On The Other Side: I Quit Being Human

"What was that? I didn't know you are an impulsive battle maniac," I remark as soon as I stand before Kruff who is planted in the wall.

Kruff snickers and then shakes his head faintly. "I just wanted to make sure of something."

"That I am stronger than you?"

"Pfft! No. I knew that as soon as I sensed your pressure when you returned." Pushing his body out of the wall, he continues, "I wanted to make sure if you could already hit me. You can and it makes me very proud to be one of the people who have taught you something."

"You just stood there holding on to my foot like an idiot--did you think I was so incompetent that I would miss you?"

As he was holding his chest to, maybe, stop the bleeding, Kruff smiles faintly at me. It takes me a few seconds to understand what his smile means since there are so many emotions in it; still, I can't tell what it means in the end.

"Do you still remember what my moniker is?"

"Flawless Orc."

"Do you know why I got it?"

"It is because you have never been hit fatally on the battlefield, so you have no permanent scar on your body."

With a smirk, he confidently says, "You know, whenever I am on the weaker side, I will always be able to escape. My Instinct has always helped me...yet today, it failed. As soon as you picked that greatsword, I couldn't read you any longer. Your state of existence has already surpassed mine."

"What does that even mean?" I ask curiously as I throw him a Recovery Potion.

Catching the potion, he uncorks the bottle and downs it in one go. Throwing the bottle to the ground when he finished, he smiles playfully yet mysteriously.

"Well, that means, if you want to, my Instinct can never predict your attack!" Kruff laughs merrily, making me wonder if he has a concussion. "Anyway, look at this." He then shows me the faint horizontal scar under his navel.

"Scar from the recent battle?"

"No. I got this from a junior of mine a little more than a decade ago." He smiles nostalgically. "I taught her Instinct too and, like you, she also managed to surpass my state of existence in a short time."

Without him telling me, I can tell this junior is the one that Kruff lost a decade ago--the one whose death still makes him feel guilty to this day. Talking about this brings an air of solemnity around him. He still smiles but it is not as light-hearted as it has always been. It is faint but I can feel the burden that weighs down his smile.

His light-hearted smile returns when he pats my shoulder twice. "I am proud of you, Layland. I am sure you can make it far and I will be very hyped if I can see the day you stand on the top of the world comes."

At a glance, it sounds like he is being provocative but, from his mood, I can only conclude that he is lamenting. I don't know why he laments about it--I feel like something is going on but I don't ask him anything since he doesn't even bother to tell me.

I am sure he keeps it a secret for a reason. I will let the time make him tell me about it.

"What about having a drink? You haven't got the time to drink with me, so since you are here, let's get wasted!"

Now that I recall it, Kruff had indeed invited me to have a drink a lot of times and I refused all of those invitations. Since I have nothing to do today, I say yes to his invitation, which gets him extremely excited.

"Oi! Let me join you, bastards! How dare you have a drink without even inviting your General?" from the audience seat, Velucan shouts.

"Kuhum! I would also like to know more about you, Eighth Wing Warrior Layland, so I will also participate in this drinking event."

Turning his bewildered eyes to the Demon beside him, the Garou asks, "Are you sure you want to join us? We will be very loud and crazy when we are drunk, you know?"

"I am aware of that," Jovenus, the Demon King's Second General replies calmly.

"We will be surrounded by a lot of women. You don't like women, do you? I think you'll hate it."

Since the Arena has gotten quiet after my fight with Kruff, the conversation between the two can be heard by everyone there. None of them can hold themselves from sighing at Velucan's prejudice against Jovenus--some even mimic Jovenus' expression well.

Velucan clears his throat uncomfortably in the end. He then jumps to our side and asks us to immediately go to the tavern in one of the cities nearby, which he claims to be the best tavern that he knows.

We leave when Jovenus joins us. The Arena remains quiet as we go but the tension has gone; I don't know what stuns them that hard and I am not too interested to figure it out.

A few minutes of walking later, we find a Teleportation Gate. Passing through it, we arrive at Ekhiel City, which is where the tavern is located.

Like most cities that are close to the Demon King's Castle, it is mainly inhabited by civilian Demons. There are still some Warriors roaming the street but most of them are Monsters since this city is extremely popular among Monster Warriors.

The main reason why it is favored by them is not that hard to figure out. This city produces the best liquor in the entirety of the Verniculos Kingdom and they like to drink.

Clink-Clank!

The bell chimes as we enter the tavern. I expected Velucan to have a bad taste in drinking places but I am surprised by the interior and the atmosphere of the tavern. They don't suit the name of the tavern at all. I wonder why this tavern is even named Hellhole with how civil everything is inside.

"Xenon, my dear, give us your best drink!"

"Sit there and wait."

"All right!"

As soon as I hear the familiar name and see the barbaric-looking girl, I can immediately tell why this tavern is the best in Velucan's mind--he has his sweetheart working here. No wonder I can't see her anywhere in the castle.

Since there are not many people in the tavern, I take my mask off. I have worn a mask for months and I don't want to get used to always using it. Besides, other than functioning as an accessory, it barely helps me in a fight nowadays. My senses have gotten better, so I can fight without relying on the mask's ability.

I know how rare it is the ability to see Mana, which is why the mask is an Indigo Rank Relic, but after having the ability, the mask is no different from the limited-edition Supreme Oreo. It is still unfair to compare the former to the latter but I believe you get my point.

Thud!

"Here is your drink, sir..."

When a glass is put down on the table, I look up to meet the face of the slightly nervous Xenon. It is amusing that she is still afraid of me but can date Velucan that looks more terrifying than me, so I can't help smiling lightly.

Picking up the glass and saying a simple 'thank you,' I down the liquor in one go. The others also do the same and the talk begins afterward.

As I expected, I become the main topic of the talk. They bombard me with all kinds of questions--starting from how my journey went to when I will marry all the girls. I frown at the latter and they merely laugh at me. They still don't believe me that it is not like what they think, though.

We ended up spending hours in the tavern. Kruff and Velucan are completely wasted and embarrassing themselves by dancing like chickens having a seizure. Everyone in the tavern looks at them in amusement. Meanwhile, Jovenus and I merely shake our heads as we enjoy our drinks.

"You have a high tolerance for alcohol," Jovenus remarks.

"Nothing can get you drunk after experiencing death countless times," I answer. "I am getting a little tipsy, though."

"You won't lose yourself even when you are drunk, will you?"

"Yes, I won't."

"Then...don't let your feeling blinds you."

Thud.

Putting down my glass, I look at Jovenus with a quirked eyebrow. Sensing the mood, the barmaids who have been clinging onto me and trying to get my attention leave and so do the barmaids on Jovenus' side.

"What do you mean?"

"You have a loose cannon on your side," Jovenus warns. "Whatever that woman has inside her is something that terrifies me and the King. I could never forget how we had to find replacements for six Generals after that event a decade ago."

Jovenus fiddles with his fingers as his eyes stare into the air. I know how badly Millonia damaged the Kingdom in the past but his well-hidden terror managed to bring some solemnity to my mind this time.

Still...

"You know, I appreciate your consideration but..." I stand up and put my mask on. "Butt out. Let me manage my affair."

Our discussion seems to bring some clarity back to Velucan and Kruff's minds. They stop dancing and turn to look at me as I walk toward the door.

"I was once like you until the inevitable hit me like heaven's wrath. Still, I won't advise you to give up on your optimism," Jovenus says, stopping me in my tracks for a few seconds.

I resume walking, say nothing to Jovenus, and mutter, "Optimism? Pfft! I don't act and hope for the best outcome. I desire something and realize it myself."