Chapter 81: A Night of Revelry and Reckoning

Cayton headed to his regular pub with his fellow adventurers for the first time in a while.

“Give us a beer each here.”

Shwaaa.

The cool beer frothed white and sloshed in the glasses.

“Alright, let’s have a drink!”

Clink.

Gulp gulp.

“Kyahaa! This is the taste!”

“Awesome!”

The cold beer cleared his throat right out.

“Huh? Isn’t that Vitus over there?”

At his colleague’s words, Cayton turned his gaze. Vitus was sitting at the bar.

Cayton’s brow furrowed. 

He tried to ignore him, but his body reacted on its own.

Then.

One of his colleagues stepped forward without reading the room.

“He looks like he’s alone—should we invite him to drink with us?”

“What? Just leave him be.”

“Why? When else will we get a chance to get friendly with a high-rank adventurer? This is a good opportunity to buddy up, right?”

Before he could stop him, the guy went over to Vitus.

He was known among adventurers for being shamelessly outgoing.

“No, that’s fine.”

“Aw, come on, drink with us.”

As expected, Vitus refused, but that wasn’t enough to make him back down.

“Come on, Vitus is here. Make some room.”

Before he knew it, Vitus was sitting with Cayton.

“Ahem…”

Cayton and Vitus both showed signs of discomfort at the same time.

“Why’s the atmosphere like this? Come on, come on, let’s chug a drink!”

Still, after a few drinks, the awkward vibe seemed to ease a bit.

But.

“I’ve got to go now.”

“Leaving already?”

In the end, Cayton tried to stand up first.

Slip.

His foot caught on the chair leg, and his body tilted slightly.

“Oops, already drunk? You must be a lightweight.”

Snicker, Vitus’s mocking laugh.

It was a provocation.

“No. Not at all.”

Cayton straightened his face and sat back down.

“Let’s make it so the one who stands up first pays for the drinks.”

“Deal.”

Their eyes blazed fiercely. This was a matter of a man’s pride.

“More drinks here!”

Gulp gulp.

“Crazy, how many is that now?”

“Isn’t something going to happen at this rate?”

“You two, stop it right there.”

They tried to dissuade them.

“Don’ you dare give up now?”

“If you’re scared of a lil’ bit, jus’ drop dead.”

The two were already dead drunk, their tongues slurring so badly they could barely speak.

“Bring more beer! Beer!”

“I can drink more too!”

The owner yelled.

“We’re out of beer! It’s closing time, so take these guys and get out!”

In the end, with the pub’s beer all gone, the two’s contest ended in a draw for now.

***

The next morning at the adventurers’ guild.

“Ugh… My stomach’s killing me.”

A fellow adventurer asked Cayton, who was sprawled on the table.

“Just how much did you drink last night?”

“I don’t know, I don’t remember.”

“You usually don’t even drink much—why’d you get so worked up? Tsk.”

“Groan.”

Cayton let out a pained moan from his hangover.

“You can’t train in that state.”

“…Sorry.”

This was all because Vitus provoked him.

His stomach was too nauseous to handle. Maybe a cool Vitality Drink would help a bit.

“I’ve got to go to the herb shop.”

Cayton struggled to his feet and headed to the herb shop.

Jingle—

“Hello. Mr. Bernard.”

“Come on in, Mr. Cayton.”

Bernard examined Cayton’s expression.

“But are you not feeling well?”

“I overdid it with the drinking last night.”

“Ah, severe hangover?”

“Yes. I was thinking a Vitality Drink might help.”

“Better yet, try this.”

Bernard handed him a glass bottle he’d never seen before.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a new product from Mr. Fabir.”

“A new one?”

“Yes. It’s a health juice made from Eastern Continent pears, and it’s supposed to be great for hangovers?”

“Really?”

Pop!

Gulp gulp.

Cayton downed the juice in one go without a second thought.

“Kyahaa!”

As the sweet pear juice went down, his churning stomach seemed to settle.

Moreover, his throbbing headache miraculously started to fade.

“This is amazing!”

“Right? I tried it a while back, and a nasty hangover cleared up like it was never there.”

“I don’t know how we’d live without Mr. Fabir.”

“You’re right.”

It was another moment where he keenly felt how precious Mr. Fabir was.

Then, Bernard glanced at Cayton and cautiously spoke up.

“Um… Mr. Cayton.”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry, but I have a favor to ask…”

“A favor?”

“If you have time, there’s a place I’d like you to come with me to today.”

***

“This is it.”

Leaving the shop to Ellis for a bit, the two headed to.

“Is this the loan shark’s office you mentioned?”

It was the office of the loan shark, Austin.

“He’s the worst of the worst.”

“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

“I’m sorry to put you through this.”

“It’s all for the herb shop.”

“Thank you. Today, this long nightmare ends.”

“If you’re ready, let’s go in.”

Bernard had asked Cayton to act as his bodyguard.

He couldn’t let his guard down, not knowing what dirty tricks the guy might pull.

Slam.

As they entered the office.

“Oh? Who do we have here?”

Austin, lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, raised an eyebrow.

“Bernard, what brings you here? Coming to the office on your own. And who’s this?”

Austin’s eyes turned to Cayton.

“He’s an adventurer with the herb shop.”

“An adventurer?”

He looked at Bernard and smirked.

“Wow. Bernard’s come up in the world? So, why’d you come here with an adventurer in tow?”

“To pay off the debt.”

“Pay off the debt?”

Austin’s face soured instantly.

“Once I clear the remaining debt today, I won’t have to see you again.”

Thud!

Bernard placed a check in front of him.

“This is the amount I borrowed from you. Check it.”

Austin sneered dismissively and examined the check.

“What? This pittance?”

“What?”

“Bernard, this is way short.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Tsk tsk.”

Austin clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Don’t get it? The amount’s insufficient. How much do you think the late fees are?”

“Late fees? I paid all the interest!”

“Sure. But you delayed by days or months. Late fees accrued in the meantime.”

“Grr, how much are those late fees?”

Austin held up two fingers.

“Exactly double the principal.”

Cayton flared up.

“You scammer!”

“Whoa! An adventurer threatening violence on an ordinary citizen?”

“Mr. Cayton, calm down.”

Bernard held Cayton back.

“Tsk tsk, getting cocky because business is good, but short on cash?”

“Is this really the last if I pay this?”

Austin sneered.

“If you don’t pay soon, the interest will keep growing. So don’t, and just hand over the shop—”

At that moment.

Tap!

Bernard placed another check down.

“This is the amount you said.”

“…What?”

“Your tricks are always so simple.”

Bernard smirked.

He’d heard rumors of Austin’s misdeeds and prepared countermeasures in advance.

“Now, will you write the confirmation?”

“Grr.”

Austin bit his lip hard. Then his eyes darted around.

“Ah, uh, right. Besides this, there’s more interest.”

Cayton, unable to watch anymore, stepped forward.

“Maybe it’s faster to just go talk to the guards.”

As Cayton moved to grab him by the collar, Austin waved his hands.

“N-no, kidding. Just kidding.”

In the end, Austin pulled the contract from the drawer and wrote the confirmation.

“Stamp it properly too.”

“Damn it.”

Austin stamped the confirmation. Bernard picked up the contract and confirmation, then.

“Ptoo!”

He spat on the floor with a thud!.

“This ends our bad blood. It’s been filthy and tiresome. Let’s never see each other again.”

Then he left the office with Cayton.

Bam!

“Aaaargh!”

Austin’s enraged scream echoed behind them.

Emerging from the office, Bernard smiled broadly.

“That feels so refreshing.”

“Didn’t you spend too much money?”

“Think of it as pest control costs. I can earn the money back.”

“But will he really give up like this? He seemed really attached to the shop.”

“What can he do anyway? He doesn’t have any moves left.”

Cayton felt uneasy recalling Austin’s sleazy expression but tried to think positively and let it go.

“He wouldn’t be stupid enough to commit a crime, right?”

***

“Aaaargh!”

Austin couldn’t swallow his rage and let out a scream.

That bastard’s playing with me?

Tremble tremble.

His hands gripping the sofa shook violently. His excited body wouldn’t calm down.

You think I’ll give up just like that?

The herb shop in the main commercial district.

That place was worth whatever price you named.

He’d invested nearly two years to acquire it.

It was almost in his grasp.

“If that guy hadn’t shown up….”

His name was Fabir, right?

Everything went wrong because that guy suddenly appeared at the herb shop.

The crumbling herb shop started doing well after he showed up.

Even with the kingdom’s top alchemy shop right next door, adventurers kept coming.

Even ordinary citizens, young and old, men and women, were in and out of the herb shop.

What the hell is he?

It wasn’t just the herb shop. 

The Rose Inn, the healing restaurant too. 

Wherever he touched, it caused a storm.

Now even kingdom guests were visiting Alburton.

“Damn….”

He’d underestimated him too much. 

Who could’ve known he’d revive a failing herb shop like that?

He could barely pay interest on time before, yet he earned that huge amount in less than a year.

“It’s too wasteful to give up now….”

Austin bit his lower lip hard.

I didn’t want to use this method, but….

A dark back alley.

Squeak squeak.

***

Rats scurried about, and the stench of urine pierced the nose.

This was a underworld in the outskirts of Alburton.

A black market thrived here, where sleazy backroom deals took place.

Step step.

Austin walked familiarly down the dark alley.

After walking a while, he stopped in front of a rusty iron door of a building.

Knock knock.

Someone peered at Austin through a small window.

“Who’s this?”

“Long time no see.”

“Yeah, what’s the business?”

“There’s something I want you guys to handle.”

A sly smile spread across Austin’s face.