A Wish Maker's Responsibility

Along the hubbubs of a popular adventurer's tavern, the tear-stained face of a boss of the said tavern suddenly jumped across the wooden slab of their counter and walked towards Akiro.

The crowd wouldn't fail to notice such a stunt especially if it's the well-known owner of the bar who did it. This was the first time they saw the owner filled with excitement that he didn't have the time to properly exit the bar counter. For some reason, they all felt his tears of joy.

"What's wrong with the owner today?" a man said.

Most of the people near the bar decided to watch his unusual action although some shrugged at the commotion and continued drinking, spending every minute of their rest with importance after days of working nonstop.

Meanwhile, the man in the spotlight ignored them and quickly hugged his supposedly dead sister. Unbeknownst to him, her sister was alive all the time, thanks to the uncarefulness of the raging knight guards at that time and made way for the righteous woman to save Claret.

"B-brother, I will be out of breathe!" Claret reminded.

John let loose of his hug and looked toward Akiro with confusion in his eyes despite his happiness.

"H-how?" John asked.

"I believe that we have to talk in a quiet place," Akiro said.

John quickly understood and led all of them to the second floor of the tavern where the private rooms were located. Then he stopped at the second wooden brown door with a '202-B' sign plate in it to which he hastily opened with both hands and let them enter. Its inside had only two long wooden benches and tables along with a brown curtained window.

"Take a seat," John said.

Luna, Akiro, and Mavel sat opposite John and Claret. Meanwhile, the man whom Akiro had asked earlier for John entered after them with different kinds of delicacies on his hands. From sweet confectionaries to bitter liquors, different kinds of them were served in the long wooden table that separated the two benches.

Then they began discussing things out while Luna stayed silent while staring at the window beside her and eventually got drowned in her thoughts.

All that happened in a while left Luna in glee. The place looked simple yet lively and despite the noise, the crowd maintained a peaceful interaction. She did not know that area they were in was the usual area of the commoners which was among the majority of the Magic Nation. Along with that, the sudden stunt of the owner named John and her meeting of his sister looked very dramatic and comedic at the same time that she missed watching movies.

Nonetheless, no matter how amazing the another world was to her, she could not help but think of Earth whenever something or someplace reminded her of it even though her previous daily life felt redundant and isolated. Then her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when Akiro called her name many times.

"A-ah, why?" Luna said.

"Something bothering you?" Akiro uttered.

Luna shook her head. She didn't feel like sharing her lonely and negative thoughts with them as it would break the cheerful atmosphere inside the private room.

"To celebrate my meeting with my sister, I treat you all with the food! Enjoy our limited delicacies and most expensive liquor!" John said. Then he opened a green bottle of wine, filled the five empty glasses, gave it one by one, and raised his hands.

"Cheers!"

They followed suit and even Luna who was not used to drinking liquors decided to copy them and gave it a taste for courtesy. She did her best not to show her disdain towards the liquors while she remembered the first time she tasted one. However, when it reached her tongue, the sweet taste along the bitterness of it matched well together.

Sipping a bit, Luna placed the cup down. The others definitely liked it and took more rounds. John who was watching their reactions shifted towards Luna.

"Does the taste doesn't suit you?" John asked.

She hastily shook her head. "Not really, it's just that I don't drink liquors however your drink tasted just right. I appreciate it," Luna answered.

He sighed in relief thinking that the liquor tasted bad. It turned out that the lady in front of him didn't drink liquors however, he blamed himself for not thinking about it.

"I'm sorry for not considering it, I'll get a different one," John said.

Luna's eyes widened. She hastily shook her head.

"You don't have to. It's alright," Luna said.

John who's about to stand up sat comfortably again although he asked her again which the latter reassured that she really didn't mind.

"This place is good. I think I'll stay here for a while," Mavel uttered.

"Really, sister Mavel?" Claret asked.

The young lady felt very happy as she was reluctant to leave Mavel alone at the small house in the middle of the forest. Mavel nodded and the latter hugged her tightly. The shy and silent girl she was used to seeing for the whole two years had easily transformed into a bubbly girl after meeting her brother.

"You'll be welcome at our house and tavern anytime. I'll always owe you for saving my sister despite knowing that it's a misunderstanding," John said.

Since John didn't have any idea why his sister was suddenly identified as a witch, he was left baffled at such a coincidental incident. The time, their hair, and even the trousers they wore, it's like their gods were playing with them. However, he bore no hatred to Mavel who's supposed to be the one in Claret's position. Instead, he thanked her for saving Claret and even shared the same deep-seethed hatred for a certain city councilor.

"I think it's time for us to leave," Akiro said.

"You're leaving already?" John asked.

That man was his benefactor who made everything possible and he promised that he would owe him forever but he's now leaving and John didn't know when they will be able to meet again. His mind went into turmoil as he did not know what to do this time.

"Yes, I've got lots of work left to do," Akiro explained.

John nodded and didn't say anything. Everything was clear from the start. When Akiro first appeared, he gave him a chance of wish but only once. John first thought that it was fake but Akiro explained it clearly and believable enough the made him continue holding on to a thin thread of hope. He also remembered his words at that time.

"I don't ask anything in return."

Whatever his reason was, he would thank him forever.

"Well, since that's the case, we'll send you off outside. Is it alright with you?" John asked, pertaining to Mavel and Claret who both nodded heartily.

When they came downstairs, some of his curious customers with their gawking eyes and sheepish grins began to notice his well-dressed visitors especially the women.

"Look! Boss has three beautiful ladies with him and an elegant man in tow," someone said.

"Boss, who is the beauty clinging to you? Is it your girl?" a man followed.

John's eyebrows nearly formed into one line. His mood boiled down like hot water in a kettle and angrily shouted, "Shut up Neil! She's my sister and don't ever come near her, you womanizer!"

"It's that how you treat your best friend?" the man said.

"Ha, we'll talk later," John said.

After they exchanged taunting words, he came back from being courteous and led his visitors outside the tavern.

"I think it's goodbye? I hope to meet you again Sir Akiro and Miss Luna," John said.

Akiro simply nodded while Luna took the liberty to speak for him.

"Hmm, we'll visit when we find some time," she said.

Mavel and Claret said their goodbyes too and felt their eyes teary. They waved their goodbye while Luna and Akiro walked a few meters away.

"Why aren't we teleporting? It's not that I don't want to walk but you always use your powers," Luna uttered.

"You'll find out," Akiro said and raised his right hand that continued to glow and abruptly turned around where the three were currently waving goodbye.

Luna immediately furrowed her brows after seeing what happened to them. She could hear everything despite the distance.

"Wait, who are we waving for?" Claret uttered.

"Eh, I just followed along with you," Mavel said.

"To our savior? Who is he or am I hallucinating?" John asked.

They soon entered the tavern confusedly, thinking who among them announced to go outside.

Meanwhile, Luna who was stunned in her position was called by Akiro.

"Let's go and rest," he said. He walked away while Luna hastily followed his footsteps and continued to bug him about what had happened. With her persistence, she managed to get some answers.

In his work, it was very important to remove the memories of him on the persons involved in the task as he had to do his work without them knowing who was the person who helped behind their problems.

"What kind of work is that?!" Luna mumbled.

~~To be continued...