Robert and I continued talking for a while inside the small stable.
Most of it was simple conversation.
He asked me about my condition, whether my wounds still hurt, and if I could walk properly. I answered as best as I could, although my body still felt weak.
Then suddenly, Robert looked at me with a curious expression.
"Hey, Kazu."
"Yeah?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"That tiger in the forest earlier..."
My heart skipped a beat.
"...Did you defeat it?"
I hesitated for a moment.
But lying didn't seem necessary.
"...Yeah."
Robert stared at me silently for a few seconds.
Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! I knew it!"
"You really are something, kid."
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"It wasn't exactly a clean fight."
Robert waved his hand dismissively.
"Doesn't matter. A tiger is still a tiger."
Then he stood up.
"Oh right, I almost forgot."
He looked a little embarrassed.
"We already cut up the tiger and cooked the meat."
"...You what?"
"Sorry, I should've told you earlier," he said with a sheepish grin. "But you were sleeping the entire afternoon."
He pointed outside.
"You passed out around noon."
"And now it's already eight at night."
Eight?
I hadn't realized I slept that long.
Robert suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Anyway!"
"Tonight we're having a feast."
"A feast?"
He nodded proudly.
"You brought down a tiger."
"That doesn't happen every day in this village."
He walked toward the door.
"Come on."
"Today, you're our king."
Before I could even respond, he grabbed my arm and helped me stand up.
My body still hurt, but I managed to walk slowly.
Outside, the night air was cool.
A small bonfire burned in the center of the village. Several villagers sat around it, talking and laughing while roasting meat over the flames.
The moment they saw us, someone shouted.
"Oh! Our hero is awake!"
Everyone turned to look at me.
An older man with a thick beard walked closer, holding a mug of something that smelled like alcohol.
"So this is the boy who killed the tiger?"
He looked me up and down.
"Haha! You look so young!"
"Are you really the one who did it?"
Another villager laughed.
"Maybe the tiger died from embarrassment!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
I could only smile awkwardly.
Robert patted my shoulder.
"Don't mind them."
"They're just happy."
A woman approached with a wooden plate.
On it was a large piece of roasted meat.
"Here, hero," she said kindly. "This is your share."
I stared at the food.
The smell alone made my stomach growl loudly.
The villagers laughed again.
"Haha! Look at that!"
"Feed the hero!"
I finally took a bite.
The meat was surprisingly tender.
And delicious.
For the first time since arriving in this world, I felt something close to peace.
The villagers talked loudly around the fire, sharing drinks and stories.
Some of them asked me questions.
"Where are you from?"
"How did you fight the tiger?"
"Are you a traveler?"
I answered vaguely whenever I could.
Eventually the feast began to quiet down as people returned to their homes.
Robert stood up and stretched.
"Alright."
He looked at me.
"Let's get you back to the stable."
We slowly walked back through the quiet village.
The night sky above us was full of unfamiliar stars.
When we returned to the stable, Robert sat down on the wooden crate again.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Robert sighed.
"You know… there's something strange going on in this kingdom lately."
I glanced at him.
"What do you mean?"
Robert lowered his voice.
"It's just a rumor."
"But some people say…"
He hesitated for a moment.
"...that the current king poisoned the previous king."
My eyes widened slightly.
"Poisoned him?"
Robert shrugged.
"Who knows if it's true."
"Rumors spread easily."
"But some people think the old king didn't die from illness."
He looked toward the stable door.
"They say the throne was taken."
The air suddenly felt heavier.
After a moment, Robert shook his head.
"Ah, forget it."
"It's just gossip."
He stood up.
"You should get some sleep."
"You need it."
He grabbed a blanket and tossed it toward me.
"Oh, and Kazu."
"Yeah?"
Robert grinned.
"Tomorrow I'll take you around the forest."
"I'll show you the area."
My eyes lit up slightly.
"Really?"
"Of course."
I hesitated before asking another question.
"...Robert."
"Hm?"
"Can you teach me how people make money in this world?"
For a moment, Robert looked surprised.
Then he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"Kid, you just woke up from near death and you're already thinking about money?"
I scratched my head.
"Well... I have to survive somehow."
Robert wiped a tear from his eye.
"Fair enough."
He nodded.
"Alright."
"I'll teach you."
"But for now—"
He pointed at the hay bed.
"Sleep."
My body was already exhausted.
I lay down and pulled the blanket over myself.
The last thing I heard before falling asleep was Robert blowing out the lantern.
Tomorrow would be my first real day in this world.