The next day came.
I helped Ravyn register herself a new identity. Since her appearance would look a bit frightening in front of others, I bought her a mask and provided her with a cloak.
Her new alias was Ravyn Yeager. Yeah, not much has changed. I asked her if she could just change a bit of her first name but she refused. She said changing her surname was enough. I couldn't do much but listen to her complaints. Then I just gave up.
Anyway, I was also in the process of helping her become an adventurer but then someone called for me.
"Mister Nero?"
I turned and there was a woman looking at me.
"Yes?"
"The master wants to see you."
"Master?"
Oh yeah, the old man. Wonder what he wants from me.
Kiyomi took my place to help Ravyn register as an adventurer and I followed the woman.
We arrived in front of the old man's room and entered. Inside, the old man was sitting behind a table which was piled with a lot of papers. Must be tough being a guildmaster in a town like this. Considering so many lives have been lost.
I bowed to the old man before sitting down. The old man opened his eyes and looked at me to inspect me. Then he nodded.
"Mister Nero, do you know why I called you here?"
"Nope. No clue."
"Y-you really don't know?"
I tilted my head.
"Know what?"
"Hmm, normally one would be extremely excited by this but I guess you really are clueless. Very well, I will tell you why you are here."
He cleared his throat before speaking again.
"Nero, I have brought you up here today to tell you that you are going to be transferred to the guild branch residing in Maroon city."
...
"Oh... that's it?"
"Yes."
"I see... so when am I leaving?"
"Oh... well you can leave when you want to. You can even leave now if you wanted."
Aah... is that so?
"Am I the only one getting this invitation?"
"Well, some of the others did receive this invitation, but they declined it."
"Then can I have them? I just need two for two others."
"Well, it depends how strong they are."
"Oh trust me, they are skillful, just not strong enough to beat me... but they could if they worked together, but I doubt that would happen."
I whispered the last part to myself. Yeah... I wonder how strong they would be if they worked together.
"Anyway, we would like to leave tomorrow."
"Is that so? Then I will ready a ride for you tomorrow. What time do you want it ready?"
"The afternoon would do alright."
"I see then."
I got up and took the invitations to Maroon city and shook his hand. Then I was shown my way out the door.
The girls were at the quest board looking for any tasks to do. Of course, there was nothing interesting.
"Hey, you two." I greeted.
"Eek!" Ravyn yelped under her mask and my confusion levels shot up.
"Welcome back, master," Kiyomi said as she walked to my side.
"What's up with her?" I asked pointing to Ravyn who looked panicked about something.
"Nothing, we just had what you call a girl's talk."
"Girl's ta- nevermind, don't tell me."
Girls... never can really understand them...
"Anyway, we should get anything we can. We'll be leaving tomorrow to head to Maroon city."
I then handed Kiyomi a platinum coin and several gold coins.
"You go with Ravyn to buy whatever, I have someone to meet up with."
It was getting dark and I needed time for myself.
So I went to the bar located near the inn.
"Nero! You're here."
"Tyid... what the hell?"
There was Tyid, sitting at the bar with many bottles behind him. There were others drinking too... well actually everyone in here was drinking. I didn't see a single customer not drinking alcohol except the bartender, of course.
This place... well, it reeked of alcohol and the smell was just invading my nose. I would've passed out there and then, but luckily I have a high tolerance to alcohol. Being born in a family of nothing but abusive drinkers is a bit of a good thing.
I walked over and sat next to Tyid.
"Here ya go!"
He poured me a glass of some low quality beer but I snatched the beer bottle away and gave him my glass.
"Tyid, how much did you have before I got here?"
"Huh? Eeh... six?"
"He had eight," The bartender answered and I palmed my face.
"I think you had enough. Now, I'll drink while you go sober up."
Jeez, can't even handle his alcohol. Maybe I should buy a few for the journey to Maroon. I heard it's pretty far away from here and it would take at least a few weeks to get there.
Once I get there, I won't be dealing with low-level adventurers anymore. I heard from the old man that Maroon city is mostly inhabited by adventurers with levels reaching up to 5,000. So if I were to compete with them, I'd be the underdog.
I'm gonna need to continue getting stronger. The problem is how I'm going to get stronger. There are barely any high-level monsters for me to take out and there hasn't been news of any demon invasions.
But despite all that, I did get something new. Ethos Arsenal, that'll be useful for the future. Getting weapons using the souls of the foes I've defeated.
"S-sir... I think you've drunk enough." The bartender says and I turned.
"Huh?"
"Sir, you've drunken over 40 bottles."
I looked over to the side and there was a stack of empty bottles. Man, I think my alcohol tolerance has risen ever since I've been reborn. That would make sense since I've drunken all the wine in my Spacial Storage already.
"Oh... get me one more and then I'll be on my way," I said as I placed a platinum coin on the table. "By the way, get me that, that, and that," I added as I pointed to the drinks on the top shelf.
Once I bought those, I carried Tyid back to his place and then I went to mine while chugging down my bottle of beer until I heard a scream.
"AAAAAHH!"
The scream came from the dark alley next to me.
Oh great, what is it now?
As I approached the alley to get a closer view, I noticed that there was a young girl who was being chased by demonic-looking dogs.
What the-?
"S-sir! Save me!" The girl yelled. Suddenly she was knocked down by one of the wolves and they began chewing her shoes.
I palmed my face before entering the alley. I walked up to the girl and got her up on her feet. I then took another sip from my beer before giving it to her.
"Hold this for me and wait out there... because what's about to come next is rated R."
The girl didn't understand the last part because I meant it that way. She eventually left either way.
I'd begin cracking my knuckles as multiple demonic-looking dogs began to appear from the shadows.
"Don't worry. I'll give you all a share of what E-rated fist tastes like." I'd say as I equipped Osiris.
"And while I'm at it, I think I'll feed the dragon too."
My gauntlets bellowed as if the dragon was actually still alive and the demon dogs began to whimper in fear.
But then I got dizzy, and just decided to kill them off quickly using Grim Dragon Maw.
Grim Dragon Maw was kind of insane. Out from the ground came a jaw similar to a dragon's and it ate up the dogs like they were candy.
I got 2 levels out of that. Sadly, they didn't get to taste my fists. But I didn't want to get dirty, and I was also tired.
I walked out of the inn and the little girl was waiting. I grabbed the bottle from her hand and took another sip.
Eventually, her parents came and that was my cue to leave.
After getting back to the inn, my mind was beginning to feel fuzzy. Looks like I've hit my limit. 49 bottles...
I managed not to fall as I walked up the stairs and it took me a while to find my room since my vision was blurry.
Oh god... it's a good thing I booked a ride for the afternoon and not the morning, or else I would be late.
I'll just take a... goodnight's rest.
When I took my clothes off, I jumped onto the bed and began to dose off until I heard the door open.
"Oh... Kiyomi, I don't think I can do it tod-"
But when I expected Kiyomi, what I saw was actually Ravyn. Kiyomi was nowhere to be seen, but for some reason, I felt her presence.
"N-Nero... I want to talk," Ravyn said as she shifted around nervously.
"Uhh... ok?"
.
.
.