Chapter 99: Strange People, Strange Events (Patreon)

"So you're saying..."

Pandora kept comforting Louliana while scanning their surroundings.

Sure enough, that eerie atmosphere from before had returned. It was obvious these people were connected to the man standing in front of her somehow...

Someone who didn't match the crowd at all had suddenly cut into the scene, watching it all unfold with keen interest. Pandora could tell his attention was fixed mainly on her.

But now wasn't the time to worry about him.

"What's your objective?"

A moment ago she hadn't even had time to react before she was lifted clean off the ground and sent flying. It left her more than a little startled — this was the first time she'd run into someone with speed-type abilities. Given the situation, calling him an "enemy" wasn't unreasonable.

"Objective?" The masked man smiled at that. "Why would I tell you my objective? My objective isn't to let you know my objective."

Well. So much for communication.

Seeing Pandora's helpless expression, the man patted down his clothes, the gesture looking for all the world like he was brushing off dust that had never actually been there.

"Actually, I..."

Just as he opened his mouth to say something—

"Sir!" a voice called out from nearby, tinged with relief. "Thank goodness — I thought you were going to skip out on your tab!"

A bartender had come striding out of the tavern, his face lit up with the smile of a man who'd survived a disaster.

He'd heard that familiar voice from inside and stepped out to check, never expecting it would actually be—

The man's reaction was extreme. He waved his hands frantically. "Skip out on the tab? How could I possibly do that?"

As he spoke, he reached a hand into the pocket of his black coat.

"Uh..."

(He patted himself down, digging through one pocket, then another, checking this one, checking that one, and finally—)

"Look, um, I was never trying to skip out on the tab. And since I wasn't trying to skip out, could I maybe just run a tab for now instead?"

His sudden fidgety, sheepish manner made it seem like an entirely different person had taken over his body.

"Sorry," the bartender said, bowing, "but our shop has a policy—"

When he raised his head again, the masked man had vanished without a trace. Around them, the pedestrians had all gone back to acting normal.

"This..."

The bartender could only sigh inwardly and turn to look at Pandora and the others.

"So, what are you all doing standing here — waiting for someone?"

After all, Pandora and her companions had been there for a while now without moving on.

"Why not come inside for a couple of drinks? Drinks are thirty percent off this week."

At that, Pandora glanced at Louliana, who had settled down by now.

"Sorry, we..."

Just as she was about to decline, she noticed the bartender's gaze shift, his expression turning strange.

"Boss—"

The bartender bowed sharply and called out with great deference toward someone in the distance.

At the sound, Pandora and the others turned to look as well.

The moment she saw the man walking toward them, Pandora recognized him instantly — this was the one who'd been watching the whole scene unfold from within the crowd earlier.

As he approached, he wore an expression of pure exasperation.

"Don't bother with that fellow who wanted to run a tab just now." He let out a sigh. "I never expected that, with his temperament, he'd actually run off."

As he said the word "run off," the tavern owner's gaze drifted across Pandora, seemingly by accident. Whatever thought had crossed his mind, he sighed as he turned to head back inside the tavern.

That knowing look on his face left Pandora more than a little puzzled.

All these strange crowds along the way, this eerie atmosphere — just what was going on...

"Ah, coming, coming!!"

Just as her thoughts began to drift, the bartender seemed to catch someone calling out, and raised his voice as he hurried back toward the tavern — probably a customer.

Watching him rush off, Pandora turned to look at Luluo.

"Let's go sit inside."

"...Mm."

After her initial panic, Luluo had regained her composure now, though her brow was still faintly furrowed.

The reason they chose to go in was twofold: first, because of the owner, and second, because the people inside seemed ordinary enough. While buying some food, they might also pick up some useful information.

Before stepping inside, Pandora glanced back once at the strange crowd in the distance and let out a breath. As for it — she'd just leave it by the door. It wasn't going anywhere.

[Author's Note: Please give some flowers/support!]

As the group walked in, a thick reek of alcohol hit their noses, and at the same instant, like an explosion going off, the tavern's characteristic roar of noise flooded into all three of their ears at once.

How on earth did they manage soundproofing like this...

Bit by bit, the tavern's interior came into focus. Clusters of burly men were gathered together, shouting at the top of their lungs while pouring drink after drink down their throats. Some had already collapsed face-down on the tables, clearly too far gone to move. Others, worse off still, crouched in a corner over a bucket, retching up something better left mosaic-censored.

But that was only the surface. Pandora could sense that most of the room's attention was actually fixed on the three of them.

"Welcome! What can I get you?"

Even as she was taking in the scene, the bartender standing by the bar counter called out a greeting.

That single line was all it took — the patrons who'd been pretending not to notice them all turned their heads at once.

But no one spoke up. Every face wore the same look of shock.

Women in a place like this were already unheard of, but their appearance was even more startling, prompting the crowd to eye the attendant beside her with a measure of scrutiny.

If only she were dressed as a maid — like the one timidly hiding just behind her — that would surely be even better.

Pandora said nothing in response to all the staring. After gently stroking Louliana's hair to calm her, she gave a small nod.

Luluo, too, stayed quiet for a moment.

"One malty ale."

"Coming right up."

The bartender clearly understood Pandora's status as the one in charge; after a brief acknowledgment, he headed back to mixing drinks.

That left Pandora a little dumbstruck.

She hadn't even said what she wanted yet, and she hadn't paid, either...

But Luluo, the local among them, showed no sign that anything was amiss. So... did that mean the bartender could simply tell what each customer wanted, and let them settle up after they'd had their drink?

Feeling the weight of the patrons' stares, Pandora searched for a seat somewhat removed from the more inebriated ones. In the end, she settled her gaze on a corner table.

[Author's Note: Vacation's here, and updates are starting back up! I'm going to try to get a few dozen chapters out over this break. (Whispering: I'll do my best... probably? (???))]