First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 111

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 111

When I opened my eyes, I was in a room.

Gorgeous chandeliers and luxurious furniture.

It was the Royal Palace of the Capital Lantaskar.

“Huh? Hyung woke up!”

A small creature with pure white fur bolted upright.

“Muramad?”

“That’s right, hyung! It’s me! Are you okay? How do you feel?”

“I’m fine… ugh!”

I tried to act like nothing was wrong, but I wasn’t fine at all.

My body ached and hurt all over.

My head was dizzy as if someone was shaking it, and I felt nauseous too.

“Sorry, but I don’t think I’m okay.”

I laid my body back down on the bed after trying to get up.

It seemed I needed to rest a bit more.

“Got it, hyung. Sleep a little more and then get up.”

“Yeah…”

I fell into sleep while receiving Muramad’s devoted care.

How many hours had passed?

When I opened my eyes again, I was in better condition than before.

“Your Majesty.”

Muramad had gone somewhere, and Merry was watching over me.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“Ah, I feel much better after sleeping well. How long was I asleep?”

“You slept for two straight days.”

I had been asleep for two whole days.

I must have been quite exhausted.

“Then today is…”

“Wednesday evening.”

Amelia had scheduled my individual tournament for Friday, telling me to return by Friday if possible.

Fortunately, I still had time.

“What about Kise and Diago?”

“They’re busy being called here and there.”

“Called here and there? What do you mean?”

“You’ll find out soon.”

Merry suddenly sighed.

“Actually, I was in trouble too, but I barely escaped using the excuse of nursing Your Majesty…”

“Huh?”

I soon understood what Merry’s words meant.

Knock knock knock.

The door opened carefully with a knock.

“Prince Asel?”

“Are you alright?”

“Prince Asel has awakened!”

The beastmen who confirmed I was sitting on the bed came flooding into the room.

“Prince Asel! You wouldn’t wake up, so we thought something terrible had happened! Haha!”

“How is your body? If you need any medicine, please let us know anytime.”

“Prince Asel! We’re so glad you’re awake!”

Crowding.

Even though the room was quite spacious, when dozens of beastmen, most taller than humans, came in, it was packed with no room to step.

Looking at their faces, there were not only the beastman knights who were at the scene, but also people I’d never seen before.

“Uh… Thank you for your concern, but did you all come in droves just to see me alone?”

At those words, the beastmen all erupted at once.

“Just to see you!”

“Prince Asel is a hero of the Beast-man Kingdom!”

“Don’t diminish your own achievements!”

“We’re pushing forward a project to erect a statue of Prince Asel in Lantaskar. We’ll make it out of mithril so it absolutely won’t break! Hahaha!”

Making a statue out of mithril?

What kind of absurd talk is this?

My head, which had just gotten better, started throbbing again.

Patter patter patter patter.

A ball of fur came running quickly from the doorway.

“Asel hyung!”

It was the beastman prince Muramad.

“Read this once.”

Muramad handed me a newspaper.

After reading the front page, I couldn’t help but gasp.

「Human from the Empire Becomes Hero Who Saved the Beast-man Kingdom!」

「Asel (17), a human student from the Argent Empire currently enrolled as a first-year at Millennium Academy, has become a hot topic for his remarkable contributions in defeating the evil organization ‘Demon Subjugation Society’ that recently stirred up the Beast-man Kingdom. Student Asel, early Sunday morning, formed a connection by saving Prince Muramad who was almost kidnapped by slave hunters…」

The content was long and verbose, but my exploits were recorded in detail.

What is this!

I had become a star in the Beast-man Kingdom overnight.

‘Surely it doesn’t say I’m Pluton’s agent, right?’

Fortunately, even after searching thoroughly, there was no such content.

It seemed the Emperor had kept his promise to keep the secret.

“Kahahaha!”

The Emperor entered the room with hearty laughter.

Kise and Diago, looking tired, entered following behind the Emperor.

“As promised, I kept the secret, but I did the rest as I pleased.”

The Emperor winked with one eye.

I crumpled up the newspaper and waved it in front of the Emperor’s nose.

“So this is why you featured my exploits prominently in the newspaper?”

“Isn’t it good? Usually people your age like receiving attention.”

“That varies from person to person! It’s troublesome for me!”

Even though the Beast-man Kingdom was under the jurisdiction of the Western Alliance.

If it was featured prominently enough to be on the front page of the newspaper, the news must have reached the Argent Empire as well.

The people at Millennium Academy probably all know by now too.

‘This… wasn’t part of the plan.’

Certainly, even up to the entrance exam, I was hiding my power, saying I would move secretly.

Now I’ve been branded as the nation’s officially recognized top talent and hero.

The stage where I could move secretly was long since transcended.

‘Well, let’s think positively.’

Rooting out Baal’s agents hiding in Millennium Academy was still the top priority.

In that process, if I can’t operate quietly, it might actually be advantageous to receive lots of spotlight instead.

With a title like the Empire’s top talent, I should be able to participate in most activities.

“We have unfinished business to discuss.”

The Emperor gestured to the beastmen.

Among them were those who knew the truth and those who weren’t at the scene.

But none dared to intrude on the Emperor’s conversation.

“Hyung! Talk with dad and see me later!”

Muramad waved his hand one last time before the door closed.

Left in the room were just me and the three members of the Pluton Sect.

And only the Beast Emperor.

“Hmm… I’m not sure where to begin this story.”

The Beast Emperor stroked his mane and sat down in any chair.

“Until now, I believed that all demon cults were nothing but sinister and evil beings.”

As the Beast Emperor began speaking, he glanced over the faces of me, Merry, Kise, and Diago one by one.

“But what I saw of you all was far from the general perception of demon cults. Of course, that appearance could all be a mask. But you saved my son and saved my country.”

I could feel genuine gratitude from the Beast Emperor.

“Now, even if you turn out to be evil beings who perform human sacrifices behind the scenes, I will treat you as eternal allies of the Beast-man Kingdom. As long as you haven’t harmed beastmen like the Lucifer Sect did.”

His tone was gentle but carried firmness.

If we had a history of harming beastmen, all our previous contributions would be meaningless.

“So tell me. What are your true identities and purposes? For what reason did you enter the Beast-man Kingdom?”

The Beast Emperor added earnestly.

“…Can I trust you all?”

He seemed to desperately hope that we weren’t evil beings like the common perception of demon cults.

My intuition rang an alarm.

This moment was an important turning point.

Just like when I decided to escape the Imperial Capital four years ago and follow Merry’s group.

I had a feeling that depending on what choice I made here, the future would change dramatically.

“I am…”

Should I tell everything honestly?

Or hide some truths?

Gulp.

Merry, Kise, and Diago swallowed nervously as they watched to see what answer I would give.

Whatever choice I made, they would support me.

“…My real name is Cael de Argent.”

When I spoke that name, the Beast Emperor was startled.

Though it’s now a forbidden name, someone with the Beast Emperor’s level of power would have heard it before.

“I am the forgotten prince of the Empire.”

I decided to make the Beast Emperor my true ally.

* * *

I revealed all truths to the Beast Emperor, except for the fact that I was Pluton’s reincarnation.

That despite being human, I could handle demonic energy from a young age.

That I had hidden this fact well until age 13, but was eventually discovered by the Emperor and Count.

My escape from the Imperial Capital and how I came to join the Pluton Sect.

My purpose of defeating all demon lords’ agents.

My reason for enrolling in Millennium Academy and the Nox Cartel.

Finally, my reason for entering the Beast-man Kingdom.

I reflected on my entire life since reincarnation, telling everything in detail from beginning to end.

“I became Pluton’s agent during the battle with Lucifer.”

However, I had no choice but to lie about this part.

“The fact that he appointed me as his agent must mean Pluton also agrees with my purpose.”

“Defeating all demon lords’ agents… you mean.”

“That’s right.”

Sob.

Tears suddenly burst from Diago’s eyes.

“Actually, I… still can’t believe it.”

Whoosh.

Dark energy rising from Diago’s hands.

Pluton’s demonic power.

“As you heard, our sect’s connection with our deity was completely severed due to that incident 17 years ago. For a long time, we couldn’t borrow power or hear divine messages.”

Diago continued speaking resolutely while crying like a girl.

“I am… so grateful to Your Highness. Though he still doesn’t give us divine messages, if it weren’t for Your Highness, Pluton would never have lent us his power again.”

Though Diago spoke as the representative, Merry and Kise seemed to feel the same way.

Merry was naturally taciturn, and Kise, though usually frivolous, was quite shy by nature, so they just didn’t express it.

But their overwhelming expressions couldn’t be hidden.

“Truly… one surprise after another.”

The Beast Emperor leaned back against his chair with a dazed expression.

“That Prince Cael, who I thought was dead, was alive, that such a secret history existed, that it was actually you… it’s all too shocking.”

The Beast Emperor looked much more relieved after learning the truth.

“Still, I’m glad you’re not an evil being like public perception suggests. If the Pluton Sect’s purpose is to eliminate all demon cults from the world, then I, Samaho Renji, am ready to help.”

The Beast Emperor raised his index finger.

“Just one thing.”

Whoosh—

An aura barrier unfolded.

It was to prevent Merry, Kise, and Diago from hearing our conversation.

“Most of it was true, but the part about awakening as an agent during the battle with Lucifer was a lie. You’ve been Pluton’s agent for quite some time already.”

“!!”

I flinched.

This wasn’t the truth either, but he had accurately seen through that I had lied.

“Don’t be so surprised. I didn’t get the position of Beast Emperor through a game of ddakji. Well, I know there’s no malice, so that’s enough. You must have reasons for hiding this fact even from your subordinates.”

Snap.

The aura barrier was released as the Beast Emperor snapped his fingers.

“…You have a talent for surprising people.”

“Hahaha! It’s a small ability.”

The Beast Emperor laughed heartily.

“What will you do now? If it’s alright, I recommend staying here until the weekend. I’ll throw you a grand banquet.”

“Thank you, but I’ll decline.”

“Beast-man Kingdom banquets are different from the Empire’s and would be fun, what a shame. Is there a reason you want to leave quickly?”

“The individual tournament is on Friday, so I need to return by tomorrow.”

“Hmm? Ah, school schedule. Then it can’t be helped.”

The Beast Emperor suddenly let out a deep sigh and began lamenting.

“I wish my son would study diligently like you. Muramad just won’t study at all…”

I let his rambling chatter go in one ear and out the other.

I had achieved all my objectives in the Beast-man Kingdom.

There were even unexpected gains like reaching 7-star level and the demon’s heart.

‘I’ve got the evidence too, so let’s go.’

Deilos’s head was still in subspace.

Well, it seemed to have lost its value as evidence the moment it was reported prominently in the newspapers anyway.

Now it was time to return to the Academy.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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