Put It on His Tab

Iefuda forced me back into my seat and ordered a bottle of spirits from the staff.

As reluctant as I was to stay, we'd already placed our order.

Besides, there didn't seem to be any other open seats in the bar.

Might as well finish our drinks and get out.

"We kept getting interrupted, see. The scary folks in the Kingdom took notice. So I dragged myself all the way out to the Empire, and yet here we meet again."

"All the way out, huh."

"I'm a homebody, you know. Traveling far with this one wears me out."

This wasn't terribly far from the Kingdom.

It wasn't like pursuers would follow him here, but this still wasn't the kind of place someone wanted by the Kingdom could drink at ease.

Was he carefree? Reckless?

… Or did he simply trust that much in Jill, the girl by his side?

The man was truly eccentric.

One moment he was using orphans to commit theft on a systematic scale; the next, worming his way into the drug trade.

And then there was how he'd known my name from the very first time we met. That still bothered me.

"Don't give me that scary look. Right now we're just drinking in peace. I'm not gonna do anything."

"Refill."

Jill raised her plate and cup.

The server who'd just brought the bottle of spirits took her dishes with an amused smile and headed back.

Iefuda grabbed a fistful of nuts and tossed them into his mouth, crunching loudly.

"How unrefined. There's a child present, you know."

"Oh dear, a scolding from the priestess. Creator King clerics sure are uptight."

"So uptight."

"See, now she's copying you."

"Hehe. Better than how she'd turn out with the Sun God crowd."

Elza sighed. She must have decided lecturing him was pointless.

But how had he figured out she was a priestess of the Creator King faith?

Iefuda poured the liquor into a shot glass and knocked it back in one gulp.

Just the smell told me how strong it was.

A drink for burning your throat.

"Want some?"

"I'll pass. I have wine to attend to."

Our order arrived and we dug in.

Jill received another glass of milk and a heaping plate of spaghetti.

She immediately started twirling it onto her fork and shoveling it in.

… Such a small body, yet she ate so much.

Azu was the same way. Did getting stronger expand your stomach?

"Interested in this one?"

"I'm just wondering if you're fit to be her guardian."

"Guardian? Nothing so grand. We're just… collaborators."

It was a strange feeling.

We'd only ever clashed before, yet here we sat drinking side by side for the first time.

Legitimate merchants, even competitors, found it more profitable to compromise a little than to destroy each other, so they were never truly enemies.

That didn't mean I had any intention of getting along with Iefuda.

Given what he'd done, the man was undeniably a villain.

"Anyway, we're broke, see. Things got dicey. So for a while, we'll earn our keep the honest way. Monsters aren't scary with her around."

"Mm. I'll win next time."

Iefuda emptied the bottle and stood; Jill, having finished eating, followed suit.

He patted my shoulder. I brushed it off.

"If any work comes up, give us a shout, Yohane. And you, Priestess. We're not picky."

With that, they left the bar.

His manner had been so brazen that I was slow to realize: they hadn't paid for what they'd eaten.

Dine and dash, or rather, he'd kept me here just for this.

"Sir, I'd like to collect from your companions as well."

"… Damn it. They're not my companions, but I'll pay."

Refusing to pay would only create problems, so I grudgingly settled the bill.

I was just covering for them. Next time I saw him, I'd collect every last coin.

"Come on, you can't drink with a face like that. This cheese is delicious, so try some."

"Yeah, it's good."

Out of frustration, I ordered a shot of spirits, but it was so strong my head nearly spun.

Half-finished, I had Elza polish it off.

When we got back to the inn, Azu and the others had already returned.

Worn out from all the excitement, the three of them were fast asleep together.

Alexia sat by the window, apparently gazing at the city.

A serene expression, strikingly beautiful.

She noticed me, stepped down from the windowsill, and came to greet us.

"Welcome back."

"If you were that curious, you could have gone out and looked around."

"It's fine. Seeing that the city is at peace is enough for me."

"I see."

Her feelings must have been complicated, but nothing showed on her face.

If Alexia was content with that, so be it.

"Wait, you two reek of alcohol. Did you go drinking together?"

"Just a little."

Alexia said if we'd been going for drinks, that would have been a different story.

So much for the earlier mood, but that was very like her.

I kept quiet about Iefuda.

No point worrying anyone unnecessarily.

Besides, he probably meant it when he said he'd lie low for a while and earn honestly.

I set the clothes we'd bought in the middle of the room.

Everyone could grab what they needed.

At dinnertime, I woke the three sleepers.

The meal was skewered meat and vegetables with flatbread.

After a night's rest, we restocked on food supplies and set off for Ateil at last.

The Chimera fangs and the bounty had brought in more than expected.

But honestly, putting my party in front of a monster with fangs that big was still frightening.

No matter how lucrative, it might be wise to steer clear of dangerous subjugation quests.