Amelia the Level Zero Hero

Chapter 121

Arthur closed his eyes.

While he looked like a relatively young man— somewhere in his early thirties or late twenties— he had experienced much in his lifetime. In fact, he had experienced multiple lives, having died dozens of times… maybe even hundreds of times.

He wasn’t entirely sure the exact number. But it was a fact that he was a wizened man who had accomplished a great many things in his various chances at life. At one point, long ago, he had been a [Priest]. Then he had become a [Necromancer]. After that, he had become the very first Lich King to walk Vacuos.

He had become a Level 75 [Archmage of Death]. He was the One Who Tamed the Five Great Revenants of Arelioth’s Path. He was the Lord of All Undeath. At the peak of his power, he had ten million undead soldiers under his command.

If that wasn’t enough, he had also become a Fledgling God Vessel. Even if it was against his will, he had harbored the power of the Void within his soul.

So Arthur had been through a lot in both his life and in his undeath. And yet, everything he had experienced would have never prepared him for this— for his greatest challenge thus far.

“C-coming right up!” he stuttered as he drew back from the bar.

He grabbed a mug and paused right before a pair of barrels. He hesitated, realizing had forgotten what had been ordered. He glanced back as he pursed his lips, staring at the young man waiting expectantly for the drink.

“Uh, sorry, you asked for a mug of ale… right?” Arthur asked apprehensively.

The customer blinked, before shaking his head. “No— I asked for a glass of lager.”

“R-right. Sorry!”

It was an embarrassing mistake. Arthur flushed as he filled the mug with the lager, before handing it to the young man. The former Lich king could make a lot of excuses— this was his first day working here at Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant, and he had been given the job of a [Bartender].

But… he wasn’t a [Bartender]. He lacked the Class for it. He didn’t have the Skills to pour a mug of ale, let alone mix a cocktail. That was why he was absolutely terrible at his job.

He sighed as he leant against the wooden counter of the bar. He looked up to face the busy room— it had only been three hours since he started working, and he already messed up three orders today. He had even spilled a drink on one of the customers at the very start of his shift. He closed his eyes as he turned away from the busy crowd. The hubbub of the restaurant seemed to quieten as he slowly immersed himself in his thoughts.

The noise of the room grew muffled, and Arthur very much wished the day would already be over. But according to Harlan, things were only just getting started. Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant often saw the bulk of their customers show up in the evening— when everyone in Wolfwater was getting back from work.

So that meant the worst was yet to come. And the former Lich King dreaded it. He gritted his teeth, and he heard the clinking of glass. A mug was set down in front of him, drawing his attention. He looked up to see a brown-haired woman standing before him, offering him a drink.

“Here,” Amelia said as she took a step back. “You looked tired— have a drink.”

“Oh, thank you.” Arthur shifted back, straightening as he accepted the mug. “Wait… what is this?”

He paused as he stared at the red liquid. It was translucent, and it was smudged with an orange smear from the ice added on top. He had never seen such a drink before. It was clearly not alcohol, but it didn’t look appetizing either with its blood-like texture. It was evidently a type of juice. However, he had never seen something like it before.

Amelia stared at him expectantly, and he apprehensively took a sip. He expected it to be a vile concoction. But he was pleasantly surprised to find that it was… sweet. And it was savory too.

It had a strange aftertaste— but not one that was unwelcome either. Like there was a tinge of vanilla added to it. It really wasn’t like anything he had tasted before. He took another gulp as he narrowed his eyes.

“What is this?” he asked as he turned to face Amelia.

“Malim juice,” she said simply. “Dorien gave it to me.”

Arthur frowned. “Dorien is… the [Druid]?”

“Yeah. He doesn’t really like sharing his malim juice around, so you’re the first person— other than me— who’s giving it a taste test. What do you think?” Amelia stared at the former Lich King curiously.

“I think I like it?” He took another sip, before shaking his head. “Although, it has a bit of a strong aftertaste…”

She rubbed her chin as she took a step back. “I thought so. It tastes like a soda— like coke or pepsi. But there is no fizz to balance the sweetness. I need to find a way to carbonate it somehow…”

“Uh, what?” Arthur blinked.

Amelia waved a hand dismissively as she nodded at him. “It’s fine— I still need to plant a few malim bushes around the restaurant to get a steady supply, so I don’t need to add it to the menu just yet.”

She was talking to herself. Arthur didn’t understand a single thing she had just said. He felt so completely out of his depth. He looked at her, then he swept his gaze over the busy room. He spotted a middle-aged couple dining and chatting in the corner of the room. He watched as Harlan swept through the room, somehow balancing four steaming plates and a glass of water with only two arms. An elderly man with a stained shirt gave the former Lich King a glare before exiting the restaurant.

Arthur winced. That accident had happened a while ago, and he had apologized profusely. But it didn’t matter. He finally sighed.

“...I could add the bastion bees honey—” Amelia started.

And he spoke over her. “I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this job.”

She paused. She faced the former Lich King with a raised brow. “What makes you say that? It’s your first day here, Arthur.”

“I…” He opened his mouth.

And he closed his eyes. He remembered the words of the World System— the blue box that flashed before his eyes when he was freed from the Void. At that moment, he had been removed from the World System. That was why he was no longer a Lich King. That was why he couldn’t use his magic.

And that was why he couldn’t learn the Skills needed to be a [Bartender].

Amelia stared at him as he mulled over this fact. He raised his head, opening his eyes. He looked at his employer— at his savior. She never should have given him a chance to do this. He should have just… he should have just…

“I should have just died—”

And she spoke before he could continue.

“Go and take a break for today. You’re probably still tired after everything that’s happened. I shouldn’t have made you work so soon.” Amelia patted him on the shoulder reassuringly.

“What?” He stared at her for a moment, processing what she said. Then he tried to protest. “But the customers—”

“You’re fine,” she said as she took a step back, gesturing vaguely at the room. “We have less customers than usual right now, anyways.”

Arthur looked between her and the crowd. He hesitated, but she gave him a soft push.

“Seriously, don’t worry about it, alright?”

“I… alright.” He nodded and slowly acquiesced.

—--

I watched as Arthur headed back into the kitchen to get some rest. He was currently sharing a room with Harlan at the back of the restaurant. But since Harlan was still busy working, the former Lich King would have some time for himself to rest. He looked pale. He was definitely tired. Maybe he was still acclimating to his current circumstance.

I was trying to be nice when I shooed him to his room, but also— what I said was true. The restaurant was empty today. Or at least, relatively empty compared to usual. There was still a crowd, but it was smaller than what I was used to for a couple of reasons.

I crossed my arms as I overheard the scattered conversations

“Seriously? The angel isn’t here today?”

“And did you see those monsters? They’re terrifying! Should we just leave?”

“The food’s good, though… as expected from Xakor!”

So without Guardian Angel Z357 working here, there was less novelty to my restaurant. And the bastion bees living next door were a bit of a deterrent to other customers too. I wasn’t surprised by this outcome.

Honestly, I expected business to slow down a bit eventually. My goal when I opened Bucky’s Out of this World Restaurant was to have some customers. The fact that it was still the number one attraction in all of Wolfwater was good enough for me. So I wasn’t really bothered by the smaller crowd than usual.

I ignored the complaints and strode past Noele’s parents. They visited again today— as they usually did. They were some of my most frequent customers, and I nodded at them as they waved at me. I didn’t stop to chat with them because I had already greeted them when they arrived, and I needed to check up on the bastion bees anyways.

“Dorien said that they should be producing some honey by the end of today…” I murmured to myself as I stepped out of the restaurant.

The bastion bees had already finished building their hive. It was composed mostly of stone and rubble— like a small fortress with a hexagonal hole at the front as the main entrance. Supposedly, it would be expanded in the future. But for now, it was about the size of a large wagon.

I turned the corner, only to pause as I spotted a shadow passing over me. I raised my head with narrowed eyes. And up above the clouds, I saw a winged figure flying. Dove-like wings. A mechanical body. Twelve eyes. I recognized who it was in an instant.

“That’s… Z?” I blinked.

And the angel dove straight down to the ground, flying straight for me with his lance raised. I narrowed my eyes as I heard the buzzing of the bastion bees grow louder. In an instant, he landed right before me, sending a pillar of dust into the air. His rapid descent drew the attention of the patrons at my restaurant as well as a few other passersby.

He raised his head as the dust settled, and I stared at him with a frown. His twelve eyes flickered my way as I crossed my arms.

“Uh, is something wrong?”

I waited. And without a word, Guardian Angel Z357 took a step forward.