"What was that? I didn't know you are an impulsive battle maniac," I remark as soon as I stand before Kruff who is planted in the wall.
Kruff snickers and then shakes his head faintly. "I just wanted to make sure of sothing."
"That I am stronger than you?"
"Pfft! No. I knew that as soon as I sensed your pressure when you returned." Pushing his body out of the wall, he continues, "I wanted to make sure if you could already hit . You can and it makes very proud to be one of the people who have taught you sothing."
"You just stood there holding on to my foot like an idiot--did you think I was so incompetent that I would miss you?"
As he was holding his chest to, maybe, stop the bleeding, Kruff smiles faintly at . It takes a few seconds to understand what his smile ans since there are so many emotions in it; still, I can't tell what it ans in the end.
"Do you still rember what my moniker is?"
"Flawless Orc."
"Do you know why I got it?"
"It is because you have never been hit fatally on the battlefield, so you have no permanent scar on your body."
With a smirk, he confidently says, "You know, whenever I am on the weaker side, I will always be able to escape. My Instinct has always helped ...yet today, it failed. As soon as you picked that greatsword, I couldn't read you any longer. Your state of existence has already surpassed mine."
"What does that even an?" I ask curiously as I throw him a Recovery Potion.
Catching the potion, he uncorks the bottle and downs it in one go. Throwing the bottle to the ground when he finished, he smiles playfully yet mysteriously.
"Well, that ans, if you want to, my Instinct can never predict your attack!" Kruff laughs rrily, making wonder if he has a concussion. "Anyway, look at this." He then shows the faint horizontal scar under his navel.
"Scar from the recent battle?"
"No. I got this from a junior of mine a little more than a decade ago." He smiles nostalgically. "I taught her Instinct too and, like you, she also managed to surpass my state of existence in a short ti."
Without him telling , I can tell this junior is the one that Kruff lost a decade ago--the one whose death still makes him feel guilty to this day. Talking about this brings an air of solemnity around him. He still smiles but it is not as light-hearted as it has always been. It is faint but I can feel the burden that weighs down his smile.
His light-hearted smile returns when he pats my shoulder twice. "I am proud of you, Layland. I am sure you can make it far and I will be very hyped if I can see the day you stand on the top of the world cos."
At a glance, it sounds like he is being provocative but, from his mood, I can only conclude that he is lanting. I don't know why he lants about it--I feel like sothing is going on but I don't ask him anything since he doesn't even bother to tell .
I am sure he keeps it a secret for a reason. I will let the ti make him tell about it.
"What about having a drink? You haven't got the ti to drink with , so since you are here, let's get wasted!"
Now that I recall it, Kruff had indeed invited to have a drink a lot of tis and I refused all of those invitations. Since I have nothing to do today, I say yes to his invitation, which gets him extrely excited.
"Oi! Let join you, bastards! How dare you have a drink without even inviting your General?" from the audience seat, Velucan shouts.
"Kuhum! I would also like to know more about you, Eighth Wing Warrior Layland, so I will also participate in this drinking event."
Turning his bewildered eyes to the Demon beside him, the Garou asks, "Are you sure you want to join us? We will be very loud and crazy when we are drunk, you know?"
"I am aware of that," Jovenus, the Demon King's Second General replies calmly.
"We will be surrounded by a lot of won. You don't like won, do you? I think you'll hate it."
Since the Arena has gotten quiet after my fight with Kruff, the conversation between the two can be heard by everyone there. None of them can hold themselves from sighing at Velucan's prejudice against Jovenus--so even mimic Jovenus' expression well.
Velucan clears his throat uncomfortably in the end. He then jumps to our side and asks us to imdiately go to the tavern in one of the cities nearby, which he claims to be the best tavern that he knows.
We leave when Jovenus joins us. The Arena remains quiet as we go but the tension has gone; I don't know what stuns them that hard and I am not too interested to figure it out.
A few minutes of walking later, we find a Teleportation Gate. Passing through it, we arrive at Ekhiel City, which is where the tavern is located.
Like most cities that are close to the Demon King's Castle, it is mainly inhabited by civilian Demons. There are still so Warriors roaming the street but most of them are Monsters since this city is extrely popular among Monster Warriors.
The main reason why it is favored by them is not that hard to figure out. This city produces the best liquor in the entirety of the Verniculos Kingdom and they like to drink.
Clink-Clank!
The bell chis as we enter the tavern. I expected Velucan to have a bad taste in drinking places but I am surprised by the interior and the atmosphere of the tavern. They don't suit the na of the tavern at all. I wonder why this tavern is even nad Hellhole with how civil everything is inside.
"Xenon, my dear, give us your best drink!"
"Sit there and wait."
"All right!"
As soon as I hear the familiar na and see the barbaric-looking girl, I can imdiately tell why this tavern is the best in Velucan's mind--he has his sweetheart working here. No wonder I can't see her anywhere in the castle.
Since there are not many people in the tavern, I take my mask off. I have worn a mask for months and I don't want to get used to always using it. Besides, other than functioning as an accessory, it barely helps in a fight nowadays. My senses have gotten better, so I can fight without relying on the mask's ability.
I know how rare it is the ability to see Mana, which is why the mask is an Indigo Rank Relic, but after having the ability, the mask is no different from the limited-edition Supre Oreo. It is still unfair to compare the forr to the latter but I believe you get my point.
Thud!
"Here is your drink, sir..."
When a glass is put down on the table, I look up to et the face of the slightly nervous Xenon. It is amusing that she is still afraid of but can date Velucan that looks more terrifying than , so I can't help smiling lightly.
Picking up the glass and saying a simple 'thank you,' I down the liquor in one go. The others also do the sa and the talk begins afterward.
As I expected, I beco the main topic of the talk. They bombard with all kinds of questions--starting from how my journey went to when I will marry all the girls. I frown at the latter and they rely laugh at . They still don't believe that it is not like what they think, though.
We ended up spending hours in the tavern. Kruff and Velucan are completely wasted and embarrassing themselves by dancing like chickens having a seizure. Everyone in the tavern looks at them in amusent. anwhile, Jovenus and I rely shake our heads as we enjoy our drinks.
"You have a high tolerance for alcohol," Jovenus remarks.
"Nothing can get you drunk after experiencing death countless tis," I answer. "I am getting a little tipsy, though."
"You won't lose yourself even when you are drunk, will you?"
"Yes, I won't."
"Then...don't let your feeling blinds you."
Thud.
Putting down my glass, I look at Jovenus with a quirked eyebrow. Sensing the mood, the barmaids who have been clinging onto and trying to get my attention leave and so do the barmaids on Jovenus' side.
"What do you an?"
"You have a loose cannon on your side," Jovenus warns. "Whatever that woman has inside her is sothing that terrifies and the King. I could never forget how we had to find replacents for six Generals after that event a decade ago."
Jovenus fiddles with his fingers as his eyes stare into the air. I know how badly Millonia damaged the Kingdom in the past but his well-hidden terror managed to bring so solemnity to my mind this ti.
Still...
"You know, I appreciate your consideration but..." I stand up and put my mask on. "Butt out. Let manage my affair."
Our discussion seems to bring so clarity back to Velucan and Kruff's minds. They stop dancing and turn to look at as I walk toward the door.
"I was once like you until the inevitable hit like heaven's wrath. Still, I won't advise you to give up on your optimism," Jovenus says, stopping in my tracks for a few seconds.
I resu walking, say nothing to Jovenus, and mutter, "Optimism? Pfft! I don't act and hope for the best outco. I desire sothing and realize it myself."
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