Under Mrs. Melina’s operation, the Hearthstone Tavern had expanded three times already.
This old business woman utilized the money earned from the Hearthstone purchases made by the dwarves and mages to purchase the emporium next door. Then, last week, she had, with a fail-proof attack, conquered the jewelry shop next to the tavern too.
Compared to the crowded and old-looking little tavern from two months ago, the current Hearthstone Tavern had expanded to over five times its original size. It was so large that one could set up two or three performance stages in the tavern.
“Oh the Great Father of the Faraway Mountains Olick, please carry away all the bad luck from my body! I swear upon my beard, if I am able to open a legendary card, I will buy a drink for the entire tavern!”
“Elder Frostaxe, you’d need to conduct a ceremony for that!”
“You should just ask that young lady Ynor to help you!”
The dwarves were still the most lively customers tonight. They’ve occupied a portion of the Hearthstone arcade machines in the tavern. But, they had no intention to start matches with others. Instead, they were all frantically opening card packs.
But, there were also a lot of mages in the tavern tonight. It was getting very late into the night. The atmosphere of the entire Hearthstone Tavern was so lively that it seemed like a dance ball held by nobles. The only thing lacking was a symphony orchestra performing music on the stage.
That said, the music from the musical record had replaced the performance from an orchestra.
“Crohn! Bring up all the ale from the cellar! Lina! There are guests that need more alcohol over there!”
Today served as the busiest day for the tavern’s servers. Even though Mrs. Melina had already employed twelve servers, twelve servers were nowhere enough to serve nearly a thousand guests.
Fortunately, the majority of the mages were here to purchase the new expansion packs from ‘Goblins vs Gnomes.’ Only a small portion of the dwarves were requesting alcohol nonstop.
Among the mages that came tonight, the person with the greatest status was none other than the president of Norland’s Patent Office, Gray Mage Lursk.
“What is Frostaxe doing?”
The Gray Mage’s attire was completely unkempt like before. This sage who didn’t care about his appearance at all was dragging his dust-covered robe on the ground. Several young owls even emerged from his long beard and were looking all around.
It was only after Gray Mage Lursk took out some insects from who knows where to feed the owls that the owls dug back into his long beard in satisfaction.
“Praying. Lately, it has become popular for the dwarves to pray to their God. Furthermore, they will only open their card packs after they finish their ceremony. It was said that doing so will bring good luck upon them.”
Joshua was accompanying Gray Mage Lursk and strolling through the entire Hearthstone Tavern.
Many of the mages present knew of this great sage. But, they would only did a mage greeting to Gray Mage Lursk before returning to their card-opening carousel.
“Perhaps I should give it a try myself later on. But for now, Mister Joshua Annerlaude, please accept this.”
The Gray Mage Lursk was a believer of the dwarven ideas. Praying to one’s God for good fortune was a very common thing to do in this world.
While the Gray Mage Lursk came to the Hearthstone Tavern so late at night was indeed for the release of the new expansion ‘Goblins vs Gnomes,’ he also came with another extremely important purpose.
“An invitation letter?”
Joshua looked at the sheepskin scroll Gray Mage Lursk handed him. The scroll was sealed with an owl wax seal. It was a very official invitation letter. Joshua unsealed the scroll and began reading its contents.
“You’re inviting me to become an academic advisor in one of Norland’s advanced magic academy? My... study of magic might not even be as proficient as my assistant.”
Joshua took a glance at Ciri seated at the corner of the tavern. This Beater[1] lady who had participated in the creation of the expansion was relying on a Mech Mage deck to unleash a slaughter upon all her foes.
If nothing surprising happens tonight, Ciri will likely be able to sit among the Legendary ranked players firmly.
“It’s not the research of magic. I wish for you to become an academic advisor for ‘programming.’ After all, there is no one in this world that knows more about the inconceivable sort of rune inscriptions application than you.”
Ever since the Gray Mage Lursk received the chat box window program from Joshua, he has been researching the principle behind its usage.
While he managed to gain results from his research, he was unable to understand nearly a third of the runes. In other words, Joshua who was able to compile sequences and create programs knew much more about the runes inscriptions than him.
Even though Gray Mage Lursk found it unbelievable, he knew that the young man standing before him knew about this world with deeper understanding than him.
Or perhaps, instead of a young man... this Chaos Demon?
“I will consider it.”
Joshua did not refuse him. If Joshua wanted to create Triple A titles, it would be impossible for him to accomplish that on his own. Even if this was a near-zero chance of success, Joshua felt that he still shouldn’t give up hopes.
“I will wait for your reply. Apart from that, Mister Joshua... I fear that you might encounter some... small inconveniences tonight. No... it’ll be a large inconvenience.”
Even though Gray Mage Lursk was wearing a very thick pair of circular glasses, his perception did not deteriorate with age at all. He was able to sense some gloomy and cold killing intent emitting from outside the Hearthstone Tavern.
“It might be some enthusiastic fans trying to mail me razor blades,” said Joshua.
.........
Guiding this demon suppression ‘army,’ Messai arrived at the Hearthstone Tavern.
Her fellow templars were ordered by the inquisition leader and had scattered all around the street covering the Hearthstone Tavern. If any evil existence was to escape the tavern, those templars would be able to detect them immediately.
As Messai was the guide, she led the inquisitors and approached the tavern.
Sure enough...
The moment she arrived at the street across from the Hearthstone Tavern, the entire street was filled with all sorts of guests.
Even though Norland’s commercial district was lively even at night, it would not be this crowded. The reason for this was because of the poster above the Hearthstone Tavern’s sign board, a poster of a goblin and a gnome arm wrestling.
‘Hearthstone New Expansion ‘Goblins vs Gnomes’ has been officially released!’
“Lord inquisition leader, should we change our plan?”
The inquisitors following Messai had transformed themselves to the appearances of commoners with their special ability.
Messai guessed that these inquisitors were most likely planning to enter the Hearthstone Tavern in disguise and then kill the Chaos Demon hiding in the tavern.
Messai didn’t know about the concrete details of their plan. But, with the special ability of the inquisitors, the Church will not be caught up by their actions of openly killing others in Norland. In terms of politics, this will only become a dispute and nothing more.
The inquisitors were different from the templars, they do not act openly. Their attacks does not possess any set form.
But, the number of guests entering the tavern far surpassed their expectations. It was not only those one-track minded dwarves. They weren’t pickpockets, drunkyards or other low lifes.
Instead, they were people of the highest social class in Norland, the mages. One after another, mages were entering the Hearthstone Tavern.
Among them were ordinary mage apprentices. But, there were also a lot of powerful mages that were emitting strong auras.
Does this tiny little tavern contain half of Norland’s mages?
The inquisition leader’s eyesight was not bad either. Through some of the special insignias on the mages’ clothes, he was able to tell where they were from.
House Wolfblood from the Nation of Frost. The Otto Family from the Nation of Steel. The Burning Ash Clan from the Nation of the Ash Desert. Etc, etc...
They were all people from major influential families of this world.
How could this be a mere celebration party being held in a small tavern? With these people, it was simply akin to a certain major country’s national day’s grand celebration ceremony.
“No change is needed.”
But, it was not the first time for this inquisition leader to carry on his mission in a party filled with problematic bystanders that they cannot afford to provoke.
Once he gave the order, a portion of the inquisitors entered the Hearthstone Tavern like shadows. As for the remainder, they went to the roof of the Hearthstone Tavern and were stationed at either side waiting on standby.
[1] [1. Beater referenced SAO’s Beta Tester + Cheater.]