Episode 18.10 (1/2)
Lecan caught sight of an unfamiliar party.
<Jade's Restaurant> is a gathering spot for parties who explore Dungeon Ninae's lower stratum, but upper and middle stratum parties would also sometimes have a feast here whenever they earned big.
It's the reason why top groups and the groups ranked next are familiar with each other.
Since Heles is acquainted with such parties, she sometimes introduce Lecan to one.
However, it's the first time he's seen this particular party.
It's clear at a glance that these adventurers are quite formidable.
(Wonder if they came from someplace else.)
(But they sure are making themselves at home.)
It's a six people group, but one in particular is standing out.
A flat-faced man with long blond hair wearing a shirt with a conspicuously large opening on the chest area.
Every single one of his gestures is exaggerated, like he's acting out a jester.
Other adventurers sitting next to their table are trying to make a conversation, but that man only replies to female adventurers.
Some of them even go out of their way and sit next to the man.
The man responded in an overly familiar manner, he would sometimes touch their waist and buttocks. Some of the women shrieked kya kya, but they don't look to be against it.
That flat-faced man stood up and went toward the entrance.
Eda and Heles had just arrived there, that man tried to enthusiastically speak to Heles about something.
Heles brushed him aside and tried to go to Lecan's table, but that man grabbed her arm and wouldn't let go.
Heles pointed at Lecan, the man declared something. Then she finally shook him off forcefully.
The man stretched out his hand in an attempt to touch Heles's buttocks as she left, but Eda nicely blocked him off.
(Good timing.)
(She might have a hidden talent in defense as well.)
”Lecan. Sorry for making you wait. Huh? Arios-kun, not here yet?”
”Yea.”
”Some weird guy bothered us at the entrance just now.”
”I see.”
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka.com >
Lecan saw everything through <3D Perception> but he chose to keep silent.
”Heles-san, who's that guy anyway?”
”Well, I believe I have mentioned about how I joined five parties in total during my time in this town, one of those is <Untainted Heroes (Sarimisard)>, he's the leader of that party.”
”Ah, and so that's why he said something like, 'Come back to this chest of mine'.”
”Sorry for my tardiness.”
”Ah, Arios-kun. Welcome. We just got here too.”
”Is that right. So, who's coming back to whose chest again?”
”It's that long blond haired man sitting over there. He's the leader of <Sarimisard> party, apparently he's got a lingering attachment with Heles-san.”
”Lingering attachment? Was he her lover.”
”No way! That man's party was the one that brought me to floor 41 and helped me make the <Mark> there.”
”Ah, I see.”
”However, I saw through that man, he had no intention to go for the lowest floor despite his mouth saying so. Hence why I went to look for other party. Besides, that man is, umm.”
Heles who was usually a firm talker suddenly looked bashful while glancing at Lecan on and off.
”Did something happen? Heles-san.”
”Umu. Err. As a condition to take me to the lower stratum, he, umm. In short. He demanded something that I absolutely cannot comply.”
”Ew, what an awful man.”
”So he's that kind of guy.”
Eda and Arios seemed to understand what Heles was tyring to say, but Lecan doesn't. Hence, he asked.
”Did he ask an amount of money you cannot pay?”
Eda and Arios looked at Lecan with a surprised look on their faces.
”Lecan. Are you seriously asking that?”
”Being dull is a violence in a way.”
”Hm? What are you talking about? Ah, I see. Did he ask for that sword you brought from home?”
Heles looks downward with a reddened face.