Olek was devastated to learn that everything he'd believed was actually exaggerated nonsense ant for children under 8 who still played in alleys instead of working.
But that wasn't my concern - what mattered was the Wesley family story.
Fortunately, these three minstrels were reasonable people. They showed proper alarm at spreading false rumors about the hero, and despite their burly appearance, they were observant and knowledgeable like retired adventurers should be - perfect for getting information from.
"To think our young master actually t a real hero party. When he left for the Kingdom making such bold claims, who'd have thought they'd co true?"
"Bold claims? What exactly did he say?"
"Well, you know, manly stuff about wanting to face off against the hero. Said even if the hero was mighty, they couldn't match a northern man, just going on and on about his ambitions..."
"Hey, hey now!"
Olek jumped in alarm at the three adventurers' revelations. Of course, I wasn't bothered by re expressions of wanting to test his skills - he hadn't actually cursed or anything.
What interested wasn't how gullible Olek had been before coming to the Kingdom, but rather the Wesley family treasure - the story about treasure hidden at the rainbow's end. I needed to steer the conversation carefully.
Usually, talkative minstrels like these would loosen their tongues with a few words of praise.
"By the way, I wanted to ask sothing. Olek told an interesting story."
"An interesting story? What kind...?"
"About treasure at the rainbow's end."
"Ah, that story!"
From what I could tell, these three worked together seamlessly, having adventured as a team. They were so well-integrated with the townspeople that they could even tease the Margrave's son despite being outsiders.
'Blabbermouth' Igor gathered various rumors and found interesting stories, 'Braggart' Tom embellished them to suit people's tastes, and 'Storyteller' Olson, with the loudest voice and best speaking skills, spread the rumors convincingly.
Which ant the Wesley family story must have been sothing Igor picked up sowhere.
"Interestingly, I heard a similar story in the Kingdom's north. Might be sothing you'd find interesting... want to hear it?"
"A story from the hero? Only a madman would refuse!"
"On an empty stomach? And I'm the Holy Sword's owner, the hero's back at the mansion."
"Hahaha!!! If you're chosen by the Goddess, aren't you all heroes? The mage, Sir Roland, the archer, and the nun - you're all heroes!"
The dieval beer was so weak I doubted it even reached 3% alcohol. Figuring you couldn't get drunk on this even if injected straight into your veins, I acted like a jovial drinker, making the three n's mouths stretch into grins.
They were clearly pleased - being able to brag about buying drinks for the Holy Sword's owner could get them invited to wealthy rchants' places instead of just cheap taverns. Soone of my status could make the act of receiving rather than giving feel like a bribe to so people.
Anyway, while I deliberately ignored Han Se-ah's circling cara, Tom elbowed Igor, who quickly jumped up to move a large piece of at from the table to in front of .
"Ahem, the story I heard goes like this-"
The tavern instantly fell silent as I began my tale, making it clear I wasn't just after free beer and at.
"Oh... is that so?"
I told them about a village in the Kingdom's harsh northern mountains inhabited by descendants of those who couldn't cross the range, and the legendary tale of a man who did cross them. Ṝ
Maybe it was their exaggerated northern personalities, but the tavern patrons grew so quiet you couldn't even hear them swallow, so discretely wiping tears from reddened eyes. ...What exactly was so moving about this story that it made them cry?
I really couldn't emotionally connect with northern sensibilities, even if I understood them intellectually. Glancing at Tom, I saw even his burly fra was inappropriately touched by emotion.
"That's my story. But hearing Olek's version made curious about sothing."
"Ahem... curious about what?"
"Olek ntioned sothing about markings on this treasure."
Perhaps risking one's life for an impossible challenge was deeply moving to northerners. Tom, eyes still watery, quietly reached into his pocket.
Given his appearance, you'd expect him to pull out a dagger or hand axe, but instead he produced a dirty, crumpled piece of parchnt. Being a working minstrel, he'd apparently kept records of all the rumors.
Though it was as worn and crumpled as a newsletter forgotten in a school bag, what was drawn on it was clearly the Wesley family crest.
"Oh, oh oh oh!? Quest, quest clue!"
-Should've left the mansion sooner instead of ssing around lololololol
-Teacher auto-completing everything lol Are you just dead weight?
-While you were ogling maids, the quest smoothly progressed here? What are you even doing lol
-Hero creepily smiling at little maids vs Hero gathering info from townspeople lololololololol
-Does the quest window update even from far away? You're just getting carried by your capable companion
Though dirty, crumpled, and partially erased, Han Se-ah's quest window confird it.
※
When a character quest auto-progressed at the local tavern, what kind of strear wouldn't co running? Han Se-ah, fired up by her advancing quest window, practically kidnapped Katie and rushed over.
"Roland, what were you doing outside the mansion?"
"A northern tavern... it's quite similar to our domain."
It was potentially an honorable situation - not just the Holy Sword's owner but the hero and party mber visiting together. Though the tavern keeper fainted in a minor incident, nobody paid much attention.
The other custors were lting at Han Se-ah and Katie's beauty, while the three retired adventurers were so overwheld by the hero's intense approach they could barely breathe.
It was like throwing a popular idol into a group of socially awkward n who couldn't speak in front of won. Han Se-ah, excited about the quest, kept asking questions, but the retired trio could barely stamr responses.
"Did you draw this marking yourself?"
"What's this, it's similar to our family crest... no, it IS our family crest! Why is it here in the north?"
With an exotic beauty with black hair and fair skin on the right and a northern beauty with flowing silver hair on the left pressing close and asking questions, Igor's normally motor-mouth suddenly clamped shut.
Tom and Olson, who could wave their arms around describing giant private parts to neighborhood aunties, beca stuttering mutes in front of Han Se-ah and Katie.
The townspeople burst into laughter again, pounding tables at the sight, creating absolute chaos.
"Well, um, Tom found that!"
"Hey, why'd you say it like that!"
"Really? Where?"
"Uh, well, where was it..."
Regardless, Han Se-ah kept pressing Tom with glittering eyes for quest progression. Katie also tagged along, curious about finding her family crest in a corner of the northern Empire.
Worn down by the one-sided interrogation, Tom wracked his barely functioning brain to recall a mory.
A mory from his past wandering the northern snowfields as a rcenary fighting monster waves and adventurer exploring uncharted territories, before coming to Sibedev domain.
"Ah, yes! I went to a village similar to what Sir Roland described! Actually, after the village disbanded, I got this from a resident who ca down looking for a better life!"
"A village Roland ntioned? The one in the mountain range where people claid to be descendants of knights?"
"Yes, that's right! Ah, now I rember. There were people there who insisted they were from the Kingdom, not the Empire."
...Why was the story I hastily made up turning out to be true?
As Tom gestured wildly while explaining like he'd just rembered, everyone's eyes turned to .
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