Overlord: Welcome the Birth of the King-Chapter 70 - 71 - Brothel: Purple Elixir Parlor Sale

Ding-ding—

A small bell jingled as the wooden door creaked open.

"Lady Marishi, it's been a while," a cheerful voice called out, drawing the attention of the middle-aged, plump woman seated behind the counter.

"Do you still have any rooms available?" Lyle asked as he stepped into the familiar little inn.

"Plenty," Lady Marishi replied, her eyes narrowing for a moment before recognition struck.

"It's you?" She blinked, momentarily stunned. But the next instant, her gaze landed on the small, black-furred Barghest trailing behind Lyle. She instinctively staggered a step back.

"Don't worry, it won't cause any trouble," Lyle assured her calmly.

"I certainly hope so... but I'll have to charge an extra silver coin for it."

"Fair enough."

Being situated just a street away from the Adventurer's Guild, Lady Marishi had undoubtedly seen her fair share of peculiar travelers. From seasoned adventurers to dubious merchants, eccentric figures were commonplace here.

"Five silver coins. The same double room as before," Lyle said, pulling four silver coins from his pocket and setting them on the counter. Then, with a slight change in tone, he asked, "By the way, did anyone come looking for me while I was away?"

Lady Marishi deftly swept the coins into her plump hand, rubbing them between her fingers as she answered without looking up.

"As a matter of fact, I recall a woman dropping by once," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. A sly glint appeared in her eyes. "If I remember correctly, she was from the Purple Elixir Parlor, dear boy."

Lyle's expression remained unchanged, maintaining a composed smile.

"I see. I have some errands to attend to, so I'll leave the room in your care for now, Lady Marishi."

"Of course. Rest assured, I'll have it cleaned up nicely by the time you return," she responded with a practiced grin.

As Lyle stepped out of the inn and into the bustling street, the pleasant smile on his face disappeared.

"Purple Elixir Parlor," he murmured, the name lingering on his tongue.

Despite the innocent-sounding name, it was one of the three largest brothels in E-Rantel. "Elixir" could very well refer to its ability to "cure a man's woes," making the name disturbingly fitting.

"Eight Fingers," Lyle scoffed, the corners of his lips curling in disdain.

The notorious criminal syndicate had its influence spread throughout the kingdom, with a hand in countless illicit dealings. But to the current Lyle, unless the syndicate sent its strongest enforcers—the infamous Six Arms—he had little to worry about.

Still, storming into the Purple Elixir Parlor without knowing their true intentions would be reckless. Lyle suspected the establishment operated under the protection of influential locals. It wouldn't even surprise him if Panasolei, the city's mayor, had a share in its profits.

In the kingdom, corrupt nobles often intertwined with criminal organizations like Eight Fingers. After all, even the Minister of Slavery was freed after being captured by the Golden Princess, thanks to noble interference. Who was to say the other two major brothels, Heavenly Moon Garden and Amber Honey, weren't also under Eight Fingers' control?

No, rushing in without careful planning would be foolish. Lyle preferred to stay in the shadows and wait. Let them come to him. That was why he'd returned to Lady Marishi's inn — to make himself easy to find.

But first, there was a more pressing concern.

Money.

Having just spent five silver coins, he was left with only six gold coins and two silver coins. That wouldn't be nearly enough to purchase even a basic mithril weapon, let alone one that could channel his magic.

Thankfully, his time in the Great Forest of Tob had been far from fruitless. The two bone chains from the Barghests alone were incredibly valuable. Not to mention the massive black-green serpent he had slain, though transporting that creature's carcass would be a challenge.

And then, there were the herbs. Those two baskets of medicinal plants, gifted to him by the goblin chieftains, were perhaps the most valuable prize of all.

Lyle made his way through the alleyways, soon emerging with a heavy black sack slung over his shoulder. He didn't know if E-Rantel had a black market, but official guilds like the Pharmacist's Guild and various trade associations could handle most transactions.

While they offered fair prices, the bureaucracy was tedious. Many adventurers preferred to sell through the Adventurer's Guild for convenience, even if it meant losing a portion of their profits.

The streets grew louder as Lyle approached the guild. Boisterous laughter and heated conversations echoed through the massive open doors.

Inside, adventurers of all kinds gathered around sturdy wooden tables, clad in armor of various designs. Bows, staves, and even exotic weapons rested at their sides. Some adventurers flaunted their scarred bodies like trophies, while others wore heavy cloaks, concealing their identities.

Lyle, draped in a simple black robe, hardly stood out.

But the small demon hound at his heels was a different story. Its glowing red eyes drew immediate attention. Whispers followed Lyle as he crossed the room.

"Is that... a Barghest?"

"Damn. That thing's no joke."

"Some kind of summoner, maybe?"

"Tch, lucky bastard. I'd kill for a beast like that."

Though taming monsters was not unheard of, it was exceedingly rare. Lyle ignored the stares, his expression stoic. However, as he waited in line, a particularly loud conversation from the corner caught his attention.

"Still no word from the guild? Seriously?"

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"Damn it! What the hell happened in the Tob Forest?"

"Not a single goblin left to hunt! How am I supposed to make a living now?"

"I was counting on those goblin ears for coin!"

Lyle's brow twitched. He had nearly forgotten — the goblin extermination had caused an unexpected ripple. In a town like E-Rantel, lower-ranked adventurers relied heavily on routine jobs like goblin hunts.

Clearing out a large swath of the forest had undoubtedly disrupted that balance.

Cough.

Suppressing his thoughts, Lyle stepped forward as the line progressed. Presenting a large black sack to the receptionist, he spoke curtly.

"I'd like to sell these bone chains."

The woman behind the counter, a young brunette in her twenties, wore a professional smile. She untied the sack and pulled it open.

Inside, the glossy black bone chains gleamed under the light, their surface unnaturally smooth. The moment her hand brushed against them, her eyes widened.

"These are..."

"From a Barghest," Lyle confirmed flatly.

A stunned pause followed before she regained her composure. Bowing slightly, she hurriedly excused herself.

"Please wait a moment."

She disappeared through a side door.

Meanwhile, the adventurers who had caught a glimpse of the chains erupted into murmurs.

"That... those are Barghest's bone chains!"

"No way. Those beasts are deadly!"

"Half a year ago, the last one we saw caused a massacre."

"Who the hell is that guy?"

Lyle ignored the noise. He was well aware of the reputation demon hounds had. But to him, they were simply another obstacle overcome.

Now, all that remained was to see how much these spoils were worth.