The Afterlife

As soon as the sun set Bellona stood up and patted the dust of her leather armor. "I guess that's about it." She said as she stretched. "If you haven't chosen anything till the end of the day i suggest you try the adventurers guild." She said as she turned towards Haruki. He nodded his head and stood up as well.

Bellona on the other hand didn't try to come down the ladder. Instead she tied a rope towards her arrow and fired it towards a nearby tall building, She then reinforced it with a small amount of blue mana. Haruki observed her form the whole time without missing a beat.

She then turned towards Haruki. "See you on the other side. They're about to ring the bell." She said as she rappelled towards the other side. He narrowed his eyes as he remembered her form riddled with flaws, unlike the blonde archer he met earlier during the day. "Is it a difference in aiming styles? no... You aim the same way no matter what gun you use..."

Haruki watched as she sped through the rope. He then stared at his bow and shrugged his shoulders. He used the bow to rappel towards the other building as well. The moment he landed on the building the clock tower rang as loud as it could as it's bells tolls rang across the entire town. He looked around and saw no signs of Bellona anywhere.

He jumped down from roof to roof and landed on the bustling streets. He was attracted towards the smell of the food. However he realized he had no money with him. He creased his brows, "How am I gonna eat?"

Then he saw the energetic kid from earlier perusing around the Weapon store. He wrapped around the kids shoulders. "Hey kiddo! What guild did you choose?" He asked. The kid turned around and the moment he saw Harruki he beamed a smile. "Oh! It's the cosplayer niichan! I registered at the adventurers guild! They gave us food, money and taught us stuff about the entire area surrounding elysium! We start training tommorow."

"Food you say? Where's that guild?" He asked the kid however he scratched his cheeks, "I believe they just closed." Haruki facepalmed and groaned. "Damn. How bout this kid. You treat me to food and I teach you how to use a bow! It'll definetly come in handy in your training tommorow." The boy chuckled as he nodded his head, "Alright alright! You don't have to tack on that wierd deal. I have enough for the both of us." Haruki nodded his head.

The two roamed around the street stalls and ate till their bellies were full. The boy bid Haruki goodbye as he entered the inn making Haruki rub his chin. "Where the fuck do I sleep then?"

<You are an absolute idiot.>

Haruki shrugged his shoulders and chuckled towards Magus's words. "Que sera, sera... My good partner!" He said as he walked towards a nearby tavern filled with jovial laughter and shouting. "Not everything has to be planned my good friend." He said towards Magus as he entered the pub named Afterlife.

<You do know you don't have a single coin or currency with you right?>

Magus sighed as he watched Haruki enter the tavern confidently. "Then we better earn some." The moment he entered he saw rows of round tables filled to the brim. The entire tavern was jam packed. Enchanting music filled the entire tavern as the bards thet were lined up played in order.

He coughed softly as no one was paying particular attention to him. He cracked his neck and his next few steps he pretended to stumble and fumble his way through the crowd acting extremely drunk.

When he reached the bar counter he already had a handful of loose change on his hands. "Yo! Bossman. Get me whatever this stuff gets me." He said as he smiled respectfully towards the bartender. "First day?" Haruki nodded his head as he showed his sparkly clean I.D.

<Extremely unethical. Yet effective.>

Haruki scoffed at Magus and thought to himself, 'Says the guy who wants blood and shit.'

"You're surprisingly chipper for someone who got displaced." The bartender laughed as he poured one tall glass of beer for Haruki. "What can I say. You move from planet to planet, you start to adapt y'know." The Bartender nodded his head, "So you're one of the guys who are from the interstellar age." Haruki nodded his head. "Something like that."

"Your lot tend to live longer than most." The man chuckled as he handed Haruki his beer. "There's still casualties here? I haven't met any lethal creatures on the way." He said as he sipped on his beer. "Well, most of the place surrounding the town is a safe area. Still there are those that roam about that could catch a grown man unawares."

Haruki nodded his head, "Ain't that the truth." The bartender looked at him straight in the eyes and said, "You look like a man who knows his around danger. So keep an eye on the other newbies and I'll overlook the coins you nabbed." Haruki raised his hands in the air and grinned, "Hey, can't blame a man for tryin." The bartender then took his coins. "I'll be returning these. The rest of the drinks you get tonight's free kid. Just don't do that again." Haruki smiled and nodded his head. "Will do. Thanks boss."

<Karma's a bitch.>

Magus chimed as Haruki slowly drank his beer. "Hey, free drinks though." He muttered under his breath. Then someone sat beside him. He turned towards the sudden intruder and saw the blonde archer he met earlier. The archer furrowed her brows as she raised her eyebrows, "Oh it's you! I'm surprised you haven't been arrested yet!" She said while laughing. Haruki smiled while shrugging his shoulders, "I'm too slippery." He said making the woman laugh harder. "I'm Rhistel! The best elven archer in these parts!" She said while grinning towards him as she extended her hand. "Kazama Haruki. The best drinking buddy you'll ever meet." He said as he grinned towards her.

"Oh? Feeling confident are we?" She then turned towards the bartender. "Boss! Line em up! I wanna see this newbie puke his guts." The bartender sighed, "Careful kid, She's got a mean streak. Mess with her you'd be given the run for your money." He placed a tall jar of alcohol. The most eye catching thing was a twin headed snake was inside the jar. He then lined up small shot glasses in a row and filled them up one by one.

"So got yourself settled yet newbie?" She asked him as she downed a full shot glass in one gulp. Haruki shrugged his shoulders, "Not my first rodeo." She nodded her head. "Well, round these parts you gotta get used to it, if you don't want to die." Haruki leaned back on his chair. "I seem to notice people here are more adamant in using magic than technology. Why's that?" He asked her as she looked at him wierdly, "For some it's a dream come true. Some come from a place bereft of magic. Besides technology takes away the fun and mystery of magic once you understand the basic concepts." She said frowning.

Haruki nodded his head. "So how long you've been stuck here?" Rhistel chuckled, "Ya won't last long if that's all you think about. It's better to accept that you live here now." Haruki downed another shot glass and exhaled, "I see, get used to it huh." He held the necklace on his chest softly.

"What? You got a lady waiting for you back home? Too bad..." She said while smirking at him. Haruki chuckled, "Nah, nothing like that. Still this place is cozy as hell." He said making the bartender smile at him. "It's one of the first establishments to be made here after all. Boss told me it used to be rowdier back then. He wanted to create a place where everyone could let go of their troubles and relax. Hence the bar named Afterlife was created. Kind of a place you go to before you start a new." She said while she munched on the snacks.

Haruki looked off in the distance with a soft smile. "Not bad. Not bad at all..." He then exhaled, "All right first one to drop on the floor's a dumbass!" He said trying to rouse Rhistel. She grinned at him, "You're on! Don't regret this now!"

The two downed glasses as fast as they could. The Bartender sighed as he watched the two get absolutely wasted. He shrugged his shoulders, "Fuck it. I'll just keep it in their tabs." He said as he smiled softly. The two chatted jovially as they tried to one up each other.

The others joined in as they raised the clamor to the max. They all cheered for the two of them as they all chugged down their own beers as well. The bards increased the fervor of their music as well as they went along with the atmosphere the two valiant souls clashing right now.

"Whellll ready to gib up now? It'ssh payback you phunk." Rhistel slurred her words while grinning towards Haruki. He on the other hand was equally soused, "Damn... This woman is tough." He then laughed at her, "That ain't enough! I haven't had alcohol in months so that's me giving you a handicap." Rhistel scoffed as she laughed, "Bah, Excuses!"

The two drank till the Bartender forcefully stopped them both. Everyone else around them were passed out drunk while the two were barely conscious as well. "Damn! I habnt ha-- " Rhistel covered her mouth as she was about to hurl. "Hear that bossman! It's my wi- -" He also held his mouth as they both puked on the sides. The Bartender sighed as he handed them both a glass of water and a handful of mint candies. "Rinse your damn mouths." The two did what he told them to. Rhistel then grabbed of whats left of the alcohol and grabbed haruki by the scruff upstairs. "Were gonna settle this one way or another." She said while grinning. Haruki shrugged his shoulders and mouthed an apology towards the bartender. He sighed towards the unruly duo and sighed, "Heh, youth."