Kays Translations

Chapter 32: The Hammer of the Tactless

　A tactless person. That was the first impression Lute had of the owner of the angry voice.

　When I glanced at him, there were three men there. Their faces were red, as if they had already been drinking.

“So we are already full. I am sorry, but please wait until a seat becomes available or leave.”

　Unlucky, I should say. It was Rick’s sister who was dealing with the men. She must not have been a waiter very long. She had done something she shouldn’t have done to a nasty drunkard.

“Screw you! Everywhere is packed! We’re customers! You don’t want to deal with country people? I don’t know what kind of town you’re from, but you’ve got a high opinion of yourself!”

　Should I say that is expected? The drunks shouted at the girl who bowed her head. They are just like beasts. Once they get the better of you, they will get more aggressive.

　The elderly female waitress, who appeared to be the proprietress, rushed to follow up, but it was already too late. The drunks, especially the man who had been yelling at them from the beginning, showed no sign of stopping. He continued to spew out a long list of unconnected accusations.

　They must have been in bad temper to begin with. From the way they spoke, the men were not locals. It seems that the combination of travel fatigue and dissatisfaction at not being able to get on with the lively day has exploded in a troublesome direction. It is also highly possible that they were thugs to begin with.

“I guess when people get together, public safety gets rough. But still, it’s so bleak.”

　The once bustling restaurant is now quiet because of the men. In a restaurant like this, there are some who stand up bravely, but this time, it seems that only well-behaved customers are gathered. The rest were probably afraid of being punished for making a commotion on the national holiday of the inauguration of the new lord.

　As he gulped down his ale, Lute wondered what he should do. It was an unpleasant person, but it would be a hassle to go out of his way to get involved with him. If things were to get worse, there would likely be no place for Lute. If that’s the case, he should just sit back and watch, even though it’s unpleasant.

“Hey, there, boy.”

“──Huh?”

　It was when Lute tried to turn his attention back to sake and snacks. One of the drunks casually came to Lute’s table.

“Don’t be drinking by yourself, boy. Get out of here.”

“What?”

“Huh? That’s not it. Don’t you understand? We’re in a bind. We’re in a good mood to have a drink. We can’t drink because you’re occupying our seats! Give up your seat!!”

“……huh?”

　A cold voice naturally leaked out of Lute’s mouth. He was involved in a situation that made the drinking a bit dull, and to top it all off, he was involved for reasons that made no sense at all. He had thought he was just being rude, and now here he was. He was going to remain calm, but in an instant, he lost the will to do so.

“Wait! Please stop bothering other customers!!”

“Shut up! If we get rid of this brat, you’ll get three people’s worth of money! As a store, I don’t think you’ll have any complaints!!”

“That’s right, stay out of it!!”

“Ouch.”

　Rick’s older sister suddenly intervenes, but is pushed away by the male companions who have caught up.

　In no time at all, the center of the commotion was Lute’s table. The shouts and threats were extremely unpleasant for Lute, who was accustomed to a rough atmosphere.

“…which one is the brat? You’re a boring drunk. If you’re going to cause trouble for others, don’t drink.”

“……what?”

“Huh? That’s not it. Have you become a fool with the liquor going into your ears, not just your head? I’m telling you to get the hell out of here if you don’t want to get hurt, damn it.”

　I guess they did not expect it. That just one boy, yet clearly smaller than the men, would stand against them, outnumbered and physically superior to him.

“…What did you just say? You’re picking a fight with us!”

“I’m not trying to pick a fight, I’m giving you advice. I’ll say it one more time so that even your liquor-soaked brain can understand it. If you don’t want to get hurt, get the hell out of here. It’s not pleasant.”

“I’ll kill you!!”

　The advice was a mercy as an absolute powerhouse, but unfortunately, the men did not seem to understand it.

　The first man who gets involved swings a fist at Lute’s face. His fist was large and forceful, with no skill whatsoever. He may have been used to fighting, but his fists were of a low level, not even close to that of an amateur.

“Haa…”

　Naturally, there was no way that such an amateur punch would work against Lute, who had experience on the battlefield as a magician with the rank of demi-god, or even a soldier before that.

　By the time the man swung his fist, Lute had already risen from his chair and moved. In an instant, he was around the man’s blind spot, grabbing him by the neck and simultaneously knocking him off his feet and face-first to the floor.

“Gah!?”

　The air in the bar was frozen by Lute’s brilliant strike. The way the man’s fist slammed into the floor before it could wreak havoc on the chairs and tables. Furthermore, the care with which he did not cause any damage to the bar’s property was clearly that of someone who is used to actual combat.

　This sequence of actions was not done using the power of freezing. This is Lute’s natural fighting ability. Lute is a soldier who has been on the battlefield. He knows how to fight in group raids.  At the very least, he can easily subdue a drunken, amateur thug who can’t even make a good decision, let alone an amateur who is just proud of his strength.

“Now……”

“Ugh!?”

　After incapacitating one of them in an instant, Lute gets up with a yip. In addition, he kicks the prone man in the stomach and checks his reaction. He seemed to be alive at least, since his voice came out when he was pinned down.

　At that point, any consideration for the man at his feet disappeared from Lute’s mind. He checked to see if he was alive or dead, just in case, but as long as he was alive, it didn’t matter. His face was probably in a state of misery, and his neck and cranium might be injured, but that would be his own fault. Because of the difference in status, he could not complain even if he had been rudely beaten.

“Oi. If you don’t want to end up like this piece of trash, drag him along and get the hell out of here.”

“Screw you, you little brat! How can we back down when one of our buddies is getting beat up!”

“I’m going to kill you!!”

“…I respect the fact that you don’t back down from this. Seriously, you’re probably too drunk to understand what’s going on.”

　It should have been a ghastly way to incapacitate them, as if they could have sobered up from their drunkenness. Contrary to Lute’s intentions, the men became even more aggressive. Are they too drunk or are they just too hot-blooded? Either way, they are beyond saving.

　With no recourse, Lute shrugs his shoulders.  The men had already made a mistake.

　At any rate…

“Tch, if I try to keep things peaceful, theyl get on their high horse….! Enough of this shit!”

“Agh!?”

“Gha!?”

　Rick’s older sister, the waitress, a girl who was probably much stronger than the men, beat the men from behind with magic.

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