Chapter 79: Details on How to be a Member

After arriving at the Falcon’s Roost, they disembarked and paid their fees. Gojin had gleaned a great deal about the Nightgale Church system, in particular. It became clear that one could not be a member of two churches simultaneously, meaning he would eventually have to choose between Nightgale and Saintfield.

That decision, however, would hinge on which secret held greater importance to him…

But that was a matter for another time.

The carriage rumbled off, raising a cloud of dust in its wake, and the two, Gojin and Toki, entered the tavern.

Their eyes soon fell upon Averyl, who was serving ale to the patrons. The tavern was bustling with activity, filled with a cacophony of noise. A small band played in one corner, providing entertainment for the lively crowd.

Cheers erupted from the patrons, their voices rising in unison as they clapped and stamped their feet in time with the music. Some, however, sat quietly in the corners, engaged in hushed conversation while casting occasional glances toward the noise-makers.

It was all rather irksome, but tradition dictated such things.

Without a word, Toki hurried to assist Averyl, eager to lend a hand. She, however, appeared overwhelmed by the volume of work.

Her eyes widened in genuine surprise when she saw them, visibly stunned by their unexpected presence that evening.

The little one gave Gojin a discreet gesture to join in behind the bar, to which the young man sighed and obliged. If they managed to clear the tavern of customers quickly, he might have a chance to ask Averyl the questions that had been on his mind.

The tavern thrummed with vitality, the air saturated with the clinking of tankards and the raucous laughter of patrons.

Averyl and Toki navigated deftly between tables, their hands laden with drinks and plates, weaving through the cacophony of voices. The warm glow of lanterns flickered overhead, casting shadows that danced along the timber beams of the establishment.

The evening progressed, a particularly boisterous group of inebriates settled at a corner table, their loud banter rising above the din.

They gestured animatedly, their voices slurred yet insistent, drawing the attention of those nearby.

One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, leaned back in his chair and fixed his gaze on Gojin, who stood at the bar, observing the scene with an air of detachment.

“Oi, you! Where do you hail from?” the man bellowed, his voice booming with drunken bravado. “You don’t appear to be from these parts!”

Gojin, intent on evading confrontation, turned to walk away, but the man’s companions seized the fabric of his cloak, yanking him back with unexpected force. The cloth tore with a sharp sound, igniting Gojin’s temper and eroding his patience.

Instead of offering apologies, the group began to hurl insults at him, their bravado fortified by alcohol.

However, their jeers faltered quickly as they caught sight of Gojin’s eyes—fiery and brimming with lethal intent.

“Should I simply dispatch you lot?” Gojin asked in a low, menacing tone, leaning closer.

The effect was immediate; they recoiled in fear, scrambling to their feet as if the very ground had shifted beneath them.

As they stumbled towards the exit, Gojin suddenly materialised before them, his presence causing their hearts to skip a beat.

They exchanged bewildered glances, astonished at how he could have moved so swiftly. Their drunkenness seemed to dissipate in the face of his intensity.

“You will compensate me,” Gojin demanded.

“A hundred good pennies.”

He assessed their attire, noting that they hardly appeared impoverished.

One of the men opened his mouth to protest, claiming they had already settled their tab with the bartender.

Yet, the protest was cut short when Gojin shot them a fierce glare, silencing their objections. They were fortunate that his Runo was in effect; otherwise, they might have faced… hmm.

After a moment of hesitation, one of the men fumbled through his clothing, producing a small leather pouch.

With a trembling hand, he offered it to Gojin, an uneasy grin spreading across his face.

“There are about two hundred pennies in here,” he swore, his bravado waning.

Gojin accepted the pouch, his expression inscrutable.

“You may depart,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

The group hurriedly retreated, their minds racing with promises to never return to this establishment, vowing to abstain from drink henceforth.

For Gojin, if the amount in the pouch fell short of his expectations, they would find themselves at the mercy of Boss, who would impart the consequences of deceit.

Meanwhile, Averyl and Toki remained blissfully unaware of the unfolding drama, engrossed in attending to other customers.

Gojin quickly pocketed the money, a smirk crossing his lips as he contemplated its intended use.

***

A couple of hours later, with the silver half-crescent moon already in place, they found time to rest. Although customers remained in abundance, chattering noisily, none were placing orders.

The three of them claimed a corner for themselves, with Averyl having set a plate of beef before them. None of them cared for ale, so only the beef remained on the table. Toki, absent-minded but focused on the simple pleasure, was the one enjoying it.

“So, Averyl, is it?” Gojin began, his tone confident and measured.

“Yes…” she replied, a faint flush staining her cheeks.

Awkward, Gojin thought to himself, noticing her discomfort.

“Right. I came around again, and this is our second meeting. The point I’m here for is, do you happen to know how one might join the Saintfield Church?”

“Eh? You wish to become a member of a church?” Averyl responded, her voice laced with disbelief, her surprise evident.

Why on earth would he want to join the Saintfield Church? she wondered, taken aback by his suggestion.

“Yes,” Gojin replied, his gaze drifting to the moon outside, now hanging low in the sky.

“Well… to join a church… one must be…”

_____

Golden Ticket Objectives:

100 Golden Tickets – 2 Bonus Chapters 300 Golden Tickets – 4 Bonus Chapters 3 Super Gifts of any kind – 6 Bonus Chapters

Ode to Humanity and Overlord of Doom!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep