Chapter 9: Drinking Whiskey in the Abandoned Village...

Snow continued falling over the abandoned little village while Nox walked alongside Audrey and Claws through the empty stone streets.

The open doors of the houses creaked with the wind.

Nox kept the bark mask over his face while cautiously looking around.

"...This place gives me a bad feeling."

Audrey was also staring at the empty houses.

"It doesn’t seem like anyone’s here."

Claws constantly sniffed the snowy ground while flexing his massive claws.

After walking for several seconds, Nox noticed an old wooden sign hanging from one of the buildings.

A carved mug.

And several large windows covered in frost.

Nox’s eyes lit up slightly.

"...Oh."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

Nox pointed at the building.

"Looks like I found a tavern."

The place reminded him far too much of his old life as Tyler.

The blurry nights.

The expensive bottles.

The alcohol burning down his throat.

The women dancing around him while he wasted his adoptive father’s money.

Nox looked at Audrey.

"Want to drown your sorrows with me? Drinks are on me."

She let out a small laugh.

"And how exactly are you planning to pay for the drinks?"

Nox spread his arms.

"Audrey, they found me naked and freezing on a mountain."

"Exactly. I highly doubt you have any money."

"But we don’t need to pay."

He pointed at the empty village.

"Doesn’t seem like anyone’s here."

Audrey ended up laughing a little more.

Claws let out a curious little growl.

Nox looked toward the bear.

"Maybe we can find something for you to drink too."

The bear slightly tilted his head.

◇◆◇

The tavern was just as empty as the rest of the village.

Several tables were overturned on the floor.

And some chairs were broken.

Nox walked directly toward the counter.

"Now we’re talking..."

He started opening doors and drawers behind the bar.

And to his surprise...

They were still full.

Dark glass bottles.

Liquor.

Wine.

Some strange drinks he had never seen before.

Nox grabbed one bottle and uncorked it.

He sniffed the contents.

"...Too sweet."

Then he grabbed another one.

"The wood scent is stronger in this one."

Audrey watched him in amusement while sitting on one of the stools.

"You seem to know a lot about drinks."

Nox lifted another bottle toward the light.

"In my previous life, I liked to consider myself a professional taster."

Audrey rested her cheek against one hand.

"A professional drinker?"

Nox smiled.

"And women."

She laughed when she heard that.

Nox kept checking bottles until one caught his attention.

He slowly opened it.

And the moment he smelled it...

His eyes widened slightly.

"...No way."

Audrey tilted her head.

"What is it?"

Nox stared at the bottle with nostalgia.

"This smells way too similar to my favorite whiskey."

"Whiskey?"

"Blue Label from Johnny Stalker."

Audrey blinked in confusion.

"...That name sounds weird."

Nox grabbed two wooden cups and poured some of the amber liquor.

Then handed one to her.

"Welcome to alcohol."

Audrey stared at the cup for several seconds.

"I’ve never drunk alcohol before."

Nox nearly dropped the bottle.

"Never?"

She slowly shook her head.

"But... I suppose I can try it for this occasion."

She slightly raised the cup.

"Do you recommend it?"

Nox smiled proudly.

"Absolutely."

Audrey stared at him for a few seconds.

And then...

She downed the entire cup in one gulp.

Nox’s eyes widened.

"...Oh no."

Audrey made a terrible face.

Her eyes squeezed shut while she coughed a little.

"What the hell is this?!"

Nox immediately started laughing.

"That was exactly the reaction I expected. This is an elixir."

Audrey glared at him while touching her throat.

"It burns so much!"

"That’s why it’s good."

She kept coughing a little while Nox laughed behind the mask.

Claws let out a curious little growl from the floor.

Nox turned toward him.

"Ah, right."

He searched beneath the counter again until he found a white glass bottle.

He shook it slightly.

"Looks like milk."

He grabbed an old deep plate nearby and poured the contents into it.

Then slid it toward the bear.

"For you, furball."

Claws stared at the plate for a few seconds.

Then slowly lifted his gaze toward Nox.

The demon stayed still.

"...We can be friends, if you want."

The massive bear kept staring at him for several more seconds.

And finally lowered his head slowly.

Audrey smiled softly.

"He’s letting you pet him."

Nox blinked.

"...Seriously?"

Audrey nodded.

Nox carefully extended one hand.

And slowly started petting Claws’ massive white fur.

It was absurdly soft.

The bear let out a satisfied sound while drinking the milk.

Nox smiled faintly.

"...I’ve never really liked animals."

He kept petting him.

"But I can make an exception."

Audrey watched him silently.

Then she took another small sip of alcohol.

This time more slowly.

Nox pointed at the cup.

"That drink helps a lot with the cold."

Audrey looked at him in confusion.

"...I don’t feel cold."

"Huh?"

She slowly lowered her gaze toward her hands.

"Actually..."

She adjusted the massive white coat slightly.

"I think I’m hot."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Hot?"

Audrey nodded.

"Very."

Nox leaned against the counter while looking at her.

"Well... if you want, you can take some clothes off."

He tried to sound calm.

"I don’t mind."

But inside his head...

His imagination was already running wild on its own.

Audrey practically naked.

Those long legs.

That huge body compared to his.

And for a second...

Nox deeply missed his old life again.

The women.

The parties.

Even if they only wanted his money.

Or rather...

His father’s money.

Audrey completely interrupted his thoughts.

"...I’m genuinely worried about not feeling cold."

Nox quickly snapped back to reality.

"Huh? Yeah. Right."

He coughed awkwardly.

"Maybe it’s something related to the skill or your new Title."

Audrey remained thoughtful.

"...The inquisitor also had parts of her skin exposed."

Nox slowly nodded.

"Then it’s probably related to that."

Audrey hesitated for a few seconds.

And then...

She slowly removed the massive white coat.

Nox’s eyes widened slightly.

Because underneath...

The coat hid far more than he expected.

Her tight clothes perfectly outlined her curves.

And the neckline exposed quite a bit of skin.

Nox tried to look away.

But it was practically impossible.

’...Shit.’

Audrey didn’t seem to notice.

Or maybe she did.

She grabbed one of Sienna’s knives.

And slowly began cutting part of her brown pants.

Nox blinked.

"...What are you doing?"

She kept trimming the fabric until they turned into tight shorts.

Then she let out a relieved sigh.

"...Much better."

Nox remained completely frozen behind the mask.

Desperately trying not to stare too much.

While Claws slowly lifted his head...

And looked far more amused by the situation than Nox himself.