[11:17 P.M.]
This isn't a modern bar. There's no flashy lights or soft music to give a calm ambience. Nor is this a fantasy bar, full of rowdy adventurers making merry after a day's work.
Especially since I've entered.
An eerie quiet befell the moody walls of the bar. My presence has been met with an uncanny amount of unfriendly gazes filled with suspicion from the other patrons- a silent intimidation.
The message couldn't be anymore clear: Outsiders aren't welcome.
And I brushed it off, giving their intent enough apathy that I would ignore it even if it was written in the sky. Instead, I focused my own gaze on the glass of ginger ale in front of me.
The cup was dirty with smidgets of filth. The drink itself seemed to be a lighter colour- watered down, no doubt.
Deliberate unspoken insult or not, I refrained from drinking. Choosing to instead simply twirling the drink in a slow manner, the only sound heard so far is the soft clinking of the ice in my glass. My own unspoken taunt.
And like this, moments passed begrudgingly slow. It was inevitable that someone has to snap first, and fortunately, both art and medicine alike requires patience to learn.
A furry arm smacked the countertop beside me, the sharp claws on the hand making grooves along the moody wood. "Oi, this ain't a place fer brats 'ike yah." A deep nasal voice voice reverberated in a growl close to my ear, the pungent sour breath assaulting my nostrils.
Glancing to the side, the anthropomorphic wol- wait, it's a donkey?
My bewilderment must have been severe as the being in front of me snarled --Not well, considering the buckteeth-- in irritation at my expression. "Wot? Got somethin' ta' say ta' me, pipsqueak?"
"Quite rude, aren't you? Has no one ever taught you about manners?"
"Manners? Manners!?" He gestured around to the spectating onlookers. "Yah expected ta' find manners in a place 'ike this one? Yer head's must be 'bove tha clouds if yer still dreamin' that deep." He and a few around us laughed, then his voice turned a menacing low. "Tell ya wot, 'ow 'bout yah empty them pockets of yers and we let yah walk out with both 'em legs intact?" He sneered.
"You're certainly welcome to try. Although, I doubt that you're capable enough to do so."
Really? It was that easy to get him riled up? Didn't even need to see through his fur to know that he's seething red right now.
"Yah little-!" He stood from his seat androlled up his sleeves in that cartoonishly way while breathing heavily through his nose in anger. With his image, it's hard to take this guy seriously. "Why I outta teach yah a lesson meself! C'mere!"
The donkey jumped at me in a literal sense. However, just as he was about to touch me, he was hit with a bright ball to the face that sent him crashing to the walls few meters away.
Silence fell once more.
Though this time, it wasn't because of my appearance, but rather it was because of what I just did; Danmaku.
Everyone felt the same thing.
Pure, unadulterated and abundant spiritual energy, all jam-packed in that one singular sphere. And they also saw something so valuable being used as an attack.
Something so valuable created like it was nothing.
It was then that I expanded my senses. Anyone sensitive enough to feel it would no longer make a fuss or a threat even as they shivered, and anyone else? They would simply let it wash over them unknowingly.
Eyes that were filled with malice earlier are now filled with fear and awe... And hunger.
'How much would I last with that much?' 'How much stronger can I become with that?' Thoughts along those lines are probably running through their minds right now.
Spiritual energy, something they all need for more than just attacks and strengthening themselves. It is a crucial source of sustenance. Not to satiate a sense of hunger or thirst, but something more essential: Their very existence.
Without spiritual energy, they wouldn't even be alive right now.
Faith or belief are components for spiritual energy. Both of those are becoming less and less prominent with the rise of both quirks and knowledge of the world. Due to this, many resorted to overgorging on fear and negativity, stuffing themselves so full of them that they would even risk having it clash with their being.
I've presented myself as a fat sheep ready for slaughter, but now I've just show them that this sheep can kill them quite easily. A show of temptation and a show of dominance, The carrot and the stick. I gave them a message and now someone with enough intelligence to read it will appear.
And just as I expected, not even a full moment later there was someone who took the seat next to me.
They were tall, thin and narrow, so much so that they were able to flutter in the air as they exude an ethereal presence, or it would be if their famed milky-white skin and silky smooth skin didn't appear so torn and yellowed.
Ittan Momen, a kind of Tsukomogami who's origin came from a simple roll of cloth.
Ittan Momen are beings that typically fly through the sky at night and attack their victims by wrapping their bodies around the head and suffocating them. The more cruel individuals would prolong the suffering by letting their victims breath everywhere so slightly.
"Quite a display you just showed us." He began. "The name's Suneo, just Suneo. The guy you just knocked out was Dick Bottoms, no one really get along with that guy unlike his brother Nick so I wouldn't worry about retaliation from him."
"Is that so? It didn't really seem that way earlier..." I purposely made the ice clink. "Quite bold of you to assume that I'd be worried about retaliation."
His nervousness couldn't be hidden from my senses but he hid it well from the naked eye. "Haha, don't take that the wrong way, Sir. The people here just aren't used to seeing a new face, especially one as articulate as yours. And if I be so bold, can I ask to know your name?"
A name, huh? Even if it's just a fake name, I shouldn't be careless tying an identity to my existence.
Hm... "Reona (令王那)"
A shiver past by those who were listening in. A few gulped in apprehension at what they think I wanted it to imply but the rest of the bar kept mum as the Ittan Momen spoke.
"Reona, what an outstanding name! Truly befitting someone such as yourself!" Say what you will, the confusion coming off of you is palpable. I intentionally made it confusing and vague to give myself room for interpretation. "Dare I ask what business do you have here, Lord Reona?"
"...You really are quite daring, aren't you Suneo?" The bar froze in tension like a coiled snake facing an unstoppable predator. Slowly, I leaked my energy and willed it to burden the very air.
Because to them, I might really be one.
Faint wrinkles appeared on his cloth body, a sign of his nervousness as he tried to backpedal. "N-no, of course not! Apologies if I overstepped but I was genuinely just curious! Please don't assume that you are obligated to indulge in my questions!"
"Sitting next to me, making assumptions that I'd fear retaliation from some riffraff, directly asking my name and acting as if we are friends... Quite presumptuous of you, Suneo..." The wrinkles increased with each word I've spoken. He looked as if he was ready to prostate himself before me. "Tell me. How should I address all your transgressions?"
"I- I-"
"THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT WITH YO-" I shut that one down quickly with another Danmaku. He was pretty big, and loud, with an even bigger head... A shark's head.
"Anyone else?" Looks like they that one more Danmaku as a wake-up call. Some beings like that shark-head probably taught it was all some vice-induced dream. "Well? You're fourth offense is making me wait. Answer me, you worm."
Despite the mounting pressure of the crushing force, he jumped from his seat and harshly basked his head to the floor, prostrating himself at my feet.
"MY MOST SINCERE APOLOGIES, LORD REONA! IF YOU COULD, PLEASE FIND IT WITHIN YOUR HEART TO FORGIVE THIS LOWLY THING!"
"Hm..." I let his question hang in the air. The only sounds are the continued clinking from my glass.
After a few breaths, I figured that this much pressure should be enough as a show of force. "Fine." I took back my energy and the pressure disappeared. Everyone seemed to relax at it's absence, especially Suneo who was at point-blank range.
Suneo blabbered a multitude of 'thank you' and variants of 'wont happen again', making a further spectacle of himself. But just as he was about to excuse himself and leave, I called him back.
"Wait." He flinched. "Who permitted you to leave? Just because I have overlooked your offenses does not mean we are done here."
Timidly, --and possibly holding back tears-- Suneo kneeled back on the floor.
"You were curious about my affairs, were you not? Then be honoured, I shall grant you the opportunity to earn your fare by sating by curiosity." His expression brightened considerably at the mention of good pay. Truly, money talks.
"By all means, I'll do my utmost!" Great, from the looks of jealousy from the others, they are going to ignite the competition to earn their slice of the cake.
I began asking a few offhanded questions, of which are far from what I needed but are enough to illude people of my goal. I painted myself as a powerful and rich being, one that has lived a cloistered life for the most part. With a metaphorical disguise that made me seem like a curious individual out to experience the world for the first time in a long while, I kept asking question after questions that trailed and branched numerously, hiding the question I needed answered scattered along the lines.
Somewhere along the line, other beings that were listening occasionally placed their own input when Suneo proved his knowledge insufficient which made the conversation more deluded as a whole.
At the end, I was satisfied with what I've gathered, no matter how little it was. Information gathering isn't something to be done in one place after all.
Nodding my head once to show that I accepted their words for now, I lightly waved a hand and spiritual energy was injected into those that provided answers, even the barkeep for the drink I never drank.
While the beings that had a sudden spike in energy reserves were basking in their windfall, I stood up from my seat and discreetly left the seedy bar.
Now I just have to repeat this formula and get info from other places while spreading my name.
The night is still young, being only half past midnight, plenty of time left to prowl other areas.