Prologue - The Bar
The glass clinked down on the shelf, with a small, rather scarred palm setting it down. There was a short pause, before there was a deep sigh, the long wooden counter opposite it now being rubbed down by a white cloth.
"Finally closing time…" The employee murmured, in a tired tone that almost sounded like death.
"Natsuki-san! Oi, Natsuki-san Pour me a drink for the road, why don't ya...why don't ya..!" A drunken man's voice rang through the almost-empty building, causing the closing employee to shoot the source an angry glare.
It was a disheveled man with ashen-grey hair, wearing a fancy green set of clothing that made him look rather fancy, despite how utterly drunk he looked...and was.
"Screw that! Why the hell can't you just leave when it's time to leave, Otto?! I'm already tired of being forced to work at this place as is, you know?" Subaru, said employee, shouted in a mix of irritation and exasperation.
"Eeeeh? Don't be so mean, Natsuki-san...we're friends, aren't we? I-hic!-even cmere...every week…!" Otto groaned, his head rolling over on the counter. It was crystal clear that he had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
Subaru could only click his tongue in vexation, trying to keep himself calm. This was only his first month on the job, and he didn't need to be having bad reports filter back to his boss...or more like, his master.
Yes, Subaru was practically a slave to someone in this world, unfortunately. All because of his own stupid decisions, decisions which had led him to currently be working this dead-end job at an ever deader-ender bar.
Wait, deader-ender? Was that a word? He really didn't know.
"Besides...you always mix these...really...really interesting drinks...isn't that why everyone...comes here?" The man pointed out, tiredly raising his head from the desk. Subaru sighed, forced to look away. Admittedly, this was something he couldn't deny. And it was something that he didn't want to talk about, again.
Carelessly showing others things from his world – it had been a small fraction of what had landed him in this inescapable forced labor.
"Whatever, Otto…" Subaru let out a deep sigh, finally turning his gaze back to the living intrusion within the bar. "Fine, you can stay here for a little while longer, while I clean up shop. But no longer, alright? Once I'm done, your butt is outta here!"
"Excellent! Then I'll have...the usual!"
"Alright, alright, coming right up." The bartender answered with remorse, going into his stock of alcohol and throwing together the usual drink that this new, drunkard customer always seemed to order.
His hands moved surprisingly quickly – from the beginning, Subaru had always had a fast, yet delicate touch, so getting used to mixing drinks wasn't something that hard for him. For as mundane as he found it, however, almost everyone he met in this world found it impressive.
Of course, that included the drunk merchant in front of him, who stared at his deft movements with wide-eyed interest.
This interest was only because of one thing – mixed drinks with extensive amounts of ingredients weren't commonplace here. Subaru remembered, from one of his school history lessons, that cocktails apparently didn't come around until the 18th century...and this world was way too old-fashioned to be anywhere near that.
As for why he knew so many of these mixed drinks...it was simple. Learning about different types of alcohol had always been a sort of side-hobby for Subaru. He never planned on drinking the stuff – but just looking up info about it was fun. Since he already had a bunch of miscellaneous skills and info in his head, he'd figured that it wouldn't be too bad to add a little bit of mixology, too?
Who'd have thought it'd end up coming in use in an entirely different world...probably a man drunk off of his mind, ironically enough.
"S-So, wh-whats this drink got in it again, Natsuki-san?" Otto slurred, looking curiously at Subaru's moving hands.
"It's pretty simple compared to other stuff, really. Some dyed blue citrus liqueur, some white rum, some carbonated lemon water, and some peach syrup liqueur." Subaru explained succinctly, already having put the mix into a clear glass.
The drink was a vibrant-looking blue, practically bubbling, thanks to the carbonated lemon water, shifting the ice within around a little.
"Aaah...I really can't get over how interesting it looks, every time…" Otto murmured, staring at it with the sharp, analytical eyes of a merchant. Even drunk, he could appreciate the worth of such a one-of-a-kind beverage.
Subaru leaned over, putting the finishing touches on the drink – a slice of lemon pressed to the mouth of the glass, and a straw, which he slid into it.
"There you go, Mr. Drunkard Merchant! One...well...you know what the name is, right up!" Subaru slid it across the counter, right into Otto's hands. The merchant hummed, surprisingly not drinking up right away.
"Do I...truly know the name? For some reason, it's...it's escaping me, Natsuki-san…" Otto spoke innocently, those simple words causing Subaru's eyes to widen.
"C-Come on, Otto...you're not really going to make me say it, are you? I know I was speaking to you a little harshly earlier, but.."
"I don't know, Natsuki-san. Are you really going to turn down a request from a customer? If so, I might just have to report this to-"
"AH! Alright, alright!" Subaru slammed both hands down onto the table, turning his gaze to the side, as he spoke some words under his breath. Otto hummed, leaning forward.
"What was that, Natsuki-san? I don't believe that I could properly hear you…"
"Urghhh...one 'Sex on the Driveway', right up." He groaned, walking his way away from the counter.
"P-Pff...AHAHAHAHA!" Otto let out a burst of barely-contained laughter, almost falling over off of his stool before quickly uprighting himself. "I-I can't get over some of these names! I have no idea what a 'driveway' is, but why would this drink be named after that?!"
"I-It's not my fault, man! This drink is based on another one called 'Sex on the Beach', and...that's just what they named it, alright? And when the hell did you start speaking so clearly, you had to have been sobered up and not telling me!" Subaru snapped back, cheeks still red, even as he tried to get his mind off of it, dusting off the tables and collecting empty glasses and mugs.
"Right, right. Well, besides the weird names, I truly always do enjoy these drinks...if you weren't already working for someone else, I definitely would have attempted to buy these drink recipes from you!" Otto admitted, grabbing his glass and taking a good swig of the mixed drink.
"I'm sure you would...but knowing your luck, you'd just get attacked by bandits, or thieves, and lose them. Something like that." Subaru replied nonchalantly, making Otto almost choke on the liquid.
"H-Hey!"
"Consider it revenge, unlucky Otto-kun!" The bartender grinned with a fake sadism, causing Otto to just grumble, going back to drinking.
Most of Subaru's days were spent like this. Considering that this business was only a month old, Subaru didn't even have that much customers...although the few people that came here, like the drunkard merchant, Otto, swore by his products.
In other words, Subaru's days were painfully boring. He was in another world, but he couldn't even leave his shop. So, despite how much he hated having to stay open after-hours...in a way, he sort of valued the time he could spend with Otto like this.
...He just wish the guy didn't get so drunk all the time.
"Anyways, Natsuki-san, have you heard the rumors?" Otto spoke up, as he brought his drink down from his lips.
"What rumors? You know I'm not that well-tuned in with everything that goes on around here."
"The Royal Selection." Otto spun around on his seat, turning to face Subaru with a surprisingly serious expression. "There was a huge delay, apparently because one of the candidates was recovering from an attack they suffered at the hands of an assassin...but, just yesterday, it started up! Apparently the fifth candidate was found, too!"
"...Huh...so a bunch of royals are going ahead with some sort of big vote to become king. How does that affect me, again?" Subaru asked, while continuing his work.
Of course, if it was the him that first came to this world, the prospect of such a thing would have excited Subaru...but the introduction he had received had long since dulled down that naive, overly excited part of him.
"Jeez, Natsuki-san...you really are ignorant on how important these sort of things are, aren't you?" Otto put a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache come on, one separate from the hangover he was probably going to have the next morning. "These royal candidates are always searching for capable people. Capable, mysterious people...you know, people that they can use. Doesn't that sound like a certain someone?"
There was a moment of awkward silence...before Subaru's eyes widened in unmistakable panic.
"H-Holy shit, are you kidding me? No way they're going to come for me though, right? I'm just some random, no-name bartender halfway between the slums and the poorer part of town!" He desperately reasoned, only for Otto to shake his head.
"Maybe if you were really just an ordinary random, no-name bartender...but although you do fit all those qualities-"
"Hey, you're not supposed to agree with me-!"
"-although you do fit all those qualities…" Otto continued from the interruption, exasperation in his voice. "You're still incredibly useful. While you're not exactly a celebrity, isn't it true that you serve a lot of high-class customers from time-to-time, like nobles? Not to mention, you have lots of connections, including merchants like me. And not to mention, your recipes are one of a kind, meaning you have economic power that any camp could use...you're full of things that people in higher places would want."
"When you say it like that, even I would want to use me…" Subaru groaned, shoulders slumped over in despair. "B-But hey!" He seemed to suddenly brighten up, with an idea coming to mind. "Don't you think that my employer would protect me from getting recruited away like that?"
"Your employer? You mean...that lady…?" Otto repeated, with both young men looking up to the image of Subaru's mysterious employer.
And almost as if on cue, both of them shook their heads.
"I'm afraid that's not happening, Natsuki-san."
"Yup, no way that greedy woman would ever protect me."
"Speaking of greedy, I heard that one of the candidates fits that exact description. Apparently, her name is Anastasia Hoshin. A young businesswoman from Kararagi." Otto took a sip from his drink, sighing as he recalled the hearsay of her.
"She definitely has a name that stands out. And this Kararagi place...think I remember hearing of it, before. It kinda reminds me of my home." Subaru smiled wistfully, finding a bit of the tension leaving him as he thought of the place he had been forced to leave behind.
Otto turned a curious gaze to him, remaining tactfully quiet as he continued to sip from his glass. After all, being a repeat customer here, he knew how Subaru got when he was made to remember the mysterious origins he had, which he never seemed to open up to anyone about.
"It's almost frustrating knowing about her, though...we're practically the same age, in the same line of work, and she's already got a huge corporation, big enough to expand into the markets of Lugunica." The merchant groaned, his cheek now resting on the hard wooden counter. "Life is truly unfair, Natsuki-san…"
"Or maybe it's just that your luck really is that bad? Like the oil..." Subaru hummed, ignoring Otto's groan of protest in the background. "Anyway...what are the other candidates like?"
"Well…" Otto forced himself to sit up straight again, recalling the information. "The list is something like-"
Anastasia Hoshin, the merchant princess from Kararagi who seemed to be focused on revitalizing and using the Kingdom's economy to better it.
Crusch Karsten, a militaristic noble who wished to separate the Kingdom from its' timeless connection to and pact with the dragon.
Priscilla Barielle, an overconfident, arrogant, yet experienced baron who believed completely in her ability to win, and to satisfy the wishes of any below her.
Emilia, the silver haired half-elf candidate who wished for equality for all, and was backed by the continent's strongest magician.
Lastly, Felt, the final candidate who was said to be a simple girl from the slums, who wanted nothing more than to destroy the current system in place. She was under protection of the strongest person on the entire continent, the Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea, and there were even rumors that she could be a lost member of the Royal Family.
"Haha, seriously?! Talk about a ton of unique characters! Especially that Felt girl, she just wants to go total anarchy mode, doesn't she?" Subaru was almost in tears laughing, leaning against the wall of the store.
"Well, it was a rather chaotic meeting. Apparently, the mood was rather tense...especially when the candidate Emilia spoke up, for...obvious reasons."
Otto's crestfallen words made Subaru's roaring laughter quiet down, as he, too, understood the merchant's unspoken thoughts.
"The Witch of Envy, huh…?" Subaru spoke the name without care, striding back over to the counter. Otto nodded, as if to confirm his words.
"Indeed. Discrimination against non-humans is already extremely apparent...but against a silver-haired half-elf? It would not be remiss to say that the only thing keeping her from being banished from society is her backing from Margrave Mathers." The merchant murmured, tipping his hat over his forehead.
"It's all stupid." Subaru stated bluntly, now standing in front of Otto.
"...How so, Natsuki-san?" Otto questioned, out of simple curiosity.
"I'm no expert on history or magic or anything, but why would the emblem of destruction be trying to do something like stop discrimination, or save a failing kingdom? People are just letting their fears rule over them. Their race or background doesn't affect their capability as rulers. Shouldn't you be caring more about that?" The barkeep finished, folding his arms in indignation.
For a while, Otto remained in silence, just looking up at Subaru with wide eyes.
"W-What? Why are you so silent all of a sudden?"
"...It still amazes me that you consider yourself useless when you can say such things so easily, Natsuki-san." Otto shook his head, resuming his drink, while Subaru began to panic at what sort of secrets Otto's mysterious words were holding.
"H-Hey, what is that supposed to mean? Hey? Otto-kun?!"
"An' so, Julius-kun, that's why we're lookin' fer promisin' places 'round tha' Kingdom. This campaign is gonna cost money, and we ain't relyin' on no wealthy patron, so we gotta secure as many prospects as we can. Connections, fundin', an' control over th' market. Those three things are gonna give us a huge edge over th' competition." A voice laden with a thick, Kararagian accent spoke, meticulously explaining their plans.
"I see...it truly is as you say, Anastasia-sama. While the other candidates aim for certain demographics, or certain factions...aiming for and taking control of the heart of the capital – its' economy, would truly give us an insurmountable edge." A refined voice replied in kind.
Anastasia Hoshin, and her knight, Julius Juukulius spoke in a small meeting room, sitting in front of one another in ornate, well-made wooden chairs. Between them was a large table, which had an innumerable amount of documents and reports on them.
"While I am happy to have a clearer idea of your goals for the future, Anastasia-sama...I assume that was not all you summoned me for?" Julius questioned, raising an eyebrow at his mistress. Anastasia gave a pleased smile, folding her arms across her chest.
"As sharp as ever, Julius-kun. Well, that's part o'what I like 'bout ya, anyways." She turned her attention, and her gaze down to the papers in front of him, which her knight quickly followed suit with. "In regards of workin' towards that goal of ours, I've been scoutin' out important places to take over, or at least, negotiate with. Although...ya know I'd prefer to have 'em than share 'em."
She chuckled a little, and Julius could not help but give a smile at his lady's ever-present nature peeking through.
"I can mostly handle everythin' by myself, but, there is one place that I want you ta' personally take a look at, Julius."
Anastasia picked up a piece of paper, slowly sliding it across the table over to Julius, which he picked up and stared at. He silently read across the lines of writing, with his eyes eventually widening, as he pulled it away from his face.
"T-This is...!" The absolute shock in his tone was all too evident.
The merchant princess gave a simple nod, crossing one leg over the other. "It's just as ya' think, Julius. Usually I'd scold ya' fer bein' that easy ta' read, but...I had th' same reaction when I read that report."
"Now I understand why you specifically wished for my assistance, my lady…" Julius lowered the paper down onto the table, a solemn, serious look in his eyes.
"Well then, seein' how serious you're lookin', I assume I can leave this one ta' you in good conscience?" Anastasia smirked, not even needing to hear to know that her knight's confirmation would come but a second later.
"Of course, Anastasia-sama. You can rest assured knowing that I will not let you down."
The Finest Knight made this promise, with his fist now resting over his heart.
"Man...so in the end, it comes down to this again, huh?" Subaru sighed, as he walked into the upstairs room of the bar, carrying a heavy load…
An extremely drunk, snoring, unlucky, merchant-load.
"I swear, this guy always just comes here to drink his sorrows away 'till he passes out, then I have to lend him the upstairs room...why do I let him in here again?" The young barkeep grumbled, as he laid down Otto on one of the bedrolls in the plain wooden room.
Compared to how despair-filled his expression always seemed whenever he walked into the bar, he seemed pretty at peace, sleeping.
"Maybe he should really get off the drinks? At this point, it's more like a bad habit of his to drink whenever he's down. Although it would definitely take away one of my biggest customers." Subaru chuckled, as he grabbed himself another bedroll, setting it down on the opposite side of the room.
Of course, there was no bed. He didn't have such luxuries. The only furnishings in the room were a plain wooden chair and a table. Even the clothes he was forced to wear were relegated to being folded neatly in the corner.
Still, Subaru was thankful, even for this. He still remembered the first week of his arrival in this world.
Being accosted by thugs, constantly...unable to even read or write, getting assistance from nobody...not even a single person willing to listen to him, because he was so dirty, injured, and pretty much clueless on everything about the world.
He couldn't even sell his ideas of things from his world, like he'd previously assumed – it was a lot harder to remember the intricate details of technology than he'd at first assumed.
And then, someone had taken advantage of that desperation of his to use him...to bring him to this bar, and forever place him in their debt.
That's how he'd ended up here, a month later. Of course, there was a lot more to the story than that, but...Subaru wasn't particularly in the mood of thinking about the unpleasant first few weeks he'd had in this world.
One of those days, Otto had walked into his shop, both sad, and angry, demanding nothing but drinks to drown out his sorrow. And seeing the look of a fellow desolate person...somehow, Subaru just connected to the merchant.
Soon enough, they were just like old friends. And even though Subaru knew he'd have to deal with the aftermath of Otto's excessive drinking, he'd let him in the bar, every time.
Subaru sighed, as he shuffled under his sheets.
"I guess the answer's a lot easier than to reach than I thought, huh?"
Somewhere, deep down, Subaru was just happy...happy to have a single friend, in this hostile, unknown, strange world.
A world where he was alone.
A world where he'd just assumed everyone would trick him, use him, beat him up, ridicule him, or throw him away.
A world that was a far cry away from the happy fantasy that he was imagining at first.
A world...where he was able to actually make a single friend.
"...Thanks for always being a customer, Otto."
Subaru no longer fought off the calls of sleep, as he settled deep into rest, his eyes closing slowly.
For now, the bar, and Subaru's life would retain this tranquility...however, soon enough, this one store would become the center of many conspiracies, lives, deaths, and struggles of power beyond his wildest imagination.
But, for now...the barkeep sleeps.
Hey guys, it's me, Destiny here. I'm just doing something new, so don't mind me.
I know this isn't my most quality writing, but I guess I needed to write something.
See you all around.