Rum (DanMachi - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 4)
Something needs to be done. Zanis clicked his tongue, while slowly nursing his drink. He drank his Soma slowly. Taking his time to enjoy it, unlike the pigs within his Familia. Pigs I could steer and direct, but then there is that damn Chaser.
He had originally thought the Level 3 would be another pig to lead by the nose using the Soma. Yet it turned out Chaser was far too unruly. A few days after Chaser joined the Familia, Zanis had been working on taming the beast, as a smart Captain should, when Chaser without a word or any indication snapped.
He dared punch Zanis in the face, dazing him, then took everyone's Soma, poured it into the ground (while beating away anyone that got close), pissed in it, then used a spell of sorts, and set it on fire.
Then Chaser went up to Soma, got a bottle from him, without paying and drank it in front of everyone.
"Leave me the fuck alone and I'll ignore you. Or else I'll pour your Soma into the ground. Not drink it, pour it into the ground or even sewage." Chaser had said to everyone, but stared at Zanis specifically.
And that had been it. From then one everyone gave Chaser a wide berth, not wanting their earned Soma taken away, or worse watch it threw carelessly away, not even drunk.
Yet Zanis didn't give up. He had met stubborn opponents before, yet if they drank Soma, or joined the Familia, they all ended up the same in the end.
But fucking Chaser seemed to defy his expectations out of spite. Even drunk out of his mind, Chaser didn't capitulate to Zanis's will. He had even tried to beat Chaser up with Chandra, when the Level 3 was intoxicated out of his mind.
Chaser nearly put them both into the ground permanently.
The difference between Level 2 and Level 3 was far greater and more terrifying than he thought.
Chaser had no loyality to the Soma Familia, which was rational, but it meant Zanis couldn't use him to beat or control other Familias, and then climb up the chaotic pyramid that was Orario.
Yet even still, Chaser was an asset of his Familia. Surely there had to be a way to use the worthless drunk.
The answer came from an unexpected place.
Children. Young Adventurers still not amounting to much, besides being useful Supporters.
Did Chaser fancy himself as an honorable mentor? Zanis snorted at the thought. Originally he believed Chaser just had hobby in having the weak be tormented by monsters in the Dungeon for his amusement. The rumor alone was helpful, working as punishment for slackers that couldn't get the valis needed for Soma to make his liquor.
Turns out, no. Chaser just...trained them and let them go.
Odd but not important. Zanis had thought at the time.
Yet it turned out to be worse. Far, far worse.
Because all the adventurers Chaser train Leveled up. Some multiple times even.
All of them would then immediately would leave the Familia.
And Soma just allowed it.
Zanis wanted to tear his hair up upon discovering this.
Having multiple Level 2s under his control would have been the ultimate game changer. Or even a few Level 3, then he could just get rid of Chaser all together.
Zanis could gather materials for Soma faster, he could expand the brewery and use the Soma to control other Familias. He would rise to the top till he was living within the Tower of Babel!
Yet all of Fucking Chaser's playthings would just leave the Familia. The Soma Captain couldn't even get Chaser to do what he had already been doing to adventurers of Zanis's choice.
Zanis tried to get different kid that would appear innocent and vulnerable, yet Chaser would either scare them away, or the ones he trained would also leave the Familia. Zanis couldn't figure out what criteria Chaser used to determined who he would train, and who he would turn away. It all seemed bloody random.
Even worse, other Familia's noticed this trend around the Soma Familia, and would wait like vultures for the Leveled Up Adventurers to leave the Soma Familia without his permission, and scope them up.
Zanis couldn't profit off of Michael Chaser, because he couldn't predict or control him. That is what grated on Zanis Lustra above anything else.
It was only Chaser's reclusive behavior that allowed Zanis to keep his iron grip upon the Soma Familia.
Something needed to be done. Zanis's mind went to Chaser's latest disciple, Liliruca Arde. These golden eggs needto bring me power and money somehow.
Zanis clicked his tongue at Chaser's wastefulness, and downed his mug to push away his ire.
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My brain was pretty active right now.
I was thinking, and thus naturally, remembering.
Because that's what the brain did. It gathered information, compared date and connected information.
So I did the only logical thing I could.
I downed the Soma I had right away, so stop this egregious activity.
Like always it was a bad idea to drink Soma within the Dungeon.
"Mr. Chaser? Mr. Chaser, the Dungeon is spawning. Mr. Chaser, we need to move. Michael!" Half-Pint was panicking, so nothing unusual.
Or in polite company.
"I'm thankful for your praise but my name is Ais Wallenstein, not 'Baeber'. And I don't know what being a good one entails." Said the nice Saberface. There was always one somewhere.
However, quite frankly good advice can get fucked.
I just wanted to enjoy the buzz of that 'honey filled brain' feeling. It was like living in that feeling of nostalgia land you seeing in movies.
That feeling of bliss and contentment. Nothing was wrong with the world.
There was only laughter. Even Half-Pint on my shoulders laughed with zeal at life. The Dungeon Monsters danced with my joy. Red confetti was thrown around. The Dungeon quaked as well. Shaking what her momma gave her. Rocks fell and even more monsters joined the dance battle.
The New Saber was lost somewhere in the celebration. She was running with half a scissor and dancing hip-hop, and throwing panty-shots. Half-Pint cried at losing the 5-Star Servant. It's okay Half-Pint, a Summer version will pop out eventually.
There was only jubilations. Other emotions ceased to exist.
The sun and the moon danced with me
There were nothing else. No memories, nothing to reminiscent on.
Not my compromises for victory travelling through time. Not my sacrifices and lost friendships. Sending My friends Servants and Masters to die.
Knowingly sending M̢̕͟͡a̧̡͞s̷҉̢h̷̀҉͡ to burn.
But it was worth it. Because Olga was with me. Olga was here.
Olga Marie and I held each other. We survived. Despite everything I managed to save her and she said she loved me.
That made it worth it.
The end of the world probably averted, Chaldea in the void, and the King of Humans holding Olga's heart.
"And yet I won." I said from my seat, resting a hand on my cheek. I felt a smile on my face. Guess I'm happy, right?
"...Okay, I'm gonna need a lot of context for that punchline." Said Mia Grand from behind the counter.
"Huh?" I looked up then around. I was at the Hostess of Fertility.
When did I get here?
"You came in, sat down, stared into space for five minutes, and when you opened your mouth you said 'and yet I won'. So that reverting conversation you were having in your head, never really made it out." Mia chuckled, and gave me a grin.
I looked away toward the menu on the wall. I didn't like Mia's eyes. There was sadness and pity in them toward me, regardless of if she smiled or not.
"I'm hungry and sober. Give me the usual, Mia." I checked my pouch, and yeah, I had enough money.
"Alright," she didn't say anything else, or ask me to explain what story I mentally concluded in my drunken haze.
What was I thinking about anyways? It felt like something depressing.
"Is the fucking drink not working?" I muttered. Then I felt it. Purge Engine was working a bit stronger than usual. "Tsk," I lowered it down. So, that's what ruined the usual buzz I get from seven full bottles of Soma.
I probably ended up thinking heavily about Olga the past. At least I didn't think about deceptively crazy, pretty white haired women falling from the sky-
"I need to ask Soma for something heavier." I said under my breath, a frown on my face.
"You came early this time." Someone said next to me.
"Huh?" I turned to see one of the Hostess's waitress. A perky girl with bluish gray hair.
"Sire." I greeted with a nod.
"It's Syr!" She cried out and pouted, then quickly changed the subject to avoid the captivating topic of my failing to remember names. "Last time you came was two weeks ago. Usually we don't see you except every three to five month. One month at the earliest. What changed!?" She said like an excitable puppy.
No wait. That would be insulting for the cat and dog girls working here. Or would that be stereotyping. Anyone can be excitable, and hopping from foot to foot.
Wait. Looked down to see Sire was lightly hopping from foot to foot.
"Do you seriously have nothing else, that gossip gets you going that much?" I raised an eyebrow.
"It's not like that!" She protested.
"Syr." Someone called out. We turned to see Ryuu from the other side of the restaurant waving for the waitress to come help carrying dishes for a large table.
It's likely that Ryuu just wanted to keep interaction between me and her friend to be as minimal as possible. She didn't like her friend taking interest in a Soma-addled wreck. Which I can respect.
"Just a second." Syr called out. She turned and gave me an inspecting gaze, as she cutely held her chin. "Something is different about you. I think."
"Yes. I'm sober." Or sobering up rather and it felt awful.
"Muuu, it's not that! Just, I dunno. Hmmm..." She pouted and tilted her head. "Maybe I am imaging things."
"Lay off the erotic novels, Sire." Mia placed a mead tankard in front of me. Food should be coming out soon. "Thank, Mia." I said off-handedly.
"H-How dare you suggests an innocent pure-hearted girl like me, would read stuff like that!?" Syr blushed, holding the tray between her and me to cover the lower half of her face.
"Well, you're the one seeing things that aren't there, so it's either that or detective novels." I replied. "Aaaand I don't think those are your speeeee-preference. I said preference."
"You!" Syr pouted harder. "Are you calling me dumb?"
"Syr!" Ryuu called out impatiently.
"We're gonna continue this later, buster." Syr pointed before turning at walking away.
"No, we won't." I whispered. By the time she returns I should be hammered out enough to not be coherent.
Mia place a large plate of fried chicken covered in spicy sauce, as a starter for me.
The Hostess of Fertility was a nice place to eat some real food every once in a while. Sadly, I can't live off of booze alone. And dry jerky gets tiring after a while.
My mind was trying to look toward the past, which I needed Soma to stop. Till then, I focused it on the present. Lili was coming on well as an Adventurer, and even developing her own combat style of hit and run. Another month or two, and she should be strong enough to take her to help me kill a Goliath, so she can get enough excelia to Level Up.
Leaving the Soma Familia from there, should be easy for her.
I thought about which fighting style to influence her with, to compliment and solidify her abilities.
However while my mind was forcefully steered toward training Lili, my heart held an odd uneasiness.
I needed a drink.