Chapter 6: Charlotte and the Troublesome Guest〇

"Welcome!"

On days when nothing special is happening, I work at a tavern called the Stray Cat Inn.

Though it’s called a tavern, it also serves full meals.

The food here has quite the reputation for being delicious, and at mealtimes it’s always packed with customers.

By a strange twist of fate, I ended up working here as both a waitress and the tavern’s poster girl.

For a girl, there aren’t many safe places to stay. This place is an extremely rare haven. Because of that, and because the master of this tavern always looks out for me, I put my all into the job.

"Good morning, Charlotte-chan! You’re looking cute again today."

"Oh, come on, saying things like that won’t get you any extra service, you know?"

"Hahaha, harsh! Then how about you join my party sometime?"

"Hmm, maybe I’ll think about it~?"

Many adventurers visit the Stray Cat Inn.

Good food, good drinks, and a cute poster girl. That’s why people come.

And when people gather, information gathers. Which leads to even more people gathering. Thanks to that, business is booming.

Even this early in the morning, the place is filled with adventurers about to dive into the dungeon.

Since they’ll be heading in soon, most of them don’t order alcohol. Instead, they ask for breakfast, which keeps the kitchen busier than ever.

It got so busy, in fact, that they recently hired someone new. I met him the other day—an intimidating-looking guy, but an excellent cook.

"Charlotte-chan, I heard you had a rough time yesterday?"

"Yeah, that’s right."

"If you had a fixed party, that kind of trouble wouldn’t happen, you know? How about joining ours! No one would complain if the Goddess of Fortune herself joined us!"

"Fufu, thank you."

"Oh! Does that mean you’ll accept?"

"I’ll think about it, okay~?"

Even as I delivered dishes, I never let my smile slip.

Smiling is key in customer service. No man dislikes being greeted with a smile from a cute girl.

Keep them in good spirits, and they’ll usually respond in kind. Sometimes, I even get slipped a little tip on the side.

Just as I was serving customers with that same smile, the door burst open. The person who entered was shifty, eyes darting around far too much.

My carefully practiced smile nearly crumbled the moment I saw who it was.

It was one of the adventurers I’d partied with yesterday. In other words, one of the cowards who abandoned me and ran.

His name was… what was it again? I forgot. Or maybe I just don’t want to remember.

Ah—our eyes met. He’s coming this way.

"Charlotte, you’re safe… That hair color though—what happened? It’s different from yesterday."

"Ah, well, you see… um, yeah."

"More importantly, I’m sorry about yesterday! I gave that one who attacked you a serious scolding, so it won’t happen again!"

The thing that won’t happen again is me ever teaming up with you people. The words almost slipped out of my mouth. Close call.

I nearly lost my life, and all they did was give someone a stern warning? That’s not nearly enough.

How careless he is, bringing up something like that in front of so many adventurers. Doesn’t he realize how dangerous it is?

Oh, right. They were a rookie party. They’d just arrived in this town, and before entering the dungeon I’d shown them around and explained things.

"Please, won’t you forgive us? I really think we worked well together as a party."

"Sir, you’re causing trouble."

"I’m begging you, Charlotte! Our party needs you!"

Suddenly, he grabbed both my shoulders, gripping hard as he pleaded, eyes dead serious.

It really hurt. So much so that I couldn’t even make sense of half the words coming out of his mouth.

Every now and then, there are troublesome customers like this.

Especially when I go out of my way to look after newbies—they tend to turn into ones like him.

Normally, the regulars quietly handle things behind the scenes for me… but this time, since he’d just arrived in town, word hadn’t spread yet. That’s how he managed to come straight to me without issue.

Of course, I know the solution is to join a fixed party rather than always gathering temporary ones on the spot.

But with my abilities, there are limits to where I can go. Fewer frictions are better. With a fixed party, frictions just show up in the form of growth differences or gaps in ability.

Sure, I could mooch off a big established party, but I’ve learned my lesson.

Last time I tried that, it ended in disaster. Things got so bad the entire mid-sized party broke apart.

I’m earning plenty as things stand now, and that’s far better than ending up in trouble again.

I still get endless lighthearted invitations to be someone’s party mascot, though.

While I was struggling with the situation, I sensed movement from the nearby tables—people whispering, consulting.

Looks like they were planning to step in for me.

"Hey, kid—"
"Don’t get in the way."

The voices overlapped. One of the regulars had stood up to help me, but at the same time, a voice rang out from the tavern’s entrance.

The one who stepped inside was the black-haired swordsman from yesterday.

After scanning the room once, his sharp gaze locked onto me.

Ignoring everyone else, he strode straight toward me and stopped, looking down at me from above.

"I’ve found you, woman."

"Ah."

"You had the nerve to run away yesterday. Thanks to you, I wasted my time."

Now he stood in front of me, with yesterday’s so-called party leader between us.

Even the regulars were frozen in place, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure radiating from the black-haired swordsman.

"If it hadn’t been for the hint about the Stray Cat Inn, who knows how long it would’ve taken――"

"...And just who are you?"

The first to react was yesterday’s so-called party leader. He turned to face the man standing behind him with a confrontational air.

Maybe because he was still a rookie, he didn’t seem fazed at all by the pressure radiating from the black-haired swordsman.

His bold move stirred the entire tavern into a low buzz.

"Right now, I’m talking with her. Don’t butt in!"

"And what exactly are you supposed to be?"

"I’m Nick! The man who will one day conquer every dungeon in existence!"

The black-haired swordsman stared at Nick, the boastful party leader boy, with a blank expression.

After a few seconds of their standoff, he spoke, sounding almost disappointed.

"I didn’t ask your name. I asked what you are."
"Wha—!? That’s rude!"

Nick bristled at the man’s utter lack of respect. The swordsman only gave a derisive snort.

"Rude? Hah. And what do you think you are, to call me rude?"

Just those words alone carried overwhelming weight.

Unlike yesterday, he wasn’t even trying to release killing intent or intimidation. And yet, the difference in strength between us and him was made painfully clear.

Nick, looking frustrated, took a step back. I quietly edged sideways to avoid being caught in the middle.

"Ugh… I was asking her to stay in our party! You can talk to her after!"

"Oh? So you’re her comrade?"

"That’s… right…"

The black-haired swordsman shifted his gaze to me. I shook my head as hard as I could.

I never joined any party.

"She says otherwise."

"T-That’s just… there was a little accident yesterday! She’s just confused right now!"

"Is that so?"

Again, his sharp eyes turned to me. And again, I shook my head with all my strength.

"She says otherwise."

At this point, Nick was cornered.

He glanced around desperately for backup, but in this tavern, he’d find only enemies.

"S-She’s just embarrassed! After all, she was so kind and listened to me with such care…"

"Charlotte-chan’s famous for being nice to beginners, y’know."

"Yeah, but she’s brutal to veterans."

"That’s not true! Not at all!?"

I couldn’t ignore those jeers.

I’ve never been harsh on anyone. If anything, I bend over backwards to flatter them.

I only ever politely turn away the ones who are too persistent.

"Really? Just the other day, didn’t you tell that annoying guy ‘Sorry, I already have plans that day’ to brush him off? I saw you free as a bird right afterward."

"Th-That was… um… my errands had just finished up right then! Probably."

"Eh, well, that guy was way too pushy. Can’t really blame you."

"Any more than this and I’ll get angry, you know! You’re obstructing business!"

I made sure to warn the regulars not to spout any more nonsense.

"S-Such a thing…"

Nick looked stricken, frozen in place.

We’d only known each other briefly, but it seemed I’d managed to give him quite a lot of hope.

I’d toyed with a young boy’s heart. On purpose, no less.

"Um… the truth is, I don’t plan on joining a fixed party right now. I’m sorry."

I told him straight, and Nick collapsed to the floor.

The tears welling in his eyes made me feel a pang of guilt.

He was far too easy to sway. And it wasn’t even like I’d been especially touchy with him.

Would he be tricked by someone worse in the future? This town was no place for someone so pure.

I could only hope he’d take this as a learning experience and grow from it…

As I was lost in thought, a shadow loomed over me.

The black-haired swordsman now stood directly in front of me.

"Now then. We can finally talk properly, can’t we?"

"Ah… ahahaha…"

The man didn’t even bother to hide his displeasure. All I could do was plaster on a strained smile and try to get through it.