Chapter 163: New Business (3)

Baron Fleur's mercenaries swiftly occupied the inn.

Even the simple act of moving a glass or conversing with the person next to you became restricted, leaving us all bewildered.

"Don't think of doing anything suspicious."

"It's the Baron's procession!"

Swoosh—

Baron Fleur, wearing black leather gloves, gestured with his hand.

"Don't scare them too much. We're just dinner-time guests, that's all."

The soldiers' defensive stance, which seemed ready to strike in all directions, softened slightly at his words. Still, the situation made it impossible for anyone to casually drink anymore.

Having such an atmosphere during an evening when everyone should be relaxed felt a bit uncomfortable. I, too, felt a bit upset that my date with Luna was interrupted.

Of course, I couldn't protest or say anything about it.

I, Hassan, was a commoner, so I had to be careful with my words in front of nobles. Damn, who would have thought that I, a citizen of liberal democracy, would submit to such a social hierarchy?

But even when I was living in Korea, I became more meek in front of higher-ranking people.

Thinking about it, it seemed that there was almost no difference between here and there.

"Hassan, it seems like we often encounter nobles these days...!"

However, Luna whispered to me as if finding the situation quite interesting. It was indeed a rare experience for her to face nobles she wouldn't normally come across.

It was like eating at a BBQ restaurant and suddenly having a member of parliament walk in. At first, you would be surprised, but later, you would brag about it to someone you knew.

It seemed that Luna had the exact sentiment like that.

Wrapped tightly in black cloth, Baron Fleur spoke.

"My daughter is dealing with an illness, and we might receive a marriage proposal for her from Viscount Clementor's family in Kalkata. I need to address this situation promptly."

"...An illness?"

The innkeeper asked as if he heard something he shouldn't have.

His question prompted the voices around him to grow louder, with people asking, "An illness?" "The Baron's daughter is sick?"

I was surprised too. I never expected nobles or aristocrats to reveal their weak points so openly like this.

If one was a noble's daughter, they would likely grow up with high status and eventually engage in strategic marriages. Having rumors spread about having an illness would certainly tarnish their image.

At least, based on my observations during my two years in this world, that was how nobles tended to behave.

However, there seemed to be exceptions as well.

Was the illness afflicting the Baron's daughter something they couldn't hide and so severe that he had to urgently seek help in a slum tavern like this place?

At that moment, someone in the inn raised their hand.

Clank— Clank—

The soldiers acted as if they were ready to aim their swords and spears at him, but the man didn't seem to care and spoke up.

"Baron Fleur, I am Red Khezu, an apprentice alchemist from the South Gate Alchemist Guild. While we are on the topic, may I ask what illness the Baron's beloved daughter is suffering from?"

At those words, I could feel the eyes and ears of those around us directed at the Baron.

The daughter of a noble afflicted with an illness. She must have grown up only consuming and seeing the finest things. So what kind of illness could it be?

I, too, was somewhat intrigued.

Was it an endemic disease or perhaps a curse?

At that moment, the Baron shattered the chaotic murmurs like a dagger.

"A disease that causes her breast to shrink."

"Is there such a disease?"

"That's truly dreadful."

Deep sighs were heard from all around. Most of the female adventurers who were drinking inside the tavern reacted strongly, including Luna.

"To have such a terrifying illness...! It's so pitiful!"

However, I felt somewhat disinterested because I had been thinking of illnesses like bone marrow tumors or leukemia.

A disease that caused one's breasts to shrink... What could that be? I vaguely recalled hearing about such a disease even on Earth.

From a male perspective, should I think of it as a disease that would cause my genitalia to shrink? The thought was so terrible that I wanted to scream. If that was the case, they should urgently find a healer.

At that moment, Baron Fleur raised his hand again and asked the alchemist who had asked the question earlier.

"Is there a potion that can enlarge breasts?"

"...There probably isn't. If such a thing existed, people would have already made a fortune from it."

"That's true. Anyway, Bargo. The meeting between my daughter and the Viscount's son is scheduled for next week. I can't wait any longer."

The conversation direction returned to the innkeeper, whose name turned out to be Bargo. It suited him, but it wasn't a name that easily rolled off the tongue.

The innkeeper spoke with a troubled expression.

"I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to go through such things, but..."

"Your wife, Echo, was a nymph, wasn't she? If it was the healer who could stimulate nymph bodies to that extent—"

The innkeeper hurriedly cut off the Baron's words as if his hair was standing on end while muttering something.

"I, well, Your Lordship, I will certainly try my best, but the healer in question is very busy, and he doesn't just come whenever. I'm not sure when he will be available. He's very secretive, too..."

"All right, I understand. If that's the case, take this. If he comes this week, tell him to come here without fail."

Swish—

As the Baron in the black hat nodded exaggeratedly, the soldiers around quickly put away their weapons and vacated their positions.

In an instant, after those people left, the inn now felt as cold and dreary as a frozen lake in winter, even though the tables were still full.

Damn it, what the hell was that?

After that, when Luna and I resumed our idle chat about whether cats or dogs were cuter-

Thud—

The innkeeper placed a plate with two steaming hot potatoes in front of Luna and left.

We didn't order this dish, but I then noticed a small note tucked underneath the plate.

#

"Innkeeper, why did you want me to come here? What do you want to talk about?"

I excused myself from the table with Luna momentarily and stepped away. The innkeeper had called me to the underground room, where I gave his wife a massage.

I felt a sense of guilt as if my conscience was getting pricked so hard that it was uncomfortable for me just being in that place.

I wanted to hurry back to the table where Luna was waiting for me. Luna might misunderstand and think I had some big secret if the conversation dragged on. I didn't want to be misunderstood like that.

"Let's get to the point since I'm busy."

As I spoke, the innkeeper, who had been pacing nervously, stopped in his tracks.

"Samaritan brother, I can no longer delay this matter at my discretion. Baron Fleur himself has come here after all."

"Ah..."

"Darn it, I've been so busy with all the customers coming in lately that I forgot about it. I never expected him to come all the way here. So, while we're at it, can you do something about this?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean, just like what you did to my wife, Echo. Can't you do it to Baron Fleur's daughter as well?"

I remembered what I had done to the innkeeper's wife. It was in this cramped underground room where I had touched her chest. To touch someone else's wife like that...

Honestly, the memory of that time felt like a thorn stuck in the palm of my hand, and whenever I occasionally recalled it, my conscience would get pricked.

"Can't you do something about this?"

"Are you asking me to increase her chest size?"

And in the first place, is it even possible to increase one's chest size? In the case of Echo, the innkeeper's wife, it was only because she was under some curse or something that hindered her growth.

And the method used to help her was touching her chest.

Who would have known that, as a result, her chest would grow, and her body itself would also grow to become slender and graceful?

And to make matters worse, I didn't know that nobles would even start coming to me, asking for the same thing.

"Anyway, I'm busy with inn business, so let's wrap this up quickly. How about giving it a try, at least? Here, this is the note given to me by the Baron."

Ssk—

The innkeeper handed me a small piece of paper.

I accepted it in a hasty manner.

Now that I look at it, calling it a handkerchief with red petals threads embroidered on white silk would suit it better.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"It's a red tulip. It's the coat of arms of Baron Fleur's family. If you go to the Baron's mansion and show it to the guards, they will let you in."

So, is it like an invitation that allows access to a noble's mansion? A pass to freely enter a noble's house?

I never expected to receive something like this in my lifetime.

I felt touched, but at the same time, I also felt worried.

Getting involved with nobles might be dangerous. High-ranking positions were quite intimidating for someone like me, a commoner.

As I was putting the handkerchief in my pocket, the innkeeper added one more thing.

"Samaritan brother, if you're going to meet Baron Fleur, it's best to conceal your identity. He's a good person, but he despises immigrants and barbarians."

"Is that so?"

"He seems to have his reasons. I don't know all the details, but he's known for disliking immigrants. He's one of the hardliners in the Sodomora Council."

It was not that rare to find someone who dislikes barbarians and immigrants in this world. Honestly, I was not fond of them either.

But the only thing that could rival my dislike for them was my hate for racism.

"Still, it's not a bad thing for you, Brother. Baron Fleur is rumored to be very generous. If you handle it well, you might get a big reward."

"Generous? How generous are we talking about here?"

"I heard that he paid a certain healer one gold coin for curing his cherished horse. So, if you cure his daughter's illness, let alone a single coin you might get an entire pouch!"

A pouch filled with golds?

Usually, a pouch could hold about 50 golds.

Did that mean I could receive 50 golds?

Holy shit! Fifty golds! I could almost hear the melodious clinking sound and feel the tingling sensation in my ears, and it made my head spin.

With that money, I could pay for Hypholite's Aura training for 36 months upfront and still have money left. Of course, that was assuming I could really increase her chest size.

Somehow, I gained confidence that I could do it.

"Alright, I understand. Then I'll find a way to do it somehow. But this matter must remain a secret, as always."

"Understood. Aren't you and I already bound by fate? I'll take this secret to the grave."

Since the innkeeper was easy to communicate with in many ways, I was about to consider using his name instead of calling him innkeeper. But I couldn't remember it, so I decided to stick with "innkeeper."

#

When I returned to the table, some unfamiliar men were loitering around Luna's side.

It wasn't surprising anymore since Luna was quite attractive, and men would often approach her. But there was one thing that fucking irritated me.

Was it because of her small and petite size, along with her pink hair, that she exuded an exotic atmosphere?

"I'm a rising bronze-tier adventurer. Have you heard of the name Beremiz? Beremiz with the twin axes. I recently took down ten goblins at once."

From his words, he seemed to be a bronze-tier adventurer. The two axes crossed in an X shape on his back looked quite convincing for chopping things effectively.

Lately, he had been taking on and completing various requests, so I guess you could say he had become a rising rookie with both skills and confidence.

Although his face wasn't particularly handsome, he exuded a lively and confident aura typical of spirited men. He seemed quite strong.

"I have a vow of chastity. Also, I'm in a fixed party, and my party member will be back soon, so get out of the way!"

Of course, Luna firmly raised her guard as always. Is this what they call "hitting a brick wall"?

Watching her being like that touched my heart, and I felt proud of the affectionate relationship between her and me.

But this confident, rising rookie adventurer also seemed persistent.

"I'll become a gold-tier adventurer someday. I don't mind that you have a vow of chastity."

"But I mind it. Now get lost before I fold you in half."

The men were taken aback as I approached them with a brusque gesture.

"Oh damn, it's the Samaritan-!"

The bronze necklaces around their necks jingled as they were startled. Of course, I was also wearing a similar bronze necklace.

"I said scram!"

"Sorry, we didn't know you were with her. Excuse us."

They probably noticed that the difference between them and me was quite significant.

Of course, there were also some guys who couldn't comprehend my words and indulged in male bravado while they were in front of women.

The group of men I met today seemed to have fairly good instincts as they quickly stepped back. Seeing how they knew when to retreat, they might be skilled adventurers after all.

However, surprisingly, there were plenty of adventurers who didn't know when to withdraw or advance and ended up in trouble.

"No, wait. Just a moment. We're not going like this."

Swoosh—

Just as I thought everyone was going to continue on their way, a man turned back and approached me with his twin axes or something like that.

Was this bastard refusing to give up and trying to pick a fight with me? That was when I lightly rested my hand on my hip, hinting that I might show him the taste of my club.

"Um, are you that Hassan of Samaria? Could you please give me an autograph?"