CHAPTER 118 – JUST ONE DRINK

LYSANDER FARADEISS

“Canceling Vesryn Pulse.”

As Johnny uttered the command to cancel the Vesryn Pulse, the Tachyon Dragon transformed back into its humanoid form, revealing Meike, the orange-haired teenage girl who had served as our transportation to Scrap Town. We found ourselves standing in front of a nondescript bar nestled within the slums.

Gathering at the entrance, Johnny addressed Meike with gratitude. "Thank you for delivering us here," he said, a smile playing on his lips.

Meike responded with a playful pout, her concern evident in her crimson eyes. "I know it's just a boys' reunion party, but are you sure you'll be alright?" she asked, casting a wary glance between Johnny and me.

Johnny's confidence remained unshaken as he draped an arm over my shoulder. "I'm a Dragon Lord, and Lysander here is a dragonoid contractor of the reincarnation of Goddess Exceria," he declared with a smirk. "What could possibly go wrong?"

Meike relented with a resigned sigh, her lips quirking into a slight smile. "Fine then," she conceded. "Just one drink, though. Your brain cells have just been healed."

"Agreed," I chimed in, returning her smile. "Just one. Yeah, that’s right. Only one."

Johnny nodded in mock agreement, his grin widening with mischief. "Just one drink! No big drama!" he exclaimed, though there was a glint of mischief in his eyes.

As Meike bid us farewell and vanished into the sky with a flap of her dark dragon wings, Johnny's cheerful demeanor remained undimmed. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he seized the opportunity to indulge in some much-needed relaxation.

"Now then, let me treat you to a drink, my brother," Johnny exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious as he ushered me towards the bustling bar at the heart of Scrap Town's slums.

Entering the dimly lit establishment, I couldn't help but marvel at the resilience of the dragonoids who ran the bar amidst the turmoil of war. In the previous timeline, such luxuries had been distant memories, overshadowed by the grim realities of conflict.

Approaching the counter, Johnny greeted the old dragonoid woman with gray hair, addressing her as Miss Ejane. But her response was tinged with skepticism, a testament to the wariness that permeated the air.

"Johnny Wolvesbane," Miss Ejane sighed, her tone wary. "I know Meike trusts you, but I'm not so sure. I won't tolerate any trouble in my bar."

But Johnny's easy smile remained unwavering as he reached for his wallet, producing a stack of bills adorned with Gazelle's face—the currency of the Republic of Dragons. With a nonchalant gesture, he placed the money on the counter, a silent reassurance of his intentions.

"Fear not, Miss Ejane," Johnny replied cheerfully. "You'll find no trouble from me. Now, how about you treat me and my friend here to your finest beer? Bottomless, if you please. And keep the change."

"Generous today, aren't we?" Miss Ejane remarked, her tone teasing as she handed us our drinks. "Enjoy this shit, you fuckers."

The old woman bartender's gruff demeanor softened into a wry smile as she accepted Johnny's payment, her words laced with a mixture of sarcasm and begrudging appreciation. With a chuckle, Johnny accepted the beers she provided, his laughter echoing through the dimly lit bar.

Johnny's laughter only intensified at her words, his infectious mirth contagious as it spread to me. Despite the gruff exterior, Miss Ejane's banter added to the lighthearted atmosphere, a welcome reprieve from the weight of our past and present struggles.

But as our laughter subsided, a moment of quiet introspection settled between us. Johnny's smile faltered briefly, his gaze turning introspective as he reflected on the journey that had brought us to this point.

"What are you laughing at, huh?" he asked, his tone light but tinged with curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment, the memories of our shared past flooding back with bittersweet clarity. "It's just... I'm glad to see the cheerful side of you," I admitted, my voice tinged with nostalgia. "I mean, I haven't seen you smile, tease, and laugh like that since... well, since Maggie."

Johnny's expression softened, a hint of melancholy shadowing his features before he shook it off with a determined smile. "It's all in the past," he insisted, his voice firm but tinged with warmth. "And you played a part in bringing me back. You promised to save me, and here I am, saved. You're my personal messiah, Lysander."

His words caught me off guard, a swell of emotion rising within me at the gravity of his gratitude. Before I could respond, Johnny continued, his gaze turning towards me with genuine affection.

"And Meike," he added, his smile widening. "She's the best gift I've ever received. I am glad that you changed the timeline."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty at his words, grappling with the implications of our shared journey through time and space. But Johnny's infectious laughter broke through my reverie, his gesture of offering the best beer in Scrap Town a welcome distraction.

Raising his own bottle in a silent toast, I met Johnny's gaze with a smile. "To your regression," He echoed, clinking our bottles together in a gesture of camaraderie and celebration. "Cheers."

"Cheers!" I exclaimed, a surge of camaraderie coursing through me as we celebrated his return. As we clinked our beer bottles together, I echoed Johnny's sentiment with a cheer. 

"For a brand-new world!" Johnny shouted with joy, his enthusiasm infectious as we both downed our first beer in one gulp, relishing the familiar taste of ale after so long.

But as the empty bottles accumulated before us, the sense of anticlimax settled over our impromptu celebration. It was a stark reminder of the passage of time and the distance that had grown between us during our respective journeys.

"Hey, one last drink," Johnny proposed, his words mirroring my own thoughts.

"Yeah, just one more," I agreed, the promise of one final toast beckoning us as we signaled for another round from the old woman bartender.

With freshly opened beer bottles in hand, Johnny and I raised our drinks in a silent salute before taking another hearty swig. But one drink quickly turned into several more, the cycle of toasting and drinking becoming a blur as the night wore on.

Before long, Johnny suggested a change of pace, ordering shots of tequila to accompany our beer. With each shot, our inhibitions melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and shared nostalgia.

As I regaled Johnny with tales of my adventures since regressing through time, I couldn't help but embellish the truth here and there, adding a touch of drama to my recounting. But as the alcohol flowed freely, the line between fact and fiction blurred, and soon we found ourselves lost in a haze of laughter and friendship.

But amidst the revelry, Johnny's drunken skepticism cut through the haze like a knife, his slurred words casting doubt on the authenticity of my tales.

"Bullshit. I don't believe you," he mumbled, his words slurred with intoxication.

Caught off guard by his sudden skepticism, I faltered, struggling to defend my exaggerated accounts. "What part of the story sounded like a lie?" I asked, my voice tinged with disappointment.

But Johnny's response was blunt and unapologetic, his words a sobering reminder of the gap between fantasy and reality. "You lost me somewhere between alien abduction and Hiraya choosing you instead of Alris," he slurred. "Hiraya will not choose you. Alris is a handsome motherfucker. And you... you're just a weirdo who loves to shit his pants."

His words stung, a harsh reminder of my own insecurities and shortcomings. With a heavy heart, I could only nod in silent agreement, the weight of his words settling over me like a shroud as I struggled to hold back tears of frustration and self-doubt.

"But you've got the Lysander's Harem, right? Which of the girls fancies you?" Johnny's smirk widened as he prodded me with drunken curiosity.

"Well... Kate is gay. Gaeun is a gossiper. And Charlotte is an insufferable bitch," I confessed, my voice trembling with frustration. "Only Hiraya is the one I love, but..." I trailed off, my words choked with emotion as I buried my face in my arms and let out a muffled cry of despair. "She loves Alris! Waaaaah!"

Johnny's hand found its way to my back, offering a comforting gesture as he reached for another beer. With a practiced motion, he drained the bottle and flung it out the window, his action a symbol of defiance against our troubles.

"The battle is not over, brother," he declared, his words slurred but filled with determination. "That motherfucker Alris is dead, thankfully. I'll help you get that elven pussy."

"R-Really!?" I exclaimed, lifting my tear-stained face to meet Johnny's gaze, hope blossoming within me.

"Yeah. You're my brother. I'll deliver you back to her, first thing in the morning!" Johnny affirmed, his sincerity cutting through the haze of alcohol.

But as I contemplated our next steps, practical concerns crept into my mind. "How about Gazelle? And your duties as the Centurion of the Republic?" I queried, wary of the challenges that lay ahead.

"Fuck them all! Meike and I just want to live a peaceful life," Johnny declared, his voice rising with defiance.

I couldn't help but laugh at his brash proclamation, the absurdity of our situation punctuated by his blunt words. "Hahaha! Nice one, Johnny! But help me end the war first!" I insisted, determined to confront the looming conflict head-on.

"Of course! No problem, my brother!" Johnny agreed, his loyalty unwavering as he stood by my side.

With newfound resolve, I pushed myself upright, much to Johnny's surprise. 

"Wait, do you mean we end the war now?" he asked, confusion evident in his reddened face.

"No. I need to take a shit," I replied matter-of-factly, the urgency of my bodily needs overriding any grand plans for the moment. With that, I left our table, leaving Johnny to ponder the absurdity of our drunken conversation as I sought relief in the bar's facilities.