After we finished killing the Rockworm, we returned to the city and went to the mayor's mansion to report the incident, and after confirming the facts, we received our reward.

Glenn and Cecilia were also present at the report.
After receiving the reward, I was invited to a bar by Glenn.
I wondered what was so sad that I had to drink with this man, but I thought it would not be a bad idea to listen to someone with different values for the sake of learning later, so I accepted the invitation.

Then I went to the tavern and had a chat with him.
At Glenn's request, we parted ways with the women, including Cecilia, and talked about drinking with just the two men.

The bar that Glenn invited us to was one of the most expensive bars in the mining city of Novan, and Glenn ordered an astonishing amount of the most expensive food and drinks on the menu.
Even though there were only two of us, we ordered so much food that it filled a table for four.

I, on the other hand, just ordered a few drinks and some light snacks.
Seeing this, Glenn muttered, 'I don't like it when a man of your stature shows such smallness,' while he went on munching away at his food and drinks.

In the midst of this, Glenn and I had a conversation.
We talked about many things.
One of them, for example, went something like this.

'William, have you eaten any of those three women yet?

Glenn asks me as he devours a steak.
I think he means Satsuki, Mee and Cyril by those three.
I reply, feeling a little uncomfortable.

'I understand what you're saying, but first of all, stop using the word 'eat'. It's disrespectful to women.'

'You're being so nit-picky about something that doesn't matter. So, what do you think? You're not holding anyone?

'Yes, that's right. And I don't intend to do so in the future.

'So, you're a homos*xual? Just so you know, I have no intention of doing so.'

'No, I'm not. I have desires and aspirations for the opposite s*x, but they just don't match my goals. I still want to continue being an adventurer.

'Why don't you embrace it and continue? What's the problem?

By the way, this man seems to be having an affair with Cecilia. ...... If you go into that area too deeply, you'll hear even more unpleasant things.
I'll avoid leading the conversation in that direction, and move it in another direction.

'You seem to think that it's natural to seek physical contact with the opposite s*x if you find them attractive, but I don't think so. We're all human beings, and the most important thing is to respect each other.

'It is the natural order of things for a man to want to hold a good woman. A powerful man will embrace a beautiful woman. Women also want to be embraced by strong men. What's the problem?'

'The problem is you're expanding the subject. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do, and if there are women out there who like you, you can't deny that. But no matter how powerful you are, there are still many people who find you offensive. Don't trample on the dignity of others.

'Respect, dignity, all those fancy words. But, I don't know if you're mistaken, but I've never forced myself on a woman who didn't want to be with me. I don't know how many women I've slept with, hino, funo, mino ......, but all of them have done it because they wanted to. Does that mean I've violated their dignity?

'No, that's fine. If that's true, then I may have misjudged you a bit. But what about all those women you said you've interacted with in the past?

'Oh, I didn't like ...... them anymore, so I gave them enough money and broke up with them. The persistent ones would have backed off if you'd threatened to punch a wall around them.

'...... I take back what I said. I don't think I'm going to be able to tolerate you.'

'Wait, wait, don't look at me like that. You don't have a choice. It's not that I didn't love you from the start. It's just that feelings change.'

'...... I see. I'm not in a position to blame you for that either.'

'Oh, that sounds like an interesting story. Let's hear it.'

Glenn leans forward.
I look around to make sure that Satsuki and the others are not there.

'...... No, it's nothing interesting. It's just that Satsuki, Cyril, or even Mee, their charms sometimes move me. It may be difficult for a man to love one person of the opposite s*x all the time.

'Hahaha, "for a man". You're making the subject bigger than it should be.

'Mmm......, well... You're right. That was a miscommunication.

'Yuck ......, but I feel a little better. Even if you're the kind of person who walks around with a beautiful dress on, you're still a human being.

'You know, Cecilia said something similar about beautiful people wearing clothes. But I'm not like that. I'm more selfish. ...... Still, I think I'm about a hundred times better than you.

'Selfish, you say. What's the fun in life if you don't do what you want? I don't understand people like you who live their lives with ethics and morals strapped to them.

'You have a point. But when it goes too far, like yours, it's a problem. And that kind of person is excluded from society. I'll tell you right now, if a few gears had shifted, I'd have tried to wipe you off the face of the earth.'

'Oh, that's scary. I thought you were a flower garden in your head, but you're more of a realist than I thought. Now I see.'

'Yeah. I'm not foolish enough to think that idealism alone can solve all problems. But I'm also relieved that it won't come to that. I really don't want to get my hands dirty if I can help it.

'I see. You're funny. You've earned my trust.'

'I see.

And so the conversation proceeded in this fashion.

There were some fresh discoveries in the dialogue with someone whose values were very different from mine.
However, it also reaffirmed our understanding that we do not understand each other.

After talking for about two hours, the meeting came to an end and Glen and I parted ways.
We didn't feel any particular emotion towards each other, and I just said 'Yeah' to Glenn as he said 'See you' and left outside the bar.



Then I headed for the meeting place with Satsuki and the three others.
Then, at the meeting place, in front of the fountain, there were three people with worried faces.

'Will, are you okay?

Satsuki came running up to me and said so.
But as for me, I can only tilt my head.

'...... What do you mean, you're okay?

'No, it's just that ...... the thought of William drinking alone with that animal made me worry about a lot of things. ......'

'It would have been better if Mee and the others had stopped him first. I'm glad to hear you're okay.

I didn't get the point of Cyril and Mee's story.
Well, I guess it's nothing to worry about.

Anyway...

'Well, Will. Now it's our turn.

Satsuki took my hand and pulled me along.
Cyril and Mee are walking ahead of me, leading me in a certain direction.

'Wait, what do you mean it's your turn...'

Even though I said that, I just kind of wandered along with them as they led me.
I had been drinking with Glenn, so I was a bit drunk myself.

Then, Mee, who was walking in front of me, turned around and smiled at me.

'Have you forgotten already, William? Mee said. 'When this adventure is over, Mee and her friends are going to play too.

'Oh, ......'.

I seem to remember there being a story about that.
But what is the game? .......

However, as Satsuki pulled me along, I had no particular motive or intention to resist, so I followed their lead and walked under the sunset sky of the city of Novan.