Kays Translations

Chapter 182 - Talkative Body Language

The leader had picked a fight with the wrong person.

In an era without television or photographs, while the name of the adventurer associated with the Count’s family, Hero Ricardo, might be known, his face was not.

Wearing extravagant outfits like a hannya mask on a regular basis would have made him more noticeable, but unfortunately, Ricardo had no intention of emphasizing his presence through appearance. Today, Ricardo and Lutz looked like ordinary adventurers who had earned their daily pay.

If one observed closely, they might have noticed the uniqueness of the two swords at Ricardo's waist. However, the leader, who was inclined to pick a fight with anyone for any reason, didn't bother examining his potential opponent deeply.

There was a reason why he was so irritated and picking a fight.

After expelling Kasim from the party and being threatened by the receptionist, he returned to the table to find that his remaining two companions had also cut ties with him.

A sturdy woman spoke up. 

"I didn't hear anything about expelling Kasim. I can't stick around in a party where the leader arbitrarily cuts ties."

"No, everyone must have been fed up with his smart mouth, right? This is a leader's natural decision."

Next, a skinny man with unusual gleaming eyes added,.

"I admit there were issues with his behavior. However, it's not to the extent that I want to kill him, and he wasn't useless in terms of combat."

"I understand. He's annoying but quite supportive and perceptive of his surroundings. Annoying, though."

"Yes, as long as he keeps his mouth shut, he's a good guy."

The two companions nodded. The leader still tried to argue, but they ignored him and separately approached other parties, perhaps with their own motives.

Thus, the party fell apart, and the leader found himself alone, not by expulsion but by mutual disassociation.

This led him to pick a fight. Why? Because he was an adventurer. The plan was to attract attention with a flashy fight, showcase strength, and then join another party in the flow.

It was simple, foolish, and absurd. Would such a sloppy and stupid plan really work?

Surprisingly, it did.

Why? Because all the other customers were adventurers. If you were strong and had a good vibe, someone would surely invite you. It was a perfect strategy, except for the fact that the opponent was wrong.

The reason for choosing Ricardo and Lutz is that there are fewer of them, and they seem moderately strong and moderately weak. Simply bullying the weak won't appeal to strength, and if they can't win, it would be counterproductive. It's also a fact that Ricardo and Lutz were seen laughing at the flow from Kasim's expulsion to the leader's expulsion.

"Why have you been glancing at me?"

Ricardo, thinly smiling, stood up in response to the former leader's grudge.

"It was so entertaining that I thought it might be some kind of act or performance. If you don't want to be seen, save the lovers' quarrel for home."

"Don't think you can get away with spitting at me, you bastard!"

The tension of the impending fight attracted curious glances from the surrounding patrons. No one thought of intervening.

"Wait a minute,"

Lutz, a newcomer to adventurers' tavern brawls, raised his hand without reading the room.

"What's up?" Ricardo and the former leader turned their faces toward Lutz, who continued, oblivious to their annoyance.

"I've never seen a tavern brawl among adventurers before. Are you doing it seriously, or bare-handed? I just wanted to check around here a bit."

Ricardo's pulling out the mystical sword 'Tsubaki' or Lutz swinging the magic axe 'Shirayuri' would lead to a disaster. Either way, it would turn into a hellish situation.

Ricardo said after looking at the leader.

"Well, it will be done with mutual consent. Basically, it's a bare-handed wrestling match. What about you, brother?"

The gaze pierced through the former leader. Although it was his own death he was deciding, there was an unspoken pressure not to dirty the place. The main source of the gaze was apparent, and the former leader understood that. However, he didn't have the courage to confirm it.

"Yeah, a man's fight is with fists!"

Ricardo and the former leader moved to the space without a table. Since moving the table every time a fight broke out was troublesome, such spaces were apparently reserved in advance. It was an example of the adventurers' practicality and absurdity.

"You're so foolish. Truly foolish..."

Lutz chuckled as he tilted his mug.

A man sat in the opposite seat. Naturally, it wasn't Ricardo.

Lutz knew that man. He wasn't familiar, but he was known.

"Mind if I join you?"

The shameless man, who asked after sitting down, was Kasim.

As Lutz didn't feel like driving him away and was a bit curious about him, he said, "Do as you like."

"You don't seem like an adventurer. Who are you?"

Kasim asked while reaching for bread.

"I'm a blacksmith."

"I see, I see. So, you're not completely unrelated to adventurers."

"I wouldn't call myself involved; it's a delicate situation."

Amidst the commotion, Kasim wore a wry smile, grabbed Ricardo's mug, and emptied it.

"Were you surprised that a fight broke out suddenly? It's a common occurrence in adventurer taverns. It's really troublesome when everyone is so foolish."

"It's like it's none of your business."

Lutz glanced in the direction Kasim had indicated and saw the expected scene unfolding. Ricardo's right straight landed on the former leader's face. Surprisingly, the former leader didn't fall. He seemed unexpectedly tough, not just a guy who talks big.

"I became a complete stranger just a moment ago."

"That's true."

Lutz easily admitted it. Kasim, who was quick with words, earned Lutz's favor.

"I like you. By the way, your partner seems quite strong. Is he someone famous?"

"He's Hero Ricardo. Have you heard of him?"

"Oh... that guy."

Kasim knew of the former leader's strength, but the opponent was too much.

When Kasim looked at the former leader with pity, Ricardo's left fist struck the former leader's side, making him bend forward. At that moment, a powerful right blow struck his face. No matter how tough the former leader was, he couldn't endure this, and he fell forward, raising a cloud of dust.

The audience applauded the splendid combination, almost feeling the beauty in it. Gambling seemed to have started without anyone noticing, with coins changing hands here and there.

"Well, that's how it goes."

Lutz, who had never worried about Ricardo from the beginning, asked while watching the fallen former leader.

"Is he alright? It seems like he lost spectacularly after his party disbanded."

Although worried that he might have nowhere to go after being rejected by everyone, Kasim optimistically laughed and waved his hand.

"No one will remember such a commotion after three days. You can find new companions another day."

"Is that so?"

"Adventurers are much tougher and more carefree than you think."

The other adventurers helped the fallen former leader get up. They seemed to know Ricardo's face and highly appreciated the man who had put up a good fight against the hero.

Appealing through a brawl wasn't entirely futile. Lutz couldn't quite understand, but it seemed to be the way of adventurers' rules and values.

"So, do you have something to do with me?"

Finally asking the question he should have asked at the beginning, Lutz received a confident response from Kasim.

"Let's go on an adventure together!"

Full of energy and self-confidence, Kasim said, pointing his thumb at himself.

"Well, I'd rather not..."

In the lively tavern, an awkward atmosphere filled only this table.

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