"Uncle Glenn, stop teasing me!"
Theresia protested, her face flushed with embarrassment. She clearly wasn't used to such jokes; a deep crimson glow had spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
"Sorry about that. He's actually just like this," Garlan interjected, deciding to help the girl out. "He looks honest and sturdy, but he's got more tricks up his sleeve than anyone. Getting poisoned by a demon was probably karma."
"Hey! You brat! See if I ever help you again!" Glenn shook his head, looking like a disappointed elder.
Hearing Garlan's retort and seeing the two of them bickering like old friends, Theresia was suddenly struck by the humor of it. She let out a small "pfft" and started giggling.
She's easy to appease... much easier than Lia, at least, Garlan noted inwardly. He remembered one time he accidentally knocked over a dish Lia had spent hours preparing; she had been gloomy for an entire day, leaving Garlan at a total loss for how to fix it.
"And this is Mr. Reno. It's our first time working together, but he's a very talented Priest," Glenn continued.
Garlan followed Glenn's gesture to a man named Reno, who was currently squinting at him with a gentle, persistent smile.
"Hello, Mr. Garlan." Reno proactively reached out, appearing very approachable.
"You know me?" Garlan was surprised. He didn't expect a stranger to call him by name instantly. Seeing the friendly gesture, he reached out and shook Reno's hand.
"Pharmacist Garlan—your reputation precedes you. How many people in Rohguri haven't heard of your name?" Reno's smile didn't waver.
Garlan couldn't argue with that, yet for some reason, he felt a strange sense of dissonance.
"So this is the famous Mr. Garlan!" Theresia exclaimed, her eyes shining with newfound admiration. "Why would someone like you join a subjugation commission? Is there a rare medicinal herb in Windmill Village that you need?"
Garlan hadn't expected his "celebrity status" to be this effective. Seeing the young girl so excited made him scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
"Hmph!" Glenn huffed, seemingly annoyed by Garlan's lack of "warrior dignity."
However, Glenn hadn't told them that Garlan was training as a warrior, which made Theresia look a bit worried. Garlan pondered how to explain. He was here for combat experience, and eventually, he'd have to draw his weapon. Better to tell a half-truth than a complicated lie. Besides, letting a young girl worry about his safety felt wrong.
"Don't let the 'pharmacist' title fool you; I've been training as a warrior under Glenn," Garlan said, thumping his chest for emphasis.
"Pfft—then you must be careful at Windmill Village, Mr. Garlan! If anything happens, I'll be sure to help. Oh—my grandmother recovered thanks to the medicine you prescribed. I'm truly grateful." Theresia stood up and gave him a polite bow.
So that's why she's so friendly toward me, Garlan realized. "Please, don't use 'Mr.' or 'Sir.' I'm not much older than you. Just call me Garlan."
"Oh, alright... Gar... lan?" She stuck her tongue out, clearly still adjusting to the informal name.
"Ahem!!!" Glenn coughed loudly and theatrically, breaking the moment. "Enough flirting. Our partners are here; it's time for business."
Standing behind Glenn were the four individuals from the neighboring table. At their head was a middle-aged man with a deep scar over his left eye. He carried a long blade at his waist, and his remaining right eye flickered with a cold, hollow light.
"This is Xis, the leader of the collaborating party," Glenn introduced.
The man named Xis merely swept a cold gaze over Garlan's group without saying a word. His eyes lingered on Garlan for a split second before he unexpectedly turned and walked away.
But Garlan noticed it—the way Xis subtly glanced at Reno the moment he turned. Garlan turned to look at Reno, only to find the priest looking back at him. When their eyes met, Reno offered that same polite, smiling mask.
"Eh? What's that supposed to mean? Aren't you going to discuss the plan?" Glenn was baffled by the sudden departure. Even if Xis had acted like a sourpuss earlier, this was beyond rude. It was as if he didn't even view them as a team, but merely as numbers to fill the commission requirement.
"Don't take it personally," a glamorous woman holding a staff giggled, covering her mouth. She shot a provocative look at Theresia and made a mock-gagging face. "Our leader just... doesn't care for a 'motley crew' like you."
Theresia frowned. She had never met this woman, let alone provoked her.
Seeing their leader had already walked quite a distance, the other three members hurried to catch up, heading straight for the Guild's exit. Before leaving, a blonde boy carrying a sword turned back to make a face at them.
"We're heading out first. Don't drag us down, rookies—!"
Being called a rookie by a teenager, combined with the party's toxic attitude, finally made even the good-natured Glenn snap. "What is wrong with those people? Have adventurers lost all their manners these days? Damn it! I was out on the front lines while they were still in diapers!"
Garlan watched their retreating backs, his mind churning. Something was off about that group—especially Xis. That aura of concealed bloodlust didn't belong to a typical adventurer. If he had to use a word to describe it...
"Glenn."
"Yeah?" Glenn grumbled, sitting back down.
"Did you know them before today?"
"No," Glenn said, throwing up his hands. "The commission required two parties, and they happened to be waiting for a second group. So I called you guys and Reno, who volunteered to join... If I knew they were such a bunch of jerks, I wouldn't have taken the job!"
Garlan silently watched the doorway through which they had disappeared.
"Forget it," Glenn waved a massive hand dismissively. "Let them go. We'll do our own thing. Since they think we're a motley crew, let them be the vanguard. We'll leave later."
"Is that a good idea? We don't have any intel yet. Did the Guild provide any details?"
"No," Glenn shook his head. "The village fell just the day before yesterday. There are likely no survivors. A passing merchant caravan discovered it and brought the news... Hey! Barkeep! Bring me a drink!"
___
There's a few advance chapters on my P@treon
Usually upload 2 Chapters a day in there, except Saturday and Sunday
33 Chapters ahead and will continue to increase
[email protected]/Sp1ced
If you're new to this stuff just replace "@" with "a" for the right link ^^