Chapter 68 Interrogation
We thought about splitting up, but if they're wary of us, we could get jumped if we're alone.
Even if we're way stronger, numbers still matter.
And, the enemy this time might have a court Arcanist mixed in.
It's not smart to fight alone when we're tired from the long trip, so we decided to stick together.
Luka and Thomas changed into casual clothes, but 3 guys together still makes people suspicious.
So, what to do?
"Hmm... here!"
Luka picked a small tavern with a little sign, like we were just deciding where to eat tonight.
"Welcome!"
The second we walked in, we were hit with the heat and laughter.
A middle-aged man behind the counter greeted us with a smile.
Most of the customers were workers coming home from work, and some were already pretty drunk.
Luka's got a good eye; this place is a winner.
"Never seen your faces before. Where're you from?"
We sat down at the counter, me, Thomas, and Luka in that order.
The smiling owner handed us some small dishes as an appetizer and asked us right away.
"From the capital. Just got here, and I'm beat."
I can leave the talking to Luka; no problem there.
He shrugged dramatically, answered in a casual tone, and took the dishes, handing them to me and Thomas.
"Wow, that's a long way. What'll it be?"
The owner pointed at the menu hanging on the wall with his chopsticks, but Luka just glanced at it and looked back at the owner.
"Three beers to start. And if you have anything quick, give us your recommendations."
I don't need alcohol, but I'm sure those 2 will take care of it if I don't finish.
"Excuse me, can we get one of those things on the poster too?"
"Coming right up!"
Thomas snuck in an order for a limited-time rice bowl.
He's planning to expense it.
"Thought I saw some pretty boys. Yep, definitely city folk."
Luka spoke loudly and made a scene, and sure enough, the customer next to him scooted over.
He was pouring his own bottle of sake, definitely a regular.
"Yeah, well. Hey, any places with cute girls around here?"
Luka snatched the bottle out of the guy's hand, like it was nothing, and filled up his almost-empty glass to the brim.
"──Hey, stop it──I'm begging you. If someone like you shows up, you'll ignore the rest of us scrubs."
"──Yeah, like you ever got any attention in the first place."
Somebody else shouted from another table, and the whole place busted up laughing.
Alright──looks like everyone's relaxed now.
"But for real, what brings you all the way out here from the capital? You planning to skip across the border or something?"
"Man, if only. Turns out, one of our favorite noble clients got a real itch──they want something special, and they want it now. So we've been hauling ass all night, no breaks."
That wasn't a total lie.
What the General wanted couldn't be bought with cash──he wanted Yuruyana safe.
Or really, he wanted leverage over the royal family and the Norvalen nobles.
Stuff you couldn't put a price on.
"So that's why the 3 of you showed up, huh."
The owner and the other folks in the bar seemed totally satisfied with the explanation──nobody even questioned why a bunch of strong-looking young guys rolled into their sleepy town.
"So, what's the ride──lemme guess, you're driving an Arcane Car, right?"
"What do you mean, 'of course'?"
Luka tried not to smirk.
He just poked at his little dish and acted like he could not care less, keeping up the "bored traveler" thing.
"Saw one just a bit ago, actually. Back-to-back like this? That never happens out here. Me and the boys were talking about it, like, 'What are the odds?'"
"Huh. So Arcane Cars are really that rare around these parts?"
"Oh, you'll see some old beaters every now and then, sure. But a shiny, new one like yours? Pff, no way."
So, the one that guy saw must've been a pretty new model, too.
"Makes sense. You think our other buddies headed into town?"
"That's the weird thing, right? I figured they were coming here... but then they swerved and took off somewhere else. Didn't even slow down for town."
So whoever it was, they circled way around to avoid being seen and are heading off toward the border for sure.
That gives us something solid to go on.
Luka quickly steered the conversation away.
"Eh, if fate wants us to meet, guess we'll meet. But hey, since you look like you know your way around here, can I ask you something? Ever heard of an Arcanopharmacist named Mr. Elmer?"
"Elmer?"
Just then, another guy at a table butted in.
"──Oh yeah, you mean that long-lifer kid, right? This guy's little lady's totally got the hots for him."
"Come on, give me a break──falling for a guy older than her own dad? Seriously?"
The guy sitting across from me let out a deep, heavy sigh.
I mean, I've got no clue how old Mr. Elmer was when he first met Grandfather, but he was already working as a pharmacist back then.
So... he had to be at least 60.
If some young girl gets all lovestruck over someone like that, you can bet her parents are losing sleep.
"So, where's this dude live? Came here to buy some medicine, you know."
While walking over, I remembered something Yuruyana said──how some noble from the capital would come out here just to buy medicine from Mr. Elmer.
When I told Luka about it, he grinned, snapped his fingers, and said, "I'm stealing that idea."
"Ahhh, so you really are on some noble's errand, huh? Figures, you're all spiffed up and everything."
The man stroked his scruffy chin with a scratchy-sounding noise, clearly impressed.
Looks like only rich folks bother coming out to buy medicine from Mr. Elmer, after all.
"So listen up──head south from here down the big street, and you'll hit a lake. On the shore, there's this field full of weird-looking plants, and Mr. Elmer's place is right past that. Red roof. You can't miss it."
"You'll spot it easy," the guy said, chugging down his mug, and Luka shot him this wide, polite smile.
"Thanks, man. I'll buy you a drink as a thank-you."
"Ohh, generous, aren't ya?"
After that, me and Thomas barely said a word, but we finished eating in peace, and as we headed out the door, the other customers gave us a send-off.
"Those folks sure were a cheerful bunch, huh?"
Thomas was looking pretty pleased with himself──he ate so much they brought out an extra plate on the house, and he even drained his own beer.
The booze wears off fast with a little magic, so driving's no big deal.
Still, I've been rolling my eyes at his iron liver since our [Fourth] days.
"Alright, let's go──time to hit up Yuru-Yuru's master."
"Yup."
We hurried along the path they told us about, trying to get there before the last light faded and everything went dark.
Barely even 15 minutes passed before we spotted a lake, just like they'd said.
As we got closer, sure enough, there was a field with some pretty wild-looking plants, and a house tucked away out back.
The roof still looked kinda reddish, if you squinted.
Right next door was a solid-looking storage building──no doubt they're living the good life out here.
"So that's Yuru-Yuru's folks' place?"
"You mean──his actual family home...?"
Since it was Mr. Elmer who found Yuruyana and raised him until he was an adult... I guess you could say that makes sense.
"Hey, can I come too? I hardly ever see long-lifers──I totally wanna check it out."
"Oh! Me too! I really wanna meet them!"
"Doesn't bother me, you two..."
Warm, square light spills out from the window.
If the lights are on, they've gotta be home.
Dropping by this late is probably a hassle, but... this is an emergency.
No time to be polite.
"Um, good evening. Sorry it's so late."
I nervously press the doorbell.
And then──
"Hellooo, who's there?"
A voice from inside──not exactly womanly, but not manly either.
Right down the middle.
The door swings open easy, like they weren't worried at all.
The same gentle-eyed beauty from the photo at Mr. Junce's place pops his head out──looks exactly the same.
"Um, I..."
"Momota!"
"Whoa──!"
As soon as Mr. Elmer sees my face, his whole expression lights up──and he practically crashes into me with a huge hug.
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