A week passed.
Just like last week, the small group that was most familiar with this small bar was still in the corner of the room, playing a different game from last week. On the table were now many cards with pictures of wands.
The four of them were having so much fun that it didn't seem like much time had passed since they started playing. Still like last week, a few people wanted to play, but were immediately rejected by the leader of this group for the same reason as before.
While playing, Wan asked them their views on 'Freedom'.
Their answers varied, Little Joe thought that 'Freedom' itself already lived up to its name, Sunny herself thought that 'freedom' was the unforced severance of choices, Humbert himself felt that 'Freedom' was something familiar to nobles, as they could move freely without any punishment or sanctions to match their mistakes.
At least from the opinions of all his friends, he could tell that the applications were many, perhaps even one variable was not enough to describe 'freedom' itself.
After hearing the opinions of his friends, Wan became curious about the opinion of the bar owner. It just so happened that this bar was quite quiet, apart from those who were having fun playing, it was mostly just ordinary visitors who were enjoying their food, after all, who drinks at work.
At least from the opinions of all her friends, he could tell that there were many applications, maybe even one variable wasn't enough to describe 'freedom' itself.
After hearing the opinions of his friends, Wan became curious about the opinion of the bar owner. It just so happened that this bar was quite quiet, apart from those who were having fun playing, it was mostly just ordinary visitors who were enjoying their food, after all, who drinks at work.
After winning a few times, Wan decided to let her three friends play alone while he himself walked over to the counter to ask the bar owner.
"You guys continue playing first, I'm leaving for a bit." Wan got up from her seat and walked over to the chair near the bar owner's counter to ask him a question.
After seeing Wan leave, the three of them stared at each other, they wanted to rest for a while waiting for Wan, then continue playing when Wan came, after all, this was a game he invented, so he himself should also enjoy it.
When Wan approached the bar counter, he was warmly welcomed by the bar owner "What's up? Want a snack?" The bar owner offered her a free snack, thinking they were hungry.
Wan quickly declined the bar owner's offer then continued "I'm here to ask your opinion on what 'freedom' is" he thought the bar owner himself should know better.
The bar owner seemed to be trying to remember something, his eyes now fixed on the roof he also put both fingers on his chin, trying to remember as hard as he could.
Dak!
The bar owner hits the counter, the sound is quite loud, but some people don't pay much attention to it, because the bar owner doesn't look angry or sad.
"Now I remember!" The bar owner seemed to have remembered the gold, so his casual look unconsciously turned into a bit of excitement. He then continued, "If I'm not mistaken, a few years ago there was a faction from the east that was rumoring the things you want to ask about."
Although he knew that the power of the faction from the east was not as strong as the faction from the west, it was still an advantage. The eastern continent was famous for its low taxes and strategic location. There had been rumors that the western leaders wanted to take it over, but no matter how long people waited, the rumors never came to pass, as rumors generally did.
The bar owner had a good view of the eastern continent. The people of the eastern continent were counted as being friendlier than the western continent, and the prices of basic necessities there were not so expensive.
Wan was grateful to the bar owner, although the information he gave to me didn't contain opinions or views, it was still useful to know about the eastern faction he mentioned. Even though he didn't know the name of the faction, it shouldn't matter much, considering that people from the western continent weren't familiar with the eastern continent, so did the bar owner know? Obviously not!
Wan returned to her small group's table, continuing to play the game with his small group.
While playing, he was also thinking about whether going on an adventure for a while was a good thing.
When the bar started to get crowded and the smell of oil candles was already wafting around, the signs of their game coming to an end were getting clearer.
After thinking for a while, Wan decided to go adventuring for the time being, and would postpone meeting his small group, even though this was a recurring nugget of pleasure that would normally make him not want to part with, but because of his goal, he had to be willing to postpone her main pleasure for a while.
"Ahem!" Wan made sure to make his voice clear and not sound hoarse as he spoke. Wan continued speaking as he was met by the gazes of the three members "Announcement - announcement!" while patting softly, making sure all the members heard he.
A happy smile appeared on his face as all the members watched, then he said, "Since I'm busy, I don't know how long I'll be back, so our weekly meeting will be postponed until I return! But if you still want to gather every week, that's fine! I'll give you some of the games I've created, obviously! Without me playing." He himself didn't know how long it would take for him to return to this place, afraid that his members would feel bored without his games, he took the initiative to leave them behind.
Sunny, who heard Wan was about to leave, began to think, "It's unusual for Brother Wan to leave. Is he going to meet up with his distant relatives or his wife?" Sunny thought that a homebody owl like Wan rarely left the house, and she'd never even seen he go to the town's annual event, or any other event important or unimportant. Even so, if Wan wanted to go, there was nothing wrong with it, maybe Wan was bored at home or something, there was basically no reason for her to stop him. in fact, she was happy for him!
As for the remaining two members, their thoughts were the same, so the curious Little Joe decided to ask, while Humbert would follow, if needed.
"Where is Brother Wan going?" Little Joe asked with curiosity and a slight touch of sea-deep concern
As someone who was already considered like his own biological brother, feeling worried was a given, let alone if he left for an indefinite period of time, that was even worse! After all, this small group was created by Wan, raised by Wan, so if Wan wasn't around, the group would be like a lost cause, running without direction, and would eventually fall apart! He himself hoped that Wan would return quickly
"Yes! Where is Brother Wan going?" Humbert felt he need to follow Little Joe, after all he was also curious.
Hearing his two members' questions made him somewhat moved. He didn't have something called 'family', Wan was originally entrusted to his father's friend to be raised until adolescence, then began living in his house with one maid, well even though there was only 1 maid, but that was enough Wan himself.
He started living alone when he was 17 years old, because in addition to his butler being old and sick, so he, who was still 17 years old, reluctantly retired his butler, because of her old and sick condition.
He lived alone, because of extreme loneliness, he had wanted to end his life, but it failed because he did not dare.
It was like finding the light. Wan found his hobby, which is playing games, he used to play alone, it's sad to remember. From that, he began to want to create games, and the child were the first to enjoy them.
His eyes fell on Sunny, Humbert, and Little Joe. Remembering that the child who had taught them the beauty of the games he had invented was now an adult made him feel happy and proud of his own decisions in the past.
Smiling warmly at the two members who asked, he began to say "I don't know, but it won't be long!" His tone called out to the members not to worry about him.
The worries of the two vanished, because apart from having great confidence in Wan, they also didn't feel that Wan was weak, so worrying was futile.
What they didn't know was the fact that Wan was a Alche, even if he was weak, he was still an Alche!
The game continued with all the members enjoying it while talking about exciting topics, whether important or not.
The four of them parted ways, then went home to their respective homes.
Unlike last week, his steps were heavy! Now his steps were a little lighter, Wan himself still felt a little unwilling to part with his friends...
But whatever it is, regretting it now would be a waste, so it's better to do it thoroughly, then continue the fun.