Chapter 46 – Ririi loves the bar

No matter the country, no matter the town, bars always feel the same, and Anheim is no exception.

Her bar is in a quiet corner near the main street, not too far from where we met.

The exterior has no decorations whatsoever, making the whole thing look like a flock of rainbow colored birds with one feather mixed in that’s dirty and brown. It really stands out in this colorfully decorated town.

It feels like the bird with differently colored feathers would be pushed out, so I’m starting to wonder if it’s not a coincidence that her place just happens to be on an inconspicuous corner.

At the very least, it doesn’t feel like someone walking down the road would wander into this place, especially at night when the magic stones start shining. In that sense, it’s a good thing she talked to me.

The interior is just as boorish as the exterior. It’s not open yet, so naturally there aren’t any customers, but there is a long bar counter on the other side of the wooden floor, and big round tables with many scratches on them placed haphazardly here and there.

So there are rowdy drunks even in Anheim.

I wouldn’t call this place dirty, but I wouldn’t call it spotless either. The only thing that feels like Anheim in here is the small magic stone hanging from the ceiling that illuminates the place. It’s good quality, because it gives off a strong light despite being small.

“It’s a nice place.”

That’s not sarcasm, I really feel that way. After living in Zenith for so long, this kind of place suits me the best.

Bars should be places where people can get rowdy. It reminds me of Loretto’s, and makes me feel nostalgic.

“Ah!”

Speaking of Zenith, Ririi has liked the tall chairs used for bar counters since the time when we lived there, and she sprints towards them the moment she sees them. Can she climb on one by herself?

“Haha… It’s all tattered though.”

She says with an awkward smile and gentle eyes, while looking at Ririi slowly trying to climb on the chair.

I guess this rough environment isn’t her choice. That makes sense, the impression this place gives me doesn’t make me think such a gentle girl would want to run it. There must be more to this story.

“Why is it so tattered?”

Elves generally have mild natures, and their crime rates are pretty low among the major races. To put it bluntly, I can’t imagine them getting drunk and violent, and even back in Zenith there were few elves like that.

Also, bad elves don’t rely on violence, they get involved in illegal schemes that make use of their intellect, like the slave trade. A lot of them look classy too.

She puts down the bag she’s holding and goes behind the counter, just as Ririi succeeds in getting on the chair. Ririi’s head peeks from below, their eyes meet, and the elf girl smiles gently. Her smile that’s like a bright moon on a quiet night sky really doesn’t suit this rundown bar.

I sit down next to Ririi, and the elf girl takes some bottles from the bag.

“My father used to run this place, but one day he left all of a sudden. I considered closing it, but ended up taking over. Thankfully all our customers are regulars anyway, so I’m not having trouble running this place.”

“I see. And those regulars are pretty rowdy, uh?”

“Hahaha… Maybe…”

She says with a light smile, like she’s given up on arguing about that. Actually, it’s more like an awkward smile.

She picks up a glass and starts cleaning it like she’s used to that, and that dull sound echoes through the room.

“…Do you want to close this place?”

“Eh?”

She stops cleaning and looks up with a surprised expression.

“I have an acquaintance that also runs a bar. It’s in a really bad place in terms of safety, and it’s full of people without a screw still left in place in their heads. There are fights there all the time, and it looks way worse than this place.”

I see her face twitch a little as I talk. Maybe running a rundown bar means she can picture that very clearly.

“Basically, it’s like a place in the end of the world. But… The owner still looks like he enjoys being there. Even when people get into fistfights, he looks on from behind the counter with an amused smile on his face.”

Everyone’s at least somewhat crazy in Zenith, including someone who comes off like a gentleman, like Loretto. If he wasn’t crazy, he wouldn’t be running a bar there.

“But you don’t look like you’re having fun. That’s why I asked if you want to close this place.”

I look her in the eyes and wait for her response, but she stays silent, with her hands not moving either. Even Ririi is quiet for a change.

In the end, all I get is silence.

“…I knew it.”

She doesn’t say no, which means the answer is yes.

Something is compelling this kind looking elf to continue running this bar.

I’m sure it’s a silly reason. When someone has a sad face, it usually means someone else has a wicked smile on theirs. That’s survival of the fittest. Sadly, this girl falls on the side of this cruel world that gets eaten.

Still, the misfortunes of strangers don’t bother me. I’m not that virtuous.

But then…

“We got a good haul today! Drink all you want and go crazy!!!”

The door is thrown open with a loud thud, and I hear a vulgar voice behind me.

I turn around and see a tall and lean elf that looks pretty vulgar, with several more elves lined up behind him as they all enter.

“…”

Her face becomes so stiff that it’s impossible not to notice.

I, on the other hand, feel relaxed. It’s been a while since I felt the kind of environment I was used to in Zenith.

Back in Zenith, bar fights happened all the time and no one cared, but I wonder what’s it like here.