SSS-Knight in a Hero World

Chapter 42: The museum

Bottling his emotions, Ferris smoothly parried Evening's advances.

"You also didn't tell me you were a villain. What were you doing inside the hero's mall?" he asked, turning the question back on her.

Evening chuckled low, then slid onto the stool beside him. She raised two fingers toward the bartender.

"Scotch, neat. One for my friend, too." Her voice dripped with casual confidence as she rested her cheek against the counter, grinning at Ferris like she knew something he didn't.

Ferris's brow furrowed. I thought it was one drink per day?

Evening caught his faint head tilt and smiled knowingly. "It's alright. Long as you ask real nice, the servants'll treat you."

Her grin sharpened, but her words softened. "Even if you can't hurt 'em, it doesn't cost nothin' to be kind."

Ferris was puzzled when Evening addressed the bartender as a servant rather than a villain. You can't hurt them?

Villains are always an unruly bunch, so it doesn't make sense that they simply can't hurt them to get them to do your bidding.

Especially when it's a bartender that can make any drinks imaginable. Any egotistical villains would swarm to secure someone like that.

Other than that, there was the fact that Evening was spouting lines a hero might say—out loud, for everyone in earshot.

Yet the villains nearby only spared them a glance. The moment they recognized Miss Evening, their eyes darted away, and their hostility was reduced to mere wariness.

Ferris's lips curled faintly as he met her gaze. "Are you avoiding my question?"

"I ain't! I was just exploring the mall for some goodies," Evening explained.

Whatever those goodies were, Ferris definitely remembered Evening shooting her own villain teammates.

So it meant that killing was allowed amongst each other.

Typical villains, Ferris thought, impressed that they haven't yet slaughtered each other.

Once the bartender finished making the liquid, he slid it towards Evening and she happily helped herself. "It's my first few days here, honestly, this bar is the only thing that's impressing me."

The bartender nodded, feeling happy after the compliment. "And you're the only drinker that has impressed me so far."

"I know, right—pour some more, don't be shy!" Evening slid her half-empty glass forward. Then she turned, catching sight of Ferris's untouched drink.

"Aren't ya... gonna drink?" she asked, tilting her head with a confused gaze.

Ferris drew in a slow breath. I was never an avid drinker. Not in this life, nor the previous.

He hesitated, then steadied himself. A single drink wouldn't be enough to topple a knight's bravery anyway.

"Just once," he murmured, pulling the glass closer toward his lips.

Evening's brows shot up. "You're dry? Well, hold on now—

To her horror, Ferris downed the entire thing in a single gulp, ignoring flavor, burn, and all the vile aftereffects.

It sucks! That's the only word Ferris could describe it.

The bartender shook his head in disappointment, even some of the villains who were only allowed one drink per day grieved at the waste.

But even then, Ferris controlled his expression, only releasing a bit of discomfort that Evening could somewhat detect.

"Are you alright, friend?" Evening was genuinely concerned.

"A little bit," Ferris honestly said, trying to ignore the sensations in his mouth.

Miss Evening flicked her fingers at the bartender. "Get 'em some sodas—his friend too please."o pass."

Ferris stopped the bartender to ask a question.

An organization ran by villains doesn't sound like something with great management, it would be a feat in itself if they could manage every individual stuck in this city.

"How will the Villain Clan confirm it, can't they just lie?"

"That brings us to the most important place." The bartender gave another round for Evening. "The museum."