I Opened an Inn Next to a Dragon’s Lair - Chapter 144



Only Noblemtl

Episode 144

Thanks to Eugene’s appearance, the fighting between the two races stopped. However, the tense atmosphere remained.

Those murderous eyes that they would occasionally glare at each other as they sat far apart at the ends of the first-floor tables…

Oh my, it’s so shocking that everyone who sees it feels like their blood is drying up.

Irina was guarding the counter with a smiling face as always, while the other vampire employees stood in the corner, dumbfounded.

And the elven staff, even if they didn’t show it, seemed to lean toward their own kind. If this wasn’t their workplace, they would have joined forces and made fun of the dwarves long ago.

Meanwhile, the human guests who were watching their fight were still sipping their beers with interest and watching their war of nerves.

“Hey, you two! Don’t do that, just stick together!”

“That’s right. That’s what makes me feel better. How long are you going to keep glaring at me like a girl… … Ah, one side is like a girl. Sorry. Hahaha.”

“If we’re going to fight, let’s do it one-on-one. Oh, but do you know what a one-on-one duel is? There’s something called a duel in the human world. So what is a duel…?”

“Oh, you too. They’re not even savages, so how can you not know that? Of course you know what a duel is.”

“Ahem. Is that so? Anyway, let’s fight! I’ll bet on whoever wins!”

“Or what is that? There’s a game console in the annex behind here. You play a game with that. That’s really fun.”

“That sounds good too. Peaceful. Haha.”

The human merchants and mercenaries laughed and joked as if the tense atmosphere had nothing to do with it.

They say that watching fights and fires is the most fun in the world. Their eyes were filled with interest.

The look of wariness that had been cast at them when they were first considered foreigners was nowhere to be found, but that was fortunate if anything. In this mess, how tiring it would be if they pulled out their swords against foreigners.

Well, that doesn’t happen much these days. The guests have become quite accustomed to foreign races. There were rumors that there were foreign races in this inn in the first place.

So that’s a bit of a relief…

‘Thank goodness.’

Fortunately, no. When on earth are you going to end this war of nerves?

Eugene finally decided to break them up.

“Everyone. Stop staring at each other and let’s go back. How long are you going to keep glaring at me?”

As Eugene signaled, the elf staff moved as they saw fit. The elves supported their fellow elves, and Eugene supported the dwarves.

“Mr. Eindelf, please wake up. Calm down. Come on, let’s go.”

“Ahem. Since the owner says so, there’s nothing we can do. Let’s do that.”

Then, as if reluctantly, they both got up, and Eugene realized why they were glaring at each other without getting up.

It’s a battle of pride, so to speak. Whoever wakes up first loses, that’s the feeling.

That is a really trivial reason.

“If it weren’t for the owner, I wouldn’t have gotten up.”

“Yes, yes. I know. I know.”

“I could have jumped in and ripped those little bastards’ ears off.”

“Oh, I understand, so let’s go. Stop glaring.”

“I’m putting up with it because of the owner.”

But he never forgets to throw in a few words. Why is that bearded, middle-aged gentleman so narrow-minded?

“Well, why would someone of his age act like this?”

“Nira… … . That’s right. I ate as much as I could. I also had my coming of age ceremony this year, so I am now a dwarf who can hold a hammer. So that little punk can just hit me with the hammer!”

“……yes?”

Eugene’s expression became pale.

So, this dwarf gentleman with the bushy beard and dignified air has just become an adult?

“Coming of age ceremony? This year?”

“That’s right. I’m an adult now. I can drink beer starting this year. The first beer I had tasted was really good. Hahaha.”

“… … .”

Eugene was speechless.

I turned my head to the left.

I saw elves moving away.

The faces of the elves all look like they are in their early 20s.

And the face of this dwarf, who appears to be middle-aged at face value.

“… … .”

Eugene somehow felt sorry for the dwarves.

* * *

Eugene escorted the other dwarves, including Aindelf, who had fought against the elves, to their city.

Actually, I could have just sent him away. But the reason I saw him off in person was to see Gilius.

“Haha. Welcome. What would you like to eat?”

“Yes, I would like a cup of tea.”

I have something to ask, and I also want to see your face. That’s kind of it.

“You have a question. What are you curious about?”

“Well, something like this happened today… … .”

Eugene told me about the fight between the elf and the dwarf that happened at the inn.

Then, Gilius listened with a serious face.

“Hmm. So that’s what happened.”

“Yes. That’s why I was curious. There’s a rumor going around, you know? It’s that elves and dwarves don’t get along.”

“There are rumors like that.”

“Why is that? Are you really not on good terms?”

“That’s not true. It’s somewhat true, though.”

“how?”

“exactly.”

Eugene was puzzled. Isn’t that an ambiguous answer?

As if he noticed Eugene’s question, Gilius snickered and continued speaking.

“To conclude, it’s all because of the influence of the stale past.”

Gilius told us about the history of the distant past.

This is a story about a time when it was so prosperous that it occupied a corner of the continent and was called a kingdom.

This is a story of a time when various races each developed their own power, not in the present day when humans occupied the majority of the land.

“There was a time when we were like that too. There was a time when we occupied a part of that vast plain and had international exchanges with many countries.”

Its history was very short, but it was a glorious one for the dwarves, Gilius said.

“Was there such a history?”

“There was.”

“Why didn’t I know?”

“Well, the history books of humans would have been compiled differently. You know that, Master. History is written by the victors. We are the losers. The losers have nothing to say.”

Eugene nodded. It was bitter, but it was so obvious. Isn’t that the case even for orcs?

It is an unchangeable historical fact that the Orcs prospered to the point of being called an empire. It is a fact.

But the mainstream historiography of Karnis does not say so.

The Orcs have never flourished, and they consistently say that they have been a slave race since the past.

Right now, that isn’t true. So, it’s possible to distort the history of dwarves or other races.

“At that time, our kingdom was in the southeastern part of the continent, and the elves’ kingdom was in the southern part of the continent. Do you know what that means?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure. Are they close to each other?”

“That’s correct. You’re quick-witted. Haha.”

Gilius took a sip of his beer and continued speaking.

“At that time, our kingdom and the kingdom of the elves shared a border. What does this mean?”

“If we were facing the border… we wouldn’t have been on good terms.”

“That’s right. There were a lot of minor quarrels, and even wars.”

It can’t be helped. The saying “friendship from afar, attack nearby” must have come about for no reason. There is a reason for everything.

In any world, in any era, people who share a border cannot get along well.

Even if you are on good terms, it won’t last forever. That’s the way of the world.

“It is said that our ancestors fought many wars with the Eldia Kingdom, the land of the elves. The rumor that dwarves and elves were not on good terms started from there. That is where the time-honored derogatory nicknames like ‘dwarf dungbag’ and ‘dwarf dwarf’ originated.”

“okay.”

Eugene nodded vigorously. Something was strange. That was where the saying came from. Was this the joy of discovering a hidden historical fact?

“I don’t know about you, Master, but it happened a long time ago. It must have been thousands of years ago. I only know this from my father, and the other dwarves probably don’t know this.”

“Yes. I asked, but they didn’t really give me an answer.”

Actually, that’s why I went to see Gilius. I couldn’t get an answer. I wondered if the king would know.

“That’s right. If you ask them why they hate elves, they probably won’t be able to answer. Why? Because they don’t hate them for a reason. It’s all learned.”

“Learning… … .”

“That’s right. That’s what I’ve heard since I was a kid. Elves are weak. They’re sly. They’re annoying little brats. That’s what they’re saying. So I can’t help but think that way. But have the elves actually done anything bad to us?”

Eugene didn’t answer. How would we know whether he said that or not? The parties involved know.

But Gilius seemed not to want to hear the answer and continued speaking.

“They didn’t do anything to us. We didn’t do anything to them. I know that. That’s why I don’t have any feelings for them. And Queen Sylvia probably doesn’t have any feelings for us either. Oh, the beer tastes good.”

Gulp gulp.

After Gillius downed the rest of his beer, he set it down roughly on the table and continued.

“I’ve rambling on for a long time. But I believe you understand what I mean.”

“Yes, I understand.”

So, doesn’t that mean that since they were at odds with each other a long time ago, the influence has been passed down to this day?

“I think so. What’s in the past is in the past.”

“… … .”

“Even if we were enemies with them at one time, that was a long time ago. There is no need for that anymore. They and we are not enemies. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

They’re not enemies, they’re neighbors. And they live pretty close.

But these two races don’t interact much with each other. This was something Eugene personally didn’t understand, but now he understands why.

“The owner said something nice. I’ve been thinking about that all along.”

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m asking for reconciliation.”

“Make up… … .”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t be enemies. Rather, we should actively interact and move forward together. That’s my long-held thought.”

Eugene looked into Gilius’ eyes.

In that short period of time, he drank more than ten large glasses of beer, but he didn’t seem drunk at all.

Rather, it was shining brightly like a star in the sky.

“Thank you, sir.”

“yes?”

Thank you? For what?

“We must take this opportunity to root out the evil influences of the stale past. We will conduct extensive internal education and send messengers to the elves to apologize and formally request reconciliation.”

Gilius suddenly bows his head to Eugene, expressing his gratitude.

Eugene greeted him bewildered by his sudden action.

‘suddenly?’

What did I do?

“Actually, I didn’t have a chance because I had no reason to, but thanks to you, I got this chance. As expected, the owner is lucky for us. Haha.”

Gilius laughs heartily.

Eugene was bewildered and just scratched his head.