Chapter 174 – Funeral (6)

The coffin was leaving.

I said goodbye to the walls of the building I was fond of, the special biscuits I took out and ate like snacks, and the grand echo unique to buildings with round roofs. We hugged each other as we watched the coffin recede from the balcony.

Immediately after the elven commotion ended, the funeral proceeded as if nothing had happened. There were speech contests where people called out Fabian by name and insisted on how much they respected or cared for him, and others fainted while trying to convince Wolf that they were really sad.

The funeral would have been very satisfying to Wolf, but it was ending in a way that made it questionable whether Fabian really wanted it. Brilliant light reflected off the coffin and illuminated us. There were many words to describe the funeral, but the whole event could be summed up in one word.

It passed in the blink of an eye. The complicated ceremony with fancy formality, the funeral song that people sang in unison, and the priests coming out to pour holy water, use divine magic, and sing blessings all passed by in a flash.

Except for one moment when we were distracted by the elves, our eyes were always fixed on No. 5. It wasn’t that strange to see people die, but I felt strangely unfamiliar.

Five’s body was swimming away following the crowd, but we were still thinking of Number Five’s body. I couldn’t forget the sleeping face as if it were dead. Taffy said as she rubbed my back.

“No. 5. It has grown so much.”

“You idiot. Number 5 was originally older than you.”

“Still, it’s strange. Number 5 changed like that. The face of my childhood remains. And close your eyes and don’t move.”

“I know. Strange.”

It was so strange. A strange, indescribable feeling filled his chest, making it impossible to breathe. I nodded and followed her words.

“How strange.”

Cannons rang out in the distance. It was the sound of gunfire to mourn the dead. We leaned over to the sound and slowly closed our eyes.

*****

After the funeral, it was time to go home. Taffy and I were moving towards the gate as if we had to go back. There was no priest at the city gate after the funeral ceremony, and the soldiers were passing people leaving with lazy faces.

It was strict for those who came in, but passing those who left was no more than waving their hands like chasing off the heat in midsummer.

“Pass. Pass. Pass.”

The sight of sending people out while firing barrels was like a mechanical device running by spring, so I laughed. Taffy heard my laughter and asked.

“Evan. Did you have a good idea?”

“It’s funny because I’m watching him work carelessly.”

Taffy listened to me, took one look at her guard, then looked back at me with her nod. And she smiled at me. Its appearance was also mechanical, so I laughed once more. Taffy tilted her head this time as if she didn’t know why I was laughing, and I petted her head and said,

“Shall we eat something simple before we go? You can eat some rice. They say there are many good restaurants in the capital.”

Taffy listened to my suggestion and said with a twinkle in her eyes.

“I like meat.”

I agreed and pointed to a nearby restaurant. The restaurant was showing pride in its meat dishes by drawing a large piece of meat on its signboard.

“That’s right. Meat is the best.”

Taffy had her eyes twinkling just at the sight of her restaurant sign, and I gave her a pat on the back.

“Let’s go! To eat meat!”

******

The smell of greasy meat and smoke rising as the grease touches the firewood. The oil-soaked walls were glistening, and people were tearing off steamy legs while sweating profusely. Everyone, from big men to rich families, was sweating in front of their own brazier.

“Hey, the capital is different after all.”

“Evan. Let’s live in our capital.”

Taffy said with a twinkle in her eyes. I giggled at her absurd remarks and asked, stroking her hair.

“By the way, can vampires eat meat?”

“I can eat it.”

Taffy shook her head and said so. With her confident answer, I found a table and sat down. Looking around, there were quite a few customers like us, male and female couples gathering and eating meat. Taffy looked around with me, then she abruptly pulled out her chair and put it next to me.

And if you look far toward the kitchen, there is an elf arguing with the store owner. Orange hair and ponytail, slim waist and straight legs. I remembered that elf.

“No, so! They say they’ll let you go when you go back to the Elven Forest! Did you drop your wallet at the funeral home?”

The shopkeeper, a man with a mustache, shook his head and shouted with a slight attitude.

“No, so. Hero Fabian-sama An elf famous enough to go to the funeral home. I can’t give you money because I don’t have a wallet? You’re sick! Uh? No, if you have no wallet and no money, why come to eat meat? Uh? If you’re an elf, you shouldn’t just eat grass like an elf!”

The elf said with a really frustrated expression.

“They say they will give it to you if you go to the forest. If I was going to run away, I’d just run away, but can’t you see that I’m asking you to write down your address? Do I really look like a money-grubbing elf?”

“No! Therefore! Don’t say anything about the elven forest! There must be no acquaintance here! I mean ask for some money through an acquaintance here! Uh? Don’t you know what I mean? I wish I had been invited to Fabian’s funeral! Someone must have invited you!”

The shop owner screamed even louder as if he would not give up. I couldn’t hear it well now because the sound of cooking meat drowned out my voice, but I could see people whispering and turning around from the side near the kitchen. The elf rolled his eyes with his face reddened, then said.

“No, that… No… I can’t call my acquaintances here… That, bar, is busy.”

The shopkeeper snorted at the elf’s words.

“Okay! You must be busy! You must be very busy! Everyone must be busy! Where are those busy people, stay here until they are free! Anyway! I know I won’t get out of here until I give you money!”

“No… ! Really, that… Ah… !”

The elf let out strange noises one after another with a frustrated face, and finally put his head on the kitchen table as if giving up. I snorted as I watched him scratch his orange hair in annoyance. Taffy asked.

“That elf. I went to the funeral home Why don’t you know the restaurant owner?”

“The funeral hall was only open to nobles and invited guests. All the mourners went to see the burial of Fabian. It will take some time for rumors to spread.”

“Then. Is that elf waiting all this time?”

I was troubled. I didn’t care if the elf I didn’t know was embarrassed by anyone because he couldn’t pay, but seeing as he even came to make flowers for Fabian, he seemed to have a pretty special relationship with him. Right now, the elf was muttering things like ‘Mr.

“…How will we do it?”

“Evan. Can you help her?”

If she was an acquaintance of Fabian, she couldn’t be left here as a radio eater. She could have been Fabian’s ex-girlfriend, or she could have been an assassin with whom he was on some mission.

“Let’s help. Judging by the laying of flowers at the funeral, she seems to be acquainted with No. 5.”

Taffy looked at me with her puzzled eyes and nodded her head when she said she knew Number 5.

“Ah… Sir, I have to leave quickly before you return.”

The elf was stomping on her feet and had a worried look on her face. The shop owner was looking at the elf with a face that was venomous. I tapped the counter with my finger and called the store owner.

“Oops, yes. How can I help you!”

The store owner approached me with a bright smile. I pointed to the elf and said.

“I’ll also pay for the meal that elf ate.”

When the shop owner heard that I was paying for the elf’s food, he widened his eyes and looked at me before asking.

“Yes? Oh, are you an acquaintance?”

Tired of explaining, I nodded and answered.

“Yes.”

I returned to the shop table and sat down. Taffy said as she stroked my hair.

“Evan. Good work. Good job.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I nodded her head and smiled at Taffy, who smiled contentedly. The shopkeeper approached the elf and told him we had paid. The elf looked at us with a bewildered face, then at the shopkeeper, and went out through the doorway with a dumbfounded face.

I only ate her meat without making eye contact with her. I didn’t need a greeting. What’s the point of being an elf? Eating delicious meat with pretty Taffy is sex.

*****

“Excuse me…”

However, it seemed that the string of our relationship was not that thin. When we came out with a satisfied face after our meal, the elf was waiting for us at the shop door. It was quite cute seeing her legs twisted while looking around.

I asked.

“Why are you like that?”

“No. I said thank you.”

“Ah yes.”

She was a woman who might have been Fabian’s woman. No matter how incubus I was, having my friend’s girl wasn’t the right thing to do. Looking at the impression, it seemed that he had a very sharp personality and could not be easily captured. I nodded moderately and tried to leave the castle gate with Taffy.

“Hey, hold on!”

But she called me again.

What? Is it actually a fucking easy year?

I turned my head away with a feeling of confusion, and the elf said in a low voice, embarrassingly covering her face with her top.

“…Even, I don’t have a car to go back, so lend me some money.”

Mother.

Did you feel something when you saw my expression? The elf spoke urgently.

“Lord, write down your address and I’ll pay you back! I-I’m no cheater! Seriously, I lost her wallet while laying flowers at the funeral home…!”

What year are you doing, really.