Chapter 29: The Tavern and the Madmen
The Western Empire’s thriving economy had endowed its capital, Golden Griffin City, with a level of prosperity unseen in most other cities on the continent. Wide streets bustled with commerce, shops lined both sides of the roads, and crowds of pedestrians created a lively atmosphere, making even winter seem less harsh.
“It’s changed so much. It’s developed a lot in forty years,” Leona said, surveying the shops and passersby with her hands behind her back, like a general inspecting his troops. She had fully accepted her status as an undead and was thriving in this new reality. Despite being mentally less than eighteen years old, she spoke like an old man returning to his hometown after a long absence.
“Yes, compared to when I was last here, commerce seems even more prosperous,” Flora said. “But the streets aren’t as clean as they used to be.”
“The population must have more than doubled,” Leona sighed. “I miss the wine from that dwarven tavern even more now. You have to try it.”
“I don’t drink…” Flora said shyly.
“Neither do I,” Abyss added.
“What?! My heavens, you two, one a Church mascot and the other a fearless wild mage, don’t drink? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard this century!” Leona exclaimed, her excitement growing. She grabbed both Abyss and Flora’s hands, quickened her pace, and led them confidently through the city streets.
Abyss, of course, wouldn’t point out that they looked like parents being dragged around by a mischievous child.
As a princess, Leona probably didn’t have the freedom to casually drink outside the palace. The tavern she mentioned must have been her secret escape when she sneaked out. With a cheerful smile, she led Abyss and Flora at a brisk pace, turning left and right, through alleys and over steps, until they finally reached a small tavern. A weathered shield hung above the entrance as a sign, with magically etched words: “Ugly Dwarf and His Wife’s Tavern.”
From the outside, the tavern looked a bit rundown, with no customers entering or exiting. The atmosphere seemed deserted.
“What happened? This tavern used to be very popular. Why is it like this now?” Leona asked, her voice laced with disappointment. “Did the owner change his profession?”
“It’s been over forty years since you died. It’s not easy to stay in business for so long,” Abyss shrugged. “Instead of being discouraged, why don’t we go inside and see what’s changed?”
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Leona nodded and strode towards the entrance. “I need to see if the wine still tastes the same. If it’s gotten worse, this princess will be very angry.”
As they pushed open the tavern door, an enticing aroma of alcohol wafted towards them.
The interior was a bit old, but clean. Only two tables were occupied by patrons leisurely playing cards and drinking. A small, circular stage, about two meters in diameter, stood in the center of the tavern, but no one was dancing on it. A female dwarf sat on a chair on the stage, cradling a lute, occasionally plucking the strings with her stubby fingers, producing a pleasant but lazy melody. Behind the counter sat a drowsy male dwarf, his beard twitching, chewing on tobacco leaves, lazily observing the three newcomers.
“Welcome. What can I get you to drink?” the dwarf asked, spitting out the tobacco.
“Hmm? Where’s Obik?” Leona walked straight to the counter, pulled up a stool, and sat down.
“By Sgal’s Hammer, you knew my father?” the dwarf asked incredulously. “My father passed away over twenty years ago. You look barely ten years old.”
“Oh, that old man is dead? What a shame. But never mind, give me a glass of Blazing Elk, with a crushed mint leaf,” Leona said. “No, make it three. We all want one.”
The dwarf behind the counter immediately started preparing the drinks, looking at Leona with interest. “I’ve seen kids like you come to drink before, but I’ve never seen a kid order this kind of drink. Blazing Elk is a drink for connoisseurs, and adding a mint leaf is my father’s secret recipe.”
“I did know your father, but that’s not important,” Leona said, sitting at the counter. “What’s important is that I’m dying of thirst. Bring the drinks quickly and let me see if your skills have declined compared to your old man’s! Just bring the drinks. This pale, kidney-deficient guy beside me has plenty of money!”
The dwarf shook his head, assuming Leona was the descendant of some long-lived race. In this era, humans dominated the continent, and many races had interbred with them.
He swiftly mixed three drinks and placed them before the trio. “Here you go, your Blazing Elk.”
The drinks were served in clear glass mugs, a beautiful fiery red color. The intense aroma of various fruits and herbs mingled with the mellow scent of alcohol, enticing even Flora, who had never had alcohol before.
“Is it okay for us to drink?” she asked Abyss cautiously, turning her head. “Will there be any adverse effects?”
“Trust in my skills. No one understands that spell better than me. Enjoy yourselves,” Abyss said, winking at Flora and taking a sip from his mug. “Hmm, I like this aroma.”
Flora, with a touch of excitement for this new experience, took a small sip. The strong flavor made her blink, but she swallowed it smoothly.
“Excellent! Your skills are as good as your father’s!” Leona exclaimed after taking a large gulp. She slammed her hand on Abyss’s shoulder. “I knew you’d like this drink! See, ABC, a bit of color on your face makes you look better.”
Abyss could feel a change in his body, a surge of strength. It was undoubtedly his Supreme Necromancy at work, absorbing a portion of Leona’s power.
Why does Leona have the same attribute as a dwarf, increasing goodwill through shared drinks?
“Oh, right,” Leona asked the dwarf behind the counter, her eyes narrowed in contentment after finishing half her drink.
“If your bartending skills are as good as your father’s, why is business so bad? I see other taverns in the city doing much better.”
Hearing Leona’s question, the dwarf sighed heavily. “It’s not my fault. I inherited this tavern from my parents. Because I learned their bartending techniques well, business was actually quite good at first. But then people stopped coming—because of those damn madmen.”
“Who would have thought that my thriving tavern would suddenly become the scene of a murder? A few drunk patrons were singing hymns to the Nine Gods when a group of madmen burst in, shouting something about ‘For the Lord of Submergence.’ They pinned those patrons to the ground with slender, conical daggers, like spearing fish. The guards who arrived later broke down the door and chopped off the madmen’s heads, leaving only two alive. Since then, even though my floors are clean enough to reflect a person’s shadow, and the aroma of my wine could resurrect the dead, hardly anyone wants to drink here anymore.”
“Wow, that’s such a shame. Aren’t you going to open a tavern somewhere else?” Leona asked.
“Alas, this is my parents’ legacy. I want to hold onto it at least until I can’t make ends meet anymore,” the dwarf sighed, taking out some tobacco leaves from his pocket and chewing on them.
Leona was indifferent to the past events at the tavern, but Abyss and Flora both perked up.
“Shopkeeper, do you mind telling us more about those madmen?” Abyss raised a hand. “I’m curious about this ‘Lord of Submergence.’”
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