First, the older men came up to me one by one and wished me recovery from my ailment. I think they believed that along with my memory, I had lost my mind, and they felt very sorry for me because of this.
Then the young ones started coming up and asking which district I was from. In other words, of course, but the essence of their "speeches" was just that.
"We're strict about this here!" swaying and struggling to focus his gaze on my face, a sporty blonde guy named Zik was holding forth. "Katie is my girlfriend, Zindy is dating Slas, Mita is with Ludin... Yeli is with Tisha. And Sini is her father's! They'll tear your mouth for any of them and..."
He didn't finish about the eyes, as our eardrums were assaulted by the enchanting sounds of the local analog of a drum, guitar, and tambourine — the dancing began.
Apparently, this part was traditional and long-awaited. The drunk men jumped up and, clearing space, pushed the tables and chairs to the walls, and then started dancing.
I moved along with the table and sat down in my place again. Besides me, only the old man without a leg and another guy, who also had a good reason, weren't participating in the fun: he was resting with his face planted in a plate.
The music was blaring, people were laughing and dancing, girls' skirts were constantly flying up, I was drinking beer and enjoying the view of slender legs.
Suddenly Katie jumped out of the crowd and, leaping to my table, leaned on it with her hands.
"Why aren't you dancing?"
Hm. The view that opened up to me was very interesting. The deep neckline of her linen blouse was right in front of my eyes. And there was something to look at.
"I've lost my memory. Don't remember what to do," I smiled at the girl's boobs.
"I'll remind you!" she laughed and leaned forward even more.
Three days ago, I couldn't walk. Now a sexy girl is inviting me to dance. If I were young, I probably would have been shy and refused. But I wasn't. Even if I now get tangled in my own legs and fall to the floor to the laughter of those present, it will be better than lying chained to a bed, calling a nurse every time I need to relieve myself.
"Note, I didn't suggest this!"
I went around the table and joined the dancers.
Katie grabbed my hands and started moving them, showing me how to do it. The other girls immediately flew up and also began to direct and correct me. Even Sini, laughing at my clumsy movements, was giving advice, barely shouting over the music.
Music, five girls around, I'm young, connected to the system, and jumping on my own legs! What else could one dream of? I let the moment engulf me and just enjoyed...
Of course, this couldn't last long. I saw that a company had gathered around Zik, and they were constantly whispering about something, glancing at me. The result of their negotiations was also known in advance, but I didn't care. Moreover, I was waiting for them to come to me.
I waited. Two of them entered the circle of girls surrounding me...
"I told you that Katie is my girlfriend," Zik stated, stopping in front of me.
"Hey!" Katie herself flew up. "I was your girlfriend until you fucked that sheep from the neighboring village!"
They have an interesting dynamic here between settlements. It feels like they're given quests to screw someone or steal someone from the neighbors. Because by sheep, she meant a girl, right?
"Doesn't matter," Zik pushed aside his indignant ex, "no one can touch our women!"
Now all the "women" were outraged, and before returning to me again, the guy spent a minute fending them off. And he fended them off, it seemed to me, only because the girls wanted to watch the fight.
I don't like this kind of thing, of course, but what else can you expect from women in a remote village in a fantasy world with a system? You have to play by their rules. Besides, I'm really interested in testing my strength.
Zik realized that he was starting to lose points and went straight to the point.
"In short, you, goat!"
Well then, I'll lead with my trump card too.
"Go f**k yourself!"
"I'll show you!"
Zik began to take off his jacket, and I was surprised to find that a circle with a radius of about three meters had instantly formed around us and the music had stopped at the same time. Apparently, fist fights are not new to the locals.
My drunk opponent somehow managed to deal with his clothes, stepped towards me and raised his fist... And the next second his eyes bulged, he exhaled with a groan and fell to his knees.
Yes, for twenty-eight years the lower part of my body was paralyzed. But the upper part wasn't. When the first money came in, I started helping my parents. When it became alot, I helped all my relatives. Then I got into charity, but something was missing...
And then one fine day, I was introduced to a very interesting elderly rich homeless man who had traveled everywhere, from Buddhist temples to the most remote Chukchi settlements and the Amazon jungle. He explained to me that even with such limited functionality as mine, one could live quite differently.
Of course, at first I took the easiest path: between writing chapters, my life was filled with alcohol, light drugs, and girls massaging my neck, ears, chest, and other places. But then, realizing that life had gone somewhere wrong, I reconsidered the concept and started self-development, including sports. After all, even sitting in a wheelchair, you can lift weights and punch a punching bag. And when you have the opportunity to hire an Olympic champion as a trainer, progress turns out to be quite good.
In short, I knew where and how to hit. There were doubts about whether I could dodge a blow, but in this case, Zik's condition freed me from solving this problem.
The guy was on his knees, gasping for air, and Ludin appeared next to him. He was taller than his friend, but overall didn't seem invincible either.
"They're beating our guys!" he yelled and immediately received confirmation of his words in the form of an uppercut.
The guy flew back, and old woman Profinya, the local healer with whom I had already exchanged a few words, immediately bent over him.
Tisha and Svara jumped up, but I wasn't alone anymore either: the powerful figure of Lynch appeared on my right, and without entering the fight, he simply pushed the birthday boy aside.
The last opponent was more sober than the others and didn't really want to fight with me, but he didn't break tradition and still stood up for his buddies.
I dodged his fist, and it only grazed my cheek. I struck back and missed too.
It looks like it won't be so simple here. The opponent was better with his feet and moved quickly. My hope was to catch him and take him down with one blow before he could get me.
"Ilya, hang in there!"
I recognized Sini's voice.
It's interesting how the body works: a simple phrase seemed to double my strength, and, clenching my fists, I rushed at Tisha.