Chương 23: The Sleeping Treant Tavern

As it turns out, sometimes, some problems are like advanced mathematics—you just can't solve them.

More than half an hour passed, and after finishing a plate of roasted lamb leg with leeks and a bowl of broad bean and bacon soup, Richard still couldn't come up with a good solution, so he gave up thinking about it.

He said to Grace, "Looks like I've used up all my brainpower for today, I should go to sleep."

The latter replied, "So early? Aren't you going to eat something? You're so thin, you should eat more."

Richard looked at the thick stack of empty plates in front of Grace, as well as the wine glasses that had been refilled seven or eight times, and was speechless for a moment.

Is it possible that the average human stomach can't hold as much as yours?

Fortunately, he waved his hand, leaving Grace to continue eating and drinking under the boss's "this opponent is worth fighting" gaze, while he got up and went upstairs to the room he had booked.

Then he spread his arms and pounced on the bed in the corner, which was made of hardboards, hay, and wool balls that smelled slightly musty.

Although the bed was of very average quality, it was luxurious enough for Richard, who had slept in the wilderness for more than half a month.

however……

After lying comfortably for a while, Richard couldn't muster any sleepiness at all.

His mind was still involuntarily contemplating how to deal with Jostein.

Finally, he got out of bed and began to examine the items in the room with his Eye of Insight.

If you can't fall asleep, why not see if there's anything that can be alluring?

No matter what method is used in the end, becoming stronger is always a good thing.

With that in mind, Li took a look around.

Then he just stood there, stunned...

【Name: Sleeping Treant Tavern (Can be charmed)】 Level: Common Note: Although there are no tree spirits, this place can really put you to sleep.

... No, can the entire tavern be selected?

This was the first time Richard had encountered this situation. He blinked and immediately cast a charm spell on her.

You have successfully charmed the sleeping tree spirit tavern.

[Sleeping Tree Spirit Tavern: So empty, so lonely, I long to be filled with guests (referring to booking a room)!] Yo.

A familiar feeling...

Tell me, what's your relationship with that bronze helmet in the dungeon?

Richard felt a slight itch on his scalp and couldn't think of a way to continue the conversation.

A few seconds later, it was the tavern that took the initiative to say to him: Hey, I recognize you! You're the poet who sang inside me!

[Were you beaten up? Why is your face deformed?] First of all, can we not describe the lobby as a stomach?

Secondly, this was a disguise, not a beating.

But thank you for remembering me anyway.

Realizing that this was at least a meeting between acquaintances, Richard relaxed more and went along with the other person's line of conversation:

"I wasn't beaten; I just disguised myself for some reason. I didn't expect you to recognize me like this. I must admit, tavern lady, you have an amazing eye."

"Of course, after all, I observe every guest 24/7, from every angle!"

Good grief, there's even a segment where they watch women being raped!

Richard was both relieved that he hadn't taken off his clothes and offered a few more compliments to the tavern.

Seeing that the other person was clearly in a good mood but still hadn't given him a gift, he realized this person wasn't easily fooled, so he simply asked directly:

"Speaking of which, miss, is there anything you wish to do? We haven't seen each other for a long time, and we get along so well. I really want to do something for you."

【Well, if you don't mind, could you please pay extra to book twenty more rooms? 】 Do you want to make twenty times the money from one person?

Hagi, you're really career-minded.

Richard silently counted his wallet.

Zoya's inheritance is indeed still quite substantial, but with revenge imminent, it's uncertain where money might be needed. It would be a real shame to waste a significant portion of the funds on this now.

And it wouldn't be easy to explain to Grace.

Richard then tried asking, "Is this your only wish? Are there any others?"

Across from them, the sleeping tree spirit was quite easy to talk to, and said again:

"Well, as a bard, could you sing a few songs in the shop for free? I'd like to attract more customers that way!"

"That's not a problem, but..."

Li looked outside and saw that the night was already quite dark.

"It's so late, I guess a lot of people are already asleep. If I run into the lobby and yell now, I don't know if I can attract more customers. Most of the existing customers will probably rush over and hit me."

"I am still young and do not want to return to the embrace of the gods of death so soon, even if Lady Styx among them has the proud milky white snowflakes."

"So this can only wait until tomorrow... Miss Tavernkeeper, don't you have any other wishes that can be fulfilled now?"

Okay, okay, I have one more little wish...

"Please speak."

There are two dwarfs living in the room at the end of the corridor. They were actually hired by a local thug boss to get revenge on his boss, Andy, for not paying protection money. Can you help me stop them?

No.

Hagijin, don't you think this third wish is much more important than the first two?

Richard's eyes widened, and he immediately pressed, "Do you know anything more about them?"

【certainly……】 at the same time.

The room at the end of the corridor.

The dwarf with a goatee said to the dwarf with a handlebar mustache:

"I've figured it all out. Those adventurers from Winterfell have the most money and sleep the soundest. You and I can easily rob them of everything!"

The man with the mustache made a shushing gesture: "Keep your voice down."

The goatee didn't care at all: "What's there to be afraid of? There are empty houses on both sides, and no one is outside the door. How could anyone hear us talking? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

The man with the mustache shrugged and said, "Alright, then you can continue."

The goatee chuckled, "My plan is that at night, I'll keep watch, and you'll steal the adventurers' money."

"Then, we'll split the money in two. One half will go into our own pockets as extra pay for this trip, and the other half will be secretly put into Andy's bedroom—I'll keep watch while you go in and put the money in."

"The next day, when the adventurers discover their things are missing, we'll subtly guide them to suspect Andy, and then find our belongings in Andy's room..."

"That way, Andy's reputation is ruined! Our mission is complete!"

"What do you think?"

The man with the mustache nodded and said, "The plan is fine, but why am I always the one doing the actions while you're the lookout?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because I'm half a finger taller than you, I have a much wider field of vision!"

The goatee, which is less than a meter tall, proudly stood on tiptoe.

"Enough with the nonsense, it's settled then~"

"Let's keep those tall guys completely hidden and outsmart them!"

"... Yes, that's what they said."

After listening to the live broadcast of the Sleeping Treant Tavern, Richard, who was neither a god nor a ghost but had even memorized the height difference between the two, couldn't help but chuckle.

At this moment, the sleeping tree spirit suddenly said: Wait a minute, if their plan succeeds, won't Andy be seen as a thief? In the worst-case scenario, he might even lose his job as the boss?

[Gods above, if Andy leaves, won't there be no one to help me wipe away those yellow-green snotty noses that the orcs secretly wiped under the bed?] Waaaaah! I don't want that kind of thing!

Ah this...

After all that fuss, it turns out you weren't unable to distinguish the seriousness of the situation, you were just slow to react.

Besides, there's really no need to go into such detail about the snotty nose...

Richard subconsciously took half a step, distancing himself from under the bed, and then said to the anxious tavern owner:

"Don't worry, leave this to me. I'll bring those two dwarfs to justice."

Is it really true?

"Absolutely true, and if all goes well, I can even fulfill your second wish at the same time..."