“So this is... Lindel’s Stragglers’ Street, right? Brush?”

“Yes, it definitely says it’s here! I still can’t believe it! The headquarters of the revolution! The holy land where sacred democracy was born! And now we’re in Lindel! And not just anywhere, but in Stragglers’ Street, the lungs of Lindel’s adventurers!” I[1] answered.

“How many times are you going to say that, Brush? It’s been two months since we came to the Democratic Country! You shout ‘headquarters of the revolution’ everywhere we go, even in the capital! Revolution, revolution, revolution! Why are you suddenly acting like you did when you were a kid?” Pastel complained.

“Th-that’s because it’s the Democratic Country! Maybe the blood of revolution is still boiling inside me! I thought I had grown up already, but... Pastel, do you really not understand how I feel?!

"It’s the Democratic Country! The same Democratic Country! We’re standing in the very place where the people seized their own rights with their own hands, how can I possibly stay calm?!” I shouted.

“Y-yeah. I know you can’t stay calm, but the problem is you act like this at every tourist spot, Brush! At the Old Royal Castle, the Vatican, and even at the clock tower, you were waving a flag and shouting!

"Do you know how embarrassing that was?! You did the same thing when we first arrived in Lindel, Heren, Dawan, and Celia, too! I’m not usually the type to care about what others think, but everyone’s staring at us! They probably think we’re some country bumpkins!” Pastel shouted.

“P-Pastel... are you saying... that I’m embarrassing to be around with?” I asked.

“That’s not what I meant! Palette, say something too! Ah... ah! It’s because I'm worried that Palette might feel second-hand embarrassment. Palette has been studying magic in the Democratic Country for three years already. Of course, she might feel embarrassed about your actions. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"You’ve even ditched those tacky dresses from the Union of Kingdoms, haven’t you? Look!” she exclaimed, pointing at me.

“I don’t really care either way,” Palette commented.

“Don’t just say that!! Paint! Paint, are you really not bothered at all?!” Pastel asked.

“...”

“Hey, don’t just sit there and laugh! Am I the only one who feels self-conscious? I’m not, right? Tell me I’m not,” she said, begging us.

“...”

Even though she tried to laugh it off, I could understand how Pastel felt when she said that. After all, this was the Democratic Country, and more specifically, Lindel, the great city of adventurers. It was only natural to feel a little small and a bit self-conscious.

Just looking around, the difference between those from Linder and those from the Union of Kingdoms was obvious.

Unlike the Union, where people still had to worry about their next meal, everyone here looked lively and full of energy. The flashy signs, vibrant people, and unique architecture made it feel as if every artist on the continent had been gathered here.

The people here enjoyed all of it as if it were only natural. The kind of environment that only high-ranking nobles in the Union of Kingdoms could enjoy was something even those who called themselves outcasts lived with every day.

When we first visited the Mage Tower to see Palette, I had been so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even speak properly. To put it bluntly, it even made me wonder if the Union of Kingdoms was still stuck in a primitive stage of civilization.

Pastel was known for not caring about what others thought, but she was probably worried that, because of us, the people here could form a bad impression of the Union of Kingdoms.

‘Though... it doesn’t really seem like that’s happening.’

There were all kinds of odd people gathered here. Compared to them, a group like ours, wandering around in strange-looking dresses, didn’t even stand out. No one paid attention to others either. Everyone was too busy with their own business.

This lively street had swallowed everything up, leaving no room to even notice anyone else. Only Palette, who had spent a long time studying in the Democratic Country, seemed accustomed to this atmosphere, as she was smoking as if it were nothing.

“It’s revolutionary! This street, this atmosphere, this vibe, it’s all so revolutionary! They said they were planning a new city back in our kingdom, too! With this experience, I feel like I can come up with an even better proposal! I’m so glad we came back to the Democratic Country... heuk... heuk... I’m really glad we came,” I said.

“Stop crying! Why are you crying? Come on!” Pastel complained.

“I can’t help it if the tears just come out!” I shouted.

“P-Palette! Please do something about Brush! Please... this is weird! We look completely ridiculous, don’t we? What are people from the Democratic Country going to think of us?!” Pastel begged.

Just then, the smoking Lady Palette finally put out her cigarette.

“As expected of you, Palette!” Pastel exclaimed.

“No, it’s not like that, Pastel,” Palette said.

“Huh?”

“I believe this area is designated as non-smoking from here on,” Palette said.

“Non-smoking?” Pastel asked.

“Yes.”

“There’s a non-smoking zone in Stagglers’ Street?” Pastel asked.

“If I remember correctly, yes. It starts right here,” Palette answered.

“Really? That’s unusual. Wait... now that I think about it, there are many people here... Actually, why are there so many people gathered here?” Pastel asked.

“Well, that’s obvious. This place is right next to the most famous restaurant on Stragglers’ Street!” I told her.

“How do you even know that, Brush?” Pastel asked.

“Of course I did my research! This is where the famous Big Boy Hambier Skewer shop is!” I answered.

“Big Boy Hambier Skewer?” Pastel asked.

“From what I know, it’s a restaurant opened by three retired adventurers who invested all their savings,” I told her.

“But... Hambier skewers... you mean that hambier I’m thinking of?” Pastel asked.

“Yes!” I answered.

“Wow... so even people in the Democratic Country eat hambier...” Pastel mumbled.

“People in the Democratic Country are still just people! It’s actually one of the most common and convenient foods for adventurers. If anything, someone like you probably hasn’t tried it before, Pastel!” I shouted.

“I-I have tried it!” Pastel argued.

“That’s a lie,” I commented.

“Yeah, that’s definitely a lie,” Palette said.

‘That’s a lie.’

“Well... many things must have happened, but the Pastel Family is still holding on. It’s a military family, after all,” Paint Chimed in.

“Don’t say things like that! Paint! Being nobles is a secret! I heard that in the Democratic Country, they put nobles on the guillotine if they find them!” Pastel shouted.

“Where did you even hear something that ridiculous?! That’s not true! A-and it’s not like our family is thriving or anything... we’re just barely holding on. A-and I told you, I’ve definitely had hambier before!

"Ah! I’m actually looking forward to this! It’s been a while since I last had it... and if it’s famous even in the Democratic Country, that makes it even more exciting. There must be some special way they prepare it, right? I-it really is famous, right?” I asked.

“Just look at how packed it is. Would there be this many people if it weren’t famous? From what I’ve heard, you know... in the Democratic Country... this place is often visited by...” Paint pause trailed off.

“By who?” Pastel asked.

“...”

“...”

“Uh...”

“What’s wrong? Paint?” Pastel asked.

“Huh?”

“Why are you spacing out all of a sudden? What were you about to say?” Pastel asked.

“No... it’s just... I mean... the reason this place is famous in the Democratic Country—I... Why can’t I remember?” Paint mumbled.

“There’s a specific reason it’s famous?” Pastel asked.

“Yeah, I definitely remembered it just now, but... this is weird. I know it for sure, but... it’s like there’s a fog over it. I can’t recall it at all. What the hell is this? Why... why can’t I remember?” Paint questioned.

“Who knows... that happens sometimes, right? Like when you try really hard to remember something, like a song title, but it just won’t come to you. Maybe it’s like that? And how special could the reason be anyway? It’s probably just famous because the food’s good. Don’t overthink it, let’s just go in,” Pastel said.

“Ah... okay.”

A strange sense of discomfort lingered in my mind, but it quickly faded away. It was an odd way to describe it, but it felt as if something from the outside had completely blocked off my thoughts.

It was like it was telling me not to remember it. Even when I tried to remember it, I simply couldn’t. My mind kept urging me to recall it, but at the same time, I became convinced that not remembering it was the right choice and the most natural thing to do.

‘It’s probably nothing.’ I reached this conclusion. Digging into this question felt meaningless. No, it felt stupid. Even that fleeting doubt gradually grew faint. ‘Feels like I forgot something...’

It was probably just my imagination.

“Boss! Two hambier skewers over here!”

“Carlton! You bastard! Take the order already!!!” Big Boy shouted.

“I am taking it! Yoojin! Yoojin! What the hell is that idiot doing right now?!” Carlton complained.

“She went out for a smoke!” Big Boy said.

“A smoke? It takes ten minutes just to walk there from here! At a time like this? Is she out of her mind?!” Carlton shouted.

“She says she’s so exhausted she needs one no matter what!” Big Boy told him.

“Like the rest of us aren’t exhausted? Damn it!!” Carlton shouted.

“Just take the order first! Can’t you see we’ve got customers?!” Big Boy yelled at him.

“Ah! Welcome!”

Just watching the chaotic scene was enough to make the lingering doubt disappear from my mind. The place didn’t seem particularly small, but with so many large, burly men packed inside, it felt cramped.

Adventurers all around were raising their drinks and shouting at the top of their lungs. They were also laughing loudly as if everything in the world was amusing. Each of them held at least three skewers in each hand.

“I’m telling you, on this last expedition!”

“There he goes again, talking nonsense.”

“Drink up! Bottoms up!!!”

“I chopped an orc bastard’s head clean off!”

“Hey! Third-rate gambler! Get over here! The stakes are high tonight!”

It was right then that the man known as Big Boy shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Keep it down a bit, you bastards!!! We’ve got new customers!”

“What the hell?! Big Boy! Aren’t we customers, too?!”

“You lot? Damn it, you’re just a bunch of freeloaders wasting time here!” Big Boy shouted.

“We order, too, you asshole!”

“Don’t need it! If you’re not going to shut up, then get out! They’re guests from the Union of Kingdoms! Damn it, don’t make our place look bad!” Big Boy complained.

“I knew it... I had a feeling this would happen... We must look like people from the Union of Kingdoms...”

Leaving behind Pastel, who looked a bit dejected for no reason, the large-framed man named Big Boy said, “Sorry if the place's too loud. Those idiots have no manners...”

“Ah... it’s okay. But... how did you know we’re from the Union of Kingdoms?”

One of the customers in the back suddenly exclaimed, “Well! It’s because people in the Democratic Country don’t wear dresses like that anymore!”

“Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Shut the hell up, you bastards!” Big Boy shouted.

“Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Don’t misunderstand, ladies. It’s not that we’re mocking or looking down on you for being from another country. Those guys are just uneducated troublemakers. So, what would you like to order?” Big Boy asked.

“Shouldn’t your butlers be the ones ordering for you?!” a customer mocked.

“Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“I said shut up! You bastards! Get out! Damn it, get out!” Big Boy yelled at them.

“Come on, it was just a joke. Why so serious, Big Boy? Hey, noble ladies, if you didn’t bring a butler with you, how about I serve you instead?” a customer commented.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Just as the laughter was getting even louder, Pastel slammed the table and said, “We don’t keep ignorant, ugly bastards like you as butlers.”

“...”

“...”

“She did it.”

“She really did it.”

‘She did it.’

There wasn’t even time to stop her. Of course, stopping her wouldn't mean anything anyway.

Pastel kicked her chair away, grabbed the one she had been sitting on, and hurled it straight at the thug who had been making jokes as she shouted, “Trash! Come at me!”

All sorts of thoughts rushed through my head in that instant. Would headlines come out saying that nobles from the Union of Kingdoms had caused a brawl in the Democratic Country, or worse, would we just get dragged off to a prison in Lindel?

Laws were usually made to favor their own citizens, after all. I planned to avoid any kind of conflict in a foreign country if possible, but in the end, things had blown up anyway.

A strange tension filled the air. It even looked like Palette was wondering whether or not to take out a cigarette. But then...

“Puhahahahahaha! You got wrecked, Bolton!”

“Says she wouldn’t keep an ignorant, ugly bastard like you as a butler! Hahahahahahahahaha!”

“D-damn it! She was talking about all of you, too! Don’t make it sound like I’m the only ignorant, ugly bastard here, you ignorant, ugly bastards!”

I could feel the tension melt away like snow. There hadn’t been any real malice to begin with, so I planned to just laugh it off, and just like the man called Big Boy said, it seemed like this was simply the usual atmosphere of the place. It really was just as I had heard.

I couldn’t remember clearly, but I felt like I once read somewhere that even a powerful figure from the Democratic Country who visited this place had been the target of the same kind of teasing jokes. Despite the potential for things to turn awkward, I vaguely recalled a story about how they handled it with wit and smoothed things over.

“Hey, miss! Have a drink!”

“Here, take mine too!”

“Can you hold your liquor?! Here! I’ll pay for all the ladies’ drinks! Put it on my tab, Big Boy!”

“You bastards, seriously, get the hell out already!”

It didn’t feel like they were being hostile toward outsiders or foreigners. It just felt like the unique atmosphere of this place. I already expected it, but Pastel was already clinking glasses with them and joining right in.

“That’s right! To Pastel! To Pastel!”

“To Pastel!”

While I was watching Pastel mingle with them for quite a while, the large-framed man called Big Boy suddenly sat down at our table with a plate in his hand.

“Um... I’m sorry again. Those guys are a real headache for me, too... This is on the house...” Big Boy offered.

“No, it’s okay. Honestly, I’m kind of relieved. I thought you wouldn’t joke around with people from the Union of Kingdoms. You have a bit of a stiff image, after all,” I said.

“Well, not as bad as those Republic bastards.”

Without realizing it, I let out a small chuckle at his words. Then suddenly, the thought from earlier surfaced in my mind. Out of pure curiosity, I found myself asking without thinking.

“By the way, how did this restaurant become famous?”

“If you’re asking how a place with food this bad got famous... well, that’s a good one...” Big Boy said.

“No, no! That’s not what I meant... As far as I remember, there was definitely...” I muttered.

“Hahahaha. That’s because...” Big Boy trailed off.

“Uh...”

“...”

“Huh? Huh?”

“...”

A look of confusion began to spread across the large-framed man’s face as well.

“Huh? Huh? I can’t... seem to remember...” Big Boy muttered.

“...”

“...”

As the large-framed man scratched his head and stumbled over his words...

“...”

“...”

Whether the timing was good or not...

“...”

“...”

The glow of the sunset streamed in through the window and entered my view. It was as if it illuminated every corner of the shop. The tables and chairs, the somewhat shabby paintings, the large-framed man’s face, the people laughing and chatting, the food he had brought out, and Pastel’s face.

In an instant, the entire place fell quiet.

Some people, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, began to pray. It didn’t feel strange to me either. I quietly clasped my hands together. Without realizing it, I looked outside and saw the sunset stretching across the sky.

1. Paint’s POV ☜