Deformed stories

Chapter 10: Honest Person's Battle Cards — Part 1: Deserted Inn

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Warning: This content may contain explicit or mature themes and is intended for viewers 18 and older. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

Volume 1: Witch Carly Arc

Chapter 10: Honest Person's Battle Cards 

— Part 1: Deserted Inn

Upon arriving in the town, Aurelius and Magnolia sold the game they had hunted during their journey at the guild, as usual. Then, they went to the inn they had heard about from the guild.

"Adventurers, it's one gold coin for a room per night. Dinner is two silver coins, and breakfast is one silver coin."

"That's too much—"

Magnolia exclaimed in surprise, and Aurelius was equally shocked.

The room was nothing special—in fact, it was smaller than those in other towns. Plus, the middle-aged woman at the reception was gruff and clearly didn't want to chat.

A gold coin wasn't worth it. Camping outside would be preferable.

"I can't speak for other towns, but here, that's the price.

Besides, there are rumors of muggings if you sleep by the roadside.

So, are you staying? Hand over the gold coin quickly."

"Let's find another place."

Aurelius pulled Magnolia out of the inn.

They went to several inns after that, but they all charged the same price.

Furthermore, they were all just as unfriendly and pretentious.

It might have actually been better for them to camp outside. However, the warning about muggers lingered in their mind. And they had a feeling the muggers might really appear.

When adventurers slept on the roadside or under eaves to avoid paying for expensive inns, muggers would show up to target them. That's why adventurers were forced to pay the high lodging fees. It wasn't as though the inns and the muggers were in cahoots, but it felt like there was some sort of connection.

So, if they were going to camp, they needed to get away from the town.

Normally, animals or monsters would appear, making it dangerous, but with Aurelius's tent, there wouldn't be a problem.

They had fully intended to leave the town, but kept searching for an inn until eight o'clock in the evening.

They suddenly noticed a small inn.

It was quite small, old, and somewhat run-down. Nevertheless, they decided to inquire.

"Hello, do you have any vacancies?"

As Aurelius opened the door and stepped inside, he found that there were no guests at all.

"Eh, Um, welcome!

Please, come in—we have rooms available."

A man in his thirties, wearing an apron, emerged from the back.

"Adventurers, I see.

Would you like one room for the two of you?

The rate is three silver coins per person per night. If you need meals, it's two silver coins for both dinner and breakfast.

Is that acceptable?"

He appeared to be the owner.

The price was similar to other inns. It was a bit of an older place, but that wasn't too concerning. What caught their attention was the lack of other adventurers.

"Is there no bath?"

Magnolia seemed quite concerned about that.

"We do have a small steam bath, but—"

The owner hesitated.

"Is it only for men?"

"No, not at all. Both men and women can use it. Especially since there are no other customers today, you can use it freely.

However—"

With an apologetic tone, the owner continued.

"However, as I mentioned, we only have you two as customers today.

Because of that, I need to light the fire and prepare the steam bath.

It's a bit of a hassle, so I would like to ask for an additional two silver coins."

It seemed he felt uneasy about the extra charge.

"That's fine—we'll pay."

"Thank you very much."

The owner bowed deeply.

"By the way, do you run this inn alone?"

Aurelius, noticing the lack of other staff, was curious.

"No, there is another person.

Someone takes care of serving and cleaning.

I handle the cooking and preparing the bath myself, so there may be some shortcomings—I appreciate your understanding."

"Just the two of you?

Why don't you hire anyone else?"

"Well, this inn is quite small.

And we have so few customers that we can't afford to hire anyone.

Today we have you two, but there are days when we have no guests at all."

"Fuuhm, I see."

There seemed to be some backstory.

"Could I see the room, if that's alright?"

"Of course, of course."

The room was a bit cramped but adequate for two to sleep in. Moreover, it was clean and well-kept.

"Alright, we'll take it."

Aurelius handed over sixteen silver coins.

"Sir, that's too much."

"I want to ask for a few things, so that's the total.

First, one cup of Magnolia's ale for dinner is a must."

"Thank you very much."

They then discussed the meal and steam bath arrangements.

In the room, Magnolia changed from her leather armor into a short yukata, and after Aurelius took off his cloak, they headed back to the dining hall. He had wanted to bathe first but decided to have a light snack in the dining hall while it's being prepared.

"Welcome."

Almost immediately, a young waitress brought over tea and a light snack.

It seemed she was the other staff member. She was in her twenties but not yet thirty—a charming and cute woman.

"Thank you.

Are you and the owner a couple?"

"Eh, no, not at all."

The waitress returned to the interior of the diner, looking embarrassed. Although they weren't married, it appeared they had a relationship they both found acceptable.

They continued discussing what to do tonight, but they couldn't go into specifics because they were mindful of the owner and the waitress.

"Dear guest, the bath is ready."

Just as the owner came to inform them, the two of them headed to the steam bath.

Since it was a small inn, the steam bath was naturally small as well. It could comfortably fit six people, and at most, ten if packed tightly. However, with just Aurelius and Magnolia there, they had more than enough room.

"A steam bath after so long feels great."

Aurelius, with only a towel wrapped around his waist, sat down and began sweating.

"Thanks to you, Aurelius, I've become accustomed to the luxury of soaking in hot water.

Before that, sweating it out like this in a steam bath used to be a rare treat."

Magnolia, sitting next to him, was naked except for a towel draped around her neck.

The two had seen each other naked countless times by now, and Magnolia acted as though it was perfectly normal.

However, Aurelius couldn't help but sneak glances at Magnolia's chest and legs.

"What's wrong, Aurelius?"

"No, I just think you look really attractive with all sweaty like that."

"Do you want to? I'm ready anytime."

"If we do it here, we might pass out from the heat.

Plus, they're preparing dinner for us, and it wouldn't be good to be late.

Not to mention, it might be risky for you as well. I'd say tomorrow is probably the latest we can push it."

"That's true, but I don't want you to have to hold back."

"I don't want you to hold back either, Magnolia.

So, for now, just this."

Aurelius pulled Magnolia close, bringing his face near and kissing her. Then, he cupped her sweaty breast in his hand and gently kneaded it. Magnolia, meanwhile, wrapped her arm around his waist and grasped his cock through the towel.

Tsup, MwaHh—

Slurp, slurp-slurp—

"Hmmm—

I want to stay on top of Aurelius like this, but I guess

I shouldn't."

"I want to hold you too, but I'm barely managing to restrain myself.

If we go any further, I don't think I'll be able to stop, and we'll end up going all the way.

If that happens, tomorrow will be hard for Magnolia.

Besides…"

Aurelius removed his hand from her breast, but Magnolia pulled off the towel and directly grabbed his cock.

"And besides, we should stop the prayers for tonight.

I can't really trust the people in this town. They all seem like small-time crooks.

The only decent one is the owner here, but even though he's a good person, I can't bring myself to ask him for help."

He didn't want to bother the men who prayed with Magnolia, so they had only prayed with single men who had no wives or girlfriends.

The owner here didn't seem to have a girlfriend either, but it looked like he had feelings for that one waitress. Aurelius didn't want to interfere and cause problems in their relationship.

"Let's try to find someone decent in the next town tomorrow.

If we can't, I'll take the medicine."

"I'm glad to be with you, but I don't want to push you. If I can hold out for a bit longer—"

"I can't let Magnolia bear that burden.

You pushing yourself would be far worse than me pushing myself.

Anyway, we'll deal with tomorrow when it comes.

"Yeah, you're right."

Magnolia continued stroking his cock as she kissed Aurelius again.

After they sweated thoroughly, they wiped each other down with water from outside. The cold sensation was enjoyable, almost making them want to escape, which led to some playful moments. Then they entered the steam bath again to warm up their bodies.

"It was quite a nice steam bath."

When Aurelius arrived at the dining hall, dinner was nearly ready.

"I'll prepare it right away, so please take a seat and wait.

First, bring the ale."

"Alright!"

The waitress brought a simple snack and a glass of ale.

"Glug-glug-glug, FUHaaa—

Ale after a bath is truly the best."

Magnolia drank cheerfully.

Dinner was served soon after.

"Uhm, this is quite tasty. I might ask for several servings.

If I store them in the storage box, we can eat them anytime.

I'll pay, so could you make ten servings?"

"Eh, yes.

That's fine."

The owner quickly began cooking.

By the time Aurelius and Magnolia finished their meal, the cooking was complete, and it was quickly placed in his storage box. It seemed to be the first time the owner had seen food stored this way, as he watched with interest.

He thought the peaceful night would continue like this.

Three men suddenly entered the diner. Well, it was an inn, so it wasn't surprising to have customers, but something felt off.

"Hey, we're here to cause trouble."

"I can't allow that tonight. We have customers present."

"That doesn't matter to us. You just need to pay back your debt quickly.

Or are you saying the debt doesn't count because there are customers, ehh?"

The man glared menacingly at the owner.

"I didn't say that.

But saying it will cost 256 gold coins because I stained your clothes is outrageous.

You can just wash them."

"I borrowed a special outfit. How can I return it after you've dirtied it?

I can't save face unless I return it in perfect condition.

And I'm not asking for anything unreasonable.

This is all your fault.

Let's get the customers' opinion on this."

The man walked over to Aurelius's table.

It seemed these men had come many times before, bothering customers each time. That's likely why no customer came anymore.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt your conversation.

I'm being painted as the bad guy, but that's not true.

There's no one kinder than me, really.

This owner is the true villain here."

"I'm not interested in whether you're a villain. Keep your unnecessary talk to yourself."

Magnolia was clearly annoyed.

"Got it.

But you need to hear me out."

Magnolia tried to dismiss him, but he ignored her and pressed on.

"It seems like I'm demanding 256 gold coins because my clothes were stained, but that's not accurate. I'm not that harsh of a person."

"Then how much is it?"

Magnolia unwillingly found herself drawn into the conversation.

"Certainly, the debt totals 256 gold coins.

However, that's not for clothing—it's gambling debt.

I was angry back then when my clothes got stained too.

Naturally, I was. They were important borrowed clothes after all.

But I quickly realized I was getting overly worked up.

So I said to share the responsibility, to acknowledge it as half my fault."

"Then why is it 256 gold coins? Was the clothing worth more than 500 gold coins?"

"No, that outfit was worth just one gold coin. Still, it meant a lot to me.

So we decided to determine who would pay that one gold coin. Like this."

The man reached behind him.

"Here, boss."

The man behind handed something over. It appeared the two behind were his lackeys, and the man in front was their boss.

"I suggested we use this to settle it. What do you think? Fair, right?"

The boss placed the cards for a game called "Battle Cards" on the table.

Of course, Magnolia was familiar with it.

"Battle Cards" involves 11 types of 11 cards, played in turns, where the strength of the cards determines the outcome, often simply called "cards".

First, the cards are ranked from strongest to weakest—"King," "Lord," "Noble," "Knight," "Adventurer," "Soldier," "Citizen"—with higher cards winning. However, the "Adventurer" features three cards—"Great Sword," "Armor," and "Dagger," where "Great Sword" beats "Armor," "Armor" beats "Dagger," and "Dagger" beats "Great Sword," creating a cycle. Below "Citizen" is "Slave," the weakest card, but for some reason, it's the only one that can beat the "King." Lastly, the "Magus" is the strongest card, defeating all others.

Players take turns laying their cards face down, and the player with the stronger card wins. All 11 cards are played in order, and the player with the most wins becomes the victor.

Due to its straightforward nature, it was a popular game even among adventurers.

"Well, it might have been a mistake for me to keep quiet about how skilled I am at 'Battle Cards,' but he acknowledged that we could resolve everything with cards.

And naturally, I won. If I had lost, I would've had to pay for my own clothes.

But since he accepted the challenge, it's only fair that he pays if he loses."

"Still, it's just one gold coin."

"Exactly, just one gold coin. But, being the kind person I am, I didn't take that gold coin.

Instead, I proposed another match. If I win, the debt of one gold coin is erased—if I lose, the debt doubles to two gold coins. Honestly, I just wanted to play "cards."

Then I won again.

After that, it was a streak—I kept winning.

In total, I've won nine times in a row, and the debt has swelled to 256 gold coins.

I feel bad that my kindness seems to have turned against me.

But since it's a debt, if I don't get paid, I'll just sell him off somewhere."

"That debt is invalid. There's no way I could lose nine times straight. You must be cheating."

"What?"

As the owner said this, one of his lackeys tried to jump in, but the boss stopped him.

"Stop. If you lay a hand on him, we won't get any money.

We didn't come here to fight. We're here to collect the debt."

"Yes, sir—"

The lackey was struck on the head and quietly retreated.

"So, what will you do?

Will you pay the money peacefully? You could sell this inn and somehow manage.

Or do you want to challenge me again? If you lose again, selling the inn won't be enough, and then you'll be a debt slave for life.

What's your choice? Even a nice guy like me can't wait forever."

It seems that after losing a game with a gold coin bet, he ended up with a debt of over two hundred fifty coins after suffering eight consecutive losses in "Battle Cards."

Magnolia asked the owner in a low voice,

"Did you really lose that much? It's rare to see nine consecutive losses."

For Magnolia, who knew "Battle Cards" well, something felt off.

"Could there have been cheating? Maybe there was some tampering with the cards.

Otherwise, nine losses in a row just doesn't happen."

"Battle Cards" involves a psychological battle of reading the cards, but it's not a game where someone can easily win multiple times in a row. Normally, even with bad luck, you wouldn't lose more than thirty percent.

Cheating in "Battle Cards" is straightforward. By marking your opponent's cards, you can guarantee a win. That's why, if you're going to play a high-stakes "Battle Cards," you should provide your own cards.

"I thought it over and prepared new cards once, but the result was the same.

It seems my habits are being read."

"Reading habits isn't something you can do easily, unless you're an incredible mage."

Magnolia glanced at Aurelius.

Aurelius took the cards from the boss and checked something, likely looking for any signs of cheating.

"Well, what are you going to do? Decide quickly.

I'm kind, but these guys are hot-tempered.

I can't hold them back forever.

You never know what they'll do when they're angry.

If they strike hard and end up killing you, that won't help anyone.

They might even set this place ablaze out of anger.

I'll try to stop them, but who knows what might happen.

Before that, paying the money would be easier, right?

So, what's your decision?"

The boss put his feet up on the table and glared. The waitress, now terrified, clung to the owner for cover.

"Alright, I understand. Tomorrow, tomorrow—"

"It's an interesting game…"

The owner began to speak, but Aurelius interrupted.

"What's your deal?"

The boss stopped a subordinate from intervening from behind.

"Hey, don't lay a hand on those who don't concern us. Especially not an adventurer. If they have other companions, it could get messy.

Let's ask onii-san to stop butting in. These guys might get riled up and do something reckless."

"No, I just remembered I played this game long ago and thought it was fun. I was wondering if I could play again.

You're strong with the 'cards,' right?

I'd like to have a 'duel' with a strong opponent—may I ask for that?"

The boss's expression turned serious.

"I don't play cards for fun. I only play for money—no, for life itself.

Money is a part of one's life, after all. Betting it makes the game serious. That's what makes it enjoyable.

I won't be your opponent."

The boss leaned in, intimidatingly.

"If that's the case, how about wagering that debt—256 gold coins? That's about all I have."

"Really? Is onii-san willing to engage in a serious match? I wouldn't mind playing, but betting money isn't that thrilling.

How about onii-san wager something else?"

"What should I put up?"

"The beautiful miss behind you is your companion, right? If you're willing to wager her, I'd consider accepting."

The boss pointed at Magnolia.

"What? No way!"

The owner was taken aback.

"Magnolia, are you okay with this?"

"If Aurelius is fine with it, I have no objections."

Magnolia responded with a subtle smile.

"Alright, that settles it. This is getting exciting. Let's get started."

The boss was thrilled.

He immediately sit at the table and prepares for the game.

First, by not losing "Battle Cards", he can get his hands on an incredible beauty—one that absolutely wouldn't be obtainable for around two hundred and fifty gold coins. There's no way he wouldn't be excited about that.

"Nii-san, you know the rules of the cards, right?"

"I've played a bit before, so I understand them well."

"But just in case there are any mistakes, how about we do a quick round without betting first?"

"Sounds good. But can I get new cards ready over here? These ones are a little worn."

"Umm, that's fine."

Aurelius asked the owner for a brand-new deck.

"Is this alright?"

"Umm, that works."

They both checked to make sure there were no issues with the cards.

"Alright then, let's try a round. You can use this."

The boss placed a marked stick on the table. He inserted the cards into the cut and arranged them so he could see them. Aurelius did the same.

The boss played a card first. In response, Aurelius played one as well. When they revealed their cards, the boss had a "Knight," while Aurelius had a "Soldier." The boss won.

Next, Aurelius played a card.

They repeated this process 11 times.

In the end, Aurelius won six matches and lost five.

This was just a casual game without any stakes.

"Well then, shall we get to the real match?"

"Sure, that sounds good."

Both returned their cards to the board.

Behind Aurelius stood Magnolia, and further back was the anxious owner.

"Is it really alright to have such a match? Betting on Magnolia-san…"

The owner's worried voice could be heard.

"Well, it should be fine," Magnolia replied casually.

"Onii-san…"

After finishing the card arrangement, the boss spoke to Aurelius.

"Onii-san, do you understand why we tried it first?

I use that to gauge my opponent's tendencies. I can tell if they play strong cards or weak ones. That's why I never lose."

"But I might have picked up on your habits as well."

"Well, that's true.

Kuh-Kuh-Kuh—

Onii-san is quite amusing."

The boss lowered his gaze, chuckling softly, and glared at Aurelius.

"Alright, let's do this.

This time, it's my turn."

At last, the real game began.