Chapter 36 - Forest Bounty Tavern
"So, in the end, just one?"
It seems the result was unexpected despite Paul-san being with us. Apparently, foxes at this time of year live in families, so there are several in one territory, and you can rack up numbers.
After we defeated the fox, we once headed south in a straight line and left the forest. It was to identify the location where the squirrels had gathered. Actions to make the forest map even a little more accurate like that became the main focus, and we ran out of time. The fact that we prioritized heading for the hut was also a reason, but since it was due to a physiological phenomenon, it couldn't be helped.
Still, being able to exterminate one was entirely thanks to Paul-san's ability to find traces of the fox... footprints and droppings. Being taught the skills of a hunter was a great experience.
Besides, we hunted animals like squirrels and pigeons and gathered a bag full of mushrooms and medicinal herbs, so it was a decent gain. Since I set several traps for normal beasts while being taught by Paul-san, the next time we come, we'll be able to increase our gains without much effort.
"Sorry, Acting Captain. It was my first hunt in a long time, so my skills might have rusted. I'll do my best next time."
Paul-san is apologizing to Hans-san.
Since it was clearly the result of him teaching us various things that held him back, I tried to say something, but Paul-san looked over here and winked, saying "Let's do our best next time," so I decided to keep quiet.
"No, the Guard's performance in this season is at most two foxes. If the Class of 175 had exterminated three or four, I was thinking of using that as an excuse to thoroughly break them in during training once..."
He started saying something outrageous.
At this rate, if we excel in fox extermination, it will cause trouble for everyone in the Guard. Beowulf is even looking up at the sky.
"That sounds interesting. I'll exterminate even more next time, so how about then?"
Even Paul-san started agreeing.
This is bad. If Paul-san gets serious, there's no telling what will happen.
"Wait a minute. Then we might be hated by the Guard! Or are you telling us to hold back?"
Beatrix protests fiercely. It's only natural.
"I have no intention of holding back or anything."
Paul-san chimed in. Please, just be quiet for a moment.
While I was flustered about what to do, Bridget-san showed her face.
"So Acting Captain Hans was thinking of something like that. Hmm."
It's the face of someone plotting something.
"Eavesdropping isn't good."
"That's not it. I came because I had business with the Acting Captain, and then everyone was talking about that just now."
Bridget-san approaches Hans-san, who has a sour face, while smirking.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, there's no problem. However, just us is a bit much, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Let's see. Why don't we make a bet?"
"A bet?"
"Yes."
Bridget-san has a completely wicked face.
"That's right. Next time the Class of 175 goes to the same forest for monster extermination, if they can catch three or more, we'll accept the training. But if it's one or less, how about having the Acting Captain undergo that harsh training all by himself?"
Bridget-san winked at us.
"Ho ho. That sounds interesting. It'll be something to see."
Beatrix started smirking. She definitely intends to hold back.
"Ho ho. That does sound interesting. I'd like to see the sight of Hans being broken in."
Even Paul-san started smirking. Far from holding back, he might not do anything at all.
"Alright. I was wrong."
It was only a matter of time before Hans-san bowed his head. Beatrix and Bridget-san are high-fiving.
"When did you two get so close?"
Hans-san asks while sighing.
"Oh? We're already comrades-in-arms. Right?"
I answer Bridget-san's smile with a perfect smile. Seeing that, Hans-san spread his hands and gave a great shrug of his shoulders.
"What, you're not going to do anything? How boring."
I decided to pretend I didn't hear Paul-san's monologue.
After leaving the Guard station with a swagger, we decided to have dinner at a restaurant called Forest Bounty Tavern, which is a favorite of Paul-san's. It's a shop where hunters gather, and they took our haul from the forest today.
"Today is my treat. You can order whatever you like. However, only one drink each."
"Really? Yay!"
Holding back the rejoicing Beatrix, Beowulf and I declined. Because we are the ones who should be giving thanks.
However, Paul-san wouldn't back down either.
"It's thanks to you folks that I can come to this shop in this outfit. I'll treat you just this once. Besides, there's this much of an age gap. Letting me treat you once is what you call respect for your elders."
Hmm. Is that how it works?
"Excuse us then. We won't hesitate."
Since Beowulf gave in easily, I stopped declining further.
Surely, she's been told similar things in the Guard.
"That's right, that's right. Even if he looks like this, Paul-san is a high earner. You guys don't need to hesitate either."
Beatrix. You should hesitate a little.
Then, the owner of the shop came over with wine.
"Yo, Paul. You came?"
"Of course. How can I not confirm today's harvest with my own tongue?"
The shop owner and Paul-san seem to be very good friends.
"Oh? Do you two know each other?"
Beatrix, who should be meeting the shop owner for the first time, has somehow squeezed in between the two of them.
"That's right. Since this Paul was a novice hunter, I've been buying his hunting haul at my shop."
"Oh? Isn't he a benefactor?"
"What are you saying? At that time, this guy was just a dishwasher."
"I was the one who mediated for you, wasn't I?"
"In exchange, didn't I mediate between you and the only daughter of this shop that you were in love with?"
"Oh my. You've got a lifelong debt, don't you?"
"That too," the owner said, pointing to where a fat middle-aged woman was swinging what looked like a frying pan in the kitchen. She must be his wife.
"When we met, she was a young and cute poster girl like you. Now she's completely got me under her thumb and is working me to the bone."
The three of them are laughing loudly.
He casually called us cute. Beowulf and I both looked down. At times like this, I envy Beatrix's thick-skinned nature—no, her social skills.
"This is a treat from me."
The owner places the wine he held in his hand on the table.
It's an import from the continent. It must be quite expensive.
"What's the occasion?"
"It's to celebrate your return to hunting."
"Is it okay if we drink that too?"
That's why I said Beatrix should hesitate.
"I don't mind. You hunted together, didn't you? Let's have a celebratory toast."
"But we were told only one glass."
Beatrix glances at Paul-san.
Paul-san and the owner look at each other.
"You guys, how do you usually drink?"
At Paul-san's words, this time we looked at each other.
"How? Well, with juice or cider?"
Usually, what we drink is cheap local wine diluted three or four times with seasonal fruit juices like berry or apple. When there's no fruit, we dilute it with cider. It's delicious and, above all, very cheap.
"If you drink five glasses, one bottle will be gone. There are five people around this table now. It's too good a vintage to dilute with juice. Let's all five of us have a celebratory toast."
It goes without saying that we cheered at the owner's words.
After enjoying dishes made from our own haul and drinking four times our usual amount of wine and several glasses of beer, around the time one drunk mage fell asleep, the shop owner came to the table in place of Paul-san, who had stood up to go to the restroom.
Three bags filled with sweets are placed down.
"Um, we didn't order these."
"This is on the house."
Beowulf and I look at each other. Beatrix is sleeping soundly.
"Um, we've already been treated to expensive wine, so any more than this..."
Beowulf is also nodding.
"The wine was a toast for Paul's return to hunting. This is a thank you to you all."
"A thank you?"
When we asked, it turns out the shop owner is a childhood friend of Paul-san's and they used to hunt together when they were young. Paul-san had quit hunting for some reason, but apparently, he had lost his vitality since then. Eventually, he had fallen into darkness and become like a world-weary hermit. He had been worried, but he was happy that Paul-san had regained his energy by going out to hunt in his old gear with us.
"Unlike the old days, he seems to have relaxed. When he was young, he used to get worked up immediately, but now I can clearly see he's enjoying the hunt. It's thanks to you. Please look after him. In exchange, I'll buy all the ingredients the Class of 175 gets from hunting. I'm telling you, the treat is only for this time, though."
Saying that, the owner went back to the kitchen.