《After I Lost to the Demon King》 Chapter 1 - Washed Up The door to the Lion¡¯s Tail Pub swung open. Rain rushed through the entrance as if it were trying to escape the howling storm. A cloaked figure stumbled inside like a drowned dog. The dripping man advanced to the front table under the barkeep¡¯s wary glare. ¡°We¡¯re closing up for the night.¡± The barkeep said. ¡°Come back tomorrow.¡± The cloaked man didn¡¯t stop moving. He slumped onto a stool and raised one hand. ¡°Give me a bottle of something strong.¡± He grumbled without making eye contact. The barkeep folded his arms. It would be difficult to call the guards in this rain. Moreover, it looked like this man had braved the storm for the sake of a drink. The barkeep sighed and then filled up a glass. ¡°One drink and then you¡¯re out of here, got it?¡± *Chink* The barkeep¡¯s eyes widened as the rogue tossed out a few coins. He would have been surprised to see silver, but all three of them were gold.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°The bottle.¡± The rogue explained himself with only two words and a pointed finger. The barkeep begrudgingly left the bottle. In less than five minutes, both containers were empty. The rogue slid one of the gold coins across the table. ¡°Two more bottles, two more coins.¡± The barkeep stiffened. Each gold coin was ten times more valuable than his drinks. As much as he wanted to kick the man out, it was impossible to ignore such a windfall. Plus, the barkeep admitted, this man had at least set a limit. Hours later, the barkeep regretted having such a na?ve thought. After his three coins were spent, the rogue slammed another five onto the table. When the barkeep insisted that he leave, the rogue refused to listen. He stubbornly tempted the owner until profit overcame reason. After drinking enough to kill a horse, the rogue leaned back with a wide grin. ¡°Aah, that¡¯s great. That¡¯s really great, you know?¡± He spoke in a sing-song voice. ¡°With my endurance, I was worried that I couldn¡¯t get drunk. That would have been a tragedy! I couldn¡¯t even drink before, since I was underage. Not that those rules exist here, ha-ha!¡± The barkeep ignored the man¡¯s nonsense while desperately wondering when he¡¯d be able to sleep. Then, his eye caught a glimpse of something red under the rogue¡¯s cloak. Now that the rogue wasn¡¯t hunched over, the barkeep could see a copious amount of blood caked to his tunic. ¡°Y-You¡¯re injured!¡± ¡°Nah, nah, calm down. That wound closed hours ago.¡± The rogue laughed. ¡°A little cut like that isn¡¯t going to kill a cheat like me. A, uh¡­cheat. A cheat¡­¡± As the rogue muttered to himself, the barkeep reexamined his face and noticed a familiar scar across his nose. ¡°You¡­you¡¯re one of the adventurers that stopped here a week ago.¡± ¡°The very same!¡± The rogue grinned. His earlier mutterings were already forgotten. ¡°Ah.¡± The barkeep shook his head. There was nothing else to say. A party of two had left to challenge the Demon King. Only one had returned. At this point the barkeep wanted to pour himself a pint. Chapter 2 - A Problem That Cant be Solved with Money ¡°HEY HEY YOU YOU I DON¡¯T LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND! NO WAY NO WAY¡ª¡° ¡°Shut the fuck up, you drunken bastard!¡± Pontius Malak gazed out his window to witness a common scene. It had only been a week since that damned adventurer retuned, and no one could ignore him. Certainly, everyone in the pubs treated him like a brother. But to the general populace, he was known only for his nonsensical songs which he sang at odd hours of the day like a queer rooster. The sun had barely risen and it looked as if another citizen was at their limit. Pontius grimaced as he watched the town guards handle the conflict. Fortunately, the Adventurer stubbornly avoided resorting to violence. No matter how many fights he got into, all of them ended the same way. The same way they would have ended if the townsman had picked a fight with a brick wall. Pontius seriously doubted that anyone in town could match the man in brawn, let alone skill. He could count the number of adventurers who challenged the Demon King with two hands. As for how many had returned alive, Pontius only needed one finger. As the town¡¯s chief, Pontius once held high hopes for this rising star. He was an adventurer who suddenly appeared out of nowhere and took the kingdom by storm. After subjugating an impressive number of monsters alongside his companion, the pair became recognized as platinum-grade adventurers. In under a year, no less. With that honor, they gained the right to challenge the being that posed the largest threat to humanity¡ªthe Demon King. From Pontius¡¯s perspective, just returning home alive was reason for praise. However, who would cheer for such a deplorable hero? ¡°Aiyaa¡­¡± Pontius sighed. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t leave soon, people are going to start sending subjugation requests to the guild¡­¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s make sure that he leaves quickly.¡± Pontius nearly jumped in surprise. ¡°Celia!? Don¡¯t sneak up on me like that.¡± ¡°I had no intention to, sir. When I opened the door, I noticed you lost in thought and wondered if I was watching the exact moment when an old man becomes senile.¡± ¡°Ha, ha.¡± Pontius laughed dryly. ¡°So, did you think of a way to deal with our resident bard?¡± Celia nodded with a slight smile. ¡°We simply need to reward him for his service to the kingdom¡­¡± ¡°-So that he can buy more booze?¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Celia continued. ¡°It would be difficult for a town like ours to pay out of pocket. So, how about we arrange for him to receive his reward in the capital?¡± Pontius raised both eyebrows. ¡°We send him away, and without a reason to return¡­¡± ¡°¡­Our problem will become someone else¡¯s.¡± ¡°Excellent work, Celia! I¡¯ll contact the guild master in the capital and ask him to prepare a suitable payment. I¡¯m sure the adventurer¡¯s guild will be eager to hear from the man who survived a fight with the Demon King.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell him the good news.¡± ¡°Please do. Make sure he¡¯s eager to leave as soon as possible.¡± Celia sighed wistfully. ¡°If only I could get rid of you this easily.¡± ¡°Oi, what kind of aide says that in front of her boss?¡± ¡°A charming one.¡± Celia replied with a wry smile. Pontius released a short sigh. Taking her half-jokes seriously would only give him another migraine. ¡°You¡¯ll succeed me in time, no point in being hasty. For now, you should focus on charming that adventurer.¡± ¡°Consider it done.¡± - ??- ??- ¡°No thanks.¡± By the time she thought of a response to such a casual rejection, Celia had already witnessed the Adventurer empty two beer glasses. She was the chief¡¯s aide, and no one could call her slow-witted. Instead, it was the Adventurer who was abnormally fast. In the half-minute Celia took to formulate a response, he pounded two beers as if finishing them was his only purpose in life. This fantasy was quickly disproven as he reached for a third. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Stop drinking and listen to me properly!¡± ¡°Drink and ignore you or stop and listen? That¡¯s quite the ultimatum.¡± ¡°You think this is some kind of scam, right? Pontius can let you speak with Mr. Aegir before you leave. The two of you can even work out an exact payment.¡± ¡°Why would I want to speak to that muscle head of a guild master?¡± Celia groaned as she massaged the bridge of her nose. She resisted the urge to pinch her nostrils to avoid the man¡¯s terrible breath. ¡°So. That. You. Can. Get. Paid.¡± The Adventurer¡¯s lush smile grew even wider. Despite his cold attitude, Celia hadn¡¯t seen him without a smile on his face. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m in need of gold?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking that as I watch you drink a week¡¯s worth of beer in minutes?¡± ¡°Ha ha! True!¡± The Adventurer laughed a little too loudly, but it didn¡¯t bother anyone. The entire bar had quieted down the moment Celia entered. Everyone¡¯s ears were already turned towards the pair. ¡°But¡­¡± The Adventurer followed up. ¡°That just means I spend a lot. It doesn¡¯t mean that I need money. I¡¯ve saved up a lot while adventuring. Plus, there¡¯s some treasure that I recovered from the Demon King¡¯s palace. Oh, I¡¯ve also got a decent sword to sell!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious¡­¡± ¡°Put all that together and I can likely sustain this life for about half a year. So, I won¡¯t be moving until then.¡± ¡°But, but how¡­you!¡± Celia sputtered. She froze as she noticed the eye of every patron glued to her person. Celia cleared her throat and straightened her back. ¡°But what will you do after you run out of money?¡± The Adventurer shrugged. ¡°IDK.¡± ¡°And what does that mean?¡± Celia cocked her head. ¡°I-Don¡¯t-Know.¡± Celia opened her mouth and then closed it. What could she say to someone so far removed from logic and common sense? ¡°I¡¯ll¡­be back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Then I have no choice but to stay here until you return.¡± The Adventurer feigned a scowl as he waved goodbye. ¡°Barkeep! Another, please!¡± Celia could feel blood rushing to her cheeks as she retreated. The patrons¡¯ eyes followed her out. ¡°Heh, he got that prissy good.¡± ¡°Bye-bye, Ice Queen.¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s only good at seducing older men?¡± Celia clenched her fists and left quietly. However, the whispering continued. It escalated until one particularly inebriated drunk stood up and began denouncing her loudly. The entire bar cheered. Meanwhile, the Adventurer watched the scene with a puzzled smile. ¡°So, uh, what¡¯s the deal with that woman?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Pontius¡¯s aide, and his adopted daughter.¡± The barkeep replied. ¡°He¡¯s raising her to be his successor.¡± ¡°Is there something wrong with that?¡± The barkeep shook his head. ¡°Every town¡¯s chief is supposed to train their successor. It¡¯s just abnormal for an outsider to be chosen. Plus, Pontius picked her up when she was already thirteen, nearly a marriageable age. Everyone seems to think that she seduced the old man for his position.¡± ¡°How scandalous.¡± ¡°You believe it?¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I?¡± The Adventurer shrugged. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be in a hurry to deny it.¡± The barkeep raised an eyebrow, but the Adventurer didn¡¯t continue. His attention was already fixed on the glass before him. - ??- ??- Pontius left his office with a spring in his step. Negotiations with the guild master had gone well. Almost too well, in fact. Mr. Aegir had talked his ear off about how important and exciting it was to meet a survivor. The two of them also lamented the loss of a talented adventurer, but Mr. Aegir was clearly expecting to learn something from this failure. He was even optimistic about having the survivor lead a new team against the Demon King, and Pontius had to carefully dampen his expectations. The elderly chief filled a kettle, cast a heating spell, waited, poured some tea and then finally sat down with a satisfied sigh. It was only after doing all of that, that he noticed someone sitting at the other end of the table. The young woman brushed her long blonde hair aside and rest her chin on one hand. Her eyes remained unfocused, not registering his presence. Pontius frowned. It had been a while since he had seen his daughter trapped in her own memories. ¡°Celia.¡± Upon hearing her name, Celia flinched. Pontius pushed a cup towards her. ¡°Have some tea.¡± Celia¡¯s eyes opened wide as she looked around the room. After a quick sip of tea, the aide¡¯s aloof scowl returned. ¡°My apologies, Pontius. You¡¯re so light these days, I thought another mouse was scurrying about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Pontius nodded sagely. ¡°Your sharp tongue is a talent. As an outsider, the townsfolk are going to walk all over you if you can¡¯t shut them up first.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s all it takes to be chief, then you should hire that drunk as your replacement.¡± ¡°So, he declined our offer.¡± Celia¡¯s scowl deepened and Pontius chuckled. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not too surprised.¡± Celia blinked. ¡°But why? That man clearly doesn¡¯t want to fight anymore, so how else is he going to support himself? He even predicted when his savings will run out, but¡­¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t care?¡± ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t understand it.¡± Pontius shook his head slowly. ¡°I think you understand more than you realize.¡± ¡°Huh? That doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± ¡°That man is grieving.¡± Pontius announced as he reached for Celia¡¯s tea. She failed to react before he snatched it back. ¡°He¡¯s like you were five years ago. Back when I took you in.¡± Celia lowered her gaze. Her expression darkened and her eyes began to lose focus. However, this moment of weakness only lasted for an instant. ¡°I resent that comparison.¡± ¡°Resent it all you like, but I want you to keep talking to that adventurer. Don¡¯t give up until you convince him to leave.¡± Celia nodded resolutely. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Chapter 3 - Pariah On a certain day at Pritchard¡¯s High, a student noticed a strange noise coming from the girl¡¯s bathroom. This student was curious but, as a boy, his options were limited. The boy pressed his ear to the nearest wall, closed his eyes, and listened. Despite his haphazard method, the boy gained two pieces of information. One, there was a girl crying. Two, that girl was someone he knew fairly well. The boy turned around and walked off with a smile. He wasn¡¯t a malicious bully, nor was he lacking in empathy. He didn¡¯t know her circumstances and he didn¡¯t care. For him, her misfortune had become a small ray of hope. ¡°Have they finally decided to switch targets?¡± He thought gleefully. The boy continued on his way and entered a classroom. Not a single pair of eyes shifted to acknowledge his presence. The boy sat down at his desk and silently waited for class to begin. Minutes passed and the boy¡¯s gaze cautiously swept across the room. Everyone was busy talking to each other, so no one paid him any mind. He sighed in relief. This situation had persisted for a few weeks. After months of bullying, the class seemed to have gotten bored with him. Being ignored was about the best he could hope for. The boy¡¯s eyes widened as he watched the final student enter the classroom. She walked over to her friends and started chatting with relaxed ease. Nothing about her demeanor would suggest that she had been crying five minutes prior. The boy blinked. Had he misheard? After class ended, he found his answer. ¡°No way, Hannah really slept with him?¡± ¡°Yea, what a riot!¡± ¡°I guess she¡¯ll do it with anyone.¡± ¡°Or maybe she¡¯s just a freak?¡± The instant that girl left the room, everyone began whispering loudly. Even the friends that she had been talking to earlier were getting into it. The boy was sure that she¡¯d heard some of their comments before she left. In fact, that was likely the reason why she left so quickly in the first place. ¡°Why are you pretending to be friends with everyone?¡± The boy asked her after school. He wasn¡¯t a particularly shy person. In fact, his bold and selfish nature was what had made him a pariah within the class. ¡°I can¡¯t understand it. Those people don¡¯t have any respect for you, so why do you act like that?¡± ¡°W-Why are you of all people asking me? What would a loser like you know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s why I¡¯m asking.¡± ¡°Well then listen up. Don¡¯t think we¡¯re on the same level because of this!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me again!¡± Hannah yelled as she stomped off. The boy stood there, dumbfounded. ¡°¡­What¡¯s the point in getting mad at me?¡± - ??- ??- ¡°No thanks.¡± ¡°Can you at least say something different for once?¡± ''¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How was that? Different enough?¡± Celia pinched the bridge of her nose for the umpteenth time that week. If this continued, Celia worried that she¡¯d have two permanent red marks between her eyes. Five days had passed with no improvement to her situation. The Adventurer still refused to leave, and Pontius still insisted on using her as a proxy. Getting laughed out of the bar had become her nightly routine. Celia let out a heavy sigh. She slumped forward in her seat and flagged down the barkeep. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re going to drink?¡± The Adventurer asked. ¡°I feel like I don¡¯t have any dignity left to lose. So, why not?¡± After a few sips, Celia¡¯s cheeks were already flushed. ¡°Maybe you had some to lose after all.¡± The Adventurer exclaimed, shaking his head. ¡°I never figured you were such a lightweight.¡± ¡°Can it.¡± Celia eyed her drink warily and then suddenly downed the whole thing. Minutes later, Celia was swaying on her stool and her face was red as a beet. A playful smile crept across her lips. ¡°Wereshou¡­weresh you really a platinum-grade advenshurer?¡± ¡°I technically still am.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Thatsh¡¯ crazy. Crazy.¡± Celia muttered. ¡°Mosht people shpend their entire lives advenshuring¡­an¡¯ only get to silver *Burp* topsh.¡± The Adventurer nodded knowingly. ¡°Tshe talented onesh make gold. Platinum ish the shtuff of legendsh. Lookin¡¯ at yoush now, your partner musht¡¯ve had really broad shoulders.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°To carry you of coursh!¡± Celia burst out in clumsy laughter. The Adventurer dropped his smile for the first time that night. ¡°Oh? Did I upshet ya¡¯?¡± Celia patted his shoulder. ¡°I shaw her, back before yoush left for the Demon King. She was sho pretty! Totally out of your league!¡± ¡°Ha ha.¡± With a strange laugh, the Adventurer¡¯s smile returned. ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Tell me about her!¡± Celia mock pleaded. ¡°Who was thish girl that wash crazshy enough to fight the Demon King with you?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­Well, her name was Hannah Strick. She and I were forced together through some bad luck, and then we ended up becoming adventurers.¡± Celia traced a circle with her fingers, gesturing for him to continue. ¡°Hannah was always very nervous. She was terrified of disappointing expectations or being looked down upon. Honestly, it made me exhausted, thinking that she might live her entire life like that. However, everything changed when we came here. It was like a heavy burden had been lifted off both our shoulders.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Celia folded her arms and nodded sagely. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t really get it.¡± ¡°If Hannah was here¡­¡± The Adventurer paused as he gazed up at the ceiling. ¡°She would have definitely tried to be your friend.¡± ¡°Mhm, us beautiesh have to shtick together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very similar to how she used to be.¡± This time, it was Celia¡¯s smile that fell. She wanted to call him out for his insult, but the words wouldn¡¯t come. The Adventure¡¯s warm tone made it difficult for her to get angry. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m going home!¡± As Celia stood up, half a dozen men left their tables. She pretended to ignore them and stumbled towards the door but they blocked her way. ¡°Why¡¯re you so eager to see that old man?¡± One of them cooed. ¡°How about we show you a good time?¡± ¡°How about you show me the door inshtead?¡± Celia snapped back. The man lunged forward and grabbed her arm. Celia whispered a quick chant beneath her breath. ¡°How about I-YEOW!¡± The man howled as he fell back into a table. A few drinks spilled onto the floor, but no one paid them any mind. The patrons¡¯ eyes were fixed on a smoldering orb that floated above Celia¡¯s hand. With a haughty smile, she flicked her wrist and dispelled the fireball. ¡°How about you learn your place? Low-life.¡± The others cursed under their breath and begrudgingly moved away from the door. Celia strode out in wide meandering steps, blowing a mocking kiss as she left. A cold wind blew through the quiet cobblestone streets. Celia stumbled along confidently with her arms at her side. Her pale skin carried the faint glow of a heating spell. You¡¯re very similar to how she used to be. The words of that adventurer echoed in her head. Celia clenched her fists and quickened her pace. A particularly strong gust of wind hit her square in the face. The aide stumbled but she managed to keep her balance. After brushing golden strands of hair out of her eyes, Celia whipped around just in time to see a fist rush towards her. In the next instant, she was on the ground. Her arms and legs were pinned while a length of rope was pulled taut to bind her mouth. Celia¡¯s muffled screams barely carried as she was dragged away from the main road. In a secluded alleyway, a meaty hand grabbed Celia¡¯s hair and pulled her up onto her knees. ¡°How about it?¡± The hand¡¯s owner forcefully turned her face towards his. ¡°Are you still going to call us low-lives without your magic?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not going to call us anything with her mouth like that~¡± Another aggressor laughed. Out of the corner of her eye, Celia could see the rest of the men who tried to assault her at the bar. After a series of unintelligible groans, Celia finally found a word that she could halfway pronounce. ¡°Shcum.¡± She was rewarded with a swift kick to the stomach. ¡°You think you¡¯re so special, huh? All because you have that old man wrapped around your finger. An outsider like you coming here and taking advantage of our chief! Looking down on us like we¡¯re too stupid to notice! Have you no shame!¡± The man ended his rant with another kick. Celia writhed backwards in a weak attempt to escape. No one moved to stop her, instead they stood back and laughed at her ridiculous movements. As she reached the edge of the alley, someone stepped out to block her way. The thugs continued to laugh until they recognized the man standing before them. ¡°Hmm, I figured you¡¯d have trouble getting home¡­¡± Celia stopped her desperate crawl and tilted her head upwards. ¡°¡­But this is a little worse than slipping on some cobblestone.¡± The entire alley fell silent, save for some muffled groans that could barely be recognized as; ¡°Untie me already!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes followed the platinum-grade adventurer as he strode over to a discarded wooden box and took a seat. ¡°Well?¡± He raised his hands. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me.¡± The men gave each other wary looks. Meanwhile, Celia made some loud groans that could be interpreted as; ¡°What the heck are you doing?¡± The Adventurer cocked his head. ¡°What? Is this not part of your plan?¡± The men from the bar glanced at each other again, and then one of them stepped forward. ¡°Yes! You figured it out! As expected of a platinum-grade adventurer. This girl asked us to assault her as she was coming home. Obviously, she got drunk on purpose as well. It was all a plot to have you save her and¡­then, uh, fall in love with her?¡± Celia¡¯s flushed face became even redder as she grunted a rebuttal. ¡°In any case¡­¡± The group collectively shuffled towards the open street. ¡°Our role here is over, so we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± ¡°Is that really alright?¡± The Adventurer called out, freezing them in place. ¡°I¡¯ve known you guys for two weeks now. Obviously, I have your faces memorized.¡± The group¡¯s leader turned around with a heavy sigh. ¡°Ah, I guess there¡¯s no helping it then.¡± The men drew their daggers and rushed the Adventurer. It was over in an instant. Half a dozen blades slashed the Adventurer¡¯s arms, legs and chest. Yet, when they backed away, their weapons were marred by nicks and scratches. It was as if they had been attacking at a stone wall. Meanwhile, said wall was looking no worse for wear. ¡°Just give up.¡± He grumbled. ¡°If this was an RPG, then I¡¯d be a tank.¡± The Adventurer¡¯s figure blurred. Over the next few seconds, the thugs were disarmed one by one and then thrown into the end of the alley. The Adventurer dusted himself off and then turned to Celia. The moment he removed the rope binding her mouth, she sprang up and yelled; ¡°I swear on the Malak family name, that was not planned! Those men came at me out of nowhere!¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± The Adventurer waved her off. ¡°I was talking about that rumor you spread around.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Celia breathed. Then, her eyes widened and she stumbled backwards. ¡°The rumor that you¡¯re sleeping with the chief. You started that, right?¡± Chapter 4 - Victim ¡°W-What are you talking about?¡± Celia shot back. ¡°Why would I start a rumor like that?¡± The Adventurer walked back to his box and took a seat. ¡°Where did you live before you were adopted?¡± ¡°A different town, obviously.¡± ¡°What was its name?¡± Celia grimaced and looked away. ¡°Was¡­So you already knew.¡± ¡°Hannah and I came here because this is the closest town to the Demon King¡¯s territory. However, on our way there, we passed through the ruins of a different town. The damage was old, but certainly not ancient. It was probably attacked around five years ago.¡± The Adventurer paused, but Celia refused to meet his gaze. ¡°You also came to this town five years ago. It¡¯s not difficult to guess why.¡± Celia shook her head, but her mouth remained shut. ¡°Your town was another casualty of the Demon King.¡± ¡°ENOUGH!¡± Celia shouted. She raised her head and an orb of fire burst into existence above her outstretched palm. ¡°Considering your aptitude for magic, your parents probably fought against him. Didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°SHUT UP!¡± Celia hurled a fireball towards the Adventurer, but it he swatted it away like a fly. ¡°There¡¯s no point in getting mad at me. I¡¯m just telling you the truth. You, your family, your town, they all lost to the Demon King. I did too, of course. So, we¡¯re all losers here. It must feel better though, to pretend like that isn¡¯t the case. Instead of a victim that Pontius picked up, you¡¯re a charmer who enticed him. You weren¡¯t thrust into an unwanted apprenticeship, you¡¯re manipulating this town for your own benefit.¡± The Adventurer watched Celia warily, but no fireballs came. The chief¡¯s aide fell to her knees and lowered her head to the ground. Celia raised her arms to cover her face, but her shivering and muffled sobs left no doubt that she was crying. ¡°T-Then what should I do?¡± Celia asked without raising her head. ¡°How would I know?¡± The Adventurer sighed. He stood up and walked to the edge of the alley. ¡°Like I said, we¡¯re both losers. I just don¡¯t like it when people pretend that everything¡¯s fine.¡± Celia lifted her head, but the Adventurer walked away before she could reply. - ??- ??- Pontius strode out of his bedroom with a wide yawn. The chief raised a hand to block the morning sun and then set about brewing some tea. He filled a kettle, cast a heating spell, waited, poured some tea and then sat down with a satisfied sigh. It was only after doing all of that, that he noticed someone sleeping at the other end of the table. The young woman was snoring softly with her head cradled in her elbow. Pontius frowned, then he rubbed his eyes and looked again. She was still there. This was something he hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°Um, Celia?¡± He called out in a half whisper. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Celia stirred and let out a groan in response. ¡°Huh? Really, are you ok?¡± ¡°Never again¡­¡± She mumbled. Pontius stood up and rushed over to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Never¡­drinking¡­again.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Pontius let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Head splitting open.¡± ¡°Well, suffer through it. Next time you¡¯ll think twice about drinking beyond your limit.¡± ¡°So angry¡­¡± ¡°At yourself?¡± ¡°At Leo.¡± ¡°Leo? Oh right, that adventurer cum nuisance.¡± ¡°I thought about it all night, but he¡¯s just a hypocrite.¡± Celia straightened her back and clenched her fists. ¡°Saying we¡¯re both just losers, like that¡¯s all there is to it! He¡¯s the one who¡¯s hiding away in that bar! He¡¯s the one who¡¯s pretending that everything¡¯s ok!¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Pontius listened while Celia recounted the events of the previous night. He cut in to ask for details twice, once when she was assaulted and again when her rumor came up. Celia reluctantly swallowed her pride and answered every question. ¡°Stupid girl.¡± After she finished, Pontius admonished her with a scowl. ¡°Lowering your own reputation like that¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault as well. I was aware of that rumor, but I should have been more aggressive about correcting it. If I¡¯d known this would lead to you being attacked¡­¡± A fireball that burned several times brighter than Celia¡¯s appeared in the chief¡¯s hands. Pontius shook his head and the spell was cancelled. ¡°Anyways, we¡¯ll deal with them later. First, I want to hear what you plan to do about this adventurer. Are we still going to send him away?¡± ¡°Ultimately, I still want Leo to pick up his reward in the capital. However, there are a few things we need to do before he¡¯ll listen to us.¡± Celia looked Pontius in the eyes. ¡°Honestly, this will be difficult. Actually, I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s even possible¡­but I want you to help me try.¡± Pontius¡¯s scowl blossomed into a wide smile. ¡°Of course, my daughter. Whatever you need.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Celia stood up and walked towards her room. Clutching her head, she turned around with a sheepish grin. ¡°First though, I need to rest in an actual bed.¡± Celia shut her door, leaving Pontius alone to ponder her sudden change in attitude. From his perspective, Celia had already improved so much from the terrified little girl he¡¯d adopted. Then again, maybe his satisfaction had lead him to ignore the issues that were eating away at her. Despite her hangover, Celia seemed much more relaxed and happy than usual. After her mask was torn off, deep down she must have felt relieved. ¡°Leo, huh.¡± Pontius mused aloud. ¡°I¡¯ll have to put some effort into thanking him.¡± The aging chief hadn¡¯t missed how Celia referred to him by his name instead of his job. There were so few adventurers willing to work near the Demon King¡¯s territory that it hardly mattered what he called them. A different ¡®adventurer¡¯ would come by every month or so and then leave just as quickly. Though, most of them wouldn¡¯t dare challenge the king. Rather than remember each one, the pair would usually just refer to them by their job. Pontius decided to take it as a sign that Celia acknowledged him as an individual. ¡°Yup, I¡¯ll just have to put some effort in.¡± He repeated with a strained smile. ¡°So that he leaves before it becomes anything more than acknowledgement.¡± - ?? - ?? - The next morning, Leo stumbled through the streets with an empty bottle in hand. Nearby pedestrians covered their ears to shield themselves from his loud humming. After two weeks, no one was willing to make a scene and embarrass themselves. Everyone grumbled under their breath and carried on. It was in this manner that Leo approached his new favorite place¡ªThe Lion¡¯s Tail Pub. ¡°Ah, good morning Leo!¡± A gruff voice called out to him before he could enter. Leo swung his head to see Pontius leaning beside the pub¡¯s door. The chief stood up and cracked his joints, suggesting that he¡¯d been waiting there for a while. ¡°Hey Pontius, I¡¯m just stopping by to refuel. Care to join me?¡± Pontius stepped in front of the door. ¡°Actually, I was going to ask you to join me. It¡¯s rather urgent.¡± ¡°Sure, whatever, after I stop in for a drink.¡± Leo stepped up to face Pontius, but the chief didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Are you going to move or not?¡± ¡°No.¡± Leo stepped back so that he could bend over and laugh. ¡°Hahaha, what? Is this some kind of intervention?¡± Pontius nodded and Leo stopped laughing. Leo lunged forward and grabbed Pontius by the shoulders. He carefully applied enough force to lift the chief up without hurting him, but then he noticed a hand resting on his gut. *Bam* In a flash, Leo was knocked backwards onto the street. He jumped back up without any trouble. Meanwhile, Pontius stepped forward and started a long chant. The air grew heavy and objects in Leo¡¯s vision began to sway as a sudden heat wave struck the area. This heat gathered around Pontius and began to take a solid form. Red-hot flames crackled and popped above the cobblestone street, but they stayed together in a cohesive shape. The shape in question vaguely resembled a human. This stick-figure-esque creature faced Leo and released a low growl. ¡°Ooh, that¡¯s a decent fire elemental.¡± ¡°Why thank you.¡± Pontius replied diplomatically. The fire elemental jumped forward and Leo stepped up to meet it. With a swipe of his hand, the elemental was sliced in two. With another growl, it quickly reformed and grabbed Leo¡¯s arms. A swift kick sent the elemental flying, but Pontius stepped in and shot out a fireball. Leo was pushed into the nearest wall, but once again he stood up immediately. Neither his skin nor his clothes showed any signs of burns. ¡°This is a little heavy for an intervention.¡± Leo complained while dusting himself off. ¡°You seem to be taking it well.¡± Leo nodded. ¡°You can guess how I survived a fight with the Demon King. Even he had trouble hurting me. So, honestly, I¡¯m not sure what this is supposed to accomplish.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t run away, I¡¯ll show you.¡± Leo dug in his heels and raised his arms. He glared at Pontius, who directed his fire elemental forward. The burning man leapt to grapple Leo. Before he could untangle himself from the flames, a second elemental slammed into him from behind. The fire merged and spread across Leo¡¯s body like shackles. At the same time, a circle of flames suddenly burst into existence around him. The wall of heat flew up until the flames connected in a dome. Before it closed him in, Leo turned to see Celia step out from around a corner. ¡°A lot of people don¡¯t know this¡­¡± Pontius started. ¡°If you place a candle in a sealed box, the flame will eventually die.¡± A series of grunts and scraping noises answered him. Leo was still putting up a struggle under the combined strength of the elementals. ¡°This is because fire is greedy. It can consume the very air we breathe.¡± As Leo approached the edge of the wall, a burst of heat flung him back. ¡°After watching you wrestle with a fire elemental, I won¡¯t presume that my magic can harm you. However, I can put you to sleep.¡± A strangled yell rang out from within the dome. Pontius and Celia froze. For several minutes, their eyes did not stray from the fiery prison. Finally, the only sound they could hear was the crackling of fire. The pair released a sigh of relief. Leo was lying in the center of the charred street, unconscious, but otherwise unharmed. ¡°Seriously, what kind of monster is this Demon King?¡± Pontius said, shaking his head. ¡°If he can make a monster like this hide with his tail between his legs.¡± Chapter 5 - Days with You After her was told off by Hannah, Leo spent some time reflecting on his actions. He hadn¡¯t cared when she was crying, so why did he care if she lied to herself? As a senior in high school, Leo eventually decided that he had more important things to worry about. However, their conversation had left its mark on him. There was something, a feeling just beyond his understanding, that tugged at his subconscious. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from worrying about Hannah¡¯s situation. The next day, Leo felt that he was being watched. He knew the feeling well. It wasn¡¯t just a single pair of eyes, but all of them, all the time. During class, in the hallway, after school, he could always feel their stares burning into his back. ¡°So, they didn¡¯t switch targets¡­¡± He silently lamented. Then, as Leo was walking to his next class, he heard it. ¡°You said Hannah slept with him?¡± ¡°Seriously? Wow!¡± ¡°I know, right? I can¡¯t believe anyone would do it with Leo.¡± Leo froze. It took all his willpower not to rush over and demand the full story. Leo managed to endure because he already knew the full story. It was a lie, obviously. The kind of malicious lie that used one party to insult another. A relationship with him was obviously fatal to one¡¯s social life. Although, if the rumor spread that quickly, then Hannah¡¯s reputation must not have been very good to begin with. ¡°Don¡¯t think we¡¯re on the same level because of this!¡± Hannah¡¯s voice echoed in his head. Leo received a bitter sense of satisfaction for uncovering the meaning behind those words. For the rest of the day, Leo shut his mouth like the lid of a boiling pot while rumors flew past his ears. Meanwhile, Hannah continued to play nice with her ¡®friends¡¯. Watching it somehow irritated Leo even more than yesterday. Leo didn¡¯t know what he¡¯d say, but he desperately wanted to talk with her again. However, Hannah wouldn¡¯t give him the opportunity. Every time he approached her, she practically sprinted away. This cycle of listening to rumors, watching Hannah, feeling irritated, and failing to talk with her continued for a week. Leo¡¯s routine was eventually broken by pure luck. After doubling back to pick up something he forgot, Leo failed to catch his bus. Rather than wait for the next one, he decided to walk home. On his way home, Leo noticed someone standing at the crosswalk ahead of him. He stopped, dumbfounded. ¡°Hannah?¡± Hannah turned around and grimaced. She turned back to run across the street, but the light was still red. Leo approached her during this pause, cutting off any other route of escape. Hannah released a short sigh. ¡°What? I told you not to talk to me.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Leo trailed off. What did he want to ask her? Even he didn¡¯t know what he wanted from this girl. ¡°What is so different?¡± Leo¡¯s mouth moved before his brain could catch up. ¡°You said we were on different levels, but I don¡¯t see it. People badmouth you just as much as me. From where I stand, we both seem to be on the bottom rung.¡± ¡°Except that I actually have friends.¡± ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± Hannah opened her mouth but her rebuttal wouldn¡¯t come. After a period of silence, she stared at the ground and muttered. ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡± ¡°Of course it is. Does being delusional make you different than me?¡± ¡°I am different than you.¡± For once, Hannah spoke with conviction. ¡°No, you aren¡¯t!¡± Once again, there was a period of silence. Hannah stayed quiet to contain her shock and rage. Leo¡¯s silence was also out of shock. The high schooler finally understood what he wanted, and he was appalled. That irritating feeling that had grown over the course of a week began to bloom. All he wanted was for someone to be in his position. To understand the suffering that he went through daily. Deep down, he knew this girl was the one. She had to be. Underneath her fantasy lay the same anxieties that plagued him. Leo wanted nothing more than to drag those feelings to the surface. ¡°You can hear the things they say about you.¡± Hannah remained silent.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Sleeping with someone like me. Everyone seems to think we¡¯re already on the same level.¡± Hannah remained silent. ¡°That rumor spread really quickly. Would that have happened if your ¡®friends¡¯ believed in you?¡± Hannah raised the ends of her mouth in a slight smile. ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t have. In fact, if they cared about me, then it wouldn¡¯t have spread at all.¡± Leo faltered. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I was the one who started that rumor.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Leo breathed. Suddenly, nothing made sense to him. His assumptions and theories came crashing down like skydivers without parachutes. He looked up, hoping to hear something from Hannah, but it was too late. After her confession, she had bolted into the street. ¡°Wait!¡± Leo yelled. He leaped forward without thinking. At this moment, neither of them had noticed that the light was still red. Leo¡¯s instincts screamed as something rushed towards his left side. For a moment, he was felt intense pain. Then, he felt nothing at all. - ?? - ?? - After who knows how long, Leo began to feel a tickling sensation across his body. He opened his eyes to see a verdant field of grass. Leo picked himself up and dusted the dirt from his clothes. He was almost surprised to see that they hadn¡¯t changed. Then, the situation hit him like a brick to the face. Leo frantically checked his body, only to sigh in relief after confirming that he was uninjured. The terrible pain he¡¯d experienced felt like a distant memory. In fact, as he sorted through his memory, Leo noticed that practically everything felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. How long had he been lying here? ¡°Uugh¡­¡± Someone groaned beside him, though they were muffled by a face full of grass. Hannah lifted her head sleepily and looked around. When her gaze met with Leo¡¯s, she groaned again and lowered herself back into the grass. ¡°So, I guess this is the afterlife.¡± Leo observed. ¡°It¡¯s just an empty field.¡± ¡°If this is my afterlife then why are you here?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the other place?¡± Leo snickered. ¡°Not enough fire.¡± A gentle breeze rolled through the pristine landscape. Mother Nature seemed to be corroborating Hannah¡¯s point. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll be moved somewhere else soon.¡± Leo thought aloud. ¡°Makes sense.¡± ¡°Then, before we¡¯re separated¡­Why did you start that rumor?¡± Hannah rolled over and looked up at Leo. ¡°It all feels so far away now. Back then, I was the target of a lot of rumors. Some were fake, but others were extremely personal. I suspected that my friends were behind them, and so I told them a bogus story to see if it would spread. Obviously, it did.¡± ¡°But then you didn¡¯t confront them.¡± Hannah glanced away. ¡°I was afraid.¡± ¡°Afraid of them?¡± ¡°Afraid that I¡¯d end up like you. Someone who had completely given up.¡± Leo found himself unable to refute her. ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to pass on soon anyways. So, I¡¯m sorry for giving you a hard time with my questions.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sorry for involving you in that rumor. Deep down, I hoped that it would bring the class¡¯s focus away from me and back to you.¡± Leo laid back down beside Hannah. For a while, the only sound between them was the rustling grass. ¡°Fuck you for that, though.¡± Leo finally replied. ¡°And fuck you for pressuring me into an active lane of traffic.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s fair.¡± The two chuckled. More time passed in silence, but nothing happened. No god appeared, no Saint Peter, not even a column of light. Eventually, Leo¡¯s stomach began to growl. ¡°So¡­Maybe this isn¡¯t the afterlife.¡± Hannah¡¯s stomach growled in response. ¡°Then, where are we?¡± - ?? - ?? - A year passed. For Leo and Hannah, it was a slow and arduous year. And yet, it was decisively the most fun year of their lives thus far. After rediscovering civilization, the pair learned of an entirely new world filled with monsters and adventure. Adventuring was something they were surprisingly good at, as killing monsters seemed to grant them an unnatural amount of strength. Fighting and getting stronger was the bread and butter of all adventurers, but they quickly rose above their peers. Then, they rose above their elders, and then further into the realm of legends. ¡°Huff¡­Huff¡­Huff.¡± Leo wheezed as he overcame what felt like the thousandth step of a seemingly endless spiral staircase. ¡°If the Demon King¡¯s palace has stairs like this, then you can fight him yourself.¡± Hannah raised an eyebrow as she floated alongside him. ¡°Really? You have twenty times my endurance and you¡¯re struggling with some stairs?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t stopped since we passed through that border town¡­huff¡­And now you suddenly tell me to climb this tower¡­huff¡­This entire town is a disaster area. Who knows if this crappy thing will even hold up?¡± ¡°Even if it did collapse, would you take damage?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± ¡°So lucky. Everyone in this world grows differently, and your endurance growth rate just happened to be insane.¡± ¡°Pretty much everything else is low, though¡­huff. Right about now I¡¯d rather have the mana to cast a lightness spell.¡± ¡°Or a float spell.¡± Hannah added, as she propelled herself forward with a light push. When the pair finally reached the top of the tower, Leo sucked in a breath of air and held it. All his complaints were forgotten as he stared out at the scene before him. The hauntingly empty town and the green hills beyond it were beautifully dyed in the light of the setting sun. However, what caught his attention was even further in the distance. Beyond the rolling hills stood a structure that could only be viewed as a tumor upon the land. The hateful black spike of a building towered over its surroundings. Leo and Hannah looked towards their destination with a mix of apprehension and excitement. ¡°Hey Leo, when this is all over¡­¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t set any lose flags.¡± ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll do it now then.¡± ¡°Do wh-¡± Hannah jumped in front of him and brought her lips to meet his. After an indescribably long and short moment, Leo felt her pull away. He pulled her back in and time once again slowed to a crawl while simultaneously zipping forward. ¡°If you told me I¡¯d be doing this a year ago¡­¡± Hannah said, blushing. ¡°At least everyone else would have believed me.¡± ¡°Ha-ha, you¡¯re terrible!¡± Leo grinned widely and then came to an epiphany. Putting aside the fantasy world and the kiss, even his current expression was something he wouldn¡¯t have dreamed of in his past life. Chapter 6 - Looking Out at the Black Tower Leo¡¯s eyes fluttered as he awoke from a dream. He tried to return, but that sweet sense of peace was already gone. Leo groaned inwardly as reality assaulted his senses. He instinctively reached for a drink, but there was no bottle in sight. Actually, he reflected, there wasn¡¯t a much of anything in sight. Leo lay against a brick wall in a dark room. A cursory inspection revealed a light source seeping in through ragged curtains on the other end of the room. Leo got up and staggered towards the light. As he moved, the Adventurer noticed two bodies breathing nearby. His eyes hadn¡¯t adjusted yet, but he could guess that Pontius and Celia were sleeping in another corner of the room. Leo carefully stepped past them and went outside. The morning sun was blinding. By the time Leo could see, he already knew where he was. The smell of charcoal drifting in the wind had been burned into his memory. Leo looked around to see exactly what he expected. Dilapidated buildings, charred buildings, and buildings that were reduced to ever-shrinking piles of ash. These were the ruins that he now recognized as Celia¡¯s birthplace. ¡°Why did they bring me here?¡± He wondered out loud. After some deliberation, Leo decided to wait for them to wake up. It would be a long walk home without magic, after all. Half an hour later, Celia wandered out of their building. She rubbed her eyes, glanced at Leo, and then did a double-take. ¡°Morning.¡± Leo waved at her. ¡°¡­Morning.¡± Celia replied warily. ¡°I thought we¡¯d cast enough of spells to ensure that you¡¯d sleep in, but I¡¯m not even surprised anymore. How are you feeling.¡± ¡°Thirsty.¡± Celia tossed him a waterskin. Leo glared at her and then reluctantly drank from it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t be traveling any further than this. I just wanted to have a chat with you in this town.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lot of effort for a chat.¡± Celia nodded but she didn¡¯t elaborate. ¡°If we¡¯re going to talk, then can we do it up there?¡± Leo asked, pointing to a guard tower overlooking the town. ¡°Sure!¡± Another half-hour later, Celia deeply regretted her decision. ¡°Wait¡­huff¡­too many¡­huff¡­stairs.¡± ¡°We just got up, you should be full of energy.¡± Celia¡¯s grumbling came to an abrupt halt as she reached the top of the tower. The two unconsciously held their breath as they gazed out at the scenery below. They were a little late to see the sunrise, but that ball of light was climbing steadily in the sky. It bathed the surrounding buildings in a warm glow that almost made them look like relics rather than ruins. Celia followed Leo¡¯s gaze past the town and the fields until she saw it. The black tower that carried a malevolence strong enough to obscure the sun¡¯s grace. Celia shuddered and looked away. ¡°Well, anyways¡­¡± Leo found a spot in the sun and sat down. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡± Celia walked over and sat before him. Then, the chief¡¯s aide bowed deeply.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Firstly, I want to formally thank you for attempting to defeat the Demon King. As a victim, I can understand that it took true courage to stand against that monster. Honestly, Pontius and I should have done this the moment you returned.¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s fine.¡± Leo replied hastily. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have been in a state to listen anyway.¡± ¡°Secondly, I have a request.¡± ¡°Shoot.¡± ¡°I want you to return to the capital and receive payment for your valor.¡± ¡°I figured¡­¡± ¡°Then, I want you to spend that money to re-equip yourself. You can use the rest to cover living expenses while you train.¡± Leo cocked his head. ¡°Train?¡± ¡°Thirdly, I have another request.¡± Celia paused to take a deep breath. ¡°Please try to kill the Demon King again!¡± Leo was speechless while Celia lowered her head and bowed once more. Seconds turned into minutes, but Celia¡¯s head had not risen. Leo, on the other hand, finally settled on a few words. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Celia continued to prostrate herself. ¡°Do you seriously think I¡¯m going to do that?¡± Celia continued to prostrate herself. ¡°Give me one reason why I should. For the good of humanity? Revenge? What is it that you think I want?¡± Celia raised her head to reveal a slight smile. ¡°A purpose. It is no exaggeration to say that you are the strongest human of our generation. You are also the only person in history who has survived a direct fight with the Demon King. If this is not your purpose, then what else is there?¡± ¡°I could always go back to the tavern.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your choice.¡± Celia shook her head. ¡°You could live as you did before Hannah¡¯s death, or as you do now.¡± Leo¡¯s features sharpened into a scowl. He clenched his fists and looked away. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t need to tell you which is more fulfilling.¡± *Bang* Leo lashed out at the floor, sending one of his fists wrist-deep into the aging wood. ¡°DO YOU REALLY THINK I HAVE A CHOICE!?¡± *Bang* Leo lifted his fist and then tore another hole in the floor. ¡°Without her, it¡¯s not going to work! I can¡¯t live like that anymore!¡± The Adventurer dug his fingers into the wood until an unsettling creak resounded through the tower. He reluctantly placed his hands by his knees. His fists were balled so tightly that his knuckles turned white. ¡°You can.¡± Celia replied calmly. ¡°I lost everything after this town burned down. My family, my friends, my home. After that, I gave up and tried to forget all of that. Pontius wasn¡¯t even considering me as his successor at that point. But eventually I couldn¡¯t forget, and I decided to try again.¡± ¡°But you -¡± ¡°-Yes, I failed again. I got caught up in my persona and didn¡¯t want to accept the truth. You forced me to understand that, and I am very grateful.¡± ¡°Even so-¡± ¡°-Your partner was the same. From what you told me, she shook off the anxiety that she carried and-¡± ¡°-That¡¯s not the same!¡± Leo roared. Celia brought and hand to her chin and sighed. ¡°Then what about you? I could be misinterpreting things, but you changed around that time as well, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°T-That¡¯s also different¡­¡± ¡°Maybe it was easier before, but that doesn¡¯t change my question. Do you want to try again?¡± Celia held out her hand and stared at Leo with steady eyes. - ?? - ?? - Five Years Later The door to the Lion¡¯s Tail Pub swung open. Rain rushed through the entrance as if it were trying to escape the howling storm. A cloaked figure stumbled inside like a drowned dog. A half dozen men and women followed him in. ¡°Guild master! I told you not to move!¡± ¡°You¡¯re gravely wounded!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night! At least wait until tomorrow!¡± They desperately tried to get his attention, but he ignored them all. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re even more stubborn than that muscle-head! Just pull him away!¡± Several of them grabbed his arms and shoulders, but the man swatted them away like flies. Slowly but surely, the cloaked figure reached the counter. The barkeep opened his mouth to speak, but the man acted first. He tossed a pile of gold coins onto the counter and raised his hand. ¡°You know what I like. Give me this many bottles worth.¡± The barkeep raised an eyebrow and the man pulled back his hood. After confirming the scar across his nose, the barkeep nodded with a grin. ¡°Are you trying to empty my entire stock?¡± ¡°I might be.¡± The Guild Master mirrored his grin. ¡°Today I¡¯m here to celebrate!¡± End