I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

They reappeared in the Bar room, Merthy's gaze lingering on Raph for a moment before walking up to the counter.

Azby clicked her tongue in disappointment on getting to the counter as her gaze was focused on her three teammates, and a scowl grew on her face.

"Did they seriously get drunk?!" She asked out loud in annoyance as she banged her fist on a sleeping Rodrick. The man looked up at her with woozy eyes and then at Raph before jumping up suddenly.

"Yo…Ka-Kael….You don't trust me~?! Y~our buddy!?!" His voice was twisted into a drunken slur while he struggled to get to him.

At that moment, Azby glanced at Harry, who chuckled while he served Merthy a glass of her favourite wine.

"Why exactly did you give them alcohol? We don't even have the money to pay". Azby asked with a stern expression on her face as she grabbed Rodrick by the collar.

"They seemed out of it, so I decided to give them some drinks to cheer them up. Don't worry about the bill, it's on the house". He said with a smirk while Merthy chugged down her flaws and slammed it on the counter.

Her gaze went up to Harry's, and they seemed to have some sort of mind conversation as Harry sighed a few seconds later.

He glanced at Raph and Elsie, and his expression grew wary.

"It seems we have important guests. We should get you to the inn" he said, his gaze shifting towards Merthy.

Raph raised a brow at first, a questionable one at that. It seemed Merthy had trusted Harry enough with his secret. 'Well….you guys will be the ones getting tortured for the information on me anyways'. He concluded before glancing at Azby.

"You have them under control right?" He asked.

She sighed, then nodded. "This isn't the first time they've gotten drunk. Don't worry about it". She replied.

Raph nodded in approvement, but then his thoughts reeled in at that moment. "Are you staying? You really don't have to….and you wouldn't be paid for your stay either".

Azby sighed on hearing his question while Merthy and Harry glanced at her, perhaps in anticipation of her reply.

Elsie simply walked up to one of the chairs to get a seat, after all, she wasn't exactly needed in their conversation. She had played a third party all this while, and simply observed and watched. Leaving things to her future husband seemed like a luxury for her, and she wanted to enjoy the benefits of not involving herself directly…..unless required to.

"Well, for starters….we have other jobs waiting for us back at the Styl Village and that….plan of yours". She glanced at him and then offered him a genuine smile. "It seems like you unconsciously decided to gather allies".

Raph blinked a couple of times before sighing. 'Yeah…she's right. I decided, on a whim, that having allies would be necessary in case the King called an army for us….but I did have a backup plan'.

Though he never mentioned them much, because of their inconspicuous nature in handling their affairs.

The Northern Army, which was dealing with the gate openings at the moment, were more than enough to deal a fatal blow to the Imperial Army.

'...that I am absolutely sure of'.

"Well, we are all of the same mind. Dealing with a common enemy is natural for humans". He said.

Azby chuckled, then glanced at her teammates. "I'm honoured you trusted me enough to let me know your secret" She glanced at Elsie soon after. "...and Of course, you too….um, Ryla" she added. "....but This is way beyond us and our current abilities….so if we even had an inkling of a thought in joining you, then we must get stronger".

Raph's smile widened a little as he nodded in satisfaction. "Well, that's a good decision. You're the team captain for a reason".

"Alright then, I'll take you to your rooms…and first thing tomorrow morning. You'll be given a tour carriage and your pay before heading off". Merthy said.

Azby gave a curt bow and said. "Thank you".

"It's all good…none of this should have happened anyway".

She dropped her glass and walked over to them while pointing towards the left.

"Come with me".

They followed her quietly towards the left of the bar room, which led to a stairway.

They climbed up to the top and as they walked into the corridor, the atmosphere around them warped, changing space and their location once again.

Raph couldn't help but be impressed by her abilities as he observed their new surroundings.

They were now in a corridor, which contained a long row of doors, arranged symmetrically, one after the other.

Merthy glanced at Azby, and then at the drunk members of her team.

"Separate rooms?"

Azby nodded in reply, and Merthy pointed to a door by her left. "This for the men on your team, and the opposite for you and the drunk girl". She instructed and took some steps forward. "Come with," she said without waiting for a response.

Raph and Elsie glanced at each other for a moment before walking after her.

"guess..this is goodbye", Raph said to Azby just before he walked away. "We won't be seeing you in the morning"

Azby giggled a little. "It is a wonder we made it this far, but yes, this will be where we say our goodbyes".

Raph glanced at Rodrick and the others and a slight smile formed on his face.

"Give them my greetings when they wake up".

Azby nodded in reply as he walked away.

Soon, the sound of a door opening and closing echoed as he got to Merthy and Elsie, who seemed busy having a conversation about something important.

Merthy glanced at Raph the moment he crossed her field of vision with a look of disgust.

"What?!" Raph asked with a raised brow as he glanced at Elsie. Her innocent expression, with the smirk that played on her lips and the wagging of her tail, gave off the answer, though.

"...It's Not what you think,", he said while face-palming himself.

Merthy's disgusted gaze lingered, but she shifted her attention to Elsie now. "Maybe it is done that way in your tribe but in here, we don't do it that way".

Elsie shook her head. "it's only natural that a husband and wife share the same room. Don't make such a big deal out of it".

Merthy was left taken back and shifted his attention to Raph. "Have you put a ring on it?"

"I'm 15!" He cried out in protest with a startled tone in his voice.

Elsie giggled while Merthy sighed.

"look here, um, Ryla? Look….we can't let you two stay in the same room. It isn't proper".

"....I don't see how that's any of your concern. I feel it'll be best for us to decide for ourselves, no?"

Elsie's tone had come off sharp, and venomous, something Raph hardly ever saw.

'Now that I think about it….I don't know much about Her'. He thought while Merthy sighed in defeat.

"Fine! Do what you want! The rooms come with baths so just get in if you want to…everything else you would need is also located there….you can check the drawers and tables, and you should find it".

Her voice faded away as she walked and gave her instructions to the duo while leaving them to their own business.

The last thing she wanted was to start an argument with a werewolf from the Darkpelt tribe. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

Raph chuckled lightly while he opened the door, and Elsie followed soon after.

"You really don't mind?" He asked as the magic lamps turned on automatically at their entrance.

Elsie shook her head with her tail wagging behind her.

"Why would I?"

Raph sighed in defeat and, instead of trying to talk her out of it, decided to accommodate her and make things less embarrassing for the both of them.

When the room lit on, Raph's gaze scanned the interior, as a satisfied expression exuded from his face. If he had a method of rating the room, then he would give it a 7 out of 10, not because it seemed expensive, but mostly because of how comfortable it seemed.

There was a medium-sized bed placed in the middle of the room, with two drawers at the side.

A window of Oakwood, and intricate carpentry designs laid at the sides of the room. He found this intriguing because these windows were at every corner, almost as if there weren't neighbouring rooms next to his.

It made him phantom the abilities of Ziza's psychic ability and her skills that enabled her to create such a vast space.

Four magical lamps illuminated the room, like the radiant sun, bringing life into the interior mahogany walls and ground that sprung to life with their entrance.

By the far left was another door which most likely led to the bathroom, and in front of the bed was a round wooden table, comfortably placed with three pillow cushions around it.

'How…comfortable'. He thought before slumping on the bed with a heavy sigh.

He glanced at Elsie, who jumped next to him on the bed, her gaze lingering on his, and a moment of tense silence grew between them.