“Ivak, sometimes you need to just let loose. Come on, don’t hold back,” he said.
“Dun… dun… dun… haha, I’ll tell you… Ivak, I only get to act like this here… dun dun…”
“I understand, I get it, I get it,” Ivak replied patiently.
“Why can’t you… buy me some better alcohol? This… this stuff… you serve me… dun dun dun… don’t you find it embarrassing?”
“I’m frugal with money. Besides, you’re someone who doesn’t drink often—why be so picky?”
“…Isn’t even a tiny bit of your money mine too?!”
“Sir, please, do not shout this loudly in the tavern,” Rakya admonished.
“…It’s getting late, Miss Kasa.” Ivak glanced at the time. “We have things during the day. You need to get some sleep tonight.”
“Hah?” Kasa tipped the last drop from the fourth sake bottle into her cup. “Actually, it’s you who can’t handle it, right!?”
Ivak watched her flushed face silently.
Reese had long since fallen asleep leaning against Ivak… Ivak had cast a sound-blocking spell so Reese wouldn’t be woken by the tipsy Kasa.
“…Fine, it’s me, I can’t handle it. Miss Kasa, you have a tremendous tolerance,” Ivak smiled. “But it really is late.”
Kasa shook her head. “…Alright, alright. I’ll let it slide today. We’ll drink again another time.”
She grabbed her coat and wobbled to stand.
Ivak looked at her in confusion as she slipped on the coat and moved toward the door—
“Miss Kasa, you haven’t paid yet.” Ivak called out, noticing her stride implied she planned to leave without settling the bill.
Kasa turned, puzzled. “What did you say?”
“You haven’t paid yet,” Ivak repeated.
Her eyes widened. “Isn’t that your job?”
Ivak pushed his slipping glasses up. “Wait… isn’t it your responsibility to pay, Miss Kasa?”
For a full two minutes, the two stared at each other.
Kasa spoke first: “…I came out in my crow demon form and only shifted to human shape. Do you think I carry money on me?”
Ivak’s expression remained blank. “And do you think… Reese and I just barely escaped from heaven and, with my work… cough… can carry any money on us?”
Kasa’s flushed face twitched, and her gaze slowly moved from Ivak to Reese.
Ivak blocked Reese with his hand. “Hey.”
Kasa looked away—now the tavern was empty except for their table. The other tables had been cleared, the young waiter and other staff had left, leaving only the front desk girl and one late-night server finishing her own snack far enough away not to overhear.
“So… what do we do?” Kasa returned to her chair.
Ivak shrugged. “At this point, we have to put it on the tab. I could sneak away with some magic, but I don’t want to leave that impression on the mortal world on my first visit.”
Kasa frowned—she’d seen Reese work part-time and knew how hard humans worked in a shop. So she didn’t insist on using any special means to run away. “Fine. You handle the accounting then.”
Ivak looked surprised. “Shouldn’t it go on your tab, Miss Kasa?”
Kasa’s eyes widened. “Why should it? What’s with that look of entitlement?”
Ivak mirrored her expression. “Isn’t it entitled? You suddenly attacked us, so we deserve compensation… right?”
Kasa choked for a moment, then looked up. “…You bastard.”
Ivak chuckled. “Fine, fine… Since you’re upset, we’ll put it on the tab and split it later. That’s fair, right?”
Kasa reluctantly agreed. Ivak woke Reese, and the three moved to the front desk.
“Thank you for dining at our tavern. Your total is 12,220 yen” said the front-desk girl, clearly tired but keeping a professional demeanor.
Kasa froze. “Why is it so expensive?”
The girl blinked. “It’s normal, sir. One bottle of signature sake is 1,200 yen; you drank eight bottles—9,600 yen. Three exclusive side dishes at 500 yen each—1,500 yen. Milk, 220 yen. Seat fee for three, 900 yen. Total: 12,220 yen.”
The price was indeed normal. Why so high? Because it was signature sake—not cheap, low-quality alcohol.
“…Ugh.” Kasa fell silent, regretting drinking so much. She looked at Ivak. “Why did you drink so much?”
Ivak smiled wryly. “Miss Kasa insisted we toast together. I couldn’t refuse.”
Kasa stomped her foot, fuming.
The front-desk girl looked puzzled at the trio.
Finally, Kasa took a deep breath and spoke normally: “We forgot our money. Can we put it on the tab for now?”
The girl paused, glancing at the slightly older late-night server. The server sighed and walked toward the back, not clearing the table.
“…We do offer tabs, but only to regulars. This is your first time here—you can’t put it on credit,” she said, panicking slightly.
“Next time, it’ll be fine. We’re not running away,” Kasa said, grabbing her head.
The girl, noticing they didn’t look local, shook her head.
“Then, Ivak, you speak,” Kasa said.
Ivak sighed, pat Reese, and stepped forward. “Miss, really… we truly forgot our money. We’re sorry—it’s unavoidable.”
“…Ugh.” The girl, swayed by Ivak’s polite tone, faltered and shook her head.
“Ugh! We literally have no money! What can we do?” Kasa exclaimed, nudging Ivak.
“…Well… ugh…” The girl, young and unaccustomed to such bold patrons, was flustered.
Then, a voice came from the back:
“Which guest wants to enjoy a free meal service, meow?”
At first, it sounded like a 13–14-year-old girl, but her aura was unmistakably experienced, carrying a subtle deadly edge that made Ivak and Kasa instantly alert—this one was no ordinary kid.
They turned toward the back curtain. The late-night server bowed slightly and stepped aside.
The curtain slowly lifted, revealing a small girl.
She was petite, under 1.5 meters, holding a delicate long-handled copper pipe. She wore a loose blue floral kimono with a messy sash. Bare feet peeked from beneath the kimono. Her hair gradient—from gray roots to white tips—fell over her chest and back, contrasting sharply with piercing blue eyes.
A slightly upturned nose softened her cold gaze, making her appear cute. Her lips curved slightly, but she gave no smile. Smoke drifted from her pipe.
Kasa and Ivak were stunned.
The girl, noticing the trio, initially tensed but her deadly aura vanished, replaced by surprise.
“Manager… these three guests forgot to bring money and insisted on credit…” the front-desk girl finally said, relief in her voice.
The manager waved. “I know, meow. It’s late now. Yuka, take Kozue to rest. I’ll handle this, meow.”
Yuka led the front-desk girl away.
The manager silently walked past Ivak and the others, closing the door behind her.
“…I didn’t expect this was your tavern, Tite—”
“Shut it, meow!” the manager snapped.
“I don’t go by that name anymore, meow.”
Ivak fell silent. Kasa was sweating, clearly uncomfortable. Reese looked curious.
The manager slowly puffed her pipe: “My name is now Rakya Tanuki, meow.”
“Oh… Miss Tanuki, long time no see. Didn’t expect this was your tavern,” Ivak said. “Sorry, we really didn’t bring money…”
“No worries, meow,” Rakya sat, pulling a chair. “I’m more curious why you’re here, and who those two are, meow.”
“Well… may I sit?”
“No need to be so polite, Mr. Vuraen, meow,” Rakya smirked. “As for the other two, I’ll let you introduce them first, meow.”
“Please don’t call me that,” Ivak rubbed his forehead, then patted Reese. “This is like a family—Reese, a dragon from the Andrew branch.”
“Oh.” Rakya nodded. “Then sit, it’s fine, meow. And this one?”
“…I apologize for the trouble, Former Cat Demon Clan Leader,” Kasa said.
“Hey!?” Rakya laughed, confused. “It’s just a meal, meow. But don’t call me that; I stepped down long ago, meow.”
Kasa wiped sweat from her brow.
“No need to panic, little crow. I won’t bite,” Rakya smiled.
“…Mm.” Kasa bowed her head. “…Former Crow Demon Warrior Leader, Kora Kasa.”
“Oh? Kora Kasa… is the little crow of Lady Naliena?” Rakya’s eyes widened. “Why so formal? Sit, sit.”
“You know Lady Naliena?” Kasa asked.
“Of course, meow. She mentioned you often, so I know your name,” Rakya laughed. “If you didn’t know me… Naliena never shared my info. True to her word, meow.”
“Oh… why did you come to the mortal world to open a tavern?” Kasa asked.
“No particular reason, meow,” Rakya replied. “I was tired of being a clan leader and decided to run a tavern. Much easier.”