Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 64 : New Friend(s) (5)

New Friend(s) (5)

As soon as I left the blacksmith, I sprinted.

I didn't even have time to worry about whether I could gather the hefty sum of 4 goldens in two months.

'Negotiating with Gerald took longer than I thought.'

I hurriedly stopped by the general store, bought some clothes in a rush, and arrived at the shop.

Already, a few customers were lined up in front of the shop.

'I'd better get ready in a hurry.'

I greeted the customers kindly and went inside the shop, tossing the clothes to Harper first.

"Hurry up and change. Let's get the afternoon business started!"

Because I was short on prep time, I couldn't make any soup.

Instead, I made plenty of potato stew, pumpkin soup, fondue bread, and rice balls.

Even as I cooked frantically, I glanced at the hall occasionally—

Partly to check the customers' reactions, and partly to check on the new employee.

'Much better than this morning.'

Humans really must be creatures of adaptation.

That hesitant attitude he had was mostly gone.

Certainly, there was a difference in appearance, too.

Maybe because he was white, the customers accepted Harper without any sense of awkwardness.

With the rookie now pulling his own weight, the work was far easier than in the morning.

Naturally, the chatter of the customers filtered through to my ears.

Since most of them were soldiers, the topics were similar.

'Rumors are starting to spread.'

That the minor Demon Realm near the spirit stone quarry has disappeared.

The most likely person responsible is probably the Special Investigator Legion, right?

Thankfully, no one suspected Plerine or me.

'Well, who would suspect me?'

I felt reassured, but at the same time, a slight anxiety lingered,

So I forced out all unnecessary thoughts and focused on my work again.

Work, work, and more work.

Time flew by.

Before I knew it, the afternoon shift and break were over,

And the officers began to enter.

It looked like I'd be able to eat dinner, at least.

'That's fortunate for me, too.'

Now that I had a huge expense looming, I found myself looking forward to customers more than ever.

But the mood among the officers was strangely heavy.

"......."

They all held their tongues.

The fatigue was obvious on their faces.

Especially that green-eyed bastard, Hank, showed even more blatant hostility towards me.

'What the hell is wrong with him? I really can't understand that guy.'

I did my best to ignore his glare.

I almost spit in the food I was serving him,

But my minimum conscience as a cook stopped me.

Lastly, the battalion commander arrived.

Finally, the officers all began to eat at once.

Tonight's dinner menu was bone broth soup and rice.

〈 The customer is satisfied with the food 〉

〈 You have gained 1 'Satisfaction.' 〉

〈 Customer—Siju Repka acknowledges the food 〉

〈 You have gained 1 'Acknowledgment.' 〉

.

.

There was no conversation, but the system voice sounded,

And though silence still lingered, somehow the mood had softened a little.

Once again, I was reminded of the greatness of a good meal,

The battalion commander, after finishing his meal, broke the quiet.

And, damn it, I was his target.

"Cook, you."

"Yes, sir?"

"It's wonderful as always. How did I only just now taste food this good? Ho ho."

"You're too kind."

"No need to be humble. That aside...."

The battalion commander stared at me for a moment, then spoke.

"Have you heard any new rumors today?"

His tone was as leisurely as ever, but I could tell he was probing me.

I'd gotten used to this old bald guy in my own way.

"Do you mean the minor Demon Realm?"

Still, I'd expected this situation.

I somehow managed to keep my composure.

"That's right."

"I overheard some soldier customers talking about it this afternoon."

"Did you now. Ho ho. What were they saying?"

Let's get into it. I don't know anything.

I can't act too uninterested,

But being too eager would also make me look suspicious.

"They said the minor Demon Realm had disappeared, and maybe it was the doing of the Special Investigator Legion."

"I can't believe information control has gotten so poor. Tsk tsk. What do you think?"

"I think that's probably the most likely explanation, but even if the Special Investigator Legion is strong, I don't think they could've done it alone. They probably had a helper."

"That's close to what I was thinking."

The battalion commander looked at me with his peculiar smile,

Then quietly got up from his seat.

"That was a good meal."

He immediately left the shop.

Did I get through that alright?

Just as I was feeling relieved,

「Close up shop early tonight and come to my office. I have something to discuss with you.」

A voice transmission sounded in my head.

No, it's not voice transmission, he calls it Brain Voice, damn it.

*

After the officers finished eating and left,

I announced while cleaning the hall with the employees.

"We're taking the night off tonight."

The employees couldn't hide their delight,

"Is that alright?"

Plerine asked politely, as if just for show.

'Of course not.'

With the money I'll need at the blacksmith's, I shouldn't be taking any nights off.

But how could a lowly soldier disobey the battalion commander's orders?

"We had a rough time yesterday. Let's rest tonight."

Fortunately, the night shift usually wasn't as packed with customers as the other time slots.

Probably because of the alcohol, people tended to go to Wyvern Tail.

Maybe there's a difference in beer quality.

'I don't really know much about liquor anyway.'

When the cleanup was just about finished, I put on my coat.

What could the battalion commander want to discuss with me privately?

Is it about the minor Demon Realm after all?

Just as I was guessing and about to leave the shop,

"Kukuk. Where are you off to?"

Of all people, Jeros appeared.

Yeah. He always popped up at the most unexpected times.

"I was just going to take a walk."

"Nonsense. Kukukuk."

He was as inscrutable as ever, laughing sneakily,

But the intimacy level as [Regular Customer] I saw this morning sprang to mind.

'Ralph was at 88% just before the minor Demon Realm, and now Jeros is at 82%.'

Despite all of Jeros' consistently annoying actions from our first meeting until now,

The truth was, he actually liked me quite a bit.

More than before, even.

'It's ridiculous, but regardless of intimacy, I have to hide that I'm going to see the battalion commander.'

I'm still "keeping an eye on him" at the battalion commander's orders.

Come to think of it, maybe that's why he called me over—something to do with Jeros.

"So what brings you here?"

On the inside I was unsettled, but I played it off calmly.

I realize I've gotten much better at acting.

"You're not already out of rice balls, are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Kukuk. Have you forgotten who the real owner of this place is?"

Step, step.

Jeros entered the shop and sat down.

Since the duel with Fav, he hadn't acted like this at all, so honestly, it was a bit awkward.

"What are you doing? Not sitting down?"

I could sense it—it was going to be a long conversation.

"Naba, Harper, go to your rooms."

Just in case, Plerine stayed on standby in the hall.

I sat across from Jeros.

"It's been a while. Sitting down and talking with Jeros like this."

"Kukuk. It's been a while, but you don't seem all that happy about it."

"Well, you're the one who keeps taking all the money I earn, after all."

"Yet you were so happy about it at first. Kukuk. You've changed a lot, Ian. You really have."

He's right.

Back then, I had no choice but to say anything was fine.

When you're trying to survive, you don't get choices.

But I'm not the same as I was back then.

The shop is doing far better than it did back in the Burt days,

'I've learned mana and reached 3rd-rank.'

Suddenly, the day I buried Burt's corpse comes to mind.

Back then, I had a vague idea someday I'd end these unfair dealings with Jeros,

And now, realization is close at hand.

'With my special ability, I can get stronger than Jeros faster.'

There's only one rank of difference between us now,

And I even have the 6th-circle mage, Plerine, on my side.

That means I'm just about able to match up to him now.

Rather than saying I've "changed,"

I'd put it differently—

"I've grown a lot."

"... Kukukuk. That's true, you have. And you must not forget: you only had the chance to grow this much because I let you live. Kukuk."

I think my eyebrow twitched at his words,

But Jeros just gave his signature sly grin and continued.

"That's enough pleasantries, bring me the ledger. It's about time I checked. Kukuk."

I felt my hair stand on end.

Because, honestly, it's been quite a while since I last handled the ledger....

'I've been too busy to even think about it.'

If I recall, the last time was the day I left Grey Fortress.

I never thought Jeros would spring a surprise ledger inspection like this.

Damn it. How am I supposed to explain this to that money-grubber?

"......."

As my silence dragged on, Jeros slowly opened his slit eyes.

His menacing killing intent poured out at me.

But unlike before, I could hold up just fine.

'Compared to Gardoc's killing intent, this is nothing.'

I've gotten stronger. I really have, Ian.

For a moment, I was impressed with myself,

Then suddenly I felt a third presence directed at Jeros.

'Shit.'

Plerine was sending silent pressure at Jeros.

Are we really going to end up fighting and wrecking the place?

'That's the last thing I want.'

As the standoff continued, surprisingly, the first to back down was Jeros.

"Kukuk. Kukukukuk. So you don't even make excuses anymore?"

As if he hadn't just radiated killing intent,

Jeros cackled like a man with split personalities. What the hell?

'Did he just size up Plerine's power?'

I decided to act dumb with the inscrutable guy once again. He's clearly testing me.

"Excuses don't work on Jeros anyway."

"That's right. Kukuk. You really are a fun outsider."

Yeah, right. Fun—my ass.

"...... Give me two days. I'll organize the ledger neatly and pay off the overdue fees as well."

"I would expect nothing less. Don't mess around with my money. That's for both our sakes."

Whether it's modern times or the Middle Ages, money's always the problem.

Now I'm seriously worried about whether I can pay off Gerald's 4 goldens on time.

"Kukuk. That's enough about money,"

Suddenly, Jeros changed the subject.

He smiled sharply.

"Was it you? The minor Demon Realm?"

"?!"

My heart thudded.

I never expected Jeros, of all people, to probe me about the minor Demon Realm, even if not the battalion commander.

'Why is Jeros, who's not even an officer, asking me about the minor Demon Realm?'

Could that be the real reason he came here today?

Doing my best to keep my expression in check, I replied.

"No. How could I possibly take on something like that at my level."

"It'd be difficult by yourself at your level. But...."

Jeros motioned toward Plerine with his chin.

"With that woman—'the mage'—wouldn't that be a different story? Kukuk."

Damn. My facial muscles barely twitched.

I'd never imagined the word 'mage' would come out of Jeros' mouth.

No. Ignore it. Stay calm.

Right now, just focus on deceiving him.

"... Not enough to take on the minor Demon Realm."

I heard that a good lie mixes in some truth.

So I acknowledged that Plerine was a mage, but denied the minor Demon Realm.

"And even if I had gone to the minor Demon Realm yesterday, do you think I could work so normally today?"

I was completely recovered after leaving the minor Demon Realm.

My body was uninjured, giving me a perfect alibi.

"Hmmmm."

Jeros scanned me up and down and then gave a wry smile.

"True, you're much too unscathed."

Jeros's subtle suspicion faded away.

As I was about to agree with him,

"Unlike you, squad Leader Ralph doesn't look so good, though. Kukuk. Did you hear how he got hurt?"

Now he brought up Ralph.

A chill of cold sweat ran down my back.

'Is this bastard asking because he already knows everything?'

The thought flashed through my mind for a moment,

But I convinced myself that he only noticed Ralph's obvious injury.

"Not really. Ralph's always been obsessed with training, right? He pushed his body pretty hard."

After so many lies, my answer was smooth and natural.

It was flawless acting.

Then, Jeros lost interest, stood, and said,

"True enough. Well, that nonsense is over anyway."

"?!"

For a very brief moment, Jeros's lips curled bitterly before returning to normal.

"The short hope and eternal despair of the talentless. Kukuk."

"...?"

If he meant the talentless, contextually, it's Ralph.

As Jeros was leaving, I called out after his back.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Kukuk. If you're curious, ask him yourself."

Jeros opened the shop door.

Just then, someone entering the shop greeted him as if he'd been waiting.

"What's up, Jeros. There you are."

It was Ralph.

"Here to eat?"

"Enjoy your meal, squad leader."

Jeros breezed by Ralph without a glance,

And Ralph grumbled as he came in, "Why's that guy acting so busy these days?"

Looking at Ralph's face, complicated emotions welled up inside me.

"Agh, I'm tired. Just bring me anything for two."

Thud.

Ralph sat down in the spot Jeros had just vacated.

"Ha ha. Still, free food always feels good."

Ralph quipped.

But I couldn't banter back.

Because I felt sorry.

So sorry I could barely contain my anger.

"... Ralph."

On Ralph's right eye was an awkwardly black eyepatch.

I could tell at a glance it wasn't for medical reasons.

"How do I look? Don't I look even tougher now?"

"... Not at all."

Because of my greed and recklessness... a perfectly fine Regular Customer would have to live with one eye.

It felt utterly miserable.