The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 87
Chapter 87: The fat aristocrat gets tangled up with children
“Was that really Grace-sama?”
Canule calmly asked the question after listening to Mitrof’s story.
The location was the dimly lit dining hall of the inn where Grace had stayed.
After losing sight of Grace, Mitrof immediately visited Canule’s place. They both came back to this inn with the possibility that if it really was Grace, she would be staying here again. However, there was no sign of Grace anywhere.
Mitrof moistened his lips with the fragrant, stale red wine before speaking.
“I think it probably was her—I felt like she recognized me too.”
“Has it been confirmed?—Did you have a conversation with her or get a good look at her face?”
“…No, I didn’t hear her voice—it was dark and a bit far away, and she had a hood on.”
“So it could be a case of mistaken identity.”
“Still, I think it was Grace.”
Despite his confident assertion, Mitrof’s tone grew weaker. At that moment, he was certain that there was no mistake about Grace’s face. Their gazes mixed together, and for a moment, it seemed like they recognized each other.
However, as Canule said, there is also the possibility of a mistaken identity. The street was dark, and the person was wearing a hood. Above all, it’s strange for Grace to run away.
“Have you verified what is inside the door where they came out? There’s a chance that someone involved in a troubling situation saw Mitrof-sama at an inconvenient time and fled on the spot.”
“Yes, I have.”
Losing sight of Grace’s figure, Mitrof returned along the same path. He sought clues at the door where she appeared, only to find a small tavern.
It was dimly lit like night despite being daytime, and the lantern hanging on the wall was not adequately lit. The smell of cigarette smoke and dust bothered his nose, and damp sawdust was scattered on the floor.
There were two men at the counter seats, and on the two tables, rough-looking men were gathered, holding bottles of liquor.
Mitrof furrowed his brow, thinking that he couldn’t relax and drink in such a place.
The shopkeeper was a demi-human, with smooth, lizard-like scales that were significantly cracked below the eyes. With a tongue poking out from a wide-open, vertical pupil, the shopkeeper observed Mitrof from head to toe as if assessing a new customer.
“Well, what a lovely customer we have—welcome, young man—what can I help you with?”
The cloying tone of the shopkeeper’s voice was indistinct at the end. Although her way of speaking was feminine, her voice was deep and manly.
“…I want to ask about a customer who just left your store—I want to confirm if I know them.”
“If I could help you, dear sir, I would, but I cannot disclose information about other customers.”
The lizard-like shopkeeper tilted her head, moving smoothly in a way that was different from a human. Her fingers, which stroked her neck, had sharp claws. Her bright red nail polish looked nearly black in the darkness.
“I understand your creed—however, could you at least confirm the name?I think she was an elf named Grace.”
“Why don’t you have something to drink since you’re here? We have only alcohol and water, but our alcohol is specially sourced, and it’s recommended even for a cute boy like you.”
Ignoring Mitrof’s question, the lizard shopkeeper took a nearby bottle of liquor and checked the label.
Kachichichi, kachichichi.
The sound of the hard bottle bounced off the walls. The sharp claws of the lizard tapped each bottle, starting from the pinky finger.
Kachichichi, kachichichi.
One of the drunk customers at the counter shook his shoulder and laughed.
“Hey kid, the liquor here is the best… especially the special one—I’ll treat you to a glass.”
Almost touching his forehead to the counter, the man turned to face Mitrof.
Mitrof was hesitant in this strange atmosphere.
Despite being accustomed to the labyrinth and fighting monsters without hesitation, Mitrof had not yet acquired the courage to step into an unfamiliar tavern. It was a place operating outside of the established rules of Mitrof’s constructed worldview, which was too unfamiliar. It was not even a matter of feeling safe since he was carrying a sword.
Again, the shopkeeper did not seem to intend to answer Mitrof’s question.
Mitrof left the shop hesitantly after leaving a word of thanks.
“…It doesn’t seem to be of any use as a clue.”
“I see,” Canule nodded.
“My guess is that it’s a neighborhood where the boundary between inside and outside is clearly defined—if Mitrof-sama, who is not a member of the community, were to enter suddenly, he would not be able to receive any answers.
“That’s probably it—I understand the exclusive atmosphere well.”
Although that place is the only clue, Mitrof does not seem to be able to obtain the information he wants by simply going there.
“If it was a case of mistaken identity, that’s fine—I just misjudged her—but if it really was Grace, why did she run away?”
Mitrof slouched his back, dropped his shoulders, and stared at his glass, lost in thought.
Watching his appearance, Canule struggled for words.
“Even if it was Grace-sama, there must be some circumstances behind it.”
“Is that so…there’s also the possibility that she didn’t want to see my face.”
“That can’t be… She even gave you her earring, and made a promise to meet again, didn’t you?”
It was Canule who taught him that it was a tradition among elf women to give an earring to the person with whom they wished to be reunited.
“So she gave me the earring, but now she has no desire to see me again, hence, is it not awkward for us to meet face to face?”
“That’s…”
Canule’s kindness prevented her from answering conclusively whether it was possible.
However, Mitrof’s sharp intuition for understanding the true meaning behind the words of the nobles made Canule’s kindness futile.
“——Snort.”
Mitrof snorted and sniffled, then downed the red wine in anger.
“I’ll go there again! I can’t sleep at night like this!”
Canule proposed to go along with him and not leave Mitrof alone. Together, they entered the back alleys again.
Mitrof believed that he could recognize Grace if he saw her again, but the city was vast, and many people lived there. The possibility of encountering someone you did not have a planned meeting with was incredibly low. Mitrof was well aware of that.
Nevertheless, he could not spend his time idly lying down in his room and finding meaning in the wood grain on the ceiling. Walking around the streets was a good distraction.
The main street connecting the city blocks was wide, and people and carriages were constantly passing by. Apartment buildings lined both sides of the avenue, and the places where the shadows fell changed as the sun set, but there was always somewhere bright and sunny.
The voices of the bustling crowd were constant, and entering the flow of people walking by would create a dense crowd where you had to be careful not to bump into someone’s shoulder.
However, as they deviated from the main streets and wandered deeper into the city through one or two back alleys, the hustle and bustle faded away. The atmosphere became dim, like entering a deep forest, with air that sank and a narrower path. People passing by fell silent, bowed their heads, and covered their faces. Everyone was saying with their whole body that they didn’t want to be bothered.
Occasionally, there are men and women chatting when they cross paths, whether they be humans, beastmen, or demi-humans. When Mitrof and Canule happen to come across them, they stop chatting and watch the out-of-place pair from the corner of their eyes.
In such situations, Mitrof does not have the courage to ask around about Grace.
In the end, they wander aimlessly down the streets. The narrow and winding paths lead them in different directions, making their sense of direction become disoriented—It’s more labyrinthian than a labyrinth,’ Mitrof thought.
As they pondered, stuck in the middle of a crossroads without any leads, they heard light footsteps approaching. Two children ran towards them, their faces hidden under hoods.
‘Are there also children in the backstreets? No, it’s obvious that people live here…’
Without hesitation, Mitrof took a step back and made way for them. Shortly after, as they passed each other, the child in the lead pointed forward and exclaimed, “Look!”
Mitrof’s shoulder twitched, and he reflexively turned his face.
The second child tried to lean on Mitrof’s shoulder. His hand moved swiftly, aiming for Mitrof’s pocket.
However, a black leather glove was in the way of those hands. Canule, who had been focusing only on Mitrof’s caution since entering the back alley, had closed the distance without fail.
“Ahh!” a weak voice cried out.
Canule’s quick movement and her power as a monster seemed to have caused the child’s body to lose balance. He stumbled and hit the wall, then turned over and fell.
“Kou!”
The child who had been leading the way stopped in his tracks and quickly ran over.
He was wary of Mitrof and Canule, and hurriedly lent a shoulder.
“Ouch, ouch! My foot! My ankle!”
“Are you okay? Come on, stand up!”
Finally, Mitrof realized that the two of them had narrowly avoided being pickpocketed. He couldn’t help but pat his pocket, impressed with the two brave children.
“Canule, thank you.”
“It’s my duty.”
Although she had resigned her position as a knight, Canule still displayed the occasional behavior of a true knight. Since the day she swore to protect Mitrof, Canule has been loyal to him.
“Hey, are you guys okay?”
When Mitrof spoke up, the children raised their heads.
“Shut it, we ain’t afraid of no fattie!”
The one who retorted seemed to have sprained his foot. His voice was courageous, but it still had the high-pitched tone of pre-adolescence.
“Kou! Uh, sorry, we almost crashed into you.”
Mitrof pinched his chin thoughtfully.
If he had been a victim, he might have felt inclined to interrogate them, but since Canule prevented it from happening, Mitrof had no reason to be angry.
While there was an option to advise them to correct their wrong behavior according to social ethics, Mitrof nodded, thinking that it would be better to mind his own business.
“I see—you better watch where you’re going from now on.”
Mitrof was about to leave, leaving the children behind.
“——Hey, what’s up with bringing a monster?”
Mitrof stopped abruptly. He turned around and kneeled before the boy known as Kou.
“You have given me a reason to be angry—I can’t tolerate that statement—can you take it back?”
“Ah! I’m sorry! Kou’s sorry! This guy, um, is really stupid!”
The child who had stepped forward to defend herself looked like a girl. She waved her hands frantically, trying to negate his previous statement herself.
“I’m not stupid! I saw it! The black guy in the back! Its face was just bones!”
“True, it was just bones—but she’s not a monster. Your statement was incorrect.”
Mitrof calmly acknowledged and demanded a correction.
“Um, Mitrof-sama, I don’t mind…”
Canule hesitantly interjected.
“No, I mind—I’ll get angry if my important comrade is put down—it’s only natural.”
“What comrade?! There’s no way a rich guy like you is a comrade of a monster!”
“We’re comrades, and I am not necessarily rich.”
“Liar! How can a poor person carry such a short sword around!”
Mitrof exclaimed in amazement.
In addition to the thrusting sword on his waist, Mitrof also carried a short sword that the Silver Armor Knight, Canule’s brother, had given him. It is a fine piece of jewelry, though it is not ornately decorated.
This boy seemed to have a keen eye to recognize it.
“Sorry! Let me apologize for Kou’s rude words!”
“Hey, don’t do whatever you want, Kai! I won’t apologize! It’s a fact that she’s a monster!”
“Ugh! Why can’t Kou just keep quiet?! You always make things complicated!”
“You’re just a coward all the time!”
Suddenly, they started arguing. Mitrof and Canule were ignored.
Canule stood silently, yet prepared to shield Mitrof no matter what happened.
Mitrof observed the two children and guessed that it seemed like they were acting. Even though the two of them were arguing well, they seemed to be looking out for Mitrof.
‘It’s quite impressive,’ Mitrof couldn’t help but admire.
He didn’t receive an apology, but his criticism had weakened, and Mitrof decided to go along with the children’s plan.
With a sigh, he deliberately averted his gaze and turned his face towards Canule.
“Now!”
At the same time, the two children stood up and ran out.
“Ha ha! Useless fattie!”
Mitrof was amazed at the unique insult and glanced back in disbelief. Despite being dragged, Kou ran with his face toward them. Mitrof didn’t like accepting his leaving remarks, but he watched him go without any concern. However, it seemed that luck played a role.
“Hey, shut up! I can’t sleep!”
The noise irritated a resident, who opened the door. Kou, who wasn’t looking forward, was slow to react, and his face hit the door, causing him to flip and get thrown back.
“K-Kou?!”
Kai, who had been leading the way, returned and shook Kou’s body, but he didn’t wake up no matter how much he shook him. He seemed to have hit his head.
Mitrof looked at Canule. Canule shook his head from side to side.
With a sigh, Mitrof approached the children.