Chapter 113

While doing so, she took in her view of the surroundings.

‘Is this village on the outskirts of the town?’

Although she didn’t recognize her precise location, it would do for now.

It wasn’t like she would be able to tell where she was just by looking any closer.

Incan approached Yelena, who was wiping her mouth with her sleeve after retching a few times.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“No, not at all. I can assure you that if I get back on the carriage in this state, then I will definitely end up vomiting inside the carriage.”

Incan appeared awkward as he said, “I would rather avoid having to knock your Grace unconscious.”

“Who’s asking you to? I feel like my insides might settle down if I just get something cool to drink.”

“Something cool, you say…”

“Like that.”

As if she had been waiting for this, Yelena raised her hand and pointed straight at a store.

The store’s sign was unmistakably that of an alehouse.

“Let me have just one drink. I should be fine after that.”

Incan gave Yelena a puzzled look.

“…I’m curious about something, your Grace. Are you truly aware of what kind of situation you are in?”

“What about it? I don’t want to vomit in the carriage, and I don’t want to be forced to faint either. Since that’s the case, I’d at least like to drink some beer to settle my stomach, or do you have a better idea?”

Yelena pressed on shamelessly.

Incan looked into her eyes for a few moments, then he headed to carriage after giving a faint smile.

Soon afterward, Incan handed the hood that he had been using over to Yelena.

“No matter what, don’t take this off. If you can promise me that, I’ll let you drink the beer that you so desire.”

“…fine then, it’s a promise.”

As she replied with this, Yelena unconsciously reached out to shake Incan’s hand.

She noticed that his hand was stained black, as if it had been smeared with soot.

Just in case, Yelena held the hood that she had been given to her nose, but she couldn’t detect any smell coming from it.

Eventually the two made their way to the alehouse that Yelena had pointed to.

“Welcome.”

As soon as they entered the store, the waitress greeted the two new customers in an indifferent tone.

Even though it was still early in the day, there were quite a few people in the bar.

Although, there were hardly any customers who were making a racket, with most choosing to drink quietly at their seats.

Several people gave Yelena and Incan a glance before turning back to their own affairs.

“Is there anything in particular that you would like to drink?”

“There isn’t. As long as it’s cool, I’m fine with anything.”

“Understood.”

“Just go and place the order.”

Yelena waved him away with a natural air of authority.

After looking at her from the corner of his eye, Incan obediently left his seat and headed to the counter.

To prevent any escape attempts from Yelena, Incan’s minions were standing guard at the entrance to the store.

However, this was pointless. As, in the first place, her plan wasn’t to try and escape by distracting Incan’s attention.

Yelena took a deep breath.

Scanning her surroundings, after Incan had gotten some distance away from her, she loudly shouted, “A thousand gold coins to whoever catches that brown-haired man!”

“What?”

“A thousand gold coins?”

‘A thousand gold coins’ wasn’t something you heard every day.

All eyes in the store turned to stare at Incan and Yelena.

Yelena pulled back the hood that had been covering her face, tore off the most expensive decorations on her dress and threw them down onto the table in front of her.

Riiing.

A brooch made of pure gold with a jewel embedded in the center spun onto the table.

“The rest will be paid later. I guarantee this on my name as a noble.”

“…”

“…”

“This belongs to the first person who lays hands on him.”

“I-I’ll be the one to grab him!”

“Shut up! It’s me!”

“Everyone get out of the way! I’m going to grab him!”

The rough-looking men who had been hunched over their small tables as they sipped their drinks all got up as one.

For the moment, Yelena sighed in relief.

‘Looks like I got lucky.’

She had heard stories about mercenaries who hadn’t been able to pick up any quests gathering at bars like this during the day to pass the time drinking alcohol.

Fortunately, reality had proved those stories right.

Vicious looking men with scarred faces began surrounding Incan from all sides.

“Phew.”

It was her first time getting such a reliable and welcome feeling from seeing their intimidating faces and figures.

As Yelena was letting down her guard with these thoughts, Incan began speaking, “Ah, so this is why… By asking for beer, she was planning on this from the very start…”

“What is he yapping about? In any case, this guy is mine!”

Apparently planning on stunning him with a blow to the head, a man leapt towards Incan while holding a beer bottle by its neck.

“Argh, that bastard!”

Sighs began erupting from the crowd as they saw their opportunity slipping away.

Thump thump thump!

The man who had jumped on Incan was sent rolling back as he was thrown into a corner of the store in a loud crash.

“…huh?”

The room instantly fell silent.