Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Exciting Drinking Party - 2
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The breeze was cool, and the moon in the sky showered a gentle light.
Yeah, it was perfect weather for an outdoor party.
Energetic men buzzing with life, the mouthwatering aroma of food, a rowdy and lively atmosphere.
All great elements, but my expression still soured.
This was a party funded by the bounty money they'd monopolized.
-Why, do you wanna be a hero or something?
Suddenly, Elfriede Dice's voice echoed in my ears.
It was what she'd whispered to me on the day she forcibly named me her shadow.
As if.
I didn't have any such grand sense of mission yet.
I didn't have some noble drive to do something for a better world, either.
"Elfriede."
I just want to see you die clutching your gut in agony. That's the only reason I'm pulling this straight face.
This money was supposed to flow into my territory, Wonderfentanil territory, but these guys were hogging it all.
I wanted to run into Cheshire Cat ASAP, but sadly, she was nowhere in sight. Instead, Pat sidled up and struck up a chat.
"Hey, you like your booze?"
"Love it."
Booze was one of my all-time favorites. I just held off at Ellis's mansion out of worry about the drugs.
"Perfect. Can't have a bash like this without it. Ellis... your fiancée, right?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. You two can sit together then."
As he spoke, Pat raked his sleazy gaze up and down Ellis.
With her perfectly alluring curves, it'd be weirder if he didn't stare. The issue was how blatantly obvious he was about it.
Bunny girl outfits weren't anything special back at the mansion—all the maids wore them, after all.
But things were different in this lodge.
She was the only woman around, and the only one dressed like that.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense that every last guy had his eyes glued to her.
"Maaaster..."
Ellis slyly wrapped her arms around mine, pressing her ample chest firmly against my arm.
"These other guys are staring at me all weird... What if they're thinking dirty things? Tohiing... And making me serve men other than you, Master..."
"Take a look at how I'm staring at you right now. Start there."
"......?"
She met my deadpan gaze and gulped hard.
"Now that I think about it, I dressed way too trashy. My bad, short-sighted of me."
"Exactly. Ready to head out?"
"Yes, Master."
We followed Pat over and took our seats.
The party rolled on amid the raucous chatter.
Not sure if it was loyalty or what, but Ellis half-assed her service to the other guys.
For instance, the drinks she poured for them were so sloppy, half the glass was foam—and the men still grinned like idiots, thrilled.
Stories made the rounds a few times over, glasses clinked around the circle just as much.
No sign of her.
The men's faces started flushing with booze, but Cheshire Cat still hadn't shown.
I wanted to at least enjoy some drinks while I waited, but even that fell flat. By my standards, it was bottom-shelf swill.
Matt, face beet-red, threw an arm around my shoulders.
"This boozes hits the spot. Tell your fiancée to bring some maids over. Drinking on a night like this without girls? Come on."
"It works fine."
Normally, he'd think twice about my curt reply, but drunk as he was, Matt didn't give a damn about my tone.
"Quit messing around and fetch some. Ones with good hips."
"Might wanna stick to the booze."
I nodded at Ellis with my chin, and she topped off Matt's glass. Half foam, of course.
Curt answers and shitty pours.
Now Matt's face finally turned serious. Drunks get mellow easy, but they snap just as quick, too.
I turned to him, his expression darkening a bit.
"When's Cheshire Cat showing up?"
"Cheshire Cat? Oh, right."
Matt scratched his head in confusion, then suddenly scowled hard.
"You asking me?"
"Asked where Cheshire Cat is."
I repeated it, and this time he dropped the scowl, bursting into manic laughter. Guy was out of his mind.
"Hahaha! This punk's wasted... Fine, I'll let it slide once since you're sloshed. But cut it off here and crash."
"You drunk?"
"......?"
He blinked wide at me turning the question back on him.
A spark of anger was just the thing to sober him up. Eyes hardening with killing intent, he glared daggers.
"You nuts?"
"Nah, you've been dodging the same question from the start."
His glass slipped from his hand, rolling across the floor. He took a step closer.
"...This punk's been acting way too cocky from the jump. Even I got limits."
"Where's Cheshire Cat? I'm about at my limit too."
I shot back without budging. I really was.
"Cheshire Cat ain't coming tonight. Put another way, even if Wonderland members start scrapping, there's no one to break it up. You tired of living?"
Cheshire Cat wasn't coming tonight. That alone pissed me off.
As I fought down the rage, Matt kept picking at me.
"Fix that mouth and attitude. If Cheshire Cat heard that, it'd be summary execution, no doubt."
His voice dripped venom, and guys started gathering around us one by one. He kept nagging even as they formed a ring like a fence.
"Cheshire Cat's a no-show..."
I clutched my throbbing head with one hand.
I'd come all this way to meet her, but if she wasn't here, time to switch plans.
Make them come find me instead. Looked like no other way.
I turned and stared at Ellis.
She shot to her feet, ears perked, awaiting orders.
I just held out one hand.
"Bring it."
"Yessir!" With that, Ellis shoved through the crowd and scampered off.
Gazes poured over me like a wave. The mob had no clue what was up, so curiosity burned hot.
"Matt, what's the deal?"
"This punk keeps nosing after Cheshire Cat like he owns the place."
"What? Cheshire Cat hardly ever shows anyway. Only drops by for supply checks sometimes."
"That's what I'm saying. But this rookie's got no manners, keeps pushing."
No senior was gonna welcome a rude newbie. The other guys' faces twisted soon enough.
They all stood glaring down at me, while I casually straddled my chair like I owned it.
Sigh. I let out a deep breath and downed my glass in one go.
Gotta wet the throat before getting to it.
"Hey, Matt, Pat."
The two blinked at me like I'd lost it. I pressed on coolly.
"Handed over the Witch's Curse, turned in skeletons and slimes hunted all day. And you're pulling this? Kinda hurts my feelings."
Confusion flickered across their faces.
"Wh-what the hell's this punk babbling about?!"
"Oh yeah, I turned in the Witch's Curse too. Wonder if the other seniors know."
"Lies! Drunk and lying now?!"
No need to prove it. Planting the seed of doubt was enough.
-Didn't they say Pat and Matt brought it in?
-Was that a lie?
-Huh, they were awfully nice to a newbie.
The crowd started murmuring. From what I overheard, yeah, that did the trick.
Planting doubt got them whispering this much? Guess these guys' reps weren't spotless.
Pat and Matt snorted hot breaths, closing in. I raised both hands to hold them off.
"Easy. Calm down first. Still got more to say."
They glared like it was my last words. But hey, they stopped.
"Master!"
Right then, Ellis scampered back and handed me the goods.
"That thing" was obviously Trivi. The sleek, cool feel of the ermethylene gripped my palm.
"Ruining the vibe at a party full of big shots? Guilt's eating me alive. So instead, I'll treat everyone huge tonight."
"You're footing a big round?"
Someone piped up.
"Yeah. I keep my word."
"Treat us to what? What you got? Oh, finally bringing those bunny girl maids?"
What to what? Sharp question, spot on.
I turned to Ellis.
She nodded like she got it, then plopped a clean pot over her head and flattened herself on the ground.
"This."
I aimed Trivi's barrel skyward, flashed a grin, and pulled the trigger.
Late into the night.
Gunshots began echoing from the edge of Wonderfentanil territory.