Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

149 – A Clue Without a Clue

At the word imprint, my forehead naturally frowned.

For someone to carve something like that into such a grotesque monster always brings discomfort and anxiety.

As if seeing my expression, Priest Rien added a word.

“I’m not sure. It’s better than other places, but it’s a little hard to tell because the wound is so dirty.”

“Oops.”

As for the man who soiled his body, he had nothing to say.

“By the way, where did the captain go and still not come?”

The adventurer left alone, Marcus grumbled.

Clap clap,

The sound of applause came from far away.

“Come on! Everyone, please step back!”

The warehouse door swung open, revealing a cart full of water jars and several vigilantes with brushes.

And in front of him, like a victorious general, Villian was smiling.

“It’s hard to wash if it’s splattered with blood, so let’s investigate a little later!”

“Damn it, boss! I believed it!”

Marcus flinched and threw his arm away, quickly moving away from him.

Soon the frowning vigilantes stepped forward and began spraying water over the body.

The hardened ooze was quickly released, and the fabric, already hardened and discolored black, was slightly dyed crimson.

After emptying about half of the water that had been continuously drawn up, the vigilantes began to roughly wipe the monster’s body with the brushes or cloths they had brought.

Whispering, whispering, sounds fill the warehouse.

Away from the corpse, we each decided to share our findings.

It all started with Marcus, a brown-haired adventurer.

“That guy has quite a few limbs.”

“What do you mean significant?”

“The species of limbs are all different, but there is no such thing as a joint. Unlike the monsters you see in Wandering Club, it’s like you were born sweet. Now, take a look. First-“

Marcus, who got lucky like that, began to recite 50,000 types of monsters.

The one in the left corner is a rough red-brown kobold’s arm, and the other is some kind of strange goblin’s foot, I don’t know how to tell the difference.

It was a valuable time for me to learn that at least adventurers are a job that I shouldn’t do.

“By the way, did you find anything there?”

At that question, I shook my head and pointed to the corpse being washed.

“Seeing that you manage to distinguish between all species even though you are like that, you will succeed as an adventurer.”

“Say nothing.”

From far away, I heard the sound of a solo hitting the floor.

“Okay, that’s it!”

“You’re doing it fast. If only it was like that-“

“Marcus. Quiet.”

I approached the corpse again and examined its body.

Unfortunately, washing didn’t help us that much. Rather, it was a hindrance.

I got scratches all over my body from rubbing it with a rough brush used to wash horses.

It was because the arm on which the mark remained was wrinkly, and a large portion of the skin in that area was peeled off.

“Still, I was able to recognize the imprint, so it’s fortunate.”

When I said so comfortingly to the slightly regretful priest, she shook her head.

But it was fortunate for me.

I still have a thousand miles to go, but getting entangled in trouble in a place like this wasn’t very pleasant.

“By the way, priest.”

“Yes?”

The priest raised his head and turned his golden eyes towards me.

“Then why was this guy in the canyon with the engraving on it?”

Priest Rien seemed to think about that question for a while, but she couldn’t give any other answer.

Perhaps even the gods did not give an answer to that.

***

“Hmm…”

The village chief’s face after hearing the results of the investigation from Marcus was not very good.

Anyone would have such a face if they were told that they could not identify the species of insect found and killed in their home.

“But at least he won’t show up again. Don’t worry and get down to business-“

“How can you confirm that?”

At the sharp voice of the village headman, Marcus opened his mouth but then closed his mouth.

“It’s a monster of that size, and it looks like a mutant from the outside. Chief.”

Billian came up with an excuse to rectify his colleague’s mistake, but the village headman retorted.

“Could it be a new monster?”

This time, Billian also kept his mouth shut.

“Hmm…”

The village headman’s face began to harden, which was quite unsettling.

It was obvious that if I went like this, I would just go through hardships and get a little bit of money. Or keep scavenging around this town for rotting corpses until the evidence comes out.

They both didn’t want to.

‘Because we have schedules.’

“Chief, it’s a bit vulgar, but I’ll explain it in one word. He’s dead.”

The village chief’s eyes turned to me for killing the monster.

“The village is safe, Chief.”

Only then, after hearing the definite answer, the old man’s eyes relaxed.

***

A non-artificial vitality has returned to the ‘village that has become safe with the approval of the village head’.

In the dark blue sky, only one full moon brightened the bright world, and the ashes of the monsters burned during the day coalesced into stars.

The square headed to the village chief’s invitation was just before the party was about to take place.

It was a party to cover the bloody water from the monster with alcohol and drinks, and to soothe the stressed stomach with meat.

Alcohol was served in a huge warehouse, and a bonfire was lit in the middle.

And soon, food began to pile up on the table.

A well-grilled steak with pepper sprinkled on it.

Aside from that, a salad made slightly sour to keep the greasy feeling, and mashed potatoes with butter.

From the appearance of a whole pig and even a barrel of beer, it reminded me of the mercenaries.

‘Come to think of it, I need to get some pork fat.’

As we were thinking of making porridge with oil for tomorrow morning, a young man helping us recognized us and ushered us to our seats.

Most of the party, except me, hated being crowded.

So, as requested when we asked if we would like to attend the banquet, we headed to a place slightly away from the table of honor.

Four pints of bubbly beer were laid on the table.

The young man who finished serving our table said to me.

“The village chief said to provide them if you need more alcohol or snacks, so if you need something, you can call.”

“Thank you.”

After the young man left.

Looking at the table that was neither modest nor excessive, he said a word.

“Ha, it’s not even in the northern part, but I’ve been getting all the drinks like this from far away. Long time no see.”

“Did G-House mercenary like to drink? I thought he only liked tea!”

“I couldn’t drink because I didn’t have tea, but I couldn’t drink alcohol because it disappeared quickly.”

So I came to this world and drank a lot.

For some reason, I felt Priest Rien’s pitying gaze, but I brushed it off.

As I held the slightly cool beer glass, the dew on the surface slowly flowed.

It was nice to see transparent water droplets forming on the gloves, which had only been covered with drops of blood.

I just hoped that my gloves wouldn’t be stained red as much as possible.

“G-house mercenary?”

Talk.

While I was staring at it, Priest Rien’s hand touched my glove.

“You didn’t take off your gloves today!”

She said as she smiled.

Only then did I shyly take off my gloves and set them down next to me, and Prianian quickly took them away.

When our eyes met, those blue eyes slightly bent.

“Today is Apsu. Mr. G-House.”

“I can’t help it. I’ll gladly take it away.”

I wish I never had to wear gloves for the rest of my life.

“Come on! Everyone, take a look here!”

The village chief’s shout echoed through the square.

Soon, the small village looked at one person, and the old man raised a wooden cup and recited a short congratulatory speech.

“A lot happened today. There won’t be anything like this happening again in my 60’s, but that’s why it’s more appropriate for someone else to celebrate today rather than me.”

Then, he pointed in my direction and said.

“G-House, will you come this way?”

Attracting everyone’s attention, I slowly stood up with my glass in my hand and headed to the head table where the village chief was.

“…What do you want?”

“Oh.”

Reflexively, he bent down to receive the microphone and returned his outstretched hands back to their original position.

I looked at the crowd holding back my awkwardness. It was a habit I developed when I was presenting.

A black dog who herds children around a campfire, and adventurers who want a quick drink.

Then, he opened his mouth while scanning the tired faces of the residents.

“The difficult day is passing by. Therefore, this feast is a farewell ceremony to pass today’s anxiety and fear down the throat, and a welcome ceremony to welcome tomorrow’s joy and hope in advance.”

He raised his glass. People willingly followed.

“And there’s an old saying that welcomes and beers are best eaten quickly. We need to preserve the good tradition.”

Then the light returned from the eyes of the young adventurers.

Sir.

He smiled and said just one word.

“You know?”

When I snapped my raised hand, the overflowing foam soaked my hand and fell down on the dirt floor.

And a pint’s worth of tingling coolness hit my throat.

The first cup was emptied, and the feast began.

Only the sound of musical instruments could be heard from all sides, filled with clamor and laughter.

At our table, lit by a few candles, a different atmosphere was unfolding.

“It’s been a rough day.”

The young lady who was sitting across from me looked around and said.

Then she raised her wooden cup, her face straight at me under her hood.

There was no one here who did not know the meaning.

“Good luck in your future travels.”