Chapter 31

A heavy silence fell over the room.

The collective gaze of the drunks focused squarely on us. A few of them placed their payment on their tables and scurried out of the shop, clearly wanting no part of the trouble about to unfold.

Amidst the stifling tension, I called out to the waiter who had frozen in his tracks.

“Hurry up with the drink. And sorry, but cancel the food order.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

The waiter frantically delivered the drink and immediately retreated to the back of the shop.

I looked down at the beverage placed on the table. It was a cocktail filled with a pink liquid, the rim of the glass garnished with a slice of fruit. It was a beautiful color. It felt out of place in a cluttered tavern like this; it looked more like something you’d find in a trendy, high-end bar.

I picked up the slice of fruit, squeezed a few drops of juice into the glass, and gave it a light swirl. When I sniffed it, a sweet and sour aroma wafted up. Just right.

Ignoring the blade pressed against my neck, I downed the contents of the glass in one go.

“…Yeah, this is good. Delicious.”

The base was likely a berry-flavored liqueur. It had a crisp sweetness and went down smoothly. The juice I’d added served to highlight the cocktail’s flavor perfectly. I’d have to thank Letona for the recommendation.

I set the empty glass back on the table.

“You bastard… Do you not understand the situation you’re in?”

The man in the white coat standing beside me was trembling with rage. It seemed he had been polite enough to wait for me to finish drinking. Or perhaps he simply couldn’t comprehend that he was being ignored. It was a classic case of cognitive paralysis.

Behind the man stood about twenty thugs. I assumed he’d brought his subordinates along. Every single one of them exuded a murderous aura. The pleasant atmosphere of the tavern was officially ruined.

‘I didn’t sense him stepping in, though…’

I glanced at the sword still pointed at me. The man in the white coat should have had to walk over to reach me; the distance wasn’t short enough for someone to close the gap in an instant. Yet, he had suddenly appeared behind me. Was it magic, as usual?

Highly likely. In this fantasy world, nothing was surprising anymore.

I glanced at Alice. Catching my intent, she spoke up while remaining seated.

“That was a short-range teleportation. I felt a fluctuation in mana from that sword. It’s likely a Magic Sword with teleportation abilities. A very rare weapon indeed.”

“I see. A weapon ability, huh…”

Acknowledging Alice’s explanation, I studied the man’s face. Only his eyes were visible through the bandages, but he looked incredibly displeased. I heard him give a small click of his tongue. Alice’s deduction had hit the bullseye.

Still, teleportation was a troublesome thing to deal with. Simply put, it felt like cheating. I didn’t even need to think about how much of a threat it posed in combat. I’m not fond of powers derived from fantasy; they’re too unpredictable. The knowledge and experience I’d cultivated often proved useless against them.

Well, grumbling wasn’t going to improve the situation. I’d tasted this reality many times since being summoned to this world. I’d just have to overcome my aversion to it step by step.

“Now then—”

I stood up slowly. The man in the white coat reflexively pulled back his Magic Sword. As I thought, he had no real intention of cutting me yet. He’d gone through the trouble of taking my back just to flaunt his power. It was pathetically petty. I would have preferred him to show enough backbone to actually swing without warning.

Facing the man in the white coat, I spoke without looking away.

“Looking for a seat? Sorry, but I’m on a date. Try somewhere else.”

“Still spouting nonsense at a time like this…!”

The man groaned in a muffled voice. He’d been having trouble speaking since earlier. It was probably because I’d smashed his jaw with the door of the golem car. If I recalled correctly, his teeth had been broken too. Since he’d gone through the windshield, he likely had scars all over his face. No wonder he looked like a mummy.

Considering the extent of his injuries, he was speaking remarkably well; he’d probably received some kind of magical healing.

I stared intently at the man’s appearance, offering a mocking evaluation.

“That’s a fine look you’ve got there. Those bandages really suit you. I’d say you’ve become quite the lady-killer, haven’t you?”

“Y-You bastard…!”

The man’s cheek twitched in a spasm of fury. I could tell even through the bandages. His breathing grew heavy, and he glared at me with eyes that looked ready to kill.

This man was clearly the type to be easily provoked. Personally, I preferred people who lacked composure; it made their actions much easier to read. Since he was capable of annoying tricks like teleportation, it was best to strip away his judgment.

I expected him to swing at me right then and there, but he abruptly began to take deep breaths. Once he managed to steady his breathing, he turned a calm gaze toward me. Perhaps he had remembered the last time his rage resulted in a major injury. He seemed to possess at least a human level of learning capability.

Though a hint of irritation remained in his eyes, he made a conscious effort to speak calmly.

“My name is Lord Dalles Rodmiller. I am Level 49, and my Class is Magic Swordsman. I have given you my name because I have acknowledged that you are not an insignificant existence. You should feel honored…”

The man in the white coat—Dalles—spoke with an insolent attitude. I hadn’t quite expected him to suddenly introduce himself. Still, he was incredibly high-and-mighty. He didn’t even try to hide his arrogance.

“State your name. I shall permit it.”

“I’m just a local drunk. Don’t worry about it,” I said with a shrug.

Dalles glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

“It seems you intend to mock me to the very end… Even after I have come here to offer a reconciliation.”

“Reconciliation? You’re spouting that in this situation? Your jokes are pretty sharp.”

I laughed, gesturing toward the group standing behind Dalles. They were clearly men of the underworld, likely belonging to some organization. Seeing him lead such a large number of subordinates, I assumed Dalles held a position of some status. Given the agitation of the other tavern patrons, he might even be a well-known figure. Looks could be deceiving.

“So, what does this ‘reconciliation’ of yours involve?”

When I asked, Dalles answered immediately.

“I will put you through the same experience I suffered. Ordinarily, I would kill you on the spot, but this time I shall show mercy. I am a generous man, after all. If you wish to live in peace in this city, then submit.”

I almost laughed out loud. What a ridiculous proposal. Did he actually think I’d just nod obediently? I assumed he intended to use the subordinates waiting behind him if I didn’t comply.

Wiping these guys out right here would be easy. However, it would be a nuisance if people from the same organization came for revenge later. To maintain their honor as a group, they might become obsessed with finishing me off. One assassin after another would attack, and the cycle of resentment would never end.

I had to think of a solution. A method that only handled the immediate situation wouldn’t cut it. Perhaps it was time to use my head for once.

As I stared Dalles down, I thought. Then, a brilliant idea struck me. I looked at Dalles’s bandaged face and let a thin smile play across my lips.

“—I have to pull the weeds out by the roots.”

“What are you muttering about?”

“Just talking to myself. More importantly, if we’re reconciling, let’s change locations. We’ll be a nuisance to the shop here.”

“…Hmph, very well. I have no intention of involving unrelated bystanders either.”

Dalles snorted at my suggestion. Afterward, we stepped out of the tavern. Surrounded by Dalles’s henchmen, we moved through the night streets on foot. The pedestrians we passed looked at us with pity.

“Where are we going?”

“Shut up.”

I questioned one of the henchmen, but was met with a curt response. I felt like making sure he could never take that tone again, but I managed to restrain myself at the last second. I couldn’t go on a rampage here. This was a time for patience.

“Hey, Jack.”

As we were being led away, Alice spoke up. Even in this situation, her energy remained unchanged. There wasn’t a trace of agitation to be found. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.

“What is it?”

“A ‘date’—what exactly is that? It’s a word I’ve never heard before.”

Taken aback by the sudden question, I reflexively turned toward her. Apparently, she had been wondering about my comment back in the tavern this whole time. She really did operate at her own pace. I looked up at the night sky as I answered her question.

“It refers to the time these guys interrupted. It doesn’t have a deep meaning.”

“Then we’ll have to continue our ‘date’ another time.”

“…Yeah, I guess so. I’ll look forward to it.”

I could only respond with a wry smile to Alice’s innocent remark.