Chapter 18 - Indra's identity?

While heading to a suitable place to change his disguise and clothes he could sense some people following him behind. Judging from their actions, they weren't well trained.

Theo guessed that they were sent by some nobles trying to gauge his identity or form a relationship with him. Theo used his shadow cloaking skills and moved to a deserted alley behind the inn before changing his outfit and disguise.

Entering from the kitchen, he greeted his employees.

"Good day Emma, make me something with lots of meat, I'll be at the bar."

Feeling good for having his swords mastery increased, he asked for the best alcohol available from Frank, the bartender.

"Yes boss."

A few regulars that drinks at the bar recognised him and called him out,

"Hey Ash, come sit here." Pulling an empty chair to his side, a brawny man with scars all over his body called Ash out.

Many mercenaries stationed in the capital and locals would drink at the bar in Theo's inn as it has the best alcohol with reasonable price.

Whenever Theo visit his inn after blacksmithing, he would often drink and chat with the customers, thus many of the regulars were familiar with him. The brawny man who called Theo out was a huge drinker, Alex. He ended up liking Theo very much as he noticed although young, the owner of this inn is an excellent drinker.

Alex is also an experienced mercenary who is often hired to escort rich nobles or merchants for their travels around the kingdom. He would stay in the capital whenever he didn't have any mission.

While looking for a bar since the place he went to regularly was full, he found Theo's place and became a regular as they provided better alcohol at the same cost

Theo was very casual and carefree around the customers so he would introduced himself as Ash and hoped that they would refrain from calling him owner.

"Did you just return from watching the match?" Alex asked Theo.

"Yeah" Theo replied while taking a huge gulp of the ale Frank brought him.

"You should have participated as well. I reckoned that you're a pretty good fighter as well."

"How would you know? I may not have touched a weapon in my life before, not to mention enter a contest."

"Ahahahaah, you can't lie to me Ash, although I don't think you're as good as that Indra kid, I bet you've trained in some form of weapon from a young age. Your body and muscles can't lie." Alex replied while harassing Theo by squeezing his arms and legs.

'Hahhh... I hope this drunkard would trip and fall flat on his face later.' Theo joked in his mind.

"It's just some basic form of self defence and the likes. Nothing impressive." Theo replied dismissively as it would be useless to deny anything now.

The others on the table then joined in on the conversation, "I wonder where that Indra kid came from though."

"I heard that he is a hidden heir from one of the duchy." another added.

Getting interested in the topic as it was about 'his identity" Theo ate the meal brought by Emma while listening in.

"Although black hair are common, red eyes are extremely rare. I've heard some people saying that he might be a foreigner."

"This is the most probable guess. I wouldn't be surprise if he is a travelling young noble from the Empire."

'Oh, this is getting interesting.' Theo was amused but didn't bother much that they were comming up with all sorts of theories for his identity as that would lead them further away from Theo Ashwell as well as Asher Röthlister.

"Hey Theo, even if you don't mention it, you seem to be born from a noble family, they should have more insider information. Do you have any idea or guesses on Indra's identity?" Alex added.

It wasn't a big secret that the inn owner although often hung out with commoners and eat with them was a noble. Many people guessed it from his eating etiquette and posture which are trained into the bones of noble kids.

Theo didn't deny it as well since his original identity was a noble which weren't wrong plus there were so many noble household, it would be difficult to confirm his identity.

"I don't mingle much with the socialites so I wouldn't know of any news in or out of the kingdom. I bet you guys are more informed than me in the area as well." Theo replied.

The regulars on the table agreed as it did look like Theo enjoyed spending his time with them more than making connections and such with other stuck up nobles.

This was the reason they liked him very much and would answer every question he had as he treated them like normal human unlike many nobles who avoided them and looked at them with contempt and disgust.

"Ayyy, a kid like you should hang out more with people your age. How are you going to survive if you don't make friends with the younger nobles such as yourself." One of the regulars added. They hoped that he isn't bullied nor isolated for not having friends among the nobles as noble kids could be quite mean and insensitive.

It might even effect his standing in his household if he doesn't interact with other nobles which happens to alot of young nobles who was later kicked out of their household.

"It doesn't matter to me. It's not like I'm taking over my household or looking to be a an official or knight. I plan to travel around in a few years.

Go to the places that you guys have described to me and explore the world." Theo explained his plans after graduating.

"Ahahahahahah, you're a good kid Ash. Tell me when you are going to start, I can provide you some advice or help you with what you would need." Alex laughed.

The table then continued their cheerful atmosphere and conversation.

Tring!

As the ate, the noticed someone he didn't expected to meet again enter the bar. A few of the customers who went to spectate the contest recognised the newcomer and whispered among themselves as well.

Having spent all his money, Hayato was down in the dumps. He was planing to stay for a few days while looking for a job as a guard for a travelling merchant or noble before leaving.

Having spent all his money, he asked the owner of the inn he was staying at if he could pay back after he received a job which was immediately denied so he ended up walking around the outskirt entering and exiting inns hoping to find a place to stay.

He was told by the locals to try out an inn called Hermes Inn as the owner was a rich young noble who was friendly to the people around the area saying that he would probably help out.

Feeling slightly hopeful, he entered the busy inn and head straight to the bar.

"I would like to speak with the inn owner if he is available please." Hayato said to Frank. "I am looking for a place to stay for a few days until I can get a job as an escort. I would like to ask if I can stay in the inn a for a few nights and pay after when I get an offer."

Confident that he would be able to find a rich merchant or noble that would need guards on the journey leaving the capital after the harvest week, Hayato could then ask for half of his wage before completing the job to pay for his stay in the inn.

Immediately after saying his piece, Hayato saw a neatly dressed teen with black hair and blue eyes that was eating and drinking while conversing with the other patrons approaching.