I am Juri Heavenstone. Also known as Councilor Juri.
Starting today, I began to undertake a mission I've assigned to myself.
Despite being an important person to The Council, I'm fairly confident in my ability to take this kind of task.
I was formerly a knight of the Silver Knights, a commander that was given the title of Councilor as the previous King saw the fitting of me due to my experience in leadership.
"Miss, one pint of that is very strong. I recommend you to try our other drinks."
In front of me was a barkeeper. I saw on the counter as I slid two one silver coins, equal to a hundred zells.
I indeed ordered myself one pint of the find alcohol the locals had said to be unique to this place.
I decided to start from the beverages and see if they were connected to the Demon Race.
"Old man, I know what I am doing. Are you concerned that a woman with beauty might get ganged up in an alleyway here?"
This old man might have seen through my disguise, threatening me indirectly.
Or it could just be a genuine concern for my safety.
I'm a wind Saint-Magic user. I would be able to handle myself pretty well even against fifty men.
"No... It's just that there's a lot that gets wasted here and makes a mess of my tavern."
I raised an eyebrow. I didn't expect that to be his concern. Maybe the residents here are indeed selfish.
"In any case, there are almost no crimes here due to the Prince of Hell. "
The barkeeper poured me one pint, sliding it gently towards my hands. There was even a thin and soft paper that was with it.
He mentioned it again. "Prince of Hell."
Why was the lord being called that way by his residents?
"Just try to cause something like what the Councilor did in the marketplace, and you'll get smacked in the head."
So he abuses his residents? This is something.
I should ask more. If these people are being controlled against their will, then the Kingdom will have a reason
"Do you call your lord that since he likes to torture people?"
"What? Not exactly but he beats them into proper shape. For example, look at that large man over there."
While he was wiping his beer glasses, the barkeep pointed at a table.
There was a couple of men seemingly talking to each other, facing the table.
The large man that he pointed had a lot of tattoos and scars on his back.
Even I would assume he was a mercenary with a lot of experience in fighting.
"He tried to rebel against the young lord when the village was still rebuilding itself, but after Lord taught him a few pointers and that, he became..."
He held back on his words, leaving me on a trail. I must not get impatient.
"He became what, you say?"
"He became polite and smarter than any of us here."
Huh? That was not more surprising than I thought. People that were too focused on looks that they misjudge by their appearance.
Even I a not exception to that.
"If you knew who this man was in his past prime, you would be much more surprised."
I had no time for idle talk, but before I could even realize it, I already drank the pint that was served to me.
I didn't get to taste it, nor even feel anything at all. It was like water.
"Barkeep! This pint of yours is the best you say? Why haven't I tasted anything nor feel anything?"
I said with a confident voice. I could only lean into the counter with a chuckle in my voice, waiting for another.
"But you're legs are wobbly already, Miss. I can't let you have another."
"What? My legs are wobbly? I'm not even standing—"
I was standing. I didn't realize it just now but the ground was wobbly.
Everything was slowly becoming wobbly.
What is this? Is this a kind of poison? My drink was drugged?!
"Miss, I told you. That is very potent for everyone who hasn't tasted it yet."
They knew my disguise?!
I can't feel my body nor do anything.
Like I was melting, my hand tried to reach out to the customers that stepped into the door, nonchalantly passing by.
Were they all in this?
If they are, I let my guard down.
△▼△▼△▼△▼△▼
At the same place. The Hellsburg Tavern.
"Old Man Jay! How many—... Oh, you already have one, right there."
Entering the tavern, I barged in with my two hands pushing the doors open, greeted by everyone with ease and cheers.
They all looked happy. Just what I wanted for my workers to be. They will work just as hard for me even today.
"Right, Prince of Hell, you came in just at the right time. This one lasted for almost five seconds. Your... vodka is still too potent for anyone else here."
The barkeeper was, as usual, wiping away his glasses. It was his calling to become the owner of this tavern I've built for him and loaned him.
I offered him a deal to strike.
I let him keep the tavern, while he makes the customers become the guinea pigs for the alcohols we've been trying to produce with mushrooms.
I for one had less knowledge about making vodka in my world but I was the one who came up with the idea of getting it from potatoes and heating it to 'distill'.
The method of making it was taken over by a maid that seemed to be proficient with beverages.
"But that's like around 10% already. Do we have to go lower?"
Oddly enough, the people of this world are very sensitive to vodka but not beer.
It must be because beer is fermented and due to the demand, they would distill it to almost less than 5% for more profit and make everyone's tolerance from it become less.
However, what will be not the only one producing such beverages. I introduced potatoes into the scene, thus making vodka a new drink to be introduced to the world.
"Yes, but we can keep this 10% for the challengers. It's making our business better with people like her."
Beside the counter, there was a figure that was seemingly wasted. It was a woman, and I'm more amazed that I just noticed her.
"Oh right. She's one of the first challengers. I warned her, but she did it anyway. It's just a miracle that she didn't throw up, but only passed out."
Poor woman. If she was in any other town, a man could have gone his way with her, but she's here.
A town I built from scratch. A progressing success of a community I've built.
For now, a stable income and general innovation were needed for this town. If the income remains or increases in the next five years, I'll have to innovate my ways.
"Oh, I'll help you barkeeper get rid of this drunkard. Have a nice day."
I feel so generous today. It must have because I finally got a day off from the office. We're gonna need some more help soon.
I began to lift her in a bridal-carry style. I couldn't carry her from my back with this robe like the dress I had.
I would exit the tavern normally, and a sight like this was just normal for the townspeople.
"Ugh. Where are you taking me...?"
Ah. She getting conscious of me. Maybe she isn't accustomed to here, she looks like a traveler after all.
"Prince of Hell, is that another challenger of your potent alcohol?"
They called me again with that nickname. It wasn't bad. It had a nice ring to it.
Just like my nickname before in the old world.
The people around town asked and teased her as I passed by. They would always laugh at those who were passed out cold as I carry them out to the nearest inn.
It would become their responsibility to pay for the stay afterward. I would feel bad if I didn't carry out these 'soldiers' after a bitter war.
I entered an inn with just a nod, where I was led to an unoccupied room by the owner.
This inn itself was also a building that was loaned from me.
Almost every building in this town was, but instead of money exchange, I would have access to them and have them do things unconditionally.
It was something they most likely would benefit from as well as shown by my connection to the tavern and the new beverages.
I laid the woman down on the bed. She was pretty wasted and kept on muttering.
She must have been an orator before since she kept saying things about political stuff in the Kingdom.
"Well, time to go."
I clasped my hands together for a second, proceeding to walk away from the room.
However, before I could even move, my wrist was grabbed and tugged.
"Oh no."
It was the woman.
She's holding my wrist very tightly.
"I'll never let you go, Prince of Hell!"
Even this traveler learned my nickname. It's the least of my concern of what rumors it may bring in the future but at least don't call me that when you are drunk.
"Uhm, Miss. You have to let go of my arm now."
I asked with a polite voice as my pitch goes higher. Now that I've looked at her closely though, her appearance was very striking for a drunkard.
A beautiful woman but, she feels familiar.
"Whoa—"
I didn't realize that I had my face too close, but as I tried to reel back, both of her arms were wrapped around my neck.
She locked me in as she pulled me into the bed. This is very uncomfortable and stressful for a young man in the middle of adolescence.
However, abstinence was my forte. I should be able to keep myself as I am mentally over 30 years old.
"I will uncover... everything about you, Prince of Hell."
She whispered into my ear.
My heart screamed, my body just gave in. This was way too seductive. I'm sure this woman is just drunk!
This is that previous Grantt's fault. He left me with a part of his consciousness!
I tried my best to escape from this mess, but as I tried to struggle more, I inevitably felt a soft sensation from my side.
I musn't! I must not look nor touch. I am trying to avoid the cliche that popular culture in my world had.
"..."
The woman fell asleep, but if I move, she would just reel me back and hug me. I'm in a deadlock.
Were women in this kind of world always this decisive?
"My liege, I was told that you needed help—"
Just as I heard his voice, Marcus entered the room, opening the door for a second.
But after he saw me in such a difficult position with a woman, he immediately closed the door.
This was something that I thought would happen.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you. I shall inform the others to not disturb you—"
"Wait, come back! I need help."
I called back at him. Before he spreads the misunderstand, I might as well ask him to help me out of this mess.
...
"Why didn't you say so earlier, my Lord. I thought for a second that you might have finally wanting to lose your chastity."
"You know... you're way too good with words for someone your age. Aren't you just as interested at the other youths to experience losing your chastity?"
Finally untangling myself from the trouble, Marcus and I walked out to the streets.
"I'm not like my liege who had been rumored to do it even with the maids. I will only do it with the woman I love."
I myself overheard those rumors within the townsfolk but I, the new soul that had only arrived in this body has no knowledge of wooing a woman.
I might be able to pull memories from the past Grantt but it was impossible for me to remember such... intimate time.
But there was one fact that I could confirm for myself.
The previous kind Grant Maximilian had done it with Lilith, Jai and one other maid who I can't seem to determine who.
This is just another useless mystery, but if I don't know, I might as well become an imposter.
"How loyal of you, Marcus. But what if I prohibited you of having a wife?"
Going back to Marcus' last rebuttal, I asked him of a wuestion that would might prove to tease him.
"Well, if my liege wills it so, shall be it."
I might question his undying loyalty as well but I don't want him to actually not have a family.
"I'm just joking, Marcus. Can't you take at least one?"
Marcus had always been serious. I can't even afford to joke around with him as he would always take it seriously.
"But weren't you always serious yourself, my liege?"
Marcus said nonchalantly.
I've been involved with people that is difficult to handle, but this only proves that I am very well capable of doing so.
"Your irony makes it so."
Our idle talk extended to periods of time.
However, this idle time inevitably comes to an end.
"A new town? Looks like we got a new place to play King in."
A voice spoke from the distance of Hellsburg.
Their greedily shrill laughs resounds within the forest.