Chapter 124 - 123: Dwarves and Elves

Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Dwarves and Elves

Inside "Beastmen and the Lute," the light from the fireplace chased away the late autumn chill.

Hulk downed a large gulp of spicy Beastman’s Strong Alcohol, breathing out a hot, alcoholic sigh. "Whew... this is good stuff."

"Galen, my friend, I can’t believe you found a place like this so soon after arriving in Rose Town."

After the bickering couple, Belte and Laila, made up, Captain Hulk suggested they all have a farewell dinner, his treat.

Although the steady, middle-aged man was an experienced adventurer, he rarely seemed to frequent taverns, so he asked everyone for recommendations.

Belte suggested several lively spots, but Laila shot them all down, saying they were "too noisy."

In the end, Galen thought of this small tavern that had left such a strong impression on him.

Unlike his last visit, this time a slender male Elf Minstrel was playing a Lute on the small stage in the corner of the tavern.

The music, like the trickling of a clear spring, combined with the deliberately hushed voices of the other patrons, added another layer of unique charm to the distinctive tavern.

With a heavy tread, the owner, a Half-Beastman named Grim, placed a large, sizzling platter of roasted clefthoof ribs on the table.

"Eat up while it’s hot!" His booming voice drowned out the Lute. He turned and shouted toward the back kitchen, "Balin! Get a move on! Is that stonejaw meat pie ready yet?"

"Boss, we didn’t order this..." Galen started, but Grim cut him off.

"It’s on the house." Grim grinned. "Galen, my friend, you coming here does me an honor."

Before he could finish, a stocky figure pushed through the curtain from the back kitchen.

The Dwarf, Balin, wore a slightly strained linen apron and walked over with heavy steps, carrying a massive ceramic pie dish in both hands.

He set the meat pie on the table and turned to leave, his gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly toward the stage.

Belte stared at the Dwarf’s broad back, clicking his tongue in amazement. "A male Dwarf waiter? That’s a first for me."

Grim, busy carving the ribs, let out a hearty laugh. "That was Galen’s idea, wasn’t it? Speaking of which, I wasn’t even planning on hiring another Minstrel," he gestured toward the stage with his chin, "but then this fellow showed up applying for the job, and he seemed to fit the bill. Then I got to thinking, why does it have to be a female server?"

He lowered his voice, a hint of smugness in his tone. "Balin’s an old regular, loves my strong spirits. He recently quit the Adventurer life, so he’s helping out. Now everything’s great. The Minstrel and the waiter won’t get up to... ahem, you know!"

The others, unaware of the backstory, were simply enjoying the delicious food, immersed in the Lute’s melody.

Galen, however, secretly wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. He sized up Balin’s stocky frame and the interested glances the Dwarf kept shooting toward the stage, and a shiver went down his spine.

’I’ve heard Elves and Dwarves never get along, and they’re both men... but the boss is tempting fate so confidently. What if...’

He didn’t dare let his thoughts stray any further. The mental image was just too jarring.

"Ahem." Seeing that most of the food had been served, Captain Hulk cleared his throat and raised his wooden mug.

"First, to celebrate our successful return, a toast!"

CLINK.

Hulk and Belte tilted their heads back and drained their mugs. Galen followed their lead and finished his in one go. Zoya merely touched the rim of her cup to her lips, while Laila smiled and raised her sweet-smelling apple juice.

Then, Hulk refilled his mug and looked at Laila and Belte. "And a toast to Laila and Belte’s departure! May you have a safe journey home, and may our adventures become the best bedtime stories for your children."

He drained his mug once more. When he set it down, a hint of reluctance flickered in his eyes.

"And finally... I have to tell you all, I’m planning to leave Rose Town, too."

"Captain, you’re leaving too?!"

"So suddenly?"

Hulk’s gaze shifted away, and he mumbled, "Er... I’ve actually been planning to head south for a while. With Laila and Belte leaving, and since we made a good bit of money on this last job..."

While Galen had been mentally prepared for Laila and Belte’s departure, Hulk’s decision caught him completely by surprise.

They hadn’t been together long, but they were his first team in this world. He felt that Hulk’s reliability, Belte’s frankness, and Laila’s thoughtfulness were a rare combination.

He figured it would be difficult to find such dependable teammates again.

The other members of the Dragon Fang Squad clearly felt it even more deeply. In their long careers as Adventurers, they’d had countless unreliable teammates. The dissolution of such a trustworthy squad cast a momentary pall over the table.

Just then, Laila broke the silence. "Captain, you’ve been the stoic man for so long. Aren’t you going to come clean about something before you go?"

Everyone froze.

She drew out her words intentionally. "Do I really have to be the one to say it? Ka..."

Whether it was the alcohol or not, a faint blush crept across Hulk’s weather-beaten face.

"Er... well... it’s Kalin... she’s being transferred to a post at the Adventurer Guild in the south, so I thought... maybe I could head that way... and escort her..."

Belte’s eyes widened. "Captain! I never would have guessed! You always seem so straightforward, but you’ve been hiding this! But hey, that’s great news!" He then turned to his wife curiously. "Laila, how did you know?"

Laila elegantly cut off a small piece of rib and shot her husband a look. "You idiot. Observation is a Ranger’s basic skill. You think everyone is as dense as you?"

"Woof! That’s right! Stupid Belte!"

"Hahaha!"

The somber mood that had settled over the table was shattered by the sudden revelation and the ensuing roar of laughter.

Even Hulk, who was trying to maintain his stoic composure, couldn’t keep a straight face any longer.

He threw himself back in his chair, and a deep laugh, like the rumble of a bear, shook his frame. The sound made the Minstrel on stage flinch, his fingers fumbling several notes.

...

Perhaps it was the several mugs of strong alcohol, or perhaps it was the atmosphere of their impending separation.

Captain Hulk’s gaze fell on Galen. His expression was complex, a mixture of admiration and avuncular concern.

"Galen, there’s something I’ve always been curious about. Why would a... Mage Apprentice... like you become an Adventurer?"

Galen didn’t understand what he meant. "Is there something wrong with that?" he asked. "I think adventuring is good training."

"No, it’s not wrong." Hulk shook his head, his eyes full of admiration. "What I mean is, you’ve shown such astonishing talent at your age. Why didn’t you continue studying with your master to prepare to become a true Professional?"

Galen thought for a moment before deciding to tell the truth. "I don’t have a master."

The moment the words left his mouth, the table fell silent.

Laila let out a dismissive snort, clearly taking it as youthful boasting.

But Belte’s eyes went wide with disbelief. "Self-taught? By the gods! How is that possible? With that spell you pulled off, the one that could launch a sow into the sky, what Mage wouldn’t be fighting to take you on as their apprentice? Brother Galen, humility is a virtue, but this much humility is just plain scary."

Captain Hulk was also taken aback for a moment, but then his expression softened into one of understanding, as if he’d realized something.