บท 98: Favor
The door was kicked wide open with exuberance. So much so, it slammed into the wall with its speed, hard enough to leave a new indent in it.
"OK OLD MAN! WE GOT SOME NEWCOMERS, SO GIVE US THE FINEST DRINK YOU HAVE IN THIS DUMP!" Benkai yelled.
"Benkai! How many times must I tell you to not bust the damn door wide open!?" The bar owner said. His eyes went white with fury.
"Aahhh. Don't worry about that. I brought a guest with me, so you should be on your best behavior," Benkai said.
"I should be the one saying that. What do you want today? I'm already not in the mood for your shenanigans,"
"Ha-ha. I figured you'd say that. Listen up. Found some newcomers and decided we're going to liven this place up,"
All attention was diverted towards him. He did a curt wave and smiled. "Wow, newcomers. Why didn't you say so? Come right on in," The barkeep said with a smile. "We have some fresh seats, right over here,"
"Nahh, not today gramps. With newcomers like this, we're going with the special table," He smiled deviously.
It got quiet. There was an air of tension Ryuma couldn't understand. "You don't mean… table four…" the bartender asked with wide eyes.
"I mean… table four…" Benkai repeated.
All customers looked at the two surrounded by a group of women. Ryuma and Kosha looked at each other with confusion written all over them. What was so shocking about table four?
"Can anybody tell me what table four is?" Kosha asked.
"Table four… also known as table of the lost," The men said.
Several mugs started getting slammed on the table. "Because once you hit table four, all bets are off. It's party time! Woooooooooo!" now the jeering and cheering started. Everybody started surrounding table four. Ryuma and Kosha were forcibly being pushed to have a seat down at that table.
"Yeah… I really don't think we should have come this far," Ryuma began to say.
"Table of the loss my fucking ass. They're challenging us Ryuma. You just going to take it?" Kosha asked.
{Did this dude already forget my position?}
"I don't want to impose. Somebody is going to be paying for all this," Ryuma said.
"Of course I'm paying for this. What kind of hospitality would I show if I forced a bill out on you?" Benkai said.
Ryuma raised an eyebrow. Not only have these people not seen the poverty that exists in the other locations he's been, are they so loaded as to randomly pay for the drinks of travelling strangers? This place was indeed different from what he imagined it to be. It was likely the place that Erin Frost came from. He was taken from here forcibly, right? Then it would stand to reason that this place should be as under duress as the other place he's been to. Yet… their disposition contradicts that now.
To be honest, he was a bit wary to play some drinking game when he couldn't get a good read on this place.
"Welp, I'm down to play!" Kosha said.
And his partner here has zero self-awareness whatsoever. Kosha was useless. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm not much of a drinker to my shame,"
Though he was sure most priest didn't follow the rules, but drinking was ill advised. One could never know when they were under the threat of a demon, or an apparition in this case. Plus, there was the mystery that he didn't solve of this place. He could very well be in a territory that didn't despise the Skylands but supported it. Was that a possibility given their nature?
"Ha! I'm down! A little drinking game won't scare me away!" Kosha said.
Ryuma's eyes darted towards him. This may seem evil, but it was a good idea to let Kosha go first. They considered him the muscle of the two as they so aptly made it seem like. If this tavern was going to try anything, they'd hit him first and try to take him by force. Little did they know that Ryuma was the stronger of the two. If a bunch of surface dwellers tried something, it wouldn't be good for them.
"Well if you truly want to, have at it," Ryuma said.
"Bout time you seem to lighten up. Who's the first to be my opponent?" Kosha boasted.
"I think I'd like to take you on," A woman with a slim waste and ample bosom walked up with lavish footsteps.
"Uh-oh, Neta the pit decided she wants to have a round. I'm sorry to say, but you've lost this one already," Benkai said.
The rest of the men laughed and made mocking sounds. "I told you to stop calling me that," Neta said.
"Why not. A woman shouldn't be in possession of a stomach like that. I'd dare say it's not fair that she even comes out on a newcomer like you guys," A man said.
"Ugh…" Suddenly, Kosha wasn't feeling too confident with all the boast she was getting. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to lose to woman in a drinking game? The way they spoke of her that shouldn't be the case.
"Aww… getting cold feet? Tell you what. If you can keep up with me. I'll let you explore my body," She winked at him and squeezed her chest together. Her already ample chest became mountain peaks.
Kosha straightened his face and looked at her seriously. This was the manliest Ryuma has ever seen his face.
"Wwaaaaaaaahhhhh!" All the guys flared up at the declaration. "Why couldn't she offer me that chance. There's no way I can lose with that sort of motivation.
{No. If she's that confident, there's no way Kosha can win this.}
"Erin… I need to know something," Kosha said. His face never broke character.
"Like?" Ryuma asked.
"If there are two mountains ahead of you, then a man has no option but to climb it, right?" Kosha asked.
"I mean if that's your only option…" Ryuma said. {Didn't we just decide to go through a mountain.} His face was deadpanned.
"Then you're in agreement. I must conquer this mountain. Otherwise, I couldn't call myself a man," Kosha said.
Ryuma's eyes went white with fury. {Clearly you have perverted thoughts.}
"Oh come on Kosha. Why do you need her! You've got us, don't you?" The girls that had surrounded him earlier pouted.
"Ladies. Though you are no less inferior to her, there's something that she possesses you girls simply lack," Kosha said.
One of them put their hands on their hips. "And what is that?"
There was a shadow that cast throughout all the men in the room. It seems with that one sentence, they all understood Kosha. Something Ryuma couldn't follow. It had to be a surface thing.
"That is what we call… desire," Kosha said. His face was just as serious as when it started. Ryuma coughed blood when he heard it.
"A man's romance," Benkai agreed.
"We men are simple creatures. We want what is taboo for us to have. The fact that she put her body behind such a challenge. Means that I would be a coward not to accept. The more difficult the challenge, the more rewarding the win,"
"Well said young man. I couldn't put it better myself," The men in the tavern agreed.
Ryuma could swear he was in a bar full of morons. Kosha's priorities had completely shifted. They came here to find information on Erin Frost. How in the fuck did they find themselves in a drinking game? He could only groan in frustration.
"Please just get this over with Kosha. You're slowing us enough as is," Ryuma complained.
"Relax man," Kosha whispered to him. "Inebriated lips are the loosest. Soon as everybody is drunk and stupid. You can ask as much questions as you'd like, right?"
Ryuma thought about it. Kosha was right. Why didn't he see it before? Most of the other patrons, from having gotten from the hype of the two all had a beer or some alcoholic beverage in their hand. This was a treasure trove of information just lounging around and getting excited over some stupid bet.
Ryuma looked around and saw how fat, joyous and happy they all seem. Now that he thought about it, Kosha was right. While they're playing, he could start a bit of small talk with anyone willing to listen.
{Ok Kosha. I'll give you that one.}
Ryuma smirked. Intel was going to be a breeze with this one.
He clutched his heart. There was that weird feeling he had in his chest. Something didn't feel right but he couldn't put his finger on it. Should he investigate this town more? Either way, this was something he was going to have to do after they get themselves out of this dumb drinking game.
"Here we go guys. Each will take a turn with a mug until one either passes out or taps out. Simple enough right?" Benkai asked.
"Alright I get it," Kosha hand-waved away.
"Then let the games begin,"
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