༺ Had a Drink ༻
The undying came to me with a bottle of liquor in hand, seeking counsel. He filled a couple of glasses without asking, then began speaking as if shouldering the world’s weight on his own.
“Teacher, a problem has occurred.”
“What’s up?”
“Do you remember saying we would escape this place the next time the sun shines?”
“I did say that.”
“Hm. What will you do once you are out?”
Life counseling, so suddenly?
I hadn’t decided anything due to having limited freedom to plan beyond my escape. So I replied without much thought.
“I guess I’ll go back to where I was staying before.”
“The Military State? I hear they have no forgiveness for criminals. Can you go back?”
“They’re not forgiving even if you don’t really commit any crimes.”
“Haha! That is true! I know this well myself!”
“And I was a criminal to begin with. So, there’s nothing holding me back.”
“Oh, now that I did not know!”
The undying let out a hearty burst of laughter, then took a shot of his drink before getting to his main business.
“By the way, Teacher. I have a question. Callis said that she can no longer return to the Military State.”
“Probably, yes.”
“She holds the esteemed rank of lieutenant colonel. Why can she not return to her home country?”
“Well she was part of a secret society. They won’t let her live, not after her betrayal. Chances are she’ll be assassinated the moment she returns.”
“Hm! Surely the Military State would protect an officer as valuable as her?”
“Do you know the easiest way for the secret society to get the lieutenant colonel assassinated? They can just report that she followed orders of another secret society instead of the State. She’d likely be arrested and offed right away.”
The Military State would regret replacing level 3 citizens, but regret didn’t signify impossibility. The State prioritized the protection of their system above all, purging any who defied it. They were well capable of cutting off even a level 4 citizen… though of course, there was no real reason for a level 4 to go against their country.
“Really, how harsh! I have always felt this, but the Military State’s standards are too strict!”
Upon hearing my confirmation of Callis’ fate, if she were to return to her country, the undying made a certain resolve.
“Then there is no choice! Hardship must be preferable over death. Now that it has come to this, I must take her with me when I leave the Military State.”
“You’re going to leave?”
“I must. Myself aside, she will die. I would no longer be welcome as well.”
“No longer welcome? But Mr Rasch, you weren’t particularly welcomed in the first place, right?”
“Haha! You strike a sore spot! How did you know?”
“Because the State isn’t very fond of beings beyond the norm. Except when they’re warring.”
“Haha. Really, the Military State sure is a model of consistency.”
The undying muttered bitterly, releasing a sigh heavy with the smell of alcohol and disappointment.
The liquor supplied by the regressor was a precious item known as Celestial Nectar, which was said to intoxicate while leaving the mind clear. It was a legendary brew once enjoyed by the old empire’s dignitaries when they wished to be inebriated during the pressure of duty.
I couldn’t abstain in an atmosphere like this. I lifted the glass of shimmering liquid before me and took a sip.
A burning sensation emanated from deep within as the alcohol flowed down my throat. Once the fire subsided, it felt as if the pure, lingering aroma was seeping into every cell in my body.
“Oh, that hits the spot. Now this is what I call liquor.”
I expected no less of a top-shelf item chosen by the regressor.
I was about to take another sip but changed my mind and downed the entire glass instead. As I put it down on the table with a thunk, the undying nodded appreciatively.
“I should be thanking the lad! This is worlds apart from the harsh, bitter beer of the Military State!”
“Don’t even compare it to that cheap stuff. It’s an abomination made by condensing moisture in a swill for the sake of distribution and transportation efficiencies.”
I still couldn’t understand why that thing called standard beer was considered a level 2 luxury item. Wasn’t the word supposed to be used for luxurious goods?
“Why is this awful concoction considered a luxury item? Unless you water it down, you can’t tell if you’re drinking beer or just getting smacked on the hit while downing barley gruel. This is the consequence of being efficiency-oriented. Achieving the same results doesn’t make everything equal.”
“Hahaha! An interesting way to put it! Admittedly, I was also surprised. It is a wonder how the country reached a point of not being able to even freely enjoy a drink!”
We exchanged glasses along with words.
People who lacked shared memories naturally bonded over some drinks, cursing the same things. I castigated the State like the back-alley denizen I was, while the undying agreed to my sentiments, though he continued to show lingering attachments to the country.
At one point, I asked something I had been curious about.
“How come you’re so attached when you haven’t been in the country for long?”
“I am not attached. I find it a regret that I am not.”
“Then you can just take off as you like.”
“That is my point of regret. I do not think I will particularly miss the Military State even after leaving it.”
I was confused. Wasn’t that obvious? I doubted anyone currently living there would miss the place either.
The undying poured another full glass, murmuring.
“I had believed the Military State to be an extraordinary nation. They built cities, dams, and roads. They even made the land flow like a river to link the whole country.”
“It’s one of the State’s few achievements.”
“In contrast, my tribe was simply content to plant the huge beans created by the Military State. We do not die, and that seems to be why we utterly lack intensity in life. Thus, I admired the State’s constant drive to build.”
We clinked glasses. The undying drained his and leaned back, a slightly faraway look in his eyes.
“From childhood, our tribesmen grow on muddy water, dirty grains and meat. Then, on the day of adulthood, we channel this accumulation of earthly energy into a part of ourselves, imbuing it with the closest connection to the earth before severing it as an offering to Mother Earth.”
The undying’s tone carried a trace of regret and nostalgia as he recounted his tribe’s tradition. He caressed his right arm as he continued.
“Thus, we bury part of our bodies to gain new flesh. And that is what my right arm is—a sacrificial vessel.”
So that’s why his arm seemed to have a mind of its own. Turns out it was some weird voodoo magic.
People really do get up to crazies like it’s nothing.
“Thanks to this ritual, we gained immortality… yet it seems to be the reason for our stagnation. While the Military State builds a nation of iron, our only slight change is in the type of beans we plant. I ventured to the State seeking a change from the same old boring scenery at home. However…”
The undying looked around, taking in the hue of the concrete that seemed to symbolize the Military State.
“I am unsure. Memories of my tribe brought me resentment and nostalgia. But for this country… I feel nothing.”
“After being locked in a prison and abandoned while ripped to bits, you might feel nothing yeah.”
“Haha, no. Such trivial matters do not bother me.”
How was that trivial?
Nevertheless, the undying laughed it off with his immortal perspective and poured the remaining liquor into his glass.
“I believe it is because prolonging my stay will not improve anything. Considering my crime prevents me from staying in the first place, and I have witnessed all there is to see, it appears I must depart now.”
And with that, he threw back his glass, making up his mind decisively.
“I will cross the border and go to my godmother. I will invite Callis to come with me, though I wonder if she will agree.”
Of course she would. That was her purpose for mentioning her inability to return home, to begin with.
The undying stood up from his seat. His face was slightly flushed, but he walked perfectly fine, which seemed to surprise him.
“Is it because it is good liquor?! I feel tipsy yet sober even after drinking so much!”
“It’s Celestial Nectar after all, the drink that lets you get pleasantly drunk. It only makes you feel good without harming your body.”
“There really are all sorts of liquor in the world!”
“You offered it without even knowing what it was?”
“What would I know! I brought it simply because Callis suggested we drink!”
Eh, Callis did? Then why’d he bring it to me? Let me have a look into your memory.
Taking a brief read, it looked like Callis had played the tragic heroine. With a wistful face, she claimed to have nowhere to go now and wanted to drink her troubles away. Together, if possible.
So the undying accepted the idea and went to her with the alcohol…
“But then, I realized Callis is a patient who cannot even walk properly! I snatched her cup away before she took a sip! Boy, that was a close call!”
So her scheme backfired. Well, who told her to act sick when she had recovered enough to steal food in the dead of night?
There was just one problem, though.
“…And then you brought it directly to me?”
“I had already opened the bottle. What choice did I have other than to drink?!”
“But why me?”
“Well, I could not give it to a young boy or a vampire who cannot even taste, could I now?! And since the same goes for the beast missies, by process of elimination, it had to be you! Besides, I happened to have a question for you!”
Didn’t this mean I’d incur Callis’ wrath? Ugh, this was why I had to check the memories of anyone bringing alcohol. I must have been somewhat lax because it had been a while since I last had a drink. It didn’t matter, since it wasn’t ill-intended, but considering Callis’ wish…
Sighing, I pointed to the cafeteria cupboard before speaking.
“Mr. Rasch, you can find some medicinal liquor in that cupboard. It’s said to be full of fiery essence and can dispel all sorts of negative influences to heal the body.”
“Oh? There exists such a marvelous drink?”
“Yes. It should be fine to drink, even for a patient.”
“I wish you would have told me a little earlier! She would have healed faster!”
Oblivious to the fact that Callis was already healed, the undying quickly fetched the medicinal liquor. He grabbed another glass and a few pieces of meat to snack on before going away.
“I shall take my leave then!”
I waved him off.
Experience the harshness of civilization, Barbarian. You’re already caught in a trap.
Anyway. What to do once I left this place? Hm. I never thought about that. First, I figured I should return to the back alleys of Amitengrad to collect my hidden treasures and belongings. After that, I wasn’t sure.
There was nothing as pointless as grand plans for the future. The future couldn’t be predicted, especially for someone who’d been stuck in this isolated place for so long.
I had to go out and gather information, which I’d use to make the best decisions in the moment. All to avoid danger and stay alive.
* * *
Feeling good after a decent drink, I stepped out into the courtyard to play with Azzy. I had some chicken as a treat for her too.
But that’s when I witnessed something odd.
“Meow—! Stop meow—!”
In the darkness outside the daytime light’s reach, Nabi was chasing a circular light that was zig-zagging away from her. It was coming from a searchlight.
“Meow—! Pretty fast! But not faster than mew…? Meow?”
I lost sight of Nabi racing through the darkness, then suddenly, I spotted her perched on the searchlight. She pawed at the light with a triumphant yowl.
But light had no tangible form; it slipped through her claws, scurrying away along the ground. Infuriated, Nabi gave chase.
“Meow! Meow! Pretty quick meow!”
“Woof-woof!”
“Me-ow! Dumb doggy! Move, meow!”
This time, Azzy appeared and stepped on the circular light. Naturally, Azzy couldn’t catch it either; the light zigzagged away once more.
Strange. Searchlights were supposed to chase things. Why was it dodging the two?
As I turned around in curiosity, I saw it—up on the searchlight attached to the prison’s outer walls, the regressor was standing lightly on her feet, manipulating the light.
I was surprised that she’d willingly play with Azzy and Nabi, and in this kind of manner at that.
“Is the sun gonna rise from the west?”
Didn’t she say she couldn’t treat them like beasts due to their human form? Had she finally changed her mind a little?
Eventually, as the regressor was busy moving the light, she met my eyes and grew flustered.
“A-ah, this is…”
“What came over you to entertain them?”
“No, you see.”
｢Nabi was chasing the searchlight on her own but the light wasn’t moving, so…｣
As searchlights were made to track escapees, it would hardly avoid Nabi. It would home in on her instead, unmoving even if she stood on it. So after a while, Nabi would go back, bored of the beam that did nothing but shine on her. Prey that didn’t flee offered no amusement.
“So you took pity on her disappointed face and started moving the light yourself? And Azzy somehow ended up playing together?”
“Don’t misunderstand! I, I just, thought she shouldn’t smoke mana cigars every day, that’s why I just!”
The regressor defended herself as if she had sinned, but when did I say anything about it? What was I supposed to misunderstand?
“Well done, Mr. Shei.”
“What?”
“Wow, you’ve finally grown up. Yes. It’s only right to think of sharing responsibility when you have pets. You don’t know how hard it was taking care of their daily needs… Whew. I’m so moved I could cry.”
“You’re lying. Your eyes are dry.”
“It’s a figure of speech.”
The regressor chuckled as she directed the searchlight’s beam, adjusting its direction so Nabi and Azzy couldn’t catch it easily. Then, she made a sudden remark.
“The canned food you gave me. I’m making good use of it.”
“The snacks?”
“Yeah. She liked it. I thought she’d hate it because it just tastes raw and bad…”
“Why did you eat it?”
“I just took a taste! Beast King or not, she technically has a human body! I worried it might be inedible!”
“The raw flavor is because it’s not made for human consumption. Azzy is the only one who enjoys what we do since she can eat any slop. It’s weird to try feeding them human food in the first place.”
Suddenly, in the midst of our casual conversation, the ground shook with a boom, and all the searchlights began moving wildly.
The regressor had already removed her hands from the controls. Her eyes widened as she glared in the direction of the noise.
The searchlights detected a new intruder and traced their movements. The scattered rays of light converged into a single point.
Someone was standing at the intersection of those beams. A tall woman with peachy skin. Her black hair was tied back in a single strand that flowed behind her. Earrings shaped like human figures swung from her ears. Well-defined muscles were slightly visible beneath her baggy robe, something a taoist might wear.
A moment later, five bracelets on her arm jingled, completing her appearance.
“Woof! Watch out!”
“Mya-myah! I’m first meow!”
Just then, the Beast Kings arrived, chasing the light. Azzy veered off course upon realizing a human was in the way, but Nabi, completely caught up in the game, sped straight toward the woman.
Nabi’s paw shot forward, aimed directly at the human. The charging attack of a Beast King would spell disaster for any human. Yet, with a resounding thud, the woman blocked the paw. She had raised an arm to withstand the blow, taking a wide stance.
But could this even be considered “withstanding”? If a cat scratched at a towering tree, would you say the tree had “withstood” the attack?
You wouldn’t see it that way. Such a big tree wouldn’t be broken by a cat’s claws, to begin with. The situation would simply be passed off as a random happening.
In that sense, the woman was like a massive tree.
And that wasn’t the end of it. Azzy, having lost balance in her effort to dodge the sudden human obstacle, should have tumbled on the ground. But she didn’t. Azzy was caught and now dangled from the woman’s side.
“Woof-woof?”
As Azzy hung there, puzzled, the woman began to quietly pray.
“The Dog King, and the Cat King. It appears I have come to the right place. O Mother Earth, I give thanks. Your grace has guided me even through this hell.”
Both Nabi and Azzy grew meek, restrained by her powerful body. She had single-handedly caught two Beast Kings, with sheer physical prowess at that—an inconceivable feat.
The regressor’s eyes went wide.
｢Why is she here already? She wasn’t supposed to come until much later!｣
As Azzy began to squirm under the woman’s arm, she carefully set the former down. Azzy proceeded to hop around her in circles.
“Woof! Hello! Nice to meet!”
“Pleasure to meet you, Dog King. As a follower of Mother Earth, I extend my greetings to you, Symbol of Being.”
She bowed her head before Azzy, who reciprocated with a nod.
“O Cat King…”
The ever-cautious Nabi, on the other hand, had run off, glaring at the stranger from a distance. The woman smiled faintly at Nabi, then turned her gaze toward the prison. Ah, our eyes met.
She loudly introduced herself.
“I am but a passing wanderer!”
Then she stomped her foot. Boom. This small yet monumental action that declared her presence shook the entirety of Tantalus.
“This meeting, too, is guided by Mother Earth. As a wayfarer, I request a day’s hospitality!”
The devout follower of Mother Earth cited an ancient rule: In the world-encompassing embrace of Mother Earth, all are connected by the very ground they tread upon. A host shall not turn away a wayfarer, and the wayfarer shall be as diligent as the host’s own limbs.
Everything else aside, the woman naturally couldn’t be any ordinary believer, considering how she ventured into the abyss—the hell of her faith, severed from all the world’s flows.
Thankfully, before I read this Gaian disciple’s memories, a thought from the regressor entered my mind.
｢The Earth Sage, agent of Mother Earth!｣
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