The town of Tsudon was home to numerous nightspots.
However, there were few places capable of handling the Spirit-possessed. If such a place existed, it would have to be a top-tier establishment, a newcomer completely ignorant of the terror the Spirit-possessed commanded, or a shady joint that didn't care if its cast members ended up dead.
(There were exceptions, such as shops managed by the Spirit-possessed themselves, but none were to be found in this particular red-light district.)
As for this specific shop, it fell firmly into the newcomer category.
The only information the management had was that a group of adventurers with glowing halos above their heads was making a killing.
They were unaware of the merchant in a different bar who was currently drowning his sorrows, warning anyone who would listen: "It's best not to get involved with them. But whatever you do, do not anger them."
And so, three girls with glowing halos arrived at the newcomer's doorstep. All three were women, though one was clearly a child.
Aside from the age issue, they were three beauties of such high caliber that any scout would have been desperate to recruit them. Though, admittedly, the child was a bit of a problem.
Furthermore, this shop didn't employ male hosts. What were three women doing here?
"You want to play with the girls? With ones who are okay with being touched? Ah, then you've certainly come to the right place."
With that, they were ushered inside.
Naturally, many cast members disliked attending to female guests. For a man to understand the feeling, imagine being told: "Go entertain that man you've never met before. And don't you dare complain if he starts touching you."
However, because the three customers were so strikingly attractive, the shop had no trouble finding three cast members willing to serve them.
"This is a hundred times better than dealing with some bastard who hasn't bathed in a week."
"That girl is so cute! I want her to be my little sister."
"Look at those breasts. I'm fascinated."
And so, the three cast members began their service.
"Phew, being spanked by a lady isn't half bad-uo. Is this a whole new door opening for me?"
"My, how perverted of you. Like this? Or maybe like this?"
"Ngh! Ah, I'm pretty sturdy, so you can hit me even harder-uo."
"I-I'm already putting my all into it... There!"
"Munch, munch... gulp. Haaah, being fed like this might actually be fun."
"Well then, how about a bite of this next? Open wide."
"Aaan... It seems being allowed to sit on your lap is perfectly fine. Haaah."
"Ufufu, you're so adorable..."
"Pressure points are very effective for people sensitive to the cold-ssu. ...I see, I see. Medical treatments seem to be permitted-ssu."
"Lady Penpen...! I love you...!"
"Also, you should try to drink plain hot water regularly-ssu. Warming yourself from the inside is the best remedy-ssu. Unlike coffee, it's caffeine-free and won't strain your body. Mixing your drinks with hot water is also good-ssu; it burns off some of the alcohol and takes the load off your internal organs."
"A god... Lady Penpen is a literal god..."
All in all, it seemed they were enjoying themselves.
They continued to order additional drinks and appetizers, proving themselves to be excellent, high-spending customers.
It would have been wonderful if the night had ended that way—but life is rarely so simple.
"Whazzat? Why are girls drinking with girls? C'mere, ladies."
"Huh?"
A drunk patron from another table decided to make a nuisance of himself.
To be fair, the sound of the spanking had echoed quite loudly through the shop, drawing plenty of attention. It didn't help that the one being hit was letting out such cute, delighted squeals.
"Listen, missy, I'll spank that little butt of yours and show you a real good time."
"Hah? You want to die-uo, you bastard?"
"Now, now, easy there, Alto. Put the gun away. I'm trying to enjoy my drink here. Even if it's just juice."
The youngest girl stepped in to restrain the one who had been getting spanked, who was currently leveling a black, blunt instrument at the intruder.
Stepping down from the cast member's lap, the young girl stood between them.
"Look, old man. Try to look at this from a personal perspective. Do you really think being spanked by a cute girl is the same as being spanked by a drunk old man?"
"Huh? ...Why the hell would I want to be spanked by a drunk man?"
"Exactly."
"I get it now... So let me spank your butt instead!"
"Forget it, this guy's beyond reason."
The young girl shrugged her shoulders, remembering she was dealing with a drunkard.
"Uo-uo, I'm definitely going to kill him-uo."
"I said stop it. You'll cause trouble for the shop."
"Hmm? Tria-shi, Alto-shi, leave this to me-ssu!"
"Hm?"
At that moment, the most mature-looking of the three cut in with a bright smile.
"Let's have a drinking contest-ssu! Old man, if you can beat me, I'll keep you company outside the shop-ssu. But if you lose, you're paying our entire tab-ssu! Do we have a deal? Or are you going to tuck tail and run-ssu?"
"Heh... Gulp. Fine, let's do this!"
"Negotiations complete-ssu. Boy-san, we're doing this! Bring us a bottle of your strongest liquor!"
"Y-Yes, right away!"
A sudden drinking contest commenced. The rules were simple: they would drink the same alcohol, and the first to collapse would lose. The liquor was poured into shot glasses.
"Alright, first round. Cheers-ssu!"
"Yeah, cheer—"
"Second round. Cheers-ssu!"
"Wait, hey, slow down—"
"Third round. Cheers-ssu! We're just getting started-ssu, you know? Ara? Ara-re? Are you still on your second glass-ssu?"
The girl drained the alcohol as if she were pouring water into a sieve. It was Dwarf Firewine—hardly the sort of liquor one was supposed to chug.
"Alright, tenth round. Cheers-ssu! My, my? What's the matter-ssu? You're only on your fourth glass-ssu."
"Uorgh... H-Hold on... just a second..."
"Alcohol tastes so much better when someone else is paying-ssu! Eleventh round. Cheers-ssu!"
With a flourish, she tilted the shot glass back, letting the Firewine flow down her throat.
It was a complete massacre.
"Hmm? You look a little green-ssu."
"..."
"Hmm? Hmm? Are you gonna blow? Are you gonna throw up-ssu?"
"Oboee."
The girl won by a landslide. The gallery erupted in applause. She took a bow, drained the twelfth glass she was holding, and leisurely returned to her seat.
"Lady Penpen, you're amazing! You're so cool! Please, take me!"
"Ahahaha, I can't exactly 'take' you-ssu. You'll have to settle for a hug-ssu. Squeeze!"
"Kyaaa!"
She sat back down as if nothing had happened and hugged the cast member. On her way back, she had discreetly pressed a silver coin into the Boy's hand as a cleaning fee.
"And so, everything is on that old man's tab-ssu! We did it! All-you-can-eat and all-you-can-drink-ssu!"
"As expected of Penpen-shi-uo! Bring us a massive fruit platter-uo!! And the most expensive bottle in the house-uo!"
"Good grief, Penpen, just how high is your tolerance? I'm stunned."
"Oh? Tria-shi, surely you know where all the food we can't finish ends up going-ssu?"
"Ah, I see."
It appeared there was a trick involved. Regardless, the commotion was settled without further incident.
"I want to try that Firewine too-uo! Give me a glass, straight-uo!"
"I don't mind, but be careful—it's strong-ssu."
"Nn. Gulp, sip... uo, ah, auoo... T-This... this really hits-uooo... Ugh!?"
"Ah."
"Wait, is this a reward?! ...No, wait! Are you alright, guest?!"
"S-Sorry-uo... I think that just pushed me over the edge-uo... uo. Ugh, it all hit me at once-uo."
"Here's some water and medicine-ssu. Use this handkerchief. You too, Miss."
"You're so well-prepared-uo... Thank you-uo..."
She truly was like a guardian. She possessed an air of composed authority that commanded respect.
In the end, the three girls left satisfied, having settled the bill.
Even though the tab was technically charged to the man who had harassed them, they paid the shop anyway, just in case.
After all, they had shattered the shop's all-time daily sales record; there was a very real chance the man wouldn't be able to cover it. At the very least, he would have had to pay in installments, which would have put a strain on the shop's cash flow.
The Owner himself even came out to see them off.
"If that old man actually manages to pay, just put this money toward our next visit-ssu! Think of it as a pre-payment-ssu!"
"That is... well, it's incredibly helpful. Thank you."
"See you next time-ssu!"
"Yes! We look forward to serving you again!"
What incredible customers. Watching his owner bow in deep gratitude, the Boy felt a swell of ambition; he wanted to become the kind of man who could drink with such legendary figures one day.
"Orororororo..."
"A-Are you okay, Alto-chan? Do you want some medicine?"
"Ugh, n-no... the Lord Spirit's suffering... it's a r-reward... given to me... ororo..."
"I see... then I suppose my worrying was uncalled for. Enjoy yourself. Should I... should I spank you too?"
"...Maybe next time."
"Must be nice. Tria wanted to try the alcohol too."
"Y-You can't! The Lord Spirit said it was forbidden, remember, Tria-chan?"
"I know. That is why I didn't drink any. The juice was delicious."