I Became the Savior of the Academy’s Villains Chapter 93

'Oh my... It's so desolate...'

Bella marveled as she looked at the streets of Bizen.

The place was, quite literally, desolate.

The mining city of Bizen.

Although called a mining city, it was not that big.

It was an iron ore mine—not a magic stone mine or a gold mine—and because its scale wasn't especially large and the quality was mediocre, it was underdeveloped.

So, calling it a mining city was really a stretch; it was more accurate to view it simply as the private mine of the territory's ruling family, Viscount Hephville.

Because the land around here was poor and not very fertile, the majority of the territory's people made their livelihoods by selling whatever came out of this mine.

'It's definitely a backward place.'

Bella had listened to Ottbo's suggested route yesterday and immediately gathered information, but this area was so remote there was little to find.

About all she learned was that it was underdeveloped and not very safe.

While searching for an inn, she also looked for a place to buy camping gear and an auto-carriage, but there was nothing.

It seemed better to look in another nearby city.

'There's nothing to be done. For now, it's best to find an inn, rest for the day, and then think it over. Not that I expect there to be any decent inns in a place like this.'

Bella tried to find the best inn possible.

Not a bar, but just somewhere to sleep.

But there was no such place.

'Haaa... Inns that double as taverns are bound to cause problems.'

Since it wasn't a tourist spot, just running a lodging business wouldn't bring in money.

Bella understood that having a tavern on the side was unavoidable, but she wasn't thrilled about it.

Praying at least the room would be decent, she went into the biggest inn-tavern in town.

"So I'm telling you brats! Use our gear and put it back where it belongs!"

"We're the only ones? You used our stuff and just tossed it somewhere!"

"When did we ever—?"

The moment she stepped inside, she saw people fighting.

Bella sighed inwardly and made her way through them.

"Hey, wait. Check her out..."

"What's this punk... huh?"

Her presence caused a slight hush inside the tavern.

Bella suppressed her urge to gag as she endured their sticky gazes and went to the counter.

"Excuse me. Could I possibly get a room?"

"A room?"

A middle-aged man, notable for his hefty build and unkempt beard, glanced over Bella from head to toe.

"... For how many?"

"Five people. If possible, I'd like to rent two rooms."

"We only have one room right now. But if you squeeze in, five can fit."

At that, Bella stroked her cheek in thought.

"That's a problem... Seems like I have no choice but to look for another inn."

"They're all the same! Here or there! At least our place has bigger rooms!"

The bartender tried to persuade her, spitting slightly as he spoke.

But Bella shook her head with a hint of regret.

"My master is a noble, so he does not prefer for everyone to sleep in the same room. We need separate rooms, one way or another—can't you do something?"

"...."

The bartender rolled his bulging eyes.

Then, avoiding her gaze, he muttered,

"Well... If I can talk the other guests into it, maybe something can be arranged."

"Oh my~ Really? That'd be wonderful!"

"But... well..."

He drew a circle with his finger.

And then cleared his throat.

"Ahem! It's going to cost a bit more, though..."

"How much?"

"Mm... 50... gold."

He watched Bella's reaction as he named the price.

She feigned shock.

"50 gold for a room! Goodness! That's just... far too expensive..."

"Wait, no! 50 gold for two rooms!"

As Bella acted surprised, the bartender frantically shook his head.

'Damn. Was that too much?'

Usually, the best room in this town cost 10 gold a night.

Those rooms were mostly used by merchants from out of town.

Sometimes they would offer them to small trading companies looking for a bargain.

'How would I know the city rates if I've never been? Tsk.'

Given that her employer was a noble and she herself was quite attractive, the bartender figured she carried plenty of money.

So he'd tried charging way more than usual, but her reaction was less than satisfying.

"Hmmm... 50 gold for two rooms isn't exactly cheap... Do the rooms at least have private baths?"

"What? Of course not! There's a common bath, but no private ones..."

"Wow... And yet 50 gold for two rooms?"

Seeing Bella appear to ponder, the bartender groaned.

"O-okay. How about 40 gold, then!"

"Hm~ 40 gold?"

Bella hummed as she met his eyes.

The bartender glanced at her and their eyes met.

Flinch!

She was smiling with her lips, but her eyes were razor-sharp.

As if she knew everything.

"... O-okay, 30 gold then."

"Hm~ 30 gold?"

"I-I'll even let you use the bath privately for about two hours! That should be enough, right?"

With the bartender squeezing out every concession he could, Bella finally smiled sweetly.

"All right. That'll do."

"Phew..."

"I'll pay half in advance. Please get the rooms ready. I'll pay the remainder after my master arrives."

Bella handed over 15 gold coins.

The tavernkeeper took them, gruffly saying,

"No refunds if you don't like the room."

"Oh my... If you tried to scam a noble, it wouldn't end well for you, you know?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant! Just... Don't cancel last minute. I've already cleaned up everything!"

He was simply rough-mannered, nothing more.

Bella chuckled softly as she turned to leave.

"Hey, you're pretty cute."

"?"

Just then, someone grabbed her shoulder.

Bella's eyes went icy cold in an instant.

"Whew! James! Getting bold, aren't you!"

"Hey, hurry up and take your turn! I'm next!"

From around them, other men egged James on.

With a leering grin, James leaned in close to Bella.

"How about it? Wanna... spend tonight with me?"

Whoosh!

James suddenly felt his body lifted into the air.

Thud!

The next moment, he was slammed to the floor, staring at the ceiling.

James stared blankly.

"...?"

The tavern went quiet.

Everyone wore the same dumbfounded expression as James.

"... Tsk."

Bella shrugged her shoulders, clicking her tongue in a way reminiscent of Luca.

"J-James! Are you all right?"

"What did that woman just do?"

James's friends hurried over to check on him.

James still looked dazed but then sprang to his feet.

"James?"

"... It was love at first sight!"

"?"

Everyone was bewildered by this sudden nonsense.

Meanwhile, James rushed up to Bella.

"Hey! You! What's your name?"

Grab.

With that, James seized Bella's shoulder again.

Her eyes glinted harshly.

Whoosh! Thud!

"Agh!"

"Jameees!"

This time, James was slammed to the floor even harder, groaning in pain.

Bella once more brushed her shoulders, clicked her tongue, and headed toward the tavern entrance.

"W-wait! How about me?"

"Get lost! Me first!"

In the mining city of Bizen, women were scarce to begin with.

Most men met women on their days off only by going to other towns or even as far as Bixoro.

But now, a stunning woman like Bella had appeared here.

On top of that, the men were drunk—emboldened and lacking in self-restraint.

So it made perfect sense that they were making moves on Bella.

"Tsk."

Bella glanced at the men approaching with fierce eyes.

"I'm not interested in any of you, so don't come near me. Come closer and I'll do to you what I did to him."

"Ha! I'm no scrawny James! What do you think of these muscles? I bet I could satisfy you!"

A burly man tried to approach with a smarmy look.

But as soon as he got close enough, he, too, experienced the world turning upside down.

Thud!

"Oof!"

"Go away."

With Bella's icy words, every man nearby felt their hearts pound fiercely.

'I'll make that woman my wife, no matter what!'

They all had the same thought as they rushed toward Bella.

"Miss! I'd happily swing a pickaxe all day for you! Spend your life with m—ugh!"

Thud!

"Hey! If you think you're strong, how about this—if I knock you down, you'll marry—agh!"

Thud!

"Screw it. Win or lose, let's gang up on her!"

In the end, the goal of the drunken fools became to subdue Bella.

But none of them could lay a finger on her.

And just then, Luca's group, arriving late, saw the scene and were left speechless.

"W-what is all this?"

"... Oh my, young master. You didn't wait for us."

Having floored the last of her challengers, Bella smiled brightly upon seeing Luca.

Luca smirked in response.

"You seem wildly popular."

"Hehe, not compared to you, young master."

Bella showed him a smile she never gave anyone else as she took his travel bag and motioned him inside.

"I've secured the rooms. One for you and your friend to share, and another for the other two."

"I knew you'd handle it well."

"Oh, you flatter me."

Bella walked to the counter and received the keys.

"O-one room will be ready soon, so please wait... a moment."

The tavernkeeper stared at her as if she were a ghost, but Bella hardly cared.

"As there's only one room available at the moment, shall we talk there?"

"Let's."

Everyone gathered in one room, and Bella explained what she had seen.

"It looks like getting an auto-carriage here'll be difficult."

"Hm... I'd rather not walk. Where can we get an auto-carriage?"

"Returning to Bixoro seems best... as for anywhere else..."

Ottbo frowned at the map, deep in thought.

Hab scratched his cheek.

"What? Didn't you know? There's only one place to get an auto-carriage around here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when you said you were looking for an auto-carriage in Bizen, I just assumed you already knew about it."

At this, Luca narrowed his eyes.

"Speak clearly."

"Uh, well... There's an unofficial auto-carriage workshop around here..."

"Unofficial auto-carriage workshop?"

Luca looked puzzled.

Moula added helpfully,

"So... It's a non-official auto-carriage workshop. They do modifications and dismantle used ones."

"Is that so? Why?"

"I don't really know. It just... exists. Our master sometimes sells them stuff."

At those words, Luca's expression grew curious.

—In the southern provinces of the Hernan Empire, there is a territory where illegal races are held using modified auto-carriages.

He suddenly recalled the phrase he'd seen in the additional hints.

"An unofficial auto-carriage workshop?"

Right then, the boy who knew more about auto-carriages than anyone else in the room looked up, eyes shining with excitement.

Seeing Ottbo, who clearly wanted to go immediately, Luca chuckled.

"Good. Then we'll check it out tomorrow."

"Yeah!"

At that moment, Luca failed to realize.

What did it mean that 'Bern Doyner', the master of Hab and Moula, sold things to that place?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Black market?

Underground market?

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】