The Smiling Death

Chapter 468: Troubled Young Man and Drinking Beer!!

Near the entrance of the training grounds, a young man stood silently.

His height was around one hundred eighty-three centimeters.

Dark midnight-blue hair. Matching blue eyes. And with a strong build.

His expression looked slightly nervous.

It was Arnold Bigod. The same person who had once sent Amon toward that unknown place.

At this moment, his eyes were fixed entirely on Amon.

Disbelief filled his face.

There was shock, confusion and uneasiness on his face.

All mixed together.

He had heard rumors.

But seeing Amon personally was different. Arnold stared at the laughing young man standing with Seraphina and Aisha.

The same boy who should have disappeared forever.

The same boy who somehow returned.

His throat felt dry.

"...How?"

He muttered quietly.

"...How is he back?"

His voice barely came out.

The thoughts inside his head became a complete mess.

Questions appeared one after another.

What happened? How did he survive? Did he know anything?

Arnold’s hands unconsciously clenched.

For several moments, he remained standing there.

Then he slowly turned around.

The training session he had planned no longer mattered.

Without another glance, he walked away.

His thoughts remained chaotic.

Meanwhile, behind him.

Amon continued arguing with Aisha while Seraphina watched them calmly.

None of them noticed Arnold’s departure.

And none of them knew that his peaceful return to the Academy had already begun affecting people in ways he couldn’t yet imagine.

---

Arnold walked through the corridor with a serious expression, as if he had seen something that was not to be overlooked.

"...How?"

He muttered.

His eyes were sharp.

He turned toward a secluded corridor of the Academy where very few students came.

Right now, there was no one present there.

Arnold leaned against the wall and then decided to call his system.

’System.’

The moment he said that, a blue translucent screen appeared in front of his eyes.

There were words written on it.

[Hello Host! What happened? You look tense.]

Arnold’s expression darkened.

’As if you don’t know why I am!!’

[H-Haha! Well, just don’t worry about it.]

His brows twitched.

’What do you mean don’t worry about it? You made me do all that shit! You said he went to a place where he would never come back!’

[Yes, I did.... but it’s not like I have any control over the future. Even I do not know how things will turn out.]

"Hah..."

He sighed.

He ran one hand through his hair, wondering what he should do.

How should he act toward him?

’Though... he doesn’t know that I deliberately threw him into that portal. It was not for capturing an enemy, nor was it a coincidence.’

But Amon’s presence was going to bother Arnold more.

That was for sure.

He looked at the system again and asked,

’So are you going to give me some more missions that involve Amon?’

[...]

The system went silent for a while.

Then its mechanical voice came back.

[I do not know... it’s not me who creates those missions and quests after all. I am like a middleman. Though a few of them were assigned by me, they don’t have much significance for the future.]

Arnold narrowed his eyes.

’Huh... and who is the person giving me those missions?’

That question was something that had bothered him ever since he got this system.

He had been wondering who this person might be.

Someone who could literally give him so many rewards and help him grow stronger.

It broke the rules of the world.

At first, he didn’t mind it, nor did he question it.

All he wanted was to grow stronger.

Become the strongest.

But as he grew, he started to think more calmly about it.

He already knew that as much as it was helping him become powerful, it was also making use of him somehow.

He didn’t know for what, but yes, it was using him.

Sigh.

He sighed again while rubbing his temples.

He dismissed the system window and remained standing there for a while.

’That boy... he was able to survive something dangerous and come back... that annoying Amon... now I have to act normal and not show him anything suspicious.’

Arnold remained there for half an hour while thinking about the future actions he needed to take.

He needed to be careful.

---

It was night.

The sun was already gone, and the moon had taken over the sky.

Its soft light brightened Elarith City.

Even at night, the city was bustling.

Full of people and crowded.

Some were laughing and chatting.

Some were enjoying their time with their lovers.

In one alleyway, people were threatening someone and looting them.

While a few others were enjoying intimate moments with their partners or a one-night stand in some dark corner.

All in all, the city was colorful.

Inside one of the taverns in the city.

Two young people sat at a table.

Roasted meat was placed on their table, which they had ordered.

Beside it were huge mugs of beer.

Foam had formed above the surface.

On one side of the table sat a black-haired boy.

He was Amon.

Staring at the beer in front of him.

While opposite him sat a wild, strong-looking wolf beastwoman.

Despite being muscular and tall, she looked cute.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.

In her right hand, she held a mug as she drank the beer with loud gulping sounds.

Then she put the mug down on the wooden table.

Thud!

"Haah~"

A satisfied voice escaped her mouth.

Her sharp canines were visible.

"That was nice."

Aisha said happily.

Her wolf ears on top of her head twitched while she held a piece of meat by its bone.

Then she chewed on it.

Munch~

After feeling Amon’s stare, she raised a brow.

"Hey, why are you staring at me? Why don’t you eat and drink?"

"Cough!"

Amon gave an awkward cough.

Last time he had drunk wine.

And he had gotten quite drunk.

Now it was beer.

He had no idea if this beer would be normal, as strong as that wine, or maybe even stronger.

Aisha, who saw him hesitate, smirked.

"Haha! You are still a kid! I thought you were an adult now and allowed to drink. But it seems like you still have no balls."

Her words were something that would make any man angry.

And Amon was no different.

A vein bulged on his forehead.

Amon burst out angrily.

"What did you say? Me? A kid? I have no balls?"

Aisha grinned.

"Yes!!"

"Damn you, wolf!!"

Seeing his furious expression only made Aisha more excited.

Now she understood why Marcus and Eliana always tried to find ways to tease him.

It was just funny to see him like that.

Amon pointed at himself dramatically.

"Hey, you little cute wolf. Let me show you what this man can do!!"

Aisha’s eyes widened.

"W-what did you just call me?"

She slammed her palm on the table and stood up.

Thud!

"You little punk! If you really are a man, then drink it... no, how about a challenge?"

Amon was not someone who would back away from a challenge.

He was not a coward who ran away.

Unless it was life-threatening.

So he too stood up and leaned forward.

"Whatever challenge you want! Bring it on. I am always ready for them."

His voice was determined.

The old people sitting at nearby tables heard the commotion.

They watched the two young people in amusement.

Aisha declared proudly,

"Let’s have a drinking competition!! Let’s see which one of us drinks more mugs of beer!"

This time Amon didn’t hesitate.

If she wanted to fight, he was ready.

If she wanted a drinking battle, then he was ready for that too.

"Let’s do it! I will show you your place, you muscular woman!!"

"Haha! Let’s see who wins first."

The old people nearby became even more excited.

"Damn!! A drinking battle between a couple. That’s my first time seeing one."

"Yes! These young people sure are different. If it were me in my younger days, we would have hit an inn and booked a room for the whole night."

"Yes. But see, this couple is so amazing. Drinking together and having a battle. So amazing!!"

"Haha, youth~"

"I am looking forward to this battle. Let’s go!!"

"I bet my money on that wolf girl! She’s wild."

"My money is on that boy! As a man, of course I will take the side of another man!!"

The people beside them were drunk and spouting nonsense.

Aisha clenched her fists tightly.

Her cheeks flushed.

These old drunkards were thinking of them as a couple.

How dare they!

Meanwhile, Amon was more focused on her.

Not caring what others were saying.

"Hey!! We are not a couple, you old men!!"

Aisha finally burst out angrily.

One of the old men laughed loudly.

"She’s the shy type! Haha!"

"Yeah. She’s totally opposite to her wild looks."

Of course, those old men ignored her words.

Aisha was getting even angrier.

Amon pointed at her confidently.

"Hey!! Ignore them and focus on me. Your opponent is me."

Hearing him, she calmed down a little.

"...You are right."

She glared toward the counter and called the waiter.

"Oi! Come here!"

The waiter, who had been standing there, flinched and quickly came toward them.

"Y-Yes, ma’am?"

"You heard everything, right?"

"Ye-yes."

"Then I don’t need to explain. Go and bring beer to this table. We are going to have a battle."

Amon also nodded confidently.

"Yes, bring them. And don’t worry about the money! I will pay for it."

The waiter quickly went back.

Soon, the table was filled with mugs full of beer.

Several men gathered around the table.

One of them, an old man with gray hair, stood at the edge of the table. "I will count the number of mugs each of you drinks."

Both Amon and Aisha nodded.

Then the old man raised his hand dramatically.

"Alright! One!... Two!... Three!... Start!!"

Aisha moved at the same moment Amon moved.

Both of them grabbed a mug by its handle.

Amon looked at the beer and encouraged himself internally. ’You can do it, Amon!!’