Chapter 69: Tales from Edward Tavern
Inside the Edward Tavern, located on the first floor of Edward Studios in Nosrick.
Due to the official release of the new movie Goblin Slayer, the tavern has been bustling these past few days. No matter the time of day, the entire place is packed with fans who just finished watching the film.
The tavern has been so busy that they've had to hire more staff. Currently, besides Viz, the tavern owner, and the Headless Horseman who serves as a waiter, the team has expanded significantly.
First to join was Helena, who had disappeared for a while after finishing her last movie. She returned to the Southern Territory only recently. Since Edward was busy filming his new movie, Helena, with nothing else to do, decided to help out at the tavern. As for why a high-level mage like her would work as a waitress? The answer lies in the irresistible salary offered by Viz, the owner who can't seem to manage money properly.
Although Edward had given Helena a hefty paycheck after the release of KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World, she was still in debt, explaining why she was in such desperate need of money.
Next, Zat, after accompanying Winry on a trip back to Durin Castle, also returned to Nosrick. With Winry managing the castle so well, and since Edward didn't need him as a second-tier swordsman guard, Zat had nothing better to do, so he decided to help out at the tavern. After all, the tavern was technically a Durin Family asset, and as a knight of the Durin Family, Zat felt it was his duty to contribute.
Naturally, where Zat goes, Aya isn't far behind. After joining the tavern, she spends most of her time slacking off. Still, her acrobatic performances have been a hit with customers, and she's now in charge of entertainment at the tavern.
Apart from Darkness's actress, Daknis, who has returned to adventuring, almost the entire cast of KonoSuba has gathered at this tavern. It's no wonder business is booming. Some KonoSuba fans even treat the tavern as a pilgrimage site, visiting daily. With the growing crowd, Viz, who can't keep track of numbers, feels increasingly overwhelmed, though as an undead lich, she technically can't get headaches.
Meanwhile, with the release of the new movie, patrons have noticed a few other familiar faces in the tavern, namely the Saeki family, who moved to Nosrick, and Daphne, who's freeloading at Edward Studios.
Ignoring the guilt-free behavior of a certain freeloading duke's daughter, after the movie shoot ended, Saeki, on Edward's advice, decided to move his family from the northern outskirts to the southern town.
Concerned that he'd be recognized in the north, Saeki sought Edward's help in relocating to this unfamiliar Southern Territory.
Since there are fewer powerful entities in the south, typical adventurers can't detect the presence of the undead, allowing Saeki to live freely.
Though he finds wearing full armor all the time uncomfortable, he seems to have gotten used to it.
With Saeki's arrival, the tavern now has two and a half undead staff. Viz, as the tavern owner, is only worried that a member of the church might one day come to Nosrick and discover them. While Edward has no plans to expand the movie's reach too far yet, you never know when a bishop might disguise themselves as an ordinary person and embark on a pilgrimage to the south.
For now, though, the tavern doesn't need to worry.
Setting aside the powerful Headless Horseman, the remaining staff members are no slouches in combat either.
Even if a bishop showed up, they could handle it easily.
Viz's real headache comes from the mystery of the growing number of customers, yet the tavern's revenue continues to decline.
No matter how much she thinks about it, she just can't figure it out.
...
After a full day of business, the tavern had quieted down.
Other than a few stragglers who refused to go home, only the staff remained.
Viz was thinking about closing up when she heard footsteps from outside.
"Rhine, you idiot! I told you it's too late for any more showings! Just come back tomorrow, will you?!"
"But... isn't this your fault for being so slow? We should've come yesterday, but you dragged it out until today."
"How is this my fault? Blame the southern duke for throwing such a long and boring banquet!"
Watching his two companions argue as usual, General Wilhelm chuckled and said, "Alright, alright. We missed it today, but we can watch it tomorrow. We'll be in the south for a while. What's more important right now is finding... ah, we're here."
Looking at the highly recommended tavern in front of them, General Wilhelm, accompanied by Knight Commander Wycliffe and the young knight Rhine, walked inside.
Inside the tavern, upon seeing the three men enter, Viz's expression immediately changed from one of hospitality to disbelief.
As a lich, she could sense the life energy of any human, and at that moment, both her instincts as a lich and her ability to see souls told her these three were not to be trifled with. In fact, they were dangerous.
"Zat, take Aya upstairs."
Without having time to explain further, and with Belldia not yet back, Viz decided to have the weakest members, Zat and Aya, hide.
Since Daphne wasn't around either, Viz could only rely on Saeki and Helena as her combat-ready companions.
Understanding that things might take a turn for the worse, Zat quickly dragged the dozing Aya upstairs. As the three knights entered the tavern, the atmosphere became tense.
"Can I... help you with something?"
Viz forced a smile as she nervously addressed the eldest, most powerful knight, who sat at the bar.
She hoped they wouldn't discover she was undead, though most knights, without the guidance of a holy priest, couldn't easily detect the undead.
To her relief, the knights showed no unusual behavior, casually looking at the menu like any other customers.
Viz was starting to feel grateful her disguise was holding up when the tavern's back door suddenly burst open.
Belldia, the Headless Horseman, strode in, carrying a keg of alcohol in one hand and his severed head in the other, laughing heartily. "Haha! I'm back, Viz! I traded some of the extra premiere tickets from Edward for this beer. Don't break it this time! In fact, I won't even let you touch it! Hahaha!"
"——!!!"
In an instant, Viz felt a surge of panic.
The expressions on the three knights' faces shifted dramatically, and cold sweat formed on her forehead.
The tavern fell so silent that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly.
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