Kichirou strolled aimlessly, following the sounds of life. Almost instinctively, he had ended up in a bar.
The special shots that they ran were of rainbow colour, the taste itself was quite strong, with a hint of fruity flavor. It was unidentifiable for Kichirou, though not that it mattered. The only thing on his mind was how much gold he had left to get completely blacked out with. Zakin had provided each of them some pocket money to spend as they liked, it was enough for all the drinks he needed and then some.
“One more please.”
“Coming right up.”
Drinking like this first thing in the morning… Well atleast im not the only one day drinking.
Three other patrons sat two seats down from Kichirou with pints in hand.
One more quickly became two, and two to three, the shots kept coming one after another and Kichirou gulped them down as quickly as they came.
“Why the hell are you drinking in the middle of the day? We were supposed to go out today as a family!”
“It's just a few drinks on my day off. What's the big deal?”
“Just a few? How the hell are you gonna drive? It may be your day off, but it's also your son's birthday. Can't you at least act like a proper father and do the right thing for once?”
“What do you think I’m doing everyday? Working at that shit hole of place for what!? To put some food on this fucking table!”
For a moment there he had dozed off. After collecting himself, he sighed and downed another shot.
What we remember makes us who we are. If you don’t hold on, you’ll forget who you are.
“Did you guys hear?”
“Hear what?”
“Rumor has it that someone kidnapped one of Lord Debouf’s daughters.”
“What!? Which one?”
“Does it matter? Two large bounties were placed, ten thousand gold coins a piece. We’d be set for life if we catch those two.”
“You dumbass, if they were capable of doing something like that to Lord Debouf, do you think they would be caught by the likes of us!?”
Debouf’s daughter got kidnapped? No wonder they were attacking the manor then. Hmph, though it doesn't concern me anymore.
“Hey speak for yourself, when did I ever show off my true skills?”
“Well whatever, it's not like we would have a chance anyways, they wouldn’t be dumb enough to stick around at the capital after doing something like that.”
“True enough, well this round is on me.”
The barkeep brought over the drinks and gave the three a quick once-over.
“Sorry to say, but you three had no chance to begin with.”
“Hey now, don’t YOU look down on us old man, I may not look at it but I trained under the greatest swordmaster this land has ever seen!”
Do these idiots really have to be this loud?? What did I expect? Day drinkers, the lowest of society, the trash that was thrown away and forgotten, but nevertheless a black mark of shame in one's family's name, how ironic.
“Hahahahaha of course you did, my dear customer. Here, take these, they've already got wanted posters for the supposed perpetrators. So why not put your money where your mouth is and catch em?”
“You know what, just for that I’m gonna do it, Niuh, Niah another round on me. We’ll start first thing after lunch.”
I’ll get to it right after. How many times do people tell themselves that and never get around to it? I’ll get my life in order tomorrow, I’ll stop drinking tomorrow, I’ll stop smoking starting tomorrow.
And what happens when that day or moment never comes? Because it won't. Dream as you wish, it will remain a dream forever. Those with the will to seek it will reach their dreams and cowards just dream forever.
Kichirou couldn't help but laugh.
“Nier, you said it yourself, they wouldn't be in the capital, so how are we supposed to find em?”
“Nonono, hold on just a second now.” He brushed his friend aside and walked up to Kichirou.
“Who the hell are you laughing at punk!? What's the world come to? First the old man and now even this street punk is laughing at me!?” He shouted as he grabbed Kichirou by the collar.
The very definition of an idiot, resorting to brute force the second reality strikes. Trash will be trash no matter what, they won't change for they can't change.
The only thing they deserve is the cold embrace of death.
It was the first time Kichirou got a good look at the fools, nothing noteworthy for their appearance except for the sword at each of their sides. Their attempt to appear threatening came off quite comically with their plain appearances, the three stooges certainly came to mind.
“Get your hands off me, you filth.” Kichirou glared at him, his eyes filled with indifference.
“What the hell did you just say!!?”
“Nier, wait!” Niuh shouted.
It's too late, the fool had already swung, a big wide swing of a drunken dullard. Down he fell like a mighty oaf, then proceeded to throw up all over the floor.
“You're dead punk! Nier, are you alright?”
“He's the one who swung at me, so what's the problem here?”
The two drunkards stepped around their friend with blades ready to be drawn.
“Now gentlemen that simply won't do, if you draw that blade here, the arm that wields it won't be leaving with you," the old barkeep interjected.
“Who the hell do you think you're talking to old ma…” Before he could even finish his sentence, the man crumbled like a marionette that’s strings had been cut.
What just happened? Did the barkeep punch him?
It was so fast that he couldn't even see the technique, nay he couldn't see any movement at all.
“There will be no second warning.”
The filth that stained the floor struggled to gather his feet beneath him.
The last drunkard stood in awe for a second before coming to his senses and grabbing his fallen friend.
“We won't forget this. Niah, get up and pay the tab, I’ll grab Nier.”
They dropped a few coins and hurried out, dragging their unconscious friend by his feet.
Like I’d care about that.
“Good riddance, two more of what I had please.”
“You’re not getting another drink till you clean up your own mess.”
“What?”
“That.” The barkeep pointed at the mess that the idiot had left behind, a trail of puke.
Kichirou raised a brow in confusion: “Why would I clean that up?”
“Well if you want to order another drink you will clean up the mess you made.”
Sigh.
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He wasn't wrong, if Kichirou had just contained himself and refrained from laughing at that idiot and himself, then perhaps nothing would have happened. Much akin to everything else Kichirou does in his life, it all turned out to be nothing more than a mess that he needed to clean up afterward.
It's my fault like always.
“I’ll clean it up, do you have any cleaning solutions?”
“Really? Well I can get you a bucket of hot water and some towels.”
“Yea that’ll do.”
Cleaning the trail of puke was nothing new for Kichirou, it only took a few minutes to mop it all up. The smell on the other hand needed some cleaning chemicals that he didn't have. Perhaps the oils of some citrus fruit with some water could mask the smell for now.
“That's good enough, go wash up, next rounds on me," the barkeep said, with a big grin on his face.
Kichirou looked at the man in surprise.
At least my deeds aren't going unrewarded.
When he sat down at the bar once more there was another shot waiting for him. It was jet black, no it was even more than that, the shade of darkness resembled that of the super black paint that was invented—vantablack, yes that was the one.
“Um, what is this exactly?”
“It's something special, you will probably never have the chance to taste it ever again in your lifetime.”
Where has he heard this before? Every mushroom can be eaten, but some only once in your lifetime.
“Don't worry, it's not poisonous, it's a very rare liquor, try it and you’ll know.”
A drink is a drink, and if he dies then, well he dies.
Wouldn't even be so bad. Bottoms up.
It was smooth unlike anything he had before, the silk-like drink caressed his tongue with a divine sensation. It was slightly sweet with a touch of sourness, burning the entire way down as it should. The only thing he had that could be remotely compared to this was the special malt whiskey that he had tried and stashed away for a better day, but it still wasn't even close.
“What the hell was that?”
“As I said, it was something special.”
Normally a premium shot in establishments such as this is marked up 300-500 percent, if that really was something that special, just how much would it cost? Could he even afford to have something like that? The barkeep did mention the next round was on him, there's no reason to bring out the ultra-premium stuff to give for free.
Kichirou had heard of many scams such as this, luring people in with false tales then charging an absolute truckload afterward, only to have the poor suckers end up as slaves—or rather indentured servants for the rest of their lives.
This can't possibly really be for free can it?
The barkeep was all smiles, which only made things more suspicious.
“Um, so how much for that drink?”
“Hmm? Didn’t I already say that the next drink was on me?”
“Really? But you said it was something really special.”
“Like I said, it's on the house. It's rare to see young men like you nowadays, with a proper sense of honor.”
The hell is he talking about? All I did was what I should have done, nothing more, nothing less. Isn't it?
“Um thanks? Can I get two more of what I was having earlier?”
“Coming right up.”
Is it funny or is it sad? That he finds himself passing his life away at the end of a bottle, even in this new world.
It's certainly both, Kichirou snickered to himself as he downed the next two shots in one go.
My whole life has been a fucking joke…
It's rather comical isn't it? That alcohol is meant to muddle the mind, actually granted him the momentary clarity to put his whole life into the proper perspective.
As he distanced himself from his own life, no matter how he justified it to himself, there was just the feeling of emptiness.
Is it weakness to feel lonely?
Is it flawed wanting to be needed and loved?
The answer in his heart is a resounding yes. Those feelings are nothing but weakness, when you depend on others you only open yourself up for disappointment.
The only person you should trust and depend on is yourself.
If so then why, why is the empty heart weighted so heavily.
“Hey old man, what would you say is your biggest regret?”
“Pardon?”
“Uh never mind.”
“A troubled heart?”
“I suppose you can say that," Kichirou replied lazily as he laid his head down on the counter.
“Well regret is a turbulence that keeps your heart a flutter, it will find its way to your heart one way or another, whether you follow through with your heart or not. It's as certain as death.”
“So no matter what I do I'll regret my decision aye? You don't hear that often.”
“It's a cruel yet simple truth of the world.”
You miss every shot you don't take, in order to succeed you must risk the chance of failure, and every variation of that phrase is all you would ever hear. It was actually quite refreshing to hear a sentiment much closer to his own for once.
“Indeed.”
“Either way, you alone will have to live with the choices you made, whether you like it or not.”
He’s not wrong, your life is only yours to live after all. But then what of those who are left behind? Those who had no choice in the matter, what happens then… what is fair…
Fairness, a laughable mean that could not truly be measured. Some are born with great beauty, some are born swifter afoot, and some are born sickly and feeble, both in life and in upbringing the sheer scope of what life offers is inherently different.
Life isn't fair. Nothing ever is.
“One more please.”
How many shots was this?
Kichirou shrugged and downed his next drink in a single gulp.
The number of drinks went like a blur, much akin to most of his adult life so far, nothing to be remembered, nothing to be celebrated.
There was a strange drop of moisture on his hands that Kichirou did not understand.
He stared down at the empty glass, it was enough.
“Your form wasn't too shabby, though it still could use a lot more work. Your arm did not extend all the way, the impact wasn't transferred fully.”
“Huh?”
The barkeep threw a couple of quick punches in the air and smiled.
“If the man wasn't so out of it he would have gotten right back up.”
“You mean like this?” Kichirou asked as he threw out two more jabs.
“I would practice a lot more if I were you. Here, take one of these, if you're interested.”
Hmm?
It was the wanted posters, ten thousand gold coins for each, for the kidnapping of Lady Ashel, only alive. It must have occurred during that chaotic attack on Mercini, it could have been any one of those invaders, these two must have been the ring leaders for being singled out like this.
Huh?
There was something strange yet vaguely familiar about these two wanted men, he paused for a second and examined it again. There's no doubt about it, they resembled Swizze and himself.
If Kichirou had to describe it, it would be as if someone knew exactly what they looked like and changed a few distinct details on purpose to throw people off track.
He could recall that at least ten people saw their faces at the manor, the guards, the invaders, Tyjur and even Lady Ashel herself. From their point of view, Kichirou and Swizze would definitely be considered to be the suspects. However, even having taken the accounts from all these people, the wanted posters do not depict them accurately.
Could this be a deliberate alteration, or is it just an honest mistake?
This is no laughing matter, considering the subsequent consequences and that it’s Lady Ashel, they would not make a mistake such as this. It's just common sense after all, if you are not certain of a fact, either figure it out or don't present it, otherwise it would be a risk of career suicide.
Yet they put in such false details on these wanted posters, it must be intentional.
But why would someone do such a thing? It doesn't make any sense.
“Looks awful a lot like you don't it?”
Huh.
“Yea this guy kinda does look like me a little.”
“If only you had that scar, I’d be making a lot of gold today.”
“Haha well if I was the wanted man, I wouldn't be drinking here now would I.”
The barkeep smiled, but his eyes looked unconvinced.
“True enough, you care for another shot?”
“No, that's enough for today, how much will it be?”
“Two gold Reins.”
“Just two?”
“Yea those are for the shots, and like I said the other one was on the house. Do feel free to come back anytime.”
Kichirou carefully counted the coins he had and laid two of them on the table: “Thank you for the drinks.”
“You’re welcome and be careful out there.”
“Um yea…”
*Jingle*
A young woman strolled in lackadaisically, tying her blonde hair. She wore a very short maid's uniform with a cute little hat, almost as if she was stepping straight out of those maid cafes.
She was beautiful.
Hmph. With such a complexion, there's no doubt she has collected the hearts of many and broken just as many of them. Dancing and prancing over the dreams and hopes of men through her easy life, every step of the way. And that’s just life.
With intent or simply accidental, does it really matter? It does not. The world isn't fair and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
“Lilie, you're late.”
“Oh, come on Dauson, give me a break, what kind of losers go to bars at this hour anyway? Huh?” She blushed slightly and lowered her head: “I’m sorry, I didn’t know there was already a guest here this early.”
So that's his name, Dauson.
Kichirou could feel the glare emanating from Dauson.
Hah. The type of loser that the world is better off without.
“I really meant no disrespect, how about a drink with me? Handsome.” She walked up to Kichirou and gently graced his face.
“It's fine, don't worry about it.” Kichirou offered the best smile he could muster before turning to Dauson: “Thank you again for the drinks.”
*Jingle*
“Lilie, what did I say about scaring off our customers.”
“Scaring him? Don’t you think it's the other way around this time?”
“Hmm?”
“Oh never mind, I need to get ready for our regulars.”
“I’m gonna take my leave for today, take care of things around here, and remember to be careful.”
“Yea yea sure, and where are you going when we are about to get busy around here?”
“Paying an old hag a visit.”
…
The sun was long past its apex, the last fragments of its beams blinded Kichirou as he stepped onto the streets of Eisene.
What time is it? Ugh who cares, I really need to get back right now. I need to lay low for the time being, some idiots might just attack me regardless, and if I do get brought in, who knows what might happen then.
Just play it cool. The more you try to blend in the more you will stand out. The inn’s only a few minutes away, walk like nothing happened and you’ll be there before you know it. Normal people wouldn't even bat an eye seeing me on the streets like this. The only ones that would recognize you are the few guards from the Debouf manor, and Tyjur, there was nothing to worry about.
A left on this street and a right on this corner, when the big red building comes into view that's halfway back already.
Everything is gonna be ok.
“Shit, sorry.”
Lost in thought, Kichirou had walked right into someone.
“Watch where you’re walking you imbecile, what the? Who the hell just walked into me!?”
A shrug was all his companion could offer.
Did he see me?
“How the world turns on its head in just a few days, I've been ousted for just a day, and these filthy peasants already dare to openly disrespect me. I’m done with this slum, let’s go to the extra estate.”
“Sir, may I remind you that all the residences of the family are not permissible to you, Lord Debouf has already informed everyone of the matter, we will not be welcomed there. With our current budget I’d say the best we can do is an inn for the common folks.”
“To live in the same quarter as those peasants!? Damn it all to hell, I’ll find those bastards.”
“I certainly hope that to be the case sir. I would also like us to return to our normal lifestyle.”
“Hmph, well lead the way, my feet grow tired of walking about.”
“Yes my lord, let us head to the inn then.”
What the hell is Tyjur doing here?
If even he sees me, I’m a dead man.
There’s no chance he would walk free from court if all the evidence were brought in front of the judge. Not only did he “assault” some guards, but also Tyjur himself. Even if he could prove that someone had kidnapped Schnee, Kichirou is still an unknown entity who just happened to enter town the night before the attack, and who also happened to be at the manor during the attack. Coincidence could only explain so much, there will undoubtedly be much more than a shadow of a doubt casted upon him.
Or perhaps the justice system in this country is more primitive, and torture and other unsavory acts would be commited. But then it wouldn't be him alone who would suffer the consequences.
Zakin would know what to do to get him out of this, Kichirou only got into this mess by saving Schnee, Zakin owes it to him at the very least. All he had to do was make it back to the inn and be as inconspicuous as possible.
Statistically speaking, going down the same road that Tyjur had been on, would be the least likely route that Kichirou would accidently bump into Tyjur. Plus it was the shortest route afterall, walk normally and no one would pay him any heed.
It's all going to be ok.
Only a few blocks away, no one is looking at you, no one knows you, just walk normally…
“Excuse me.”
“Now ain't this grand, running into you again punk.”
Only when the words registered in his mind did he look up, and before him were two of the three imbeciles, the one he knocked out must still be asleep.
“The hell do you two want?”
Kichirou eyed them incredulously and took a step back.
“Did you really think that we wouldn’t have noticed?”
“What are you talking about?”
“He must have handed you one too didn't he?”
Kichirou instinctively took another step back, to get himself out of arm's reach, but instead of the empty freedom that should have been behind him, he bumped into someone.
“Where do you think you're going, I think you should take a walk with us, what do you think?”
Lo and behold, the third dunce to complete the trio. As much as he wanted to retort, Kichirou could clearly feel the sharp end of a knife in his back.