Hideout in Another World: I Tried Building a Secret Base in the Middle of Nowhere

Chapter 95: Peaceful Discussion

“Oh, I’m exhausted~.”

“I’m glad you’re safe. Did Hajiramu come back too?”

“Yeah. He asked me to bring Bonus to him. Well, but… it’s not too late even after drinking a cup of coffee, right?”

“But, you know… you look really worn out… And you kinda smell.”

“Oh, really? Well, I haven’t taken a bath for a long time. It was easier compared to the time with Kuro, but it dragged on quite a bit. Well, I’ll talk about that later… Hajiramu will.”

“Ugh…”

“Thanks, Kuro. Huh? Kuro, your clothes look really cute… Wait, when I look closely, all of you are quite stylish~.”

“Isn’t it nice?”

“Yeah, Bonus looks decent now. Anyway, I just want to take a bath and sleep as soon as possible—ah, delicious.”

Azir lazily glanced at the situation of the stall with a vague expression.

Looking again at Azir’s condition, it seems like he shaved his beard, but his clothes are quite dirty, and his hair is greasy.

In the relatively relaxed market of Misharl, he stands out a bit.

Azir takes a slow sip of coffee and lets out a big sigh.

“Thanks for the meal. Bonus, can you come now?”

“I was just bored anyway, so it’s fine.”

“Well then, it’s a hassle but shall we go?”

“Alright. Then, everyone, we’ll be back in a bit.”

“Hey, wouldn’t it be better for us to hear the conversation together?”

Gisella speaks up.

Indeed, that might be better.

We don’t know how much we’ll talk about today.

Judging by Azir’s condition, it seems difficult to talk for a long time.

It’ll probably just be to confirm the current situation.

Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to hear the conversation together, would it…?

“That’s true… What do you think, Azir?”

“Yeah, I think it’s good to save trouble… Is the stall okay?”

“I’ll watch it, so go ahead.”

“Sorry as always, Melanie. I appreciate your help every time.”

Actually, I’ve occasionally asked Melanie to watch the stall before.

And she can make coffee as good as mine, if not better.

Apparently, Kuro taught her while I wasn’t aware.

“Well then, Bonus, go ahead first. We’ll clean up at least and catch up. Azir, where’s the place?”

“It’s a tavern on the back street behind the mediation office.”

“Oh… there. Understood.”

“Then I’ll go ahead, Gisella. Melanie, take care~.”

…

“You! Don’t mess around! What do you mean you don’t know if I can cooperate with you after making us wait this long!”

Ah… I should have waited for everyone and come together… I regret coming alone while listening to the man’s voice bluntly expressing irrational anger.

Guided by Azir, I sat at the table farthest back in the tavern, even further back from there.

From this seat, you can see the entire store well.

The tavern is deeper than I thought, with a high ceiling.

Are there about a hundred seats in total?

About eighty percent are filled, and I assume those who participated in this expedition are among them.

Many of them resemble Azir in terms of the degree of sunburn, the fatigue on their faces, and the state of their clothes.

From most of these people, I can feel a sense of irritation.

Although they’re not particularly looking at me, there’s a sense that they’re somehow observing my behavior.

It’s a rather indescribable awkward atmosphere.

Sitting around the table in front of me are four people.

For some reason, I’m sitting at the farthest back.

Maybe Hajiramu thoughtfully did that, but I also feel like I’m being confined.

Right in front of me, Hajiramu is sitting, tidying his beard with his usual gloomy expression.

Azir sits sloppily on my left side, looking sleepy.

The man sitting on my right side is probably in his forties.

He’s slightly shorter than me, but his bones are thick and his body has some thickness.

His red beard and hair, left to grow as they please, give off an indescribable barbaric vibe.

His appearance is more like a thief than a mercenary, but this might not be solely due to the expedition.

But in any case, being here at least implies that he’s been entrusted with a certain position.

Since a while ago, this man has been unreasonably angry with me.

“You’re noisy, Piri! …Can’t you see we’re talking? Sorry, Bonus. Everyone’s on edge because the expedition dragged on.”

“Seems like it… But even though I’ve been called, this is troublesome.”

“What did you say, you!”

“Therefore, I’m saying you’re being noisy. This guy here is Piri from the Piri Mercenary Corps.”

“Tch…”

“And this is Bonus from the Bonus Trading Company.”

Hajiramu admonished the man named Piri with a tired expression.

Azir, perhaps accustomed to such situations, let out a big yawn.

As for me, I’m honestly quite nervous.

A rough-looking man, resembling a thief or a pirate, is glaring at me from right next to me.

I can’t help but feel anxious about when he might strike.

I wish they hadn’t let this kind of guy sit next to me.

However… well, maybe I mishandled things too.

I might have cracked too many jokes since Azir and Hajiramu are familiar faces.

After returning from a long journey, just when I thought I could finally rest, I was detained and made to wait, and the guy who showed up is a strangely neatly dressed, cheerful middle-aged man.

Moreover, he says he doesn’t know if he can cooperate without hearing the details.

By going over it like that,it’s understandable that he’s getting annoyed.

“Well, alright, let me hear about this expedition.”

“Oh, of course. But, sorry, could you wait a little longer? My comrades should be here soon.”

“What!? Are you kidding me?! Are you planning to keep us waiting any longer!?”

As this man called Piri shouts, he grabs my collar and stands up.

He grabs the jacket I just acquired a moment ago with his dirty hands.

It’s really starting to get on my nerves.

But… if I lose my temper too, things will only get out of control.

At times like this, I should handle it calmly.

“Well, wait, let go—”

Just as I tried to calm Piri down somehow, I saw a figure at the entrance of the tavern.

It’s Kuro, Shiro, Gisella, and Zamza.

I can see Kuro holding knives in both hands with a blank expression.

Zamza puts his hand on the sword axe with a fierce expression.

Shiro puts her hand on Kuro’s shoulder, and Gisella grabs Zamza’s waistband, trying to hold him back.

They glance at me as if to ask what’s going on.

This is bad.

For a moment, I envision the tavern turning into a scene from a splatter movie.

If that happens, I can’t imagine how I’ll be looked at in the future.

I might not even be able to stay in Savoia.

In this public setting, I can’t let them cause a ruckus.

I shake my head at the two of them.

I mustn’t ruin the everyday atmosphere I was just enjoying with the customers at the stall.

“What’s going on with you!? Say something!”

“—That’s so loud! Shit! Don’t get carried away!”

I have to think about how to handle this situation, but my head isn’t working well.

More than anything, I’m getting increasingly angry.

This guy is ultimately underestimating me.

Even if I calm down now and somehow appease him, that won’t change in the future.

Of course, I have powerful allies.

But imagining myself hiding behind Kuro and the others and speaking up in the future makes me sick.

Just when I thought I had dressed up so as not to be underestimated, this is what happens.

He’s being so insolent as to grab my jacket, which was still pristine with no stains, with his filthy hands without any reservation.

I’m starting to feel like punching him without thinking about anything else.

Even if he hits me back, it’s not like Shiro is his opponent.

He won’t die that easily.

However, I hesitate to take action…

Confronting monsters and Kidanakemo is a different kind of fear.

But if I’m going to do it, it has to be before Kuro and the others arrive.

Gathering what little barbarity I have within me, I headbutt him in the nose.

“Ouch!! Damn… you… you’ve done it now!!”

“You were the one who attacked first!”

Well, actually, I did… but I’ll blame him.

Piri is bleeding heavily from his nose.

I was a bit intimidated and held back, but it seems like I hit him in the right spot.

Now, if only Hajiramu and Azir could intervene…

Hajiramu is glancing back and forth at me, turning his head frantically.

He seems a bit confused by the overwhelming hostility from Kuro and the others behind him.

Please do something, Earth Dragon Slayer.

Azir shakes his head back and forth… he’s sleeping.

This guy… seriously…

No, I shouldn’t be thinking about that right now.

There is no one to immediately stop the fight.

A man named Piri, while indeed well-built, also has a noticeable belly.

If I tighten my guard and bring it to a stamina battle, he should start to get out of breath.

Perhaps due to the nosebleed, his breathing is also erratic.

Suddenly, my eyes catch the knife tucked into Piri’s waist.

…If he draws that weapon, I have no choice but to run with all my might.

Actually, I want to run away with all my might right now.

“What? Is it over already? Don’t think you can escape!”

“You’re acting all high and mighty, even though you owe your life to me!”

“What nonsense are you talking about!”

With that, Piri, his face contorted in anger, swings his fist.

My guarded arm is knocked aside.

The punch is stronger than I expected, causing my arm to go numb.

If I were to take it head-on, it seems like it would knock me out in one blow.

I have to close the distance.

“What the hell!? What’s wrong!”

I move into a clinch position as if bumping into him.

Why do I have to cling to this sweaty old man with such sorrow?

He seems unfazed and keeps punching my side vigorously.

It hurts like hell.

And it stinks intensely.

As if surprised by the smell, I lock eyes with Pink peeking out of my breast pocket.

“No, you don’t need to come out now!”

“Huh!?”

Pink sneezes softly and retreats back into the pocket.

Phew… It was dangerous. If it had splattered, this whole area would have turned into a wasteland.

But at this rate, before the opponent runs out of stamina, my stomach and nose won’t hold up.

I try to bring him down

with a takedown to transition into ground fighting, but his hips are strong and it doesn’t go smoothly.

Despite his protruding belly, he seems to have a lot of muscle mass.

Oh well… it’s getting annoying.

Two middle-aged men, clinging to each other, who benefits from this?

His nosebleed must be all over my jacket.

I wonder if it’ll come out in the wash.

Just imagining it is depressing.

“Is it over already!? Ah!?”

“What, are you half asleep? We’re just getting started!”

Anyway, this isn’t good as it is…

I tighten my guard and take a little step back, but he swings at me over the guard just like before.

I thought the power might have decreased a bit, but it’s still a strong punch with a lot of force behind it, easily breaking through my guard and hitting my face.

“Ouch!”

Despite intending to take it on my forehead, I missed a bit.

I thought I could reduce the impact with my guard a bit, but it was an impact that made my head feel like it was flying off.

I can’t keep my balance well and feel dizzy.

My skin might have been cut a little.

But as planned, I manage to grab his arm.

I pull his wrist through the guard, then embrace it and bring it into an armlock.

“Ow! What is this! It hurts!”

“You’re getting cocky! Die, you bastard!”

Piri grimaces and collapses to the ground.

His arm hair is strangely thick, making me feel uneasy.

But now that it’s come to this, he probably can’t run away anymore.

Thankfully, I survived in a world where ground fighting skills aren’t developed…

“Ow! You’re using dirty tricks! Let go! Damn it, it hurts!”

“You’re using your fists too! You’re the one being dirty! And your body odor is like poison gas! Go take a bath before you come back!”

“Wait, wait! Both of you, calm down!”

Hajiramu jumps in between me and Piri.

Finally… By the way, how are Kuro and the others…?

As I regain my composure, I see my situation clearly.

The mercenaries have surrounded us and are getting excited.

Kuro and the others are still at the entrance of the bar.

Kuro is being held back as Shiro clings to her, and Zamza is being restrained by Gisella.

I quickly stand up and wave to Kuro and the others that everything is okay.

For some reason, there is cheering from the mercenaries.

Did they make a bet or something?

I notice that Kuro is suddenly in front of me as if she teleported, and everyone else is rushing over from behind.

“Kuro, Zamza, it’s okay now!”

“Gyaaaah! Gyaahgyaahgyagyagyaaa!”

I’m clinging to Kuro as she inspects me all over my body.

Indeed, I seem to have a slight cut above my eye from the last blow.

But other than that, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Actually, it’s more painful that my jacket got dirty.

Piri is already standing up.

He’s still bleeding from his nose, and his arm that I locked seems to be hurting, but it shouldn’t be broken.

Shiro, Gisella, and Zamza step forward in front of me, glaring at Piri and the others.

The tavern, which was just filled with cheers, suddenly falls silent.

“Hey, you, did you just say something!? If you keep acting like you’re above the Bonus Company, do you want us to take on everyone all at once? Huh!?”

“N-no… You’re… You’re an oni…”

Piri suddenly becomes defensive.

The group that seemed to be supporting him a moment ago also quickly distances themselves from Piri and turns in the opposite direction.

It feels so invincible and awesome to say things while hiding behind Shiro and the others’ backs… … It feels like I might misunderstand something.

Well, that guy called Piri never drew his weapon until the end, after all.

He was terrifyingly dirty and smelly, but because of that, I could tell how many grueling expeditions he had been on.

My clothes got dirty, and I was pretty angry, but it’s probably enough now.

I don’t want to be underestimated, but I don’t want to be feared either.

“Huh? What is Bonus doing?”

“You’re still asleep… I was stupid to expect something from you, Azir.”

“Ah, sorry, seems like I’m tired.”

“Hey! You! If you touch Bonus again, I’ll kill you!”

Zamza is losing his temper at Piri.

At first, I thought he was a rough demon when we first met, but recently, he’s been surprisingly calm and thoughtful, which surprises me.

This guy is too scary.

Piri may have quite a build, but he’s incomparable to Zamza.

Their levels of strength as living beings are different.

Looking down at Piri, Zamza seems to be enduring the pressure as he shrinks slightly.

“Well, calm down, Zamza. I’m safe, so let’s hear what happened first.”

“…Fine.”

“Hey, I’ve had enough. For now, let’s hear Hajiramu’s story calmly.”

“Ah, yeah…”

When I call out to him like that, Piri pulls out a chair and sits down quietly.

I hope he won’t easily speak disrespectfully again…

While Shiro and Gisella ensure my safety, they surprisingly calmly observe the situation.

Since entering the tavern, they’ve been carefully trying to understand what I’m saying and how I’m behaving.

Maybe they’ve encountered many situations like this before.

And maybe every time, they’ve seen people keep their distance from them.

Certainly, watching Zamza and Piri just now, onis might be too strong to interact with people.

That’s why, perhaps, they’re expecting something from me.

I hope my shameful behavior can be their salvation…

But looking back, I’m embarrassed by my own behavior.

What made me get so worked up without reason?

If I think about it, there could have been many other ways to handle it.

An angry middle-aged man… I don’t like it at all.