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Frontier Lord Chapter 041 – Drunkards’ Ramblings

The city’s finest tavern, situated adjacent to the grand marble lord’s mansion in Melangal, a city nestled within the western expanse of Casdex territory, had been teeming with people that evening.

Since the change of rulers, cheerful conversations had never been in short supply within this tavern. Everyone had relished their drinks with smiles adorning their faces, and those smiles showed no signs of fading.

A diverse array of conversations had unfolded – some occurred at tables amongst friends, others took place at the bar counter while chatting with the owner. Some patrons roamed the establishment, seeking new encounters and interactions.

「Did you hear? Apparently Lord Eldan went to the capital. There he met the king and was officially recognized as a Lord.」

「I sure did. I heard he even brought the Earth Dragon’s Magic Stone that he received from the Dragon Slayer. The folks at the capital will surely shit their pants when they see it.」

「The king is also sure to remember him if Lord Eldan presents the Magic Stone. If that happens Casdex will definitely prosper.」

In this tavern, where not only humans but also various other races like the canine folk, water deer people, and lion-hearted beings congregated, a medley of topics filled the air. As the number of patrons grew and the tavern bustled with liveliness, the range of subjects discussed grew even more diverse.

「I heard a rumor that the dragon slayer was deeply in love with his Demi Human wife, so much so that they were even flirting in front of others.」

「Yeah, that’s true. My brother is Sir Camalotte’s bodyguard. He mentioned that the Dragon Slayer was openly affectionate with his wife in front of Sir Camalotte.」

「No way? That Dragon Slayer is so cool.」

The two men couldn’t believe what they’d just heard. They found it unreal that something like that had happened in front of Camalotte. Just then, a man dressed entirely in black entered the bar.

The entrance of this uniquely attired man, his face and body veiled by black cloth, silenced the bar’s occupants for a moment. However, interest in him waned swiftly. The patrons proclaimed that a good drink held more significance than an enigmatic newcomer. Thus, the bar swiftly returned to its previously animated atmosphere—the hubbub was restored.

「So, what were we talking about?」

「The thing about how awesome the Dragon Slayer is. And how he’d flirted with his wife in front of Sir Camalotte.」

「Oh yea, that! That Dragon Slayer is a man amongst men. I heard he’d even set up houses for my bro and the other guards himself, seeing as they were tired from their journey. He even extended warm hospitality, shared meals as equals, and even presented them with an exceptional bottle of wine that could make their eyes widen.」

「That’s truly impressive. I suppose having a Demi Human wife must have dissolved any prejudice he might have held against the Demi Humans. I can hardly believe he’s a human noble.」

「Isn’t the Dragon Slayer originally from the East? Didn’t the east folk despise the Demi Humans?」

「From what my brother told me the Dragon Slayer had apparently never seen or heard of the Demi Humans until recently. The first Demi Human he saw was apparently his current wife… Hence, he fell for her at first sight and subsequently developed a fondness for other Demi Humans.」

「Fuhahaha. I guess even a dragon slayer can’t resist a woman! Then, it was his wife who facilitated the friendship between Lord Eldan and the Dragon Slayer, wasn’t it? Well, in that case, we should raise our glasses to the dragon slayer’s wife! Let’s toast to the woman who captured the Dragon Slayer’s heart at first glance!」

The man clutching a wooden cup initiated the toast, and even those who might not have been paying attention to the conversation joined in with a hearty 「Cheers!」

After a spell of uproar, a touch of imbibing, and a measure of revelry, the group once again turned to their chatter, perfectly paired with their drinks.

「Come to think of it, was a subspecies of the Demi Humans the Dragon Slayer’s wife? Is she a Beastman?」

「From what my brother told me, she’s from a species that has a horn on their head. But that’s all I know.」

「A horn? If she has a horn, then is she a Rhinian? A Rhino Tribe member? A human fell for that? The Dragon Slayer sure is unique…」

The notion of a romantic connection with a Rhinian woman—a creature that, despite its animalistic nature, was described as hairless and instead covered in thick, tough skin—unsettled the man. Just then, a Rhinian woman, who happened to be within earshot, made her presence known. She raised the horn on the tip of her nose and interjected,

「And is something wrong that his wife is a Rhinian woman? I don’t see any issues with humans and Rhinians being together! I, too, would like to find love with a different species and have such an experience…」

Her statement left the men utterly speechless, their expressions difficult to describe.

Captivated by her words, they averted their gaze from the rhinoceros woman in a fluster, shifting the topic with somewhat slurred speech.

「S-Speaking of the Dragon Slayer, have you seen that? There’s a sing in front of Lord Eldan’s residence that the Dragon Slayer made himself to attract more residents to his territory.」

「I sure did! If I recall correctly… It’s open to all races, except for wrongdoers and criminals. The Dragon Slayers pledges shelter and sustenance.」

「Ah, that. I heard that the Dragon Slayer’s men had made that and handed it over to Sir Camalotte to place it here. But honestly, even with all those conditions, I doubt anyone from a neighboring territory would be enticed to move. After all, who knows what shelter and sustenance are like…」

「.Well, that’s not entirely true. Some of the smaller breeds of Dogmen were intently examining that sign around noon. I can’t put my finger on it, but there was something about that sign that deeply resonated with them. Their eyes showed genuine interest.」

「Seriously? I can’t fathom what’s going through the minds of those small-breed folks… Personally, I wouldn’t want to leave Lord Eldan’s side.」

As one man voiced this sentiment, those around him nodded in agreement. Simultaneously, the men who affirmed the sentiment stirred their drinks within their cups.

「Haha, thanks to Lord Eldan, I can enjoy my drinks without a care… By the way, the incident with those small creatures reminded me of the tale about the attack by the Jerboa Tribe.」

「Hey! Leave it! Talking about the fools who brought shame to Lord Eldan’s name will only make the alcohol taste bad.」

「Just listen. There are talks that there was a mastermind behind that attack?」

「What? A mastermind? You sure?」

「Apparently the Jerboa Tribe attacked the Dragon Slayer because they were incentivized by someone posing as a member of the Monkey Tribe. Initially, no one took this seriously, assuming it was just an attempt to evade responsibility. However, later on, others began asserting that they too were instigated by the Monkey Tribe.」

「Hold on a moment… That sounds like a load of bull! First of all, what is the deal with this so-called Monkey Tribe? I’ve never heard of such a tribe of Beastmen.」

「Yeah, me neither. But it seems there are individuals within the territory who identify as members of the Monkey Tribe. The self-proclaimed Monkey Tribe member supposedly wears black clothing covering his face and body. He’s been spreading stories about how killing a Dragon Slayer would earn one prestige echoing across the continent. He claims that Lord Eldan, who supposedly despises the Dragon Slayer, would be delighted, or that he could bestow riches for the feat. These stories are being propagated amongst the clamorous population.」

「And those idiots really bought it? I can’t believe anyone would actually believe that crap. Besides, someone wearing all-black is suspicious as is… Wait… Didn’t someone like that just enter the pub」

The man’s casual comment led the men’s gazes to sweep through the establishment, searching for the man dressed entirely in black who had seemingly just entered.

The man who could might as well be the mastermind responsible for the sullying of their Lord’s reputation.

If this individual was indeed nearby, it was imperative to apprehend him, to confront him, and ultimately to deliver him to Lord Eldan. The men embarked on a fervent search, their anger threatening to boil over. Yet, the man dressed in black, who should have been there, remained conspicuously absent from the bar. The men’s rage, unable to find a target, drifted aimlessly before gradually waning.

「I was sure I saw him just now. Was I imagining things?」

「You’ve had too much to drink. You probably mistook him for one of the Black Haired Boar Tribe’s people.」

「I’m not that drunk…」

「Should we call the guards?」

While exchanging these words, the men grasped their cups of spirits, downed them contemplatively, and launched into a discussion concerning the chatter that invariably emerged whenever they indulged in drinking.

Within the bar, the man dressed in black faded from their memory entirely.

 

「Tsch. I’ve never expected anything from Beastmen, but I never thought that the only ones to act would be those damn rats. I’m at a loss… Mercenaries can’t get the job done, and neither can Beastmen… I still have some money left, so I might as well try and buy some slaves and have them do the work. Or I could also hire some vagabonds… Oh yea… Seeing as I’m the talk of the pubs I should probably get a change of clothes before anything…」

Mumbling to himself, the man in black exited the pub, slipping away quietly, sneaking into a quiet alleyway in the shadows.

Halting in the alley’s midst and ensuring no one was within sight, the man removed the black cloth that enveloped him. He discarded it, proceeding deeper into the alleyway’s shadows.

Swaying as he walked through the darkness, he sporadically muttered to himself, as if recollecting something. Eventually, he veered away from the city center and coincidentally caught a glimpse of a lavish brothel, its exterior aglow with dazzling lights, situated on the outskirts of the urban expanse.

His gaze locked onto the establishment, and he swiftly comprehended its nature—a brothel. His expression promptly contorted in a manner that seems almost inhuman. A stream of curses, directed at someone spewed forth from his mouth. His visage twisted to such an extent that its humanity became questionable.

For a time, he continued to unleash the vitriol that had long dwelled deep within his heart. Then, almost as if the weight had been lifted, he promptly regained his composure, restoring his visage to its original state. As if nothing had transpired, he resumed his stride through the alleyway.