Book 5: Chapter 5 (7)

Hangover

Having lost the only real lead on the girl’s location, we returned to town.

The goal was to get the bandits to release the kidnapped girl and that goal was accomplished. My involvement in this matter should be over. However, the girl was released to me the night before so now I’m more involved than ever.

I turned into a complete fool when I drank too much last night and took her to some place that I can’t remember. And if I can’t remember anything, I have to find someone that recognizes me and might have information.

We decided our next course of action would be to wander through town in the hopes of finding someone that I met last night.

“Tanaka-san, do you really not remember anything?”

“I’m sorry. There’s just a gap in my memory….”

Richard looked embarrassed on my behalf.

This made me feel even more uncomfortable.

The cuckold couple walked alongside him. They must have overheard our conversation through the carriage windows when we spoke to the bandits. The constant suspicious stares they gave me physically hurt. The constant stares from everyone made me feel like I was surrounded.

“You continue to be an interesting person to know.”

“This isn’t funny, Richard-san.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I don’t.”

What am I supposed to do now?

My stomach has been hurting the entire ride back.

As we walked through the streets, I’d continually stop people and ask if they recognized my ugly face. It was a pathetic scene all around. It made me feel like a failed comedian.

I wanted to get this over with quickly, but something felt off.

“I’m sorry, miss, I just need to ask you something.”

This uncomfortable feeling had been residing in me for sometime, and it had now reached a point where I could no longer contain it.

I turned my attention to the woman I woke up with this morning.

“W-What do you want?”

“I’m sorry if this may make you feel uncomfortable, but where did we meet yesterday? This would give us a place to start to help find your daughter.”

If what the bandits told me is true, I was invited to their hideout after meeting a member in the town. I woke up in this town, so that tells me I should’ve returned here with the girl from the bandits’ hideout. Sometime between returning with her and meeting the wife I lost track of her.

Going to the place I met the wife should give us a hint about her whereabouts.

“Eh? Ah, eh….”

“If it’s hard to remember exactly where it was you can just give us a general idea.”

“Ah, no, i-it’s umm, w-well….”

Ever since my title of ‘Baron’ was revealed to the cuckold couple, both of them have been acting strange. The wife more noticeably so. She’s completely stiff as she walks and doesn’t seem to have much interest in conversations related to her daughter. Her husband still seems worried about the girl and has offered suggestions as we’ve walked.

“Or, maybe, we didn’t meet in town….”

I was getting ready to ask the wife a follow up question when a voice suddenly called out to me.

“O-Oi, it’s you!”

It was the unrefined voice of a brutish man.

It sounded familiar and, naturally, drew the attention of everyone in our group. There, a few metres away from us, I saw someone I recognized that was slowly walking toward us.

It was the man that started the fight at the bar last night.

“You’re….”

“Aah, what a coincidence running into you here!”

He’s smiling for some reason.

Why is he so happy to see me?

And a friendly greeting.

“Eh? Ah, it is, isn’t it? What a strange coincidence.”

“Ah, sorry, am I intruding on some noble business?”

The man noticed Richard beside me and quickly changed his attitude. All of the negative emotions he displayed last night were gone. 

Can one night really make such a difference?

“No need to worry, we’re both friends.”

Richard was the first to respond.

I guess it doesn’t matter if he knows about the relationship between Richard and I, but I am worried that it may make him distrust me. I quickly turned to him and tried to make him focus on our conversation.

“You’re certainly in a good mood. Any particular reason?”

“Of course I am and it’s all thanks to you, Tanaka!”

“Thanks to me?”

“First off, I’m sorry about yesterday.”

He quickly bowed to me.

Seriously?

He must be referring to what happened between us at the bar.

“I’m interested to hear more about your country full of men that have only had sex with prostitutes.”

“Come again?”

What’s this guy suddenly saying?

Is he trying to make this situation worse? I can feel the painful gaze of Edita Sensei on me. Ever since we first left the inn, I’ve felt that Edita Sensei’s trust and respect for me has been zero.

“Thanks to our little talk I’m feeling better about myself. I don’t think I’ll be picking many fights in any bars any more. I’ll also be more patient when fighting in parties. It’s a strange feeling honestly, like I’ve been possessed by something and now there’s a sudden weight lifted off my shoulders.”

“….”

He’s not giving me a lot of information other than I told him something about a certain country I come from. He’s also revealed some of his personal demons that I helped him get over.

“Umm, sorry, but last night did I….”

“I’m glad that we were able to talk. Thank you.”

“N-No, that’s not it.”

“I want you to know that I’d do the same for you. If you have any problems or something you need to talk about. I doubt an adventurer as strong as you would ever need help from someone like me, but still, if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll be there.”

He spoke without listening and gave me a bright smile.

Why would hearing about a country full of men who have only had sex with prostitutes make him feel at peace with himself? I couldn’t find the answer until I looked inside myself and realized I was the answer.

Could this macho guy be a….

“….”

No, asking wouldn’t help anything.

Those four words would hurt more than any physical attack.

“Thank you.”

I’ll just silently nod.

More important than that, he seems to know something about what happened to me last night. After both of us left the bar, we met again and had a friendly conversation.

“Excuse me, there’s just one thing I need to ask you.”

“Ah? What’s that?”

“Where we met yesterday….”

“Aah, you want to know the name of that place? It’s called the Succubus’ Nest.”

“Succubus’ Nest?”

“There’s no other place like it in town.”

“I see.”

Our first clue: Succubus’ Nest.

I’m worried about the lewd name. I’ve tried and failed on several occasions to visit a brothel since arriving in this world. It’s always been a fight between my vow to lose my virginity to a virgin and my desires as a man.

Does this mean that I’ve reached a point where the latter finally won?

Still, I wonder what this is. This mysterious feeling inside me that leaves me feeling lonely.

“If there’s something you’d like to know about that place, I’m sure that woman could answer all of them.”

“Eh?”

The man turned his eyes to the wife standing beside her husband.

She met his gaze and took a step back.

Her breasts jiggled in response.

“Honestly, I had some fun with that woman yesterday. I never expected us to be eskimo brothers. Both her top and bottom holes are top-class, right? I’ll be back at the shop tonight, I’m looking forward to your service.”

“…eh?”

I wasn’t expecting that.

It left me at a loss for words.

Then, as if he was trying to be considerate,

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to take up so much of a noble’s time. I’m sorry if I’ve caused you too much trouble. If we get the chance, I’d love to share a drink with you again. Be sure to say hi if you see me.”

He gave Richard a bow before running off.

His figure quickly disappeared into the crowd of people. His steps were light and carefree, the angry man I met last night all but gone.

He was only here for a few moments, but he left utter devastation in his wake. The wife was shaking while everyone else was left confused.

“Umm, excuse me, but does your wife really work at the Succubus’ Nest?”

“….”

There was no answer.

She was trembling worse than I’ve ever seen even Sophia-chan shake.

It was making me feel sorry for her.

“I have a suggestion that may help. Why don’t we all have dinner together? With a full stomach there’s a chance you may remember something. What do you all say? This isn’t the kind of conversation we should be having on the streets anyway.”

Richard offered a great suggestion.

There are too many people in this place for an uncomfortable conversation. He’s completely right.

***