Dimon thought it over and decided not to waste the Wine of Immortality.
There was only one bottle—no point squandering it on a whim.
His status was "demon," and the Wine was something he brewed, so it had no effect on him.
Granting people agelessness was just one of the demon's baseline powers; he didn't need the drink himself.
Imu had a similar ability in the legends—only stronger. Maybe Imu is a demon too? Dimon wondered, but the manga was still ongoing in this timeline; Imu's true strength and face were mysteries to him.
Before he could daydream further, the old robed man returned—this time with a young woman at his side.
"Lord Satan! We brought a sacrifice!" the elder announced as soon as he stepped in. He dropped to his knees before Dimon. "This woman is a pure maiden, our nation's princess. Please accept her—please take our vengeance!"
The woman knelt too, jaw set like someone steeling herself for the worst. Determination had replaced fear; she looked ready to be consumed.
Dimon: "…"
Where to begin? He took the girl in at a glance. Barely of age, pretty but not jaw-dropping—just ordinary pretty. The princess's voice trembled when she answered.
"What is your name?" Dimon asked.
"Great Lord Satan—er—" she stammered. "My name is Alfreda Orsya. I'm fourteen years old."
Fourteen. Dimon blinked. He'd pegged her for seventeen or so; people in this world seemed to mature fast.
"Not Satan. I'm Dimon. Don't get a demon's name wrong—you'll have bad luck." He said it with deadpan seriousness.
"Y-Yes, Lord Dimon!" Alfreda hurriedly bowed. "Lord Dimon, I will give my life—take me—please avenge my father and our ten thousand souls!"
"How many of you are left?" Dimon asked, curious. Celestial Dragons slaughtered an island every few years, often sealing it off with the Marines. How did any of them escape at all?
"Thirteen," the elder spat, rage cracking his voice. "I'm Lock, captain of the royal guard. I led the escort and fought to protect the princess. The rest—all dead. The Marines won't let us be. We fled to Hachinosu and barely survived."
Hachinosu—Beehive Island—Rocks Pirates' territory. The irony wasn't lost on Dimon: a supposedly pirate paradise turned safe haven for the hunted. If they tended to their demon, revenge might be in reach.
"Enough with the martyr speeches," Dimon waved them off. "No sacrifices. Do you really think demons eat people? At least I don't."
He ordered them to prepare a bar.
Alfreda visibly relaxed—nobody wanted to die if they didn't have to. Lock breathed out a laugh that was half relief, half hope. If he and the princess could serve the demon faithfully, a chance at vengeance might come.
They had no money for a grand establishment. Their flight had drained their coffers; they could only buy a small house and convert it into a bar. In Hachinosu, however, that was enough—this island's wealth came from pirate families, gambling dens, and brothels. A plain little tavern like Dimon's would go unnoticed.
Midday, the bar saw its first customer.
He was huge—towering well above ordinary men, a pair of white horns jutted from his forehead. He wore a sleeveless leather vest and slung a spiked wolf-tooth club across one shoulder.
"Even this place has a bar?" a deep voice rumbled as he pushed the door open.
It was Kaido. The tiny tavern had only three tables. A young girl, the princess, looked up and froze—she had to crane her neck to meet him at all.
"You're… you're a member of the Rocks Pirates—Kaido!" she blurted, words tripping over themselves.
Of course everyone here knew the large pirate, Rokks D. Giberk's crew ruled the island. Wanted posters were everywhere; not to know the faces would be suspicious.
Dimon lowered the news-sheet he'd been reading behind the bar and studied the newcomer.
"You can step away, Alfreda," he said. The princess obediently retreated.
Kaido sniffed the air and grinned. "You the owner? I smelled something nice outside. Bring me your best."
He dropped into a stool so heavily the wood complained.
"We only have one wine," Dimon replied with a small smile. "If you want it, you'll have to pay the price."
"How much?" Kaido scoffed. For a man like him, money was rarely an issue. He'd happily spend a fortune for a good bottle.
"One cup—one Devil Fruit." Dimon said calmly.
Kaido blinked. "You kidding? A Devil Fruit for a cup of wine?"
A Devil Fruit was worth at least a hundred million Berries at the low end. Kaido—one of the Rocks' heavy hitters—had a bounty in the hundreds of millions. He wasn't stingy with money, but he wasn't a fool either.
"My wine is worth that." Dimon's expression didn't change. "Its name is the Wine of Immortality. A cup grants agelessness and undying regeneration."
Kaido narrowed his eyes. "You expect me to believe there's magic like that? Sounds like a fairy tale."
"You don't have to believe me. As the first customer, you may go on account." Dimon smiled. "Drink first, pay later."
He produced the bottle and opened it. Warm, intoxicating aromas spilled into the air. Kaido swallowed at the scent—good wine announces itself, and this was luxury in a bottle.
One bottle made exactly four effective cups; after that, the fifth serving lost potency. Dimon poured a full goblet and pushed it to Kaido.
"One thing," Dimon warned. "If you drink, your appearance fixes in time. You'll stop aging. Even if you're beheaded, your body will restore."
Kaido mulled it over. If true—what a weapon. If false—well, then he'd simply toss the owner's place and take his money back.
Curiosity won. Kaido snatched the cup and gulped it down in a single, thunderous swallow.
"Good wine," he said, licking his lips. "Best I've had. Give me another."
"You won't get a second cup while you're on credit." Dimon's smile stayed calm. "And the effect doesn't stack."
The news hit Kaido like a spike under his skin. He was a young hedonist; running out mid-binge was a sin.
"Gonna make trouble, then?" he growled, fingers tightening on his club.
He leaned forward, the whole room feeling smaller against his bulk—an instant where the bar's clutter and the princess's silent dread narrowed to the span between his fist and Dimon.
Dimon's face was casual, but his eyes were cool. The bar fell into the kind of silence that only comes just before glass breaks.
Kaido's voice low, dangerous: "You sure you want to play bartender games with me?"
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