After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 179

Chapter 179: At the Tavern

I was sitting in Stuttgart’s top tavern, slowly sipping lukewarm ale with some sausage. Every evening, Matheus and Niklaus show up here, eating, drinking, and scouting for women. That’s their routine. Naturally, I was disguised in an adventurer’s robe, hood pulled low to avoid being recognized.

As adventurers finished their daily hunts and explorations, the tavern began to fill up. Yet, no one approached the overly decorated table in the center. Everyone knew that the two brothers occupied it every night, and sitting there first would certainly cause trouble.

After about an hour, the door swung open with a loud bang, and my idiot brothers entered. The door could’ve opened just fine without such force… but they always have to make a show of themselves. Three suspicious-looking men followed them—ah, Max must have paid for these hangers-on.

“The usual! And bring us the best dish you’ve got today!”

Matheus barked his order arrogantly, and almost immediately, red wine, a heaping plate of sausage, and a steak of orc meat were served. Sausage pairs better with ale, in my opinion… but wine is pricier by a whole digit. It’s more about saying, “I’ve got money” than the actual taste. Even though several customers had placed their orders earlier, no one complained about being skipped. The brothers’ reputation for reckless behavior had clearly made them untouchable in this tavern.

While sipping their wine, the brothers scanned the surrounding tables, clearly hunting for women to take home tonight. In this world, it’s generally the women who choose the men, but if a man has money or power, the roles can reverse. My brothers, armed with their noble status, an overly generous allowance from Max, and the title of “lord’s brothers,” have quite the track record here.

Come to think of it, their entire appeal comes from things that have nothing to do with their own abilities or efforts. Isn’t that embarrassing? Well, they probably think it’s normal, being spoiled brats from birth.

They seem to have set their sights on a pair of young women sitting two tables away, chatting in high-pitched, cheerful voices. With smooth talk, they coax the women over to their table. The girls don’t seem entirely opposed—after all, in a tavern like this, anyone drinking expensive wine must have money, and there’s the allure of benefiting from their company.

The girls were quite lively, laughing off the brothers’ lewd jokes. The brothers kept inviting them back to their house, but the girls hesitated to agree. Understandably, in this world, following a man home essentially implies certain intentions.

From a distance, I could see my brothers growing frustrated as their attempts to woo the women faltered. Just as the tension seemed to peak, the girls excused themselves to go to the restroom.

As they turned the corner in the crowded tavern, one of the girls glanced back and smiled at me. That woman was Nicole, the appraiser lady.

—

“I’m certain they just slipped something into the drinks.”

The woman sitting across from me, a black-haired adventurer, quietly muttered so only I could hear. She turned to face me—it was Hotaru, a member of the Dark Clan who had fought alongside me before. She’d already borne me a child, though, like Liese, she was still youthful.

Ah, but now isn’t the time to think about that. While Nicole and her friend were away, my brothers had definitely tampered with the drinks, likely spiking them with some kind of drug.

“Don’t worry,” Hotaru reassured me in a calm voice, sensing my unease about what might happen to Nicole and her friend. “Since they’re planning to bring them back to their mansion, it’s unlikely they used anything poisonous. It’s probably a combination of something to make them drowsy and an aphrodisiac.”

Her words helped ease my tension. Yes, I should trust the Dark Clan’s careful preparations and stay calm.

When Nicole and her friend returned, they continued to skillfully dodge my brothers’ advances. Still, they occasionally sipped their wine, and by the time their glasses were empty, their behavior started to change. The chatter that had flowed so freely before began to slow, and their eyes drooped with fatigue.

Eventually, both women slumped onto the table. Pretending to escort them home, my brothers and their lackeys stood, offering support. Now was the time to expose their misdeeds.

“Let’s follow them.”

At my low murmur, Hotaru nodded firmly.