Debt

Alex's dinner was much better than he expected. The meat broth looked simple but it was packed with tons of flavor and he scarfed his food down in an instant. When he finished, he realized just how hungry he was and soon found a new bowl of meat broth in front of him.

Alan didn't say anything to him this time and continued his bar dance like he had performed it millions of times before. Alex smiled wryly but did not complain. He was already in debt so what were a few more bowls?

Evening came and passed and the majority of the crowd had dispersed. Most of the ones still in the building were workers cleaning up or drunks too drunk to move or without a place to go. Alex was still in his spot watching with interest. The workers all could grab several dozen dishes without feeling the weight and many could even have a couple of dishes float around them.

Alex assumed it was magic but he had never experienced it since earth focused on technology and science. He figured the scenario he was in was one where this new world, Nova, was filled with magic and had a societal structure similar to middle age Europe where they used swords and bows and had wooden houses and stone castles.

It was a very fantastical feeling, everything around him. His heart couldn't stop beating fast as his excitement grew. What kind of magic could he use? Would he meet different races like elves and dwarves? The possibilities were endless.

Alex saw Alan going around the floor and kicking drunks out. He would use the immovable towel on his shoulder to whack a drunk. The drunk would wake up abruptly before getting kicked out of their seat and scrambling out the door. None seemed to be angry about the treatment, and some even apologized which goes to show how much importance this bar had, and how much power Mr. Setter wielded in the hearts of the masses.

While everyone finished cleaning, Alex decided to check some things he learned from Aria. The first one was how to activate the system. He tried mumbling the word system or similar words but nothing happened. Then he just thought about it in his mind before a transparent green screen showed up in his vision.

He moved his eyes around to find it didn't follow, before doing the same with his torso to find it moved. This meant when he turned his body it would most likely follow but his vision was unobstructed.

He was able to see his name and other aspects but he was soon interrupted and had to stop looking.

"So you remember anything yet?" Emma had come out of the kitchen and began cleaning dishes that were around the bar.

"Unfortunately no. I only remembered my name this morning. Pretty sad isn't it?" Alex chuckled to himself and tried getting rid of his system. He even tried swiping his hands to see if that worked but it didn't.

"Just think about it disappearing." He heard Emma again and saw her smile at him. He thank her and did just that and the system disappeared.

"So you even forgot how to use your Panel?" She asked with a hint of pity in her gaze.

'So that's what they call it?' Alex didn't like the word too much but only needed to use it when he spoke to others.

"Yeah, it freaked me out this morning and I don't remember how I got rid of it before so I was trying again." Alex did it a few more times just to make sure he had it right before watching Emma work.

He watched the floating cups with interest and Emma noticed his gaze.

"Have you never seen magic before? Or did you forget that to?"

"Forgot it as well... I think. How do you do it?" Alex inquired.

"That... it's hard to explain with just a sentence. It's something you have to learn from a young age or it can be difficult to master later on. I hope you remember your magic or you might never be able to do it again." Emma once again looked at him with pity, but this time it was more genuine.

"Me too." Alex trailed off. His circumstances were unique and that was putting it lightly.

"Go help your mother, I'll finish up here." A quiet and deep voice broke Alex out of his thoughts.

Alan put his hand on his daughter's shoulder and gave her a kiss on the head. Emma smiled and kiss her dad's cheek before skipping off towards the kitchen with her dishes.

"'Kay~ Nice meeting you Alex!"

Alex waved goodbye as well and now he was now alone with Mr. Setter. Although he seemed like a gentle giant, he was still a massive guy and looked quite intimidating. The man didn't even move around the bar, and dishes began flying around and stacking themselves nearby.

He kept his gaze on Alex and the atmosphere changed.

"So," He spoke and his tone was much harsher than before. The air also felt denser making Alex cower in his seat.

'I'm in deep shit.' That was all Alex could think of.

"Is there a reason why you came in here last night demanding a room without paying covered in blood? You even threatened to kill somebody, not like I would let it happen."

'What the fuck? I did that?' Whoever Alex was before, it seemed like he didn't plan things very well. He had no money to his name and he even tried to threaten them? What confused him more was that Alan allowed him to have a room still.

"You looked like you were in a serious fight since there was a huge wound on your back, but you're lucky that my wife wanted to save you and knows healing magic."

"Thank you and your wife very much. Although I don't really remember much before this morning, it seems I was quite rude and took advantage of your kindness."

Alex bowed his head slightly and was genuine. Although he really didn't know what was going on, it was all he had to go off of. It also didn't seem like Alan was taking advantage of him. He truly was a gentle giant.

"Now. The matter of payment." He spoke in a normal tone again but he cracked the knuckles in his hands and the bone-crunching sound echoed through the building. Several of the workers on the second floor even peeked downstairs.

Alex didn't know, but when Mr. Setter cracked his knuckles, it meant someone was in huge trouble. It meant someone would either be fired or be stuck doing all the dirty work everyone hated for an indefinite amount of time.

Alex gulped wondering what Alan would take from him.

'Can't be my innocence since I already lost that to the Goddess.'

Alan looked at him for a minute making it quite awkward for Alex.

"You're going to be our delivery boy for the unseeable future. That means you are going to go down to the Ether Forest and hunt the creatures we need. When you are not hunting, you are cleaning the waste bins and any other cleaning that is related to the sanitation of this building."

Loud gasps came from all the workers who were listening and it spooked Alex. Alan glared at them, causing them all to scatter.

"What do you mean? Can you explain to me more what I'm going to do?" Alex got the gist of it but he didn't know where Ether forest was and he didn't know anything about this building in the first place.

Alan raised an eyebrow and just stared at Alex for a few moments continuing the awkward atmosphere for him.

"Ummm... did I say something wrong?" Alex asked. He really didn't know if he did something wrong just by asking a question. He really had no idea what Alan was talking about.

*sigh* "You really forgot everything huh? Listen, kid, you came here from the direction of the Ether forest so I assume you came through there. And with you in your beat-up state, it wouldn't surprise me because the Ether forest is very dangerous the deeper you go. There's also the kingdom of Henril on the opposite side of it so I assumed you tried to make your way through and barely came out alive."

Alex widened his eyes then quickly stopped. It was good information but he couldn't care less about the past of this body right now.

"The Ether forest is split into the North and South regions separated by a large road that is used for all the miners and lumberyard workers. Their facilities are on the outskirts of the forest to stay out of peoples' way and for ease of access to the trees and mountains in the region.

"What you will be doing is going into the outskirts of the Ether forest to hunt different species for my inn. I will leave you a list of what you need and a beast encyclopedia since you really seemed to have forgotten basic knowledge."

Alex promptly nodded at his words. He felt it wasn't wise to anger Alan anymore considering he was sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose a lot. Alex didn't interrupt him at all and was waiting until the end to ask any questions he may have.

"As for cleaning, it is pretty self-explanatory so I hope you haven't forgotten basic hygiene or I'd rather just kill you now."

Alex gulped and shrunk in his stool. He just nodded and let him ramble on. A few awkward seconds later Alex mustered up the courage to ask him something.

"So how do you want me to kill the creatures you need? Do I need a sword or will a gun do?"

"What's a gun?" Alan was confused and a bit intrigued.

"Ah! It's nothing I think my memories are still all jumbled around."

Alex tried to play it off as him remembering something incorrect. He laughed at himself and hoped Alan bought it. The latter narrowed his eyes at him but didn't ask. If it was personal, he wasn't going to pry, because he didn't care.

"Alright that's all for now. Be here before sunrise tomorrow since the trip will probably take you a few days at least."

Alex nodded and got out of his seat. Alan put his attention on the dishes that had magically stacked themselves and easily carried the several dozen dishes to the kitchen. Alex breathed a sigh of relief and practically ran upstairs to avoid getting caught by him again.

Once he was inside, he dove face-first into his bed and groaned. Although he had only been awake for a few hours at most, it had been one of the most stressful times of his two lives? Even though he didn't remember much of either.

He turned himself over to stare at the wooden ceiling.

"I really am in another world huh?" He mumbled.

People were using magic to let objects float around. Alan had a ridiculous amount of muscle and his was able to emit this aura that made Alex feel weak and small. He wasn't sure what it was, but he was sure that Earth didn't have something like that.

Speaking of Earth, he remembered Aria called it a "rogue planet." He wasn't sure what that meant, but he was curious so it wouldn't hurt to ask the next time he went to a church.

After collecting his thoughts of all that happened the past two days, he sat up and opened his system once more. He didn't get a chance to look at it at all so he needed to see what kind of skills he might have if he wants to survive the dangerous Ether forest.

He was a bit frustrated with Alan since the latter didn't bother to ask whether he could fight or not. He just forced it on him. Alan even added that it was dangerous so for someone like Alex who had little to no knowledge of anything right now, it was not a smart idea to have hope in him.

"It's almost like he just wants me to die," Alex grumbled and focused on his system.

[Alex Vorgen]

[titles: Otherworldly Soul, Aria's Lover]

[stats:

Health -205

Strength -175

Stamina -250

Essence - N/A ]

[Skills: Booty Conqueror, Basic Weapon Mastery (Locked)]

"Great. I have no idea how these stats are calculated." Alex sighed.