Chapter 6: Kita no sanmyaku no machi, Kita

The night had barely lifted when Li-Jua and Ishi finally emerged from the dense, shadowy depths of the Doku Ryu Forest. The thick, gnarled trees that had enclosed them for hours gave way to the vast openness of the northern plains, where the wind danced freely over rolling fields of untouched green. In the distance, towering against the horizon like the spine of an ancient beast, loomed the Northern Sanmyaku, a jagged mountain range marking the empire’s border.

Li-Jua, walking at a leisurely pace beside Ishi, stretched her arms above her head, feeling the tension of the journey ease slightly. She exhaled, her breath visible in the crisp morning air.

"So… do we actually know where we're going?" she asked, her tone casual, as if the answer didn’t particularly concern her.

Ishi, slightly ahead, didn’t even glance back as she replied, "It's not like we’re wandering aimlessly." Then, after a small pause, she added, "But I don’t have a specific destination either."

Li-Jua arched an eyebrow, amused. "That’s just a fancy way of saying we’re wandering aimlessly."

Rolling her eyes, Ishi sighed. "Any medium-to-large settlement at the foot of the Northern Sanmyaku will work for what I have in mind."

"Ah. I see," Li-Jua said, nodding as if she had figured something out.

Ishi glanced at her suspiciously. "What do you mean you see? I haven’t even explained anything yet."

Li-Jua smirked. "Well, I don’t know much about the northern settlements, but if we’re heading toward the mountains, that means we’ll be in an area full of caves, dungeons, and monsters." She gestured vaguely toward the looming peaks in the distance. "And where there are dungeons, there are adventurers. Any settlement big enough to sustain a constant influx of travelers will have an adventurer’s guild. That means two things: First, we can blend in. A place with a high turnover of people won’t question two new faces. Second, we can take on a mission that grants us a travel permit, an easy way to move across the empire with a legitimate excuse."

Ishi narrowed her eyes, lips curling slightly. "…You’re terrifying, you know that?"

Li-Jua tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I try."

Ishi shook her head with a small chuckle. "Fine, fine, you’re smart, I get it. No need to rub it in. You basically figured out everything I had planned without me saying a word."

The two continued onward, their journey stretching over the next few days.

They crossed vast plains where the wind whispered through endless waves of green. The landscape was untouched and wild, with no signs of imperial roads or settlements for miles. The only disturbances came from the occasional beasts that wandered too close.

Most of them never even had a chance.

Li-Jua, her expression always calm, annihilated any creature foolish enough to approach with a single, effortless strike. Her overwhelming strength turned potential threats into mere inconveniences. And as a bonus, their fresh kills often provided food, allowing them to sustain themselves without relying on supplies.

They only stopped to rest when Ishi needed it. Unlike Li-Jua, whose stamina seemed endless, the former noble girl was still human. She never complained, but Li-Jua kept an eye on her, adjusting their pace whenever Ishi’s movements grew sluggish.

Finally, after days of travel, they spotted the faint silhouette of buildings in the distance.

A human settlement. It was not particularly large, nothing compared to the grandeur of the Imperial Capital, but its position at the foot of the Sanmyaku suggested it was a frequent stop for adventurers and merchants traveling north. Even if it lacked a full adventurer’s guild, it would at least have a mission board, which was all they needed.

As they approached the outer perimeter, Ishi exhaled. "This should do."

Li-Jua smiled, cracking her knuckles. "Let’s get to work, then."

The two girls wandered through the small settlement for a while, taking in the streets, the people, and the general atmosphere. Despite its size, the town was lively, merchants shouted from their stalls, trying to attract customers, while townsfolk bustled about, going about their daily business.

They passed through a modest marketplace, where they took the opportunity to buy some warm clothing, preparing for the colder temperatures they would inevitably face as they ventured further north. The quality wasn’t great, but it would serve its purpose.

However, despite their searching, there was no sign of an adventurer’s guild.

Ishi, visibly irritated, crossed her arms and huffed. "Oh, for the love of—! Did we seriously end up in the only town in the entire Sanmyaku region without a damn guild?"

Li-Jua, ever composed, smirked slightly at Ishi’s frustration. "Calm down, little girl" she said in a deliberately condescending tone, one that she had quickly realized infuriated Ishi.

Ishi’s eye twitched. "Stop. Calling. Me. That."

Li-Jua ignored her protest, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Even if there’s no guild, there has to be a tavern. And if there’s a tavern, there’ll be gossip. That’s where we’ll find out what’s going on in this backwater town."

Ishi didn’t reply. She was too annoyed to even dignify Li-Jua with a response, though she begrudgingly followed as the older girl led the way up the town’s main street.

Li-Jua was no stranger to small settlements like this. In the past, she had traveled to similar villages, forced by her family to work as a healer during the off-seasons when adventurers weren’t actively seeking her services. Her experience told her that a tavern, especially in a town without an official guild, would be the next best place to gather information.

At the end of the street, nestled between a blacksmith’s forge and what looked like a general goods store, stood the largest building in town. A two-story wooden structure, its wide doors were slightly open, and from within, the sounds of raucous laughter, clinking mugs, and loud voices spilled out into the street.

Li-Jua’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "Big place for such a small town."

She pushed open the door, and the two girls stepped inside.

The moment they entered, they were met with a surprisingly chaotic scene.

The tavern was packed, far more than they had anticipated.

People filled every table, mugs of ale sloshing as men and women laughed, shouted, and clapped each other on the back. Barmaids rushed from table to table, barely able to keep up with the endless orders of alcohol. The air smelled of roasted meat, stale beer, and sweat, a combination so strong it almost overwhelmed the senses.

But the most curious sight was near the counter, a dense crowd of people had gathered, shouting and cheering at something they couldn't see from their position at the entrance.

"Looks like some kind of event," Ishi noted, curiosity flashing in her eyes.

"Let’s go check it out," she said, already taking a step forward.

But before she could move, Li-Jua grabbed her by the back of her collar and yanked her backward.

"Hey! What the hell—"

"Listen up, little girl." Li-Jua's tone was sharp for the first time since they’d entered the town. "If you go charging in like that, we’ll stand out. We need to blend in, act like just another pair of adventurers passing through."

Ishi clenched her fists but didn’t argue. As much as she hated to admit it, Li-Jua was right.

"Fine," she muttered. "But let’s at least get close enough to see what’s going on."

Li-Jua smirked. "Now you’re learning. But no, first we’ll grab a beer."

She dragged Ishi along, guiding her effortlessly through the bustling tavern. The younger girl grumbled but followed without resistance. They settled at a small wooden table near the edge of the room, away from the rowdier crowds, yet close enough to observe the commotion at the bar. Li-Jua raised her hand, signaling for a waitress.

A broad-shouldered woman strode toward them, chewing lazily on a piece of herb. She was neither particularly ugly nor strikingly beautiful, her rough features, muscular build, and confident gait gave her a distinctly masculine air.

“Welcome to Kita’s Tavern,” she greeted, her voice carrying the roughness of someone accustomed to shouting over drunken brawls. “Figured I’d introduce the place properly, since it’s clear as daylight that you two ain’t from around here.”

“Oh? And what gave us away?” Li-Jua asked, feigning curiosity.

The waitress let out a boisterous laugh, slapping her thick hand against the table. “For starters, we don’t get many women as pretty as you two in these parts. Most of the local girls look more like ogres and trolls than anything that could pass as a human female.” She chuckled at her own joke before adding with a mischievous grin, “Hell, I’m the beauty queen of this town. That should tell you everything.”

Li-Jua chuckled, clearly amused, while Ishi remained stiff, visibly uncomfortable. The younger girl wasn’t used to such crude humor or the rough atmosphere of places like this. It was far removed from the elegance of the palace halls she once knew.

The waitress leaned her weight onto the table and grinned. “So, what’ll it be, beauties?”

Li-Jua leaned back, completely at ease. “I’ll have a beer. And for her…” she gestured toward Ishi, “water.”

Ishi’s eye twitched.

“Excuse me?” she huffed. “I am not a child! A beer for me too!”

Both the waitress and Li-Jua exchanged a knowing look, their smiles widening.

“Well then,” Li-Jua said, grinning. “Make it two of your strongest ales. Oh, and while you’re at it, maybe you could also bring me a large plate of ‘what’s going on in this town’. You know what I mean.”

The waitress let out another hearty laugh. “I like you, sweetheart. I’ll be right back.” With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the bar.

As soon as she was gone, Ishi crossed her arms, pouting. “You’re pushing it today,” she muttered. “I’m not a little girl.”

Li-Jua rested her chin on one hand, her emerald eyes dancing with amusement. “I know, Ishi,” she said smoothly. “I just like seeing that cute little princess face you make when you’re mad. Besides, if you really want to prove you’re not a kid…” she gestured toward the incoming drinks, “you’ll have to finish your beer.”

Ishi flushed crimson. The casual compliment caught her off guard. She clenched her fists. “Fine. I’ll prove it.”

Moments later, the waitress returned, placing three large tankards of beer on the table. Then, to their surprise, she plopped herself down on the bench across from them.

“Alright, beauties,” she said, taking a deep swig from her own mug. “What exactly are you looking for?”

Li-Jua immediately understood what was happening. Without hesitation, she reached into her pouch and placed a few extra coins on the table, subtly paying for their drinks, and for the information.

“We’re looking for the adventurers’ guild,” Li-Jua explained, finally taking a sip of her beer. “Or wherever missions are assigned in this town. I see plenty of adventurers around, so it’s impossible that there isn’t one.”

The waitress let out another low chuckle, taking another gulp of ale before responding.

“No wonder you two looked lost.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “It’s no surprise you didn’t find a guild. That’s because this tavern is the guild.”

Li-Jua raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “This whole tavern?”

The waitress nodded. “Yep. This is where all the missions for the entire Sanmyaku region are distributed.”

Ishi’s eyes widened. “The entire region?” she blurted out. “That’s ridiculous!”

The waitress and Li-Jua turned to look at her. Then, as if on cue, they both glanced at Ishi’s untouched beer.

There was a long silence.

Then, in perfect sync, they both gave Ishi a slight nod, as if silently telling her that she needed to drink first before she could continue the conversation.

Ishi’s face darkened with frustration.

Determined not to be left out, she grabbed the tankard with both hands and took a deep gulp, nearly choking on the bitterness of the alcohol.

The waitress and Li-Jua grinned in satisfaction.

“Now we’re talking,” the waitress said approvingly. “Alright, listen up. The way things work around here is a little… different.”

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.

“See, up here in the north, we’ve had our own way of handling missions for years now. The problem with normal guilds is that they’re all controlled by the Empire. Most jobs go to the highest bidder, and adventurers don’t always get the full payout they deserve. Too much bureaucracy. Too many middlemen.”

Li-Jua nodded. That wasn’t exactly new information. Many Imperial guilds had become notorious for corruption, with wealthy nobles buying up missions and selling them at inflated prices to desperate adventurers.

“So,” the waitress continued, taking another swig, “our mayor, who used to be a pretty damn famous adventurer himself, came up with a better system. Anyone who wants a mission… has to beat him in a drinking contest.”

Li-Jua blinked. “You’re kidding.”

The waitress grinned. “Not at all. If you can out-drink the mayor, you earn the right to choose any mission you want. If you lose?” She shrugged. “Then he gets to decide who takes what job.”

Ishi nearly spat out her beer. “That’s insane!”

The waitress smirked. “Welcome to the north, sweetheart.”

She leaned back, finishing the last of her beer in one long gulp.

“Now, the real question is,” she said, grinning wickedly at the two girls, “do either of you have the guts to challenge him?”

Li-Jua chuckled, running her fingers along the rim of her tankard and having a big sip ending her drink. “Well,” she mused, her green eyes flashing with amusement. “That depends… how good is this mayor at loosing to a girl?”

The barmaid burst into laughter, throwing her head back as she drained the last of Ishi's drink too with an ease that suggested years of practice.

“Alright, I like you, sweetheart!” she said, slapping Li-Jua’s back with enough force to make Ishi flinch. “Come on, I’ll introduce you. The old man’s right over there, where the crowd is thickest. Probably finishing off some poor rookie who thought he stood a chance.”

Without waiting for a response, the barmaid turned on her heel and led them toward the growing commotion near the bar.

As they approached, Ishi’s eyes widened. In one of the bar’s corners, perched on a reinforced stool that barely seemed able to hold his weight, sat a man who looked more like a mountain than a human.

He had to be in his sixties, at least, with a thick white beard cascading down his barrel-like chest. His frame was immense, easily the largest, heaviest man Ishi had ever seen. She finally understood that the barmaid’s earlier comments about the locals resembling ogres and trolls hadn’t been a joke, this man looked as though he could single-handedly wrestle a bear and win.

Across from him stood a young man, no older than eighteen, with unruly crimson hair that framed a cocky grin. He wasn’t particularly tall or muscular, but he had a sharpness in his golden eyes, a confidence in his stance, that made him impossible to ignore.

Strapped to his back was a sword so massive it seemed absurd for someone of his build to carry it, yet he wore it as naturally as if it were an extension of his own body. In his hand, he clutched an empty tankard, his grip firm, his posture unwavering.

For a long moment, the mayor sat motionless, his enormous shoulders rising and falling as he tried to finish his drink. But then...

His face twisted. His throat convulsed. And suddenly, with a great, heaving cough, he spewed the contents of his stomach onto the floor.

Then, like a felled tree, the massive man toppled backward, hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.

For a second, the entire tavern was silent.

Then, chaos erupted.

The crowd exploded into cheers, whoops, and roars of disbelief. Chairs scraped against the wooden floor as adventurers leapt to their feet, shouting and laughing, their disbelief quickly turning into wild celebration.

The barmaid beside Li-Jua was frozen, her mouth hanging open in sheer shock. The chewing herb she had been absentmindedly gnawing on tumbled from her lips, forgotten.

Meanwhile, the young man with fiery hair stood tall, arms crossed, grin widening. He looked around the room with an expression of pure satisfaction before spreading his arms dramatically.

“I told you,” he declared, his voice ringing through the tavern with an effortless arrogance. “You were no match for the great Miller the Swordsman!”

He planted his foot on the fallen mayor’s stomach, an insult, a challenge, and a show of dominance all at once, and tilted his chin up proudly.

“And now,” he continued, his golden eyes gleaming, “I’ll take every single mission in this region for myself! I’ll make a fortune! Women will worship me like a god!”

He threw his arms in the air, basking in the attention as if the entire world had been crafted solely for him.

Ishi, still standing beside Li-Jua, crossed her arms and scowled.

“…I hate him already.”