The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 64
Chapter 64: The fat aristocrat finds the knight at the night market
After returning from the bath, Mitrof headed towards the night market.
Lost in thought, he had taken a long soak in the bath. Although he had tried to cool down by plunging into the cold water, his face and body retained some heat. Feeling the cool night breeze, he felt like taking a walk.
Several ropes were strung between the buildings, where lanterns, decorative cloth, and occasionally laundry were hung.
The street was not particularly wide, but stalls were crammed together, with non-stall vendors spreading their wares and merchandise on the ground.
The constant smells of meat and fish being grilled and the smoke mixed with various dried goods, vegetables, fruit, and other items piled up in crates made it hard to choose.
The items for sale were not much different from those sold during the day, except for the increase in the number of stalls selling alcohol at night. Large wooden barrels of sake were placed here and there, constantly being poured and handed to customers.
While some people walked and drank, others sat on the edges of the street or gathered for drinks on chairs or tables that had been pulled out of somewhere.
When Mitrof saw this sight for the first time, he thought it was a holiday, but now it was a completely familiar sight. This place was a festive place every night. People drank, ate meat, and sometimes danced and sang.
The brightness of such a lifestyle was like wealth, but it also seemed like a way to escape the anxiety that crept up behind them.
The labyrinth made the city rich. Its products became trade goods, materials for manufacturing, and food. The labyrinth gave birth to resources, producing work and money. While the city has been getting richer year by year, excessive changes have also become a source of distortion and inequality.
Mitrof’s gaze fell on a narrow path between the buildings, where he saw emaciated (skinny) children. Men holding alcohol and meat skewers passed by, oblivious to their presence.
When a city is enriched by the discovery of a labyrinth, people are drawn to its light like moths. Eventually, the city becomes a melting pot, where light and shadow, wealth and poverty, happiness and misfortune are all mixed together.
Mitrof’s eyes met the children’s. They stared back at him with dark, cruel eyes.
Unable to grasp their gaze, Mitrof turned his head abruptly forward.
Mitrof was born into nobility.
He never had to worry about his home or food, and he never had any trouble learning. Even worrying about his own way of life was probably a luxury for him.
Now he was an adventurer, and his life was no longer peaceful, but the experiences he acquired from living as a noble supported the foundation of his current lifestyle.
He learned how to handle a sword, allowing him to fight monsters.
He learned how to read, allowing him to investigate the labyrinth’s information.
He spent time studying a variety of subjects, enabling him to think deeply.
Until now, his life seemed entirely empty. The value of an existence without any purpose for the knowledge he acquired, the unrecognized swordsmanship, and a person that nobody wanted.
After being kicked out of his house and becoming an adventurer, Mitrof’s world has expanded. There are various people living in this world, and with that, there are just as many different ways of life.
Everyone is not peaceful. They have their troubles, circumstances, and sufferings and are struggling to live.
‘If only my life were different from what it is now, things would be easier…
‘I was probably wrong to think so in the past.
‘That’s how I feel now.’
“Hey, don’t wear armor in the city, you’re getting in the way!”
Suddenly, a man in front of Mitrof started to make a commotion.
If he looked up, he could see the flow of people in the crowd changing. They were shifting to the side, trying to avoid the tense atmosphere of the argument.
Mitrof slowed down behind the people as the man in armor, a knight, came into view at the center of the disturbance. He recognized the armor and helmet.
He is a knight.
The armor and helmet are familiar.
“Well, I beg your pardon—this dish is really interesting.”
“It’s strange for a knight to be at the market!”
With these reasonable words, the red-faced man avoided the knight and elbowed his way through the crowd.
People walked around the knight who stood in front of the food stall, keeping their distance.
Adventurer-like people were also commonly seen at the night market, but no one was wearing armor on top of their swords.
In the midst of all this, it was natural that it was difficult to approach someone with a decorated coat hanging over their shoulder armor. There was also a sword at his waist, and a red decorative cord hanging from it.
“Shopkeeper, can I get a serving with this?”
“Eh…sorry, Sir. Even if I receive the silver coin, I do not have change…”
“But I have nothing less than this. I will forgo the changes.”
“I cannot let you do that! Receiving a silver coin from a knight is too much honor! I do not need any payment, please take as much as you like!”
“Mm…no, it cannot be. Sorry if I can trouble you, but can someone exchange coins for me? Or perhaps tell me where to find a money-changer?”
The knight turned his helmeted face towards his surroundings, but of course, no one stepped forward. It was apparent that a knight in armor at a night market was clearly out of place, and no one had thought of helping kindly.
“…”
Mitrof felt a sense of melancholy in the silver helmet as he stared silently at the dishes lined up on the stalls without help.
Despite trying to blend in with the crowd and sneak past the stall, he suddenly stopped and sniffled.
He turned on his heel and headed towards the knight.
“Shopkeeper, I will pay for it.”
“! You are…”
A voice echoed inside the armor. Although he seemed slightly surprised, Mitrof did not even turn his face towards the knight. After giving the payment to the relieved shopkeeper, he received the goods and handed them over to the knight.
There was no mistaking this armor. He was the older brother of Canule, whom he had met in the labyrinth.
“Here you go.”
The knight compared his own food to Mitrof’s and accepted it with an apology.
“I’ll pay you back the money as soon as I find an exchange shop.”
“No, thank you—Canule has always taken care of me.”
It was a difficult reason, but it would be awkward to continue to travel with the knight until he repaid the money. Rather than being stingy with his coins, Mitrof wanted to leave this place.
“Well, then, I’ll be going now.”
He turned on his heel to walk away, but a hand was placed on his shoulder before he could take a step.
“By the way, could you tell me where we are?—I don’t know how to get back to the inn.”
Mitrof slowly turned around. His expression was complicated, looking like he was about to cry, be frustrated, or be disappointed.