The Innkeeper’s Specialty

Gawain’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

Ten Second-Class Disaster Purgers had ventured up the mountain, yet not a single one had returned.

What did this imply? Shirley didn’t need to elaborate; Gawain already knew the answer in his heart.

“That’s why we’re so short-staffed here. Even if you’re from Kabi Village originally, I don’t want you to go up that mountain,” Shirley said. Having slowly finished her biscuit stick, she turned her head. She pleaded with Gawain in a voice tinged with a hint of sorrow, hoping he wouldn’t ascend the peaks.

She couldn’t bear to see another person disappear on Ash Mountain. They were already desperately short-handed. If Gawain truly went up the mountain… she had no confidence he would return. If he failed to come back, his name would certainly be inscribed on a certain glorious list.

The list of the deceased, of course.

Shirley no longer wished to submit any more lists of missing persons to her superiors. Nor did she dare to request more people from the Royal Capital. Even though the situation in Horsehead City grew increasingly sinister, Shirley had refrained from asking the headquarters of the Light of Holy Flame for additional personnel.

“But I have a compelling reason to go up the mountain,” Gawain said. He appreciated Shirley’s good intentions, but there was an important promise in his heart, one that overshadowed this danger. Even if he didn’t return from this expedition, he had an undeniable reason to go back to Kabi Village.

“…”

Seeing Gawain’s unwavering resolve, Shirley fell silent. Indeed, returning to one’s hometown was undoubtedly the dream of every person who had left their roots behind. Especially those who had achieved success.

Even Shirley herself felt the same way. Only… her hometown now existed solely within the realm of her past memories.

“No matter how much you try to dissuade me, Lady Shirley, I will still go up the mountain! For nothing else but to thoroughly eradicate the Calamity Scars in the village and create a place where Angela can live happily, free from worries!”

Recalling how his village had suffered from the ‘ghosts’ for so many years, Gawain secretly resolved to return to Kabi Village. Only by completely rooting out those monsters could his home truly find peace.

“…”

Facing his determination, Shirley remained silent, her head still bowed.

“So, please, Lady Shirley, grant me permission to go up the mountain!”

As Gawain was a Disaster Purger of the Light of Holy Flame, all his actions required reporting to a superior rank. And the most authoritative person in Horsehead City was undoubtedly Shirley, known as the ‘Black Rose’. Gawain could only ascend the mountain with her consent. Otherwise, his actions would be considered desertion or insubordination.

“You truly wish to go up the mountain?” Shirley slowly lifted her head and asked, understanding his resolve perfectly.

“Yes. I know Lady Shirley finds it difficult to leave the city, so I must go.”

Why didn’t Shirley go up the mountain herself? Though she hadn’t explicitly said it, Gawain could guess. How many Disaster Purgers were there in Horsehead City? He could probably count them on one hand. And there was only one First-Class Purger: Shirley herself.

As a First-Class elite, she naturally couldn’t be moved lightly. Unless a Calamity Scar of immense danger appeared, First-Class Purgers remained on standby to protect strategic points. Only when there were massive anomalies within the city or an Annihilation-class threat could a First-Class Purger take action. Generally, only Second-Class Purgers had the freedom to move about and investigate.

“Alas…” Seeing Gawain’s persistence, Shirley let out a long sigh. “Since you wish it, then go.”

Realizing there was no way to stop Gawain, she finally nodded in agreement. She knew that even if she refused his request, he would return a second, then a third time, until she consented. Or he would just sneak away.

With this thought, Shirley could only grant his wish… or perhaps, give up on this particular young knight. Resigned to reporting another Disaster Purger lost on Ash Mountain, Shirley turned her head away, unable to look at Gawain any longer. Truth be told, Gawain was quite handsome and certainly to her liking, but it seemed their paths were destined to diverge.

“Thank you for your permission, Lady Shirley! After tonight, I will enter the mountain immediately tomorrow morning!” Having received her nod, Gawain quickly thanked her.

“There’s no need for thanks. After all, this parting might very well be eternal…” Shirley waved her hand dismissively, feigning indifference. Deeply aware of how foolish an idea it was to enter the mountain, she seemed to intend to just give up on him.

“No, I will definitely return!” Gawain, having understood the implication in her words, asserted that he had no intention of leaving and never coming back.

“Then I’ll wait and see. It’s getting late now, and you’re not officially stationed here yet. Go back and rest first.” Shirley merely offered a wry smile at his promise, not seeming to take it seriously. She had heard such words many times before. Many Second-Class Purgers, unaware of their own limitations, had gone and never returned.

“This…”

“This is not your battlefield yet,” she interrupted, gesturing to the ash-filled street. “If you truly want to go up the mountain, then you need to conserve your energy.”

“Understood. But Lady Shirley, I actually have another question.”

“?”

“Why are there so many Calamity Scars within Horsehead City?”

Having witnessed monsters appearing in droves, Gawain was extremely curious as to why this city had such an exaggerated number of them. When he had passed through here years ago, though the streets were a bit desolate, he had never seen a monster just wandering the streets.

“I’m investigating that myself. Originally, I planned to investigate with you once you arrived, but it seems there won’t be an opportunity now,” Shirley smiled helplessly, waving her hand. Her original plan was to wait for the person dispatched to this area so they could investigate Horsehead City’s anomalies together. However, this plan was impossible to realize since Gawain had requested to enter Ash Mountain the moment he saw her.

“There will be! Once I’ve handled the matters in Kabi Village, I will return to assist Lady Shirley!” Seeing her expression, as if she believed he wouldn’t survive, Gawain spoke up again, asserting that he would absolutely come back.

Even though many had already vanished into Ash Mountain, Gawain would overcome all difficulties to return. After all, guarding this place was his official duty!

“Is that so? Then I shall wait and see.” Shirley carefully observed Gawain from head to toe, then refrained from speaking any more ill omens. She temporarily acknowledged him, giving an implicit hint that she would await his return.

“I will definitely return!” Gawain promised once more, his eyes radiating determination.

Afterward, he turned and walked back toward the inn.

“Guest, it’s very dangerous outside. Don’t just go wandering out casually.”

Just as Gawain returned to the inn’s lobby, the Innkeeper appeared out of nowhere. Seemingly materializing from the shadows, he warned Gawain in an unsettling voice.

“Innkeeper! Where did you come from?” Though Gawain wasn’t startled, he was incredibly curious how the old man had suddenly appeared. He remembered clearly not seeing him when he first walked back through the door.

“Hehe, I’m just an unremarkable old man, so it’s quite normal to be overlooked.” Facing Gawain’s question, the Innkeeper squinted his eyes, chuckled, and replied vaguely.

“Is that so?” Gawain stared at the man for a moment, half-believing, half-doubting. He tried to recall his entry… but he still couldn’t find any memory of seeing the Innkeeper in the room. This made him even more puzzled.

“Guest, it’s getting late. You should go to bed early.” Perhaps not wanting to directly answer the question, the Innkeeper waved his hand, saying the exact same thing Shirley had.

“Although it’s indeed late, I haven’t had dinner yet.” Gawain understood the Innkeeper’s reasoning, but the problem was he hadn’t eaten since before entering the city. So now, in addition to his exhaustion, Gawain was starving.

“Does the guest wish to eat something?” Understanding Gawain’s unspoken meaning, the old man asked with a kind smile.

“Yes, if you have something.”

“Then the guest should return to their room and wait. I’ll go prepare something for you right away.”

Seeing Gawain nod, the Innkeeper bowed politely, then turned and retreated into the kitchens.

Not long after the Innkeeper departed, Gawain followed his own path back toward his room.

About thirty minutes later, just as Gawain felt he was about to turn into a stone statue from waiting…

Knock, knock, knock.

“Guest, are you there?” The Innkeeper’s voice, accompanied by a polite knocking, finally came from the hallway.

“Yes!” Hearing the voice, Gawain quickly walked to the door and opened it.

“I apologize for making you wait, guest.” Once the door opened, the Innkeeper immediately bowed and smiled.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. As long as there’s food, I’m satisfied.” Gawain was honestly a little curious about what the old man had prepared for him.

“Is that so? Your words reassure me, guest. This is the dinner I’ve prepared for you.” Perhaps noticing Gawain’s expectant look, the Innkeeper smiled again, then reached out and opened the lid covering the platter.

Subsequently, a dish with several whole fish heads inserted upright into a flatbread pie crust met Gawain’s gaze. Each fish’s eyes were wide open, staring blankly upward as if unwilling to rest in peace. It struck Gawain as incredibly bizarre!

“This is called ‘Stargazy Pie’. It’s my specialty dish. I hope the guest won’t mind.” Discerning Gawain’s confusion, the Innkeeper proudly revealed the name of the dish, declaring it his most accomplished creation.

“Ha… ha… Is that so? So this ‘Stargazy Pie’ is your specialty, Innkeeper? Then I…”

Hearing that this was the old man’s pride and joy, Gawain, who had initially been deeply reluctant to touch it, could only steel himself and accept the terrifying dish, brimming with the Innkeeper’s heartfelt effort.