KMPEG 24

Chapter 24

With the coachman’s shout, the carriage slowed down. I lifted the window cover and peeked outside. It was already late at night, and most of the village lights were out.

“Well, I guess it’s not a weird time to go to sleep.”

The coachman stopped the carriage in front of a tavern with a few lights still on. The first floor was a pub, and the second floor seemed to be an inn. It looked like an old place—its worn wooden door showed its age.

“The Last Tavern…?”

I read the swaying sign at the entrance. It was a wooden sign with carvings, and beneath it, in small letters, it read:

“The last tavern before the Forest of Darkness. Tonight’s beer could be the last drink of your life.”

What the heck? Is that a threat?
It already felt creepy here, and this just made it worse. On top of that, the name was literally The Last Tavern. I didn’t really want to go in, but I had no choice.

“This place feels like one of those inns in The Lord of the Rings.”

Even though I’d been in this world for a while, I didn’t know a place like this existed. It kind of felt like I was on an adventure.

“If it were any other time, I’d probably be excited and grab a beer. But I’m way too tired today.”

After being tormented by spirit fires and freezing the whole ride here, my body was aching all over. All I wanted was to curl up in a warm bed.

Frederick and I got off the carriage, and the coachman took off his hat.

“I have a cousin who lives on the outskirts. I’ll stay there tonight and come pick you up in the morning.”

“You’ve worked hard. Wait a sec.”

I pulled out my wallet and handed him 10 lukes.

“A-ah, Miss… this is a lot of money—almost a month’s salary! No, I can’t accept this.”

“Think of it as danger pay. You saw those spirit flames in the forest earlier, right?”

I had been worried about the coachman when I saw the spirit fire, especially since he had to sit alone in the cold forest. I felt he deserved this much.

“Please take it and rest well tonight.”

Seeing I wasn’t backing down, the coachman finally took the money, bowed, and thanked me.

“Thank you, miss.”

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

As the coachman and horse rode off, Frederick muttered,

“Wow. A ghost who died broke is now giving money to someone else.”

“He worked hard. You know why I earn money? For moments like this. To use it right. If I just let him go without giving anything, it would’ve bothered me.”

Frederick looked surprised, then smiled faintly.

“Let’s go inside, young master. I’m so tired I could run straight to the bed.”

Creak.

Frederick pushed open the wooden door of The Last Tavern.

As we entered, everyone inside stopped talking and turned to look at us.

The pub smelled like spilled beer and something musty. About ten people were sitting at the bar and tables, drinking.

A woman behind the bar came out to greet us.

“Did you come through the Forest of Darkness at this hour? Oh dear, you must’ve had a rough time. And it’s so cold too.”

She was a short, chubby middle-aged woman. A man, who looked like her husband, followed behind her.

“……”

They spoke to Frederick, but he didn’t respond. His social anxiety seemed to kick in again, and he just stood there with a tense expression.

“What the heck? He was so confident back when we saw the spirit fire. Why is he like this again? I’m scared of ghosts, and he’s scared of people?”

It was kind of ridiculous, but I remembered how Frederick hugged me when I was terrified.

“Alright. I’ll handle the people, and you handle the ghosts. Division of labor.”

I stepped forward and answered the couple.

“Yes, somehow we made it. By the way, do you have two rooms available?”

“Oh dear, you’ve had a tough day. We only have one room le—”

“No rooms available.”

The husband cut her off. Unlike the warm and kind-looking wife, the husband had a rough face with scars and looked intimidating.

“What? You clearly have a room but won’t give it to us?”

Normally, I’d just say “Forget it!” and walk away, but we had nowhere else to go. The coachman had already left too, so we had to stay here somehow.

“Are you sure there are no rooms? I think I heard your wife say there’s one left. We’re fine with even a tiny room.”

I put on my nicest smile, folding my eyes and curling up my lips, even though it felt like my face was cramping up. Staying warm was more important than pride.

The tavern lady looked at me with sympathy, clearly hesitating. Yes! She’s softening. I gave her my best pitiful look.

She nervously glanced at her husband.

“No means no.”

The tavern owner replied firmly. Ugh, this guy’s tough.

I glanced at Frederick for help, but he just stood there stiff and silent.

“Yeah, why did I even bother.”

I put my hands together and took a step forward toward the man.

“Really? Even a storage room is fine. Just let us st—”

“I said no! Get out!”

He suddenly shouted, swinging his arm threateningly.

Sigh… this is not going well…

Then suddenly—

“Hyung.”

A voice came from the dark corner of the pub. I hadn’t even noticed someone was sitting there.

A man slowly walked out of the shadows.

“Huh?”

Under the dim lights, I could see his face. Something about him drew everyone’s attention.

He looked around my age or a bit older. His skin was dark, his medium-length hair was tied back, and he had a wild look with a bit of a beard.

He was huge—over 190cm tall, with broad shoulders and thick muscles. While Frederick had a lean, sculpted body, this guy looked powerful and solid all over.

“Hyung, let them stay. They’ve got nowhere to go. It’s freezing tonight. They’ll freeze to death.”

Exactly! Finally, someone gets it!

He felt like a savior. Despite his dark features, his eyes were bright brown—very unusual.

“Maybe he’s mixed-race?”

He noticed me looking and briefly met my gaze.

“…..!”

His eyes were intense—cold yet hot, cautious yet curious. My face flushed immediately.

“What’s going on? Why’s my heart racing? He’s not even my type…”

He really wasn’t. I liked pretty-boy types, like K-pop idols. Wild, rugged men like this were usually too much for me.
Still, something about his gaze had my heart pounding.

I pulled myself together and asked again.

“Please, just one night. We’ll leave tomorrow.”

The tavern owner looked uncomfortable—finally, some hope. His expression had softened a bit.

Then he looked at the man.

“No, Tiago. We can’t let in people who came through the Forest of Darkness at night.”

“It’s fine, hyung. If anything happens, I’ll handle it.”

So his name was Tiago. He turned to look at me again, and my heart raced even harder.

“This guy’s seriously intense.”

“Lady, what did you see when you crossed the forest?”

If I said “nothing,” we could probably stay. But Tiago’s eyes felt like they could see right through lies.

I didn’t think I could get away with it.

“I saw the spirit fire.”

“Gah!”

“I knew it!”

“Oh no!”

Gasps came from the bar. Some shook their heads like we were doomed.

Tiago gave me a faint, almost amused smile—like he found this situation interesting.

Then he pointed at my necklace.

“That necklace must’ve protected you.”

“Oh… right. This necklace belongs to Frederick. He’s right here.”

“Frederick? As in Frederick Feredi of the Feredi family?”

Tiago looked surprised. Frederick gave a tiny nod.

“Meeting the great merchant Frederick here is an honor.”

Tiago reached out to shake his hand, and Frederick gave a small handshake in return.

“Wait… they know each other?”

Tiago turned to his brother with a big smile.

“Hyung, these are big-shot guests. That’s the Frederick Feredi, the trade king. Who knows when someone like him will visit again? Let’s just let them stay. If anything happens, I’ll help.”

The tavern owner still looked unsure, but eventually nodded.

“Well… if that’s the case, I’ll let you stay one night.”

“Thank you so much!”