Chapter 30: Waters of Risk
The tavern was warmer than expected. The scent of roasted meat and faint traces of ale hung in the air. By the time Rei made it down from his room, Ailith was already seated at a table near the hearth, waving him over with a casual flick of her wrist. A few wooden mugs clinked at nearby tables, but the inn was otherwise quiet for the evening.
Rei slid into the seat across from her. "You're here early."
"You're late," Ailith replied with a slight smirk. "I already ordered."
"Let me guess—meat."
She chuckled. "Of course. You'll need it. High-protein meals are best before a fight."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "You said the beasts were level 6, right? Then why is it listed as a level 7 mission?"
Ailith leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on the wooden table. "Because it's not just one. There are three of them. And the terrain gives them an advantage."
"What kind of disadvantage are we talking about?"
"They're aquatic. They stay in water, so we either lure them out or go in after them. But fighting in water is suicide for most people. Slower movement, restricted breathing, unpredictable current. It's their domain."
Rei nodded slowly. "So it's either drag them out—or become dinner."
"Exactly. That's why it's ranked a level higher. Most adventurers avoid those kinds of engagements."
The waiter brought out two steaming plates, each piled high with sizzling meat and roasted roots. Rei looked down. "That smells better than I expected."
"It's probably lizard meat," Ailith said.
"Lizard meat?" Rei poked the edge of the cut with his fork.
"Not the usual kind," Ailith corrected. "These are still basic-grade beasts, levels 1 or 2. Cheap and easy to hunt."
"So, not the same as the raptalians, then."
"No, not even close. Raptalians are rare. They're fast, vicious, and smart. Their meat? High-grade. Extremely valuable. That's another reason this mission is competitive."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Competitive?"
"Yeah. Sometimes, people try to intercept missions like these. Beat you to it, steal the kill. If we delay too long, someone else might swoop in."
"So we leave at dawn. No delays."
Ailith nodded. "Exactly what I was thinking."
They fell into a comfortable silence as they ate, chewing and exchanging the occasional glance. When the plates were clean, Ailith stretched and stood. "See you in the morning. Don't be late again."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Rei climbed the stairs back to his room. The hallway was quiet. Lantern light flickered faintly from the sconces as he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
As the door shut behind him with a soft click, a voice broke the silence.
"Master."
Rei sighed. "What is it, Null?"
"Who was she?"
Rei blinked, glancing down at the robe. "You mean Ailith? She's a party member."
A brief pause. "I see. A demon."
"Yeah. She is. Why? Is that uncommon?"
"No. Three thousand years ago, demons and humans were at war for centuries."
Rei tilted his head slightly. "Tell me more."
Null responded in a calm, even tone. "The primary conflict stemmed from strategic access points."
Rei raised a brow. "So what happened?"
"There were daily skirmishes. The wars burned like wildfire across borders, for generations. Tens of thousands perished."
Rei leaned against the window frame, his eyes following the stars outside he thought. "It's not that different from my old world. We had wars too. Different faces. Same flames."
"Master... do you know how to use psychic power?"
Rei blinked. He stiffened. "Yeah. Of course."
That was a lie.
"I see," Null replied. "That will be useful tomorrow."
Rei cleared his throat. "Why?"
"They communicate. The raptalians. Through sound, scent... and psychic threads. They warn each other. Coordinate. Intercepting those thoughts could give you an advantage."
Rei shifted uncomfortably. "I'll... keep that in mind."
Null didn't press further. "You should sleep, Master."
Rei glanced at the bed. The sheets looked inviting after such a long day. "Yeah. Good idea."
He lay down, pulling the blanket over himself. For a moment, there was only silence.
Then, softly—
"Good night, Rei."
He smiled faintly. "Good night, Null."