Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience novel Chapter 63

Chapter 63: 003: Interesting

River Town, located in the southeastern part of the Saladin Kingdom, is a small town named after the Rhine River, a vital inland waterway running through the territories of three nations.

Around ten o’clock at night, Lynch arrived in this riverside trading hub renowned for its bustling commerce.

The market would start at three in the morning, still a ways off from now. Meditating or cultivating wouldn’t last long enough, and being interrupted would only sour his mood. After a moment’s thought, Lynch decided to find a tavern to pass the time.

At this hour, most shops on the streets had already closed. The only places still open were the taverns near the docks, which, conveniently, was exactly where Lynch was heading. He walked into an establishment named Resting Place.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted by a mix of scents—barley malt, tobacco, and the faint aroma of smoldering charcoal. Dim candlelight spilled from copper chandeliers hanging above, illuminating the cozy, warm interior of the tavern for Lynch to take in.

The layout was charmingly unrefined: sturdy wooden tables and benches with a natural sheen, some marked by knife cuts of varying depths from restless patrons over the years.

Each table hosted a vibrant mix of characters: oil-streaked sailors were loudly chugging mugs of dark rye beer; shrewd merchants whispered secrets of the market and their next big opportunities; and leather-armored mercenaries entertained their companions with tales of their thrilling exploits in the wilderness.

At one corner of the tavern, an elderly minstrel gently strummed his harp, the melodic notes blending with his soulful voice to recount ancient legends and heroic epics, drawing the quiet admiration of many listeners.

"Welcome, stranger! Care for something to light up your spirit?"

The bartender, a burly man with a bushy beard, addressed Lynch enthusiastically, his callused hands expertly mixing drinks as he spoke.

Lynch walked over and tossed a few silver coins onto the counter. "Bring me something to eat."

He glanced at the drink the bartender was preparing. "What’s that?"

The bartender smiled knowingly, impressed. "Flame Kiss—one of our signature drinks. Only the bold dare try it."

From a nearby table, a group of rowdy patrons started jeering:

"Think you’ve got the guts to try?"

"Or are you running back to your mommy for her milk? Hahaha!"

"Pretty boy, careful! One drink and you might wake up in some duchess’s warm bed! Hahaha!"

Lynch barked confidently, "Sure, I’ll take it."

"Attaboy!"

The bartender exclaimed in approval and slid a brimming oak mug over to him. Without hesitation, Lynch grabbed the mug and drained it in one go.

A fiery liquid coursed down his throat, sharply burning all the way to his stomach. It felt as if a flame had ignited within, spreading a fiery warmth through his veins, making his blood feel like it was boiling.

Lynch slammed the mug down with a grin. "That’s the stuff!"

"Well done!"

"Didn’t expect such nerve in someone so young!"

The tavern patrons banged their tables and benches in uproarious approval, filling the room with clamorous cheers. In this world, where taverns were stages for small glories, downing a Flame Kiss in one gulp was akin to earning a badge of honor.

The infectious energy of the moment ignited Lynch’s own sense of camaraderie, his boldness swelling amid the praise.

"Clink! Clink!"

Embarking on a whim, he scattered a handful of Gold Coins onto a nearby table. "Tonight’s tab is on me!"

To punctuate his display, he plucked a single Gold Coin and flicked it toward the corner minstrel. The coin arced gracefully through the air and landed neatly in the hat on the minstrel’s table.

"Play something lively! Stir up the fun!"