After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 382

Chapter 382: Beany
The core group sat around the living room, some sitting on the couch, some lounging on the carpeted floor.

They were in a celebratory mood, with a lot of them drinking a bit of alcohol to further loosen up. What made it better was that they were drinking Althea’s special brew.

“Darn! That was good!” Beany said with squinted eyes, downing every drop.

After cleaning his pint, he suddenly dropped his wooden mug to the table, catching everyone’s attention.

Fortunately, whoozy Beany had a smile, so what he was about to say was likely good news.

“What is it?” Garan asked, rubbing his temple. Beany smirked, looking smug.

“I had awakened an occupation!” He yelled, raising his glass again to Ansel, who was holding the bottle. “More!”

Ansel’s eyebrows rose as he very slowly filled the other man’s cup. Some of it leaked though, because Ansel, too, was whoozy. “So, what is it?”

“It’s the life occupation of Newsbringer.”

Althea looked at her old friend, “Oh? What does it give you?”

Beany, a little dizzy from being drunk, explained very smugly, “My senses of sight and hearing doubled those of the same level.

“I also gained a skill that basically gives me conditional eidetic memory that lasts for 1 day.” This was likely given if he needed to have time to transcribe the news he obtained.

It was very fitting for a passionate reporter.

They all congratulated him and he blushed to the skies.

“Oh, please, it’s just so-so~” he said, and his head was already drooping a bit.

But he proceeded on telling stories about how he used the skill—mostly gossip, and they just let him drone on. They just let him speak most of the time, but occasionally he mentioned some familiar names and they couldn’t help but react.

“There’s this dude—Alon, I think—was stalking Lily! The doctor!”

“Oh? What happened?”

“Got rejected! But he couldn’t take no for an answer, he even said his brother was a captain and she shouldn’t be too arrogant.”

“Oh?” This made everyone look at him. This was important news—what if anyone was already taking advantage of their position?

And Alon… Amos’ brother? That boy had very high potential.

“Amos already explained,” he said, “Though it was obvious he’s very much under his leech family. So you’d have to take note of that when he’s actually promoted.”

“Speaking of failed lovelives—

“Baron got rejected… AGAIN!”

Beanie had not been here long, but he had really caught a lot of gossip, including Baron’s long list of rejections.

He then continued to mumble on, though no names rang a bell anymore, so they were basically just waiting for him to run out of stories.

Meanwhile, for some reason, the discussion sparked an argument between the very drunk Ansel and Winona.

They were arguing with faces very close to eact other—just a little push and they’d be kissing. “At least I have an occupation!” Ansel said, sneering, “Might Swordsman!”

“PFF—Fighting occupation? Everyone who can defend themselves awaken that!” Winona slurred, arrogantly, not knowing how many bad looks from aborigines she’d have received if they were there.

“I, on the other hand— I’ll awaken a pharmacist occupation soon, you’ll see!” Winona said, rubbing her face. “And STOP spitting on my face!”

Ansel sneered, not believing he was sprinkling saliva. He crossed his arms and looked at her derisively, heckling all of Winona’s pretty blonde locks.

“You! Well, just so you know, Althea believed in me so much she gave me a department even before I activated an occupation!”

“They say overconfidence goes side by side with failure.”

“What kind of brother are you! Your sister is the Lord!”

The chubby man beside them blinked, and blinked again, before turning his head to Althea’s direction without changing expressions.

Their eyes met and the thought finally sunk in. Beany’s eyes widened, gaping at her, inebriation partially kicked away. “You’re the Lord?!”

She shrugged. “It’s a secret though.”

“Of course!”

Wow, wow, as a reporter, he had always dreamed of connections to higher-up people. He got himself linked to the strongest person here!

…

Later that night, people had slowly succumbed to drunkenness. Surprisingly, Beanie, who had looked drunk since the beginning of the party, was one of the few people awake.

At this time, he was staring at Althea, a bit teary.

“You didn’t have to name her after my dead daughter—I…

“I’m really touched by the name choice.”

Althea looked at him with a complicated expression.

Could she tell him this also had a hint of selfishness? In the end, looking at his extremely appreciative stare, she couldn’t bear to hide it from him.

“I am also guilty,,” she said, and Beany blinked confused. Althea took out the pearl bracelet she has been keeping safe for Theo when he grew old enough to care for it.

Beany, a little unstable as he stood, stared at the bracelet for a while, not entirely certain what he was seeing. He narrowed his eyes to focus more, leaning dow na bit to see it better.

“It’s Priya’s.”

“What?!” he yelled, shakily taking the accessory in his hand. Althea pursed her lips as she looked at him.

“I… we met Priya even before the beast tide.”

“What?”

“We could be said to have formed a little… friendship.” She said, tone mild, and Beany looked at her in a dazed look.

“She’s very beautiful, smart, and an amazing woman.”

“Hmm…” Beany mumbled, though his head was slightly bent down, his eyebrows furrowed in thought.

She told him more of their encounter, and… how she could’ve saved Priya if she forced her to come.

“Maybe… maybe I should’ve dragged her with us, but I didn’t. I couldn’t risk it, not for someone who didn’t want to come.

“The thought haunts me to this day.

“Do you blame me?”

“No, I— yes.” Beany mumbled, dizzy, from alcohol and the information. “I’m sorry, I need space.”

Althea’s face softened and nodded. “I’ll let Theo stay with Eugene tonight.”

He didn’t answer and turned away, going somewhere far away from her. She stayed there watching the direction when she heard familiar footsteps approach her.

Warm arms wrapped around her shoulder and she let her head rest on his broad shoulder.

“Will he be okay?” She asked her husband, eyes watching their old friend’s fleeing back.

He held his wife’s hand and kissed it comfortingly. “People change, but their cores rarely do.”

“He’ll be fine,” he said softly, kissing her head. “It may take time, but he will be fine.”