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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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The bandits, terrified by Vanessa’s overwhelming display of power, retreated, leaving their comrades’ bodies behind.
It was understandable. Over ten men had been slaughtered in the blink of an eye.
The one responsible for the carnage, however, seemed unfazed.
I decided it was best to rejoin the caravan. Dorothea and I returned to the chaotic campsite.
“Thank you!”
The caravan master was the first to approach Vanessa, bowing deeply.
It wasn’t surprising, considering Vanessa had single-handedly repelled the bandits.
The initial attack had been swift, so there were no casualties.
A few of the caravan members had been hit by stray arrows, but their injuries were minor.
The caravan master must have felt like he had cheated death.
The bandits had clearly been planning a full-scale assault, yet they had escaped with minimal losses.
Vanessa, who had just finished dismantling the tent, waved her hand dismissively. “It was nothing.” The caravan master, however, insisted, “I can’t let this go. You’re our savior. Please, join me for lunch.”
“Oh, I’ll eat.”
Vanessa, who I thought would refuse, readily accepted. The caravan master then turned to us.
“Please, join us.”
Dorothea, who had been listening to their conversation, her eyes sparkling, asked,
“Is there alcohol?”
“If you wish, I can even offer you some of my personal collection.”
“Awesome! Free booze!”
…It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but these two were too easily swayed by food and drink.
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The meals provided for the regular hired hands were simple.
The turnip soup and rock-hard rye bread from yesterday were a good example.
But the caravan master, a man of high standing, wouldn’t eat the same food as his subordinates.
As promised, he invited us to his table for lunch.
“This way, please.”
An employee led us into a makeshift tent, where a lavish meal was prepared.
It wasn’t a feast on the level of the Demon Lord’s castle, but it was still an impressive spread for a meal on the road.
They must have had a personal chef.
“Ooh.”
Dorothea, who had entered the tent first, exclaimed in excitement at the sight of the food.
Or rather, at the sight of the alcohol in the corner.
Vanessa, on the other hand, simply nodded in approval. It seemed to meet her standards.
Having been a noble in the empire, she likely had a discerning palate.
As we took our seats, the caravan master, seated at the head of the table, smiled and said,
“It’s nothing fancy, but please, help yourselves.”
It was clear he had gone to great lengths to prepare this meal, but we pretended not to notice.
It was the polite thing to do.
There’s quite a variety.
It was only the second day since we had left Hamburg.
There were still plenty of fresh ingredients, so the table was laden with various meats and vegetables.
It was a luxury to eat such a meal on the road.
Usually, travelers had to make do with dried rations to save space and ensure preservation.
But this caravan, which specialized in transporting food, was an exception.
The salmon steak, a local specialty, melted in my mouth.
The coq au vin, chicken braised in wine, and the grilled lamb chops and sausages, made from locally raised sheep, were also delicious, without any gamey taste.
Dorothea, who must have been famished, began to devour the food.
I smiled wryly at her, and the caravan master, who had barely touched his food, asked,
“If you don’t mind me asking, may I know the name of our savior? Someone with your swordsmanship must be renowned.”
Vanessa didn’t answer immediately, instead looking at me.
I leaned in and whispered,
‘Give him a fake name.’
While Vanessa wasn’t as famous as the Four Heavenly Kings, she was still the captain of the Demon Lord’s guard. It was best to be cautious.
Vanessa, understanding my meaning, removed her helmet and replied,
“My name is Janet.”
The caravan master’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re a woman?”
Even without her full armor, her gender was still ambiguous with her helmet on.
Realizing his mistake, he cleared his throat and, to change the subject, asked for our names as well.
I swallowed a mouthful of lamb and replied,
“Patrasche.”
“Master Patrasche. And this lady?”
Dorothea, who had been focused on her food and wine, pushed up her sunglasses and said,
“Quattro Vageena.”
“Qu… Lady Vageena, is it?”
“Whatever.”
Dorothea replied curtly and then began to duel with her lamb chops.
It was hard to believe her small body could hold so much food.
The caravan master, seeing that she was only interested in eating, chuckled awkwardly and said to us,
“I seem to have interrupted your meal. Please, continue.”
We resumed our lunch.
Vanessa, perhaps due to her noble upbringing, ate with a grace and elegance that was a sight to behold.
Dorothea and I, both from humble beginnings, had learned proper etiquette, but it still felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes.
Vanessa, on the other hand, was the very picture of refinement.
Since we rarely had the opportunity to eat together, her elegant demeanor was a surprise.
This is what they call unexpected charm, isn’t it?
After about an hour, as we were enjoying dessert, the caravan master praised Vanessa.
“Your etiquette is so impeccable, I found myself staring. Are you perhaps from a noble family?”
Vanessa wiped her mouth with a napkin and replied,
“I abandoned my family name a long time ago.”
“Ah…”
The caravan master gasped, as if in admiration.
While it might have seemed like she had a complicated past, knowing the truth, I found it amusing.
He must be imagining all sorts of dramatic stories in his head.
After dessert, as we were about to leave, the caravan master saw us to the door.
“I look forward to your continued service for the remainder of our journey. And if you ever need my assistance, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our company would like to maintain a good relationship with you.”
Perhaps that was his intention all along.
Well, you don’t get a free meal without a hidden agenda.
He was clearly trying to recruit Vanessa, whose swordsmanship was beyond anything he had ever seen. But unfortunately for him, we weren’t ordinary adventurers.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Thanks to his grand, futile gesture, we had enjoyed a delicious meal. I decided to just go with the flow.
Burp
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The caravan, which had been traveling since morning, finally stopped for the night in a village called Widel.
The name sounded familiar.
I think it was famous for its apple pie festival.
After arriving in the village, the caravan members and adventurers dispersed to find lodging.
We did the same. Normally, parties were given a single room to save money, but perhaps due to the morning’s events, we were given two rooms, and I got one to myself.
After dropping off my luggage, I went straight to the sauna behind the inn.
I wanted to wash up before going to sleep.
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