Chapter 106

“Well, still…”

“Or, are you telling me to sleep in the same room as your friend? Really, would that be okay?”

Freide smirked and added a comment.

Milia’s face turned as red as a tomato, then quickly paled.

Perhaps the story of the son-in-law she had told before came to mind.

“That’s…! No way.”

It was a very firm tone for Milia.

And so, the room assignments were ultimately decided according to me and Freide’s wishes.

Damien turned to the innkeeper.

“Two double rooms, please. How much is it?”

“40 silver. It’s a bit pricey, but dinner is on the house. I’ll bring it to your room.”

“That’s fine, we already ate outside.”

Freide suddenly interrupted.

“Hmm… Why not try it as a late-night snack? Our inn’s stew is quite famous for its taste.”

Freide, stroking her chin and pondering for a moment, eventually nodded in agreement.

“Tsk… If it’s not tasty, I’ll have a word with you tomorrow.”

“Looks like I’ll be getting a hefty thank you tomorrow!”

The innkeeper burst into a hearty laugh.

—

On the second floor of the inn, four rooms were lined up in a row.

The old wooden floor creaked incessantly, and traces of rot were visible here and there.

The smell of mold, a fishy stench of decay, and the musty air filled with old straw and sweat.

I’d rather camp outside than spend time in such a place for 40 silver.

My room and Freide’s were located at opposite corners, quite a distance apart.

Just before opening the door to enter, Freide approached me and whispered in my ear.

“I think you know, but don’t even touch the stew. And don’t fall into a deep sleep.”

Her voice was icy cold.

Even if she hadn’t said it, I had no intention of eating it anyway.

I nodded and entered the room.

“…The smell.”

I immediately frowned.

“I don’t really notice it. Maybe it’s because you, Hashelle, have a sensitive nose.”

Damien replied nonchalantly.

No, it’s you who’s insensitive. The stench is overwhelming.

The room was somewhat tidied up, supposedly for an inn.

A spacious bed against one wall had a freshly washed white sheet over straw, and the wooden floor, though stained here and there, was free of trash or dust.

Opposite was a small fireplace with a table and wooden chairs, and the outer wall had a wooden window with a latch.

But the smell, oh the smell.

A fishy, long-rotted stench, especially from the bed.

Thinking about what might have happened there… I really don’t feel like lying down.

“What about washing up?”

“I’m fine. Freide and Milia probably won’t wash either.”

There must be a bathing area somewhere in the inn.

There was a well outside and a room with the sound of water.

But judging by the inn’s vibe, there’s probably a peephole somewhere.

I set my bag down on the floor, moved a chair to the window, sat down, opened the window, lit a cigarette, and waited.

Until the innkeeper brought the stew he boasted about.

Damien glanced at me, then sat in another chair, idly passing the time.

“…Want to try one? It’s quite fragrant.”

“No, I’m good.”

Seeing him sitting blankly, looking quite bored, I subtly offered my cigarette pack, but Damien, seemingly thoughtless, immediately declined.

Why does everyone dislike such a good thing?

I exhaled the smoke deeply out the window.

From here, the village’s scenery was visible at a glance.

A small rural village, perhaps about ten households. The villagers didn’t seem to number more than fifty.

There didn’t seem to be any farmland, so perhaps they didn’t farm.

In the village center, small shops clustered together, mostly run by middle-aged men.

The innkeeper was also a middle-aged man.

Actually, since entering the village, I hadn’t seen any women.

Thinking about it, there were no old people, middle-aged, young, or even children—all were men.

Hmm.

I think I know why.

I smiled coldly as I looked down at the village.

—

Knock knock.

“May I come in?”

A heavy knock and the innkeeper’s voice echoed through the hallway.

Damien looked at me.

After covering my face again, I nodded.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and the innkeeper appeared holding a wooden tray.

From the stew bowl on the tray, warm steam rose.

“Here, our inn’s famous stew. Just leave the bowl outside the door when you’re done, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

As Damien took the tray, the innkeeper smiled again, closed the door, and left.

After confirming the innkeeper’s presence had disappeared, I spoke to Damien, who was contemplating whether to eat the stew.

“That stew. Are you going to eat it?”

“I’m a bit full, but… since they went through the trouble of bringing it, wouldn’t it be polite to eat it?”

Is this guy serious?

“Sigh… You should never wander around alone. Not even with Milia.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Listen carefully. That stew—”

I explained the reason to Damien. And how to deal with it.

At first, Damien was skeptical, but… he eventually nodded in understanding.

—

And then, night fell.

Damien was lying on the floor in a sleeping bag, looking all dramatic with his eyes closed, while I waited, sprawled on the bed with a blanket laid out.

I couldn’t bring myself to just lie down on that bed, though.

Outside the door, I left an empty stew bowl.

Around 2 a.m., a faint creaking sound echoed. Just as I expected.

I heightened my senses to detect the movements outside. Nine people.

Yep. Three per woman. Efficient, huh?

Six men headed toward Freide’s room, while the other three came this way.

I could hear their hushed whispers.

“Did they finish eating?”

“Acting all coy when they’re gonna eat it anyway. I thought we’d have to drug the white-haired one if she refused again.”

“I haven’t even seen this one’s face. Are the guys going to the other side the only ones getting lucky? Over there, both of them are just…”

“Idiot, the ones who hide their faces are usually the prettiest when you uncover them.”

“Both of you, shut up. I’m opening the door.”

Sigh… Seriously, bothering us in the middle of the night.

I was just trying to get some decent sleep, and now this.

The door slid open. Even though it was latched, it was clearly fake from the start.

Three men entered the room.

The middle-aged guy who sold dried meat, the innkeeper who offered stew, and the young man who acted like a guard.

All of them were men I’d seen in the village during the day.

“What’s this? Why’s this guy sleeping on the floor?”

“Probably a servant. Is that important right now?”

“No, but this woman’s weird too…? She’s got a blanket on the bed, and she’s still wearing that cloth thing while sleeping. And there’s something… unsettling…”

“Like I said, is that important, you idiot? Let’s just deal with this guy and get a good look at her face.”

The young guard drew his knife and approached Damien, while the other two came toward me.

Guess they even have a system for this kind of thing.

“Don’t you feel stuffy like this? Let me help you out.”

The innkeeper, cracking jokes, reached for my face and yanked off the veil.

Our eyes met.

“Guhhhh!”

The innkeeper screamed like he’d seen a ghost.

“Thanks for the help. Honestly, it was getting a bit stuffy.”

I grabbed his head and squeezed. It felt like kneading a slightly frozen water balloon.

With a squelch, the innkeeper’s head turned into stew.

A bright red stew, full of meat, oozed between my fingers.

“What… what is this! A monster…!”

The middle-aged merchant, who had been reaching for me, screamed at the sight of his companion turning into stew.

A scene beyond imagination, facing something incomprehensible. His face twisted in terror.

So, I obliged.

My outstretched right hand pierced the merchant’s chest and came out the other side, clutching a fist-sized chunk of meat.

“Guhhh…!”

His heart, excited by the first taste of fresh air since birth, thumped wildly.

The bed, soaked in the blood of countless travelers and the fluids of village men, eagerly soaked up the new drink.

The two middle-aged men lay side by side, trembling.

Literally bowing their heads.

The smell of blood mixed with ammonia began to fill the air.

Oh right, my blanket…!

I looked down at the blanket I’d forgotten about, now soaked in blood, brain matter, and even urine. It was worse than a rag.

…Whatever. I’ll find something better when I ransack the village.

I wiped the blood off my body with the clean part of the blanket and got up from the bed.

“Ha-shal-leur, you were right. Damn. I almost got into big trouble.”

Damien, who had slit the guard’s throat after taking his knife, approached.

“See? I told you. Never trust guys in a rural inn who offer you food.”

Most of them drug the food, kill the men, rape the women, and sell them as slaves.

They’d sell all the equipment too.

Seeing there were no women in the village… it’s clear the whole village was in on it.

“Is Milia okay?”

“Freide knew, so she’ll be fine.”

I understood why Freide reluctantly accepted the stew after refusing it once. It’s easier to pretend to fall for it and counterattack at night.

If she’d refused the stew outright, they’d have probably used sleep incense, like they were gossiping about.

Sure enough, horrific screams started coming from down the hall.

Freide’s so brutal. Savage, even. Why can’t she just finish things quietly and neatly like us?

I dusted off my hands and headed to Freide’s room.

I didn’t need to help, but I figured I’d watch the show.