They were gazing at him.
He couldn't see their figures physically, but he felt their gaze.
'System. Did they see through the seal you put on me?' Alex asked, confusion evident in his thoughts.
[The possibility exists, but it's highly unlikely.]
'Then why are they gazing at me?' Alex asked, a bit frustrated at the moment.
[Instincts, most likely. They may not know what you are… but they probably know you're not normal.]
Alex sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared up at the looming towering building.
"Tch… Just a hunch, huh?" he muttered, before mumbling under his breath, "Let's hope so… Fighting all of them at once would be a pain in the ass."
"Oi, newbie!" James called from behind, snapping Alex out of his thoughts. "You planning on brooding out here all night? The beer's getting cold!"
"I don't think beer gets cold," Layla muttered beside James, parking her vehicle with a sharp turn.
"Oh shut it, let me have my metaphors," James grinned, slapping the hood of the vehicle as he hopped off.
Alex raised a brow as the two approached, the rusty old inn they'd stopped at looked like it had been here since the start of the Empire.
He felt a vein twitch as he looked at the wooden sign swinging above the door, the words "The Rusty Swordfish" barely legible.
James noticed the look and smirked. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Doesn't look like much. But they've got decent booze and the ceiling only leaks sometimes."
"…Charming," Alex muttered, still unmoving.
Layla sighed and grabbed his arm. "Come on. Don't be such a wuss."
"I'm not being a wuss, I just—"
"C'mon, pretty boy," James added, looping his arm around Alex's neck like an overly friendly bear. "It's your initiation. First time in El Dorado? You drink in The Swordfish."
"I don't drink."
"We'll get you water," Layla said flatly, tugging him along as he begrudgingly followed.
*************
The inside of the inn was surprisingly lively.
Dozens of hunters crowded around mismatched tables, laughter and clinking mugs echoing around the room.
The bar reeked of sweat, alcohol, and some mysterious burnt meat scent Alex tried very hard to ignore.
They found an empty table in a corner, relatively quiet, and sat down.
James slammed his hand on the table. "Three beers! And… whatever sterile, sealed beverage our delicate little prince here drinks!"
"I'll take bottled water," Alex deadpanned.
Soon enough, drinks arrived. James immediately raised his mug, nearly spilling half of it in excitement.
"To the new guy!" he cheered.
Layla clinked hers gently. "To not dying horribly."
"…Cheers," Alex muttered, twisting the cap off his water bottle like it was holy relic.
They drank.
They talked.
And eventually, the stories began.
"So there we were," James started, already a few beers deep, "in that goblins' nest outside East Rabai. You remember it, Paula?"
"Ugh," Paula groaned from across the table, already pink in the cheeks. "Don't remind me…"
"She was trying to impress her crush—some rookie sword guy," James said with a smug grin.
"I was not! He was the one who dropped his sword!"
"Right, after you charged in, tripped on a rock, and fell face-first into a goblin nest."
Alex blinked. "Wait. Face-first?"
"I ate goblin dirt, Alex," Paula nodded solemnly. "I'm pretty sure one of them tried to nibble my hair."
James cackled. "She screamed so loud, I'm pretty sure Rabai City heard her!"
"Oh, and let's not forget you in that E-rank dungeon," Paula slurred, suddenly much more animated.
James narrowed his eyes. "I don't recall—"
"Trapped in a mimic chest!" she shouted, pointing. "For four hours! He thought it was loot! He jumped in himself!"
"I thought it was enchanted!"
"You were crying!"
"I was sweating! There's a difference!"
Even Layla chuckled at that, her usual composed demeanor cracking slightly.
Alex leaned back, sipping his water with a subtle smile.
"…There was also that time we got ambushed by bandits near Velmark," Layla offered casually. "James tried to bribe them with Paula's underwear."
"WHAT?" Alex choked.
"It was a joke!" James shouted, face redder than his ale. "They were gonna kill us anyway!"
Paula just buried her face in the table, mumbling incoherently.
"They left, though," Layla added. "Maybe out of sheer confusion."
"God, I'm surrounded by idiots," Alex muttered, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
By the time the moon was high in the sky, most of the other hunters in the bar were snoring into their mugs.
James was face down on the table, murmuring something about treasure chests, while Paula had slumped sideways into Layla's shoulder, snoring softly.
"…We should get them to their rooms," Layla said with a sigh. "I already paid earlier."
Alex nodded and stood, grabbing James under the arm. "This guy's heavier than he looks."
"Paula drools when she sleeps. Fair warning," Layla muttered, hoisting the smaller woman carefully.
As they dragged the pair toward the stairs, Layla glanced sideways.
"Sorry about all this. They're not usually like this. They just… probably wanted you to loosen up. Since you're new and all."
Alex chuckled, his voice low and warm. "I get it. And honestly… I appreciate it."
Even if he didn't need it.
He was stronger than all three of them combined.
But still… he didn't mind it.
The warmth. The chaos. The laughter.
It reminded him of a different time.
A time when they were still around.
They dropped the drunks into their respective beds, shut the doors quietly, and walked toward their own rooms.
"Goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight."
And with that, silence returned.