The bar we went to was called the ‘Fang & Claw . ’ Perhaps the most fitting kind of name for an establishment catering to adventurers, or so I think, as I push open the doors and walk inside . Well, this was surprising . Unlike the rather wild-sounding name, the interior had a relaxing mood and dim, atmospheric lights . As it was much the same at the Silver Sky Inn, I wasn’t sure if this was tradition or the new fas.h.i.+on in the city . We looked around a little shyly until the person that we were looking for waved us over . It was Rex .

“Did you wait long?”

“Nah, just arrived . I am glad you have come as well, Daniela . Now, let’s have a drink!”

“I will start with ale . ”

Daniela ordered to the barman, and so I ordered the same thing .

“Pretty relaxing in here, eh? Adventurers don’t come around here too often because of it . Those men drink to become wild . But men like me, we come to enjoy the taste . ”

Rex says with a shrug . The bar in Fhiraldo’s guild had always been a rowdy place . I didn’t hate that atmosphere to be honest, but I didn’t hate this either . I saw myself becoming a regular in a place like this .

We didn’t wait long before the drinks arrived . Daniela and I grabbed our mugs and faced Rex and the others .

“A toast then?”

“Yes, to our meeting . ”

“To that . ”

Clank . The mugs lightly hit each other and were then emptied by all . I wasn’t the biggest drinker, but this went down easily . The alcohol content seemed to be moderate and it did not leave a burning sensation in my throat .

“I think we have some introductions to do then . As you know, I am Rex . A swordsman . ”

The first of the group that I had seen in the forest . He was also the first to attack the wyvern .

“I am Darius . You have my grat.i.tude for what you did . ”

He was the man with the greatsword who had carried Danny . That had been an incredibly tense moment .

“And I am Wesley . Thank you for helping us . ”

“Benny . I’m a swordsman like Wesley and Rex . ”

They were all advance guards… I couldn’t help but think as I shook hands with them .

“Farid . I’m good with the shortsword . ”

“Simon . I use the bow, but I am generally in charge of carrying the luggage . ”

One rear guard and six advance guards… Oh well, I and Daniela were generally the same .  Though, we were also capable of ranged attacks .

“It’s nice to meet you all . I am Asagi . ”

“Daniela . I have also been granted the name Light Wind . ”

She was already boasting about her new name . And it seemed to have been effective .

“Hey, hey, you have an alias… Bah, how lucky…”

“I wonder if I shall ever receive one . I doubt it will be any time soon…”

Several of them voiced their envy of such an honor . Was it really that great? Having an alias?

“In fact, Asagi has also been granted one, ‘Silvergreen . ’”

Daniela said the most unnecessary things .

“Asagi, you, that is incredible!”

“No… That means we were saved by an adventurer with an alias!”

“Will you shake my hand, Silvergreen!”

“Uh, I wasn’t exactly happy about it and… I’m not shaking your hand!”

They all gathered around and cheered loudly . Get away from me!

Daniela was quite distracted by her steak, which had arrived . Well, this relaxing atmosphere was now ruined!

And like that, there was boisterous laughter, yet it was still slightly quieter than other taverns as we ate and drank . The food here was so good, that Daniela and I were practically racing to see who could stuff themselves first . The dishes of meat were especially great . I had seen annoying reporters on TV talk about meat being ‘so soft you don’t need to chew!’, but I had to now admit that such meat did exist . It was so delicious . I swore to become a regular here as I stuffed myself with meat and ale .

Before we knew it, the other customers had left, and it was now almost midnight .

“Well, we should call it a night soon . ”

“Yeah . Thanks for inviting us today, Rex . ”

I stood up and thanked him for introducing us to such a good place . Rex wrapped an arm around my shoulder and roared ‘Don’t mention it!’ into my ear with barely controlled laughter .

After leaving the tavern and separating with Rex and the others, we returned straight to our inn . Nighttime at Spiris was lively, but Daniela and I were so stuffed and had no energy to stop by anywhere else . We arrived very late at the Silver Sky Inn, but the lights at the entrance were still lit . And when we opened the door, Joshua was working behind the front counter .

“Ah, Asagi . And Daniela . ”

“Good evening . Are you working?”

Joshua put down the pen he was using to write and smiled .

“Yes . Just getting the accounts organized . ”

“But it’s so late . ”

“Oh, no . This is my job . But I am just about to finish . Here is your key . ”

I was impressed with how smoothly he handed us our room keys . There wasn’t even a short pause in the conversation . A real hotelman .

“Thank you . Please don’t work yourself too hard . ”

“Ah, thank you very much . I am off to bed then . ”

He says with a chuckle and starts to put away the doc.u.ments . I couldn’t help but laugh as well .

“Have a good night . ”

“And you as well . ”

We ended that polite interaction and headed off to our rooms . I was on the third floor, but so was Daniela . Though, our rooms were separate . I handed Daniela her key and entered my room . I hadn’t noticed as I was walking and talking, but apparently, I was quite drunk . And it only took a few minutes after falling into bed for me to travel into the world of dreams .

And in the dream, I was working at the convenience store . The uniform I was wearing felt very nostalgic as I dealt with midnight customers . This was a time when the complaints tended to start coming . Salarymen who had to work late hours . Taxi drivers who had to deal with drunk customers . Hosts and hostesses who stopped by the convenience store after work . There was quite a variety of customers at midnight .

I was waiting idly as I had finished cleaning and everything else when a certain customer entered the store . The person was wearing sweatpants and s.h.i.+rt and held their wallet in their hand as they stuffed snacks and drinks into a basket . The customer killed some time at the magazine rack before finally coming to the counter .

“Good evening . ”

“…”

Being ignored by customers was the norm . The ones that spat out a barrage of complaints were the special kind . And so it didn’t bother me . All I needed to do was scan the barcodes .

“That will be 2,150 yen . ”

“…”

“Yes, that’s 3,000 yen then . Here is the change . 850 yen . Thank you . ”

I offer the bag of groceries . But the customer does not take it .

“Is something the matter?”

“…”

“Um…”

The customer stares at me silently . I stare back without thinking, and it suddenly hits me that she is incredibly beautiful . But there was also something familiar about her . Was she famous?

“Asagi . ”

“Huh?”

“Asagi…Asagi…”

“Huh?”

“Asagi…Asagi…”

The customer calls my name . I didn’t understand how she could have known . But the more I think, a fog seems to fill my head, and nothing comes together .

“Asagi…Asagi…”

“Sorry? Uh, excuse…”

The customer grabs my hands instead of the bag . The hands are cold, and as pretty as she is, this is slightly eerie .

“Ah, could you please let…”

“Asagi…Asagi…”

“L-let go, just let go!”

“Asagi…!”

“Ahhh, stop!”

The arms that are clutching my hands begin to distort as my vision becomes blurry . My body is swaying as if I am floating in water .

“Asagi! Hey, Asagi!”

“Customer…customer…”

“Who are you calling a customer! Wake u-, aghh, sto-, let go of me you fool!”

“Bahh…what…?”

My eyes slowly opened and the mysterious customer transformed into Daniela . She was practically hovering over me . Her face was bright red . I didn’t understand what was going on . But the dream had been so frightening, yet the familiar face in front of me now was somehow terribly nostalgic and dear to me .

“Asagi? I, mmm…!”

Before I knew it, my arms were wrapped around her and our lips had pressed together .