Chapter 532 Thick-Skinned

“……What should we do?”

“No idea. Let’s look around. We’ve been out in the wild so long, I’m dying for proper civilization food.”

“I need new clothes too.”

“Wonder if there’s a blacksmith here……”

In just a few words, the Sword Saint disciples scattered completely. Only Armen stood frozen in place, dumbfounded.

What about me? What should I do?

He looked left and right, but not a single fellow disciple was in sight.

“Sigh…… I’ll go look for a tavern too. I miss the taste of civilization. Wonder if they have Gudgeon Chicken Stew? Even better if they serve Popom Porridge……”

……

On the other side.

Arant arrived at the center of the camp—already taking shape as a city—and met the other S-Rank experts.

“Oh, Arant. You’re still alive! I thought you’d kicked the bucket long ago.”

“Hmph! How could I die? I’m the Sword Saint!” Arant huffed, annoyed.

“Quit bragging!” Laki Kadar exposed him mercilessly. “You just got lost again, didn’t you?”

“Shut up! What do you know? I was carrying out a special mission!”

“What mission?”

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

“Heh…… is that so? Then let’s switch to a topic we all understand——

When are you paying me back?”

“……” Arant fell silent.

“And those ancient artifacts you borrowed. And that sword you said you’d ‘test a swing’ and never gave back. And……”

Laki counted on her fingers.

“Ahem!”

Arant’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“You’re so petty! Bringing this up right after we meet? I will pay you back.”

He quickly looked toward the others.

“Uh, Esmelon, you lot—long time no see.”

“Heh!” Irus let out a faint smirk. “Remember us now? Hold on. Why not settle your debt with Laki first, then we’ll go over yours?”

“You—you people——”

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Arant’s eyes widened, looking as if he was grinding his teeth.

“I never thought you’d all be so shallow! I’ll never speak to you again!”

He made a show of turning to leave.

“Cut the act.”

Esmelon spoke calmly.

“We’re tired of this routine. Don’t delay the real matter.”

Arant immediately put his raised foot back down.

“Sigh, very well. For the greater good, I shall sacrifice and forgive you this time.”

“……Can you get any thicker-skinned?”

The group stared at him, speechless.

“Never mind…… Let me introduce our new companion.”

“New companion?”

“You really are clueless, aren’t you……”

Irus was too exasperated to complain. She gestured toward Hulim Heyerar.

“This is Hulim. She became S-Rank less than a year ago.”

“Hello……” Hulim greeted quietly.

“Oh, so this is her. You look young. Come to me, senior, if you need advice on anything.”

“……”

“Honestly…… Who do you think you are? Hulim just came of age, but her power is far above you!”

“Hah? Impossible~!”

Arant burst out laughing.

But not a single person laughed with him.

They only stared at him silently.

“Uh……”

Arant’s laugh died.

“No way?”

Everyone nodded silently.

Arant fell silent……

He was reckless, but he could tell when they were joking.

But believing a newly adult human girl outclassed veteran S-Rank experts like them?

It was nearly impossible!

He looked at Hulim again—his carefree air gone, his gaze sharp and serious.

After a long moment:

“It’s…… true!”

His intuition told him the truth.

No chance of winning.

Only instant defeat.

Wait a minute!

This is even more absurd than it sounds——!!!

For a moment,

Arant was utterly stunned, hanging his head in defeat for once.

Laki and the others found it bizarre.

They never thought this thick-skinned, stubborn man would back down willingly.

Arant would’ve been even more upset if he’d known what they were thinking.

The gap was so vast, he didn’t even know how to lie his way out.

Seeing his rare embarrassed state,

Irus and the others let his unpaid debts slide for now.

“……Alright. You’ve met Hulim. Now it’s time to introduce the Heroes. They’re still training. Come with us.”

Soon after, Irus and the others brought Arant to the Heroes’ training grounds.

“Arant? You’re still alive?!”

That was Firuvin’s first words.

Arant’s face darkened completely.

“Is this topic never going to die……”

“?”

“Firuvin, have the Heroes stop training. We need to inform them.”

“Mm.” Firuvin nodded. “Right. Now that everyone’s here, it’s time to hold the meeting……”

……

While Arant met with Irus and the others,

Armen wandered the Allied Forces Main Camp.

Since Bongisto had only just begun reconstruction, the area was full of construction, and the streets looked messy—but basic facilities were already in place.

“Oh! It really exists!”

Armen finally spotted a shabby tavern. So run-down that even the door was haphazardly nailed together.

The exterior was terrible, but under the circumstances, having a tavern at all was a miracle.

Besides, maybe it was nicer on the inside than it looked.

He stepped inside.

A noisy scene unfolded before him.

Though small from the outside, the tavern was packed with all kinds of folk: elves, humans, beastmen, dwarves, knights, mages, adventurers…… men, women, old, young.

“Wow! Amazing! So many people!!”

Armen’s eyes lit up.

He’d spent most of his years on islands, so he’d never seen a sight like this.

“Ah…… Huh? There aren’t any seats?”

Even the counter was full. Not a single spot was free.

Just as Armen was stuck,

“Pay up! No more running this time!”

“Wait! I will pay back! Give me two more days! Just two!”

“Bullshit! I’ve given you three months! And you still have money to drink?! You’re paying today——!”

A conflict broke out in the tavern’s corner.

Instead of stopping it, the crowd cheered them on.

“Haha, quit blabbering. Strip him naked—we’ll see if he has money!”

“Nonsense! If you borrowed money with skill, why pay it back? Hey you, don’t flinch! Fight ’em!”

“Hah? Who said that?!”

“Me! You got a problem?!”

“Fight! Fight!……”

Yes! This is it!

Senior Monroe had told him: a tavern with a brawl is a real tavern! I picked the right place…… wait.

Huh?

That voice sounded familiar.

Armen squinted toward the corner.

His eyes widened in shock.

“Senior Monroe——?!!”