Tanimoto left the training grounds, caring not for his group, or even their rules. It mattered not to him. He found it stupid, even more stupid than Yuto. "Fucking coward, just who the hell does Jin think he is?" Making his way through the bustling streets of Grambosia Kingdom, he couldn't help but notice the diverse mix of races and cultures. Humans, elves, dwarves, and even a few dragonborns mingled together in the evening crowds. Despite the grandiose view, he was still annoyed.
"…At least I have some reputation in this Kingdom, that way I could probably get some free booze and a bunch of chicks." The warm glow of lanterns illuminated the stone buildings as merchants called out their wares. The smell of roasted meat and ale wafted from nearby taverns, it felt far more pleasant to be here than with the other heroes.
Tanimoto adjusted his sword belt as his eyes scanned for a particular establishment. It was obvious where he was going. "I need some real entertainment... and maybe a pretty face to distract me from those boring heroes." After walking past several taverns, Tanimoto finally spotted one that caught his eye. The sign above the door depicted a roaring dragon with flames—a symbol of the popular Dragon's Breath Tavern.
The building was made of dark wood, with windows glowing with warm light. Music and laughter spilled out onto the street, along with the sound of clinking glasses. Tanimoto pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside, immediately assaulted by the smell of ale and pipe smoke. It was packed with patrons, mostly adventurers and mercenaries looking for a good time.
He made his way to the bar, scanning the crowd for potential entertainment. His eyes landed on a group of attractive women sitting at a nearby table. "Now this is what I'm talking about..." As Tanimoto approached the bar, he caught the attention of a female bartender with cat-like features. Her beauty caught his eye, but it was not exactly what he was looking for.
The tavern's interior was dimly lit, with wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and wood smoke, creating a cozy atmosphere despite the rowdy crowd. "I'll take whatever those guys are having." Tanimoto pointed his thumb behind him at a group of mercenaries chugging their booze as if their life depended on it.
"Alright then, that drink is known as the Dragon Spit, it's quite strong, are you sure you can handle it?" Tanimoto scoffed at her question, leaning against the table with a confident smile. "There's nothing I can't handle, do you know who I am?"
Speaking toward the bartender, his eyes gazed upon the group of women across the tavern once again—particularly one with long blonde hair and curves that seemed to catch everyone's attention.
"Ahaha..." The bartender chuckled at his comment, quite used to people with egos. "I'm afraid I am unaware of your title. There are many people in Grambosia Kingdom who are special."
Tanimoto smirked at the bartender's statement, chuckling. "Well, I'm more special than those people you mentioned. I'm one of the heroes summoned from another world to slay the Eater of Worlds." People of the tavern heard what he said as they exchanged skeptical glances, clearly unimpressed by his claim. One of them, a tall elf with emerald eyes, spoke up.
"Another hero? We've heard that one before. Show us some proof."
"Want some proof? Say less." Tanimoto laughed at her before pulling his sword slightly from its sheath, revealing the intricate design that marked it as a weapon from his King Jubilius himself. "This blade is crafted from Mythical Ore, given to me by King Jubilius himself. All the heroes got special blades until we can level up even further." The blade glowed faintly in the dim light, catching their attention.
Another woman, a dwarf with short red hair, snorted derisively. "That fancy sword could've come from anywhere. Prove you're really one of the Ten Virtues that everyone has been talking about!"
Tanimoto sighed at their doubt, then concentrated for a moment. A shimmering blue hologram appeared before him, it was his Foundation System, displaying his stats and Heroic Skill.
The women's eyes widened as they saw his impressive status as the Hero of Liberation, along with his impressive skill points. The elf gasped softly, her skepticism replaced with genuine interest.
The dwarf leaned forward, her gruff demeanor softening slightly. "Well, I'll be... You really are a hero. From another world, no less."
The tavern fell into stunned silence as more patrons noticed his foundation system. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.
A burly human man standing nearby nearly dropped his tankard. "By the Elohim... The Hero of Liberation himself? In our tavern?"
The bartender's jaw dropped as her eyes fixed on Tanimoto's floating stats. Several other adventurers started approaching, their interest clearly piqued.
"Doubting me even when I showed a blade personally crafted by the blacksmith of King Jubilius himself? Hah! I bet you look stupid now." Shouted Tanimoto, grinning at the dwarf and elf in amusement.
The blonde woman who gained all the attention from afar stood up as everyone focused their gaze on Tanimoto and his foundation system. She approached the hero with a sway in her hips, gliding past the adventures who wanted to see his skill up close.
"Oh my, the Hero of Liberation, huh? What brings you to our little tavern? Isn't the King supposed to give you anything you want?" The blonde woman's voice carried a hint of flirtation as she moved to sit by him. "Such impressive stats... You must be quite powerful."
Tanimoto smirked, enjoying the attention. He leaned closer to her, his voice low and confident. "Powerful enough to handle anything this world throws at me. Especially pretty distractions like you."
The other women at the table watched with interest as the blonde woman giggled, clearly taken by Tanimoto's charm.
The elf in the tavern raised her glass in a toast. "To the Hero of Liberation! May your stay in our tavern be... entertaining."
The bartender finally finished making the Dragons Spit and slid Tanimoto's tankard across the table, interrupting the flirtatious moment. The cold ale sloshed slightly as it came to a stop, strong in its smell.
"Ufufu, don't mind if I do!" The blonde woman raised her own drink, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "To powerful heroes who grace our tavern with their presence."
Tanimoto lifted his tankard, his gaze fixed on her. "And to beautiful women who appreciate real strength."
The other women cheered and clinked their glasses together while the bartender watched with a knowing smile. The atmosphere in the tavern seemed to buzz with excitement at having a legendary hero among them.
They all drank their booze as the blonde woman moved closer to the hero, her body brushing against his. She was clingy, and attracted, obviously wanting more than flirtatious comments.
The elf called out from her seat. "Hey hero, tell us about your heroic skill! What makes you so special?"
Tanimoto set down his tankard, enjoying the attention with a grin. "Heh, from what I learned yesterday, all heroes are basically embodiments of the Ten Virtues; Liberation, Hope, Love, Peace, Unity, Justice, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Faith, and Humility. I represent Liberation, and my Heroic skill is called Liberation's Edge. It lets me break through any barrier or defense, regardless of its toughness, but the more I level up, the stronger Liberation's Edge will become, and the more Heroic Skills I'll obtain." He picked up his tankard, taking a big sip of his booze.
The dwarf whistled appreciatively. "Now that's a useful ability for a hero. Bet that can give a Dragon a run for its gold!"
The blonde woman traced her finger along Tanimoto's arm, her voice sultry. "I bet you're quite skilled in other areas too..."
"Heh…" Tanimoto chuckled at the woman's suggestive comment, flexing his muscles slightly. "I've been known to handle things with... finesse."
The dwarf laughed heartily. "You're full of yourself, aren't you hero? But I like that confidence."
The blonde woman leaned in closer, her lips nearly touching Tanimoto's ear. "Maybe you could show us some of that finesse later... somewhere more private."
The bartender cleared her throat pointedly, drawing their attention back to the drinks. "Careful now, hero. These ladies might just steal you away from your heroic duties."
Tanimoto winked at the bartender. "I think I can handle a little distraction. After all, I am the Hero of Liberation."
The blonde woman pulled back slightly, her eyes dancing with mischief.
"You know, you're not at all what I expected from a hero."
Tanimoto raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of his Dragons Spit. "Oh? And what did you expect?"
The woman leaned forward, a sly smile on her face.
"Someone more noble, less... tempting."
The dwarf chimed in with a laugh. "Aye, we were expecting some righteous paladin type, not a smooth-talking charmer."
The blonde woman slid onto Tanimoto's lap, her fingers playing with the collar of his armor.
"I much prefer this version. The hero who knows how to have fun."
Tanimoto's hands found their way to the woman's waist as she settled comfortably on his lap. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.
"I can be both noble and fun, you know. But right now, I'm more interested in enjoying your company." The woman's breath hitched slightly at his words, and she pressed closer to him. The other women at the table watched with amused interest, some jealous.
The dwarf raised her tankard again. "To the Hero of Liberation and his newfound entertainment! Bwa ha ha!"
Tanimoto and the woman met lips in a heated kiss as the tavern erupted in cheers and whistles. The bartender shook her head with a grimacing smile, while other patrons laughed at the spectacle. He finally found what he was looking for.