Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 38: Ch : Getting Bullied by a Bird- Part 2

Kyle pushed open the door to the inn and stepped inside, his party following closely behind. The moment they entered, all eyes were on them.

Or rather—on the hawk perched proudly on Kyle's shoulder.

The innkeeper, a short, balding man with a gut that strained against his apron, visibly stiffened the moment he saw Queen. His expression twisted, his lip curling in disgust and suspicion.

His eyes darted between Kyle and the bird, and his frown deepened, as if he were preparing to throw them out on the spot.

Kyle narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing the shift in mood.

"Oh? He's already making a mistake before we've even spoken?"

He thought.

Before Kyle could call him out on it, Bruce suddenly stepped out from behind him.

"Innkeeper! I'm back."

The innkeeper blinked, his sour expression immediately shifting into something more pleasant.

Bruce, having been the one to book the rooms earlier, was a familiar face.

More importantly—he was a paying familiar face.

Kyle watched as the innkeeper's greed instantly won over his suspicions.

The old man cleared his throat and forced out a polite smile.

"Ah! Welcome back. You're a little late—thought you weren't coming."

"Got delayed."

Bruce replied casually.

The innkeeper's eyes flickered toward Kyle once again, his gaze lingering a little too long on Queen.

Then he scowled.

"You said three adults. Not three adults and a damn bird."

Kyle's fingers twitched.

Queen, who had been sitting quietly until now, suddenly puffed up, his golden eyes narrowing in pure offense.

The air tensed.

Kyle felt Queen's claws press against his shoulder, and he immediately recognized the signs.

"Oh no."

He wasn't the only one.

Bruce, to his credit, acted quickly.

Before Queen could lunge at the innkeeper's face and rip his mustache clean off, Bruce slapped a hand over the counter and spoke.

"We'll pay extra. No need to get all worked up over a little bird, right?"

He shot a pointed look at Queen.

Queen huffed, clearly unimpressed, but stayed put.

The innkeeper grunted, still eyeing Queen as if he were some diseased pest.

"Hmph. Fine. But that thing better not make a mess in my rooms, or I'll be charging double."

Kyle raised an eyebrow, but didn't bother arguing. Instead, he simply turned to Bruce.

"I'm heading to my room."

His tone made it very clear he was done wasting his time.

Bruce nodded.

"I'll have a... 'talk' with our dear innkeeper."

Kyle gave him an amused glance but didn't object.

He turned on his heel and walked up the stairs, Melissa trailing behind him.

Since Bruce insisted for Young Master Kyle and Melissa to leave and the pair left him behind.

The moment they were out of sight, Kyle spoke without looking back.

"Melissa."

"Yes, Master?"

"Keep an eye on the innkeeper."

Melissa blinked, tilting her head.

"Why?"

Kyle glanced at her, his tone flat.

"Because he's going to do something stupid."

Melissa frowned.

"How do you know?"

Kyle gave her a pointed look.

"His mana told me."

Melissa paused, her lips parting slightly in realization.

Unlike Bruce, who still struggled with basic mana awareness, Melissa had a natural affinity for it.

She understood what Kyle meant immediately.

"His mana? Can we read something like this with Mana as well?"

She asked, a little awestruck.

Kyle nodded.

"Mana can tell you almost anything you want to know. That man is up to something. It's only a matter of time before he acts on it."

He glanced back toward the staircase.

Melissa straightened, her expression sharpening.

"Understood, Master. I won't let you down."

Kyle nodded in approval and watched as she turned back, slipping away silently to do as she was told.

Once she was gone, Kyle reached up and gently ruffled Queen's feathers.

The hawk tilted his head, looking at Kyle with a curious chirp.

Kyle let out a soft chuckle.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"You know, Queen, I have a feeling you're going to make my life very annoying."

He mused.

Queen puffed out his chest, looking entirely unbothered.

Kyle smirked.

"Don't worry. Since I treat my people well, I'll make sure your grave is comfortable when that innkeeper tries something stupid."

He gave the hawk a mockingly reassuring pat.

Queen chirped cheerfully, completely ignoring the implied threat to his life.

Kyle shook his head and pushed open the door to his room.

This was going to be an annoying night.

______

Bruce finally emerged from his conversation with the innkeeper, rolling his shoulders as he let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"At least that's settled. I Hope young master won't be angry at me for this delay."

he muttered, rubbing his temples.

The innkeeper had been more stubborn than expected, but in the end, the universal language of coin won out.

A few extra silver pieces, and suddenly, a hawk-sized problem became a minor inconvenience.

"Could've been worse."

Bruce reasoned.

Satisfied, he turned on his heel and walked away, completely unaware of his mistake.

Had he lingered for just a moment longer—had he paid attention to the way the innkeeper's eyes darted around too quickly, or the way his fingers twitched as if eager to get rid of him—he might have noticed something was off.

But he didn't.

And the moment Bruce's footsteps faded into the distance, the innkeeper's fake smile melted away into a sneer.

He took the coins Bruce had given him, pocketing them greedily, before moving toward a small, locked safe hidden beneath the counter.

With quick, practiced movements, he tucked the money inside before reaching for a piece of parchment and an ink pen.

His hands moved swiftly as he scrawled out a message:

[I've found your last item. If you want it back, be prepared to pay a hefty sum.]

The innkeeper's lips curled as he read over his own words.

"Let's see how much they're willing to cough up for this,"

He thought, his eyes glinting with greedy anticipation.

He reached for a wax seal, pressing it onto the letter before preparing to send it out.

What he didn't realize, however, was that he was being watched.

A shadow shifted just beyond the flickering candlelight.

Hidden in the rafters above, Melissa crouched silently, her golden eyes narrowing as she watched the innkeeper's every move.

Her master had been right—the man was up to something.

And now, she had proof.

A smirk tugged at her lips.

"Master will want to hear about this."

Without a sound, she slipped into the darkness—off to report back to Kyle.