Outside the busy market stood a large building, its structure carved from thick wooden timbers that whispered aeons of service.
Within this bizarre haven, the uplifting tunes of music could be heard, complementing the tempting smell of premium alcohol.
A crowd of ghouls and monsters alike filled it to the teeth.
Some singing Karaoke, others gambling with strange glowing cards, and the vast majority just venting out their problems with a mug of booze on one hand.
Yes, this wild atmosphere was nowhere else but the Dutchman's Tavern.
The finest Tavern in all of Shinigamikagure as their sign advertised.
"I'll have another shot." An eye catching rabbit slid his glass towards the bartender.
The Barman took a peek at the bunny, cleaning his glass with a grunt.
"You'll have to drop some silver on me first."
Annoyed, the rabbit reached for some coins, tossing it onto the pub table with a loud clatter.
The moment the coins touched the table, they vanished from plain sight, landing in the bartender's pockets a millisecond later.
"Here's your drink." The Ghoul Barman slid the cocktail towards the rabbit.
SWOOSH!
He and everyone in the Tavern halted their activities, turning their threatening gazes towards the door that was being pushed open.
However, the moment their eyes met the visitor, their faces lightened, smiles beaming from each's faces.
"GAMI! WELCOME BACK!"
They all yelled in unison, inviting Gami and Kagero with open arms.
"Good to be back!" Gami held a nervous Kagero behind her, greeting everyone in her path to the bartender.
'She's pretty social.'
"Well if it isn't Gami." Now before the Pub-man, Kagero observed the bartender.
He also had a single horn stretching outwardly that nestled within his ashy hair.
And for some reason. He gave Kagero the impression that he too— was a Shinigami.
'So even the Bartender can beat the brakes off me?' Kagero watched with utter disbelief.
"Just the usual, Gal." Gami sat atop one of the stools, crossing her legs together. Kagero sat directly beside her.
"Dutchman's paradise huh?" Gal; the Bartender threw his glass in the air, an assortment of various liquors mixing into the glass while airborne.
"And what will your Friend be having?"
Gami switched her gaze to Kagero for a response, causing him to quickly make a choice.
He had bad experiences with alcohol in his past life, so he had grown a deep rooted hatred for any cocktail bearing it.
"Anything that isn't alcoholic please."
As soon as Kagero's words left his lips, he saw Gami's smile hang on her face, beads of sweat running through her nervous face.
And in just a few seconds, he got the answers to why.
GASP!
Everyone within the Tavern paused, turning to stare at the Shogun inspired Boy.
There was an awkward silence before people started to mutter murderously, as though he had committed some unspeakable taboo.
And in truth, he had.
The number one rule of being in the Dutchman's tavern stated simply:
No Virgin Liquors. Only Alcohol!
"Wh—at… What did you just say?"
Suddenly, the atmosphere within the room intensified, and the aura pouring through Gal weighed him down right where he sat.
He had to avert this situation, and fast!
Kagero leaped from his seat, stamping his feet onto the table before him to draw everyone's attention.
"Hey!" He yelled at the top of his lungs, his bodacious grin masking his nervousness.
"I said you shouldn't give me anything just alcoholic." He swallowed hard, wearing his courageous fizzog once more.
"Get me some Super Alcoholic Liquor!"
The moment Kagero finished, the entire Tavern went into silence. And then a second later.
"YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The Tavern thundered under the myriad of affirming shouts that were directed towards Kagero.
Then after a few more seconds of yelling, everyone returned back to their activities as though the scene had never happened.
'What the hell? They're over it already?'
"You're really something." Gami rested her head on her palm, offering Kagero a proud smile.
Watching the beauty inches away from him direct a smile so casually, Kagero turned his face away, a bit flustered.
'[Have you even ever dated a single woma—]'
'Shut up already!' Kagero interrupted the System's taunts, before reacting to Gal's words.
"Here's The Deadman's Cocktail, on the house!"
Gal slid a concerningly dark red glass of liquid towards Kagero. Then gently placed a glass bearing a golden fluid in front of Gami.
"Wow, it looks simply amazing." Gami mentioned, ecstatic at her drink.
Opposed to Kagero who watched His with distant eyes, almost gagging at the sight of the mystery substance.
"Well, that's the most expensive drink in here. Just a glass could buy the entire building." Gal let out a laugh.
"So I've got to do it right, since you're paying me well for it."
On hearing the words expensive, and pay— Gami's shoulders perked up.
She dressed her silver hair behind her ears, leaning in towards the bartender while on her seat.
Gal swallowed hard, watching the temptress positioned just a few inches away from his face.
"Don't tell me you're gonna make me pay for this now, are you?" She caressed her finger through his chin, staring at him flirtatiously.
Kagero watched them with wide eyes.
'This woman is cruel.'
He almost cried at the sight of Gal trying his best to win a losing battle. The lady before him was just too…
Kagero tapped his face, snapping himself out of her spell to focus on her antics.
"I thought I would be a special customer." She folded her arms across her chest, resting them on the table. "At least to you though."
The Bartender immediately punched himself hard, drawing out blood from his nose.
"Ohh forgive me Gami." He apologized with a smile, his face visibly flustered.
"This one is on me!"
Gal proclaimed with teary eyes.
Gami then relaxed back on her seat, taking a large sip of the cocktail.
"Wow, you're so generous."
Kagero felt bad for Gal. She had seduced him into gifting her a stupidly expensive drink, only to act like nothing happened a second later.
It almost made him wonder just for how long she had been doing such a thing.
Gami slurped her drink, then turned to Kagero, sneaking a thumbs up at him.
'This lady is shameless.' Kagero's eyes narrowed with displeasure at how apathetic she could be.
After finishing her drink, she shut her eyes and stretched. Opening them into a stoic gaze at Gal.
"As you can probably tell— I didn't come here just for a drink."
Gal paused his glass cleaning, and an aura of seriousness hovering over them both.
"I came for information."
Gal stared around them, and when he ensured no one was eavesdropping, he responded.
His voice was deep and straightforward.
"What grade?"
"Sacred." Gami replied.
'What the? Their pressure is almost suffocating.' Kagero planted his feet into the ground.
The moment he heard Gami's request, Gal's eyes instantly flashed red, crimson glints reflecting off his iris.
Ashy beards stretched from his chin, hair growing where there was previously none.
His body bulked, and his horn lengthened, leaving a brawny ghoul to replace the formerly moderate figure.
"Hmph." A different voice echoed past his lips, causing the very ground to tremble.
"You've come to the right Shinigami."