Chapter 23 [Bonus ] The Dragon's First Tavern Night II

Arad stared at the paladin with a sharp glare. "Lydia, sorry for forgetting to introduce myself." She looked at the table, sighing.

"Do you have a quest to do tomorrow?" She asked.

"I'm going with Alcott on a quest," Her face tensed when she heard that, "The S-rank himself?"

"Of course, he seems willing to let me tag along."

Aella walked down stars in her regular clothes, "I finished. You should go change as well." She called.

Arad stood, "This is the end of our talk." He looked at Lydia, "Sorry, but you have to look for another party." He headed upstairs to change clothes, and Aella sat at the counter.

***

Lydia stared at Aella, "Say, can I join your party?" She asked.

"No," Aella replied immediately.

"Don't you need a melee fighter?"

"No,"

"Can you say anything besides no?"

"No,"

Aella wasn't interested in starting a conversation.

BAN! Someone kicked the tavern's door open. It was the rogue from earlier. "Damn, those bastards are annoying," He growled.

Lydia stood immediately, "How did you escape?" She yelled.

"Ha? Are you still here?" He stared at herm, "Good luck with keeping me tied."

He walked toward the counter and sat on the other side of Aella, "Leon, a drink, please."

The bartender glared at the rogue, "How many tables did you break?"

"Nothing. You can't hold me accountable for anything. This cow here threw around and broke the tables." The rogue yawned, and Lydia swung a punch at him. He quickly dodged.

"You lack a sword. Forget about fighting." The rogue laughed.

"Legally, he's right. Why were you two fighting anyway?" The bartender glared at them.

"One of my friends belonged to their church. He was a believer." The rogue looked at Lydia, "Their action made him change his mind, so he left them."

The rogue tapped on the table, "In their mind, and deserter of their religion should get killed. So they sent her to kill him after leaving their beliefs behind."

"That's the last we can do to keep them from sinning," Lydia growled.

The rogue looked at the bartender, "I helped him run away from the city and hide. They want me for that." The rogue laughed. He then stared at Aella.

"Say, girl. You pack one hell of a punch. You can call me Jack." He smiled.

"Aella, nice to meet you," Aella replied with a smile.

"You speak to him?" Lydia growled.

"He introduced himself," She looked at her and then at Jack, "Should I trust you?" She asked him.

"Absolutely fucking not." He waved his hands, "I heard you know Alcott and thought that joining your party might be a good source of money." He replied.

"You as well?" Aella glared at him.

"Is there any other reason?" Jack tilted his head, "Listen, money, fame, and survival. Those are the only things an adventurer looks for."

"You need to ask Arad. He has the final say in this matter," Aella replied, and Jack smiled.

"You accept a criminal over a paladin?" Lydia growled.

"I know he's a criminal. I can keep an eye on him. But you came under the guise of being good, a deceiver." Aella glared at her, "Alcott also that every party should have a rogue."

BANG! Lydia smacked the table and left enraged. On her way, she met Arad walking downstairs and growled at him.

He looked back, "What's her problem?"

"Hey, chief!" Jack called him, waving his hand, "Care for a word?"

Arad looked toward him, "The rogue from earlier?"

"Yeah, the name is Jack. Come for a drink." Jack called him in.

"Another pack of troubles," Arad sighed.

[Let's have Alcott look at him.]

Arad said between Aella and Jack, "So what do you want?"

The bartender brought the food to Arad and Aella.

"I want to make some money. Getting famous is not a thing we rogues wants, but I will take it." Jack smiled, "You have connections with the S-rank Alcott. Just wanted to tag alone if possible."

"I did intend to accept women only," Arad glared at him.

"You refused the church's dog. She's nice looking, you know?" Jack smiled, "That means you're looking for more than look and girls to play with."

Arad smiled, "What I look for is trust. Can I trust a rogue?"

"You will never find a trustworthy rogue. If you wanted one, you have to risk it." Jack smiled, "But let me tell you one tip."

"If you're a leader that can make money and is reliable, you can't trust anyone more than a rogue." Jack smiled, "I won't nag on your head about where your money comes from."

"Fine, but we have to talk to Alcott tomorrow," Arad replied, and Jack smacked his back.

"Splendid, let it be a long-lasting friendship built on a mountain of gold." He laughed. "Leon, beer for everyone if you like."

"Coming right up,"

"You don't have to. We haven't accepted you yet." Aella stared at him with a pained laugh. She didn't like beer.

"Young lady, you don't seem to understand the art," Jack smiled, "This isn't a beer. It is called a bribe." He stared at her, "Little moves like this are what get deals done."

Jack stretched his arms, "Here comes the bribe, drink to our wealth."

Arad and Aella had their dinner and then headed to their room, informing Jack to meet them early in the morning after dawn.

"Hey, chief," Jack called Arad as he was leaving, "What?"

"The walls are thin, so don't go crazy. Everyone will hear you," Jack shouted, and Arad glared at him.

Thud! Arad rushed after him, and Jack ran away laughing, "The bastard ran away,"

Arad growled, looking into the street.

"He's a handful but reliable," The bartender stared at Arad while wiping his glassware, "He has the skill if you need a rogue."

Arad stared back at the bartender, "Then why he isn't with a party with those skills?"

The bartender looked at his counter, "That's a long story. But in short, the leader took a dangerous quest and almost got everyone killed, so they disbanded."

"I see," Arad sighed, walking back to his room where Aella was waiting.

"Did you catch him?" She asked.

"Nah, he ran away." Arad sat on the ground, "My body still aches." The recoil of getting forced into his draconic form still hasn't faded.

"How do you feel?"

"All my muscles are sore. Just moving them a bit is painful." Arad tried to stretch his arm.

"Muscle soreness? Is it like the pain you get after training a lot?" She looked at him with a tilted head.

"I don't know, never trained before."

"Giving you a massage will lessen the pain. Come lay on the bed." Aella called him, but Arad hesitated.

"I don't bite. Come on." She pulled him in.

"I'm not opposing if it will help, but why are you doing this?" Arad asked, "You also had your shoulder dislocated. You must be in pain as well."

"I'm not, unlike you. I had healing magic cast on me by a healer. Alcott paid for it." She replied, "And I'm your slave. This is my duty, is it not?"

"Probably not," Arad mumbled.