## Chapter 380 – The Color From Outer Space
The people I encountered in the village all had faces that looked like they’d been through the wringer, but just because someone looks strange doesn’t mean they’re going to do strange things. That kind of thinking is just prejudice.
Maybe I was just overreacting.
“You folks look like travelers from afar?”
The middle-aged man with most of his teeth missing looked exactly like someone who couldn’t possibly be employed in any profession other than a cruel and vile one, just as his appearance suggested. But seriously, how could anyone normal look like that?
It’s usually the weird-looking ones who do weird things.
“Hehehe, that’s right. Just trying to see the world. But we got lost in the fog.”
I greeted him cautiously, wary of him suddenly pulling out a knife. Just looking at him, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly spat out some inhuman, murderous skewer from his mouth and started swinging it at us.
“Hehehe, this Foggy Plain is a peculiar place where fog blooms year-round. It’s only natural to get lost.”
The only people who wouldn’t get lost in a place like this are the people from Foggy Village.
“I heard there are a lot of travelers like us?”
“There used to be quite a few… but not recently. So, are you thinking of staying the night? There are a lot of monsters outside. It’d be best to sleep here.”
“Oh, of course. How much is it?”
I’d heard it was a bit expensive, but in a remote place like this, prices naturally go up. As long as they weren’t ripping me off too badly, I was willing to pay.
Because they hadn’t actually done anything weird yet.
“Are you sure it’s just you and those two ladies there?”
“That’s right.”
“Then that’ll be 35 coopers for one night for three people… and counting that bird as one too.”
“Hehehe, that’s a bit pricey, isn’t it?”
“Well, it’s because we’re in a place like this… Prices always fluctuate depending on the region and the situation, don’t they? We live in a village like this, so we have to make money somehow.”
“That’s true.”
Those bastards, it’s way too expensive.
But what could I do? This was a crazy, foggy village. It seemed like this area was in the middle of nowhere.
I took out my wallet and handed him seven 5-cooper coins. The innkeeper grinned, showing off his missing teeth.
“Go to the room at the end of the second floor… And what about meals? We haven’t had guests in a while, so I’m planning to make a big pot of stew. It’ll be a bit expensive too, but I guarantee it’s a proper meal.”
“How much is that?”
“Just 15 coopers for three servings.”
“Hehehe, isn’t that a bit of a rip-off?”
Hearing the price made me laugh. To think it would cost 50 coopers just to sleep and have one meal in this place.
“Still, isn’t it a fair price? Don’t worry. I guarantee the taste.”
He’s the only one who thinks that’s a fair price.
“Well, give it to us. We’re not in a position to be picky. But is there anything other than stew?”
“Have the stew first. I’ll send it up to your room in a bit.”
“Alright… And I’d like to wash up, where’s the well?”
“It’s behind the building. But it’s public… Since there aren’t any other guests anyway, if you tell me when you want to use it, I’ll make sure no one bothers you. Hehehe.”
“Oh, thank you. You’re very considerate.”
“Didn’t I charge you a lot of money?”
“Your mindset is truly angelic, sir.”
Still, he said he’d provide service according to the money he received.
I took the key and went up to the second floor. Every time I climbed the stairs, I felt like I could hear ominous laughter coming from the first floor… What kind of place is this, really?
As soon as I opened the door without a word, Winia said in a blunt tone.
“What’s with this village? It doesn’t seem very normal. And those guys from earlier too.”
“I was on edge too, it was so suspicious.”
I said, organizing my backpack. Winia seemed to have sensed the ominous atmosphere as well. In fact, there was no way people living in a shitty place like this could be normal.
Cloudy threw herself onto the bed, seemingly not caring.
“Ah, it’s so fluffy. What could happen? Let’s just rest for now. We can deal with problems when they arise.”
“Yeah. I guess that’s right. Let’s rest for now. I feel so relaxed coming inside after being outside.”
The room seemed more pleasant than I expected. There was one bed, which seemed a bit small for the three of us, but anything was better than the bumpy floor of the tent.
There was a bathroom, but of course, no running water.
So, we’d have to use the well.
Most large cities have well-developed sewage systems, but there’s no way a remote village like this would have such a system.
Anyway, I took off my gear and lay down next to Cloudy. Immediately, her hand reached for my body.
“Oh, damn, I feel alive again. No, Cloudy. The walls aren’t soundproof here.”
“Does it matter?”
“It matters, sis.”
Winia squeezed in next to me and lay down as well. She seemed to be in a good mood, lying on a bed after sleeping on the cold tent floor for days.
We were resting for a while when…
ㅡKnock knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Judging by the smell, it seemed to be the stew.
“…”
I got up without a word and opened the door.
A hairy man with the impression of an animal abuser was standing there.
“I brought enough for the three of you to eat. You must be hungry, so eat a lot.”
He smiled, handing me the iron pot filled with stew.
Indeed, the aroma was strong, and it smelled good. As expensive as it was, it was filled with meat, potatoes, and other ingredients. Steam was rising from it.
“Wow, this looks better than I expected? Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Yes. Then I hope you have a pleasant time…”
ㅡCreak.
He bowed politely and left.
ㅡClick.
Anyway, I locked the door and put the stew on the desk. Winia, who was looking at me with narrowed eyes, said.
“Are you going to eat that, Blackie? I’m a bit suspicious.”
“Of course not. I just bought it because it would be weird to refuse there.”
I wasn’t particularly suspicious, but in reality, dismembering people is a common occurrence in remote areas.
It’s better to just eat what we brought.
“That’s right, Katt. It’s always good to be careful with food. Even strong warriors sometimes fall due to unexpected poisoning.”
“Sis is right. You’ll be done for if you eat food carelessly in a foreign place.”
Cloudy is also thorough about things like this.
“I know. I’m just going to throw it away.”
I poured the 15-cooper stew into the toilet. Whether there’s a problem with the food or not, you shouldn’t carelessly accept food from a remote place where common sense and the law might not apply.
And the fact that they’re being overly kind and seemingly reasonable is also suspicious… It’s suspicious in itself that such kind people live in a place like this.
Even if that weren’t the case, it’s common sense to be careful in foreign places.
We have plenty of food that we brought anyway.
As usual, we had a simple meal of jerky, crackers, and dried fruit that we had brought, and then brushed our teeth.
“Then let’s get some sleep. I don’t really feel like washing up.”
Winia said, yawning.
“Yeah. It’s a bit much to wash up in a place like this. You two go to sleep on the bed first.”
“What about Katt?”
“I’ll lay out a blanket on the floor and sleep there. There’s another blanket here.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with that? Do you want to sleep on the bed, Katt? I’ll lay out a blanket and sleep there.”
“No, it’s because I’m not going to sleep right away. Go to sleep first.”
“If that’s the case… Katt, do you love me?”
“Hehehe, me too.”
Cloudy said that and gestured for me to come closer, then gave me a kiss on the cheek. That’s enough for me.
“Good night, Winia.”
“Yeah, Blackie too… If you’re thinking of keeping watch, wake me up later.”
“I’m debating whether to keep watch or not.”
I gave Winia a kiss on the forehead, and she smiled and closed her eyes.
“Damn, then.”
Let’s strengthen the security a bit.
Even though we rented an inn, I can’t just sleep in a suspicious inn in the middle of nowhere like this. This isn’t a tourist destination where a lot of people come and go.
Even if nothing else, the kids all look like they were born to be criminals, so I can’t relax.
Still, it’s ironic that it’s better than sleeping in that damn cold tent. The cold from the fog seeps into your bones. What’s scarier than criminals is the cold of the night.
I immediately searched the room.
Well, there wasn’t much besides the windows and the door. So, I decided to just move my backpack in front of the door. I locked the door, but I need to feel safe.
Then I laid out a blanket on the floor and lay down on it.
I was wondering whether to keep watch or not, but I just can’t fall asleep.
Let’s just rest.
ㅡSwoosh.
I drew my sword and placed it within reach. Cloudy and Winia were already asleep, making even breaths.
About an hour passed.
ㅡRustle rustle.
ㅡWhisper whisper.
“…”
I heard some noise from outside. I closed my eyes and focused on my hearing, and it seemed like something was moving in the hallway on the second floor.
I thought they said there weren’t any other guests.
ㅡKnock knock knock.
Then I heard someone knocking on the door.
…A bad feeling crept up like smoke, but I thought maybe they just came to collect the pot.
Yeah. It must be the pot.
ㅡKnock knock knock.
ㅡKnock knock knock.
ㅡKnock knock knock.
ㅡKnock! Knock! Knock!
But the sound of knocking on the door is getting more and more serious.
Seriously, what kind of bad manners is this when guests are resting?
Feeling suspicious, I decided to ignore it for now.
I was going to see how they would react, when, ㅡRattle.
ㅡSlide.
Suddenly, the doorknob turned.
ㅡClick.
ㅡCreak.
The locked door opened.
“Guests. Are you asleep…?”
Slowly, very slowly, the door moved, pushing the backpack that I had placed in front of it. I refined my surging murderous intent and annoyance.
These bastards came in.
“Hmm? What’s this backpack?”
“Hehehe, looks like they tried to block the door? We’ve seen that before. More importantly, it looks like they’re all asleep, bro.”
There were two of them who came in.
After slowly moving the backpack aside, they said in a quiet tone.
“Be quiet. They might wake up.”
“Don’t worry. I put a lot of drugs in there. We’ve been saving up because we haven’t had guests in a while. We need to clear out some inventory this time, hehehe.”
Damn it, I knew it.
How is it that my bad feelings never miss?
It seems like these bastards are the guy who guided us and the hairy man who looks like an animal abuser. I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep, eavesdropping on their movements.
“Look. They’re all passed out. Wow, they ate all the stew? It must have been delicious. The chef showed off his skills to mask the smell of the drugs. Puhuhu, if they ate that much, they won’t be able to come to their senses for at least half a day.”
“Looks like it. Hehe, my brother always does a good job.”
“I’ve been doing this for years.”
I shouldn’t have eaten food from a foreign place.
And judging from the circumstances, it seemed like these bastards had been committing these crimes in this crazy murder inn for years.
“Hehehe, anyway, there are a lot of high-quality goods today, bro. Two women? One of them even has huge tits. The brown-haired one is hot too. Ugh, my lower body is throbbing. I think I’m going to cum already.”
The guys slowly walked towards us.
“Ugh, those tits. Uhh. Let’s do the usual routine first, then take turns, bro. Let’s enjoy them to the fullest first and then share them with the village.”
“Let’s do that, hehehe… It’ll be rewarding to get these bitches pregnant. But why is this guy sleeping on the floor?”
I slowly opened my eyes and grabbed the hilt of my sword.
“Rewarding to get them pregnant?”
“Huh?”
All these bastards must have learned how to talk like shit from the same place.
I grabbed my sword and quickly got up.
“Impregnate my sword instead, you bastard.”
ㅡThwack.
I stabbed the guy in the stomach. He wasn’t very well-trained, so the blade went in smoothly, like putting it in a scabbard.
“Uh, uh?”
“Bro…?”
The two of them looked at me with faces as if they had seen something bizarre, as if they couldn’t grasp the situation yet.
ㅡSquish.
As I pulled out the sword, blood gushed out, and the guy who was called “bro,” the one who guided us, knelt down and collapsed.
“Ah, ah?”
ㅡThud.
“Wow, you already gave birth? It’s a healthy Black Iron Greatsword.”
“Uh, uh…! Uh uh! Bro! You bastard!”
“Too late, you idiot.”
The hairy man, who finally came to his senses, was shocked and tried to draw his sword, but there was no way he could be faster than me.
ㅡSlash!
I lightly swung my sword and severed the guy’s arm.
“Kaaaaaaaah!!!”
Life is shit.
“You dirty bastards. Cloudy, Winia. Wake up.”
This damn world.
“I was already awake. Ugh, those bastards talk so dirty. Blackie, kill all the suspicious bastards.”
“Hmph, I wanted to rest properly for at least a day.”
I know, right.
