcs are female.”
Upon hearing the story, Merim and Roxia were shocked with a feeling similar to getting soaked by pouring cold water over their heads, while Roden, who had vaguely guessed it, kept her silence inside with a prick in her heart.
“Hey, supporters! If you’re going to lie, you have to make it more plausible.”
“No, no, no. Really, really. If in doubt, ask Junoa and the captain later.”
“…Really?”
“It’s true. I tried to talk to you about the situation, but I don’t know the details because the two of us ran away deep in the mountains.”
When she thought about it, she realized that her sister had neither the personality to lie about things like this nor the talent for words.
“I’ve heard a few stories of humans dating beastmen or demons or becoming husband and wife, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a man who said he could become an orc. You can eat that as a side dish for the rest of your life. I should have watched it too.”
“…Huh. Now that I’ve come this far, I’ll put in a little request and come back.”
On the other hand, Roden, who was subtly uncomfortable listening to the conversation, got up and walked towards the reception counter.
Roxia, who was silently looking at her master’s back, turned her head to her to confirm the words her Merim had casually spoken a moment ago.
“Merim unnie, do demons and humans ever get along?”
“Huh, since you’re a woman in your prime, you’re naturally interested in these things, right? It’s not common, but there are. What’s that? There’s a saying that if you love each other, the differences between races are trivial.”
“…Okay…”
Hearing her master’s answer, the girl nodded her head, but was lost in her deep thoughts about love between different races. After a while, they finished eating with Roden, who was seated at the table again, and came out.
“I ate well. Marill.”
“I didn’t know until now, but the food here is pretty good. Thanks to you, I had a good meal.”
Roden and Roxia, who were walking side by side with her twin sister, thanked Marill in turn for paying for lunch this time.
“It’s fortunate that both of them seem to like our guild food. I’ve been indebted to Mr. Roden lately, so I wanted to take this opportunity to treat him to something.”
“It’s just that I’m letting you know in my spare time, so it’s okay not to care so much… Anyway, what are you going to be doing until Merim’s class ends?”
“I’m resting at the inn where I usually stay, and I’m thinking of going back to the store to pick you up. Mr. Roden, can you teach me today?”
Roden nodded her head, gave her her affirmation, and at the same time handed her an offer.
“If you’re going to visit again anyway, why don’t you go back with us like this? You can wash up and rest in an empty room if you want.”
Roden looked at Marill, who was hesitant to answer her, thinking it might be a nuisance.
“Aren’t you still tired from camping outside the day before? To learn properly later, you should rest a bit more comfortably.”
“…Thank you for caring. Excuse me then.”
In this way, the four people who acted together when entering the city center returned to the store as they did just a moment ago.
* * *
Closing the shop door at the right time as the customers left, Roden led Marill, who had been waiting beside her, into her backyard, where Marill immediately drew her weapon and took a stand.
Roden dealt with her with only one of her wooden swords, just like the day before. In terms of results alone, Marill’s sword did not reach Roden even today, but her overall movement has become sharper and more stable.
“I’m really happy to see you get better every time you teach me. You have the guts, you.”
His natural talent itself is better than that of an ordinary adventurer, but unlike his appearance, he has good strength and tenacity, so he has a taste for teaching.
Roden, who had never taught someone swordsmanship so carefully before, felt a great sense of accomplishment watching Marill improve every time he was taught.
“Hee-euk… Ugh…!”
Marill, sprawled on her ground, was breathing heavily as she nodded to Roden, replacing her thanks.
After a while. Just before leaving the store, the twin sisters were greeting two people standing in front of the door. Roden approached Merim and handed her a small purse.
“Now, yesterday’s and today’s tutoring expenses. Good job.”
“…Uncle Roden is also teaching Maril swordsmanship, but I’m the only one who pays for tutoring every time, so I’m a bit sorry.”
“Well, it’s just that I teach her from time to time when I have free time, so don’t worry too much about it. If her conscience pricks you a lot, give it back.”
“Ahaha, when the old man said that, my feelings of apology completely disappeared.”
Merim put the money bag she received from Roden into her arms with her wry smile and waved her hand to Roxia, who was clinging close to him, saying see you next time.
“Thank you for teaching me today, Mr. Roden. See you next time.”
“Yes. Both of you, go inside carefully.”
Having regained her composure, she thanked Roden again, and then, with her sister, headed through her town, to the inn.
The twins were talking to each other halfway through their walk, and Roden’s name kept popping out of Marill’s mouth dozens of times.
“So, Mr. Roden…”
Even when his name popped up, Merim smiled involuntarily, and as she watched Marill blush, Merim felt complicated.
Ha… , I knew it would end up like this. This support is also Roden oppa…
The twin sister, who had recently seen Marill’s first love’s face in the mirror several times whenever she talked to Roden or mentioned his name, was curious to know what feelings her sister had for Roden. I became confident about
She suffered from heartache for a while, but when she arrived at the inn she usually stayed at, she opened her mouth with a heavy heart.
“Maril.”
“Huh?”
“You like Mr. Roden, don’t you?”
Marill, who blinked for a while at Merim’s sudden fastball,
“…!!”
She nodded her head with difficulty as she covered her face, her heat rising like a boiling kettle.
