A Merfolk's Tale

Chapter Twelve

Waiting for the tables nearby his, was a blonde boy that looked just the same age as his. He had muscular build but looked like he was trying his hard not to punch the drunk customer he was serving who had grabbed him by the arm.

"Oh come on! This pub doesn't hire women to at least entertain us but I guess you'll do," the customer had told the blonde and pulled the blonde close-- only to be welcomed with a right hook and knocked the light out of him.

The commotion had everyone standing in shock, except for the unconscious customer's companions who stood up and prepared for a fight. The barkeeper tried to talk it out but ended up getting pushed out of the way as they cornered the blonde waiter.

Let it be, Eijiro. This isn't your fight... just sit back down, finish your drink and go around the village.

"You're one tough nut aren't you?" one of the goons had said but the blonde returned the glare as equally as deadly as the one thrown at him, his fists clenched and prepared for a fight.

Just ignore them, Eiji... you're not supposed to be running into trouble or you'll be hearing a lot from Tenya or worse... from king Enji.

One of the goons attacked first, making a straight right punch to which the blonde ducked before landing a solid uppercut from under and kicking his opponent off balance. The second came in, and then the third, and then another one.

Surprisingly though, the blonde could handle himself in a fight despite him being outnumbered-- however, a clean fighter doesn't win against a dirty one.

One of his opponents grabbed a bottle and hit the blonde on the head, making him stumble. The short opening was taken advantage off and he was soon overpowered by the four. One took out a knife from behind his belt and intended to use it-- this made Eiji shut off everything as his manliness took over.

"Damn it!" Eiji mumbled to himself and leaping into action, grabbing the man's hand and twisted it for him to let the weapon go.

"Get away from him," Eiji said, his hood falling off and the rest of the curious crowd started to back up as Eiji stepped in between the group and the blonde who was lying on the wooden floor-- face bruised and beaten.

"P-Prince Eijiro...!" He heard the barkeeper whimper.

"Ha? I don't care if you're a prince, but you're no one inside this pub," One of the goons said, "So go on back to your pretty castle, boy and let us men finish this fight,"

"I don't think I can do that," he said, "A prince just happens to be at a pub where a fight broke out. Don't you think the news won't reach the castle and alert the guards? I can just go and hurt myself and tell them you did it and you'd be behind bars for hurting someone from the royal family,"

"Royal family you say?" The man replied before letting out an ogre-like laugh. "Your family is cursed, boy! Don't you think I don't know who you are and what happened to your father's kingdom? Pity, I'd say. But for you to rub your royalness into our faces just because you wear a crown on your head and you have royal blood flowing in your veins doesn't excuse you from being saved from my fist!"

With those words said, the man launched himself with a right straight punch to which Eiji dodged before grabbing his arm, turning quickly-- back against his opponent-- before bending forward with so much force and smashed him on the table.

It must've been from him being drunk or it may have been the hits he had taken from the blonde, but the man fell unconscious with a groan, making the rest of their opponent back away when Eiji turned to them.

He sighed then faced the barkeeper who had been cowering behind the bar the whole time. "Sorry about your table, I'll pay for it," he said bashfully but the barkeeper waved it off, saying that it was no big deal and thanked Eiji for stopping the fight.