First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 27

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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 27

“This is exhausting.”

Ellia slumped heavily against a bench prepared near Taeyang Palace.

“Even after years of being Empress… I just can’t get used to facing the nobles.”

“You’ll adapt eventually, Your Majesty.”

A maid spoke up from beside her.

Exhausted by the nobles’ continuous flattery and praise, Ellia had excused herself from the banquet hall under the pretense of taking a short break after informing the Emperor.

Though she said she’d only rest briefly, the maid doubted Ellia would return to the hall at all.

Her drooping face looked utterly tired.

Unlike the First and Second Empresses who were born into nobility.

Being of commoner origin with no such experience, Ellia had always found it difficult to face gatherings with nobles.

The maid understood such feelings while also feeling sorry for her.

“Would it be alright not to meet Prince Cael? He should be in the hall.”

“It’s fine. On days like this, he should play with his friends. I can’t let him depend on me forever.”

“He doesn’t seem to particularly depend on Your Majesty even now…”

“Our son has certainly grown quite mature.”

When the topic of Cael was brought up to lift her spirits, Ellia’s expression immediately brightened.

The Third Empress’s love for her son was renowned throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

A smile crossed the maid’s lips upon confirming her mistress’s improved mood.

Just then, she caught sight of someone emerging from the banquet hall and quickly running off somewhere.

That figure from behind seemed somehow familiar.

“Huh?”

The maid pointed in that direction and made a sharp sound.

“Isn’t that person Prince Cael?”

“Where?”

Ellia looked in the direction the maid was pointing.

She could see Cael’s figure from behind, hurriedly running somewhere.

“That really is our son, isn’t it?”

The maid asked with a puzzled expression.

“The banquet should still be in full swing, so where could he be going in such a hurry at this time?”

“Indeed.”

In that direction, there were only the Imperial Guard Training Grounds and the First Imperial Palace.

Neither place was somewhere the youngest prince would go to play.

After pondering briefly, Ellia rose from the bench.

Grasping the hem of her dress, she began running in the direction Cael had gone.

“I’m going to check on Cael for a moment! You stay here!”

“Your Majesty!”

The maid called out to stop her.

But Ellia had already distanced herself considerably.

* * *

The appearance of the First Imperial Palace up close could be summed up in one word: magnificent.

Being the palace of the Empire’s second-in-command after the Emperor, it was clearly built with no less care than Taeyang Palace.

‘Will I be able to find it?’

Evidence that Sabina was colluding with the Demon Cult.

If such a thing existed within this building.

It would certainly be in a location she deemed safest.

Most likely in her bedroom or study.

‘Should I try the study first?’

I looked around.

I couldn’t sense any presence.

As I activated my magic, my body assimilated with the shadows and sank down.

The bizarre sight of a shadow moving alone across the floor without any object casting it.

Swish swish swish.

Even though the palace’s owner was away, there were still knights guarding the main entrance.

I slipped through the gap between the doors, avoiding their eyes.

An empty corridor.

Occasionally, I could see attendants or knights moving about.

Traveling busily through the shadows, I soon reached the study.

Just as when entering the palace, I squeezed through the gap between doors to get inside.

“What a state this study is in…”

The First Empress’s study was filled with unnecessary decorative items.

It was completely different from the Emperor’s study, which was utterly barren except for items essential to work.

Paintings by famous artists in frames.

Small sculptures carefully carved by craftsmen.

There were many other items for luxury as well.

Someone might see this scene and click their tongue at Sabina’s extravagance in spending the national treasury like water.

But I felt a completely different impression.

‘…It’s like a device meant to hide something.’

After all, a forest is the most suitable place to hide a tree.

What I was looking for might be hidden among the objects scattered about in disarray.

There was no one in the room.

I immediately activated my insight.

Blue light shone brightly, gradually driving away the darkness that filled the study.

I swept through the room with my insight.

Nothing suspicious was detected.

Just to be sure, I opened and checked each desk drawer one by one, but found nothing.

Everything here consisted of ordinary objects.

Assuming my insight wasn’t mistaken.

‘So the first attempt is a bust.’

If not the study, then next would be the bedroom.

What if the bedroom wasn’t it either?

I’d think about that when the time came.

Swish swish swish.

My body assimilated with the shadows and melted into the floor.

I exited the study.

Fortunately, there was no one in the corridor.

I moved quickly before encountering any humans patrolling the palace.

My next target, the bedroom, was on the palace’s top floor.

I went around the corridor toward the central staircase.

As I glided up the stairs, I heard clattering noises from the upper floor.

Thud thud.

Someone’s footsteps.

The dull, heavy resonance was enough to make even the ceiling chandeliers shake slightly.

Shortly after, a figure appeared around the corner of the landing.

A knight clad in full plate armor.

A sword hung at his waist, and he carried a lantern in his hand to illuminate the darkness.

He seemed to be one of the Empress’s Palace security guards.

“Hmm?”

He suddenly stopped in place as if sensing something strange.

Then he began looking around, scanning here and there.

Naturally, all that came into view was thick darkness and an empty corridor leading down the stairs.

“Was it just my imagination….”

The knight illuminated the stairs with his lantern and moved down to the lower floor.

Then suddenly, his eyes widened as he drew his sword and struck down at the floor.

Bang!

I flinched momentarily at the sudden movement.

But the knight’s target wasn’t me.

“A little rat was hiding here.”

The knight held up a piece of flesh cut in half.

The lowest-grade monster, Iron Rat.

It was also a target for the children’s practical training, and I had killed one in Millennium City myself.

Had it crawled all the way into the Empress’s Palace?

Their survival and reproduction abilities were certainly noteworthy.

“Disgusting creatures….”

The knight held the Iron Rat’s corpse in his hand and went downstairs.

When his retreating figure and even his footsteps could no longer be heard.

I emerged from the darkness and began climbing the stairs again.

When I reached the top floor and turned the corner, Sabina’s bedroom came into view.

‘Here it is.’

I slipped inside through the door crack as quietly as a dead mouse.

Like the study, the bedroom was filled with all kinds of luxury items.

The walls were covered in gold, and the chandelier was studded with what appeared to be rubies and sapphires.

There had never been rumors about the First Empress enjoying luxury and pleasure.

Seeing this scene, I think Sabina has managed her reputation very well.

Whooom.

I activated my Insight and scanned the bedroom.

My vision was tinted with blue light.

Similarly, nothing suspicious was visible at all.

I busily moved around examining every corner, but the result remained the same.

Neither in the study nor in the bedroom was there any evidence that Sabina had colluded with the Demon Cult.

“….”

Had I been thinking too vaguely?

The connection point with the Demon Cult.

I had vaguely thought I could find evidence by investigating the Empress’s Palace, but I didn’t even know what form it would take.

‘Let me think through this step by step from the beginning.’

What would I have done if I were Sabina?

Perhaps I would have used a method of writing coded messages in letters.

Royalty and nobles frequently exchange written correspondence in their daily lives.

If she sent coded letters with instructions to the Demon Cult, she could convey her intentions safely and specifically.

But this was ruled out.

Among the items I had examined with Insight in the study were naturally letters that Sabina had received.

None of them appeared to contain coded messages.

Then what means remained?

‘Direct contact? At the Empress’s Palace?’

The risk would be too great.

Even if there was direct contact, the location wouldn’t be here but somewhere else out of people’s sight.

That’s when it happened.

-Squeak squeak!

A small creature peeking its face out from under the bed.

It was an Iron Rat, the lowest-grade monster whose population had been increasing lately.

My head went blank.

‘It managed to sneak all the way into the Empress’s bedroom?’

Despite appearances, it’s still a proper monster, isn’t it?

At that moment, information flashed quickly through my mind.

Among the ancient spells of the Demon Realm, there was a technique for commanding and controlling unintelligent animals or insects at will.

Though its power was weak and it quickly fell out of use in actual combat, it was still frequently used for communication rather than battle even now.

The name of that technique was….

‘Familiar!’

Familiar.

A spell technique also called summoned servant magic.

Why had I forgotten about that?

Swoop!

I suddenly rushed forward and caught the Iron Rat with both hands.

As if sensing its doom, it squeaked continuously while caught in my grasp.

“Good, stay still.”

I subdued the struggling Iron Rat and channeled magic power into it.

A black magic circle hidden in its abdomen floated up and glowed.

A servant magic circle created with demonic power.

There could be no greater evidence than this.

‘Found it!’

A thrilling sensation coursed through my entire body.

The Iron Rat was still struggling in my hands at this very moment.

I held the creature tightly and hid in the shadows.

‘Let’s get out of here.’

Now that I had captured physical evidence, staying longer would be a waste of time.

That’s when it happened.

Crash—!!

A thunderous roar filled my ears.

The bedroom wall collapsed and debris scattered in all directions.

Acrid smoke billowed forth.

Through it, a human shadow could be seen.

A figure in a black robe.

I immediately knew who it was.

“This is maddening.”

The figure muttered quietly as he walked out.

“It’s surprising enough that you infiltrated the Empress’s Palace alone, but to think you’d even discover the Familiar.”

The figure’s face turned toward me.

A pale face.

And chillingly red pupils stared at me without moving.

“Just what exactly are you, Prince Cael?”

At that question, I chuckled and asked in return.

“Are you Cardinal Lipton?”

“That’s right.”

He didn’t even deny it and readily admitted it.

“It seems you’ve already figured everything out. You have good instincts.”

I spat on the floor.

After hearing Bishop Caluto’s words, I had somewhat suspected he was crazy.

But seeing his behavior, he seemed to be an even bigger lunatic than I had imagined.

“Seeing how you smashed through the Empress’s Palace wall to get in here, you’re going all out, aren’t you?”

“I’m quite cornered myself. If only the Familiar hadn’t been discovered, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Lipton looked at me with calm red eyes and spoke as if making a vow.

“That person shouldn’t be caught in a place like this yet.”

“Are you talking about Sabina?”

“….”

Lipton closed his eyes.

Waves of demonic power slowly stretched around him.

Kururrrung-!

Black clouds embraced Lipton.

Overwhelming concentration of demonic power that couldn’t even be compared to Caluto’s.

Is this the power of a Cardinal?

‘I can’t let my guard down either.’

Bishop Caluto’s force couldn’t even crawl up to me.

But this bastard is different.

I need to mobilize all the power I can currently muster.

Not just magic, but aura too if necessary.

“It took a full 5 years to face you like this.”

I also looked at him and prepared for battle.

“Why you tried to kill me, the reason doesn’t matter. I’ve never forgiven a bastard who attacked me first, regardless of reason.”

The black clouds surrounding Lipton transformed into sharp blades.

He clicked his tongue after gauging the size of resentment I held despite being just a child.

“Tsk, I shouldn’t have dragged this out for long. I admit I was complacent.”

Hundreds, thousands of microscopic blades made of demonic power exuded thick killing intent.

“I’ll kill you directly.”

Paaaat-!

The rushing blades.

I molded magic to block the attack.

A black shield blocked my front.

Pabababababa!

The blades pounded the shield with momentum to crush everything they touched.

Caluto’s arrows couldn’t even crack my defense.

However, the Cardinal’s blades were sharper than the Bishop’s arrows.

‘I’m being pushed back.’

Jjeojeojeojeojeok-

The shield was cracking and about to shatter.

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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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