"This is the gear you made for me?"
Zeri pinched a plain, ugly-looking vest between two fingers, the disgust on her face impossible to hide.
Today was the Last Drop's weekly day off. On this day, the tavern closed for business, and the Firelights gathered there to drink, play, and enjoy one of the few breaks from the Undercity's miserable daily grind.
Naturally, everyone in the Firelights saw the strange-looking piece of clothing too. Quite a few even laughed out loud, making Zeri's already dark expression turn bright red.
"I'm not wearing it! It's way too ugly!"
"It may be ugly, but it can help suppress that surging energy of yours so you don't overload again… And it's not that ugly, is it?"
"Yeah, greenie. It really suits your style~"
Jinx, who never missed a chance to enjoy the chaos, laughed and teased Zeri, instantly breaking the green-haired girl's composure.
"It's ugly! It's so ugly! I'm not wearing it!"
Zeri threw the vest onto the table and rolled around on it like a child throwing a tantrum.
"Not wearing it, not wearing it, not wearing it…"
Van looked at Zeri's shameless display, both annoyed and amused.
"If you don't wear it, then you can't run around outside. You'll have to stay here in the tavern. Next step, I'll find a chain and tie you to the door."
"I'd rather never go outside again than wear something this ugly!"
"Is it really that ugly?"
"It's obviously hideous!"
Van looked around and, sure enough, saw everyone trying not to laugh. Only honest Scar nodded with a complicated expression.
"Hmm… Fine. The important part is the device built into the vest. You can ask a tailor to change it into another style."
"But I don't have money…"
Ever since Zeri's last "overload" had nearly destroyed half a street, almost all her savings had gone into compensation. She even owed Van quite a lot of wages. After all, the damage she caused was so huge that even if she sold herself down to the last scrap, she still could not pay it back.
Now she worked in the tavern without wages purely to repay her debt. If the tavern had not included meals, Zeri would have starved to death by now.
"I'll pay for it. You don't need to pay me back."
"That's great! Boss, you're so good to me!"
Zeri sprang up in delight.
"Can I design the style myself?"
"Go talk to the tailor yourself."
Van smiled, tossed the suppression vest into Zeri's hands, then had people bring out the alcohol and start handing drinks around.
It was only ordinary beer, but at least there was enough for everyone. These young people could drink one after another, and the Last Drop was not exactly wealthy enough to survive a full free-for-all every week.
As the tavern gradually grew lively, filled with noisy shouts and the sounds of play, Van smoked one drag at a time. He did not join in, but he enjoyed this moment all the same.
"Scar, come here."
Scar had been drinking with Ekko and the others. Hearing Van call him, he quickly put down his cup and walked over.
"What is it, boss?"
"Take this. Go buy a few things for your home, or fix the place up a little. Don't let your woman and child live too poorly."
Van took a bulging little pouch from under the bar and handed it to Scar. From the feel through the pouch and the crisp clinking inside, Scar already guessed what it was.
"This… Boss, I can't…"
Van raised a hand and cut him off.
"It's not just you. Everyone here has money set aside for their future. It isn't much, but it's enough for an emergency or for starting a household."
Van's gaze swept across the tavern. One young face after another surfaced in his mind, and he could still clearly remember what these kids had looked like when they were younger and even greener.
"You're just the first to receive yours."
"I…"
Scar looked at the pouch in his hand. His lips moved, but he did not know what to say. Van simply patted him on the shoulder.
"You don't need to feel indebted. This is my responsibility to all of you. What you need to do is pass that responsibility on. Treat your family well. Put them first. The world is huge, and it will keep turning no matter who disappears, but they only have you."
…
…
"Boss… do I have one too? Hehe."
Scar was a little stiff and seemed to want to say something, but he could not get it out even after a long while. Van simply cut him off before he could struggle any longer and sent him back to drink. As soon as Scar left, Zeri popped up from who knew where.
"You did. Then you blew it all up."
"Ah?! Nooo…"
Van casually teased the green-haired girl and felt much better watching her beat her chest in despair.
Instead of returning to the others, Van walked out the tavern's back door and headed to the small chapel not far from the Last Drop.
The chapel was not large. It could only hold a few dozen people, and the decorations were very simple. Aside from a fine carved-and-painted image of Janna at the center, there were only a few rows of chairs.
Van had paid for it himself. Everyone in the Lanes knew their leader, Torvan, was a devout believer in Janna, and quite a few people had followed his example and begun worshiping her too.
So Van no longer prayed quietly in the basement. Instead, he had built a small chapel beside the tavern for everyone's daily prayers. It was not for gaining more believers. He was no missionary. It was enough for him to be devout himself.
It was already late at night. Van came to the chapel alone and sat in the first row. Above Janna's portrait hung a dim incandescent light, making the white-haired, spirit-like girl look even more hazy and beautiful.
Van slowly closed his eyes, took off the bluebird pendant, and held it in his hand, praying in silence.
Only when he sat here, facing Janna, could he feel that unique stillness and peace in his heart.
"Why are you here alone again?"
Van, who had been deep in prayer, suddenly felt someone wrap her arms around his neck from behind. Jinx had appeared in the second row at some point and rested her head on his shoulder.
"For this kind of thing, it's easier to settle your mind when you're alone."
Van put the bluebird pendant back around his neck and sighed softly.
"How do you always show up out of nowhere?"
"I saw you were gone, so I knew you'd come here."
"Hmm…"
Jinx rested against Van's shoulder, her fingers lightly drawing circles on his face.
"What are you thinking about? You've looked worried all night."
"Have I?"
"Others might not notice, but I can."
"I just have things on my mind."
Jinx frowned and asked tentatively.
"It's not really because of that topside girl, is it? Do you like her?"
"Ha… You believe those baseless rumors too? Do I look like someone who would worry over something like that?"
"Don't you?"
Jinx tugged the bluebird pendant up from Van's chest, held it in her hand, and shook it in front of him.
"Haha…"
Van smiled, took the pendant back from Jinx, and set it properly against his chest.
"It really isn't because of that… It's complicated. When it's time to tell you, I will."
[End of chapter]