Chapter 51: Stunning Love, a Little Sweet
Auville Empire, Imperial Capital!
Under the pale glow of two crescent moons, Qin Chu slipped out of the residence through a side gate.
His destination: the Fire Rose Tavern, located in the commoner district.
There were taverns in the noble district too, but Ekaterina wasn’t interested in those establishments. Their prices were ten, even a hundred times higher than those in the commoner district, but that wasn’t the reason for her disdain. Her income was more than enough to support a lavish lifestyle, even in the noble district.
The taverns in the noble district emphasized elegance and refinement. They served their drinks in delicate, tiny glasses, barely larger than a thumb. For someone like Ekaterina, it was torture. She couldn’t even taste the alcohol after downing countless glasses.
She preferred the taverns in the commoner district. They served their drinks in bowls… even barrels.
Their rye-based liquor, harsh and fiery, was considered sacrilege by the nobles, a violation of their refined palates. But to Ekaterina, it was nectar.
Qin Chu checked his status panel.
Level: 39
Class: Hero
Strength: 179
Stamina: 122
Agility: 153
Spirit: 432
Defense: 144
Charm: 6 (Average: 5, Maximum: 10)
His stats had increased significantly. Stealing others’ power was indeed the fastest way to gain strength. Though he was only level thirty-nine, his stats were comparable to those of a level sixty character.
And this was after the significant reduction in power absorption from consuming lower-level Demons. Otherwise, his stats would be even more impressive.
He wasn’t as strong as the top-tier powerhouses yet, but he could handle most threats now.
His Spirit stat was particularly impressive, exceeding even that of a level seventy mage.
It had increased by dozens of points after his encounter with the scrolls.
Martial Skills: None
Magic: Besides the thirty-six low-tier and seven mid-tier spells Candice had taught him, he had also acquired fourteen spells from the Demons he had consumed. A total of fifty-seven spells… or so he thought. The panel, however, displayed fifty-eight.
There was an additional, uncategorized spell: Holy Light.
He had acquired this spell after touching the scrolls, after witnessing the cage in the void.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to those scrolls.
They were dark and sinister, the images they had revealed terrifying, but they clearly contained immense power.
If he could decipher them, his strength would skyrocket, surpassing even his previous life’s peak.
But the risk of madness… it gave him pause.
He had died once. Though he was driven by a thirst for revenge, he wasn’t reckless. He wouldn’t blindly pursue power, not if it risked his sanity.
Logically, he should avoid those scrolls. He had initially done just that, sealing them within a storage ring, refusing to even look at them.
But the urge to study them, to unlock their secrets, to gain more power… it lingered within him, a persistent whisper in the back of his mind.
He knew it was the taint of corruption, a consequence of his first contact with the scrolls.
It would remain with him, tempting him, whispering promises of power.
But it wasn’t insurmountable.
A faint, milky white light enveloped him.
Holy Light.
The spell he had acquired after his encounter with the scrolls. It wasn’t their power, he knew. It felt different, opposing their darkness.
A voice in his mind whispered that Holy Light could suppress the corruption.
He remembered his initial hesitation, his instinctive aversion to those scrolls. But then he had heard a soft voice, a seductive whisper that had urged him to touch them, leading him to the vision of the cage in the void.
Whose voice was that?
He had asked Shaye, but she claimed she hadn’t heard anything.
The mysteries surrounding his rebirth continued to grow. He was encountering things he hadn’t noticed in his previous life.
This world was far more complex than he had realized.
He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside for now.
…
He walked along Anthea Street, heading towards the towering wall that separated the commoner and noble districts.
Anthea Street was named after a noblewoman, a legendary figure in the Auville Empire. She had been known for her beauty, her grace, and her prowess in battle.
A thousand years ago, the Auville Empire had faced a major crisis. Several neighboring kingdoms had united, their armies marching towards the capital. The Emperor at the time, a weak and decadent ruler, had underestimated the threat, believing his forces could easily crush the “barbarians.”
As the enemy neared the capital, Lady Anthea had stepped forward, rallying the nobles and the ambitious princes and princesses who refused to see their nation fall. She had gathered their private armies, forming a united force.
On the battlefield, her figure, holding aloft a spear adorned with the Auville Empire’s flag, had inspired her troops, their courage fueled by her presence. They had fought valiantly, repelling the invaders, pushing them back to their own lands, protecting the Auville Empire’s honor.
Her popularity had even surpassed the Emperor’s.
But she had died shortly after the war.
Her death had been attributed to injuries sustained during the conflict, her old wounds reopening. The Emperor, honoring her memory, had even reserved a place for her in his harem, declaring that though she was gone, she would still receive the honor of a princess consort.
Anthea Street, connecting the commoner and noble districts, was a bustling thoroughfare. The Fire Rose Tavern was located at its end.
The commoners living along the street had even petitioned to build another wall, separating them from the true poor who resided beyond.
Qin Chu quickened his pace. After about half an hour, he reached the tavern.
The pungent scent of alcohol wafted from within. He could hear Ekaterina’s voice even before entering.
“Hahaha! Drink up!”
Her boisterous laughter made him cringe.
He peeked inside. Ekaterina was the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of men.
She had traded her evening gown for her battle armor, her crimson hair, usually loose and flowing, now tied back in a ponytail.
She stood on a table, her foot planted firmly on its surface, holding a barrel of liquor that was at least five liters in volume.
She probably didn’t even know the meaning of the word “ladylike.”
She lifted the barrel, tilting it towards her lips.
She guzzled the clear, fiery liquid, ignoring the spills that stained her armor, adding a touch of wildness to her appearance. Her head tilted back, revealing her slender neck, her throat bobbing seductively as she swallowed.
She drained half the barrel in a single gulp.
Her opponent, a burly man with a thick beard, slumped to the floor, his stomach churning.
She wiped her mouth and chin with her arm, her laughter echoing through the tavern. “Hah! You call yourself a man? You can’t even handle half a barrel!”
She held up the remaining liquor, her voice challenging. “Who’s next?”
Another man, his pride wounded, stepped forward, determined to defend men’s honor.
They couldn’t let a woman outdrink them all.
The tavern owner, watching the chaos with a smile, was delighted. This was good for business.
This woman, bold and generous, was a good customer.
She never caused any trouble, even when drunk. She would simply fall asleep at her table, waking up the next morning to settle her bill without complaint.
She was a cash cow… no, a valued patron. Her presence guaranteed a month’s worth of income in a single night.
But she was also dangerous.
She was beautiful, and some men, their minds clouded by lust, had made the mistake of trying to take advantage of her when she was drunk. One man, foolish enough to grope her, had been cleaved in two by her greatsword, his intestines spilling across the floor.
After that incident, everyone knew that challenging her to a drinking contest was acceptable, but touching her was a death sentence.
Two hours passed. Every man in the tavern, except the owner, was sprawled on the floor, defeated.
Ekaterina, seemingly bored, finished the remaining liquor, tossing the empty barrel aside. She rested her head on her arms, falling asleep on the table, ignoring the spilled drinks and the unconscious men surrounding her.
Qin Chu finally made his move.
He approached her, reaching out to tap her shoulder.
“Be careful, young man. That lady is trouble. You might lose your life,” the tavern owner warned, mistaking him for someone looking for an easy target.
Qin Chu thanked him but continued his approach.
Before his hand touched her shoulder, she reacted instinctively, her fist shooting towards his face with bone-shattering force.
But Qin Chu didn’t flinch. Her fist stopped just before connecting with his face.
She lifted her head, her eyes bleary. “Huh? I… guh…”
“Is that… Qin Chu? What are you doing here? Come to drink with me?”
“You’ve had enough,” he said, his voice gentle. “Can you stand? I’ll take you home…”
“Hah! You think I’m drunk? I can stand just fine…” She slurred her words, attempting to stand, but her legs buckled, and she stumbled.
Qin Chu caught her, his hands gripping her armor. The exposed flesh beneath felt soft and smooth.
He shook his head, leaving a one-thousand-Mana bill on the table.
He lifted her, slinging her over his shoulder, her legs dangling against his chest.
She was tall, almost as tall as him, and her physique, though toned and athletic, was undeniably curvy. She wasn’t light, but her muscles, honed by years of training, felt firm and solid.
Strands of her crimson hair tickled his face.
“Ugh… I’m thirsty… My throat is dry…” she mumbled, squirming against him like a child.
Her breastplate, digging into his back, was uncomfortable.
Her hands, fumbling at his chest, found the vial of Stunning Love in his pocket.
In her drunken state, she didn’t even bother examining it. She bit the cork, tilting her head back.
She gulped down the entire contents.
She smacked her lips.
“Mmm… a little sweet!”
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