Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

Chapter 123: The Victory Celebration Banquet

Inside the spacious castle hall, a banquet was underway. After the heroic feat of wiping out the gnoll tribe, Lord Martin Smith hosted a victory celebration in his castle and had personally invited EeDeChi and Barrett to join in.

Although a parchment offering 10,000 gold coins for tracking down EeDeChi was posted on the castle's outer wall, after nearly two months of trekking through forests and wastelands without a proper meal or a cozy, warm place to sleep, EeDeChi and Barrett swaggered into the castle without a hint of fear.

Both of them were reckless adventurers at heart—after all, if you're not willing to take risks, can you really call yourself an adventurer?

Inside the hall, a dozen long tables were arranged in two rows, all filled with people.

Perhaps because the lord title wasn't very high, he was rather approachable.

He announced that anyone who had contributed to the "campaign" was eligible to attend the feast—even the grooms who fed the horses with buckwheat made the cut. Everyone gathered together in high spirits.

The banquet was bursting with joy; the warm, lively atmosphere pushed away the chill of winter. In the stone-brick arched fireplace, pine wood burned fiercely, and the rich scent of pine resin carried warmth throughout the hall.

In the open space between the two rows of tables, people danced a spirited tap dance with hands linked. A few hearty old soldiers, beer in one hand and a foot stomping on a table with the other, belted out folksy tunes in gruff voices praise of spring.

Lord Martin delivered a hearty toast, deliberately trying to make EeDeChi and Barrett the stars of the feast, but the two adventurers politely declined. They settled at a long table in the corner of the hall, busy devouring the delicious spread.

At the table, EeDeChi arranged several opaque wine bottles to shield herself from the curious glances of onlookers admiring the warrior famed for defeating the stone giant, then began ravenously clearing her plate.

Although Martin Smith was only a viscount—just one rank above the lowest baron with a modest domain—the fare he provided certainly did not disappoint the two adventurers.

Whole roasted chicken stuffed with tender mushrooms and sweet bell peppers, braised red lamb that's both fall-apart tender and satisfyingly chewy, honey-glazed roasted suckling pig, oysters brushed with lemon juice, and butter-seared pork... Every autumn and winter delicacy was on offer.

There was also the local specialty: cured ham, sliced paper-thin and chewed slowly to savor its fresh, sweet, and rich flavor—fatty without being greasy. Paired with a couple of refreshing gulps of malt beer, this feast was thoroughly enjoyed.

EeDeChi picked up a few kumquats and stuffed them into her mouth, biting through the skin with bright teeth so that the tangy, sweet juice splattered all over. Barrett raised a glass of red wine to his lips, savoring the aged brew as it flowed between his teeth.

Both of them stretched luxuriously at the same time. A man and a woman, each holding a wine glass, cautiously sat down beside them.

"You guys are adventurers too, right?" asked the silver-haired girl. Tucked among her delicate locks were pointed ears—a clear sign that she was at least half-elf.

Another young man in a red robe cozied up next to her, moving even closer. His eyes were a fiery red, and each breath he exhaled seemed to emit a rush of heat. Barrett shot him a quick glance, suspecting that the man might have dragon blood in his veins.

These young man and woman were the adventurers hired by Lord Martin. Their surprise raid on the gnoll stronghold yielded an indeterminate amount of spoils, but the real mess began when they inadvertently awakened a stone golem.