My Servant Is An Elf Knight From Another World

Chapter 885 Talk Of Business

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I made my way back one snail's step at a time. Figured after everything that's happened, a bit of a breather would do me much good - and what better way there to unwind than with a literal stroll through the park on the way back? 

Unsurprisingly, I wasn't the only one who needed a second. There wasn't a single conversation piece I've inadvertently overheard that didn't talk about the award-winning stage performance in the sky. 

Everyone was intoxicated, drunk with astonishment so deep and poignant, the twinkle and shine in their eyes a far ways away from any form of sobriety to point that - say, if a unicorn suddenly appeared out of thin air, rainbows, horns and all, I doubt that poor horse could even garner a fraction of the interest that Ria had build up. 

Case in point - a drone horse was now trampling and frolicking across the barren night sky with its buzzing hooves and yet some poor diligent programmer's piece of code went mostly ignored by the masses. 

Personally, I liked it. Reminded me a little bit of Lyn, and terribly at that. Come to think of it, I'm way overdue for a visit. When I find the time, whenever the hell that happens, should properly start acting the part of a proper steed owner and take her out for a proper gallop. 

"Your hair's a bit longer." 

I felt my right foot push and sink into a small mound of snow, and that's where I stopped moving - feeling it dip still deeper and deeper. 

"Might be wrong - probably am. All's I'm saying is you look a touch bit different from the last time we saw each other."

You ever just hear someone's voice and no matter how far, no matter how garbled, and especially no matter how toad-like and goblin-y it sounded, you just know who was who immediately? 

A little off the beaten path, on a snow-sooted bench surrounded by crumpled cans and discarded confetti, sat a lone, round-bellied figure gowned in a badly-stained apron and a funny little hat. He had the mood and look of after-work fatigue, a dimly lit cigar hanging loose between his fingers on one side, and a cold can of beer on the other. A little further by his side, a plastic bag of leftovers swayed and rustled in the wind. 

The standard trite and true remedies for the ailment currently putting him under. 

"Or maybe you just got fatter," He continued speculating, croaking, his broad neck swelling as he blew out a thick, puffy cloud of pollution. "Yeah, probably that." 

Would have dearly preferred living the rest of my life without ever having to speak to him again - but as with most other desires, apparently that was just simply far too much to ask for. 

Suffice it to say, debt collectors don't make much for tender reunions. 

"And you haven't changed at all," I replied, snowbound in place, wondering if it was wise or even worth it to approach him. "But not really saying much for someone I hardly know at all. Maybe it's better that way." 

"Aw, come on," he said, parting open his lips and revealing a rather incomplete set of yellow teeth. "Let's not go ahead and make the past something personal. It isn't, wasn't - whatever was between you and I - it was all purely for the sake of business." 

"Money's one thing, but like hell I'm gonna let you rob me about the way I should feel about things too. I'm perfectly content here hating you forever, thank you." 

With that, I began to turn the other way. Enough strolling, enough hanging back. I'm pretty sure I gave the both of them enough of a head start already anyway. 

But of course, since when do surprise unpleasant encounters ever turn out to be anything except quick and brief? 

He opened his mouth again, and said a little louder, a little clearer. "I was asleep, you know?" 

An ambiguous sentence that could mean absolutely anything, yet it was just the right amount of ambiguity that I didn't need to question what he meant. He wasn't talking about just any deep sleep here. 

This time it was my left foot that got snagged in a shallow puddle of snow - keeping me in place.

"That day, that rain," He said, confirming my suspicion. "I honestly don't remember much from it at all. One moment, weird goo started falling out from the sky, next thing I knew I was in a hospital bed with the boss standing over me. Apparently, I was out for a couple of days. By the time I was up, the rain was gone. Said it was you that woke me up - probably saved my life too at that." 

I couldn't get a read on his expression, and inversely, I do hope he couldn't get a read on mine. I'd have thought a head honcho mob guy would know a thing or two about discretion rather than snitching out my otherworldly activities to his subordinates… even if it was to put me up on a pedestal or whatever the hell that man was thinking blabbing to him about this.

Don't really need more people knowing about the things I do on the side.

"You believe him?" I asked, playing it straight.

"Boy, he could call you the second coming Jesus Christ, and I'd believe him. The boss ain't someone you go second-guessing. So if he said you did it, you did it, and if you did do it… then this is where business starts getting a little bit personal, I suppose." 

"Personal?"

"Yeah," He leaned out of his seat, straightening out his posture, raising himself up the few inches that he could. "Thank you." 

Alright, a lot of weird things have happened tonight, that, no one can deny - but this probably takes the cake. I know those eyes, that condescending squint I'd always see weekly staring back at me through the other side of my doorway. Heartless, apathetic, perhaps even a bit entertained at my expense, time and time again.

Those eyes were gone now; without them, he looked almost normal - hell, he actually looked kinda grateful, and compared to flying phoenixes and rainbow unicorns, this man's got them both beat in the shock department. 

"Don't know what you did, and I get the feeling you won't tell either even if I got you tied out back in a trunk…" He said, and briefly, I had to wonder if I was being threatened here or not. "But at the very least… can't really look at you now knowing you saved my ass and not doing anything about it." 

If I'm remembering my memories right, Blightfall had a stronger effect on those particularly vulnerable to Death itself - whatever that means. Ria, Ash, Adalia, her sister… even Amanda's mom's included in that roll call too. And now here's another name to add on to that ever-expanding list. 

Not sure if I heard it from someone, or maybe I just assumed it - but when I hear the word vulnerable, I'm guessing it means anyone that had a lot of experience with death and dying, and if that's really the case, then I only gotta wonder here… 

What was this guy's experience?

"Don't mention it," I said, not really knowing what else to say. "Don't feel too obligated to be grateful either. Not like I did what I did to save you in particular. It was just - "

"Your business?" He said, his brows rising. "Nothing personal?" 

"Exactly." 

"Well, you ain't gonna rob me either," He told me simply, smirking adamantly. "How I feel is how I feel. So let's just all agree to disagree, agreed?" 

I shrugged. "Fine by me." 

Then silence. Awkward silence. The kind you just kinda walk away from. Which, yeah, I should really…

"Boss already left a little while back. Had to take care of some business." 

Nevermind. Not sure why he was telling me this. Wasn't even wondering to begin with. 

"The first day - only just a couple of hours into the new year and he's already working?" I asked.

He puffed on his cigar, readjusting the hat on his head before it slipped. "Well, you know how it is." 

Actually, not really, no. 

"Anyway, he intended to see you again before he went, but then you went off to God knows where so that's unfortunate."

"What for?"

"No particular reason," He said. "Just says you're interesting - and if you know him well enough, that's plenty reason enough." 

Boy, do I…

"He also said if I happen to see you around to give you his best. It's a new year, new beginnings, and here's hoping there might be one between you both too - so he says, anyway." 

Coming from him, and especially in such a gruff, raspy tone, all I could hear was him issuing an ominous warning… or a promise. Maybe if I hadn't already heard that same tone be used to threaten to break down my door or even break something worse I'd be able to take the message as intended.

Regardless, I tried my best to do just that.

"Message delivered and message acknowledged - thanks, I guess," I said, throwing the quickest, stiffest smile. "Um, kindly give my best to him too." 

For some reason, that got him heavily heaving out, chuckling in silence. He shifted a little, the old rickety bench struggling to accommodate his attempts at comfort.

"Boss ain't the only one hoping, you know?" He grunted with a smile, then, tucking his cigar between his lips, started rifling through his little bag. "Hope you're fast." 

Thank God the fireworks hadn't stopped firing yet. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have seen him throw something at me. I reached my hands out just in time to prevent an impromptu concussion and immediately felt the chill of cold metal hit my palms.

A can of beer. Of course.

I glanced back forward, and he's shifted in place once again. This time with one thrust high in the air, his head tilted up with the broadest grin looking back at me.

"To us!" He loudly declared before taking a big finishing sip.

And whether or not I agree or disagree with that, it didn't matter. Can't really back out of a cheer.

Universal rule.

I cracked open the can, and raised it right back.

"To us," I said, instantly downing the bitter buzz. 

Before all of this, I'd be locked up and committed before you ever catch me sharing a beer with this particular guy.

After all the extortion, stress, and countless social calls, I should really ought to be closer to spitting on him than raising a glass to him.

Whatever - new year, new beginnings, right? It wasn't personal anyway.

The fingers crossed behind my back shouldn't be personal as well.

"Off back home, then?" He said after a moment of silence.

I burped. "Pretty much."

"Ah, then don't let me keep ya," He said, scooting me off with a wave. "Even superheroes need their rest too, yeah?" 

I'm… not gonna read too much into that remark. 

Slowly, I turned around again, walking a few paces, thinking it was probably all over. 

Then he called out to me again, an amused grin rippling through his echoes.

"Any chance I might drop by your place again for a visit? You know, for old time's sake." 

Ah, a joke. First time I ever heard him crack one. At least one that wasn't mean-spirited anyway.

I continued to just walk away - for the first time, holding back a snort and a smile in his presence. 

"Yeah, you wish."