Music.
There was a faint music coming from just beyond the mess of water slides and the overgrown fauna that slithered its way into the wet and dark portions of the waterpark.
Ferris sliced his way through the overgrown mess, and quietly got closer to the source of the sound.
Eventually, he found an opening that allowed him to discreetly take a peek at what was going on.
What are they up to. Ferris's eyes looked through the opening and saw something he didn't expect.
A pool party!
There were nearly a hundred villains gathered around the massive pool, the area swallowed by thick, encroaching nature.
It was a complete cesspit. Ferris saw everything, including drug usage, alcohol, and other unholy acts of homo sapiens.
Ferris felt a mix of disgust and pity.
These people were practically unprepared for an attack, it's as if they were living in their own dimension and ignored the fact that they were having a villain exam.
Unless.
If the proctors considered being crazy and drunk a good representation of a villain, then these guys would pass with flying colors.
But there was no way that the faction that owned the shattered sword emblem would allow the weak to serve them.
These guys will get slaughtered if Elizabeth gets here.
Ferris pitied them greatly, but didn't feel sorrow, far from it.
He continued peeping at them and immediately saw the hierarchy that was established there. The higher-ranking people would get to go into the pool and get surrounded by beautiful women, and the rest got to do whatever they wanted around the pool.
Feeling their essence proved Ferris right.
There was a much higher concentration of essence in the pool.
But it wasn't enough to even concern Ferris.
I'm shirtless, so I guess I'll blend in nicely. But the problem is.
Ferris saw the bandage around his wound, and the makeshift arm sling Judas created using Ferris's discarded clothes. This was clearly a mark of weakness and defeat.
He peeped at the cesspit again, and noticed that a lot of the people inside carried various weapons that either complemented their blessings or simply increased their attack power.
People like them only care about violence and domination.
That's something I can easily do to them.
Ferris looked back to Judas. He looked quite meek on the outside and an easy target for bullies.
There's no way I'll leave him here.
"Just stick close to me and you'll be fine," Ferris said to Judas.
"W-wait, we're actually gonna go join them?" Judas became nervous for a bit.
Ferris shrugged.
"It'll be temporary, just act tough while we investigate them for a bit."
Ferris's lack of concern proved to be terrifying for Judas to digest, but Judas agreed in the end.
The two made their way inside the pool party, and they were largely ignored by the villains there.
And if something went wrong like whenever a villain looked at him the wrong way, Ferris would gaze at them back, prompting the villain to falter and give up.
After a bit of exploring around the area and avoiding the no-no zones, the two heard nothing important that could give the hero faction a clue on how to escape.
What did I expect in the first place... Ferris was disappointed after finding nothing.
Seeing their party more and more made Ferris doubt that they were even villains, but rather, just some unholy cult that knew only self-pleasure.
I'd rather come back to the time when I had to attend noble parties.
He remembered his past to cope with the present, but he became more pissed off.
At the front, those gatherings were meant to foster bonds between nations.
But to Ferris, they were nothing more than playgrounds for the rich, each host trying to one-up the other while treating the prophecy like an afterthought.
And worst of all—they were boring!
The only memory that stood out was Yaromech's endless attempts to spark scandal with the daughters of dukes. Once, he even came close to flirting with a princess.
I regret stopping him, Ferris thought, dying a little inside.
While daydreaming, he saw something in the distance, an open-area bar with a lot of drinkers.
Compared to the cesspit near the pool, that area was a lot more calm.
The villains there were much more seasoned and sharp, even if they were downing multiple shots.
Over there, Ferris could gain more insight into the current situation.
Before he entered the bar, his eyes spotted a neat container that stored various clothing.
Judging that no one was guarding them, they didn't seem to be important.
Swimwear? Ferris rummaged through the pile.
These are new. Ferris took out a nice polo shirt with cute sunflower designs that matched a vibrant beach.
Unsurprisingly, They still have their price tags attached. Ferris decided on wearing the polo shirt.
He also took out other clothes including a new pair of beach pants, sunglasses, and a hiking hat.
These are much better to move around in, the only drawback is the lack of armor. but it wasn't like I was wearing any in the first place.
Plus... Ferris turned around and did his best possible pose. It's a great disguise.
"What do you think?" Ferris asked Judas.
Just like what he did to Judas, Judas gave him the silent treatment, and he was greatly disturbed by Ferris's behavior.
"Back then... you were actually telling the truth that you had bipolarism?" Judas was becoming more and more concerned.
Seeing this, Ferris grabbed another hiking hat and threw it at Judas. "Wear this at least."
Judas pursed his lips, then wore it reluctantly.
Matched with the backpack he wore, Judas looked as if he was about to go on a camping trip in the mountains.
Ferris wasn't a fashionable person in the first place, and the new Ferris wasn't any better.
He was just going off on what looked right, and that was enough for him.
The two entered and sat on the bar.
A suited bartender was quietly wiping off the edge of a bottle.
This guy doesn't look like a villain. That was Ferris's first impression.
Instead of the degeneracy commonly emanated by villains, the bartender held an esteemed and controlled presence.
An actual bartender? Or is he simply good at hiding himself? Ferris stared at the bartender with a discerning look.
Noticing Ferris's gaze, the bartender made his way towards them.
"What can I make for you?" he said to Ferris in a polite tone.
"Only one drink is allowed per day." He reached under the counter, pulled out a glass bottle, and dropped a single spherical ice inside.
Then he clawed it on the rim with his fingers and stood still as he fixed his eyes at Ferris.
Ferris settled his palms on the counter and gave off a calm expression.
"Grape...
Juice..." he requested.
The bartender glared at Ferris for a brief moment before closing his eyes.
From his palms, a dark crimson liquid seeped forth, flowing into the glass until it brimmed with rich color. When it was done, he slid the drink forward and added a flimsy paper straw as an insult.
How evil... Ferris lampooned.
He grabbed the cold drink and brought it close to his nose for inspection. There's no poison.
Ferris took off the straw and took a sip, finding it to be actually amazing.
A blessing that makes various cocktails?
Or rather, a blessing that allows the creation of liquid, including poisoned ones.
But there's really nothing harmful I can taste or detect. It's just a well-made grape juice. Ferris downed the whole drink, which ticked off the bartender.
"It's a little strong, isn't it?" Ferris remarked.
"You didn't even savor the taste, the ice hasn't even melted yet," the bartender replied to Ferris's lack of etiquette.
Unfortunately, just as the bartender said, there was only a one-drink-per-day rule.
The bartender disregarded Ferris's presence and faced Judas. "And what would you like to have?"
"I would... like some orange juice."
. . .
The bartender was about to cry in pain, but he held steadfast and created the drink using his liquid-creation blessing.
"The good God has given me such a powerful blessing, but all these fools do is ask for strange things. Lord, forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing..." The bartender prayed as he presented the perfectly created beverage.
Judas hunched over to it, smiling. Perhaps getting up close with the villains was a nice way to get fresh drinks. "Thank you," he quietly said as he was about to grab the cold glass.
However, before he could even touch it, it was suddenly snatched away by someone behind him.
Ferris was the first to turn around to see who stole his comrade's drink.
A woman stood beside him, just as tall as Ferris himself. She had sunset hair, and she wore tight jeans that hugged her hips before flaring out near the ankles, while a simple button-up shirt clung to her frame. The top buttons were left undone, her cleavage on display.
It felt almost cliché, the sort of look designed to draw stares. Then again, heroes fought in the most ridiculous costumes imaginable, so why wouldn't a villain wear something equally unforgettable?
The woman gulped down the entire orange juice before slamming it on the counter.
Only then could Ferris finally see her face.
Emerald eyes and unconventional facial features that could attract almost anyone.
Evening?! Ferris screamed inside.
But deep inside, he wasn't surprised at the reveal.
"Who in their right minds would order juice in a bar?" Miss Evening laughed before curling her lips at Ferris.
Then, she drew uncomfortably close to Ferris's personal space. "Gosh, you didn't tell me you were a villain? So much for being a knight."
While the two were making deadly eye contact, Judas was too focused on his empty drink.