First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 15

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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 15

“What did you say?”

Imperial Capital. 2nd Prince’s Quarters.

“That bastard Cael… learned aura?”

Killian, who had been sitting at his desk diligently studying military strategy books, widened his eyes at the sudden report from his adjutant who had burst in.

“There’s no doubt about it. The news has spread throughout the Imperial Capital right now.”

“No, wait a minute.”

Killian slumped back against his chair.

It was utterly unbelievable.

Even he, who was considered quite talented among the Argent bloodline, had taken a full three years to learn aura and reach 1-star.

And even then, he was called a genius by those around him.

Considering that most people never even reach the threshold of 1-star in their lifetime, it was certainly a remarkable achievement.

And yet.

‘In just one day of learning aura… he became a Sword Beginner?’

Insane.

No, even calling it insane wasn’t enough.

That was monstrous.

He even doubted whether they were the same species.

“So it wasn’t just luck.”

Killian recalled the memory of being kicked by Cael and falling pathetically.

Not a single day had passed without remembering that incident.

He had simply thought he was unlucky.

That if they fought properly, there was no way he would lose.

But that wasn’t the case.

What had knocked him down back then was undoubtedly that bastard’s skill.

‘If he’s already like this, and if that guy grows even more in the future…’

Chills.

Killian felt goosebumps rising all over his body.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Tell the attendants firmly. From now on, they must not do anything that would displease that guy.”

The adjutant was startled.

Wasn’t the 2nd Prince before him someone who would be offended if called second when it came to pride in the Imperial Capital?

Such a master was now taking a submissive attitude toward an eight-year-old youngest prince.

“From now on, we maintain the best possible relationship with that guy.”

“…Are you sure about this? You used to burn with determination to get revenge no matter what…”

“Sh-shut up!”

A faint blush rose on Killian’s cheeks.

If Cael had seen this, he would have been bewildered wondering if this scoundrel had such a side to him.

Tsk, clicking his tongue, he irritably slammed shut the military strategy book he had been studying.

“I just don’t want to waste energy on useless matters. You haven’t forgotten, have you? Our enemy isn’t that guy, but…”

“The 1st Prince.”

“Right.”

Killian gritted his teeth with blazing eyes.

“Anyway, it’ll be either me or Arthur who becomes Emperor.”

“Don’t you need to keep Prince Cael in check?”

“There’s an old saying. Fighting enemies is third-rate, making peace is second-rate, turning enemies into allies is first-rate.”

“You mean…”

Killian grinned wickedly.

“I just need to pull that strong-armed brute to my side.”

“What will you do if Prince Cael declares his participation in the succession competition in the future?”

“Then it won’t be me but that bastard Arthur who won’t stay still.”

The adjutant nodded in agreement.

“That’s true, I suppose.”

Those who first meet the 1st Prince tend to easily open their hearts to his gentle smile and characteristic comfortable atmosphere.

But Killian and the adjutant who had served him for a long time knew that such friendly appearance was nothing but a mask.

“…Snake-like bastard.”

If there was someone in the world whose outside and inside were most different, it would be his half-brother.

Killian was certain of it.

* * *

Gold-decorated walls and beautiful chandeliers.

Luxurious sofas embroidered with splendid silk and antique tables.

“Really?”

1st Prince Arthur, dressed in incredibly ornate flowing garments, leaned back against his chair and received a report from his maid.

“You’re saying that guy has already mastered aura?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm, quite fast. How long did it take me? About two and a half years, I think. Impressive.”

The maid who gave the report looked up at her master with eyes full of respect.

Even though the appearance of a powerful competitor should be burdensome.

His appearance of not losing his usual composure, as if nothing had happened, was admirable.

“Alright. You may go now.”

Arthur smiled gently and waved his hand.

The maid blushed slightly, bowed at a right angle, then left the 1st Prince’s room.

“…What do you think? Mother.”

Arthur took a sip of tea and set it back down on the table.

Sitting beside him was his mother and the Empire’s 1st Empress.

Sabina de Argent sat with a serious expression.

“It’s dangerous.”

Her mouth opened.

Her voice had a clear tone like the sound of bells.

“He’s far too big an obstacle to our plans. I never expected that child to have such talent…”

“I didn’t know either. Anyway, he’s a guy who surprises us in many ways.”

Arthur shrugged and let out a chuckle.

“How about we try to pull him to our side instead?”

“Rejected. The risk is too great.”

“True, if he knew the truth, that guy wouldn’t stay still.”

Sabina raised her head to look at her son.

Her wrinkled but still beautiful eyes turned toward Arthur.

“So, what will you do?”

“About what?”

“About that child.”

Sabina continued in a stern tone.

“You know we can’t just leave him alone like this.”

“Hmm…”

Arthur stroked his chin thoughtfully, then after a considerable pause, expressed his opinion.

“I think it’s better to wait for now.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

Then he added with gleaming eyes.

“There will be an appropriate time before long.”

Though I don’t know when that will be…

I sipped the black tea placed on the table.

The chandelier’s light reflecting in the teacup seemed to foretell the coming conflagration.

“I do hope Cael will be pleased with my gift.”

* * *

I feel like dying.

That’s not an exaggeration – I genuinely wanted to die.

“That person is the…”

“Right, His Highness Cael…”

Murmur murmur.

I had been leisurely eating snacks in the garden with the children after a long time.

Attendants, maids, knights – everyone had gathered to gawk at me like I was some rare item at an auction house.

They didn’t have the courage to approach closely, so they were all peering from a distance.

“The one who reached 1-star in the shortest time in history…”

“Fuck.”

I didn’t know this.

Apparently, reaching 1-star in just one day of learning aura was the shortest record in history.

What was even more absurd was the gap between my record and second place.

The current second-place record.

In other words, the record that held first place until I appeared was a whopping three months.

It was supposedly the record of some swordsman who made a name for himself long ago.

And third place was the record set by our proud ancestor, Hereis de Argent.

He apparently awakened his aura exactly four months and ten days after starting.

Meanwhile, I did it in one day.

“Fuck…”

Damn it.

It’s too overwhelmingly superior!

Even the second-place record took months, but mine was just one measly day.

By now, my name is probably spreading in real-time not just throughout the Imperial Capital, but across the empire’s borders to the entire continent.

It meant the world’s attention was focused on me.

And my true identity was a reincarnated Demon Lord.

A human possessing demonic energy who would be executed immediately if discovered.

“…”

I buried my face in both hands.

I was seriously about to lose my mind.

I hadn’t particularly planned to hide my talents, but there should be some moderation.

‘I was too hasty.’

I had prepared myself for receiving a lot of attention.

Slowing down my power growth to avoid attention would be putting the cart before the horse.

The problem was not researching humans’ average learning speed beforehand.

Crunch- Crunch-

Whether they knew my feelings or not, Seria, Max, and Carno just kept munching on cookies beside me.

Occasionally, Seria would glance over the crowd that had gathered to see me.

“Wow, Cael, you’re really popular.”

She would add enviously as a bonus.

Certainly, popularity could be a blessing for some people.

But for me, it was nothing but a curse and shackles.

I resented Seria for saying such carefree things without knowing anything.

On the other hand, when I met Ellia recently, I heard the complete opposite.

‘Mother is very happy that Cael has talent. But excessive talent can sometimes bind and harm oneself. I’ve seen too many such cases.’

Ellia’s voice naturally replayed in my head.

‘So don’t worry about others’ gazes, and do whatever our Cael wants to do. Mother is always on your side.’

It was unexpected for that scatterbrained woman to speak so gently and persuasively.

I had thought she would go crazy with excitement like a doting parent upon hearing the news.

Anyway, the conclusion was that it was irreversible now.

I had already crossed the river.

The rumors would spread worldwide before long.

“Sigh…”

I let out a sigh and flopped down on the lawn.

The cloudless sky was annoyingly clear.

“You shouldn’t just eat cookies, you should drink something too.”

A monotone voice came from somewhere.

I slightly turned my head while lying down to look.

Mac and Kal’s dedicated maid was coming over with a container filled with sloshing liquid.

“Wow! Drinks!”

“It’s lemonade, right?”

The twins, with cookie crumbs all over their mouths, brightened up and rushed over.

The maid offered drinks to Seria and me as well.

Since I was thirsty, I asked for a cup too.

“Ugh!”

“Ptui! Ptui!”

But Mac and Kal spat it back into their cups mid-drink.

Mac threw a tantrum in outrage.

“Merry! I told you not to give us tea!”

“But tea ceremony is a basic accomplishment for royalty. I hear His Majesty also enjoys tea regularly.”

“Even so! We don’t like it!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

Before I knew it, even Kal had joined in, protesting while sniffling.

Come to think of it, I remembered that this maid named Merry had previously failed to make the twins drink tea.

“…”

As I stared intently at Merry, our eyes met.

Dull blonde hair and pale blue eyes.

An appearance you could easily see anywhere.

Just as I was looking at Merry, she was also looking at me.

For quite a while. Intently.

Whether the twins were throwing tantrums or not, she paid no attention and kept staring at me.

‘What the hell.’

Why is that person acting like that again.

Her lips were also moving slightly, as if she had something she wanted to say to me.

We continued looking at each other awkwardly for a while.

“Your Highness Cael.”

Finally, her mouth opened.

“Could you spare me a moment? Just briefly. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Not only Mac and Kal, but even Seria widened their eyes at Merry’s unexpected words.

“Say it here.”

“I’m sorry. I cannot do that. It’s an important matter…”

“So you’re telling me to follow you? Without even saying what it’s about?”

“…”

“Can a mere maid order royalty around like that?”

I scolded her in a cold tone.

Merry listened to my words, stood quietly by herself in thought, then bowed her head.

“I apologize. I overstepped my bounds. Please forget about it.”

“Fine.”

Honestly, I’m not really curious about what she wanted to talk about anyway.

At best, it would be something like her family’s financial difficulties and asking His Highness to please help, or something of that sort.

Not getting involved would be beneficial for both me and this maid.

“Cael, you’re so mean.”

“Right, you should at least listen.”

“Stupid old kid.”

…These little brats.

The “stupid old kid” was Seria’s line.

I gave the kid a flick on the forehead.

A large bump swelled up.

Seria burst into tears with a wail.

‘Now that I’m famous, all sorts of people are getting drawn to me.’

Many things happened after that, but the situation I had initially worried about—my reputation spreading across the entire continent for everyone to know—didn’t occur.

Since long-distance communication magic wasn’t widespread, there were limits to how fast information could travel, and above all, since it was so unrealistic, many people dismissed it as mere rumors.

However, word did spread here and there that a prodigy had been born to the Argent Empire’s royal family.

And that this person was the youngest prince.

Only this much information spread around to various places.

* * *

Time flew by like an arrow.

Before I knew it, another 5 years had passed since my baptism ceremony and learning aura.

I had turned thirteen years old.

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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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