As Leo made his way downstairs, the lively noise of the inn washed over him—cheering, laughter, the clatter of plates. Just like in the morning, the dining hall was full of energy, packed with adventurers and travelers enjoying their meals.
Leo quietly walked over to an empty table and took a seat. Moments later, a young girl in a maid outfit approached him with a smile.
"Good evening, sir. What would you like to order?"
Leo blinked. "Uh… well, I'm kind of new here, so I don't really know anything on the menu. Could you bring it to me?"
"Of course!" she replied cheerfully. She turned, walked over to the counter, picked up a menu, and brought it back to him.
Leo stared at the pages.
What even is half of this? Roast lizard tongue? Spicy wyvern stew? Boiled… slime? Ahh, I have no idea what any of these taste like. What if I pick something weird and my stomach declares war on me? I'm too young to die like that…
Before Leo could decide, the maid asked, "Umm… are you the person who rented a room earlier?"
Leo looked up. "Yeah, that's me."
She smiled. "Ah, I see! Feren told me about you."
"Oh," Leo said, then looked down at the menu again. "Uh… I'll just take this. One single steak, please."
"Got it!" She turned to leave.
"Wait," Leo said. "Where's Feren?"
"She's helping us out in the kitchen and with some of the work today," the girl explained, before heading back behind the counter and disappearing into the kitchen.
Leo leaned back in his chair, finally relaxing—until the peace shattered.
The door slammed open and a loud, obnoxious voice echoed through the dining hall.
"I told you it was YOUR fault we lost, damn it! You should've used your damn fire magic!"
A rowdy group of four entered the cafe. One of them—a red-haired girl—snapped back. "Oh please! Maybe YOU should learn how to move that crappy sword of yours."
The third, a muscular guy with a sleeveless shirt, laughed. "You two panic too much. That's why we lost in the Empire Tournament qualifiers."
The fourth, another girl, scoffed. "Oh really, muscles? You barely lasted five minutes out there."
The party continued arguing loudly as they moved through the tables—until they stopped right in front of Leo.
The muscle guy narrowed his eyes at him. "Oi, move aside. We're taking this table."
Leo looked up. "Uh… I already ordered and sat down first. There are plenty of other seats."
The red-haired girl raised a brow. "What's with the mask? Trying to look mysterious or something?"
The noise of the cafe started dying down. People nearby turned to watch.
Another girl in the group smirked. "It's probably hiding a burn. Or maybe he's just ugly."
They all laughed—loudly, obnoxiously.
The muscle guy slammed his fist on the table. "Alright, Mask Kid. Move, or I'll crush you."
Leo, still seated, tilted his head calmly. "You can try."
Gasps echoed from the crowd.
The muscle guy gritted his teeth. "You little—!"
He raised his arm to punch—but froze. A sharp cold sensation touched his neck.
Everyone stared.
A blade.
Leo's sword was pointed directly at the man's throat—so fast and so precise, not even the others saw when he moved.
The muscle man's face paled. "Wha…"
The door slammed again—Feren ran out from the back.
"Hey! Dark Riders, I told you already! You and your party were banned from this place. Did you forget that, or did your memory go as bad as your manners?"
The entire room stayed silent. The muscle guy backed away slowly, trying to act casual.
"A-Ahh, right. We forgot," he muttered. "We're leaving. No need to make a fuss about this… crappy place."
They turned and walked out quickly, the crowd glaring at them the entire way.
As soon as the door shut behind them, the cafe erupted in chatter.
"Did you see that?"
"That masked guy didn't even blink!"
"Finally, someone shut those jerks up."
"Serves the Dark Riders right!"
Feren walked over to Leo's table with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry, Hades. You just got here and already ended up in a fight."
Leo blinked.
Oh right. I'm 'Hades' here. Almost forgot that.
Leo adjusted his mask and shook his head. "No, it's alright. But… that guy mentioned something about a competition of the empire. Can you tell me more about it?"
If it's an official empire competition… then maybe the king is involved. I might find a lead there.
Feren nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, the Empire's Grand Tournament? I'll tell you everything. But… you'll have to wait until midnight. Is that okay with you?"
Leo nodded. "Sure. I can wait."
"Good," she smiled. "Now just stay put. Your steak's almost ready."
Leo leaned back, arms folded, as the scent of grilled meat filled the air.
The aroma hit Leo like a blessing from the gods. He leaned forward, sniffing dramatically.
"Whoa… whatever that is, it smells divine."
A moment later, the same maid from earlier approached with a plate. "Here's your steak, sir."
"Thanks," Leo said, trying not to drool.
She gave a polite nod and hurried back to her work, leaving Leo alone with the steaming dish. He stared at it like it was a priceless treasure.
Okay, calm down. It's just a steak... just a regular—nope, nevermind, this looks like it could make me weep.
He waited for it to cool a little, then took his first bite.
His eyes widened.
Heavens above, did they season this with fairy dust? Did a dragon breathe on this meat to make it tender? Is this how royalty eats every day?
By the time he was done, Leo leaned back with a satisfied sigh, staring at his empty plate with pride.
He glanced toward the counter.
Hmm... Feren's still busy, huh? I've got some time to kill. Maybe a little walk will help me digest... and get to know this place better.
Slipping out of the cafe, Leo found himself in the lively streets of the capital. Night had fallen, but the city refused to sleep. Warm lights bathed the cobblestone roads, and the hum of laughter and conversation filled the air. Small stalls lined the paths, performers entertained on corners, and the energy pulsed like a heartbeat.
He stopped people as he walked, asking innocent questions to get a better feel for the kingdom.
"Excuse me," he asked a middle-aged man selling fruit. "How's life in the empire these days?"
"Eh? Could be better," the man replied with a shrug. "Taxes are high, but the new council keeps the peace."
Later, he asked a group of children playing near a fountain, "Is it fun living here?"
A girl twirled in place, laughing. "It's the best! There's always something happening!"
Even the elderly had similar answers. "This kingdom's stable," one old woman told him while feeding pigeons. "Not perfect... but far better than most."
Leo frowned slightly.
Weird. I asked so many people, and yet no one mentioned anything odd. No rebellions, no corruption rumors, nothing suspicious. Isn't that a little too... clean?
As he headed back toward the cafe, he noticed a crowd gathering at the town square. Curious, he weaved his way through them. Cheers rang out as families laughed and clapped.
At the center of the gathering stood a man dressed in flamboyant jester's attire, juggling while hopping around on one foot. The crowd roared in delight as he suddenly handed out colorful paper slips to everyone.
When he reached Leo, he paused dramatically and leaned in. "Hey, mask guy!" he whispered with a wide grin. "You and me—we're both hiding something, huh?"
Leo blinked.
...Okay, that was kinda creepy—but also hilarious.
The jester laughed heartily, slapped the paper into Leo's hand, and spun away.
Leo stepped out of the crowd and glanced down at the slip. On it, in bold, playful letters, were the words:
"Royal Carnival Festival – Tomorrow Night! Don't Miss It!"
So, there's a carnival tomorrow, huh?
His eyes wandered over the stars above.
Might be a good idea to ask Feren if she's going. Her subordinates work hard... maybe they deserve a little fun. Me? I'll probably have to sit this one out. Got business to handle.
Tucking the paper into his pants, Leo turned back toward the direction of the cafe, his footsteps light, the world around him slowly growing more intriguing with every step.