Ch. 8 - Beastfolk

Tang Qi Weinberg opened his drowsy eyes and vaguely made out dust motes dancing in the air.

Beyond the scent of dry hay from the straw mattress beneath his bed, there was also a hint of rain-soaked grass in the air.

It was mixed with the pungent stench of horse dung on the path.

There was nothing particularly pleasant or unpleasant about it.

Pushing open the window, the sun blazed overhead, and he realized it was definitely not morning.

Shaking his groggy head, he dressed in dry clothes, took the razor Anbi had brought last night, and headed toward the rear courtyard of the [Golden Oak].

This place doubled as an inn and remained open for business during the day.

However, he encountered few people along the way—it was much quieter than last night.

Using the rainwater collected in a wooden barrel, he carefully shaved off his thick beard, taking care not to cut himself with the blade.

"You woke quite late, poet."

Following the direction of the voice, he discovered Catherine had just closed the wine cellar door.

A warm breeze gently swept past.

It cast a golden hue over the oak tree in the center of the courtyard, which bathed in sunlight.

Its branches swayed in the wind, the leaves revealing translucent veins, dancing gracefully in the brilliance.

Her hair also caught that golden light, taking on a fiery crimson tint.

Tang Qi considered himself quite presentable among ordinary people.

But compared to Catherine's striking beauty—the kind you could spot in a crowd at a glance—he still had quite a distance to go.

"Perhaps it was because I dreamed of a certain young lady, making me reluctant to wake up?"

Tang Qi handed the razor back.

"I certainly hope your next sentence isn't that you dreamed of me—nobody here needs this, so it's yours." She was quite generous.

If nobody needed it, why would it be here?

Tang Qi didn't dare contemplate what this blade had been used for in the past.

But perhaps there was a reason she was 'stingy as hell.'

He simply took advantage of this idle moment to make his request:

"I'd like to work at the tavern afterward..."

"That's not urgent."

Catherine shook her head. She clearly had more pressing matters.

"You don't have anything to do right now, correct?

Could you please help me find Anbi? She's the child from yesterday.

This morning, she said she was returning something a guest left behind, but she hasn't come back for quite a while. I'm somewhat worried about her."

"Maybe she went somewhere to play and lost track of time?"

"She wouldn't."

Catherine bit her lip, as if there were words she couldn't bring herself to say.

"She... wouldn't wander around town for too long. She has no friends either."

"I assumed she wouldn't be very antisocial."

"In any case, can you help? I still need to prepare for the Harvest Festival later and can't get away—I'll treat you to a meal."

"I suppose I have no reason to refuse."

This hardly counted as a quest, and Tang Qi planned to stay here temporarily anyway. It would be a good opportunity to familiarize himself with the township.

He quickly washed his face:

"Which direction did she go?"

"Follow the path in front of the tavern straight ahead. The church is at the end. Father Lynn is usually there."

Tang Qi raised an eyebrow: "Priests drink too?"

"The town's specialty is starberries and wine, and Gragas blesses every drop of fine wine, letting joy endure forever."

The Academy's textbooks recorded this deity.

They once documented His footprints as well, but now only a name and holy symbol remained.

From what he recalled, 'divine miracles' had become rare on the continent, as if the gods were about to forget this place.

But faith passed down through word of mouth still supported people's lives.

History books might fade, but words could still be transmitted through the gaps, even if occasionally distorted.

So much so that some faiths hadn't completely disappeared yet.

The Terran Empire funded the Poet's Academy in hopes of using similar methods to perpetuate the Empire's glory.

"I bet He has a big belly."

"Father Lynn? Not at all. After he sobers up, he runs around the town for an hour so he can taste more fine wines in his lifetime."

"Then I'll go look for her."

"If you encounter any trouble, please notify me immediately."

Clearly, Catherine seemed to be deliberately concealing something, which made her overly worried about Anbi's situation.

If she didn't volunteer the information, she didn't want to talk about it. Tang Qi had no need to interrogate her.

After simply filling his stomach in the kitchen, he set off to walk to the end of the road.

Last night's rainwater hadn't completely evaporated yet, making the climate humid and slightly cool.

As he Stepped on the puddles along the rural dirt road, splashing mud quickly covered his boots.

The houses on both sides of the road were uneven, but all had their own small yards.

Fences pressed close against berry bushes, and Tang Qi saw many households carrying fruit baskets, picking berries from the branches one by one.

In the shadows, the berries faintly glimmered with starlight.

After inquiring with them, he suddenly realized that the light spots he'd seen last night were all courtesy of these [starberries].

Summer's Harvest Festival belonged exclusively to Starberry Town.

Before the festival arrived, residents would pick the year's harvest, dye cloth with the squeezed juice, and hang it along with the fruit pulp at their doorways.

Anyone could freely partake, and if they enjoyed the flavor, they would add a mark to the cloth, ultimately creating a unique pattern.

Whoever's pattern was most elaborate and varied would become that year's [Starshine].

This title didn't represent much, because every year's [Starshine] was the Lord Merle—

After all, his orchard possessed the most superior geological conditions.

He even employed an artist who would follow the merchant caravans to the small town every year to create patterns for him, ensuring the title wouldn't change hands.

Nobles cared most about such matters of face.

The other farmers couldn't be bothered to complain.

It was just a celebration for good fortune—why make it so serious?

Tang Qi enjoyed the atmosphere of the approaching festival, thinking he might later write a travelogue, assuming it wouldn't be defined as 'history.'

Most wandering minstrels died during their travels due to weakness, resulting in very few travelogues introducing local customs and cultures.

But with that journal as support, having gained power, he might be qualified to act somewhat unconventional.

However, if 'recording stories' meant he needed to actually participate in them, he'd probably have to actively seek danger afterward...

Pondering this, he had unknowingly reached the town center.

Starberry Town was a village of about three hundred people. Walking around the entire town wouldn't take too long.

The various small paths also converged at the center, forming an open space that was typically the most densely populated area.

If someone committed a crime, they would usually be brought here by the village official, their crimes listed so more people would know of their offenses.

Just like now—

Idle residents gathered before the punishment platform, their faces full of disgust as they looked at the young girl restrained by the cangue on the stage.

The girl had white hair and a somewhat strange appearance—sharp eyes, vertical pupils, and a paleness that didn't belong to a village child.

The ears atop her head resembled those of a wolf or fox, covered in snow-white fur, trembling from fear.

Like a frightened... wolf cub?

Standing beside her was someone Tang Qi recognized.

Clad in chain mail was the mustached mercenary called [Jackal].

He held his longsword in hand, loudly enumerating the girl's crimes while continuously brandishing his blade, as if showing off:

"This person not only destroyed the David household's starberries, sabotaging their year's worth of hard labor.

She even harbored evil intentions, using those cursed hands to steal from the lord-daren's orchard!

With the Harvest Festival approaching and the merchant caravan from Longgold City about to arrive, the starberries are a full fifth less than previous years!

What a vicious heart you have, clearly intending to ruin the festival's joy and make the lord-daren hold us accountable—

Reveal where you've hidden the stolen goods, and I can still be lenient with you!"

The girl tried to struggle but was firmly fixed in place by the cangue.

Being watched by those blazing eyes made her feel deeply humiliated. At this moment, she was nearly hysterical:

"I didn't steal anything!"

Tang Qi recognized the owner of that voice.

No wonder Anbi had to cover herself so thoroughly.

No wonder she said nobody liked her.

No wonder she still hadn't returned home.

Her appearance should probably be classified as...

Beastfolk?

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