A Wizards Misadventures

~~Level Twenty Four~~

AN: Going on my little road trip did not help at all. In fact, moving might have made things worse. But that's not a problem for you. I'm dealing with it. Living in new places is just weird for awhile until you get used to it.

I've said this before, I think, but I've planned out how to end this and I really want to do it right. So updates may be sparse (as they have been… for like two months) but I'm going to try hard to end this in a memorable, and more importantly meaningful, way.

Quick reminder: This story isn't abandoned until I say it's abandoned. Even if updates are sparse, until I put a note saying that I'm quitting the story it's not dead. I'm just having a hard time writing right now.

… Alright, I already wrote all of that AN before I got to this specific part. It's been a week since I sent this to my editor and he hasn't gotten back to me. I tried to do it myself but google spellcheck and grammarly only go so far. Really hoping he's alright.

[|||| =LEVEL 24= ||||]

"-Thanks for listening, and I hope to be back soon," I finished. I looked up at the Simurgh's stoic face. "Got that?" She nodded. "Good. Now you have your orders. This is the most important thing I'll ever have you do. Go." I opened a portal and waved her through it. It closed behind her and I stood in silence…

"Man I hope this works." I muttered. The house was silent around me. Nobody but me was home.

It felt lonely…

[|||| =-= ||||]

"Don't you have anything better to do?" The penguin asked me.

"No," I said plainly. I finished off my drink. "Another, please." After having that bath with Ainz, a bit of a weird experience since I'd never bathed with a man before, if Ainz could be considered a man. It was relaxing and I felt like relaxing more.

"I think you have a problem. Only Shalltear drinks this much."

"I'm not actually getting drunk right now. I just want a quiet place to sit down for awhile."

"What?! Then why are you ordering all of my good stuff?!" He looked at me accusingly.

"Because I like the taste. Besides, I am paying, aren't I?" The penguin wavered for a moment and then pushed me another bottle of the good stuff, though not without an indulging sigh. I didn't question how the penguin could sigh just like how he didn't ask why I was lazing around a bar at one PM.

I wasn't dodging any responsibilities for once. I just wanted a quiet place to laze around and the bar happened to be empty. Well, except for the mushroom man in the corner but he was very nearly a literal wallflower. Wallfungus… I knew that he was the normal bartender but if a penguin was willing to give me drinks I was willing to drink them… Some days my life made sense. This wasn't one of those days.

"So… since you're not leaving I guess I have to talk to you." The penguin pulled up a stool and stood on top of it, putting his flippers on the bar.

"No you don't. Why can't the fungus guy bartend? Is it his day off or something?"

"He only works weekends. At times I, the great Eclair, must lower myself to bartending. But someday, someday, I will sit upon the throne of Nazerick and all shall bow before me! YES! This is just but one step in my grand plan!" I stared at the penguin.

"Sure, man. Good luck with that."

"PAH! Luck is for those who need it! It's only a matter of time!" I nodded along with him. "Ah, but first my duties! … So why are you here?"

"I'm just resting."

"Ah, I see, I see… why?" I blinked. Why was I resting?

"I guess I just don't have anything better to do. I could read something, play a game, go slay some monsters, or anything but I just feel like sitting somewhere quiet. What better place to do that than here?"