Volume 6 Chapter 82
by Golden DragonVolume 6 + Chapter 82: Meeting Balan Again
An elven bard carrying a harp walked into Qiu’s pastry shop.
That’s right, it was Balan.
Even if he turned to ashes, Xia Yi would still recognize him.
This was the very person who had led the Bear Dominates the World Mercenary Group into the borders of the Elven Kingdom, only to suddenly lose his mind halfway through and turn completely insane.
The mercenary group’s total annihilation owed a great deal to Balan’s actions.
“Balan! And you still dare show your face here!!”
Xia Yi exploded with anger on the spot, shoving through the crowd as she rushed toward him.
The pastry shop was far too noisy and bustling, drowning out Xia Yi’s voice. Balan still hadn’t noticed her and instead looked around with great interest.
“I heard there’s a silver dragon maid here. How intriguing~”
“Balan, it’s me!!”
Xia Yi charged right up in front of him, angrily pointing at his nose.
“You drunken bard! I finally caught you this time, you’re not getting away again!”
“Eh?” Balan froze in confusion.
“Hmph. I don’t care what trick you used to escape back then. Right now, you’d better explain exactly what’s going on!”
“This lovely maid… do you know me?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“What an honor that is. Has my reputation already spread this far?”
Balan lightly plucked his harp strings, looking delighted. Then he bowed politely toward Xia Yi.
“Greetings, beautiful silver dragon maid. I am Balan, a wandering bard who travels from place to place. This is our first meeting, and I offer you my sincerest salutations.”
“…What did you say? First meeting?” Xia Yi frowned.
“Yes. This is the first time I’ve ever met you.”
“Stop talking nonsense! What do you mean by first meeting? Have you already forgotten about the Bear Dominates the World Mercenary Group?”
“Bear Dominates the World?” Balan looked genuinely puzzled. “My apologies, but I’ve never heard of them…”
“Quit pretending! You were the one who brought me into the Elven Kingdom!”
“I truly do not understand what you’re talking about.”
Balan shook his head.
“I’m merely a wandering bard who makes a living through music. I simply happened to arrive in Morent City.”
Xia Yi felt increasingly unsettled. What exactly was wrong with this man?
Just yesterday, Balan had mysteriously vanished right before her eyes. Yet now that he had reappeared, he claimed to remember absolutely nothing, as though he had lost all his memories.
Had something strange happened in between?
“Do you not remember what ‘the Wind’ told you either?” Xia Yi asked cautiously. “If you act like this, ‘the Wind’ is going to be angry.”
The word “Wind” should have been an extremely sensitive trigger for an elf like Balan. Normally, merely mentioning it would provoke an immediate reaction.
Yet after hearing Xia Yi’s words, Balan showed no response at all. He only looked mildly confused before suddenly smiling and beginning to play a cheerful tune on his harp.
“Are you referring to the wind of nature? The feeling of the breeze brushing against one’s body truly is delightful.”
“…”
Xia Yi realized the two of them were completely talking past each other.
“Xia Yi, did you run into someone you know?”
Hearing the argument between Xia Yi and Balan, Qiu sensed something was off and walked over to check the situation.
“He…”
Xia Yi didn’t even know how to explain it. Her thoughts felt like a tangled mess, as though she were trapped within a dense fog.
“Hey, long-ears! Are you bullying Miss Maid?!”
“We won’t allow that!”
“Anyone who bullies Miss Xia Yi won’t get away with it!!”
The surrounding customers immediately started shouting angrily, looking ready to tear Balan apart alive.
That frightened Balan badly. He hurriedly used a bard’s signature skill, playing a calming melody to soothe the crowd.
“Everyone, please calm yourselves! Perhaps this beautiful silver dragon maid simply mistook me for someone she knows. I swear upon the Goddess of Nature that today is the first time I have ever met her! To express the emotions overflowing in my heart, please allow me to dedicate a song praising this silver dragon lady’s beauty!”
“…”
Standing to the side and listening carefully, Xia Yi realized the tune he was playing was the exact same melody she had heard at the tavern in Sanger Town.
It was definitely the same person. She hadn’t mistaken him.
Yet that bizarre, crazed aura surrounding him had completely disappeared.
Rather than saying the elven bard had regained his sanity, it felt more like the experiences Balan had from the tavern in Sanger Town up until his disappearance within the Elven Kingdom had been entirely severed away.
“Xia Yi, are you alright?” Qiu patted her shoulder gently. “You’ve been spacing out this whole time.”
“I’m fine, Sister Qiu. Maybe… maybe I just mistook him for someone else. I’m kind of face-blind and can’t really tell elves apart very well.”
“Oh, as long as you’re alright.”
Qiu accepted Xia Yi’s explanation and didn’t continue questioning her.
Thanks to Balan’s magical music, the customers in the shop gradually calmed down, preventing the situation from escalating any further.
…
…
“What delicious pastries. If I have the opportunity, I shall visit again.”
After paying for the pastries, Balan left the shop.
While he was paying, Xia Yi deliberately paid attention and noticed that he used Gio currency instead of Orr.
It seemed Balan had completely integrated into the Mythic Age, becoming a true resident of this era. His habits and behavior were practically indistinguishable from the locals.
Even though both she and Balan had entered the Elven Kingdom together, their situations were worlds apart.
There was none of the panic or confusion of time travel visible in Balan at all…
“Xia Yi.”
“Mm? What is it, Sister Qiu?”
Hearing Qiu’s voice, Xia Yi turned around.
“Let’s close early today.”
“So early? Isn’t it not even six o’clock yet?”
“Business was way too good today. We’ve completely sold out of pastries.” Qiu pointed toward the display counter.
Only then did Xia Yi realize that everything really had sold out.
“How did we sell out so quickly? But getting off work early is definitely a good thing. I’m absolutely exhausted today.”
She walked outside and flipped the sign hanging on the glass door from OPEN to CLOSED.
That meant work was finally over.
“This is all thanks to Xia Yi. Following the maid trend really was a good decision.”
Qiu jokingly asked,
“Can I buy Xia Yi for myself? Stay as the mascot girl of my pastry shop for the rest of your life, okay?”
“Nope. I’m very expensive.”
“How expensive? Go on, tell me so I can give up.”
“About as expensive as buying the entire Dragon Kingdom…”
“That exaggerated? Don’t tell me you’re actually some kind of princess?”
“…”
Xia Yi was just beginning to think about what she should do after getting off work when suddenly inspiration struck her.
The silver-haired little dragon girl walked up to Qiu, stretched out both hands, and revealed a sweet, adorable smile.
“What is it, our pastry shop’s star mascot?” Qiu asked.
“I’m cute, so please give me money~”
[Translator’s Note: Please join the Gravity Tales’ Discord Server, if you want to hang out.]
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