Just as the priest had hoped, the three had arrived at the roadside inn just as the moon rose. The Sleeping Forest Inn, as the name suggested, lay in the middle of the forest. A forest with lush leafy canopies, had it been spring or summer.
It was also the only way to go from Arboros and other distant villages to bigger towns and cities. That is the reason the dirt road goes through the woods.
Yusuke put Wilhelm to his feet as they had arrived at their destination, but kept an arm around the shoulders. Yusuke led the way and opened the door. The warm-toned tavern area had entered the three's sight, and the man behind the tavern counter, a bulky, big-boned, bearded man, welcomed them with an oddly clear voice, with no rasp at all.
"Welcome! Name's Darnell!" the man shouted, arms spread out. His orange beard and hair swayed in his elation. "Need a room? Or a meal? We can provide both!"
Joanna stepped forward, now the acting mouthpiece for the group. "Yes, Mr. Darnell. Three rooms, and dinner, if we may."
Darnell grinned, happy at the guests' request, and turned to the kitchen. "Debbie! Dinner for three!" he shouted. His reply came in a loud, clear voice, higher-pitched than his. "I heard you, honey! Stew's nearly done!"
Joanna turned to the other two men behind her and urged them to sit. "Come on, Father, Mister Yusuke."
Wilhelm sighed in relief, finally getting a chance to rest his legs. Yusuke nodded, also relieved to have a moment of safety. The three then sat at the nearest table to the bar, where Darnell was pouring beers into three wooden mugs.
Seeing the beers being poured out of a keg, Yusuke quickly exclaimed, "Oh, and a light beer for me!" Darnell paused and chuckled. "Someone's not a drinker!" the big man joked and filled the last mug with light beer from a separate keg.
Carrying those beer mugs to the table, Darnell sat down with the three at the table. His eyes looked at them with mild curiosity. "So, a priest, a nun, and an adventurer walk into a tavern. Sounds like the start of a terrible joke."
The three smiled wryly. Darnell continued, "I can tell that you're not from around here. You from the village down south?"
Yusuke was the first to answer. "Yes, Darnell, sir. We're from Arboros." He paused for a brief moment, gathering his thoughts, and continued, "...were would be a more appropriate word."
Darnell got the gist and expressed his condolences. "Damn. That village had seen better days. Been there once, and man... just by seeing their militia, one raid could've decimated the whole place."
"That's... exactly what happened."
Darnell repeated the expression. "Damn." He regretted not pouring himself a mug of beer before sitting.
Wilhelm spoke next. "We couldn't have survived that ordeal without young Yusuke here. He saved our lives."
Joanna continued with a grateful tone. "Yes, Mister Darnell. He fought to give us time to escape. And he... he lived! Thank Theitomme for granting him survival!" Her voice choked as she began her short prayer.
Yusuke smiled quietly, as Darnell measured him up. He didn't look like some big-shot adventurer or mercenary. Slim and with a well-cared-for face, he could be mistaken for a city boy. But if the account were correct, he could be stronger than he looked.
The bigger man smirked and slapped Yusuke on the back. The smaller man almost spat out his small beer when that was happening. "You've got guts to be fighting off a raid by yourself, kid. I like that."
Later on, the stew was served. Debbie joined Darnell and the three visitors at the table, sharing stories with her big husband. One of those stories was about how Darnell once wrestled a bear during his adventuring days. He slammed the brown bear to the floor, and it left in fear afterwards. All to impress her. Darnell, in response, proudly stood up and flexed his muscles.
After dinner, Wilhelm and Joanna retired to their bedrooms first, with the nun supporting the priest up to the stairs. Darnell and Debbie cleaned up the table, wrapping up for the day.
As for Yusuke, he was outside, gazing at the crescent moon beyond the leafless canopies, pondering what he could do next. He could follow Wilhelm and Joanna for a bit, until he felt it was time to go on his own. Or... he could bid farewell to them sooner.
His thoughts were interrupted when a shadow approached him from the woods. "Greetings, warrior," the figure spoke with a low, but clearly feminine voice. The dim lights of the outside lanterns showed who the figure was. It was a robed woman with shoulder-length red hair and bright yellow eyes. Her ears were pointed, but otherwise, they looked normal.
What wasn't normal was the dark aura she was exuding. She smirked, showing her longer-than-normal upper canines.
"Who's speaking?" Yusuke said, raising his guard. This woman was bad news, his instincts told him.
The woman chuckled. Her voice lightened, as if noticing her own overbearing aura. "I mean no harm, warrior. I'm just here to offer a proposition."
She walked closer to Yusuke. Her voice grew quieter, as if she were sharing a secret. "I am Crina Aquila Valent, a vampire. And I desire a battle with you, insect fighter, Yusuke Iriki. Tomorrow."
Yusuke froze. She knew who he was? But how?
The vampire, now named Crina, continued. "I saw you fighting those measly orcs, dear warrior; from how you valiantly transformed and covered the nun and the priest, to how you set those orcs off in a big explosion."
She stepped back and walked to the inn door. Before she entered, she said, "I do expect you to accept my terms, Iriki. If not... I will have to force your hand." She ended with a lilt and entered the inn to book herself a room.
Yusuke knew that she wouldn't accept a straight no. But accepting her terms meant transforming into Kervagta when it was unnecessary. Refusing her, on the other hand, meant possible danger to the others in the Sleeping Forest Inn. He wouldn't risk any potential harm to them, even if she didn't mean what he thought she meant.
Either way, he would have to fight her in combat. The question now was... how could he emerge victorious, without killing her? He wanted to believe that she had no malice despite strong-arming him into a battle he didn't want to partake.