But suddenly the inn grew noisy again. Curious, I turned toward the entrance where the commotion was coming from.
“Make way, make way! Don’t block the way, get out of the way!”
I saw soldiers pouring into the inn like a flood. They couldn’t all be here for lunch—they looked like they’d come for someone.
“There they are! Don’t let a single one escape—seize them!”
It seemed clear they meant us.
Could they have come because I’d picked a fight with those men? A nagging worry struck me. But those men had started it…
“Stop. Do you know who I am?”
At that moment, Kyle rose and called in a deep voice, freezing everyone in the inn.
Like a true Hero, Kyle had the power to draw all eyes to him.
He stood there, commanding attention as though on a stage, then looked the soldiers over calmly and said,
“I am a member of the imperial family and enjoy immunity. Unless you are Imperial Knights, you have no authority to arrest me. State whose orders you follow.”
Real charisma, I thought. I’d only seen him smile and joke before—this was unexpected.
“Th-that… Lord, commanded us to bring the Hero’s party. We-we didn’t mean to arrest you…!”
The leader of the soldiers stammered in fear. I could have sworn he’d just shouted “Seize them!”
“We will meet the lord in person. Show us the way.”
Kyle gave the order with practiced ease, and the soldiers obediently began to guide us to the baron.
Following the soldiers’ lead, we made our way to the baron’s castle at the heart of the village.
Only Gerard slipped away when we were brought along. The rest seemed accustomed to his vanishing act and let him be.
At the gates we saw someone waiting for us.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Prince. I am Corden, aide to the baron. Lord Talin Kaindel awaits you in the audience chamber. I will guide you there.”
We followed Corden toward the audience chamber. The party looked composed—as if they were often summoned by lords.
“Don’t be nervous. They probably have a favor to ask.”
Elonen whispered to me, sensing my unease as I glanced around nervously.
“This way, please.”
Corden knocked, then without waiting for a reply swung open the door.
The audience chamber was larger than I had expected. A massive fireplace blazed along one wall, and a long table was set with food.
“Welcome.”
A man wearing a large hat crowned like a small crown and a lavish cloak approached with a warm greeting. His attire left no doubt he was the baron.
“My apologies for summoning you so abruptly. I am Talin Kaindel, baron of Kaindel Barony.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Kyle Delos.”
Kyle introduced himself on behalf of the party.
Baron Talin was a stout, middle-aged man.
“I have heard much of the Hero’s party. It is an honor to meet you in person.”
Holding Kyle’s hand, he toyed with Kyle’s fingers. Kyle’s expression darkened so suddenly he twisted his hand free.
“Please, have a seat. I have provided a light repast.”
On one side of the chamber the long table was laid with bread and wine.
Having been disappointed by the inn’s fare, none of us hesitated to sit.
“Please, eat and speak freely.”
“Since he prepared it for us, we won’t refuse.”
Once Kyle began stuffing bread into his mouth, Talin smiled broadly.
Though I wasn’t eager, I had to eat, so I bit into a piece—and found it surprisingly decent.
The party devoured the food as if they’d been starving for days.
“I have gathered you here to ask a favor,” Talin said, finally broaching the topic. It wasn’t far from what Elonen had predicted.
“I have heard there is a mage among you, and also a saint,” he continued.
Gerard was absent, but no one corrected the baron.
“So what is it you would ask?”
Kyle mumbled around a mouthful of bread.
Talin fiddled with the ring on his hand, clearly anxious.
“You see… for some time, rats have been entering my storehouse.”
Though coarse, I understood. Rats not only ate our precious grain but spread disease.
Perhaps more evil than the Black Flame Dragon… but probably not.
“Are you asking us to exterminate the rats in your storehouse?”
Kyle replied bluntly, unable to hide his incredulity.
“Yes. I hear you do not accept payment, so I will provide any supplies you need. Please consider it.”
Kyle hesitated, looking displeased. After all, slaying the Black Flame Dragon was urgent business—who wanted to waste time on rats?
He stared at his half-eaten bread, then seemed to make up his mind.
“It’s not a difficult task, and we’ve been fed. We will help. However, our schedule is tight, so we must handle it today.”
Even so, no true Hero could refuse a plea for help.
Perhaps the food had put them in a good mood—none of the party objected.
“If you would do that, I am grateful. Since time is precious, let us go to the storehouse once we finish eating.”
Watching Kyle and the others eat eagerly, I set my bread aside. It tasted fine, but I’d lost my appetite.
“Why do you not eat more? Doesn’t it suit your taste?”
A woman sitting opposite me spoke with such familiarity that I wondered if we knew each other—but her face was new to me.
“Who…?”
“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Esther, the baron’s second daughter. Um, Hero’s name is…?”
“Rishian.”
Not a Hero, but I didn’t bother correcting her and gave her my name. Esther’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
“I’m curious—Rishian joined the Hero’s party recently, right? I heard there were four members.”
“Yes, well…”
Why ask that? Before I could think of a suitable reply, Kyle—who had overheard—patted my shoulder with a laugh.
“That’s right! Rishian is the new recruit!”
“Oh, so that’s it!”
Esther seemed thrilled, clasping her hands together.
“May I ask what your ability is, Rishian? Kyle is a swordsman, Gerard a mage, Elonen a saint, Kakaros a Forest Elf. What is your skill?”
How to answer? I couldn’t reveal I was the final villain dragon. Only one word came to mind.
“I am of the trees…”
“A treefolk? Or a tree spirit? No, wait—ah! I got it! A tre…”
“Esther, please stop troubling our guests. My apologies—my daughter is very curious.”
Just as the answer “ordinary lumberjack” hovered in my throat, Talin intervened.
“If you have finished eating, let us move to the storehouse.”
Esther’s disappointed gaze followed me as I stood, but I ignored it.
We followed the baron to the storehouse behind the castle.
The building was old but solid, and quite large. Five or six soldiers patrolled around it.
“For a storehouse, the guard seems rather heavy,” Elonen remarked as he surveyed the area.
“It may seem overkill, but you will understand inside.”
Talin said ominously while pulling a key from his pocket.
After trying several keys, he unlocked the door and led us in. The party followed.
“This storehouse is bigger than I expected.”
“And full of food,” Elonen added, nodding in agreement. Inside, piles of grain and root crops filled the vast space.
While the main road lay bleak and desolate, this village seemed prosperous.
“Kakaros, do you sense miasma?”