CH 298

Episode 298 – Binkus

“Why are you sitting all the way over there? There aren’t any people here yet, so why don’t you take a seat closer to the counter?” (Harold)

“No. This is the best seat in the restaurant because it’s the farthest from you.” (Grandma)

“What a horrible thing to say. Well, I won’t force you. What would you like to order today?” (Harold)

“A coffee for me. Lewin, what would you like?” (Grandma)

“Tea, please.” (Lewin)

“This is a bar, you know…” (Harold)

“If you don’t have any then water is fine.” (Lewin)

“I do have tea. So coffee and tea, is it? Please wait just a moment.” (Harold)

The bartender with the short mustache bowed deeply and returned to the counter. Meanwhile, the grandma sighed deeply as he walked away.

I already knew that she was reluctant, but the grandma must be having quite a hard time with the owner. I could sense the venom in every word of conversation, and she wouldn’t even make proper eye contact.

When the grandma mentioned that it was someone that she didn’t like, I imagined all kinds of jerks in my head, but as far as I could see from this conversation, he seemed like a well-mannered gentleman.

“Um, why do you dislike the owner here, grandma? He doesn’t seem like a bad person to me.” (Lewin)

“I don’t think you can tell just from a light conversation. To put it simply, he’s inconsiderate and lacks concern for others. He puts on a facade like that, but he’s a dark, evil man at heart.” (Grandma)

“I see…” (Lewin)

“Well, if you become more familiar with him, there’ll come a day when you realize it, too. So you shouldn’t get too deeply involved with this person, Lewin.” (Grandma)

I asked the grandma about the reason why she didn’t like him in a quiet enough voice so that the owner couldn’t hear. She said that he was inconsiderate and was a dark, evil person at heart. Aside from Brandon, I had never met anyone that I could describe in that way, which made the owner seem a bit scary to me. The grandma herself said that Brandon and this bar owner were the only people she didn’t like.

After a while of casual conversation with the grandma, Charlotte showed up at Binkus, apparently having finished with the work she needed to do.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Harold, a whiskey on the rocks.” (Charlotte)

“What’s this? Are you here to discuss something over some drinks?” (Harold)

“Thank you for waiting. Here is your whiskey on the rocks. Charlotte-san… even for me, that hurts, you know?” (Harold)

“Whatever, just go away.” (Charlotte)

After the bar owner brought the whiskey over, Charlotte dismissed him with a casual sweep of her hand. Then, the two of them assumed a posture of steepled hands as they started to discuss. It didn’t have the atmosphere of a nostalgic talk about the past. Instead, there was a strange tension in the air, just like the atmosphere before a battle.

“Let’s pick up where we left off earlier—Irene, if you could please tell me what you need?” (Charlotte)

“Yeah. I have a favor to ask you, Charlotte… I need you to tell me where Arthur is.” (Grandma)

“Arthur… I had a hunch after seeing your serious expression, but it really was about him. Why do you suddenly want to meet with Arthur?” (Charlotte)

“I have a few questions I want to ask him. I thought Arthur might know what Lewin wants to find out.” (Grandma)

“The last time I met him was in the royal capital, but rumor has it that he’s in a village called Wilring in the Empire. Do you not have any information about him, Irene?” (Charlotte)

“Yeah. I haven’t seen him nor looked into his whereabouts since we disbanded the party. Anyway…Wilring, huh? Seems like he’s in another troublesome place.” (Grandma)

“It’s right beyond Dragon’s Valley, after all. Even the people of the Empire have trouble getting there, and we’d have to pass through Dragon’s Valley to meet him. And it’s to see a guy like him, no less.” (Charlotte)

“I totally agree. I don’t like it either… So anyway, Lewin. I can’t directly introduce you, but we know wher―” (Grandma)

“May I butt in here? Arthur isn’t in Wilring right now, you know?”

The one who interrupted was the bar owner with the short mustache. Both the grandma and Charlotte glared at him, but they didn’t try to chase him away for correcting their misinformation.

“You’re eavesdropping again, and now you’re even lying, too?” (Grandma)

Arthur.

I had a vague recollection of the name when I heard it, but if he was in Landaust, there could only be one person. However, I had no idea he was an acquaintance of the grandma’s, nor that they were once in a party together.

But now that I thought about that weapon he had, it all made sense now.

“Umm… Doesn’t that person run a weapons shop called ‘Eagle’s Talon’?” I asked the bar owner.