One More Mug: Sweety Squire

"Yeah, being as good as me will only ever be your dream."

The Hunter pointed at the whole tavern as the patrons laughed and cheered.

"All of you. If you think you can best me, come and get me!"

His eyes rolled back.

Then he collapsed face-first onto the table.

The tavern went silent.

I sighed.

"Bowl of water, please."

A tavernkeep slid one across the counter as I approached the unconscious Hunter.

I pulled him upright before he slid to the floor, then placed one of his hands into the bowl.

The Hunter immediately stopped moving.

The patrons stared.

"...What exactly are you doing?" one finally asked.

"Taking care of your 'Legend'."

I sat beside him and ordered myself a small cup of cold sugar water.

A patron shifted their eyes to me and noticed a missing finger.

"If you got a question, spit it out. I am not even drunk, but my head is already painful with him."

The patron looked at me as if I had just insulted a saint.

"A pain!? It must be an honor taking care of him! Let alone hunt! I bet he hunted many and big ones, too! Do you know who you're traveling with? That's the Hu—"

"Hunter, I know. I heard that many times," I cut him off. Followers like him were the same all around.

"Then you know about the dire bear?" the patron asked.

The tavern grew quieter.

"I mean, without him, it could've destroyed our village!"

"Yeah, I know."

"I also know there was a party already hunting it. They got the cubs."

"But without him, that mama bear might have torn them apart."

The patron proudly nodded.

"And you wanna know how he got that?" I asked. "He dangled me from a tree while covered in animal guts."

The patron frowned.

"I mean, the Hunter wouldn't put you in danger, right?"

I raised my hand.

"I lost my damn finger."

The Hunter suddenly stirred.

"But you're still here ranting, ain't ya?"

Then he immediately passed out drunk again.

I sighed and placed his hand back into the bowl.

The patron pointed at him.

"Exactly! See? If he were a villain, he would've let you die."

"He spat on the wound and rubbed mud into it," I replied.

"I had to spend days with a doctor afterward."

Some patrons pat my back, but not for pity, saying,

“...Just let it go. I mean, very much hunters from the west hunt like a beast of an animal like him!”

Others agree as murmurs echoed, but I had to cut them off.

“Tell me, aside from the Hunter, who else saw the hunt from the west? Raise your mug.”

Questioning them, the noise died down, seeing that some are a bit embarrassed, until one raised their mug.

“I do”

A man clad in a white and gold robe sits alone by the corner table, about to finish his meal, as he looks disgusted at everyone in the room, especially the Hunter.

“I am from the west, and we hunt in packs, we hunt in order, pride, and elegantly…”

He rose from the table, and everyone remained quiet as he approached the door with the last few words for them.

“That man is a disgrace to us,” and slammed the door, startling some followers.

I look around to see their faces, unable to speak, but the Hunter started waking up a little.

“I heard that! And that’s why no one knows you, but me? No monster nor beast is a predator to me!”

Then he lost consciousness once more and slammed into the table, and I had to fix him upright and place his hand in the bowl and refill it, too.

Patrons started talking again and laughing.

“He does have a point; he is a legend for a reason.”

I am a bit annoyed by them, but they are right. It’s just that the moment they get the floor again, they are at it.

“Yeah! He is such a legend, I heard he killed a wyrm using its own fire!!”

That’s true

“No! I got something better, some said that he was battling a necro beast, that it died so badly it can’t come back to life!”

Also that..

“What about the time he-”

I butt in as it's getting too much for someone’s ego

“Alright! Alright! If he is a legend, then why did he cry before? Yeah, bet you haven’t heard that, didn’t you?”

The patrons gasp, and some fainted.

“No, he didn’t… did he?”

They look at the sleeping Hunter, then back to me

“Yes, he did, and it's beca-”

They began guessing before I could finish that they should see my annoyance with them, but they kept going.

“Ah! It’s because someone close to him died!”

“No! It’s because he had lost the meaning of being great for being too great!

“That's possible, but maybe it's because he-”

“WILL YOU LET ME FINISH?!”

The tavern went silent as the fanatics started to get on my nerves.

“He cried because his prey died.”

And when I finish that sentence, they are at it once more… these people.

“It must be a worthy prey!”

“Maybe! But it’s also tears of joy as a legendary beast almost got him!”

I slowly rub my forehead as I feel a headache from these people, and raise my other hand to pause them.

“When we were hunting this beast, it was after me while he was after it, but as I tripped, the beast tripped on me and fell off the cliff.”

“A cliff?” the guy I have been cutting off asked.

“Yes, impaled by the rocks, and a loud cry for help was heard, and when I looked at him, tears were coming down from his eyes.”

Many of the fanatics are awed upon hearing his feelings

“He is so sensitive, really, he is truly one of the greatest.”

Slowly, we hear the Hunter waking up again, agreeing with them while slurring his words; obviously, he is not fully awake.

“He was gonna be a trophy in my house! And that beast died like a weakling! I am glad it died cause he just kept on running!”

Some of the patrons were a little disappointed by what he said as he clearly told the truth, and saw one of them fix him again on his chair and put his hand in the bowl. Of course, some tried explaining.

“Maybe he only really feels sadness when someone close dies! I mean, we could be sure he would cry if you died, Squire.”

I looked him dead in the eye with no words

“Right?”

He looked at the others, unable to answer him

“You’d be surprised. Has anyone here heard of the monster that drains you of your life essence? One that disappears in plain sight and is deadly at night.”

A few raised their hands

“He has hunted those, too, and I know because I was attacked by it.”

Everyone gasped as I revealed I was a ghost, and one of them poked my cheek and had to smack it.

“Stop it… as I was saying. I was attacked, not killed! And the hunter saw my body, dried up like a raisin, barely or actually almost not breathing, and when he saw me, you know what he said?”

Everyone guessed

“I’ll avenge you?”

“You fought well?”

“Wake up?”

“No- wait, the last one is right, good job.”

The patron that I have been cutting off looked proud and listened closely.

“He told me ‘wake up… hey… uhhh, I am not good with this’ then threw some twigs and leaves on my body thinking I was dead.”

Then his voice cut through us again

“I say that was a warrior’s death!”

“You know it’s not!”

“I mean, I was going to connect with someone from the west to collect you.”

Then I mocked him before he passed out and landed in the bowl.

“Someone help him up.”

One of the patrons fixed him up and this time placed both hands in the bowl.

“Thank you. As you can see, mighty as he is, he is-”

And a wet hand was placed on my hand, cutting me off

“I am still human, awesome, strong, slightly drunk, but still human.”

The tavern cheered loudly again as he was finally sober and gave the floor to him.

“What he said is true, the dear squire that escorted me through fire and flames, always helping me in legal troubles like that time I kicked a chicken for pooping on my boots.”

Everyone laughed as he slowly took my spot by the chair, causing me to stand behind him.

“Now, how about you, Squire, you told many about me, but not you… Why do you keep tagging with me?”

I will admit, I never thought of that.

“If I recall, one of our elders did assign me to follow and learn from you. I did hope I could be even close to what you are.”

“And what did you get out of this adventure?”

“That I'd better get paid by them for taking care of you.”

I look exhausted, and as soon as I open my eyes, a bag of gold is given to me by the hunter.

“Oh, also, I am letting you go.”

Just in front of me, he said that like it was normal

“What!?”

And everyone repeated.

“WHAT?!”

He just stared at me like it was no big deal

“You do realize, if you keep following me, it will eventually kill you, plus you did serve me well, so here's your pay, take it, and go back home.”

As I was slightly touched, he just had to add…

“To add, you can tell the elders and everyone about the legends and feats of my greatness, on why they can never have another me! Hahaha!”

Everyone started laughing as he is right, he is an anomaly from the west, here he is welcomed, back home…

I took it from him angrily, the gold, my things, and packed up. The audacity to humiliate me after putting the attention on me!

I stomp near the door, and as I look back, everyone is just laughing with him as if nothing happened!

“Hunter!... I just want to say.”

Everyone quieted down, and their eyes, including his, locked on me.

“I just wanted to say… If I still had my middle finger.”

I was trying to do the sign, but the best I could give him was a fist.

Then I left him, but from a distance outside the tavern, I heard him.

“When did I piss my pants?!”

I muttered to myself as I journeyed back to the west.

“Being as good as him will only ever be my nightmare.”