Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Hassan and An Old Grudge

At first, I thought I must have been mistaken.

There are quite a number of elves on this Gaia Continent, after all. Even someone like Kalidur, the bald-headed monk I know, is an elf by race.

It’s not just him; elves can be found everywhere in Gaia Continent society.

In fact, in a large city like Sodomora, it’s not that uncommon to encounter an elf while walking around town. Even if there’s an elf at a tavern that gathers people, it wouldn’t be strange.

Unlike the indigenous nymphs, who are rare, the outsiders—elves—are somewhat numerous.

Anyway, among the numerous elves, there are quite a few with white hair and red eyes, right?

And I couldn’t help but think that a woman elf with sharp cat-like eyes and a haughty demeanor clenched lips wouldn’t necessarily be limited to Elpride.

“Ah, even in Sodomora, our fame is spreading. Is it because I’ve advertised at various parties? Being this popular is troublesome, isn’t it Elfi?”

But then, sh*t, it really was Elpride.

An albino elf is a special switching entity among outsider fairies. Elpride is like an extremely rare Pokémon Ichara in the world of elves. There couldn’t possibly be two of such entities.

If we were talking about King Gold Carp, she would be an incredibly rare specimen of that sort. Of course, Elpride is closer in nature to Gyarados than King Carp.

sh*t.

I couldn’t believe that Elpride would show up at my cozy place in Sodomora, at a tavern I frequently visit.

That’s why I froze at the entrance, unable to step inside.

What should I do? I really wanted to turn around and leave, but Luna was looking at me with a curious expression.

“What are you doing? Let’s go in. It looks like Malco hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Ah, uh, yeah.”

Despite feeling unusually strange today, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse Luna.

For some reason, I felt like I should follow everything Luna said today and treat her especially well.

While trying to figure out what to do, I remembered that I have a spare towel in my pouch at my waist.

A long, coarse cloth that can be used for various purposes.

If I wrap it around my face, it might resemble the turbans worn by desert Sandmen, effectively hiding most of my face.

So that’s what I did. Thankfully, it seemed like she hadn’t noticed me yet.

“Hassan, why are you covering your head like that? Are you experiencing a headache?”

Then, suddenly, Luna called out my name, and I nearly jumped back like a scared cat.

Clearly, hiding my face wasn’t enough.

The name “Hassan” stands out too much. If she were to hear it, a calamity beyond my imagination could occur.

However, luckily, the female adventurers sitting at the central table were busy laughing and chatting among themselves, showing no interest in my direction.

Quickly, I guided Luna by the waist to a corner where we wouldn’t be visible from the central table.

“Malco might not be able to see us from here.”

“That guy’s fine for now.”

“Besides, Hassan, why are you speaking so quietly?”

“… Uh, how should I say this. We might be involving ourselves with the thieves’ guild, and since we’re stepping into matters regarding the suppression of the thieves’ guild, we need to be cautious.”

“So, Hassan, you’re saying you’re preparing to sneak around quietly?”

Luna looked at me with wide eyes, reiterating her question. Though I wasn’t really sure what “sneaking” meant, I nodded.

“Yeah, something like that. Concealing our identities.”

“Hmm… sneaking does sound cool. So, hiding your face and speaking quietly is part of that, is it? Should I hide my face too?”

Luna flipped on a cow skull bone helmet dangling from her back. While it is rather peculiar, the tavern is already filled with oddly dressed youths, so this helmet doesn’t really stand out. In fact, compared to pink hair, the cow skull looks more commonplace.

Regardless, I was grateful Luna had misunderstood it this way.

I told Luna, “So, how about we address each other with different names while here?”

“Names?”

“Yeah, something like nicknames…”

“Fake names? Like how Diomedes and Odysseus infiltrated Troy?”

“Uh, what?”

“I know the story of the Trojan War.”

I wasn’t sure, but it seemed stories about infiltration tactics were well-known in this world. The Trojan War… thinking back, there was an enormous war between this kingdom and another about ten years ago. Is that the story she’s referring to?

Regardless, it was beneficial that Luna was misunderstanding the situation.

“So, we’re using fake names.”

“Fake names. I’ve always wanted to try them. Hmm… let’s see. Then, I’ll go first. Hmm, let’s go with…”

Without ordering food, Luna excitedly muttered to herself as she came up with her pseudonym. After some time, she suddenly called out softly.

“It’s hard to come up with on the spot.”

“Ah, I get it.”

In truth, I always took quite a bit of time to think up nicknames, deciding carefully only to be greeted with “already taken nickname,” forcing me to give up. Luna also seemed to be the type to put a lot of thought into creating a pseudonym.

“Then, should I choose one for you?”

After watching Luna deliberate for a while, I suggested this idea. Actually, the more pressing matter was making sure Luna didn’t call me Hassan, rather than coming up with fake names.

“You’d choose a name for me?”

“Yeah, let me pick it for you.”

“Oh, okay… Naming someone feels kind of strange. It’s almost like with lovers…”

Strangely, Luna’s reaction was more bashful than expected. Despite hiding her face with a skull bone, I could tell her cheeks flushed.

Thinking back, creating aliases was something couples typically did, wasn’t it?

Realizing this, I too felt quite awkward.

“So, what should I call you?”

“Eh, let’s see, how does this sound?”

sh*t, I couldn’t think of anything immediately. I just blurted out whatever came to mind.

“Chikorita.”

“What’s that?”

“It exists, yes. It’s cute. Soft too…”

“Soft? Have you touched it? She’s a girl, right?”

“No, I haven’t touched it, it’s an animal… Hmm, I’m not sure how to explain it exactly. Anyway, I like it, Chikorita.”

“Chikorita…”

Luna seemed to weigh the name “Chikorita” carefully on her tongue. I hoped she liked it. Frankly, what else suited Luna but Chikorita?

Yadoran might’ve fit based on color alone, but it seemed a bit inappropriate for such a cute girl.

“Then, call me by my nickname.”

After thinking it over, Luna spoke to me.

“Ch… Chikorita.”

It was the first time I realized how awkward and uncomfortable calling someone a nickname could feel.

Calling Elpride derogatory names never felt this way. Was it a difference in attachment?

“Hmm… I think I’ll stop here.”

But it seemed Luna didn’t particularly like the nickname “Chikorita,” quickly losing interest.

“Why?”

“It feels like I’m calling someone else.”

“Normally, that’s the point of aliases.”

“Still, I prefer it if Hassan calls me by my real name.”

“Hmm, if that’s how you feel, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Then, I’ll give Hassan a nickname! Since your hair is black, what about ‘Blackie’?”

“No, that doesn’t seem quite right.”

“How about ‘Yellowie’ since your skin is a bit yellow?”

I’ve always felt that naming in Luna’s world was a bit intuitive. The wolf spider is named Keng Keng because it howls like one, “black” for dark skin, and “yellow” for a yellowish complexion.

Ultimately, before fixing on a nickname, we ended up ordering the menu, and the food arrived.

As always, a few pieces of meat floating in a thin broth and hard bread soaked for breakfast, all for five copper coins.

While eating, my eyes kept drifting towards the central table.

“Sam, you keep staring somewhere.”

“Sam” appeared to be the nickname Luna had given me, though it was merely half my name. But for disguise purposes, it was probably enough.

Still, hearing this strange name from Luna felt peculiar, as though she was with someone else.

After this ordeal, we’d stop with the nicknames.

Anyway, I gave a fake cough, pretending to be oblivious. As I did, Luna slightly turned around, the cow skull creaking slightly.

“That’s Delphina over there. That silver-tier adventurer.”

Luna had noticed the group I had been looking at.

“Wow, a whole team of silver-tier adventurers! I heard high-level adventurers are often too proud to work together, but seeing them like this makes it all the more fascinating. Fascinating people.”

The sparkle in Luna’s eyes behind the skull was visible. Presumably, she was observing the people sitting at that table.

Blonde short hair, a close-fitting shirt — Delphina.

A female monk with long hair in a bun, carrying a scepter and wearing a blue monk’s robe.

Next to her, a woman with braided hair in a Chinese-style red dress, likely a fighter.

Lastly, an albino elf with a staff over her back, wearing tight leather pants — quite an impression.

It was surprising to see Elpride, who usually hung around in men’s groups, creating a party solely with women.

They were all high-level adventurers, and judging by their grooming, they weren’t struggling financially. They certainly garnered attention and interest.

Indeed, the customers filling the inn’s dining area all kept glancing at and murmuring about the central table.

Luna was no different.

“Hassan, look. There’s a white elf. This is the first time I’ve seen one.”

So captivated was Luna that she had even forgotten to use my nickname. Fair enough; hastily-created settings weren’t something Luna was usually detail-oriented about.

“Beautiful. Her eyes are red, like a rabbit’s. Rabbits are delicious, though.”

“Ugh, that’s right.”

“Did you know? Female elves are naturally high in magical power and are excellent sorcerers.”

“Is that so? Let’s stop talking about elves for now.”

For some reason, I felt an ominous premonition that continuing to discuss the elf would make her turn around and approach us.

“…White elf, white snake, white toad, white spider. White… Anyway, they say white creatures are born with extraordinary abilities. If I could just get a strand of her hair, it’d be nice.”

I found the situation awkward where Luna had taken interest in Elpride. Was it similar to a girlfriend showing interest in one’s ex?

I wasn’t sure since I’ve never had both a current and past girlfriend, sh*t!

While I was fidgeting nervously,

“Hey, bartender!”

Delphina at the central table raised her hand high and called out to the innkeeper. The gazes of everyone observing their movements snapped to her immediately.

I was curious too. Were they finishing and leaving? Please, let it be.

Instead,

The words from Delphina’s mouth were completely different.

“Hey, what’s that thing?”

Delphina pointed her finger toward a signboard placed in the corner of the shop. A long wooden panel with characters carved all over it. Was there such a thing in this tavern?

As I was pondering this, Delphina continued,

“Is that really true? That this is a regular haunt of Hassan from Samaria?”

What the hell?

Before I could understand what she meant, I quickly turned my gaze to the signboard.

“Highly praised by customers for their exceptional efficacy in relieving fatigue, our food is especially favored by Hassan from Samaria…” The text carved on the wood read.

What the hell is this? When did this even get made?

The innkeeper grinned.

“Are you familiar with Hassan from Samaria as well? He’s become a rising star on everyone’s lips in Sodomora.”

“Ah? Is that so? Elfi.”

Delphina, with narrow eyes, glanced at the elf in the corner. Elpride was calmly sipping on her glass of water.

Delphina asked,

“Tell us more.”

“Indeed, the rumors of a powerful adventurer seem to attract another powerful adventurer. Excellent. There’s none who knows Mr. Hassan as well as I do. Hassan’s skills are said to be able to capture lions with his bare hands and peel the skin off living alligators!”

“Hmm…”

“He also achieved great feats, such as defeating the Titan’s descendant one-on-one during the war! In fact, I’ve always been good at spotting talent. I knew he’d become this famous. I guess he owes some of his strength to eating and drinking at our inn, right?”

“Is that so. Then, do you happen to know anything about the man’s past? Where he came from before arriving in this city, his history, how he lived?”

“History? History, you say. Well, I don’t really have much to say about his—”

While the innkeeper stroked the beard on his chin, another figure sitting in the corner spoke up.

“He’s supposedly a tremendous murderer. They say he killed too many of his own people in the Black Wilderness and got exiled!”

That triggered another voice.

“He was also supposedly part of the Argo expedition.”

“Or, that he’s a hidden disciple of Kairos!”

As everyone tried to seize the moment to connect with the high-level adventurers and form small acquaintances,

Clang!

The sound of a glass hitting the table echoed.

It was Elpride.

Amidst the suddenly descending silence in the inn, she alone maintained a stern expression.

And then,

She burst into deep laughter with a wide-open mouth,

“Hahahahahah!”

[Author’s Afterword]

By the way, gold-tier adventurers can have… up to n spouses.

There’ll be no discarded heroines. I aim to navigate this well…!!! Rest assured, everyone!!!

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