CHAPTER 261: BITE, BEER, AND NO REGRET ( 261 )

They finally arrived at the tall stone gate of the town—thick, sturdy, and made with detailed carvings into heavy ironwood beams and layered stone.

Hazuki looked around from outside the entrance, taking in the scene.

"Wow... they really are dwarves, huh?" he muttered, noticing the stout figures walking around, many of them carrying crates, tools, or weapons twice their size.

Ridan floated beside him, eyes flicking wildly. "Yes. And look at that dwarf girl—she’s cute!!" he shouted, nearly flipping in the air from excitement.

Hazuki gave him a quick side glance.

Didn’t say anything.

Just kept walking toward the gate.

As he got closer, a stocky dwarf guard in heavy armor raised a thick hand.

"’Oy! Halt there, human! Show me yer papers—or plate!"

"Ah... right," Hazuki mumbled, scratching the back of his head as he reached for his belt pouch. "Here."

He handed over his adventurer plate.

The dwarf squinted at it, holding it up to the light.

"Oho~! B+ rank, eh?" the dwarf said with a grin. "Good on ya, lad! Movin’ up in th’ world, are ya? Not bad, not bad."

Hazuki nodded politely, unsure if he should speak or just smile.

The dwarf handed the plate back. "Ye look a bit roughed up, but ye’ll do. Go on in—just don’t go causin’ a ruckus, yeah? Dwarven law’s as firm as steel, y’hear?"

"Got it," Hazuki replied.

He stepped forward as the gates creaked open—and the sounds of the busy dwarven town greeted him with banging hammers, smoky chimneys, and crowded streets full of short, loud, and heavily armed people.

Ridan grinned from above. "Heeere we go~ Dwarven town, baby!"

Hazuki let Ridan do his usual chaos, not bothering to stop him this time.

The spirit zipped off excitedly through the dwarven crowd, eyes glowing with mischief.

He hovered briefly above a dwarven girl chatting near a smithy stall.

Then—plop—landed right on her cleavage like a smug feather.

"Oho~! She’s perfect! Round, firm, lightly armored—8 outta 10!" he announced, though no one but Hazuki could hear him.

Hazuki just sighed and kept walking.

Ridan zipped to another passing dwarf girl, this one carrying a basket of ore.

He dropped into another dwarf girl’s cleavage.

"Hmm... more firm than soft... ahh... 6 outta 10," he commented.

Hazuki glanced at him, unimpressed.

He didn’t say anything.

Just shook his head and kept walking while Ridan continued his boob reconnaissance.

The town was lively—full of hammering sounds, smoke drifting from chimneys, and the scent of roasted meat and iron in the air.

Hazuki’s eyes roamed across the solid buildings—each constructed of thick stone and blackwood, reinforced with runed metal frames. It looked like everything here could survive a war.

His stomach growled.

"Ah—hello?" Hazuki approached a nearby food stall made of polished stone and iron bolts, where a dwarven vendor stood behind rows of sizzling skewers.

The dwarf looked up and beamed. "Oh! Big human, eh? Welcome, welcome!" he said, voice booming like a drum. "*Ye look like ye’ve walked through sand an’ stars! Need food? Fresh-grilled meat slices—only five copper each!"

Hazuki’s eyes lit up a little. "Grilled meat, huh..."

"All right, give me two," Hazuki said, pointing at the skewers sizzling on the grill.

"Aye! Comin’ right up!" the dwarven vendor barked, already flipping the meat with a heavy iron tong. "Eat here, yeah?"

"Yes."

"Go on then, human! Grab yerself a seat!" The dwarf motioned to a nearby barrel-top table with stools built low and sturdy. "Ye need booze? Big glass—only twenty copper!"

Hazuki blinked. "Twenty!? That’s expensive!"

The dwarf let out a hearty laugh. "Hah! What’re ye expectin’, boy? It ain’t no watered-down ale. This here’s liquor. Proper dwarven brew. Strong enough to knock an ogre sideways!"

Hazuki scratched his cheek. "Oh... real stuff, huh?"

"Aye! Fer a real man’s meal!"

Hazuki hesitated , then gave a small grin. "Alright, give me one."

"Now yer talkin’!"

The dwarf slammed a thick wooden mug onto the table and poured from a clay jug that smelled like fire and spices.

Hazuki sat down with a small sigh and rubbed his hands together as the plate was placed in front of him—two thick, juicy skewers, lightly charred and dripping with savory oil.

Hazuki bit into the skewer—and his eyes lit up.

"Whoa! This meat... was it soaked in alcohol before grilling? This tastes amazing!"

The flavor was rich, smoky, with a hint of spice and a warm after-burn that danced on his tongue. The texture—perfectly tender.

The dwarf vendor grinned wide, slapping the counter. "Glad ye like it, lad!! That’s dwarven style! Bit o’ liquor in the marinade—burns off on the fire, leaves only the kiss of the gods behind!"

Hazuki was already finishing the first skewer, lifting the second.

"Owner!!" he called, eyes gleaming with hunger. "I need more meat!"

The dwarf leaned over the counter. "Oh? How much we talkin’?"

Hazuki reached into his pouch and flipped a silver coin onto the counter.

"One silver."

The vendor’s eyes sparkled.

"Comin’ right up!!" he roared, yanking a massive rack of marinated meat from a nearby box. "Ye just earned yerself the special pile, boy!"

Hazuki just grinned, raising his mug and taking a slow sip of the liquor.

"Now this," he said with a satisfied breath, "is worth the silver."

Soon, a full plate was slammed down on the table—stacked with freshly grilled meat, still sizzling, juices dripping over the sides.

Ridan didn’t wait.

He plopped right down onto the table and immediately dove in.

Munch munch...

"Mmm... it’s good," he mumbled, cheeks puffed, voice muffled through a mouthful of meat.

Hazuki didn’t even blink—he was too focused, alternating between big bites of juicy meat and slow sips of the dwarven liquor.

"Man...!" he exhaled, savoring the fire in his chest. "This drink is perfect with grilled meat!"

He raised his empty mug and called out without hesitation:

"Owner!! More meat!! And one more glass of this drink!!"

The vendor gave a hearty laugh from the stall. "Ye got good taste, lad! More comin’!"

Another stack of skewers was already hitting the fire, and the clay jug was being uncorked again.

Ridan, mouth still full, gave Hazuki a thumbs up with a piece of meat still stuck in his hand.

Hazuki leaned back slightly, warm breeze brushing his face, belly content, and a rare smile on his lips.

For once, it felt like peace.

Hazuki leaned back in his stool, cheeks flushed lightly from the liquor, still chewing when his eyes wandered to the next stall.

He pointed lazily with his skewer.

"Owner!!"

"Aye?" the meat vendor called back, flipping another slab.

"Your neighbor—what’s he selling?"

The dwarf grinned. "Oh him? That’s Gurdin. He sells Nickin fruit. Sweet, sour, lil’ punch to the tongue—goes perfect with drink, I tell ya."

Hazuki tilted his head. "How much?"

"Five copper for a cup. Sliced an’ chilled."

Hazuki smacked the table with the bottom of his mug. "Give me one! And add more meat, Owner!! And another glass of this drink!"

He raised his arms.

"Today I’m gonna drink till I get wasted!!!"

A couple nearby dwarves raised their mugs in agreement, laughing loudly.

"Now yer talkin’ like a proper dwarf!!" the vendor bellowed.

Ridan, mouth full again, raised a piece of meat like a toast. "Hazuki’s lost it..."

Hazuki grinned, already reaching for another skewer.

He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring.

But tonight?

Tonight, he feasted like a king.

Several drinks later.

Hic~

Heh~ hic...

Hazuki swayed slightly on his stool, cheeks red, a stupid grin plastered across his face.

He slammed his mug down, almost standing up with one foot on the stool.

"Alright!! Booze for everyone!!" he shouted, slurring just a little. "And owner!! More meat for everyone too!!"

He pulled out his coin pouch and dropped a hefty pile of twenty silver coins on the counter, with a satisfied nod.

The meat vendor’s eyes went wide.

"Lad... ye serious!?!"

Hazuki gave a lopsided smile. "I’m B+ rank. I’m rich. Let me be drunk in peace."

The vendor burst into laughter and slammed a fresh mug in front of him. "Aye then!! Let the feast begin!!!"

Around the plaza, other stalls got into the action—vendors who’d been sitting quietly now saw an opportunity. One began grilling crispy fried root strips, another laid out marinated fish bits, while a dwarf rolled out trays of deep-fried mushrooms soaked in sour wine glaze.

"Oi! Our stuff goes well with drink too!!"

"Come try the honey-roast belly bits!! Goes smooth with dwarven liquor!!"

Within minutes, the entire row of stalls was alive—plates sizzling, mugs clinking, and dwarves gathering around to eat, drink, and toast the human fool who was being generous (or just very drunk).

Ridan sat on the edge of the table, watching the chaos unfold.

He slowly turned to look at Hazuki, who was now hiccup-laughing while trying to figure out which skewer he hadn’t eaten yet.

Midnight.

The town had quieted down. The music had faded. Lanterns flickered low as the last of the drunks stumbled home or passed out beside empty mugs and meat bones.

Hazuki?

He was laying flat in the middle of the road—arms spread, legs splayed, face up toward the sky with a blissful, dopey grin frozen on his face.

His shirt was untucked, and a half-eaten skewer lay beside his hand like a fallen weapon.

A pair of armored boots clanked nearby.

Two dwarven guards walked past, one lazily holding a lantern.

They stopped briefly to glance down at him.

"...Man," one muttered, scratching his beard, "first time I see a human drunk off his arse right on the street."

The other nodded. "Aye. Usually it’s us."

The first shrugged. "Well, he paid fer half the town’s dinner. Let ’im sleep."

"Fair ’nuff."

They walked on, lantern bobbing as their boots clinked against the cobblestone.

Back on the ground, Hazuki let out a sleepy hiccup and mumbled:

"Hic~...Ellyn...heels...so shiny..."

Then rolled over with a content grunt, face planting against the street.

Ridan floated above him, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

( End Of Chapter )