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"Man, I'm so bored! Seriously—this is unbearable!" Ethan groaned, swirling his glass lazily. "But come to think of it, that guy Saitama really surprised me. Standing in front of all of Z-City and shouting that he only became a hero 'just for fun,' not because he wanted people's approval. Totally insane, right?"
He lifted the cocktail in front of him and downed it in one gulp. The fiery liquor burned down his throat and flared in his chest like a spark turning into flame. Ah, that's the good stuff. For someone like Ethan, with his nearly indestructible body, regular alcohol shouldn't even register—but for some reason, drinking hit him harder than it should.
Yep, really hard. Just two glasses in, his cheeks were already red. The same man whose body could shatter steel was swaying slightly, flushed and grinning. Apparently superhuman physiology didn't mean superhuman alcohol tolerance.
"Ugh, where's my maid? My second maid, my destiny maid!" he wailed dramatically. "Why is it so hard to find one? I mean, look at me—handsome, strong, charming, totally irresistible! But this damned body of mine always causes trouble! Can't even get myself a cute little maid! It's criminal!"
His voice rang out across the small tavern.
"Shut up!"
"Quit yelling, you drunk!"
"Be quiet, man!"
"You're bothering everyone, idiot!"
The wave of irritated shouts barely made him flinch. Ethan just clicked his tongue and ignored them all.
Then, suddenly, the door opened—and in walked a girl in a maid outfit. Not the cheap costume kind, either. Her uniform was neat and frilly, and she was adorable. Big eyes, soft face, a little clumsy as she rushed in, bowing repeatedly and apologizing to the manager for being late. She looked so flustered it made her even cuter. Ethan felt his heart melt on the spot.
"How... how can someone this cute even exist?" he muttered, staring like a man struck by lightning. "She's like... she's perfect! Damn it, though—she's just a normal human."
He could tell right away—no aura, no power, just an ordinary girl. If she'd had even a hint of ability, he'd have made her his second maid on the spot.
"Hey! More drinks! Bring me another round!" Ethan shouted, shaking his head as if trying to erase her image from his mind.
"Coming! I'm so sorry for the wait!"
That soft, delicate voice hit him like an electric shock. Every hair on his body stood on end. It was sweet, gentle, almost too pure to be real.
"Y-you?" he stammered when she appeared beside him, setting a new glass on the counter.
The maid—her name tag read Sayuriko—looked up at him with wide eyes, then quickly looked away, blushing. Her pink cheeks and lowered gaze made Ethan's heart twist painfully.
"The gentlest thing in the world is a girl who lowers her head... like a lotus bowing to the breeze."
He actually said it out loud, voice full of emotion.
Sayuriko's blush deepened; even her ears turned red. "M-Master, h-here's your drink!" she stammered, setting the glass down and nearly tripping as she hurried away.
Ethan sighed dramatically, watching her retreat. "So perfect… except for the lack of strength. Damn it, heavens! Why are you so cruel? How could you let such a perfect maid exist only to make her powerless?!"
The bartender, polishing a glass nearby, chuckled slyly. "Oh? You seem to have taken a liking to our Sayuriko. If you want, you could buy her from her family."
"Buy her?" Ethan frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Whoa, whoa, relax! Not like that. Her parents were big into the whole maid-culture thing, raised her to be the perfect maid since she was a kid. But recently, there was a monster attack… her mother died, and her father's in the hospital. Sayuriko's been working herself to the bone to pay for treatment. If someone gave her enough money, well—she'd definitely be grateful."
"I see…" Ethan sighed softly. "Didn't expect such a sad story behind such a cute face. Sayuriko, huh? Even her name's beautiful. Too bad she's not fit to be my maid... Still, I guess I could do one good deed tonight. Money's not really an issue for me anyway."
He downed another shot, the fiery liquor burning a path to his stomach. Feeling a pleasant buzz, he stood up, ready to find Sayuriko and hand her some cash for her father's hospital bills.
But before he could move, a frightened cry echoed from across the bar.
Sayuriko's voice.
Ethan's expression darkened. He turned just in time to see a few drunk men grabbing at her arms, laughing crudely and saying things he didn't even want to hear.
"Hmph."
He didn't even need to think. In an instant, he was there—one step, one flick of his finger—
CRACK.
The sharp sound of bone snapping cut through the air. The drunk screamed, clutching his arm and collapsing to the floor.
Even half-drunk himself, Ethan's strength was overwhelming. These guys were nothing. If he hadn't held back, they'd be dead.
"You bastard! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Attacking people like that? You're dead, man!"
The others charged him—bottles, plates, even a knife or two in hand—but the next moment, they were all on the floor, groaning in pain.
"You drunk idiots… so weak, and still acting tough…" Ethan mumbled, swaying a little. Then everything went black, and he collapsed with a loud thud.
Luckily, the drunks he'd taken down were in no shape to retaliate. Otherwise, he might've actually been in trouble for once.
"..."
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