Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Grey Fortress (1)

"That's right. I'm the chef and the innkeeper."

I answered with a refreshed heart,

but the blind woman opened her mouth as if it was strange.

"Was that a question you needed to think about for so long?"

"Maybe I just became a chef."

"... What a strange thing to say."

"Someone who walks around with blood all over her head and a blindfold—now that's not really one to talk."

"Huh? There's blood on my head? Oh my!"

Only then did the blind woman realize her own disheveled state and started washing her hair with water melted from ice.

'Really a strange lady.'

Until I came to my senses last night, the atmosphere had been tense.

But after finding out she had amnesia,

and remembering her own name, the mood softened a bit.

'I even found it funny how she weakened in front of my food.'

Maybe that's why. Even though she was a high-circle mage, she felt less intimidating.

Or maybe I've just gotten used to monsters like Jeros or the captain.

"Ah, that's refreshing."

The blind woman muttered as she dried her hair with a gust of wind.

'She uses magic for everything, huh.'

Anyway,

I'm relieved that this strange blind woman doesn't seem like a bad person.

For the sake of a chef's duty, I opened my palm and spoke.

"Now that you know I'm a chef, and you've eaten my cooking—"

In a world where you have to pay mercenaries or adventurers for protection,

and you have to pay a bard just to get a song,

"You need to pay, customer."

A life debt was paid with her life,

but money ought to be paid as money—that's common sense.

If there's one thing I learned well from Jeros, it's things like this.

"You might have lost your memory, but you still know common social sense, right?"

"... Alright. Just a moment."

The blind woman reached for her waistband and pockets with a reluctant expression.

Rattle. Rattle.

Then she declared brazenly,

"I have no money."

"Really? Well, isn't that something to brag about."

"It wasn't meant as a boast."

"If you're not bragging, why say it so confidently?"

"There's no reason to be intimidated just because I don't have money."

'Feeling intimidated is normal, you medieval oaf!'

Are all the strong people in this world so shameless?

It's so petty and dirty—I really ought to become stronger myself.

As I thought this, the blind woman spoke softly.

"Actually, this works out fine. Since you brought up common sense first, let's do things the common way."

"?"

"If someone eats at an inn without paying, isn't it common sense to pay back the meal through work, like washing dishes or cleaning?"

What's this chilling feeling?

Was she a woman who could use ice magic as well as fire?

"That's true."

"Exactly. So, I'll pay for the meal with labor."

Why do my bad premonitions hit so easily?

"Don't pretend you don't understand. I'll be your guard."

She spoke shamelessly,

but I could practically see her thinking, so I said,

"You're just trying to say you want to stick with me because you've lost your memory and have nowhere to go, right?"

Flinch.

It was a tiny movement, but

she definitely flinched.

"Hm."

She cleared her throat awkwardly and continued,

"Yes, well, that's true. But not for long. Just until my memory comes back."

"And when will that be?"

"A mage of my level should be able to recover her memory quickly."

"And what level of mage are you, exactly?"

The blind woman cocked her head at my words.

"Hm. I'm not sure. Why did I say that?"

See?

She can't even measure her own strength or the meaning behind her words.

Maybe she sensed the look in my eyes, because she said,

"Why are you looking at me so coldly?"

The tone was gentle, but it sounded like she was whining.

So brazen. Really, incredibly brazen.

Maybe she just has a willful personality.

Well, it would be strange if a high-circle mage had a gentle personality.

Even in games, mages tended to be eccentric.

"Hmmm."

I stroked my chin and mulled it over.

Maybe I gave her an excuse by asking for money.

How should I react here to get the most benefit?

'A guard. Hmm. A guard...'

Thinking it over, it wasn't such a bad proposal.

Having her nearby made things warmer, like a human stove,

and who's to say monsters or wild beasts won't show up during travel again?

But what if,

She doesn't get her memory back after we reach Grey Fortress,

and even when I finish my business and return to Granfen, she still hasn't?

Then what do I do?

'Should I just hire her as a temporary worker at our shop?'

I ran a simulation in my head—

the blind woman serving customers in the shop.

Huh?

'At least a 73% increase in male customers.'

Even with her eyes covered by an blindfold, her beauty couldn't be hidden.

With her looks, even Korean café owners would offer double pay per hour.

Also,

'She can provide security for the shop, too.'

From what I can tell, she's at least a 5th-circle mage.

That means she's stronger than most,

and if a brawl breaks out, she could subdue anyone.

Just showing a flicker of fire magic and everyone would freeze.

'And come to think, the uses for magic...'

Even just the fire magic she used to keep the campfire burning all night could be handy.

If you used it right, couldn't it work as a boiler in the inn room?

The blue fire could also be used in the kitchen like a gas flame.

'That's right. Her fire magic is the real highlight.'

Once this thought struck me,

I felt the sound of a slot machine spinning in my head.

Ding-ding-ding, ding!

'Jackpot!'

Suddenly, the blind woman started to look different.

The initial confusion I felt when she insisted on following as a guard was gone,

and she seemed more like a lucky charm who could make our shop even more famous than Wyvern Tail.

From pulling in customers,

to powerful always-on security,

to a free boiler—

Truly a trinity!

"Ahem."

Of course, I couldn't let her see my real motives.

I cleared my throat a couple more times and said,

"Alright. Guard me on my journey, and if your memory still hasn't returned, you can work at our shop as a server. I can't pay you, but I'll give you a warm room and good meals."

Let's start with having her serve customers, step by step.

If I ask her to be a human cricket boiler right from the start, she might freak out.

"Good food is nice, but serving too?"

"Yes. Is that a problem?"

"Serving? Me? Why?"

It's been a while since I heard an MZ-generation comeback in the middle ages—it was funny.

"Well, maybe your memory will return if you try different things."

"Hmmm."

"In any case, I'm the only one you can rely on for now. Let's help each other out."

I dropped the suggestion, wondering if she'd refuse.

But the blind woman replied,

"Alright. Well, I guess I'll stick by your side until my memory comes back."

"You're making it sound like you're doing me a huge favor."

"It is a favor. And don't forget—I'm only staying with you until my memory returns."

"Sure, let's call it your favor. Anyway, you'll be my inn staff until your memory returns?"

"Mmm. Yes. Fine."

Okay. Done!

Doing my best to hide my delight, I reached out my hand for a handshake.

"Then, from now on, call me boss."

She took my hand.

A warm sensation—

"Sure, boss. Let's get along."

"... Huh?"

Suddenly talking down to me?

The more I get to know this woman, the more unpredictable she gets.

*

Plerine said she thought the handshake was an invitation to be friends,

which is why she dropped formal speech.

I don't know what region or culture that's from,

But this is what I get.

"Boss, you were an outsider? That explains it. No wonder your imperial tongue was native-level."

"Yeah. But in Grey Fortress, I'm pretending to be an adventurer from Len Kingdom."

"That's probably a good idea."

Luckily, at least, our conversation style matched.

That bard only ever talked about himself or dirty jokes,

but Plerine was all about asking questions.

'Well, she probably has nothing else to do but ask questions, given her amnesia.'

As we walked, I secretly opened the [Inn] tab of my system window.

I wondered if the system would accept Plerine as a staff member.

But as expected, the only staff member registered was Naba.

I'd probably have to unlock staff slots as I completed quests.

'I'll tick them off one by one.'

Chatting as we walked for half a day, the road became steeper,

and after another hour or so on the uphill path, with the sun at its peak,

we finally arrived at Grey Fortress.

'I didn't think it'd be this grand.'

The walls looked about five meters tall and stretched as far as I could see.

Heavy defensive ballistae lined the tops,

with flags bearing the image of a gray wolf fluttering above.

Compared to Granfen, which was just roughly surrounded by a wooden fence,

the exterior alone was a world apart,

also different from the pixel graphics I remembered from the game.

'The atmosphere is particularly unusual.'

At the game's starting point, grey Fortress was the nation's border frontline.

But now the Duchy had expanded its territory and left the frontline to Granfen,

and the guards at the fortress entrance seemed pretty lax.

'They're totally out of discipline.'

That's why it's no good being stationed in the rear.

As I approached the checkpoint to enter Grey Fortress,

"Stop."

They'd let others pass with only a glance, but suddenly picked a fight with me.

"You both look suspicious. For what reason have you come to Grey Fortress?"

Maybe a robed, east Asian adventurer and a woman with an blindfold and no coat are too much to ignore.

But who am I?

I grew up seeing just how corrupt the Duchy's security can get.

"Oh, thank you for your hard work, officer. Just an adventurer passing through here to sell some goods."

I tapped a small pouch to the guard's side.

Jingle.

"Ahem."

The guard checked the pouch out of the corner of his eye and said,

"If you cause any trouble inside, you'll pay with your life."

"Of course. I'll behave and leave quietly."

"Hmph. Move along. Next!"

Inside, I was greeted with an even more impressive scene.

Big and small buildings filled the streets densely,

a stark contrast to Granfen, where buildings were sparse and the streets wide open.

'Ha... I want to check out every restaurant here first.'

Whenever I end up somewhere new, I have to check out all the good places to eat,

but there was still plenty of time left in the day, so work came first.

The sun was only at its peak.

'I'll get my work done first, then check out some restaurants if there's time.'

Having decided, I booked an inn room first.

After putting my biggest luggage into the room,

"It's softer than I expected. Nice."

Plerine, collapsed on the bed, spoke.

"You'll be fine going by yourself?"

"I'm just getting a quote from the stonemason guild and selling salt. Everything should be fine."

It's not like I'd be walking around flaunting a sack of gold like a goblin.

I'll just keep my hood up and walk around quietly pretending to be an adventurer—surely nothing will happen—

But then...

'... Wait. Am I jinxing myself just by thinking nothing will happen?'

Before leaving for Grey Fortress, I thought the same—what could possibly go wrong on the road?

But then I ran into a swarm of monsters,

and picked up an amnesiac mage.

My complacency became a "flag," and trouble followed.

"......"

A sense of unease flooded me.

I hated myself a little for thinking so carelessly earlier.

Raising my right hand to chest height, I declared,

"I take it back."

"Hmm?"

Plerine lifted her head, cocking it in confusion.

"Let's go together. Just in case."

Never forget:

This world is a jungle, where anything can happen,

a true medieval fantasy.