As I was just sitting there thinking to myself, I noticed some guy that looked like he might be the barkeep glaring at me. It looked like not drinking would draw attention, I guess.

“Give me a pint of whatever you’ve got.”

Nothing happened when I drank, anyway. I’d never been drunk in my life. I grabbed the pint and went back to watching the match. A few moments later, I heard a commotion coming from behind me.

“Gulp . . . gulp! Aahhh! Come on, finish your drink already!”

Someone sounded like they were in good spirits.

“Gulp . . . I’m not finished yet!”

I could hear onlookers oohing and aahing excitedly. Whatever it was, it seemed just about as lively as the match itself. I turned around to look and there was a group of people gathered around in a circle clapping and calling out, “Chug it! Chug it!”

“Nnn . . . Not bad, eh?! Ugh . . .”

And then a loud slam echoed out, followed by applause.

“Aww! The competition is weak, as usual! Is there no one here that can give a gal a run for her money?”

The voice I heard had a slightly provocative tone to it.

“There’s no way anyone could beat Nadia!” someone’s voice rang out.

“Yeah! Exactly!”

“Boy oh boy, that was quite the performance!”

“There you have it! I’ll be taking this money, boys. Oh, and the drinks are on you!” Nadia replied to the crowd’s cheers.

They finished the exchange and the crowd dispersed, carrying away the loser with them. What a petty game. I’d never understand what people found appealing about drinking contests. I had gone back to watching the match, still thinking about such absurdity, when I heard a voice that sounded like the woman from the drinking contest.

“Oh? Here’s a new face. First time here? You don’t look like you’re having much fun now, do you?”

I glanced in her direction without moving. Standing there was a beautiful woman that had a Japanese air about her. She had long black hair, and her skin and facial features were on par with Raphtalia. She was in her mid-twenties, maybe. Her hair and skin reminded me of Glass, but there was something different about her, too. Glass’s facial features and expression gave off an air of seriousness and grace, but not this woman. She looked more like . . . the cheerful, big sister type.

A human? No . . . Her arms and legs were black. Almost like they were wrapped in rubber. She was pretty much half-naked with the clothes she had on. Her chest was wrapped in sarashi cloth under a vest, and around her waist was a . . . I guess you’d call it a fauld? Depending on how you looked at it, you might call it a loincloth. She had a harpoon strapped to her back.