Academic gathering with a lich

Facing the commotion in the bar, the instigator showed complete indifference, his sturdy arms firmly grasping the succubus’s arm, no matter how pitiful Anna made herself look in pain.

"Mister, you really have the wrong person. I’m just a succubus," Anna said, devoid of her usual petulance, sweet as candy.

The surrounding crowd was restless but no one stepped forward to intervene.

From beneath the black hood, a deep voice as robust as his physique resonated.

"I’m just following orders, Your Highness. It’s time to go home."

"I told you, you have the wrong person. I’m not any ’Your Highness’!" The succubus, Anna, waved her arms in vain, but the grip was like an iron hoop.

The Demon Race pointed to the pendant at Anna’s chest.

"The emblem of Angelina, Queen of the War Messengers, a symbol of the identity of the War Demon Clan royalty."

"You’re mistaken, it was a gift from someone. I didn’t know it was so precious; I’ll give it back to you. That should settle it, right?"

"Talking is pointless, Your Highness. You need to go home. The king is waiting for you."

The Demon Race gradually exerted force, like a mountain starting to move, heading towards the exit, dragging the struggling Anna.

"She’s in trouble. Can you let go, you bastard?"

William’s palm grabbed the Demon Race, and it felt like grabbing an iron rod.

The Demon Race looked down at the diminutive William and shook his head.

"Meddler."

William was thrown, crashing into the bar with glass shattering and liquids splattering, turning the scene into chaos.

William had been ready; he had anticipated the attack. However, he had guessed something wrong. Whether it was the annoyed curse or the fist hitting his cheek, they all came from the succubus, Anna. Having not anticipated this, William was sent flying in a daze.

At the wrist that William had grabbed, the Demon Race smoothed the blade-like barbed scales, looking in William’s direction.

"Just like the princess said, don’t meddle in Demon Race affairs, human." Disregarding the interruption, the Demon Race continued towards the exit.

Grievance and confusion twisted into humiliation and rage, and William, stained with red wine, stood from behind the bar. He didn’t understand why Anna had done this, but he didn’t need reasons now. The accusatory voice stung his heart.

Magic, elements, is my fury.

"Meddling... haha... this meddling... I’ve got this!"

Third-order power, Chaos Creation.

Rocks flowed like slime, ice and fire burned together in William’s palm, the disordered elemental aura stirring unease in all magical creatures’ hearts, the raging elements venting William’s inner rage.

Two massive Elemental Creations stood before William, and amid the cacophony of the dust storm, William’s voice carried venom. "Every Bloody Rose employee has the duty to maintain order in the bar. Of course, I can do this."

The Lava Hound belched thunder, roaring at the Demon Race.

William had forgotten the rules of the City of Wandering; he just wanted to land a punch on that arrogant Demon.

The Demon Race released Anna’s arm.

"Insects are always the loudest ones," the Demon, his body covered with black scales like moving steel, slowly enveloped his pale gray skin. "When facing an unbeatable enemy, you need to learn to bow your head, pup."

"If your parents haven’t taught you, I might as well teach you."

The steel monster that was the Demon Race flexed its wrist, each step booming like a war drum. He slowly walked towards William, his presence suddenly turning dark and dreadful.

"I think what you said makes sense."

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out in the bar. In an instant, William’s Elemental Creations shattered into sand, returning to where they belonged. The aura of the War Demon Clan disappeared, and with a thud, the steel-transformed Demon knelt on the ground.

Cloaked in a purple robe, the Arcane Eye on his hood glimmered brightly. The enforcer lay casually on the guest sofa, his hidden face somber, his seemingly offhand words gaining weight in the ears of the audience as he displayed his power.

"I think your words make sense, Demon Race. So, I’ll have you put them into practice. After all, practice aids teaching, as is our custom among the Spellcasters. I hope you don’t mind, you did say, when you see someone stronger than yourself, to kneel, right, Winter?" said the brazen Spellcaster, looking at his companion.

"I don’t recall him saying anything so extreme, sir."

The War Demon Clan member struggled to raise his head, gazing at the Spellcaster.

"You’re provoking the War Demon Clan..."

"Huh?? Who do you think owns the City of Wandering? Are we, the Secret Pivot Council, without dignity? Are your War Demon Clan so hypocritical? It’s a good thing the Black Abyssal Demons and the Sin Demon Clan settled here..." The Spellcaster straightened up, looking at the kneeling Demon Race, "I’ve been failing in my recent research and am in a bad mood, so what I say next won’t be repeated."

"The City of Wandering is not a place for you to run wild, especially not you unregistered chaotic bastards. We do not welcome you here, take your leave, as far as possible," said the Spellcaster, snapping his fingers. A fiery red portal opened up next to the Demon Race, "Look how nice I am, opening the portal for you. Hell is on the other side, just go once I’m done talking."

The Demon Race stood up, and after a moment of silence, he looked at Anna.

"The King will come for you, Your Highness," said the Demon Race as he stepped through the portal.

This was not the end. In any race, power is always the absolute ruler. Those subjects, in the face of their monarch, must tread carefully, acting beneath the grand visage, just as they were now.

"Hey, blondie," the Spellcaster looked at William. "You work here, right?"

Was the punishment coming? William carefully maintained his composure, trying to appear insignificant.

"I am a janitor here, Your Excellency."

"Good, then bring me a drink."

"?????" Are you sick? A janitor mixing drinks? William cursed inwardly but smiled obsequiously, "Sir, I am a janitor, I don’t know how to mix drinks."

"Don’t you bar staff like to meddle? If you can enforce the law, such a small matter as making a drink should be nothing. Bring me a drink, any drink."

A composed bartender offered a helping hand. "Your Excellency, William truly doesn’t know how to mix drinks. Allow me, I assure you satisfaction."

"No, let the kid do it." The Sovereign had given his command, and it was to be obeyed by all.

Having no choice, William rummaged for a drink among the surviving stash at the bar.

He might as well try to find something tasty. Though that was his thought, William had no clue about mixing drinks, so his goal to find something tasty instead became finding something that looked good. Soon enough, he found a bottle of colorful and beautiful liquid in the cupboard. The prettier it looked, the tastier it must be, he guessed.

"William, that is..."

"Let him do it himself!" the Spellcaster interrupted the bartender’s hint once more, directing William, "Use the bottle in your hand."

Reluctantly, William began to mix the drink. The magic of the elements influenced the swaying bottle, causing the colorful liquid to separate under the influence of magic, pouring into the glass like a rainbow. Surprisingly, it didn’t look bad.

William carried the glass to the Spellcaster.

The Spellcaster studied William’s face.

"Kid, what is your name, your real name?"

"William Dolgette."

"Not a bad name," the Spellcaster commented without further words, raising the glass, "Looks tasty, well done, William." He downed it in one gulp.

Crack, the empty glass crumbled in the Spellcaster’s grip as his body began to shake. He clutched at his stomach, holding back tremors in his voice. William couldn’t see his expression, but he could feel that the Spellcaster must be grimacing in pain.

Looking at the forlorn bartender, the Spellcaster, although he had already made his decision, still asked his question,

"What’s in the bottle William chose?"

The bartender covered his head, unsure how to face the pained Spellcaster.

"It’s the secretion of the rainbow slime monster, sir, vomit from the slime monster. It’s a special beverage for specific races."