First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 25

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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 25

“Did you just arrive?”

“Yeah.”

“Wasn’t it hard preparing for this?”

“It was damn exhausting.”

Seria chuckled softly as if she could relate to my answer.

“The food outside looked delicious.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been able to eat anything since earlier.”

“You should have at least eaten some of the snacks your brother offered.”

“I wasn’t really in the mood for snacks. I want meat, meat.”

While conversing with Seria, I kept watching Arthur’s direction.

He and Killian had finished their earlier squabble and were now sitting far apart, each reading their own books.

The reaction he showed me was limited to our earlier conversation.

I half-gave up on getting information through him.

There might not be any connection to begin with.

“You need to come out now.”

The waiting room door opened and a maid poked her head in.

Arthur and Killian closed their books.

Seria also stood up from her seat.

It was time to make our appearance at the banquet.

“Now presenting the little suns who will lead the Empire’s future! Arthur de Argent! Killian de Argent! Cael de Argent! Seria de Argent, Your Highnesses are entering!”

With that resounding announcement, the four of us walked out onto the platform in order.

The nobles gathered in the hall temporarily set down their food and drinks to give us thunderous applause.

There were also some who whispered to each other among those who seemed close.

Most of it was about topics related to the next imperial succession.

Occasionally, I could hear them talking about me.

-That person is…

-I heard he’s already reached 3-star at thirteen years old. I can’t even imagine how much he’ll grow in the next few years.

-There’s also a rumor that he reached 1-star just one day after learning aura…

-That must be a false rumor. Does that even make sense?

All reactions were purely admiring my martial achievements, not Cael as a prince.

The imperial succession competition, which had been almost fixed since around the time I was born, was now trending toward a confirmed two-way structure between Arthur and Killian.

That wasn’t bad for me.

There was one point of doubt though.

If Sabina was the culprit, there’s no way she couldn’t have read this atmosphere.

So why did she unnecessarily try to kill me when I was so removed from imperial power?

There were aspects that couldn’t be explained by the simple excuse of eliminating future competitors.

There must be other reasons.

“Cael! Seria!”

“Over here, over here!”

Mac and Kal were sitting at a round table, waving their hands.

Next to them sat a row of men and women who appeared to be around our age or slightly older.

I assumed they were other imperial family members from collateral lines.

They were looking at Seria and me with hostile expressions.

I could understand it.

Despite being imperial family members, they would have faced various forms of discrimination from childhood due to being from collateral lines, so it wouldn’t be strange for them to harbor resentment toward us direct descendants.

Yet it was amusing how they would quickly lower their heads like ghosts whenever they made eye contact with Arthur or Killian.

I guess the succession candidates were beyond their level to handle.

They were worthless vermin not even worth dealing with.

“…”

Gulp.

Seeing those menacing glares, Seria swallowed nervously and gently grasped my hand.

This would be the first time in her life facing such raw hostility.

“There’s nothing to fear.”

I grasped Seria’s hand in return and whispered in her ear.

What was there to be trembling about from such idiots?

Having gained peace of mind from my confident attitude, I could feel her pulse gradually stabilizing.

I didn’t bother heading toward that table.

I was planning to secretly slip out of the hall once the Empress entered and the banquet got properly underway anyway.

It was better to stay away from people until then.

“Ah…”

“Cael ignored us… *sniff*”

But Mac and Kal’s reactions bothered me too much.

They looked dejected like puppies scolded by their owner.

In the end, I took Seria’s hand and sat in the empty seats next to them.

All eyes at the table focused on us.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Since it would be awkward to see their faces and say nothing, I greeted the collateral imperial family members first.

“I’m Cael de Argent.”

“…”

No response came back.

I shrugged my shoulders, feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.

They were ignoring me so blatantly.

I never expected no one would respond at all.

Then one boy spoke up.

“Robert de Argent.”

He was the one who had been looking at me with the most disgusted expression at this table.

He appeared to be about two or three years older than me.

“So you’re that famous guy.”

“Pardon?”

“The next-generation Sword Saint candidate who reached 3-star at thirteen. I often hear praise about you among the knights too. They say a once-in-a-generation talent has been born in the imperial family.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I picked up a piece of meat from the table with my fork and asked while eating.

“But how old are you, brother?”

At those words, veins bulged on Robert’s forehead.

He seemed hurt that while he knew detailed information about me, I didn’t even know basic information about him.

“Fifteen. I’m two years older than you.”

“I see. What about your level?”

“…”

Robert closed his mouth.

Was he embarrassed to say?

It’s just that my speed was abnormal, but normally being able to use aura at fifteen would still earn you recognition as a prodigy.

I was waiting for an answer when a bizarre sound came out of Robert’s mouth.

“Insolent brat.”

Why was he suddenly picking a fight out of nowhere?

“Don’t get cocky just because you’re from the direct line. You can never become Emperor anyway. It’ll be either Arthur or Killian who becomes Emperor.”

I knew that too.

In fact, I would decline even if they offered it to me.

As I pondered why he suddenly went off the rails, the answer soon came to me.

Fifteen.

The same age as Killian five years ago when he was tormenting Seria.

“Are you perhaps going through puberty?”

Robert’s expression twisted viciously.

“What did you…?”

“I asked if you’re going through puberty. You suddenly went off the rails. Asking about your age and level isn’t particularly rude or arrogant, is it?”

“You bastard…!”

Robert’s face turned red and blue with rage.

But despite his momentum that seemed ready to charge at any moment, he just sat there seething with anger.

He knew he’d get crushed if he picked a fight with me.

Both in terms of force and politics, he was no match.

“Stop it, Robert, Cael.”

Someone stepped forward to mediate the situation.

It was a woman sitting next to Robert.

“I’m Luna de Argent. I’m fifteen, the same age as Robert.”

The woman who introduced herself as Luna patted Robert’s shoulder.

It was a gesture telling him to calm down and cool his temper.

Then she turned to me and began reproaching me.

“Robert was wrong first, but he’s still two years older than you, right? Can’t you show some respect as a younger brother? Unless you deliberately provoked Robert to upset him.”

This must be what they call turning the tables.

“I did provoke him to upset him.”

“…What?”

“You’ve all been staring at us with fucking sour expressions since Seria and I came up on that platform. It pissed me off, so I deliberately provoked that bastard to make him feel like shit too.”

I’d been slightly annoyed since Seria was trembling because of these bastards.

Who the hell are they to intimidate a child?

With Robert’s provocation added on top of that, my anger reached its breaking point and surged up.

“…”

The collateral royals seemed greatly flustered beyond anger at my violent outburst.

Mac and Kal, even Seria, were staring at me with their mouths agape.

Their eyes seemed to say, “Hey, are you crazy?”

“Ha, you’re really a reckless bastard, aren’t you?”

Luna shook her head as if slightly disgusted.

“Can you handle talking like this?”

“What exactly can’t I handle?”

“What?”

“Is there even one thing you’re better at than me? Your status is inferior, your martial prowess is inferior, and it’s not like you receive His Majesty’s favor or anything. Actually, I want to ask you. What exactly are you relying on to act so arrogant?”

These guys are just dregs.

Even if they tried to use force, I was stronger.

Even if they tried political maneuvering, my position was superior to these bastards.

Moreover, thanks to my insane talent, the attention and interest from above was on a different level.

“You… really…”

They probably didn’t expect me to be this reckless.

If they hadn’t acted like assholes first, I would have tried to treat them like a gentleman.

“…”

The collateral royals glared at me, unable to hide their anger.

However, when I stared back and glared fiercely, they quickly averted their gazes.

They were now showing me the same reaction they only showed to Arthur and Killian before.

‘Idiots.’

I finally stabbed a chunk of meat dripping with juices and shoved it into my mouth.

“Let’s go.”

I grabbed Seria’s hand and stood up from my seat.

I also shot a sharp look at Mac and Kal, who were blankly watching the situation.

“Huh?”

“Us too?”

“What, you want to keep sitting here?”

The twins didn’t have the courage to keep sitting among the brothers in this menacing atmosphere and jumped up.

These bastards might take out their anger on the relatively easy targets Mac and Kal.

If that happened, I’d really beat them all half to death.

I led the children across the hall with large strides.

While I was wondering where we should go.

Seria smacked my back!

“You’re crazy, you’re crazy!”

“Ow, that hurts. What’s wrong with you.”

“You!”

Smack!

“Why! Are you! Acting! Like this!”

Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!

With crisp sounds, Seria’s palm repeatedly struck my back.

This little kid already has seriously strong hands.

“Ow! Stop it! Fine, I was wrong.”

“Are you really insane?! What are you going to do about the consequences!”

“It’ll work out somehow. Those bastards are really pathetic.”

“Don’t curse!”

Since my reincarnation, I’d tried my best not to curse in front of the kids.

But this time, cursing was unavoidable.

I was really very angry.

‘But… why was I so angry?’

From my perspective, Robert was no different from a newborn baby.

I understood that fifteen was the most obnoxious age in a human’s entire life.

What made me so furious?

When Seria, terrified by the hostility those bastards were emitting, quietly grabbed my hand.

When I witnessed her trembling pupils right beside me.

From that moment, I unknowingly lost my grip on reason.

-From the beginning, you were never suited for a Demon Lord’s Seat. Weak and easily swayed by emotions.

Vergil’s mockery echoed in my mind.

‘Yeah, maybe you’re right.’

As I walked and looked around, Killian was sharing drinks and conversation with a middle-aged man.

“Then please take care of that matter. Thanks to the Count, I’m really enjoying life these days.”

“Leave it to me, Your Highness.”

It seemed to be a conversation about a business he was overseeing.

I waited until their conversation ended, and when the man called Count left, I stood before Killian with the children.

“…What is it.”

Killian replied reluctantly.

There was no hostility, just a tone that found dealing with me bothersome.

“I’m busy, so go play over there. Ask an attendant for some juice or something.”

“Brother, please watch the children.”

“…What?”

“Just keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t cause trouble. They’re all grown up now anyway.”

At my words, the children looked at me puzzledly as if asking what I was talking about.

The kids looked at me with puzzled expressions, as if wondering what I was talking about.

Killian checked the children standing behind him, then shook his head and let out a sigh.

“So why are you asking me to do that? You could just tell an attendant. Besides, don’t you talk like you’re not a kid yourself?”

“We’re family.”

Killian’s eyes widened.

Perhaps because he heard words he never expected.

“Don’t say strange things. Besides, these brats are from branch families, aren’t they? They only share the same father as you, but have different mothers.”

Even though he said that with his mouth, he didn’t seem to dislike it.

It’s different from five years ago.

Adult Killian had definitely become more harmless than before.

“Then I’ll leave them here and go.”

“Hey!”

Killian stretched out his arm and shouted at me as I moved away, leaving the children behind.

The problem was that the children also ignored Killian and followed closely behind me.

“I said I don’t want to stay with big brother! Why did you suddenly come to big brother anyway!”

“Where are you going?”

“Stay with us! *sniff*”

I shook off the children’s hands.

It seemed like there wouldn’t be another chance to separate from them if not now.

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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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