Supreme Magus

Chapter 4483: Different Kind of Fun (Part 1)

”Mama!” Raldarak said, dealing a major blow to Dryna’s already fluttering heart.

”Gods, you are so cute and handsome!” The Wyvern lifted the baby boy and held him close to her chest. ”Of course, I can be your mom!”

”Mama?” Raldarak asked in confusion.

”Thanks, but he already has a mother.” Kamila took her son back. ”More than one, actually, and way too many women already applied for the role. We don’t take any more candidates.” She sighed.

”What are you guys doing here?” Tista asked.

”I felt terrible knowing that while I am out there having fun, you’d be locked up here to ensure Jirni’s safety, so I hired Haug’s Travelling Tavern to keep you company while I’m away.” Lith said.

”Awakened detail service, good food, and house staff all at once. The full package.”

”Indeed.” Parmegianno Haug entered the room, his face twisted into a surly grimace.

The owner of the Travelling Tavern looked the same as always. A man in his mid-thirties, about 1.8 meters (5’11”) tall, with brown hair, eyes, and a well-groomed beard streaked orange and yellow.

He had broad shoulders, but due to the loose white shirt, which along with the black pants, waistcoat, and bowtie that comprised his uniform, it was hard to tell whether he was thin or muscular.

Yet he didn’t sound the same. The chatty bartender with a perennial smile and a story to tell on the tip of his tongue had been replaced by a silent man who looked at Lith as if he were his jailer rather than a good client.

”Why the long face?” Tista asked.

”Haven’t you heard?” Dryna chuckled. ”Tyris’ mourning period is over, and the entire Awakened community is in an uproar.”

”Did Haug already ask Tyris out and she turned him down, or is he just tense at the idea of being rejected?” Elina asked.

”Please, as if I’d ever waste my time and energy in such a foolish endeavor.” Haug snorted. ”Lady Tyris already has too many suitors, and if you ask me, none of them has a snowball’s chance in the sun.

”She doesn’t have a type, but I bet that after someone noble and kind like Valeron the First, she’ll look for a bad boy like Lith.”

”I resent that.” Lith grunted.

’I never cheated on anyone, nor did I play around with a woman’s feelings. How am I a-’

”Really? Wasn’t it you who...” Haug proceeded to list Lith’s confirmed kills, the crimes he had been accused of, and those he was suspected. ”You’re the classic dashing rogue type who does what he wants and gets away with it.”

’Haug got a point.’ Solus chuckled. ’You are a bad boy, but only according to Mogar’s definition.’

”This still doesn’t explain why you are in such a bad mood, Haug.” Elina tilted her head.

”Didn’t you hear Dryna?” He sighed. ”Tyris’ mourning period is over. Her descendants, thousands of hungry and thirsty Griffons who until a while ago spent their days brooding, are partying day and night to celebrate the good news.

”The entire Griffon bloodline is flooding bars and restaurants, leaving only when there is no more food to eat and alcohol to drink. Until your cruel son dragged me here, I was making more money in a single night than in a whole month!”

”Dragged?” Elina echoed. ”You mean you don’t want to accept the job?”

”Of course I don’t!” Haug snorted. ”The problem is that I ran out of Maekosh beer, and Oshek won’t sell me more unless I do Lith this favor. I can’t lose my only reliable supplier and golden goose!”

”Most Awakened don’t know the beer doesn’t come from Maekosh anymore and still pay the old price.” Dryna explained.

”That’s unscrupulous of you, Mr. Haug.” Elina’s voice turned cold. ”You know what they say, what goes around comes around.”

”I know, hence why I’m here.” He sighed.

”See you later, Mom.” Lith hugged his parents before leaving. ”I’ll come back to drop the kids with you once they are tuckered out.”

The staff of the Travelling Tavern explored the Mansion and its external perimeter, setting up their own defenses and establishing guard shifts. They were all Awakened mages with plenty of experience dealing with dangerous customers.

Once Haug added the arrays of the Travelling Tavern to those of the Verhen Mansion, it became an impregnable fortress.

”What is this place, mister?” The bartender had just finished expanding his dimensional establishment in the center of the park when a small voice drew his attention.

”This is my pride and joy, young man.” He turned around and looked down to find a winged young boy with six eyes staring at him. ”Have you never seen a restaurant before?”

Even with his sour mood, Haug would never be rude to a kid. Also, the way Garrik stared at his tavern in awe lifted the bartender’s mood more than any compliment Garrik could give him.

”No, sir.” Garrik shook his head. ”I’ve never been outside the Mansion. If I leave the mana geyser, my mom will get worried.”

’This is why I’m here!’ Haug’s eyes went wide in understanding. ’This must be Morok’s little brother. The little fallen Fomor he always talks about. Garrik can’t go to a restaurant like a normal kid, so Lith brought my restaurant to him.

’He should have told me! I would have still said no until he blackmailed me, but at least I wouldn’t have acted like a jerk until now.’

”I see.” Haug nodded and smiled. ”Are you hungry, young man? Fancy something to eat?”

”Yes, please.” Garrik tested the barstool before jumping on it, staring at everything with curiosity.

Haug prepared a milkshake for the boy, adding more ice cream and syrup than usual to make it extra sweet.

’The only good thing that came out of my deal with Lith is the recipe for his ice cream and those potato chips. I should make a killing with them.’ He thought.

”This is delicious!” Garrik said after taking a single slurp from a straw. ”Can I also have one for my mom, please?”

”Of course. Everything you want is on the house.” Haug replied with a laugh, whipping out the second milkshake before the young boy was out of the door.

”Come, Mom! Quick! You have to try it!” Garrik returned a few seconds later, dragging Ryla with him. ”Mister Haug, this is my mother, Ryla. Mom, this is Mister Haug, the kind man offering us food.”

”Welcome to-” When Haug’s eyes met the Fomor, he squeezed the glass so hard that it shattered, sending the milkshake flying across the tavern.

Ryla was a woman of striking beauty, over 2.3 meters (7’7”) tall, with light blue skin and waist-long hair of the six colors of the elements.

She wore only a loose toga that left her arms and back exposed, allowing her fluffy wings to move freely. If not for her six elemental eyes and the color of her skin, Haug would have easily mistaken her for a goddess descended among mortals.

”Welcome to Haug’s Travelling Tavern. I’m sorry for the mess. Just give me a second.” The bartender’s face turned into a professional mask as he filled the already-full glass with more milkshake.