An old friend's tavern

"Ah, Strax, you're here," Beatrice said with a bored look. "I hope you don't ruin the food with your presence."

Strax heard those words from Beatrice and glanced at her as he sat down to dinner; in truth, he was quite bothered by it.

In Strax's memories, Beatrice was cute, loving, and kind. Seeing her like that, all he could think about was shaking her until she returned to normal. At the same time, he was upset; the situation was complicated. However, he took on the role of Strax in this world and needed to move forward.

"Since my presence bothers you so much, please, eat to your heart's content," he said, and instead of eating, he left. Did it really matter? He was already feeling down after seeing her again and having his memories; he just wanted to leave.

"Wait–" Beatrice was about to say something, but the noise of the closing door had already been heard. She looked at the scene with slightly drooping eyes. 'Damn,' she thought as she continued to eat.

Despite being hungry, Strax went out to wander; he didn't need much, just a bit of bread, and it was okay.

He had been starving for days due to the lack of quality food in the mines, so he didn't really mind spending a few days eating crumbs.

'Ah, seriously, when will I start with the fun stuff?' he wondered as he began to leave the Baroness's property.

He started walking down the cobblestone street that led to the city center. He headed towards the market to try to buy something. He had some copper coins that he could use to buy a piece of bread and a glass of milk.

And so he did; it was still early evening, and the sun had just set. Strax had many things to think about, but for now, he wanted to focus on how to improve his image with Beatrice.

"If only I could solve my problem with Beatrice... maybe I can get out of here faster."

He reached a kind of square and began to walk towards a famous commercial district called Crafts Alley, the main location in the city of Valoria where Strax was.

He kept walking and came across a sort of tavern. Of course, he entered the place because he remembered it well; it was his friend's tavern.

"Hey, Gladius! I'm back!" he said loudly as he entered the place, which by the way... was having a fight.

Two crazy drunkards were grappling with each other while everyone watched. Gladius, the bartender, was just watching the scene as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Strax began to approach the counter while he saw some men playing pool on one side and the other three drunk idiots.

He approached the bartender, who apparently hadn't heard his previous call.

"Hey, Gladius, long time no see," Strax said greeting him.

"Well, well, if it isn't the fallen star of the Vorahs," Gladius said smiling at the fool in front of him and extended his hand.

"Fool is the Redhead, pretending to be nothing while managing this old bar," Strax said greeting him.

"Hahaha, good to see you! When did you get out of prison?" he asked mockingly, and Strax retorted: "No prison, I wish! I was used as a slave!" He replied.

"Give me a beer," he said, and Gladius turned around, grabbing a small glass. "This one's on the house," he said and filled the glass to the brim with barley beer.

"So, how's little Beatrice?" Gladius asked leaning in. They were... friends who talked about romance, if you could call it that.

"She still doesn't believe me, but now I got a chance..." Strax replied seeing the notification in front of him [Main Mission in Progress: 29 Days remaining].

"That little girl... She came here a few times asking about you, but I refused to talk," he said with a proud expression. "If she doesn't accept you, there's no reason for me to talk about you," he sniffed lightly. He really liked Strax like a younger brother.

He knew the delicate situation Strax was in, someone who wasn't even suitable for an arranged marriage, talentless and only with his usefulness to be used. He sympathized with Strax.

"So she came... maybe it's not too late yet," he muttered and drank the glass of beer in one gulp.

He seemed a little melancholic as he shook the empty glass and looked at it.

"Hey, come here, beauty," the husky voice of a man came. Strax turned and saw that group of three drunk idiots. 'This is going to be trouble.'

The waitress went to approach them; she was one of Gladius's employees.

"What can I help you with, gentlemen?" she said coldly and unsure, as the old men looked at her curves in a... disgusting way to say the least.

"Are you going to let this continue?" Strax questioned, and Gladius had nothing to say. If he did something, they could be reported, and the establishment could be removed.

"Ah, I'll handle this, alright? Thank me later," Strax said getting up as he lightly cracked his neck.

[Secondary Mission in Progress: Defeat Three Enemies.]

'You're quite smart, aren't you? I already imagine what the reward will be when I finish this.'

[No Cultivator Found]

 The analysis had already worked, but this time, it couldn't detect anything, and that made Strax feel powerful.

The man's hand slapped the waitress's butt, and Strax walked up to him. "Take your hand off," the girl pleaded; the man didn't restrain himself. "Aw, come on."

She then slapped his hand away. "Stop that," she ordered, but the man didn't seem to want to stop and grabbed her arm. "Sit down, let's drink, cutie," he said and pulled the woman, lightly hurting her arm.

"Hi," Strax said grabbing the man's shoulder, who stared at him. "Let her go." He suddenly stood up and asked, "Or what? Vorah's little crybaby." The man recognized him even when drunk.

"Or I'll shove your head up that guy's butt, and that guy's butt up that guy's butt," Strax said pointing to the other two men who laughed at the situation, and they became serious.

"Hahaha, I think you're feeling too good about yourself," he said and grabbed the beer glass and threw it over Strax's head.

"Oooo he's just like her now, all wet," he said mocking. Strax looked at Gladius, and he nodded. After all... this man had just committed a crime, hadn't he?

"Embarrassment, Defamation, and assault..." Strax said murmuring. "That's enough, let them go," the woman said, embarrassed and afraid; her trembling hands took him by surprise.

"Aww, is he going to cry?" the Man said, and Strax lightly smiled at the girl. "Get out," he said imposingly and turned around.

*CRACK*

The punch was so strong that the man's jaw dislocated, and his face resembled...

"HAHAHA IT LOOKS LIKE THAT PAINTING, THE SCREAM HAHAHA," Strax laughed loudly and glanced at the other men.

"Come at me, princess."