Reading the entirety of the letter down to the perfectly inked parchment, he was left in silent thought, processing each word. While he had questions, the hungry members of his party were quick to pull him over.
"C’mon, c’mon! It’s time to celebrate!" Otto hurried, grabbing his arm with a smile.
"Yeah, yeah, I’m coming," Noah followed with a small laugh, letting himself be pulled along.
Through the lively streets of Tiras at night, a suitable tavern brought the triumphant group in. Right away, Otto sat down at a table, slapping his gloves against the wood surface to hurry the others to join him, "Sit! C’mon!"
"You’re awfully pumped up considering the day we’ve had," Noah said, taking the seat across from the archer.
A quick glance around immediately set the atmosphere: boisterous drunkards laughed and bickered with one another, some arguing over who had slain the greater monster, others gloating of their achievements. It was mostly adventurers in the establishment, from what he could see by the scarred men that carried enough blades to equip a small army.
’Honestly, it’s just like the shows I used to watch. I mean, when I think about it, this group is kind of like an MMORPG party. Astrid...With her ranged magic and healing, she’s a support; Otto is an archer; Redrum is a tank, for sure. For me...I guess I’m the DPS? Sort of a Paladin, maybe?’ He thought about it.
While the idea of wearing a full suit of blessed, gold armor filled his head, he was brought back into reality as a fist slammed into the table. From a quick look, he could tell it wasn’t a welcoming patron, as the uninvited man’s eyes looked straight to the sat orc.
"After a day of carving up monsters, the last thing I wanna see when having a relaxing drink is one sitting a few tables down," the bald-headed adventurer said with a scowl.
By the scars that were more plentiful than clear skin and the dirty, stained leather armor clinging to the muscular figure, it wasn’t a novice that left the remark.
"Hey, why don’t you sit back down?" Noah offered, trying to diffuse any situation. "I’ll get you a drink, on me."
"O’ yeah? I’m not interested in a cup from someone huddling up with a fuckin’ monster," the scarred man brushed off.
With cheeks already flushed with liquid courage, it was crystal clear for Noah that no matter what words he said, they’d simply go through one ear and out the other. He placed his hands against the table with the intent of standing up–"
"Knock that off!"
–A commanding voice that was only subtly feminine barked from behind the drunken veteran. Almost immediately, the aggressive man shrunk like a frightened puppy, going pale as he moved aside.
It was only then he noticed the one that got the man to back off: a woman that towered over the already tall adventurer, with forearms as thick as a grown man’s thighs. If it wasn’t for the snow-white apron that sat over a fluffy, olive uniform, he wouldn’t have known it was a woman.
"Lady Gerd...!" The bald-headed man stammered out with a gasp.
"There’s one, absolute rule you can’t break inside the Gold Garden! What is it?!" The giant waitress demanded an answer, holding her fist up.
Like a dog, the veteran got down on his knees and clasped his hand, answering desperately, "To treat all patrons fairly!"
"Damn right!" The waitress shouted firmly. "This is the third time this month you’ve caused trouble, Nail! So, I’m doubling the price of your drinks for the next three months!"
"Gah?!" Nail gasped at the punishment, but nodded. "Fine..."
"Now, apologize to the man you insulted!" Gerd ordered.
The entire scene unfolded while he watched from the table, glancing at the others, who were in just as much shock as he was. While Otto and Redrum had their jaws hung wordlessly, Astrid was practically clapping her hand in cheer for the imposing waitress.
Like a reprimanded child, the bald man stood up, looking at the floor, "My bad..."
"Properly!" Gerd barked.
Nail looked directly at the orc, "I’m sorry for the way I treated you!--"
It was hardly a meaningful apology, more spat through clenched teeth, prompted only out of fear from the terrifying host.
Redrum waved it off with a quiet laugh, "It’s alright, really. I just got my insignia, so it’s understandable."
"Wait, insignia? You’re certified?" Nail asked with genuine surprise, leaning over the table.
The previously rude man was a bit close to Noah now, as he was sat beside the orc. He recoiled somewhat, smelling the sweet, yet rancid stench of booze coming right off the veteran’s breath.
Redrum pulled out the tan insignia from beneath his robes, displaying the symbol of the rock-made golem with a proud smile, "I received this just earlier. As you can see, I’m a certified adventurer–just as you are."
It was easy to read on the scarred man’s expression as his lips were parted, though unable to find any words–the calm, soft-spoken orc was the complete opposite of what was expected.
"I’m a Golem rank myself," Nail claimed with a light chuckle. "Ain’t that something?"
Like it was natural, the unfiltered swordsman dragged a chair over, plopping down right between Noah and the orc with a hearty laugh.
"Alright, a round on me! Y’hear that, Lady Gerd?!" Nail announced with a big smile.
The waitress seemed a bit annoyed before putting on a grin of her own, "I’ll be nice and only charge ya double for your mug!"
"You were serious ’bout that?!" The aged adventurer gasped. "Fine, fine!"
Somehow, Noah found the table full of fresh pints, having no choice but to partake. It wasn’t an activity he sought often in his past life, though when it came to certain situations, a bit of social drinking wasn’t rejected–
["Booze" Proficiency +1] [1/999]
"Hah!" Noah exhaled, finishing off the mug of amber liquid.
At the same time, both Redrum and Nail slammed their cups down, each releasing a bellowing belch. Meanwhile, the twins were sipping at their beer with complete reverse, to the point Astrid lapped at the liquid like a cat.
"Don’t like it?" Noah asked, scooting his seat a bit closer to the mage.
Astrid fiddled with her skirt, darting her eyes between him and the cup, "Well, it’s, well, a different taste, that’s for sure..."
"It takes some getting used to," Noah assured with a wry laugh.
Though he said that, seeing the orc and veteran adventurer that were just at odds minutes ago, now with flushed cheeks and brothers-in-arms, singing and cheering, he felt "getting used to it" was questionable.
A whole platter of freshly-cooked meat and vegetables was served to their table, to the generosity of a tipsy archer.
["I began to understand what it meant to live in a world like this. The quiet life I chose was an option, but if I wanted to experience what Gaios had to offer–I had to embrace the wild unknown."]