Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 1244: Pride of Yen-Lu

Adam looked at the ceramic gourd placed before him with suspicion. He shifted his senses to Hisaki, who sat with a straight face and arms crossed, then back at the white gourd.

First, he let out a howling laughter.

Then, he stopped abruptly and asked in a solemn voice:

”So you’re telling me... this wine is made from rice?”

”Not wine, sake,” Hisashi corrected. ”We brew it from polished rice, clear water, a touch of koji, and the blessing of time. It is the pride of Yen-Lu. One sip and you’ll understand why we call it the drink of the spirits.”

”Brewed?!” Adam blurted out. ”Not fermented?”

”Brewed, yes.” The stout tavern owner nodded.

Adam was speechless. He wasn’t an ale drinker. He always preferred wine, finding it very classy. But considering he hadn’t had a sip of alcohol in two and a half years, he wasn’t going to decline this drink.

”Well, whatever.” He shrugged, then let out another crazed laughter.

In the next instant, his behavior made a complete one-eighty, and he said in a cold voice, ”I’ll warn you now, though. Poisons don’t have any effect on me.”

Hisashi simply scoffed at that accusation. ”I don’t need poison to deal with you, outsider.”

He then retrieved a wooden pipe from his inner robes and casually started to smoke.

Adam found the man quite interesting. ”I like you,” he said with a grin.

Without wasting another moment, he lifted his kitsune mask ever so slightly, allowing his lower face to become visible.

Upon seeing his charred and disfigured face, Hizashi felt a chill crawl down his spine. Exhaling a plume of smoke to the side, he couldn’t help but mutter, ”You look like you have quite the story to tell.”

Adam ignored him, his complete attention focused on the gourd before him. He grabbed it, then uncorcked it, bringing it to his lips. Then, he took a small sip. Instantly, he froze.

”This... this...” He tried to come up with the right words to say, but words failed him.

Instead, he tilted the gourd and emptied its contents straight into his mouth. In but a few moments, he had finished the sake.

”Puah!” He slammed the empty gourd on the table, nearly shattering it, and then laughed out loud. His laughter caused the other customers to shudder, but he did not care.

He turned towards Hisashi and spoke with joy, ”This rice wine... uh, I mean sake. I like it! No, I love it! Give me fifty more bottles!”

The stout tavern owner’s lips twitched, and he couldn’t help but think to himself:

Fifty bottles of sake? Is he crazy?

”Outsider,” he began, his voice low. ”I hope you have the money to pay for the food and drinks.”

”Money? Hmph!” Adam crossed his arms and raised his chin in pride. ”I’ll have you know, Magus. You are in the presence of a king!”

Hisashi sneered. He observed Adam’s appearance for a few moments.

The youth was wearing a black cloak that had definitely seen better days. He wore no tunic underneath, revealing his grotesque upper body. He had donned a pair of old and worn-out pants, and his black boots looked messy. Finally, there was the strange white mask he’d covered his face with.

”What are you the king of?” Asked the burly man, his tone laced with ridicule.

Memories of his glory days in Ravenfell surfaced in Adam’s mind. His heart was gripped by overwhelming sorrow, yet his lips formed a brilliant, happy smile.

”Nothing... I was just... kidding,” he said. ”Funny joke, right?”

Hisashi did not think it was funny, but Adam found it very hilarious, and so... he laughed.

Soon, his laughter died down. ”Relax,” he said. ”I’ve got the money. Though it’s not the local currency. It’s definitely gold. The weight may vary, though.”

He removed the rucksack from his back, then continued, ”Gege, spit some of those gold coins we found.”

Under Hisashi’s dumbstruck expression, the mouth of the rucksack back opened on its own, then began sprouting two rows of razor-sharp teeth.

”Gege!” The mimic chirped.

Then, it closed its mouth again, seemingly looking for something inside its magical stomach. A moment later, it opened its mouth again and spat a handful of aged coins that Adam had found in some of the ancient ruins in Mabi.

The youth quickly pocketed most of the gold coins, only presenting two gold pieces nestled between his fingers. His lips curled into a wide grin, and he said:

”What do you think? These coins may be old, but their value is immense. Hehe, people would pay a lot to acquire these antique coins.”

Hisashi didn’t pay attention to his words at all. Instead, he was looking at Gege with wide eyes. ”What... what kind of beast is that?”

”A useful kind,” Adam replied curtly. ”Anyway, bring out more sake and we can talk.”

The tavern owner turned his attention back to Adam, then at the coins in his hands. ”Where did you get them?”

”Does it matter? It’s gold.” Adam was getting impatient, and so he burst into another fit of laughter. ”Get the sake already. And get me something to eat as well.”

Hisashi deeply looked at the coins, then back at Adam, his thoughts a mystery. At the same time, a lot of patrons in the tavern were secretly eyeing Adam and the fantastical Gege. Of course, Adam had already sensed their unkind gazes, but he did not care.

”What’s the hold up?” He pressed. ”Are you going to bring out more sake, or should I visit another tavern?”

Hisashi remained silent for a few more moments before answering, ”A sake bottle is 5 silver pieces. Those two coins can only buy 4 bottles of sake. Of course, food will cost you more. And if you wish to stay in one of our rooms, there’s an additional charge.”

”5 silvers for a bottle of sake? You... are you swindling me?” Adam asked in a skeptical voice.

”Hmph!” Hisashi rose to his feet, ready to leave. ”You’re free to go to another tavern. But pay for this bottle before you leave—”

”Wait, wait, wait!” Adam hurriedly called out. ”It was just a joke, haha... just a joke!”

Even he didn’t believe his words, yet he laughed out loud nonetheless.

A moment later, his expression turned deeply solemn, and he said, ”There’s one more thing I’d like to ask. It’s very important.”

Sensing the change in his demeanour, Hisashi frowned. ”What is it?”

Adam remained silent for a moment, then asked seriously:

”Do you give discounts?”