025. Ordinary Day In Outlaws Town

Zhen entered the bar carrying Alice, whose face was a bit pale. Nala came in next, followed by Zaltar and then by the people who wanted to drink beer. 

"Nala, can you lend her the bathroom this time?" asked Zhen before going further into the back area. 

"Hmn... That's right, she can't serve properly if her body is dirty like that," said Nala then called the waitress to help Alice clean this female knight's body. 

Zhen sat on a chair and looked at the plate that still contained half a pumpkin pie. he ate it gratefully. 

"This pie is delicious, Nala, can you give me the recipe?" asked Zhen as he chewed.

"Ara... I can't, Mister Zhen. It's a company secret."

"You're right. Well, that would be a shame."

"But you can still eat as much as you want if you stay here," Nala said as she ran her fingers over the elf's hand. 

"I'm afraid I can't, I have to leave tomorrow, I still have a long way to go."

Nala sighed and stepped back with a smile, "You are a cruel man. Crushing a woman's dreams like that."

"Hahaha, sorry. I'm not the type to stay for long anyway."

Nala sighed once more. "I guess I can only give up."

"By the way, who is that knight girl?"

"Ara... Ara... Directly talking about another woman after rejecting me, you're really a cold-hearted man."

"Hehe, sorry, I just couldn't contain my curiosity."

"Because of her ability to see the future?"

"Yep, the only way to get that kind of ability is abyss magic, but I don't feel the slightest bit of abyss energy from her."

"You mean just like the device Skar uses?"

"Device?"

"Sorry, I didn't tell that Alice fought with Skar before he fought with me. Skar used some kind of prism necklace that emitted abyss energy and allowed him to see the future."

"The Chrono Academy makes devices as an alternative to abyss magic? Wow. I didn't expect humans to make such a technological leap."

"Regardless, Alice being able to use her abilities is probably because she is the descendant of the past hero."

"Descendant of a hero? Hahahaha, now it all makes sense. Why didn't I think of it earlier? The answer turned out to be simpler than I thought."

"So, what do you really want to know from young Alice?"

"It's okay, I already have all the answers I need. By the way, where is Alice going to?"

"Her destination?"

"I assume she's just stopping here and was forced to work here temporarily, but her real destination must be somewhere else, right?"

"She said she wanted to meet the hero."

"It's unfortunate then."

"Unfortunate? You mean the hero is already..."

"Yep, died in the Demon Lord's palace."

"What a tragedy, I pity young Alice."

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In a bathtub filled with hot water, Alice was pouting while burying her head up to the mouth. 

"I hope he doesn't find out what really happened."

Alice did not want to tell the truth that she had peed her own pants when Zhen stopped his killing blow right in front of her face. 

"A knight who fears death is no knight." Alice hugged her knees and buried her face in the water.

In his musings, she kept thinking about one thing after fighting Zhen. When the elf was serious, fighting him didn't feel like fighting a creature in this world. The gripping sensation Alice felt was very similar to fighting a high-level demon.

Merciless, devoid of humanity, devoid of empathy and filled with absurd amount of will to destroy and to kill.

How could someone who was always smiling and seemed relaxed give off such aura?

Alice raised her head from the water and leaned against the bathtub while hugging her knees. "Who exactly is Zhen?"

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On Alice's bed, there was a dress that looked different. It was bright red in color and all transparent except for the breasts and crotch. 

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" screamed Alice while holding the dress with a flushed face.

"No... No... Wait a minute, I can't do this."

Alice put down the dress and sat on the edge of the bed. "I can't do this."

Alice put her palms on her face while shedding tears. "I can't, I promised to give my first to Shouji. Why him? Why that barbarian elf? What should I do?"

The female knight glanced at the very sexy dress and intended to return it, but when she grabbed the doorknob, she remembered Shouji's advice about the knight of justice not being afraid and not going back on their word. Always stand firm and walk in righteousness. 

Alice fell silent and looked down while sobbing slightly. "What should I do, Shouji?"

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The sky darkened and the bar became more crowded. Normally the townspeople who worked as bandits, assassins, or Mercenaries, they would look for work during the daytime. Be it meeting clients, robbing, or even meeting nobles for dirty work. 

When all the work was done, they came back to this outlaws town. Stay at one of the inns, hire a prostitute, and drink beer at Nala's bar.

 A normal routine for the townspeople.

Zaltar looks happy and seems to be one with the people. Nala serves customers from behind the counter. Alice was the shy and awkward waitress. 

But Zhen was nowhere to be seen. Alice approached Nala to find out. "Ma'am Nala, where is that elf man?"

Nala smiled gently at Alice while holding her cheek with one hand. "Ara... Ara... Young Alice wanted to precede me. I didn't expect you can be so bold to snatch a man for yourself."

Alice's face turned red instantly and she stuttered. "A... A... What do you mean, ma'am Nala? It... It's... It's not like I care about him."

The people who heard this immediately laughed. 

"Woah, it turns out that the waitress didn't give up despite being rejected this afternoon."

"I envy that elf."

"Alice, pay attention to me."

Nala chuckled softly while Alice was annoyed and gripped the broom so tightly that she broke it. 

The whole bar immediately fell silent and went back to their business. 

"Ara... Ara... A woman with a temper will not be liked by men."

"Ma'am Nala, stop joking, I have no interest in those barbarian elves."

"Yes... Yes, I know. Mister Zhen is in his room. I lent him a room on the 3rd floor, right next to yours."

"Huh?!" Alice walked up to Nala and hit the counter with both palms. "Wh... Wha... What does that mean N... Ne... next to my room?"

Nala could only smile and leaned close to Alice's ear and whispered. "You don't want anyone to see you in your (work uniform), do you? Wouldn't it be better if you went straight to his room instead of walking in the hallway and heading to the second floor?"

Alice backed instantly with a flushed face while turning her gaze away from Nala. "That's true, but..."

"It's good that you understand, it's time to get back to work," Nala said as she left Alice and went straight to serving the customers.

Alice pouted and exhaled heavily. "Why am I stuck in this place?"

"Alice~ Notice me~"

"SHUT UP!" Alice threw a piece of broom at the bandit who had just called her name.