LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 98
“―――― Mental stability confirmed, fear suppression released.”
“…Phew, that was rough.”
We arrived at a place resembling a large container yard after racing through a red-brown canyon area, much like the Grand Canyon, on the Skute.
Rene, who had been piloting, landed the Skute outside the residential area and locked it up. After covering it to prevent dust from getting on it, I took another look at our destination: Bozon Settlement.
“From here on, keep conversation to a minimum. The people here are wary of outsiders.”
“Understood.”
I gave a small nod in response to Rene’s warning and headed toward the settlement.
—
“Bozon Settlement is split in half: one part is made up of the Wehmere people, and the other half is composed of demi-humans like me. So, when they see someone with fair skin like you, Allen, they get suspicious.”
(I see… That’s why I’m dressed in these clothes that cover my skin.)
All around were rectangular buildings that looked like large logistics containers, lined up and connected to each other. Outside, fabric was stretched over poles attached to the containers, creating tents and a marketplace that resembled the festival markets of the royal capital.
But the difference from the capital was in the people and the surroundings. The ground wasn’t paved like in the capital, and the red-brown earth lay exposed. The marketgoers were made up of a wide variety of species.
Just as Rene had explained, nearly half the people walking through the market had brown skin. These must be the Wehmere people.
They had dark brown skin and cream-colored hair blowing in the wind, and their eyes were a beautiful deep blue. They wore garments that covered their entire bodies in the same style as the outfit Rene had handed me, and on their left wrists were silver bracelets that contrasted against their dark skin.
“The Wehmere are the descendants of a nation that was defeated in a war by the Roifana Holy Kingdom, which rules over Zerad. They were brought to this planet as fourth-class citizens…essentially slaves.”
Rene explained casually, pointing as she spoke. I just listened, but her explanation was easy to understand. It felt like I was on my first overseas trip, listening to a tour guide.
“…”
“That one’s a Dorzak. Probably a mercenary, or maybe a pirate from the nearby space sector.”
Standing out among the crowds of marketgoers was a massive figure.
The person, or rather, the Dorzak, Rene pointed out, was inspecting goods at one of the street stalls. As we continued walking, I got a better look at the Dorzak’s appearance. Unlike Rene, whose face resembled a snake, this being had the head of a crocodile.
However, unlike Rene, this Dorzak had an imposing, muscular frame that was noticeable even from a distance. His sharp teeth gleamed as if they could be used as weapons.
On his right shoulder was a scorpion tattoo, and his arms bore visible scars.
With his clearly non-civilian appearance, Rene surmised, based on her experience, that this Dorzak was either a mercenary or a pirate.
“There are so many different types of demi-humans, huh?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes. Especially in Bozon Settlement. Including the Dorzak and the Gaia Lizard tribe, there might be about 30 different types of demi-humans here.”
“That many…?”
I walked closer to Rene, speaking quietly. She seemed a bit surprised at first but answered my question right away.
—
“Yo, Rene! What brings you here today?”
“Long time no see, Gil.”
As we passed through the market and headed toward the larger container area, we ran into a male Gaia Lizard named Gil, who seemed to be the same species as Rene.
Gil was holding a larger mobile device than the one Nias had, seemingly working on something when he noticed Rene approaching.
Gil, being male—or perhaps, a male Gaia Lizard—was larger than Rene, and his thin, snake-like tongue was black.
“Long time no see? You barely ever come to Bozon! I thought you might’ve died somewhere out there!”
“I’m not so easy to kill.”
Gil had a naturally loud voice, but Rene, who was speaking more casually than usual, didn’t seem to mind. I found it surprising how different she was compared to when she was with Nias.
Not wanting to interrupt their reunion, I waited patiently until the conversation shifted to me.
“…So, who’s that behind you? He’s no Gaiar Lizard, is he?”
“He’s Allen, a human. He’s here with me for certain reasons.”
Gil’s slit-pupil yellow eyes locked onto me, inspecting me closely.
I flinched a little under his gaze, feeling almost like a frog being stared down by a snake. Rene quickly introduced me, easing the tension.
“For certain reasons, huh? Well, this place is full of people with reasons.”
“He’s no criminal or anything… He’s just got something interesting to sell, so we came to Bozon.”
Rene’s teasing tone made Gil narrow his eyes, suspicious of her intentions.
“Allen, show him what you brought.”
When Rene said “what,” I immediately guessed she meant the alcohol I had brought to sell and pulled it out to show Gil.
“…Is this liquor?”
I handed over a flask—a small, curved metal container typically used for storing high-proof alcohol. The label on the front read “Whisky” in marker, indicating its contents.
Gil’s snake-like eyes widened in astonishment, and his tongue flicked rapidly in the air, a clear sign of his growing interest.
“This belongs to him. I can’t tell you where he got it from… but it’ll sell, won’t it?”
“If it’s the real deal, then yeah. Could even get the Sears guys interested.”
*Sears?* I wondered, unfamiliar with the name. Meanwhile, Gil pressed Rene, asking if the whiskey was authentic. She proudly responded.
“No doubt about it. This is genuine whiskey—practically identical to the original from Earth’s golden age.”
“You’re kidding!”
Gil, clearly excited, reacted to Rene’s unusually talkative response. Watching him, I had to admit:
…Demi-humans, including the Gaia Lizards like Rene, really seem to love their liquor.