NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 6.1
Chapter 6: Northern MSG (5)
Fifteen Days Later
A group of individuals appeared in Haven.
All five were mounted on horses, their faces concealed under robes, with glimpses of metallic armor showing underneath. It was clear to anyone that these were people of significant status.
The horses they rode were majestic, exuding an aura of grandeur that even an untrained eye could appreciate.
“Elite mercenaries or knights!”
The guard at the city gate, observing them, tensed and called out for them to halt.
“Stop!”
At the command, the five riders pulled their reins, slowing their pace.
“Where are you coming from, and what is your purpose?”
As the riders came closer and stopped, the guards asked in a stern yet respectful tone.
“We are here for business in the Magic Realm.”
The man at the front responded coldly, showing something from within his robes.
“Th-The High Tower?!”
The man revealed an insignia that signified he was a knight of Renslet.
“Salute!”
The guard, upon recognizing the insignia, immediately straightened, saluting sharply.
“Y-You may pass!”
Thus, the five knights entered Haven.
“Quick, report this to the captain!”
Behind them, the guards hurriedly sent a subordinate to inform their superiors. Knights from Renslet were a matter for both the city guard captain and the mayor to be aware of.
“Are you planning to meet the mayor and the guard captain of Haven?”
Sensing the commotion from behind, one of the knights asked the senior knight beside them.
“No, we won’t be staying long.”
The senior knight, whose figure was noticeably smaller compared to the others, shook their head. The voice beneath the hood was unmistakably that of a woman.
“Still, riding for so long has made me hungry.”
The senior knight murmured, rubbing their stomach.
“Shall we dine at Polly’s Inn right away?”
One of the knights asked, overhearing the comment.
“I already have a place in mind.”
The senior knight shook her head.
“Understood.”
“Yes. I received a letter from Polly, who highly praised the food at a place called Jack’s Inn.”
“Polly did? But why would someone running an inn praise another inn so much?”
“In his letter, he asked me to eat there but stay at his inn instead. Jack’s Inn, apparently, isn’t big enough to accommodate five horses.”
“Polly is indeed an honest and honorable person.”
“he seems to be.”
“Just how good is the food?”
“If Polly praises it this much, it must be extraordinary.”
Though the other four knights merely followed the senior knight’s decision, they couldn’t help but feel curious.
“For now, let’s take the horses to Polly’s Inn.”
“Understood. Still, it’s hard to imagine a dish surpassing Polly’s cooking.”
“If he praised it this much, it must at least be comparable. Let’s hurry and unpack.”
Hungry and eager, the five knights urged their horses toward Polly’s Inn.
“Hmm…?”
On their way, an unusual sight caught their attention.
In front of a seemingly ordinary inn, a long line of people stretched down the street.
“Form a line! Get in line!”
A boy, who appeared to be in his teens, was organizing the crowd into three distinct groups.
The groups were peculiar: one consisted of poorly dressed people holding bowls and spoons, another of modestly dressed individuals, and the last of those dressed in finer attire.
“Takeout line! Ten people, step forward!”
Then, a man who seemed to be the innkeeper emerged from the inn. His arm was bandaged, and he ushered the queued people inside. The poorly dressed individuals entered, holding their bowls. Moments later, they came out with bowls full of stew, their faces beaming with satisfaction.
“Guards and officials, this way!”
Occasionally, people who looked like soldiers or officials bypassed the lines and entered directly.
“That must be the inn Polly mentioned.”
The five knights from Renslet widened their eyes, surprised by a scene far more unexpected than the letter had described.
The five knights from the Northern Duchy, commonly referred to as the High Tower, momentarily observed the bustling Jack’s Inn before leaving to drop off their horses.
At Polly’s Inn, the largest and most luxurious inn in Haven, the knights noticed something peculiar.
“It’s lunchtime, yet it’s so quiet.”
Looking around the unusually deserted inn, they raised their eyebrows in confusion.
“It’s because everyone’s eating at Jack’s Inn, knights.”
An employee of Polly’s Inn politely explained.
“Oh… We saw it on our way here.”
“These days, the entire city of Haven goes crazy during mealtime.”
“Is it really that good? I caught a unique smell of stew as we passed by.”
“I’ve tried it myself. In all my life, I’ve never had stew that delicious.”
The employee’s dreamy expression as they spoke made their mouth water.
“The innkeeper Polly isn’t here? Where is he?”
The knights asked, looking around for him.
“he’s probably standing in line at Jack’s Inn right now. he’s completely hooked these days.”
“He’s lining up at a competitor’s inn?”
“He says he’s researching their recipe and goes there every day.”
The knights from Renslet were dumbfounded by the peculiar situation in Haven.
“Is it really that good?”
“Strange. Polly’s cooking is already exceptional.”
“Stew is just stew. How much better can it be?”
“Maybe they just use a lot of salt?”
“If it’s that good, wouldn’t it be expensive?”
Their curiosity only deepened.
“Tell us more.”
One of the knights tossed the employee two silver coins, requesting more details.
“We noticed the lines consisted of people dressed in various ways.”
“That’s right. The food at Jack’s Inn isn’t very expensive. A bowl of stew costs about two copper coins.”
“Two copper coins for stew? That’s not expensive?”