After the knights left, a few more customers would occasionally stroll in. Good thing they weren’t looking for beer or else we would’ve had to turn them away and Kaitlyn would’ve definitely not let me off.

No, most of them came for some Meat Pie? I wasn’t thinking much of it at first, but throughout the night, every single customer ordered this strange Meat Pie. Even their comments about it seemed strange.

“The Meat Pie here is just simply amazing!”

“Tell me about it! Whenever I go a day without this, I would feel like something’s not right and end up being useless the whole next day.”

“Haha! You got that right. This just energizes me to the core.”

My face couldn’t help but be puzzled! Is this meat pie really that good? Maybe I should just drown myself in it and forget all of the problems. Wait, is this considered running away?

“Hey, why not let me have a taste?” I asked with all the suave in the world as I wiped the counter.

“Now that’s going too far.” Kaitlyn replied, sending me a wink while continuing to clean mugs from earlier. “I don’t mind you giving the beer out since those are dirt cheap, but the meat pies are the staple of our inn. Why else do you think people would come to a place that borders the Shadow District?”

I’m sorry did she say something? I stopped listening after that flirtatious wink. That was definitely flirting wasn’t it? I don’t know, I have never been in this situation before…

“By the way, have you heard about what the General did?”

A conversation suddenly piqued my ears. The customers from the surrounding tables talked to themselves.

“Huh? Which general. We have four of ‘em.” Someone replied.

“The, the two-faced bastard General Grim of course.”

“Oh, yeah! Didn’t he order the death of his whole army? And plot murder by killing the second son of the Owen’s family?”

“Didn’t I hear something of the Owens family requesting the capture of the general?”

“That’s what I heard too.”

“Yep.”

“Same”

“Apparently all his captains are being locked up in the dungeon. Only Amanda has been caught though.”

“The handsome one. What was his name? Ah that’s right, Captain Lance was spotted entering the city but escaped guards and went into hiding.”

Lance! Finally, someone who was loyal to this original person.

“Why don’t we try to capture him!’

“Sure! Why, not!”

“Dead or alive? Haha.”

All the other people from the tables started agreeing with the statements. I clenched my fists as my face darkened. Even if this body and name weren’t mine, I can’t believe I’m being dragged through the dirt like this.

“What’s all this jabbering about?” A hoarse voice said aloud causing the inn to go silent.

I looked in the direction of the voice and was instantly surprised to see that it was Kaitlyn’s father! He was sitting in the corner with beer mugs tipped over.

“Did you not hear, Elder? The General who was beloved of all people is accused of treason!”

“And they still haven’t locked him up! Probably because of his past achievements, is probably why they are tolerating his actions!”

The old man suddenly leaned off the wall then put his fists on the table.

“So, what?” Was all he said.

My jaw dropped as I heard only those two words. ‘So, what?”

“Are you all just sheep that listen to whatever you hear? Then come and kiss my feet! I’m the King! Haha!” He started cackling like a madman as if he was about to die from his own joke.

He is mad. Mhm, he is definitely mad.

“Listen, old man. I’m not a sheep for anyone.” A younger customer retorted, standing up and walking forward.

My sharp eyes caught a sharp object on his waist. A knife? Dagger? Doesn’t matter, he has a blade…

“Huh? Who you trying to intimidate? Why don’t you head home, child.”

As soon as Benjamin said that, the young man unsheathed the blade and started doing all these fancy hand movements. I mean, the knife dancing was pretty basic and has absolutely no value, but it’s still a blade.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Keep your head low.” I whispered to Kaitlyn.

I rushed behind the young man and just as he was about to thrust forward, I caught his arm and held it behind his back.

“Why don’t we all calm down?” I said calmly.

The youngster tilted his head to look back at me and his eyes widened, face filled with fear and...hatred?

“It’s the fucking General!” He bellowed.

The five customers who were all sitting down instantly shot up and stared at me with contempt.

Now being the person that I am, I couldn’t help but let the slip of the tongue out.

“Fuck.”

I faced the five people, still twisting the arm of the guy as I backed against the wall. I squeezed until the knife finally dropped. When it did, I kicked it over to Benjamin.

“Let’s just capture him now and give him to the Owens family!”

“Yeah, I’m willing to bet they are going to reward us with a hefty reward for his head.”

“Ha! Hopefully it’s just his head. I wouldn’t want to be carrying trash with me.”

I blinked rapidly as I stared at these motherfuckers in the face. What did I ever do to you! Is it my fault for getting shot with an arrow and passing out? If so, then I apologize! I didn’t know my pain affected you all so negatively!

“You move, he gets hurt.” I threatened.

I mean sure it may seem low but c'mon, there’s five of them!

“Get him!” One of the bastards yelled.

Tsk.

I quickly shoved the guy forward to the two people close together and made a break for the counter. Grabbing two mugs, I swung my arms around and bruised one of the bulkier guys in the eye.

Suddenly, I mentally started imagining I could hear music from one of those bar fight scenes from movies. Roll the music!

I tumbled over the counter and saw that Kaitlyn was crouched down. She gave me a worried stare before gesturing on the lowest shelf of the counter. My eyes lit up and a sly smile grew upon my face.

The four people started surrounding the bar, preventing me from escaping.

“Nowhere left to run.” The person on the opposite of the counter sneered.

“Run? As a general?” I retorted proudly.

I quickly kicked the staff up from the bottom shelf like a professional soccer player. Or is it football? Either way, I kicked the staff up as I threw the two mugs at the people.

Grabbing the staff with one hand, I smacked the mug in the air with a twirl of the wrist. Smashing it upon the bulky figure’s face.

My fighting skills consist of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and some Naruto Storm!

Real life experience? Didn’t I mention I took a bit of karate? Time to utilize all my practice!

I spun the staff around like how I used to practice with those plastic katanas I got from festivals. The brutes all around started backing off as I was some legendary fighter. I smirked but suddenly felt like something was amiss.

I glanced behind me and found the guy in the midst of hopping over. However, as soon as I turned around, the three in front of me started to move forward.

To my surprise, the flirtatious minx, Kaitlyn, shot up from the ground and uppercutted the guy with a wooden plate.

I grinned but was in no way to praise. I hate to admit it but my stamina isn’t very high and I am growing tired from all this fucking spinning. Plus I’ve been working all day! Chill!

I spun the staff like a helicopter and walked forward towards the guy blocking the entrance to the bar. When he reached forward I slammed the staff down with all my strength and surprisingly sent the guy into the ground!

Am I this strong? Perhaps I retained all the physical features of this body… so someone like me who worked out one day a week has all this strength…

Impressive! I’ll take it.

I glanced up to the other two fear flickered in their eyes. One leaped over but I thrusted the staff forward into his abdomen, hearing a pained groan.

The other trying to capitalize at the same time also leaped over. However, Kaitlyn threw a mug with amazing accuracy! Hitting the guy straight in the face.

When all the people around were down, the fifth person, who was the youngster, was shaking with fear from the door of the inn.

When I stepped forward he quickly ran out yelling.

Haha! I could get used to this!

***

After cleaning up all the mess and kicking the troublemakers onto the street, Kaitlyn and I looked at each other to let out a sigh of relief.

“I knew my old eyes weren’t deceiving me.” The father said from the corner.

He never once moved from his position during the whole fight.

“You are indeed the Devil General Grim. Yet… you aren’t.” He said ominously.

“Father what are you saying? Why would the… general… be.. here.” She then stared at my handsome features then snapped as if remembering something. “When I was cleaning your blue shirt there was the kingdom insignia. Usually only the kingdom’s knights and palace has that. Are you really the General?” Her voice grew high and her eyes sparkled.

I gulped and fixed my posture.

“I am.”

She then gasped as she stared at me, covering her mouth.

“I didn’t mean to laugh at you that hard. You just seemed too shameless and a little…”

I tilted my head in puzzlement since she didn’t finish her sentence.

“A little..?”

“A little dim witted…” she murmured under her breath.

I stared at the hostess in shock. Me? Shameless? Dim witted? How so! This is an attack on my character. Being called horny as a General surely cannot be seen as a good thing, right? Besides, I wasn’t being lustful but merely wanted a friend. And dim witted? My iq on those free online tests score well above average! My only thought condensed into one word. Disappointment.

I turned back to the father since I heard something strange.

“It’s been a long night so I hope you don’t mind me asking. Did you call me the Devil General?” I questioned, drooping my eyes to make it look more believable.

He eyed me but then took another swig from his own beer.

“The General who once destroyed a nation… must finally have gone to hell.”

After saying this, I still didn’t know what to say. Gone to hell? What is this Elder saying?

He then got up and waved before proceeding up the stairs without saying anything else. Though, he must be tired considering we were up the whole day so I did not blame him.

I turned my attention back to a grinning Kaitlyn.

I suddenly don’t feel too good about this.

“You still owe me for those beers you gave out…. come here!” As she spoke she grabbed my arm and pulled me upstairs.

She gave me that flirtatious smile as well.

What’s happening?! The situation has quickened. This escalation is too fast! The relationship has suddenly jumped over way too many levels!