Extra's Rise: I Stole All The Women In The Hero's Party-Chapter 91: Soul Strengthening Pill

[Several Rounds Later...[

Zayn was... fine.

Liriel, on the other hand, was not.

She slumped over the table, tail twitching, ears drooping. "...I hate you."

Zayn took another slow sip of his drink. "You challenged me."

Bran, barely holding it together, clapped Zayn on the shoulder. "You — hic — you cheated."

Zayn raised an eyebrow. "How? By drinking?"

Selis, still perfectly sober, sighed. "You just have great resistance to alcohol."

Liriel groaned. "That should be illegal."

Zayn grinned. "Sounds like a skill issue."

Bran wheezed. "You bastard."

...

Zayn and Bran left the bar, waving lazily at Liriel and Selis as they blended into the lively night of Timberstead’s Red Light District.

The streets were still full of life, with drunks staggering about, merchants shouting about late-night deals, and prostitutes lingering on the streets.

Bran stretched and let out a loud, satisfied sigh. "Alright, I think I’ll be heading off on my own now."

Zayn narrowed his eyes. "And where, exactly, are you heading?"

Bran smirked. "Oh, you know... around."

Zayn stared at him. "The brothel?"

Bran clutched his chest as if physically wounded. "Wow. No faith in me at all. Maybe I’m just taking a peaceful stroll, enjoying the cool night air, reflecting on my life choices."

Zayn’s stare didn’t waver.

Bran sighed. "Fine. Yes. I’m going to the brothel."

"I knew it."

"I have needs, Zayn. Needs."

"Try not to bankrupt yourself."

Bran scoffed. "Please, I’m a man of moderation."

Zayn raised an eyebrow. "Moderation?"

"...That was a one-time thing."

Zayn shook his head as Bran gave him a lazy salute and strolled off, whistling.

Now alone, Zayn debated his next move.

The last time he had split from Bran, he had somehow gotten roped into fighting Adventurers and they ended up getting their licenses revoked, he didn’t want to do that again.

’Maybe I should just go back to the inn and sleep,’ he thought.

And yet, despite this very reasonable idea, his feet carried him deeper into the Red Light District, where the more... questionable businesses operated.

At some point, he found himself pushing through a dense crowd gathered in front of a small shop.

People were murmuring excitedly, pointing at something inside. Curious, Zayn squeezed his way through, ignoring the annoyed grumbles of those he nudged aside.

Inside, the store was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of incense.

At the center of the room, standing behind a wooden counter, was an older man in fancy robes, his beard long and well-groomed.

He held up a small, clear bottle filled with what looked like faintly glowing blue pills.

"Behold! Soul Strengthening Pills!" the shopkeeper announced dramatically, raising the bottle high like he had just discovered the secret to immortality. "Each one infused with the essence of the very world itself! A single pill will fortify your soul energy, strengthen your body, and bring you closer to true power!"

Zayn blinked.

A burly adventurer stepped forward. "How much?"

The shopkeeper smiled. "Normally, an elixir of this caliber would sell for a gold, but tonight, and tonight only, I am offering them for a mere 50 Silvers a pill!"

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

50 silvers wasn’t cheap, but if the pills actually worked, it was a steal.

Zayn watched as people hesitated, unsure whether to take the risk.

He had no idea if these pills were legit, but something about the shopkeeper’s overly theatrical performance was making his scam senses tingle.

And yet... the idea of strengthening his soul energy was tempting.

Against his better judgment, he stepped forward. "I’ll take one."

The shopkeeper beamed, clapping his hands together. "Ah, a wise man! A man who recognizes true quality!"

Zayn handed over fifty silver, and the shopkeeper quickly passed him a small glass vial containing a single blue pill.

He held it up, examining it closely. It looked authentic, but he still wasn’t sure if it was anything more than colored sugar.

The burly adventurer from earlier huffed. "Only one? You think you’ll get stronger with just one?"

Zayn smirked. "If it actually works, I’ll come back for more. If not, I’m only out of 50 silvers."

The adventurer frowned but seemed to acknowledge the logic in that.

Meanwhile, others in the crowd, emboldened by Zayn’s purchase, started stepping forward, handing over their silvers in exchange for the supposed miracle pills.

Zayn pocketed the vial and left the shop, stepping back into the cool night air. He leaned against a nearby wall, staring at the tiny pill in his palm.

"Alright, let’s see if this thing is real or if I just got scammed." freewebnσvel.cѳm

He popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, his stomach burned.

"Ah — shit — " Zayn clutched his abdomen as a surge of heat spread through his core, reaching all the way to his fingertips.

His vision blurred, his soul energy flaring unexpectedly.

He stumbled back, nearly crashing into a fruit stand as a powerful wave of energy pulsed outward from him.

Nearby, a drunk adventurer turned to his friend. "Did you feel that?"

The other one nodded. "Yeah... weird."

Zayn forced himself to stay upright, focusing on keeping his soul energy under control. The heat in his body slowly subsided, settling into a comfortable warmth.

When he took a deep breath, he felt... stronger.

"...Holy shit," he muttered.

The pill actually worked.

A moment later, a loud commotion erupted from the shop he had just left.

The burly adventurer from earlier stormed out, red-faced and furious.

"That bastard sold me sugar pills!" he roared.

Zayn blinked.

’Wait. What’?

He turned back toward the shop just in time to see a group of enraged customers bursting out, all of them demanding refunds.

The shopkeeper, looking far less composed than before, ducked out of sight behind the counter.

Zayn touched his chest, still feeling the lingering effects of the pill.

’Why did mine work?’

Before he could think too much about it, the angry customers started flipping tables, and the sound of splintering wood and breaking glass filled the air.

"...Yeah, I’m gonna go."