🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 13: Festival City, Caron (3)
The tavern buzzed with life.
The Fairy House, located on the outskirts of Caron, was in full swing on the eve of the masquerade festival.
“Miss! Here’s your order!”
“Yes! Coming right away!”
“Excuse me.”
“Yes! Just a moment, please!”
Anna, one of the wai3tresses, felt unusually busy these days. Even considering the festival season, it seemed like her workload had grown heavier than ever.
This isn’t easy.
Why was it suddenly so hectic? The answer wasn’t hard to find.
“Anna, I think you’ve got a good part-timer,” said one of the kitchen aunts she worked with.
“I agree. I was worried at first, but now… what a blessing.”
Anna watched a little black-fairy child named Myer diligently carrying dishes across the hall. The child’s tiny hands moved swiftly as he served, a picture of earnest effort.
Please… just take care of my little brother until I get back.
It had been a request from Lena, her only friend, who had gone off to the Empire to pursue adventuring. At first, Anna had wanted to refuse—the thought of taking on her friend’s little brother while managing life alone was overwhelming. But understanding Lena’s circumstances, she could not bring herself to turn him away. And so, Myer had become her responsibility.
“Little one! Can you bring some water here?”
“Yes.”
“Here! Clear the dishes, please.”
“Yes.”
Myer adapted quickly, surprising Anna with his efficiency. Her earlier worries had been needless.
He’s… actually kind of cute.
Though his speech and movements were slightly rigid, he had a certain charm.
“Oh, so adorable,” Anna murmured, and she wasn’t the only one noticing. The tavern’s patrons shared the sentiment.
“Myer! Take a break for a moment!”
It was almost evening, the time when more guests would flood in, and a brief rest was needed.
“Yes, sister… I’ll—”
Just as he turned to clear the last plate and head back to the kitchen…
“Ugh!”
Thud!
Myer collided with someone just as they stood, and he tumbled to the floor.
Clatter—!
“Myer!”
The sound of breaking dishes made Anna rush forward.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
“I’m fine, sister… but—”
Myer’s gaze shifted behind him.
“Oh, for heaven’s…!”
A voice, laced with irritation, rang out.
“Is this the time to worry about some brat?”
“Ah!”
Anna couldn’t intervene fast enough.
“Because of you, my brand-new shoes got dirty!”
She should have apologized to the guest first.
“I-I’m sorry, sir.”
Anna stepped in front of Myer, who had flinched, and faced the guest herself.
“I’ll clean them up properly—”
“Do you think a little cleaning will fix this?”
Anna thought it would. A small smudge from the collision, nothing more. But the man’s arrogant tone froze her.
“I sincerely apologize for the trouble caused. But if the shoes are cleaned, they should look as good as new.”
“…What?”
“Myer!”
It seemed Myer had made things worse by speaking out.
“Do you even know how much these cost? Five hundred gold! Five hundred gold! Do you understand what that is?”
She knew all too well. Considering a Fairy House wage of five gold a month, five hundred gold was a fortune beyond a lifetime’s reach.
“That can’t be worth five hundred gold,” Myer said bluntly.
“…What?”
“Myer!”
Even in such a moment, Myer’s honesty shone, leaving Anna aghast.
“Why are you like this? Can’t you just be quiet?”
“But… it doesn’t look like it’s worth five hundred gold.”
“Myer!”
The man’s temper flared. Swearing under his breath, he hurled his bottle into the air.
Clang!
Someone got hit, but the man didn’t seem to care. He advanced, grabbing Myer by the collar.
“Ugh!”
“How dare a mere commoner insult me?!”
Fueled by alcohol and anger, he tore off his mask and glared.
“Do you even know who I am?”
Beneath the ridiculous mask was a face far more menacing than expected.
“Wh-who are you?”
“You’re crawling on the ground, yet you dare play with words?”
“Ugh… it hurts!”
The man raised his fist, screaming, when suddenly—
“Enough!”
Wesley intervened, ignoring his own surprise and moving to stop the escalation.
“Who are you?”
His cheeks were flushed red.
Drunk, Ruff whispered from behind.
“That’s Michael, heir of the Summerfield family.”
“Summerfield?”
“Yes. A small but wealthy estate in the south, infamous for its unruly heir.”
“Unruly…”
“Do these fools even realize who they’re talking to?”
By looks and behavior, Ruff’s description seemed accurate.
“Sir, perhaps you’ve had enough. Let’s settle this peacefully.”
“Peacefully? Who are you to dictate peace?”
“Let’s not argue. It’s not worth it. Let’s just move on.”
“Ha! Funny fellow.”
Thud!
Michael roughly let go of Myer, brushing his hair back.
“Ah!”
“Myer!”
Myer?
Wesley’s brow twitched.
If it’s Myer… Lena’s brother? He’s here?
He had only known that Myer was somewhere in Caron, never imagined he’d be here.
“Are you okay? Any injuries?”
“I’m fine, sister.”
Sister…?
Could this be Lena?
No… she looks nothing like Lena.
Lena, a dark-furred fairy with a fierce expression, was far different from this child’s delicate beauty.
She’s too pretty.
Anna approached cautiously, assessing the situation.
“Do you know who I am?”
So this is about Myer being harassed… typical of drunk trouble anywhere.
“Yes, I do. That’s why we should resolve this peacefully. No need for a scene.”
Although reluctant, they agreed to de-escalate.
“Scene? Who’s making a scene?”
“Please, sir, enough. There are too many watching.”
Summerfield attendants stepped in, but it was already too late to restrain Michael.
Haah…
Ten years in the emergency room had taught Wesley: drunks don’t respond to words. Only one method worked.
“Sir, you should rest.”
He grabbed Michael’s head, and—CRACK!
A physical sedative. Wesley slammed Michael’s head onto the table.
“Guh!”
CRASH!
The sturdy wooden table split in two, Michael collapsing like paper between the wreckage. Blood pooled as the attendants screamed.
“Master—!”
Clang, clatter!
A dozen blades emerged, surrounding Wesley.
“Do you know what you’ve done?”
Sarah Villigas, Summerfield’s guard, leveled her sword at Wesley.
“Do you know whom you are challenging?”
Even a reckless heir wasn’t to be trifled with. But Wesley was unconcerned.
“So, you know who I am and still draw a blade?”
“…What?”
Wesley revealed his face, golden eyes ablaze, crimson hair like fire—flames behind a mask of features.
“…Gah!”
Sarah froze.
“Tell me. Who am I?”
The kingdom’s most notorious rogue…
“Are you feigning ignorance, or truly unaware?”
She couldn’t move, unprepared for an heir far more chaotic than Michael.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Do you think apologizing absolves you for pointing a sword at the Crown Prince?”
Her vision blurred white.
It’s over…
Who dares live after threatening the Crown Prince? Even a rogue knows this is high treason.
“W-we…”
“Enough, brother,” Ruff interjected, guiding Wesley’s mask down.
Tch.
Not wanting to escalate with Lena’s brother nearby, Wesley relented.
“Hah—!”
Sarah, knees trembling, sank to the floor.
“Sarah! What are you doing?”
“Pathetic… aren’t you getting up?”
“Shut it, you idiots! Do you even know who he is—”
Her protests silenced by Wesley’s gesture, she bit her lip and lowered her head.
“…Quiet. Let’s just get ready to leave.”
Helping the fallen Michael, Sarah led him out. Wesley approached the recovering Anna and Myer.
“My apologies for the chaos.”
“No, thank you for stepping in.”
“The cost of the broken table and the food will be covered by him,” Wesley said, pointing to Ruff.
“…Me?”
“I didn’t bring my wallet.”
“….”
Ruff dared not admit the same.
“And give a beer to the guests, on the house. For the disruption,” Wesley added. The tension eased.
“Woo! Amazing!”
“Brilliant! Masked hero!”
Amid the cheers, Ruff whispered:
“Do I pay for this too?”
“Of course. I didn’t bring my wallet.”
“….”
Wesley’s gaze landed on Myer.
So, you’re here after all… lucky me.
If I can win him over and protect him, Lena’s troubles vanish.
First, a little goodwill.
As he moved toward Myer, a small warning rang out:
“Watch out!”
In Myer’s eyes, someone approached fiercely from behind.
…Michael?
“Dieee!”
Michael surged forward, longsword raised. Wesley reached for his own weapon—but—
Thwack!
A silver-haired woman appeared like the wind, striking Michael’s neck with precision.
