5 – 1. Footsteps of the Mule (5)

5.

Leaving the angry Gerald and his party behind, passing through the kitchen and exiting through the back door, an open field appeared. The mysterious woman who had dipped her feet in the wide wooden barrel looked back at me and smiled softly.

“Jin? Are you awake already?”

A beautiful woman with soft brown hair who appears to be in her early thirties at first glance. She is Angela, the wife of Mr. Cooper, the innkeeper, and Celine’s mother. While Celine is the server and her husband Mr. Cooper is in charge of the outside work of the inn, she is the chef in charge of the overall kitchen. She was credited with making the ‘Golden Mule’ famous in this area.

“I was wondering if something was wrong since he wasn’t in the kitchen. You were doing the laundry.”

“Eh. There are exceptionally many guests today. The ingredients are gone, so I can’t make anything anymore.”

She smiled, curling the corners of her eyes. How are her mother and daughter so different? Her personality is also quite the opposite, and unlike Celine, she never reprimanded or accused me of my laziness. The only resemblance is appearance, which is deplorable. I rolled up her arms and walked over to her.

“Looks like you have a lot of sheep. Can I help you walk?”

“No, no matter how much you do, you can’t have a grown man do the laundry. Don’t worry about this place and go to work.”

I smacked my lips. Every time like this, I realized that I had come to a world far away from where I was originally. Aside from things like magic and monsters, the level of culture also has a pre-modern level of consciousness, perhaps a bit backwards from the civilization where I was. In a word, it means that the division of roles between men and women is clearer than expected.

It is not that either side’s human rights are not guaranteed, but it is mainly men’s job to earn money and learn skills. Is that why Celine brushes me off like that? It is a sad reality for me, a talented person who would originally be a first-class full-time housewife.

“Then I’ll be at the counter while you do the laundry…… Seeing as there are still a lot of customers, I don’t think it’s okay to be away for a long time.”

“Would you like to?”

I nodded. I don’t know about Celine or Mr. Cooper, but if it’s for Angela, I’m willing to sacrifice a little bit. Besides, how can you trust adventurers? Even so, the other day, they broke the table in an attempt to arm wrestle with each other. The table itself had to be repaired by me. There are plenty of reasons to be anxious.

“Oh, what about Celine? When I go up to the second floor to clean, the tub doesn’t come down.”

“That’s it.”

I told Ms. Angela that she was struggling with her broken bed leg, not her petty quarrel with Celine. She touched her white forehead and shook her head.

“Haa, she was going to ask him when he came back, but she said that he is impatient with her original temper, so what should I do? I could get hurt while doing something like sawing, so can you take care of me later?”

“I see. But what about Mr. Cooper? I can’t see where he’s gone.”

“I went to the brewery in the city. I’ll buy a beer and something and come back in the evening by carriage.”

I felt a little remorse after hearing what your wife said. It is none other than that the innkeeper, Mr. Cooper, had previously lost one of his legs and had his prosthetic limb replaced. Is that why you retired as an adventurer and opened an inn? It is not too uncomfortable to live, but his knees hurt all day when he walks on hard roads for a long time.

“Why don’t you wake me up, I can go instead.”

“No. She said she had to go there herself. Please help me next time.”

“Yes.”

How can mother and daughter be so different? Compared to Celine, Angela was nothing short of an angel. Nietzsche is wrong. Because she has a goddess here.

“Then have a hard time, madam.”

“Ho-ho, yes.”

When I politely stepped back, the wife covered her mouth and smiled like a girl. Guy Gerald, I don’t know younger people, but I know better how to deal with older people. As a matter of fact, in my experience, treating women who are not nobles as nobles works exceptionally well. Do you feel your self-esteem go up?

Her tone of voice, which she used to wake her up while working as her servant under her witch, was also popular with some of her. She even had a female adventurer who gave her a tip and asked to wake her up to her room every morning. Of course, I never refuse to give up.

Sadly, Celine’s anger must be relieved. The moment I made up my mind to go upstairs again after holding my seat for a while, a loud sound suddenly rang out from the hall——a crackle! Courage! What is this again I hurried out of the kitchen and went around the counter.

I went out alone and saw that a table for six was split in half, with one person lying on the floor. I don’t think he did it while arm wrestling.

Anyway, these adventurers are very good at bragging about their strength in everything. Scratching the back of my head, I hurried toward the broken table. Why is this guy’s inn not windy? I sighed and approached it.

“What is it, what is it? Did you break it while arm wrestling again?”

“Uh, Jin. Uh uh.”

When I grabbed and talked to any of the adventurers who were slyly obstructing my view, he looked at me and went blank. Looks like something is poking me. I pushed him away and made my way to the center of the crowd.

“Tell me again, Timmy! Who stole the money!?”

“Cool, no. Dylan, I didn’t mean that…… “

The skinny Timmy and the hot-tempered Dylan. Two adventurers, as I call them for convenience, were there. Timmy had already been hit and her nose was bleeding, and Dylan was clenching his big fists. He said that he bought alcohol, pour it and drink it, but why did he say that all of a sudden? It’s varied. I intervened hastily between the two.

“Uh…… ?”

“Stop a minute.”

I shoved Dylan’s wet chest. Of course, he wasn’t pushed back even a millimeter. Damn, hurt my pride. He stared at me, who suddenly jumped out, then recognized my face and said curtly.

“What is it, Jin, do you have something to do with this guy? Get out of the way and don’t interrupt.”

“It’s your business, Dylan. Because you broke the table I worked so hard on.”

“What?”

Dylan opened his eyes like a moray eel, then laughed in vain. It must be absurd, it would be awkward for a giant who is one head taller than others to be in a situation where someone tries to beat him. But I can’t just leave it alone. If we leave it like this, when Mr. Cooper returns, I’ll use the dump for no reason. He said what did he do without being stopped by being a man. I pretended to be calm and told him.

“What are you guys doing with people you know? If you want to fight, go out and fight. Who said it?”

“Jin. What are you doing now Get out of the way when you say nice things.”

“What if I don’t get out of the way? And, I think I heard something interesting. What about the money?”

When I pointed out what he was saying, Dylan clamped his mouth shut. Apparently there is a kangie. No matter how hot-tempered, it was rare for the same adventurers to wield violence. Timmy said that the guy with farts is angry, and he stabbed herself and swung her fist.

“…… What does that have to do with you!”

“It has nothing to do with me. But, I don’t know what about the other guests. I’m not an adventurer, but isn’t the distribution of money important?”

I glanced at the adventurers surrounding us and shrugged. A bit nasty even I think. With this much cushion, it is more difficult to be beaten to death quietly. Dylan screamed at Timmy when he felt the gaze on him.

“I didn’t do it, damn it, it was properly divided into thirds!”

“Hey!”

“If you scream like that, what can you say because you’re scared? Why are you all alone?”

“That’s, damn it, because this guy is talking so much nonsense…… !”

Dylan gnashed his teeth and glared at me. I’m honestly a little scared. Gerald said that he was lucky enough to hunt down a naga that appeared at the port and double his pay.

But looking at this situation alone, it seems that Dylan secretly wanted one of the two. However, since there is no physical evidence, it seems that he can get angry like that. Well, there is no way to know what kind of conversation was going on at the drinking party, but looking at that exaggerated reaction, it seems that there is something going on. I decided to get on that nerve a bit in order to get him out of here quickly.

“You have to see if it’s bullsh*t or not, Timmy.”

“Huh?”

“How much money did Dylan give you? That, Naga or something.”

“Three shillings… ….”

“Three shillings. Who’s supposed to pay for the drinks here?”

“That, Dylan.”

“Hmm.”

I stared at his daytime dripping with soup. That’s strange. If the wages were divided equally, Dylan’s money would have been three shillings, but even if he couldn’t, it was a rather ambiguous amount to cover the drinks of ten or more adventurers. There is very little left. Adventurers aren’t adults, so why would they do such a thing? Dylan blushed as if he realized the meaning of my gaze.

“What, what! Who is not a slug!?”

“No, well, it could be. But seeing you spend money like water, you must be in a good mood.”

When I said it sarcastically, Dylan’s complexion went completely blue. I’m going to give it a shot.

But that won’t be possible. Now he is surrounded by adventurers like himself, and maintaining financial trust between the parties is a matter of life and death. In fact, there were already a few adventurers who looked at Dylan with cold eyes.

But I’m not an adventurer, and I’m not particularly interested in that. There is nothing else important. I patted the stubby shoulder and said.

“Also, I am telling you because you seem to be mistaken about something, but the important thing is that you recklessly created a commotion here. He also broke the table. Do you want to eat? Can’t you tell the difference?”

“You bastard… ….”

You must be lucky. If Mr. Cooper had been there, he would have taken your axe and put it right through your collarbone. Dylan glared at me as if he didn’t like being so hard on me as a mere inn dweller, but he couldn’t be as violent with me as he was with Timmy.

Other adventurers are keeping an eye on it, but Dylan broke the unwritten rule first. The case is different from a simple gambling board or wrestling. It’s common knowledge here that adventurers shouldn’t fight with each other in an inn.

Dylan has already broken that unwritten rule. What if there’s another rampage here? I don’t know, but rumors will spread all over in the future, which will hinder adventurers’ activities.

“… ….”

It’s hard to believe that it’s a space where 15 people are gathered. Before long, Dylan spat at my feet, loosening his body. Suddenly, our eyes met Gerald’s party behind Dylan, and after exchanging glances with me, Gerald and Hilda let out a sigh of relief. The old man relaxed his muscles, and Janice was holding the wand, but to be honest, there was no stronger back than him. To be honest, I had a corner to believe in, so I was able to improve this much.

Once the skinny Timmy was picked up by other adventurers, Dylan strode down to the second floor, grabbed his armament, pushed the swing door open, and left the inn. As the crowd disperses, Gerald’s party rushes in.

“Jin, are you okay?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I lived.”

“Really, what are you doing recklessly! No matter how much we are.”

I playfully pulled Hilda’s ponytail as she spoke in a worried tone. Woo, and as she backs away from her, Gerald only shrugs her shoulders. It’s because I’m trustworthy again in this case. I shrugged as well.

At that time, someone pulled the hem of my clothes with a cool sensation. I turned around and saw Janice pressing down on my clothes with the tip of a blunt wand and whispering quietly to me.

“Jin…… Be careful.”

“Uh, what?”

“The adventurer who just left…… You can carve a grudge and seek revenge later.”

I blinked. Did you know he would say something like this? It’s none other than the wizard’s words, so I’ll listen carefully, but I don’t know. I smiled leisurely.

“No way. You guys know that I’m a member of the family, and everyone knows. Are you going to stop being an adventurer or do something big?”

“… ….”

Jenice seemed to have easily understood my words, and quietly withdrew as usual without saying more…… Anyway, to be honest, I’m a little impressed. I was surprised by Zenith’s advice, but I can’t believe there are so many people who are on my side. For today, even the monk’s shiny hair was illuminated by a halo. The tip of his nose twitched.

However, as if she had heard the commotion downstairs, Celine came down the stairs shortly thereafter. As soon as she arrived, she looked around her hall looking for me.

“Jin? Why is it so noisy…… Wow!”

Kwajak! I stepped on a splinter of wood that bounced up the stairs and fell backwards. Knocked up!

This time, the hall was enveloped in even greater silence. Although there were no brave adventurers who could peek under her skirt after she fell, I’m not an adventurer, so that’s okay. Before long, her angry screams filled the hall. It was the sound of Celine’s hatred of adventurers growing stronger.

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