One-Eyed Monster

Billy, the tavern boy, stood assertively at the entrance of the tavern, adamantly refusing anyone who wished to enter for a drink.

"The Non Intoxication Tavern is reserved. Go drink somewhere else," he said.

"Another reservation! Can't even enjoy a drink in peace these days." A handful of disappointed patrons left, trailing idle complaints as they walked off.

Billy didn't care about these complaints. He had already pocketed quite a few tips today, enough for him to buy a large horse and start a small business in his hometown. He'd spent plenty of time on Guru Mountain, and it was about time to return home. Initially, he too was a Treasure Hunter, but he found working in a tavern more profitable than hunting for treasure on the mountain. So, he decided to give up treasure hunting in favor of working various jobs in different taverns.

By now, he'd saved up enough to settle down peacefully back home. He was tired of the adventurous Treasure Hunter life, where he had to live at the mercy of others. Any slight mistake would result in salary deductions. This wasn't a life for him—it was torture. Rubbing the Gold coins he had just received today, he felt cheerful. It had been a long time since he felt such satisfaction.

However, Billy's satisfaction didn't last long. Before long, his head started to heat up, providing a degree of warmth on this winter morning. This warmth was comforting, similar to the expansive warmth that spread through his body after drinking strong liquor. Thus, he didn't pay much attention to this unusual comfort. But soon after, his vision started blurring to the point where he could barely see anything in front of him. Even though there wasn't anything worthwhile to see, this feeling brought a creeping terror, an instinctive response from his body. This reaction flashed through his mind, and then his consciousness vanished.

Replacing Billy's consciousness was a character named Kuruto. After possessing Billy's body, Kuruto continued what Billy had been doing: guarding the entrance of the Non Intoxication Tavern, preventing the idle Treasure Hunters from coming any closer.

I want to see what kind of mess these three can stir up, Kuruto muttered to himself. Clearly, he wasn't on the same side as the three inside the tavern.

Among the three in the tavern, a fat man as round as a barrel was an Alchemist. It was a profession that should be respected, yet he was drawn towards the Darkness Type, mastering bizarre, vicious, and cruel Dark Arts that ensured he would never be accepted by the established orders. Thus, these Alchemists who studied the Darkness Type, despite their superb magic, weren't favored by the Alchemy Workshop. No one wanted to associate with a servant of the Devil, let alone the Alchemy Workshop, which represented the glory of the Empire.

"Heh heh heh, I always feel like you Alchemists are trying to steal our jobs. Shouldn't this business of Summoned Beasts or Contract Beasts fall within our Wizards' domain of research?"

"Don't mention 'Contract Beast' around me! It's 'Summoned Beast'! I've told you countless times," the fat man replied, his voice carrying a hint of a roar.

"Look at you, getting irritated after just a few words. With that short temper, who'd want to go on missions with you?" The elderly man speaking was Gus. He was a known figure on Guru Mountain. Every Treasure Hunter heading up the mountain would seek him out for a Divination of their luck. As a Wizard, he always managed to provide satisfying answers. Relying on his high-quality Divinations, he swiftly established his reputation among Guru Mountain's taverns and made a fortune.

"Let's focus on the matter at hand instead of pointless chatter." The last person to speak was a Fighter, a man with a robust figure and a poker face.

"Yeah, yeah, let's talk business. What's our mission this time? Do we stick to the old plan and wait for that old fogey Reed to arrive before we move, or should we make the first move since we're already on the mountain?" Wizard Gus said while drinking, legs crossed, wholly oblivious to the impatient look on the corpulent man's face across from him.

"Our current task is to retrieve Rostov's son. Everything else can be postponed," the fit Fighter stated matter-of-factly.

"Heh heh, just a little brat. Fatty here can handle him easily. Besides, he has countless Puppets and walking corpses at his disposal," Wizard Gus teased lightly, not at all resembling the decrepit, aging man he appeared to be.

"Don't disturb him."

"I really don't understand Leader Big's intentions. I've been stuck on Guru Mountain for two or three years now, my ass almost forming calluses from all the sitting. If Leader Big hadn't delivered confirmed information, I wouldn't have stayed in this wretched place for a single day. This place is terrible; the liquor is substandard and doesn't even have a proper taste," Wizard Gus began to grumble, sounding like a peeved child.

"Two or three years. You think that's long? I've been lying low here for almost ten years," the Fighter said nonchalantly.

"Brother, I admire you," Wizard Gus said, his expression one of admiration.

"During these ten years, I gave up my identity and my appearance, all for this final mission. So don't complain in front of me."

"Yes, yes. My mistake, my mistake. I shouldn't be so dispirited. Leader Big is still waiting for our good news."

"Stop messing with his title in front of me! It's 'The Chieftain,' not 'Leader Big'! If you call him that 'Big Head' name again, I'll waste you!" The fat man's temper indeed wasn't the best.

"Hey, how come you've got time to talk? Aren't you supposed to be controlling your Puppet with those little bugs of yours?" Wizard Gus started to provoke the Alchemist again.

"What's the situation on the mountain? Can you share the Spirit Vision?" the Fighter inquired.

"It's not looking good up there. There are many people. The Puppets don't have much offensive power right now. They're easy targets for these experts. What's more, it appears there are some Alien Species on the mountain."

"Oh?" Gus and the Fighter exclaimed almost simultaneously.

"The people on the mountain... they won't be easy to deal with..." The fat man got busy again.

"I believe your little bugs can handle those difficult people."

"Let me say this one more time: they're not 'little bugs,' and it's not a 'Contract Beast.' It's a Summoned Beast, and its name is Wire Puppet."

"What an awful name."

"You little runt, hiding in that skin of yours! Once I'm done with them, I'll deal with you. You'd better not beg for mercy then," the fat man said, a cruel look on his face, appearing truly angry.

"Don't be like that; this is elder abuse." Gus instantly reverted to his previous appearance of a decrepit, stooped old man.

"You can fool others, but can you fool us? Don't forget, we only call you 'old fogey' and 'old thing' out of pity."

"Enough with the chatter! What's the situation?" the Fighter interjected, his expression still earnest, cutting off the other two's argument.

"The situation ahead... is quite grim!"