Chapter 20: A Gift from One Alcoholic to Another...

The aroma of cooking meat filled the entire cave.

The massive stone placed over the campfire was glowing red-hot.

Several cuts of meat from the giant wolf the old man had fought that morning rested on top of it.

Audrey sat beside the fire, cooking peacefully.

Nox watched the process with considerable interest.

"I’m becoming more convinced every day that you could open a restaurant."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

Nox pointed at the meat.

"This smells better than a lot of luxury restaurants in my world."

The old man burst out laughing from the other side of the campfire.

"Then your world must’ve had terrible cooks."

Nox nodded.

"But more importantly, we didn’t have giant wolves."

The old man laughed again.

Then rummaged through some of his belongings.

And pulled out something carefully wrapped.

"By the way."

He tossed the bundle to Nox.

"I want to give you this."

Nox caught it and began unwrapping it.

Inside was a long black coat.

Elegant.

With red and gold details.

Underneath was a pair of matching black trousers.

The entire outfit looked absurdly expensive, like the kind of clothes Tyler used to wear in his previous life.

Nox’s eyes widened.

"Uh..."

He lifted the clothing.

"Seriously?"

The old man nodded.

"Yes."

"You don’t have to."

Nox examined the fabric.

"This looks important."

For a moment, the old man’s smile became more melancholic.

"I bought it for my son."

A brief pause.

"Before I never saw him again."

Nox lowered the clothes slightly.

The old man smiled once more.

"It’s the least I can do for a friend."

Nox looked at him.

"Friend?"

"Of course."

"We’ve known each other since yesterday."

The old man laughed.

"You shared alcohol with me and we drank together."

Nox smiled.

"We told epic stories around a campfire."

The old man crossed his arms.

"That automatically makes us friends."

Nox stared at him.

Then ended up laughing.

"You really are a drunk."

"I am."

"Alright."

He raised the coat.

"I accept the gift."

The old man nodded in satisfaction.

"Good choice."

A few minutes later, Nox changed clothes.

When he finished, he returned to the campfire.

And was surprised.

The coat was incredibly light.

But at the same time, it retained all of his body heat.

Even better than the enormous four-armed bear hide.

"What the hell?"

He moved an arm.

The fabric was comfortable, flexible, and incredibly warm.

The old man smiled. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"It looks amazing on you."

Nox raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t lie to me."

The old man burst out laughing.

"That’s exactly what I’d say if I could see."

For several seconds, they both laughed.

Until Audrey interrupted.

"Lunch is ready."

◇◆◇

A few minutes later, everyone was sitting around the campfire.

Well...

Almost everyone.

Because Tessa was still tied up.

Nox held a piece of meat in front of her.

"Open up."

The inquisitor glared at him.

"I hate you, demon."

"Open up."

Tessa opened her mouth and Nox fed her.

Audrey watched the scene and smiled.

"That has to be humiliating."

Tessa ignored the comment.

She chewed with obvious annoyance.

Audrey continued.

"An inquisitor."

Another bite.

"Being fed by a demon."

Tessa continued ignoring her.

Though she was clearly getting angrier.

Nox held out another piece of food.

"Open."

The inquisitor obeyed while looking like she wanted to murder everyone present.

The old man watched the scene for several seconds.

Finally, he asked:

"Why do these women get along so badly?"

Audrey and Tessa turned their heads at the same time.

Giving him identical dirty looks.

The old man raised both hands.

"I’m just asking."

Nox sighed.

"Tessa murdered Audrey’s sisters."

He pointed at the inquisitor.

"And Audrey cut off her legs."

He pointed at the hunter.

"That’s why they can’t get along."

The old man burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Nox blinked.

"What?"

The old man wiped away a tear.

"Now that’s a great joke."

Audrey stared at him.

Tessa stared at him.

Nox stared at him.

And none of them understood what was so funny.

But the old man kept laughing for several more seconds.

◇◆◇

The afternoon passed quickly.

They prepared supplies.

Stored meat.

Filled their bags.

And organized everything for the journey ahead.

Eventually, it was time to leave.

Claws waited at the cave entrance.

Nox wore his new black coat.

Audrey had her bow slung across her back.

And Tessa was still tied up like a package.

Before leaving, Nox placed several bottles beside the old man.

"So you can survive."

The old man smiled.

"Now I actually will."

Nox shook his head.

The two bumped fists.

And then Nox climbed onto Claws’ back.

Audrey did the same.

The enormous bear slowly began walking away from the cave.

The old man remained at the entrance.

Watching them leave with a smile.

Little by little, the distance increased.

The mountain began to hide the cave from view.

And Nox sighed.

"He was a good old man."

Audrey nodded.

"Yeah."

Even Tessa looked thoughtful.

Until...

BOOOOOOOOM.

A gigantic explosion shook the mountain.

Nox nearly fell off Claws.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

Everyone turned around.

A massive column of smoke was rising from the direction of the cave.

Audrey’s eyes widened.

"What was that?"

Nox stared at the cloud of smoke.

Completely bewildered.

"The old man..."

Another explosion echoed from inside.

BOOM.

BOOM.

BOOOOM.

More smoke poured out.

Claws let out a worried growl.

Tessa blinked several times.

"Should we go back?"

Nox looked at the mountain.

Then remembered the dozens of bottles of alcohol they had left behind.

And he also thought about the old man.

A blind, absurdly powerful, completely drunk man who had knocked out a giant wolf with a single kick.

"...No."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"No?"

Nox shook his head.

"I think whatever’s happening..."

He looked at the enormous cloud of smoke rising into the sky.

"...is entirely his fault."

Another explosion lit up the mountain.

And the three of them continued watching in silence.

Not entirely sure whether they had just said goodbye to a legend.

Or to an alcoholic old man who had accidentally blown up his own house.