‘Is this the inn event? Usually a rude person would talk shit and then get his ass handed to him by someone…’ Ludwig was interested in this interaction after all he only read about events like these, though he always considered them cliché that only served to undermine other people to enhance the appeal of a main character. But there was one thing missing here, he was no main character. Because those guys are usually heroes hailed from either famous families, or the opposite, an underdog that would climb his way to the top.
Ludwig was neither, on the contrary, he was an Undead and he knew it, as an Undead, he had only one role in a story if this was something like that, to be the cannon fodder for the ‘hero’. And he wasn’t about to fall in that trap.
“Quiet down, Rudolph,” one of the people in that group spoke up. Looking at her, unlike all the students next to her, she was the only one not drinking bear, and seemed to have had a cup of coffee next to her, though it looked untouched.
She turned her head to look at Ludwig and Hoyo.
Ludwig took a long look at her, almost to the point of staring. She was what you can call a rare beauty, almost comparable to the elf from earlier. Blond long hair braided in some parts and left cascading down on others. Under her white coat, there were some straps of leather and metal plates. And to her side was a rapier that was a strange looking sword, it was too thick to be called a rapier, but too thin to be called a long sword. A mix of both that she had sheeted and had leaning on their table. Her jawline was sharp and her eyes were of an azure blue color, though she had an emotionless stare, she still would strike anyone as a noblewoman of a pure and extremely prestigious linage.
She too didn’t look away at first as she scanned Hoyo and Ludwig with her eyes for a few good seconds and then turned her head back to her group, “Leave them alone.”
And that was that.
One of the people who worked for the inn arrived to Ludwig’s side, “What can I do for you?” he asked.
“We’ll need a table for three, a companion of ours will arrive shortly,” Ludwig said.
“Right, and what would you like to order?” the busboy asked as he pulled a small note.
“Beer,” Ludwig asked, as he never had a taste of it before, he really wanted to try it out this time.
Though he had regretted the moment he said so, after all, he’s a skeleton… wouldn’t beer simply just fall down his throat?
As he was about to cancel his order, Hoyo jumped up, “Same for me, give me a large mug for now, we’ll wait on our friend if we want something else.”
“Right, follow me to your table please,” the busboy asked and led the two to a table that was unfortunately too close to the group of the White Tower students.
The two sat down reluctantly near the White Tower students who seemed to also soften their voices. It seems that what they were talking about was something secretive.
Ludwig paid them no mind as he talked to Hoyo.
“By the way, Master never told me what he wanted me to bring him from Rima,” he said.
Hoyo shrugged, “I have no idea either, perhaps he’ll notify Kassandra. Regardless, what do you want to do today?” Hoyo asked.
“Beats me, this is the first time I’ve ever attended something like this,” Ludwig said.
“Well, the Mage Masquerade starts in the evening, it’s a pretty big event and would last for two days, so we’ll probably go around the entire venue.”
“What sort of events are there?” Ludwig asked.
Hoyo thought for a second, “Well, first thing’s first, you need a mask and you can’t enter the masquerade without it, hence the name. After we get your mask, how about we go around the games and shows. For example, a show of strength and another of puzzle and intellect, there are also stalls that sell weapons and magic artifacts. And the main event is the ball at the end of the event. There are other attractions too that we can check out. You never know, it’s different each time but these are the main stuff,” Hoyo explained.
“Must be fun,” the sound of the same rude person echoed once again, “For these Crows to have such free time and have fun here, while other people are tending more critical matters.”
“Rudolph!” the girl with golden hair snapped.
“My bad, my bad, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth to see such… childish tendencies. I’ll be leaving first,” he said and left the group.
Three more students who seemed to share the same vision as Rudolph followed after him.
The girl sighed as she was left alone, turning to Ludwig and Hoyo, “I apologize, please don’t take what Rudolph said to heart, he tends to be… rude some times,” She said.
Ludwig shrugged, “Doesn’t really matter, seems like you guys have a mission to do here, I understand the stress,” Ludwig said.
Her face flushed a bit, as if exposed. She turned her face around, perhaps embarrassed that the fact that they were doing a ‘mission’ was exposed or simply because she had finally taken a good look at Ludwig’s face up close, no one truly knows the reason.
“Here, your bear deer customer,” the busboy said as he placed two large wooden mugs of beer next to Hoyo and Ludwig.
Drinking the golden frothy content, Hoyo slammed the mug on the table, “THIS IS THE SHIT!” he said as he licked the froth from his lips.
Ludwig hesitated for a second and then took a sip.
Seeing nothing ‘spilling’ he was finally able to relax. And almost instantly, his throat or what should have been felt a slight tinge and burn. A refreshing memory of a taste long since forgotten.
Ludwig gulped another then another
[You are poisoned!]
[Minor: Alcoholic affliction]
[As an Undead Poison isn’t affecting you!]
Ludwig was surprised, perhaps the system considers alcohol as a poison and warned him about it. But seeing that he was able to neutralize it, Ludwig drank some more and soon finished his mug.
It didn’t take much for Ludwig to finish his mug and he was already ordering another one. The girl who was left sitting by herself soon stood up and left after leaving the money needed to pay for the table.
Once again, Ludwig noticed that her coffee cup was left untouched.
He didn’t pay it any mind then and just continued drinking with Hoyo.
The two enjoyed each other’s company talking about matters of school and prior exams and all that would happen in tonight’s gala, enough that Kassandra had the time to appear at the in.
“One large please!” Kassandra said as she moved skillfully through the tables and sat next to the two students slamming a book right in front of them.
“We don’t have much time!” she said.
“What’s wrong?” Ludwig asked.
“We’re in trouble!”