16

Chapter Sixteen - "Tialfi"

"Tialfi?"

"Thank you." Forseti pondered briefly, then turned to leave, making his way to the Brave Hunter Tavern after a short while.

Just like his previous visit, the Brave Hunter Tavern was bustling with activity, filled with lively conversations and hearty laughter, occasionally punctuated by toasts.

The rich aroma of meat permeated the air, with multiple barbecues in full swing.

After lingering for a while in the tavern, Forseti couldn't resist his watering mouth any longer. A passing waiter caught his attention, and he promptly stopped him. "Please bring me a couple of roasted lamb chops. No, make that two."

"Sure."

The Peterson family had a strong vegetarian inclination. Despite Forseti recently developing a heightened appetite, his meat cravings were far from satisfied. This lack of meat was quite frustrating for him. After all, meat not only nourished the body but was also simply delicious.

In both his current and past lives, he had always looked down on vegetarianism.

The moment he sank his teeth into meat was always invigorating.

After a short wait, the waiter returned with two freshly grilled lamb chops, still sizzling in places, their seasoned aroma wafting tantalizingly.

In Asgardian culture, lamb was considered somewhat "commonplace" and was seldom seen at formal occasions, yet it was beloved in everyday life.

At the Brave Hunter Tavern, people adored lamb—especially when it came from the Asgardian grey goats that roamed the nearby Landvety Forest.

The manner of eating lamb here was casual and hearty, often picked up and savored with bare hands.

Although Asgardian grey goats were comparably fierce creatures within their realm, they posed little threat in Asgard itself.

The grilling process didn't require extremely high temperatures, allowing even freshly prepared lamb chops to be easily handled and devoured by the Aesir, with juices and oil dripping freely from their lips.

Forseti did the same.

"Mmm..."

After finishing the first lamb chop, he couldn't help but sigh with satisfaction.

After polishing off both chops, Forseti signaled for the waiter.

After settling the bill, he inquired, "Does Tialfi come here every day?"

The bartender nodded. "Yes, he's a regular. Comes in more than once a day."

"Has he been here today?"

"Not yet."

Forseti nodded thoughtfully. "If he does arrive, please let me know. I have something to discuss with him."

The waiter smiled and nodded. "Of course, I'd be happy to help."

"Thank you."

Forseti quietly waited in the tavern, occasionally pacing around.

This tavern held significant social importance in Asgard. It was a place for drinking, feasting on meat, dueling, performing, and reveling.

Unless during times of great conflict, the Brave Hunter Tavern was always bustling with activity.

Periodically, someone would bring in fresh goats captured from the nearby Landvety Forest. They were swiftly slaughtered, roasted, and devoured.

This fact puzzled Forseti slightly. Given Asgard's relatively modest size, one might expect such a sizable goat population in Landvety Forest.

"Hey lads, let's take a stroll in the forest. Maybe we'll catch a four-horned goat!" a burly, bearded man suggested to his companion.

"Haha, if catching a four-horned goat were that easy, Tialfi would have given up long ago," his blond, youthful friend teased.

Forseti pondered for a moment, then approached and asked, "Excuse me... what's a four-horned goat?"

The blond youth turned to him, smiling wryly. "Young lad, as much as you appear youthful, that's not a question someone your age should be asking."

Forseti felt a twinge of embarrassment, realizing it was likely something he should already know, perhaps a gap in his memory.

The burly man explained, "The four-horned goat is a unique variant of the grey goat species in Asgard—a rare creature indeed. While regular grey goats mature within a day and night, it takes several years for a four-horned goat to develop."

"And as for Tialfi," the burly man chuckled, "despite practically living in Landvety Forest, he hasn't encountered a four-horned goat in over a century."

Forseti couldn't help but think that Tialfi was akin to a legendary figure among legends.

The blond youth added, "More than a hundred years ago, Tialfi came across a young four-horned goat, but he swore not to harm the youngster. He decided to wait until it grew up, but upon his return a few days later, other hunters had already captured it."

He paused for effect, then continued, "Since then, Tialfi hasn't encountered another four-horned goat in over a century. It's quite a tragic tale... Hahaha."

Forseti nodded, curious. "Is there a particular reason people seek to catch a four-horned goat? Is it valuable?"

"The four-horned goat is indeed valuable, but that's not the main draw," the burly man explained. "Capturing a four-horned goat earns you an invitation to the Nornheim hunting festival held once every century—a great honor. Moreover, if you win the festival, you'll receive a reward from Ullur, the god of winter hunting."

Ullur, the god of winter hunting!

Hearing this name sparked Forseti's interest.

In Asgard, aside from Cul and Odin, the most revered and authoritative figure was Ullur, the guardian of the Rainbow Bridge in this era.

The burly man added, "However, the four-horned goat is incredibly dangerous—more so than wolves. It possesses immense strength, a fierce temperament, and near-immortality. Except for its head, heart, and bones, any part of the four-horned goat can regenerate swiftly. It's the most perilous beast in our realm."

"Even someone as strong as me would think twice about tangling with a four-horned goat alone. If you're thinking of capturing one, I'd advise against it."

"Your strength is formidable indeed," the burly man's friend chimed in with a chuckle, "and your humor as sharp as ever."

"Hey, Tialfi!" At that moment, someone called out.

"Back with another pair of hefty goats."

Forseti turned to see a young man with a knife, carrying two goats over his shoulders into the tavern's courtyard. He dropped them to the ground, and a waiter hurried over, handing him a handful of gold coins.

Tialfi pocketed the coins, turned, and left without uttering a word from start to finish.

Observing this, Forseti quickly followed. "Excuse me, are you Tialfi?"

"What do you want?" Tialfi halted, his tone casual.

Forseti explained, "I heard you frequent Landvety Forest and sometimes gather herbs. I was wondering if you could help me procure some green chip grass?"

"I can, for a price. One rune per green chip. How does that sound?"