28 Kestrel

The woman commanding the room with her two bionic limbs and flowing dreadlocks was none other than Kestrel, the formidable owner of the bustling Inn. As all eyes focused on her, she gracefully leaped off the bar counter where she had been perched.

Moving deliberately between the two groups, Kestrel's gaze first settled on the pixies. "Will you please return to your seats?" she inquired, her tone polite yet firm, accompanied by a warm smile.

Creambell abandoned his aggressive posture, easing into a more relaxed stance. Observing his change in demeanor, Butterbell mirrored the shift, and together they gracefully returned to their seats. Finn, visibly relieved, sighed and settled back into his own place.

Turning her attention to the other group, Kestrel calmly requested their cooperation in the same manner she had with the pixies. However, the man with sword responded with seething rage, "We aren't going anywhere until we kill those pests."

"You're permitted to settle your disputes elsewhere, but not here," Kestrel declared firmly. "Either return to your seats and enjoy your meal, or vacate my Inn immediately." The air hung heavy with tension as the standoff unfolded.

Meanwhile, the onlookers observed the unfolding confrontation, exchanging murmurs among themselves. The regular patrons of the Inn, familiar with its usual tranquility, shared a collective thought, "Guess it's their first time here."

Kestrel, sensing the newcomers' unfamiliarity, voiced a similar sentiment, "Seems like it's your first time in my Inn," her words holding a hint of understanding.

The man with the sword responded with brash rudeness, "So what? We're not going anywhere without dealing with those pests. And if you try to stop us, then I'll have no choice but to hit a woman."

Undeterred by the threat, Kestrel calmly stepped forward. Before anyone could react, her fist connected with the man's face. Swiftly, she seized his head, forcefully bending it down towards her knees. Simultaneously, she brought her knee closer to his face, delivering a series of rapid, precise blows. The man's visage soon became a canvas of blood as Kestrel's relentless strikes continued.

With a final, impactful blow, she released her grip, allowing the now-unconscious man to crumple to the ground. A palpable silence settled over the room as the onlookers processed the swift and decisive action. Kestrel turned her unwavering gaze to the remaining members of the group, who, met with her stern eyes, hastened back to their seats, supporting their fallen comrade.

As they retreated, Kestrel, still maintaining her calm demeanor, spoke with a smile, "Thank you," acknowledging the return of order to her establishment. The room, once filled with tension, began to breathe a sigh of relief as normalcy returned to the Inn.

Undeterred by the earlier display of force, Kestrel turned her attention to Finn's group. Despite the brutal encounter they had just witnessed, there was a distinct lack of intimidation among them.

Taking the seat at the head of the table, previously occupied by the man with the sword, Kestrel greeted them with a warm "Hello." The response varied—everyone, except Orochi, reciprocated the greeting. Even Finn, using his wooden hand, attempted a friendly wave.

"So you own this place?" inquired Butterbell.

"Yes," replied Kestrel. "I inherited this place after the previous owner died. By the way, my name is Kestrel."

"I'm Creambell," introduced Creambell, prompting the others to follow suit. He then clarified, "Let's be clear on one thing. We didn't start the fight."

"That's fine. It happens almost every day here," Kestrel informed them with a nonchalant smile.

Moonlight, attempting to smooth any potential tensions, proposed, "We will try to remunerate as far as we can for any damage to your establishment."

Kestrel graciously declined, saying, "That's very kind of you, but that's fine." However, her smile faded as she noticed the antennae slightly visible out of Moonlight's hood. She remarked, "It's very rare to see a pixie in this area, let alone a pixie queen."

Startled, Moonlight hastily adjusted her hoodie to conceal her distinctive features, while Butterbell and Creambell assumed defensive postures at the mention of the pixie queen.

Kestrel, sensing their discomfort, reassured them, "Relax. I'm not a threat. Many years ago, I heard the news that, for the first time in history, a Pixie Queen was born in Central Island. Your features match the description. Moreover, you're traveling with two pixies who can fight—probably your bodyguards."

Attempting to be convincing and friendly, Kestrel's approach worked, and the pixies visibly relaxed.

"I must warn you. We are the strongest pixies in all of Central Island. We can take care of anything that poses a threat to our queen," asserted Butterbell.

Kestrel, observing their confidence, offered a candid assessment, "The way you struggled with that guy back there, I don't think you are strong enough to protect your queen." The air hung with a challenge, awaiting a response from the pixies.

Meanwhile, as the conversation unfolded, Finn discreetly activated his appraisal skill on Kestrel. A transparent screen, visible only to him, materialized with a cascade of information:

"Shapit

Threat Level – E

Description – Shapit are a special race that emerged from humans, some millennia ago, who can travel into cursed regions without getting affected. It's believed that the first shapit was created artificially by a very powerful mage. But later on, the shapits grew in number because they could reproduce even after being artificially created. And every village or town that they created for themselves was named Shap. However, other major races thought of them as an abomination, that should not exist. Eventually, some groups of people started believing that if any race physically made contact with them, would be cursed and die. And because of this belief, some monarchs had organized ethnic cleansing, to wipe out their race.

Furthermore, they do have an inactive curse which only gets active after meeting some conditions. Once the curse becomes active, it gives them unimaginable power and abilities in exchange for their life force. However, there are hardly any cases recorded where a Shapit's curse has been activated.

Height – 5 feet 7 inches"

Having discovered the intriguing truths about Kestrel, Finn harbored a desire to engage in conversation with her. However, the limitations of his doll body rendered him speechless and expressionless. Disappointed, he found himself compelled to remain a silent observer of the ongoing dialogue between Kestrel and the pixies.

Butterbell, attempting to assert the prowess of their group, confidently declared, "Believe me, we have faced far worse and survived it."

"Far worse? Like killing a Threat Level D monster," Kestrel responded, her tone tinged with skepticism.

Caught off guard, Butterbell hesitated, acknowledging the kernel of truth in her statement. "Well, you're sort of right," he admitted.

Kestrel, unmoved, shared her perspective. "Believe me, there are far more terrifying things in Central Island. Killing one or two Level D monsters in a group isn't much of an accomplishment. And your group doesn't seem very formidable."

Her perceptive gaze swept around the table, first settling on Orochi, who met her with a stoic expression. "I don't sense any impressive aura from her," Kestrel commented. As her scrutiny shifted to Finn, her eyes widened, prompting her to stand abruptly. However, before Kestrel could draw any conclusions, Orochi swiftly cast a spell, temporarily concealing Finn's aura. In a hushed hiss, audible only to Finn, she warned, "Suppress your aura now or we will be in trouble."

Startled, Finn sought guidance from Manual. "How can I suppress my aura?" he urgently inquired.

"You can think about any of the monsters you devoured, and say 'Aura.' Your aura will be brought down to the level of that monster. Your stats will remain the same, even after the aura is suppressed. This ability is used only to hide one's true threat level," Manual explained.

Thinking swiftly, Finn recalled the Puppeteer Rat and uttered, "Aura." In an instant, his aura diminished to a level H Monster, successfully concealing his true potential.

In an unexpected turn of events, the pixies observed Kestrel's sudden reaction to Finn, who remained a silent presence in the room. Perplexed, Creambell inquired, "What happened?"

Kestrel, regaining her composure, struggled to articulate the fleeting sensation she experienced. "Nothing. I thought I felt something sinister from that golem, but it seems like it was just an error," she explained with a confused expression.

The pixies knew the truth, and they smiled it off.

Orochi, steering the conversation back on track, interjected, "Can we get back to the real conversation?"

Kestrel refocused, nodding in agreement. "Yes, of course."

"I am leaving for Ixar tomorrow. I don't have a map, but I know the route. I have a golem cart of my own. So, if you guys want to hop on, you are welcome," Kestrel offered, presenting an unexpectedly convenient solution.

Creambell, cautious of such generosity, straightforwardly questioned, "And what do you want in return?"

Kestrel, displaying a confident smirk, revealed her terms. "There's an artifact in the ruins of Shap, which can only be opened by a pixie. I want your help to open that artifact."

Moonlight, seeking clarification, raised a concern. "Isn't Shap the place where some bandits have settled? And their leader has a threat level C?"

Kestrel reassured them, "Yes, the leader's name is Crow. He's a friend of mine. So, don't worry about that."

Creambell, still skeptical, probed further, "And what about the map of Central Island?"

Kestrel suggested an alternative approach, "The map of the entire Central Island is an expensive thing to acquire. I suggest you buy a map to Sepalton, since you are heading there."

"And where can we buy that?" Creambell inquired.

"Ixar," replied Kestrel.