In the blink of an eye, the old man's movements were a blur of speed and precision, leaving me astonished and in awe. He gracefully and effortlessly dismantled the two attackers, their weapons falling to the ground with a clatter. The swift takedown showcased the old man's exceptional combat prowess, and I couldn't help but marvel at his skill.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he took a sip from his wine bottle as if he had just completed a routine task. The victorious grin on his face spoke volumes of his confidence and experience. "Easy," he said while striking a victory pose.
As we stood amidst the aftermath of the brief but intense encounter, the old man's expression suddenly shifted from victorious to one of dismay. His eyes widened, and he looked down at his shirt, noticing the stains from the spilt alcohol and the dirt from the scuffle.
"Crap! My clothes! They're so dirty!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with concern. "Oh no! If Miss Judy sees this, she'll know I drank alcohol." He grumbled to himself, clearly bothered by the thought of Miss Judy's disapproval.
'One doesn't need to see the shirt to know you're drinking.' I thought to myself.
I couldn't help but shake my head in amusement and disbelief. The old man's worry over his appearance seemed comical, considering his unorthodox behaviour and the fact that he had just taken down two attackers with ease.
The old man grumbled but then looked at me and asked, "Well, what do you think of this old man? Pretty cool, aren't I?"
"S-super!" My eyes were gleaming with admiration.
The old man's grin widened at my enthusiastic response, clearly enjoying the praise. His playful demeanour was endearing, and I couldn't help but feel a fondness for him despite the unusual circumstances.
"I like you, child. Want to be my disciple?" he proposed, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
For a moment, I was taken aback by the unexpected offer. Becoming a disciple of this eccentric and skilled old man sounded both intriguing and daunting. However, I knew I couldn't accept his proposal. "Eh? O-oh, I can't. I already have a Master," I replied, feeling a little awkward.
The old man's expression softened, and he chuckled as if he had expected my response all along. "Oh, is that so," he said nonchalantly, scratching his chest. "Well, too bad then."
There was a twinge of disappointment in his voice, but he didn't dwell on it for long. Instead, he seemed to shift back to his carefree self, not allowing any hint of rejection to dampen his spirits.
I fumbled with the map in my hand, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I turned to the old man beside me. "Excuse me, old man, do you know where I am?" I asked, hoping he could help me find my way.
The old man snatched the map from my hand with a mischievous glint in his eye, as if he was about to play a prank on me. "Here," he replied, pointing to a spot on the map.
My eyes followed his finger, and I quickly recognized the location he had indicated. "It's near the house of wine!" I exclaimed, a surge of excitement coursing through me. My friend Ronald was waiting for me there, and I couldn't wait to see him.
Feeling a bit bolder now, I looked up at the old man with pleading eyes. "Can you please lead me to the house of wine, old man?" I asked, hoping he would agree.
"Why do you want to go there, child?" the old man inquired, his playful grin never leaving his face.
"I'm going to meet a friend of mine. He's a disciple there," I explained, eager to share my reason for visiting the house of wine.
The old man's grin widened, and he scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Oh? Really?" he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
I felt a little weird about his playful expression, but I brushed it off and continued, "Yup! My master allowed me to visit him today."
"Well then, you better hurry before lunch. Let me guide you there," the old man offered, his tone now surprisingly helpful.
"Thanks, old man!" I exclaimed with gratitude, grateful for his sudden willingness to assist me. It was an unexpected turn of events, but I was glad to have his company as we set off towards the house of wine.
As we finally arrived at the house of wine, I couldn't help but notice the striking resemblance of its exterior wall to the house of Aum. The architecture and design were oddly familiar, making me wonder if there was some connection between the two establishments.
Out of curiosity, I extended my hand and cautiously touched the surface of the wall. To my surprise, it felt different from any material I had encountered before. Smooth and sturdy, yet with an unfamiliar texture, it left me intrigued and perplexed.
'Unknown material,' I pondered, my mind swirling with questions about the secrets that might lie behind these walls. The Scorpion base was indeed full of mysteries, and this unique construction only added to the enigma surrounding the place.
As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, the old man spoke, bringing my attention back to the present.
The old man said. "Every Master house exterior barrier is the same, little girl."
I nodded, realizing that this similarity was not just a coincidence but perhaps a deliberate choice made by the Masters. It was fascinating to think that there might be hidden meanings and symbolism behind these peculiar barriers.
"The first time I came to the house of Aum," I shared with the old man, "all I saw was a mikan house."
"Oh... Is that so," the old man replied, his eyes glinting with interest. "Well, I did hear some rumours saying the Poison Master loves creating illusions around her house."
"Yup," I confirmed, remembering the challenging encounter. "Sometimes I almost starved to death because of her illusions."
"Starve?" the old man repeated, seemingly amused by the notion.
I nodded, feeling a mixture of annoyance and humour at the memory. "Yes, I get hungry really fast. When my stomach rumbles, I would head to the kitchen to fill my tummy, but who knows, Master would set up an illusion both inside and outside the house. It was a never-ending maze that caused me to walk around the house for hours. If Lady Nozomi hadn't found me quickly enough, I would have become a skeleton by now."
The old man burst into laughter at my exasperated explanation. "Must be tough," he chuckled, trying to contain his amusement.
"It was!" I retorted with a playful pout, though I couldn't help but smile too.
As we approached the entrance of the house of wine, my eyes were immediately drawn to a captivating banner hung on the side of the door. The banner displayed an exquisite wine logo, reminiscent of those traditional Japanese alcohol sets adorned with grape vines twirling gracefully around it. The logo's intricate details showcased the beauty and elegance associated with the art of winemaking.
"It has a wine logo," I murmured to myself, utterly captivated by the artistic craftsmanship.
Bang.
Startled by the sudden commotion, I turned to see the old man forcefully barging into the elegant and serene atmosphere of the house of wine. My heart raced with worry as I hurriedly followed him, knowing that his brash actions could cause trouble, especially with the esteemed Master of the house.
"Ah! Old man! You can't just rush in like that. What if the Master gets angry?" I exclaimed, trying to catch up with his determined stride.
He chuckled heartily, seemingly unfazed by the potential consequences. "Then I'll just bash him up!" he declared with a mischievous grin.
As I desperately tried to reason with the old man, my heart raced with anxiety, fearing the consequences of his reckless actions. "No! You can't do that! You'll get hurt or even killed. Come back, old man!" I pleaded, reaching out towards him in a futile attempt to stop him.
Though I attempted to follow him, my body struggled to keep up with his swift pace. "Huff... Puff..." I gasped for breath, trying to catch up to the old man. In my haste, I failed to notice my surroundings until I finally took a few seconds to rest. I found myself surrounded by endless rows of grapevines, stretching as far as the eye could see.
"This is... a grape farm?" My confusion grew as I realized that there were no houses in sight, only the lush greenery of the vineyard.
"The best of the best in the world, child," the old man proclaimed proudly, standing amidst the picturesque grape farm.
Unperturbed by the beauty of the vineyard, the old man couldn't resist the temptation of the ripe, succulent grapes. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he grabbed a bundle of grapes and indulged in their sweetness. "Yum!" he exclaimed, savouring the flavorful fruits.
My concern grew as I watched him eat from someone else's crops. "Don't eat someone else's grapes!" I protested, knowing well that taking from another's harvest was not only disrespectful but also likely to cause trouble.
However, he merely grinned, seemingly unfazed by my admonishment. With purposeful steps, he approached me, and before I could react, he swiftly picked me up, cradling me in his arms. I felt bewildered and perplexed, uncertain of his intentions and where this unexpected journey would lead.
"Eh?" I stammered, my heart still pounding from the rush of events.
With me securely cradled in his arms, the old man chuckled playfully and warned, "Hold on tight, it might get a little bumpy, child."
I tilted my head in confusion, not quite sure what to expect. "Bumpy?" I questioned, my voice tinged with nervousness.
Before I could fully comprehend the situation, the old man performed a gravity-defying leap into the sky, and I couldn't help but close my eyes and let out a terrified scream. "Ah!! Save me!"