Chapter 71
“Yeah. No. I’m busy.”
“Heeeng.”
“I’m going.”
“Okaaay. Next time, we have to have tea together!”
Leaving the disappointed girl behind, Seres walked toward Kainel, who was waiting for her a short distance away.
Then she announced bluntly,
“I’m going.”
“Where?”
“…Didn’t you skip breakfast today?”
“I ate.”
“Then why isn’t your brain working? I told you yesterday. I have to go early today.”
“You’re going to see that Cheyenne-whatever again?”
“No.”
Seres glanced at the clock standing against the hallway wall. It was already pointing to 5 p.m.
“There’s a group reservation coming in today.”
“Ugh, this place again.”
“I’m seriously going crazy!”
“Deputy Guildmaster! Do something! Why do we always have our gatherings here?!”
Once again, The Place Where Your Steps Rest was packed full of customers.
But today, the atmosphere was… different.
The mercenaries seated around the tables wore faces full of irritation — exhaustion and annoyance written all over them.
“I don’t even get my hopes up when someone says it’s a guild dinner anymore.”
“Hopes? There’s still someone who actually does that?”
“What do you expect from our guildmaster?”
“Exactly.”
The Black Guild — led by one of the few S-rank mercenaries on the continent, Skal.
And the place he chose to treat his guild tonight? Of course — this same tavern, The Place Where Your Steps Rest.
Just the thought of that fact made every guild member’s face twist with weariness.
“Didn’t we come here for our last gathering too?”
“And the one before that.”
“And the one two months ago.”
“Well, at least I don’t have to remember where it was every time. It’s always the same place.”
“At this rate, shouldn’t we give the Guildmaster a perfect-attendance award?”
“Deputy Guildmaster, please! Do something! Let’s eat something else for once!”
Who the hell eats stew for a guild dinner!
And to make things worse, we can’t even drink properly here anymore!
“……”
The Black Guild’s deputy master, Lot, who’d been gulping down plain water over and over, finally set his glass down with a small thud.
“There’s only one way.”
“What way?”
“Just stop coming here.”
“What?”
“Don’t show up here starting tomorrow. The place will go out of business without us, and then the Guildmaster will finally give up.”
“What the hell are you saying?”
“Then where will we go for hangover soup?”
“Are you insane?”
“See? I told you, that man has no heart. He’s seriously suggesting we put the place out of business? What’s wrong with him?”
“Exactly.”
“…Can you all just shut up and eat?”
Knowing full well that these guys were just as much regulars as their Guildmaster, Lot clicked his tongue and picked his glass back up.
And then—
“You heard that, right?”
“Heard what?”
Lot glared at the Guildmaster across from him — Skal, who was happily spooning stew into his mouth.
Seriously, the man was right in front of them, and they’re yelling at me?
Just tell him directly!
“They all say they don’t want to have dinners here anymore.”
“Okay. Let’s reserve it again for next time before we leave.”
“……”
…Why do I even bother talking?
Draining the last drops of water from his glass, Lot shifted the topic to the latest rumor.
“You know the corpse we found last time? They said they figured out what kind of monster did it.”
“Yeah? What was it?”
“They’re saying it was a Shakera.”
“Shakera? Seriously?”
For the first time, Skal’s gaze left his stew.
His brows furrowed deeply, and Lot shook his head slightly.
“It’s been officially announced. But isn’t that the type of monster that only appears near the sea?”
“Yeah.”
A rare creature — one that only spawned in the black forests along the coast.
They’d traveled all over the continent as mercenaries, yet even so, none of them had ever actually seen a Shakera in person.
And now, they’re saying a corpse right in the middle of the capital was killed by one?
“That makes no sense.”
“Grand Duke Persia said it was a Shakera.”
“Makes perfect sense then.”
“…How does he switch stances that fast?”
Lot stared at the Guildmaster, dumbfounded.
“It’s Grand Duke Persia, you know.”
A man who’s probably encountered more monsters than all of them combined.
“If he says so, then that’s that.”
Ding-a-ling.
Just then, the shop door opened and someone stepped quickly inside.
The busy waitress Jay brightened at the sight.
“Lady Seres!”
“Yeah. Hand that to me.”
Seres greeted her lightly and rolled up her sleeves to help with the work.
Because of tonight’s large party, they’d even brought out extra tables and chairs from the storage room, leaving barely an inch of space to move inside the tavern.
“Yes, please bring this to table three.”
“Got it.”
Taking the tray from Jay, Seres turned toward the indicated table—
—or tried to.
“Table three?”
Her eyes widened slightly when she saw who had taken the tray from her and was now walking away.
“…Hey.”
What are you doing here?
Clack!
“Cough!”
“Pffft!”
The mercenaries at the table started coughing in shock the moment they saw who had placed the dishes before them.
‘Grand Duke Persia?’
‘W-why the hell is he here?’
The man held the tray with a completely indifferent face.
It was none other than Kainel.
Why on earth was he holding a serving tray…?
The once-noisy tavern instantly fell silent, tension rippling through the air.
“Eat before it gets cold.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“Thank you for the meal!”
“Much appreciated!”
At Kainel’s simple command, the dazed mercenaries snapped to attention and hurriedly picked up their spoons — as if their lives depended on it.
Then, leaving the table behind, Kainel walked back toward Seres.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Helping.”
Yeah, well, don’t. Not helping is helping, ever heard that saying?
“…Haah.”
Seres sighed heavily after glancing at the frozen, wide-eyed customers.
Only the Guildmaster, Skal, was watching Kainel with an amused glint in his eyes.
‘Now that I think about it, isn’t this the first time those two have met here?’
They both come often, but somehow, their schedules never overlapped.
“The next dish is rea—huh?”
Mark, one of the kitchen staff, peeked out with a puzzled look at the strange atmosphere in the dining area.
Why is everyone so stiff—
“Gasp!”
Then he spotted Kainel standing beside Seres and quickly sucked in a breath.
“Which table?”
“Huh? Ah, t-table two!”
Seres took the dish from him.
“You heard him. Table two.”
And promptly handed it to Kainel.
‘Well, since you’re already helping, you might as well go all in.’
Just don’t expect me to pay you later. I’m broke.
“W-Wait…!”
“We can! We can serve it ourselves—!”
Clack!
“Eat.”
“…Yes, sir.”
The mercenaries tried to protest as Kainel approached their table with the dish, but his movements were so quick and decisive that the food was already placed before them.
Wow. How is he this smooth? Is it even legal for a guy serving food to look that cool?
“This one’s for table five.”
“N-No, we’ll—!”
Clack!
“Eat before it gets cold.”
“…Thank you.”
Was it really okay to just… accept food served by the Grand Duke himself?
Couldn’t they please just take the food themselves instead?
The mercenaries cast desperate glances at Seres —
—but she ignored them completely.
“This one’s for that table.”
Clack!
So their pleading eyes turned to the deputy, Lot.
‘We’re definitely changing venues next time!’
Lot clicked his tongue at their silent protests.
“Then you convince the Guildmaster.”
“What? That’s impossible!”
“He’s insane.”
“He’s asking us to do something he can’t. Totally heartless.”
“…Just shut up and eat. If you keep whining, I’ll cut you each a one-year meal pass and make you eat every single meal here.”
“Ooh.”
“Seriously?”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“……”
…What do these idiots even want?
Deciding there was no point in continuing this nonsense, Lot turned away from the mercenaries who were now cheering “Free meal passes! Free meal passes!”
Ding-a-ling.
Just then, a small figure stepped through the doorway.
“Big sis!”
The one running toward Seres and throwing herself into her arms was none other than Yulia.
Seres blinked in surprise.
“I told you to go straight home today.”
Because the tavern was going to be especially crowded due to the group reservation, Seres had warned her earlier that morning.
“I was going to, but…”
“But?”
When Seres spoke with a hint of scolding, Yulia hesitated — and then turned to look behind her.
