Closing the quest window, the granny continued questioning Old Hans “So, do you know who had done it?”

The old man shaked his head “He came prepared. He was using some illusion magic to cover his features” he leaned back on his chair, putting his feet on top of the counter. When Tacha thought that he had nothing more to add, he opened his eyes wide, suddenly remembering a detail “Only one thing… I could smell the faint scent of sandalwood on him”

Since the game had proudly advertized its cutting-edge technology since the beginning, with the player being able to use all of their five senses, then it was most likely that this was a clue to help identify the intruder.

Tacha nodded faintly at the innkeeper’s words. After musing things for a bit, the granny decided to test the old man’s reaction “Actually, when I went to the ruins someone followed me and trapped me inside a hidden chamber” Tacha watched as the innkeeper shifted in his seat a bit, narrowing his eyes.

“Ho ho! So there’s something hidden in there…” his eyes sparkled with greed and he licked his lips. He didn’t seem to care about his fellow elderly at all.

Granny Tacha narrowed her eyes “You don’t seem that surprised”

Old Hans face straightened “Oh, no. I’m very much surprised” then, an unsightly smile appeared on his face “If I knew that there was a hidden chamber there I would’ve helped bring its artifacts to light for everyone to see”

Tacha’s lips twitched. This old scrooge’s guts were bigger than ever. With what audacity did he dare to spurt such nonsense when it was written all over his face that he cared only about their monetary value!

The innkeeper glanced at the granny. That frustrated look on her face brought him immense joy. Then, noticing how she was quickly getting close to losing her patience, he coughed and wiped the smile off his face “Cough. It’s obvious that you look fine and dandy. You wouldn’t come looking for me if you weren’t” Also, it’s not like you old witch would die so easily. You always find a way to come back and make trouble... He added silently in his mind.

With that, Tacha’s face relaxed a bit. Besides, she thought, it would be normal for him to react that way since our relationship is in the negatives “I passed by Molly’s place earlier” she saw him tense up as he forced out a meek smile at the mention of the apothecary “She said that the only ones that could know about the ruins are the village chief, the librarian and a certain Ella Midwright”

The innkeeper was unusually focused on her words “Makes sense. The chief would probably know the most about the happenings inside the village, and the librarian is both responsible for keeping records for all things happening in here and for keeping contact with the rappresentative of Midwarth, the main city in charge of the region” “As for Midwright… that’s the lady of the bakery”

At his mention of Ella, the granny could feel a touch of softness in his voice. For a moment there she couldn’t believe her ears. Her change in expression was enough to be noticed by the innkeeper. He looked at her quizzically.

Granny Tacha had a faint impression of the woman working at the bakery. She was a woman on her late 30s, with a friendly disposition and a delicious smell of fresh baked bread. With a smirk, she teased the old scrooge “I didn’t know you’d fancy such a young woman”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Old Hans scoffed at her implications “Of course I’d be nice to her. I’m always eating at her place”

Tacha Macha opened her mouth wide “Are you…” she couldn’t believe that they were actually in a relationship.

His eyes opened wide as he got up from his seat in a flash “No!” then he fidgeted in place “She’s just a very good cook”

He was feeling shy! Tacha felt as if her world had crumbled. She could never believe that such a grumpy man could love anything else more than his money. That weapon of his was an exception, of course.

The old scrooge coughed twice noticing the look of shock on the witch’s face “Don’t start making wild assumptions. There’s nothing between the two of us”

There was no way she could refrain from making such assumptions. Not with him acting so out of character.

Never like before she wished for a skill that could take a peek in the NPC’s status. She strongly suspected that he might have been charmed by some powerful spell. What if it was worse? What if he had been posessed by a lovestruck ghost?

Noticing the increasing change of expression from shocked to horrified, he frowned “I can tell just from the look on your face that you’re thinking of something very rude”

The granny straightened her expression, and with the most seriousness in her face she could muster she gave the most appropriate response she could give him “Not at all. that’s just your imagination”

At those words, the old man did his best to reign in his twitching expression. As if, you old witch! Without saying a word, he simply sat back down at his place behind the counter.

Tacha simply stared at him as her imagination runned wild. It took her a while before she could snap out of it. She cleared her throat as she asked a more quest-related answer “Well, do you know anything more about her? Molly mentioned her family being one of the oldest ones, along with that of the village chief”

However the petty scrooge refused to answer. No, to be more precise he was behaving as if she wasn’t there at all!

Her lips twitched as she lamented to herself. Are you such a petty man? To think you would just act as if I was invisible!

Even under her scorching stare, Old Hans kept rocking on his chair, treating her like air.

With no other option, the granny left the inn. Still holding suspicions about the bakery, she decided to start from one of the other two men instead.

It was too early for her to give herself the knockout blow by paying a visit to the lover of that grouchy old man. If everything was actually true, she might faint from shock!

With her mind fully focused on silly thoughts, she only noticed she had arrived to her destination when she was already there.

On the village’s main street, located 4 houses down from the Smiling Pilgrim inn, was a three story building. It stood out like a sore thumb among all of the other houses. That was both the village chief’s house and the library of the village, where all of the records were kept.

Wether it was an official birth certificate, a report on local monster behavioral patterns, or a simple cookbook on the most delicious radish recipe; everything related to the village could be found here.

The entrance of the library was on the ground floor, whereas the other two floors were property of the village chief.

Tacha walked inside, and immediately her nose was overwhelmed by countless scents.

Some were of a flowery fragrance, with a touch of pine and resin. Some more had a more rich and sweet aroma, reminding Tacha of cotton candy. There were even some woody and acidic scents. And there were others that were so pungent that Tacha couldn’t help but pinch her nose.

Is this a hobby of the librarian? Granny Tacha frowned. If not what, does he need to cover up the stench of dead bodies or something?

Ding!

The Mark of Styx feels warm.