The sound of bottles hitting polished tables and the warm swell of merriment filled the air of the night, echoing softly through the vast, dimly lit space.

Hera, Yuki, Zack, and Oliver sat within the empty yet luxurious bar, drinking themselves toward oblivion as though the world beyond those walls did not exist. Their laughter rose and fell in uneven waves, blending with the faint hum of ambient music that drifted from hidden speakers.

After arriving back in the real world, this had been their supposed surprise for Oliver—a full reservation at Dux Lino, one of the most prestigious bars in the entire country.

A place not just known, but revered.

So yes... it was far more of a big deal than Oliver had initially thought it to be.

This wasn’t just a bar.

It was where the rich and influential Awakeners came to indulge themselves, to relax without fear, to celebrate victories and forget losses. Deals were made here. Alliances were forged here. Power quietly shifted over drinks that cost more than most people would earn in months.

And to Oliver...

This was simply a place where he could drink alcohol that cost ten times his salary as an Awakener.

Staring at the price list of wines earlier had nearly made him choke on nothing. His eyes had scanned the numbers slowly, then again, just to be sure he wasn’t imagining things. His throat tightened slightly as he swallowed hard.

Without another second of thought, he dropped the list—almost as if it had personally offended him—and turned back toward Hera, who was single-handedly sponsoring the entire outing.

She didn’t even look concerned.

Not about the prices.

Not about the quantity.

Nothing.

She was definitely rich beyond anything he had imagined her to be.

Thinking about this, Oliver lowered his gaze to his lap where his phone rested. The screen was still on, glowing faintly in the dim light, and what it displayed still didn’t feel real.

An amount he had not expected to see.

Not even in his imagination.

After his clone had disappeared, Hera had apparently picked up what remained of his belongings, and his phone had been among them.

While he was supposed to have an account balance of maybe twenty thousand Credits at best...

He now had over a hundred thousand.

Transferred.

Directly.

From her.

Not just that, but she had also left a note on his phone. Short. Precise. Almost casual.

She had bought him a house.

A house that "fit his style."

That part alone made something in his chest tighten slightly.

’She really went through my entire identity...’

’For her to know I don’t even have a place to stay... and then get me this much...’

’Is this all really just for helping her survive the Ruins?’

He asked himself, the thought lingering in the back of his mind like an itch he couldn’t quite scratch, as he continued onward to enjoy the merriments.

His attention shifted when Zack suddenly slammed a bottle onto the table, his grin wide and reckless.

"Drinking contest!"

The declaration came with far too much enthusiasm and far too little foresight.

Within moments, several bottles of their strongest alcohol were brought out and arranged neatly before them, their contents glimmering under the soft golden light.

Oliver glanced at them briefly.

"Hundred percent alcohol..."

The words left him under his breath, almost disbelieving.

For normal humans, that would’ve been enough to send them straight to the hospital—or worse.

But Awakeners were different.

Their bodies were stronger. Their metabolism faster. Their tolerance far beyond what was natural.

Which only meant one thing.

With this much...

They were definitely going to get drunk.

The entire party was already onboard with Zack’s reckless plan.

Yuki raised her hands high into the air, yelling excitedly, her energy infectious as she grabbed one of the bottles without hesitation.

Hera simply smiled, amused.

Oliver picked his up.

And then—

The drinking began.

All of them lifted their bottles at once, tilting them back and gulping down the contents as quickly as they could, as though speed alone would determine victory.

The first bottle went down smoothly.

Too smoothly.

Yuki was the first to stop.

A loud, unapologetic belch escaped her as she tapped her stomach lightly, her face scrunching up before she leaned back into the soft cushions of her chair.

"I am out."

She said it plainly, without regret.

She knew her limits.

And she respected them.

She had great self-control.

Unlike Zack.

He grabbed the next bottle with stubborn determination, lifting it like a man preparing for battle. He took one large gulp—

—and immediately fell forward, face-first onto the brown polished table with a dull thud.

Gone.

Completely.

Unable to even lift himself back up.

Oliver stared at him for a brief moment.

’That was quick...’

Now, all that remained were Hera and Oliver.

Hera smiled faintly, lifting her bottle slightly as her gaze met his.

"Looks like it’s just me and you."

"I suppose?" Oliver replied calmly, picking up the next bottle.

Hera followed.

They both drank.

The second round was harsher.

Heavier.

More unforgiving.

Midway through, Hera paused. Her hand trembled slightly as she pulled the bottle away from her lips, her breathing becoming uneven as the alcohol began to take its toll.

She was nearing her limit.

But when she looked at Oliver...

She paused completely.

There was no stress on his face.

No tension.

No sign that he was even affected.

His expression remained as blank and composed as ever, his movements steady, his posture unchanged.

As though he was completely unaffected.

As though the alcohol meant nothing.

’What...?’

The thought barely formed before her strength gave out. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

She dropped the bottle, her head swaying slightly as she reclined back into her chair.

"You win..."

Her voice came out soft, slightly slurred.

"How... how are you so good?"

Oliver pulled the bottle from his lips after finishing its contents, placing it down with a soft clink as a faint smile appeared on his face.

’After years of drinking by a campfire during the time of the fall... surely this is horseplay.’

He thought, rising to his feet and stretching slightly before glancing at the group.

"Thank you all for the wonderful night, but I’d like to head back now."

Hera raised her hand, opening her mouth to say something—

But before she could utter a single word, her face dropped forward and slammed into the table right before her.

Out cold.

Zack responded only with an incoherent grumble, his voice too low and slurred for anyone to understand.

Yuki, however, still had most of herself intact.

She smiled and nodded at him.

Then, for a brief moment, her face contorted—as though she had something to say, something important lingering at the edge of her thoughts.

But just as quickly, it disappeared.

The smile returned.

"It’s nice to have you back, boss."

Oliver paused for a fraction of a second.

Then he turned away.

Without another word, he activated Stealth skill, his figure vanishing from their sight as though he had never been there at all.

---

A few hours later, Oliver finally arrived at the location of his supposed new home, booked for him by Hera Silver.

He stopped a short distance away, his eyes fixed on the structure before him.

It was massive.

Far larger than anything he had ever owned... or even imagined owning.

To him, it looked like a small mansion.

The exterior was a blend of ash and black tones, simple yet imposing in its own quiet way. It didn’t try to stand out, yet its presence alone demanded attention.

Oliver walked closer, his footsteps slow and measured until he reached the front door.

A biometric lock.

It required his thumb.

"...My thumb?"

He hesitated.

Just for a moment.

Then he placed his hand against the scanner.

A soft, satisfying click echoed.

The door unlocked.

Opening slightly.

Oliver pushed it open fully, stepping inside as a faint breath escaped him.

’How in hell did she even get my biometric...?’

The thought lingered, unsettling.

The more he considered how much information she had on him, the more unhinged it all began to feel.

Still...

He was grateful.

Now he didn’t have to sleep on the streets.

Didn’t have to drag his exhausted body back into the Realm just to survive another night.

Now he had shelter.

Money.

Stability.

All of it handed to him... without cost.

At least, on the surface.

Entering into the large expanse of the house, Oliver didn’t bat an eye at the elegance surrounding him. The polished floors, the carefully arranged furniture, the quiet luxury—it all felt distant.

Irrelevant.

Instead, he reached back and shut the door slowly behind him.

The soft click echoed faintly.

Under the dim lighting of the room, he lowered his gaze.

Staring down at his shadow.

It stretched across the floor, still and silent.

Watching... Waiting.

And at its presence...

Oliver’s lips slowly curled into a grin.