…
Danton grumbled out something incoherent as he gulped down a mug of beer. The barmaid poured him another one, and he immediately gulped that down as well.
"Bad day, sir?" she asked coquettishly.
"It's not your business," he spat out and asked for a refill.
The barmaid did as asked and left him with the beer growler. The other patrons also gave him a wide berth, not wanting to deal with a drunk Hunter. Danton looked around and saw their eyes darting around in fear and apprehension. Today, there was no annoyance at the treatment. It wasn't like he was going to start killing everyone in the bar.
But today,. his mind was preoccupied with another person.
'Motherfucker…' he ground his teeth. 'Just because he was a bit unlucky, Sybil just had to work his spirit for him. Why? Even if he dies, he'll resurrect somewhere!' He was seething inside. 'What's that loser got that I don't have! Motherfucker!'
"Heyy!" a familiar voice came from the bar's entrance. "Ain't that Skinny Fox over there? What are you doing? Drinking alone?"
Danton looked over and saw his old teacher, Jabber. It took him all his effort to not frown at the man's sight.
"Hello, master!" he got up to greet him. "What are you doing here?"
"Hah! Can't an old man visit his student?" Jabber said and hugged Danton by the shoulder. "Still so scrawny! I've been telling you Rogues like us need some muscle and mass. We're the ones who do the most walking around, after all!"
Danton's instincts urged him to push away the man, but he knew he couldn't do that. He would be in for a world of pain if he were to go against his teacher.
"Aye! Of course, master," Danton smiled. "It's just surprising to see you all the way here. Are you still teaching in Belo city?"
"Yeah, yeah. Same old. But I decided to take a break for the time being," Jabber sighed. "Hey, bar wench! Bring me two more growlers here!"
Danton offered the beer he had and waited for the barmaid.
'But a break? I don't like the sound of this…'
"A permanent break?" Danton asked.
"Not sure," Jabber said, gulping down the beer. "With all these Undying suddenly popping out, I smell profit and glory to be made. Even in the Belo City, the rich Guilds are starting to hoard them."
Hearing the story, Danton could guess why his old teacher was here.
"So you've come to meet the Undying that appeared here?"
"Mm. It's too hard to compete with those rich fucks in the big city. Us honest men need to run around a bit to find success," Jabber laughed. "Anyway. Where is our otherworldly guest?"
Danton smiled widely at that. This time, the smile was genuine. If the Undying fell under Jabber's control, his life would turn miserable beyond belief. Danton was familiar with how Jabber liked to educate his students.
"He's in my teammate's house?"
"Which one?" Jabber asked impatiently. "Don't tell me Shekh's got dibs on him already! Don't tell me you just sat there and let it fucking happen!"
"No. No. The Warrior's not one to care about these things. He's with Sybil."
"Oh," Jabber's eyes softened quickly. "Then it's alright. Hah, but damn. Was the Undying that charming? To already bed Sybil two days after coming here. Hah. I should ask him for advice!"
Danton grimaced at the mention of the possibility. But he knew there was nothing like that yet. The Undying was still unconscious.
"No, no. The Undying got bit by a Possessed wolf. But since he doesn't know how to use his skills, Sybil had to do it for him. Because of that, she's going to take care of him for now."
Jabber whistled loudly at that. "Hot damn! I thought the woman was the unambitious type… but to think she latched herself onto him the first chance she got!"
Danton's eyes widened at that.
'Of course! She only decided to do that because of his future potential! She doesn't actually fancy him… Of course! Of course! In the first place, why would she fancy him? She only met him half an hour ago!'
He wanted to laugh at himself for acting so foolishly.
"But how's the Undying like?" Jabber asked curiously. "Report it to me."
"He's young, lean. Looks are about average. He has Shin features with his small eye, but he's tall and lean. His eyes are… busy. Looks around at everything and anything. Has a calm personality, but he asks many questions. He was unfamiliar with the world. "
"Oh-ho, sounds promising. Did he look like he could put up a fight?"
"Eh, so-so. The possessed wolf jumped at him and he tried to slash it with a knife, but he missed. The knife went between the wolf's jaws of all things. The thing latched onto his hand, and he was desperately trying to kick it away," Danton said. "It was an amusing sight, to be honest."
It wasn't really amusing, but Jabber liked these kinds of talks. But instead of laughing, the man sounded impressed.
"Damn," he whistled. "We've hit the jackpot with that Undying, then."
"Why?"
"If you've seen the Undying that appeared elsewhere, you'd be putting offerings in front of the one you got," Jabber tsked. "Worthless fucking things, those losers. Scrawny cowardly weaklings who shit themselves if you look at them wrong. If a rat jumped at those shit-stains, all they'd do is scream and cry for help. Ugh, pisses me off just thinking about them."
Surely, Danton was being tricked. "Are you serious?"
"One actually pissed himself when he lodged the crystal on his head," Jabber spat out. "But. The big guilds will still invest heavily in them. After all, they have all those unreasonably vibrant spirits. You've felt it, right?"
"Yes," Danton nodded thoughtfully. "It almost felt like his spirit was leaking out of him."
The feeling was hard to forget. He even wondered if that was how the Soulless felt when they looked upon them. How pitiful must they feel… would they even be able to feel…?
"We need to get that Undying on our side," Jabber closed in, his voice stern. "He's our golden ticket to the top, aye?"
"Aye."
"But of course, an obstacle stands before us. You recon Sybil would go along with us readily?"
"Us?"
"Me and some of my juniors are thinking of creating a clan. Of course, you'll be a part of it."
"…"
'God, no…'
Jabber's eyes suddenly narrowed. "You will join us, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Sybil?"
"She can be persuaded."
"Atta boy. For now. Let's enjoy ourselves. Catch up on old times. Tomorrow, we'll go have a word with the Undying and his new partner."
***