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Chapter 77

How did he manage all this in one day?

"As I mentioned, I couldn\'t restore the enchantment circuits. It\'s a bit heavier now, and the durability has decreased. But given the materials at hand, this is the best I could do."

"...It appears so." Ian set the item down.

At the craftsman\'s signal, an apprentice who had been watching from behind rushed forward.

"Could you... raise your arm, please?" The human apprentice made the request cautiously, aware of Charlotte\'s presence.

The chain guard required precise attachment to the upper garment and shoulder area. Charlotte complied smoothly, seemingly satisfied with the quality of the work. Indeed, even if she had complaints, she wasn\'t in a state to express them.

"I hear you caused quite a stir," The dwarf craftsman said nonchalantly as he worked.

Ian replied calmly, "The demons caused the stir. I stopped it."

"And the commander just took your word for it?"

Was this an attempt to provoke me? Ian thought, but upon seeing the craftsman\'s genuinely curious gaze, he realized the dwarf was simply asking.

"...Let’s say I swung a sword at you, and you killed me in defense, whose fault would that be?"

"Clearly the fault of the one who swung first."

"And if I knocked over a market stall as I fell, then?"

"Well... I see, you convinced them like that. You have quite the knack for persuasion."

"It\'s the truth."

"Was it really a vampire, as the rumors say?"

They say northerners are all gruff, but now, it seems that\'s an old tale. Well, in a city like this, there\'s always something to talk about, after all, thought Ian.

"It seemed so."

"And you defeated it by yourself?"

"That\'s the gist of it."

"Hmm... you said you are heading toward the mountain range?"

Instead of responding, Ian looked back at the dwarf craftsman, who gestured toward Ian\'s body.

"I\'m asking because your gear is in terrible shape."

So, this was the main point. Ian chuckled,

"You\'re quite the negotiator yourself. Will you fix it?"

"That\'s why I brought it up. Take it off and lay it here."

Ian didn\'t hesitate to strip off his armor. His chainmail was riddled with holes where rings had been punched out by crescent moon blades. The plated parts were also dented in several places. Given the craftsman\'s skill, the armor might end up even stronger than before.

"How much will it cost?"

"No need. There\'s plenty left from the money you gave last time."

"...?"

Ian\'s brow furrowed.

"Why such a look?" The craftsman snorted.

"It\'s my first time seeing a dwarf turn down money."

"Your bargaining skills are really terrible. You make me want to take money I hadn\'t even planned on getting."

The dwarf added, "The mountain range used to be our land. Since you\'re taking on demons single-handedly, I figure you\'ll deal with the pests around there too. Can\'t send you off in shoddy gear, can I?"

"I heard it used to be a giant kingdom."

"The giants enslaved us and the humans. After the kingdom fell, dwarves and humans lived separately. We\'ve shed much blood over the years, but that\'s all in the past now."

"I see...."

Although uninterested in the story, Ian nodded. The offer of free repairs for his equipment made it worth his while to listen.

"So, how long will it take?"

"Four... no, three and a half days. The beastfolk’s gear was easy due to its size and the chains we had ready, but yours will take a bit longer."

I guess we need to stay here for a few more days. Thinking this, Ian nodded.

"I\'ll return in four days to collect it in the morning."

***

Returning to the inn, Ian immediately took a hot bath and went to bed. When he woke up, it was still the middle of the night. The noise from downstairs indicated it wasn\'t very late yet.

Really, there\'s no soundproofing here at all.

The faint noise of car exhausts that used to disturb his sleep in his previous life now felt like a luxury. That life now seemed like a dream or a fantasy. Reflecting on it, Ian realized he hadn\'t dreamed about his original world much lately. Perhaps his subconscious had already accepted this cursed world as his own reality. Well, that was not entirely wrong, after all.

If I can\'t find a way back... I\'ll have to live here forever.

Beyond the dirtiness, smell, and barbarism, the thought of spending his life in a world filled with constant threats to his life was the least appealing. He didn\'t need powers or special abilities. What he wanted was just a warm home, a decent job to survive on, delicious food, and a simple, peaceful life. He still only wished to someday reclaim all those things whose value he realized only after losing them.

There must be a way.

Ian pondered deeply, almost as if he were trying to convince himself. He reasoned that since there was a method for him to arrive here, there must inherently be a way to return. With a tenacious will to live, he was determined to exhaust all possibilities to find it.

Equipped with the only clue in his possession, he resolved to endure until he could witness the end of this cursed world, whatever form it might take. If, after all his efforts, he still remained unable to find a passage back...

...I\'ll have to find these gods and grab them by the scruff of their necks.

Whether that was possible, he wasn\'t sure. Shaking off the gloomy thoughts he had entertained countless times before, Ian abruptly stood up. Beyond the darkness, the gazes of other strangers simultaneously focused on him.

Ian, turning to meet the orange and red eyes fixed upon him, spoke, "Were you all awake?"

"I’m hungry."

"...I couldn\'t sleep."

"You would be. You slept a lot during the day."

At Thesaya\'s snide remark, Charlotte closed her mouth with a frown. Ian stood up, shaking his head.

"Where are you going, Ian?"

"To eat."

Charlotte perked up, "May I join? I\'d like a drink."

As Ian nodded, Thesaya sprang up, "I\'ll come too. Though I doubt there\'s anything for me to eat."

"You stay here."

"What...? Why?"

Is this really something you don\'t know? Ian narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

Her fangs protruded beneath her lips, her eyes ablaze with a hunger that glowed red. It was a sight not meant for others to see, especially not right after an attack by the vampire demons.

"Until we leave, stay inside and only come out during the day. Charlotte will bring you something to eat later."

"I can find my own food, Ian."

"Want to start rumors of another demon in town?"

After silencing Thesaya, Ian headed out, followed by Charlotte, who cast a backward glance.

"Stay put. Unless you want to dine on scrawny rats."

"...Two. It has to be at least two if you\'re any grateful beast—"

"Securing your meal squares us even."

Charlotte unilaterally declared and shut the door behind her, following Ian. As they descended, the noisy tavern suddenly fell silent, but it was only for a moment before everyone resumed their lively discussions.

Looks like there won\'t be a fight today, Ian thought as he and Charlotte took a seat in a corner. Soon, the waitress brought food and drinks to their table.

Ian cocked his head, "I haven\'t even ordered yet."

"We know. This is on us."

"...Why?"

"You dealt with the demon that entered the village, didn\'t you? I don\'t know how it happened, but I heard you saved many villagers."

"Who\'s spreading those rumors?"

"Everyone. It\'s no wonder you\'re heading to the mountains."

"Ah, right...."

Ian scanned the room. Everyone seemed disinterested, sparing no glances his way. Perhaps this was the northern way of being considerate.

"Well, I won\'t say no to that. Thank you." Ian shrugged.

The dark-haired waitress smiled and hesitantly added, "In that case, may I ask another question?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you take on smaller jobs?"

"I do. But it doesn\'t seem like there\'s much need for my services here."

"That\'s not true. There\'s a house on the outskirts of the city that\'s said to be haunted by ghosts, and there are stories of monsters hiding near the mines... There are even abandoned mines said to be cursed. There are quite a few problems left unattended because they haven\'t caused much harm."

"Interesting..."

It seemed like a perfect way to pass the time.

After taking a sip of his drink, Ian said, "I don\'t work for free."

"Of course, that\'s to be expected."

"But I don\'t need money right now. I have enough as it is."

"So...?"

"You might not know, but this is my first time in the north. I\'ve never been to the snow-covered regions before."

As Charlotte looked on with curiosity, Ian gazed leisurely at the waitress.

"I\'ve heard many of you are immigrants. So, for payment, I\'ll take whatever could be useful when we cross the snowy regions. Size doesn\'t matter. Of course, the better the payment, the more diligently I\'ll handle the job."

"...!" The waitress\'s eyes widened.

Ian continued without waiting for a response, "Tell them, those with requests should come to me directly with their goods. And we\'re leaving in four days. I\'ll start taking requests tomorrow morning. Got it?"

"Yes, perfectly. Thank you...!" The waitress\'s expression brightened, clearly already thinking of potential items.

Ian smirked and gestured, "Then bring a few more drinks."

"Of course."

She turned quickly and began spreading the word among the other patrons, who engaged in lively debates about what was most crucial for travel in the cold.

This will surely bring out all sorts of stories.

Ian leisurely lifted his drink. The blessing from the Temple of Brazier was nearing its end. The goods the northerners would bring could offer practical help for the harsh journey northward. As Ian sipped his drink, he noticed Charlotte staring at him.

"Why?"

"I was surprised. You truly have the courage of a lion and the cunning of a fox."

I wondered what she was getting at.

"It\'s just a simple tactic. We\'ll see if the clients actually bring anything useful."

"People don\'t easily part with things brought from their homeland, even if they\'re no longer useful."

Charlotte spoke calmly, taking a sip of her drink, then added, "But if the right opportunity comes, they\'ll let go without hesitation. The present is always more important than the past."

"Sounds like you\'re speaking from experience." Ian chuckled lightly.

Charlotte responded by taking another sip instead of replying. Her gaze was contemplative, possibly reflecting on her past or considering her current situation. Ian\'s own recent thoughts momentarily overlapped with hers.

"Do you want it back?" Ian\'s blunt question caught her attention, her orange eyes focusing back on him.

She quietly asked back, "My past life? Or my tail?"

"Both."

"...Are you thinking of getting rid of me because I\'m useless?"

"I have no such plans. But it seems like that\'s what you wanted."

"That was true. It still is, to some extent..."

Her gaze, holding the drink, flickered with complex emotions.

"For now, at least, it\'s not the case."

"Why?"

"...If you had been someone like Javier, I wouldn\'t have felt any shame. It would have seemed just. But you\'re a warrior, Ian."

She looked at Ian again, "Having fought over what\'s most important and lost, it would only be right to ask for it back after paying a proper price. Especially now that I owe you my life, getting my tail back right now would mean nothing. It would only be a lifelong shame."

Was this an original thought, or a rationalization for her ongoing dependence on me? Ian pondered briefly, then shrugged. Either way, it didn\'t change anything.

"You\'re assuming I wouldn\'t return your tail."

"If you were like Javier, maybe. Then I\'d have to confront the fear within me and find a way to kill you. Even if it meant dying in the process. But it seems unnecessary now."

"You really hated Javier that much." Ian snorted lightly.

It wasn\'t entirely wrong, after all. He didn\'t plan to drag Charlotte along forever. There would come a day when he\'d return her tail, assuming she lived that long.

"So feel free to throw me into the most dangerous battles. That\'s what I desire. Even if it kills me, it wouldn\'t be a bad ending for me."

"Don\'t worry. If it\'s necessary, I will."

Charlotte smiled. After finishing her drink, she stood up.

"Then, I\'m off to hunt some rats."

"You might get busy starting tomorrow. Make sure Thesaya doesn\'t cause any trouble."

"Gladly."

Charlotte turned to leave. Ian watched her go for a moment, then silently raised his drink again, staying until the tavern quieted down in the early morning, alone.