GRP Chapter 16

"I'm not in the way, am I?"

"Good grief, in the way! What frightening words!"

"I was just having a drink when, whew...! The Anir's face started appearing before me."

Insincere, flattering remarks poured out. The reactions were transparent enough even Mariaeks could tell. Everyone tried their best to suit Garthe's mood. But whether it was truly just effort, Garthe's face listening to the flattery showed no change. He maintained an expression that seemed to say, "Yes, you're very good at spouting nonsense," with slightly raised eyebrows and a subtly lifted corner of his mouth. It seemed he would show a similar reaction whether someone flattered him or cursed at him.

"Then keep enjoying yourselves. Don't just stand there like you want to chase the intruder out..."

They sat with utmost effort, enjoyed themselves with utmost effort, crammed food into their mouths with utmost effort, and shoved alcohol down their throats with utmost effort. Garthe swept over such people indifferently and sat in an empty seat. Only then did people notice Mariaeks's existence, hidden behind Garthe. Everyone's gaze converged on her. Silence fell again.

Mariaeks carefully examined each emotion dissolved in the pouring gazes. Observing and grasping things from others' nonverbal behavior was the one thing Mariaeks did well. Curiosity, surprise, vague hostility, vague goodwill. Just as they didn't know their opponent, their emotions were also hazy.

Mariaeks knew how to make others' emotions and gazes even hazier. Close one's mouth. Suppress breathing to be weak. Keep one's gaze forward but look at nothing. Reduce movement. Kill one's presence, one's existence.

Once she scattered her presence as if melting into the surrounding air, she no longer appeared as a strong one with power to threaten others, nor as a weak one who might be threatened by others. She became a pebble on the street. Existing there yet no one knowing, no one caring.

The avoidance method she'd practiced for so long worked to some degree. As Mariaeks simply stood still without speaking, several people whose interest in the stranger had waned began checking Garthe's mood. It was natural since he was someone whose presence commanded attention just by breathing.

In the suffocating silence, Garthe began eating the bread and meat placed before him. Only then did people relax and enjoy their alcohol and food. Humans who couldn't recognize their own faces in a mirror when drunk wouldn't pay much attention to Mariaeks either. Their interest had long since fallen away.

They sang songs, laughed foolishly, stole each other's food and fought. They looked happy. Though in the same space, Mariaeks felt as if she alone had fallen into a different world. Her eyes turned to several empty seats. She'd felt her own appearance standing vacantly was ridiculous.

But she thought none of those seats were meant for her. Imagining sitting down only to be told to move, or Garthe frowning—she couldn't move carelessly. Standing even with aching legs was far better.

"Lady Mariaeks."

Samthyeon, who had entered through the large door, spoke. Having seen him several times now, Mariaeks was somewhat glad to see him.

"What are you doing standing there?"

Samthyeon questioned Mariaeks while looking at Garthe. Garthe shrugged. A gesture that said, how would I know? So she could have sat down. Mariaeks fiddled with the fur of her cloak for no reason.

"Please sit."

Samthyeon kindly pulled out the chair next to Garthe. Why, of all places. Did it have to be that seat? She hid her dismal feelings and carefully sat down. Contrary to Mariaeks's expectations, no one told her to move, and Garthe didn't even glance at her, simply continuing his meal.

Reassured, Mariaeks could finally carefully examine the food spread before her. A fragrant scent she'd never smelled in her life tickled her nose. The ingredients should be similar to what Ullri and Baen had obtained, so how did they make such a good smell?

Unlike the dry meat burned black that Ullri and Baen served, properly roasted brown meat glistened. Unlike the black or grayish-brown stew Ullri and Baen had boiled with various ingredients, the humans' stew had an appetizing reddish-brown color.

Mariaeks's sharpened five senses deduced the stew's taste from smell alone. Saliva pooled in her mouth. Her shrunken stomach protested in pain. She slipped her hand inside her coat and carefully pressed on her belly. After doing this, it seemed somewhat better.

"It looks like everyone except a few has gathered."

Samthyeon, who had been looking around the noisy banquet hall, continued speaking.

"You all worked hard in today's battle. Let us pray for the deceased."

Samthyeon placed his open hand over his heart and closed his eyes. Then, in less than a second, he opened his mouth again.

"Thul'Mhoriae."

It was an ancient phrase meaning "in the embrace of the gods." Mariaeks understood the words' meaning but didn't know the phrase was used like a prayer's closing. The prayer content and mourning that should have been in between were entirely omitted. People hurriedly placed hands on their chests and closed their eyes following Samthyeon's quick progression, then had to rapidly open them again.

"Damn it, shouldn't it be at least a minute?"

"To conduct prayer so half-heartedly?"

Samthyeon didn't react at all to the protests and continued speaking.

"An honored guest has arrived to fill the empty seats. For the time being, she will help with my research—the goddess of Heimdrykze, Lady Mariaeks."

At the phrase "goddess of Heimdrykze," several people choked. They seemed to have something go down wrong. Their attention focused on Mariaeks again. For her, it was an unwelcome situation. Whispers began spreading. I see. So that's why she looked inhuman. And also...

"I've... never seen a living goddess of Heimdrykze before."

It was something she'd heard many times before. Mariaeks grew curious whether they'd indeed seen many dead goddesses of Heimdrykze.

"Since she's also the Anir's guest, please be sure not to commit any discourtesy. Also, as she's not yet familiar with the castle's internal structure and may lose her way, if you find Lady Mariaeks alone in the corridors, please safely escort her to the Anir's room."

Mariaeks precisely grasped what Samthyeon wanted to say. Don't scheme about wandering around looking for Ullri and Baen. She clenched her fist beneath the table. So this was why he'd brought her to this place—to inform everyone of this fact.

Now that she was under surveillance by many humans, there would be many restrictions on her future actions. Mariaeks guessed the vague emotions directed at her would transform into clear wariness.

"...What?"

But they just looked dazed and foolish.

"The Anir's room?"

The banquet hall's atmosphere, which had been lively until just now, sank as if cold water had been poured over it with those words. Mariaeks couldn't understand the situation and only carefully rolled her eyes. Gazes with a different hue from before turned toward Mariaeks. She didn't know how to express it, but it wasn't a sharp emotion like hostility. Eyes beginning to moisten, eyebrows heavily curved downward, drooping corners of mouths, and figures closing eyes in prayer.

Mariaeks usually read much information from others' nonverbal behavior, but now she couldn't even guess what this meant. In 159 years, it was an emotion she was encountering for the first time in her life.

Swoosh. A plate appeared before the empty table. It was heaped generously with meat, potatoes, and sausage. Mariaeks looked at the person who'd thrust the plate forward from the seat right in front. From the hair tied in a short single bundle to the skin, even down to the fingernail tips—everything was complete black like jet-black ink. With even his eyes closed, if not for the bright-colored tunic, it would be hard to spot him in darkness.

"Hello, Lady Mariaeks. I'm Oze, from the Cave of the Black Underground God, Jimnaan. Would you like this? Oh, right. You don't eat food. Then what should I give you... Ah, should I sing you a song?"

As Oze said this, a man in the seat beside him subtly lifted an instrument, and another quietly removed his coat and loosened up his body. He seemed to be preparing to dance. A kind determination that said, just nod your head—we'll show you the most amazing singing and dancing you've never seen, lingered in the air.

It wasn't cursing or trampling, yet why did it feel so unsettling? Mariaeks shook her head, declining their excessively kind offers. Only two people remained composed—Garthe and Samthyeon. Samthyeon ignored the strange atmosphere and continued speaking.

"Yabesa, Oze, Dythsi, Salenok, Birette."

Samthyeon called several names. Those who'd been putting alcohol or food in their mouths looked at Samthyeon.

"Those called will abstain from drinking tonight."

"What?"

"Ah, why!"

"I don't want to!"

Several stood up in rebellion.

"It's the Anir's order."

"Oh well, I was going to quit drinking anyway, so this is perfect! Just perfect, just perfect!"

"Alcohol only makes you miserable the next day! You foolish bastards chasing momentary pleasure!"

Everyone's attitude-switching speed was quite fast.

"Including today, we've had frequent battles these past few days. It seems necessary for a few to maintain their sanity. Those with complaints should inquire with the Anir. The Anir's door is always, wide open toward you all."

A man with a bushy beard whispered in a small voice, "I wish it would stay closed forever..."