First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 12

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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 12

[The deity who bestowed baptism upon Prince Cael is… Gabriel!]

Waaaaaaah!

I returned to the Millennium Cathedral.

When I regained consciousness, Gabriel’s crest was glowing on the stone tablet my hand was touching.

The blessing had been performed normally.

‘Hmm, this should be enough.’

For now, the amount of magic power I can use has increased slightly.

But the deity’s blessing would gradually become more effective as I grew stronger.

Let me be satisfied with this level for now.

“Cael!”

When I returned to my seat, Seria and the children welcomed me.

“How was it? What did it feel like to meet a Celestial deity?”

“Hey, why are you asking? He won’t remember it anyway.”

“Cael might be different though. I saw earlier that he didn’t stagger around like you guys and was perfectly fine.”

She’s quite perceptive.

Seria sometimes shows sharpness in the most unexpected places.

“Cael is really amazing! You weren’t dizzy?”

“Not particularly.”

“This guy is really different from the rest of us. I knew Cael would receive Gabriel’s blessing!”

“I wanted to receive Gabriel’s blessing too! *sniff*”

“Kal, do you want to receive divine punishment from Michael?”

“Eek! I take it back, I take it back!”

A lively atmosphere.

Perhaps because the tension had lifted, the children had returned to their usual behavior from the Imperial Capital.

They tease each other, get annoyed, and sometimes even hit and fight.

But I can feel with my skin that they truly cherish each other.

At some point, I realize I’ve become accustomed to this noisy and cheerful atmosphere.

‘When I was in the Demon Realm, I was stuck in the sanctuary all day with nothing but silence.’

Of course, battle cries and screams could be heard from beyond the sky every day.

But such murderous noise is completely different from children’s laughter, isn’t it?

When I listen to the children’s silly conversations, I end up chuckling along with them.

‘All of this is for the sake of peace.’

Gabriel’s voice that I had heard just a few minutes ago.

I stared blankly at the children who were joking and chattering.

“…”

If.

In the distant future, if I wage war against the Demon Lords.

Will these children also eventually be swept up in the flames of war?

“Stop running your nose!”

“Hey! If you keep bothering me, I’ll wipe it on you!”

“Ahhhhh! Gross! Get away from me, you bad guy!”

This warm and bustling laughter.

Will I never be able to hear it again for the rest of my life?

At the sudden thought, my chest felt as heavy as if a stone had been placed on it.

[With this, we conclude the 52nd Argent Imperial Family baptism ceremony. We ask all visitors to please return home.]

Anghel finished his brief closing remarks.

The people who had filled the Grand Cathedral began to rise from their seats one by one.

Soon after, we too exited the Grand Cathedral following the attendants’ guidance.

“…”

Just before leaving the Grand Cathedral.

I was able to take in the sight of the VIP section where the imperial family was seated.

The Emperor with his cold expression, still unreadable.

Arthur, who had been looking at me with an interested gaze.

Killian, who seemed dissatisfied that I had received Gabriel’s blessing just like Seria.

And Ellia, who was happier about that fact than anyone else.

‘There’ll be another commotion when I get back.’

I can clearly picture Ellia getting all excited and launching an affection offensive.

We came out of the Millennium Cathedral.

The carriages that had brought us here were waiting.

Just as I was about to board the carriage.

“Congratulations.”

A middle-aged man in armor smiled kindly.

“Huh? That person…”

“I know that uncle!”

That’s him.

The man who had asked me if I had ever learned martial arts after I knocked down Killian.

“I should introduce myself first.”

He bowed to us.

“I am Zeroph Gamilan, Captain of the Imperial Guard. Congratulations on completing your baptism ceremony magnificently. Now you will be able to receive formal swordsmanship education from the Argent Imperial Family.”

The children smiled brightly.

It seemed they had been waiting for swordsmanship education for quite some time.

Kids this age are naturally active.

“Wooooah!”

“It sounds fun! I want to learn quickly!”

These guys. Are they really that happy?

I’m curious what kind of reaction they’ll show if I make them do physical training for just one day.

“Rest well today, and we’ll start the education right away tomorrow.”

With the baptism ceremony finished, there was no need to delay it.

I’d like to start today if possible, but that would be pushing it given the circumstances.

“Understood.”

I answered and boarded the carriage.

The children also got into their respective carriages.

“Neigh neigh neigh!”

The horses neighed vigorously.

Just before departure.

“I have high personal expectations for Your Highness Cael.”

Zeroph Gamilan’s voice came from outside the carriage window.

“Normally, swordsmanship education for royalty is not my responsibility, but this time I’ve decided to personally provide instruction. I look forward to working with you.”

He has expectations?

Well, I don’t mind that someone of his caliber is personally teaching me.

It wouldn’t be bad to take this opportunity to observe the swordsmanship of the Intermediate Realm.

“Well then.”

Clatter- Clatter-

The carriage left the Millennium Cathedral and began racing toward the Imperial Capital.

I looked at the sunlight streaming through the window.

‘Finally.’

It had been a long, long time.

I had safely completed the first hurdle of the baptism ceremony and even gained an ally in Gabriel.

Though it was an uneasy alliance where I couldn’t tell when he might betray me.

Still, I should be able to make use of him for now.

‘Finally, it feels like some gears are starting to turn.’

Now, eight years after being reincarnated in the Intermediate Realm.

It seemed like time that had been standing still was finally beginning to flow again.

* * *

The next morning.

“Whoa! I’m so nervous.”

“Sniff! I can do well, right?”

“If you get snot on me while swinging your sword, I won’t let it slide.”

The four of us gathered in the garden to receive sword training.

It was the same garden where we always played together.

I expected to be told to come to the training grounds, so meeting in the garden was unexpected.

The sun was blazing high in the sky, and beads of sweat trickled down my spine.

‘Is it almost summer?’

It was around the time when spring was ending and it was gradually getting warmer.

This place with its distinct four seasons was nice because I could see various landscapes that couldn’t be found in the Demon Realm.

However, not all lands in the Intermediate Realm had such diverse seasons.

I heard that the northern Void Snowfields and southern Great Forest had extreme weather year-round.

Being reincarnated in the Argent Empire with its mild climate was fortunate, if you could call it that.

“It’s so hot…”

Of course, it might be unfortunate for someone else.

“I wish it were winter all year round…”

Seria was sweating profusely and fanning her face with her hand.

Her drooping features looked like well-kneaded flour dough.

Thud, thud.

Footsteps could be heard from afar.

Along with the distinctive clanking sound of armor.

Had he finally arrived?

‘Let me see what the Imperial Guard Captain is capable of.’

But the person who appeared was someone completely unexpected.

“So you’re all here.”

Flowing golden hair.

A beautiful boy with blue eyes like captured ocean.

First Prince Arthur de Argent appeared with his escort knights.

“I heard you received baptism recently?”

Arthur smiled brightly.

It was such a fresh smile that you could almost see flowers blooming behind him.

‘This gives me a sense of déjà vu.’

Not long ago, Killian had appeared in the garden with knights and caused a scene.

Unlike Killian, whose expression had been sharp from the start, Arthur seemed friendly on the surface.

His delicate features made him look quite kind instead.

“What brings you all the way here, brother?”

Since he wasn’t picking a fight right away, I greeted him politely.

Arthur waved his hand dismissively and spoke.

“Haha, nothing particularly special. I was just curious to see if my siblings who started learning swordsmanship were doing well.”

“Thank you for your concern. We will train diligently.”

“Good, good. That’s a nice attitude. But you’re Cael, right?”

Arthur asked while stroking his chin.

Even his small gestures exuded the dignity of royalty.

“I saw you at the baptism ceremony. Receiving Gabriel’s blessing, I mean.”

“I’m honored that you remember.”

“Haha, don’t be so stiff. I came here because I want to be friends with you.”

“With… me, you mean?”

What kind of nonsense is this now?

Someone I have no connection with except being sons of the same Emperor.

“Actually, I also received baptism from Gabriel. Did you know? Including branch families, there are over ten royals in this generation. Among them, only you and I were chosen by Gabriel.”

He seemed excited as his words kept flowing.

“Even that Killian guy received baptism from Michael. So I was really glad. I’ve been kind of lonely, actually.”

“Seria here also received Gabriel’s blessing.”

“Hmm… That’s true.”

When I pointed to Seria, who was hiding behind us nervously at the First Prince’s appearance, Arthur’s expression became lukewarm.

“But she’s a girl. And she’s Kalian’s sister. I don’t get along well with him.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yeah. So I’m more interested in you than that Seria or whatever her name is.”

Arthur ruffled and patted my hair.

“Let’s get along well from now on. If Killian gives you trouble, come find me. Train hard.”

He grinned at me, then turned and gestured to his knights.

“Let’s go.”

Arthur walked away with his knights in tow.

Just as he had appeared suddenly, he disappeared just as quickly.

I kept staring at his retreating figure until he vanished from sight.

‘An unpredictable person.’

Simple guys like Killian are easy to predict.

The really dangerous ones are actually types like him.

“He seems like a good person.”

“Yeah. Sniff.”

Mac and Kal said so.

He certainly seemed like a better guy than Killian.

“What should I do? I think the First Prince dislikes me…”

Seria was dejected, probably remembering Arthur’s lukewarm reaction.

I added a comment.

“You have your brother.”

“I don’t like my brother. He always bullies me.”

“Then do you like the First Prince?”

“I’ve never talked to him. I wanted to become friends though…”

The children seemed to have gotten a very good impression of Arthur.

Right.

Maybe he really is as hopelessly kind as that grinning face suggests.

But my instincts, which had helped me overcome crises multiple times in the Demon Realm, were sounding alarms about him.

‘I hope it’s just unfounded worry.’

Instincts can be right sometimes and wrong other times.

Anyway.

A few minutes later, the real sword instructor finally appeared.

“Hehe, sorry to keep you waiting.”

A middle-aged knight with ash-gray hair wearing splendid armor introduced himself.

“I’m Zeroph Gamilan, the Imperial Guard Captain who greeted you yesterday. I’ll be in charge of training Your Highnesses the Prince and Princess from today.”

His voice carried the dignity of a high-ranking knight.

Zeroph Gamilan firmly grasped the atmosphere that had been chaotic due to the First Prince’s sudden appearance.

“Since today is the first day, we’ll start with simple theoretical education. Please come this way.”

He guided us to the Garden Retreat.

The white-painted benches and pillars, and the vines woven like bars covering the ceiling, provided shade from the sunlight.

Beside us, water jets from a circular fountain were creating small rainbows.

“What do you think is the most important thing in swordsmanship?”

Zeroph, sitting across from the four of us, clasped his hands on the white table.

“Strength!”

Ilmbo Maek answered energetically.

Zeroph shook his head.

“Then… speed?”

That was snotty Kal’s answer.

Zeroph shook his head again this time.

“Um… the sword’s durability?”

Seria found her answer not in the swordsman himself but in the tool.

However, Zeroph shook his head without fail.

‘The most important thing in swordsmanship…’

I also gave my answer after considerable thought.

“Center of gravity.”

Zeroph smiled pleasantly as if surprised.

“That’s the second most important thing. But it’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

To us who were uncertain, Zeroph refreshingly gave us the answer.

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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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