First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 30

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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 30

The Imperial Capital was in a state of emergency.

During the First Empress’s birthday banquet, two members of the imperial family had suddenly gone missing.

Their identities were Third Empress Ellia and Prince Cael.

Only a very few knew the truth.

The majority of nobles, visitors, and some imperial family members were murmuring in confusion at the suddenly interrupted banquet, not knowing what was happening.

“Missing? That bastard?”

“Bastard is too harsh, Robert.”

“No, that kid is a bastard. If he wasn’t a bastard, he would never dare show such insolence to his older brother.”

Robert, Luna, and other collateral imperial family members were gathered in one space.

An imperial knight who had suddenly burst into the hall had earnestly requested they wait in the room until the situation was resolved.

“I can understand that Cael fellow acting like such a fool from what I saw earlier, but seeing that Her Majesty the Empress has also gone missing together, something must have happened, right? Like a hostage situation.”

“A hostage situation would actually be fortunate. We could pay a price and bring them back. But what bold fool would attempt kidnapping against the imperial family… If they’ve fallen into the hands of the Demon Cult or Black Mages, that would be a real disaster.”

The collateral imperial family members chattered among themselves, offering theories about the current situation.

“I saw armed knights rushing off somewhere in a line earlier. From what I could tell, something is definitely happening. That bold fool really appeared.”

“Come on, surely not. No matter what, against the imperial family…”

It’s a light incident that will end soon.

No, this matter is quite a serious issue.

Opinions were sharply divided.

And Mac and Kal, who had been quietly listening in the corner, muttered with voices soaked in anxiety.

“He said he was going to take a dump… *sniff*”

“He’ll be back soon. It’s Cael, of all people. Let’s trust him and wait.”

Though he said that, Mac himself was equally worried and anxious.

Mac clasped his hands together and prayed earnestly to the deity who had blessed him at his baptism ceremony.

“Raphael… please let Cael return home safely and unharmed.”

Carno, watching this, offered the same prayer.

“Michael…”

But whether that prayer would truly reach the deity was unknown.

While the room with the collateral imperial family members was bustling with noise.

The room with the direct imperial family members was quiet.

Since there were only three people to begin with, it was natural.

“Gabriel… Cael…”

Except for the sound of Seria praying to Gabriel, Arthur and Killian remained silent.

Arthur simply stared into space with his arms crossed and a thoughtful expression.

Killian quietly watched Arthur for a long time.

Soon Killian’s mouth opened.

“You.”

Arthur looked back at Killian.

“You know something. Don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t bullshit me. Haven’t I been watching you for more than a day or two?”

Killian spoke with a fierce tone as if certain.

“You’re the type who can’t rest until you have everything in the world under your control and manipulation. If you didn’t know anything, you would have definitely made some gesture to have your adjutant or someone find out information.”

“…”

“But you’re really doing nothing and sitting quietly just because one knight told you to stay here? That’s absolutely impossible for the Arthur I know.”

Arthur glared at Killian.

It was a gaze clearly tinged with irritation.

Killian didn’t care and drove the point home.

“You definitely know something about this situation.”

“Is, is that really true?”

Seria, who had been praying alone in the corner, widened her eyes at Killian’s conviction.

“Brother Arthur! Do you really know something? Please tell me too. Please…”

“Sorry, Seria. Unfortunately, Killian’s words are nonsense. I really don’t know anything.”

Arthur shook his head and dismissed it.

But two pairs of eyes were still fixed on Arthur.

One with a suspicious expression.

One with a desperate expression.

“Sigh, I’m telling you it’s true. Killian, do you have evidence for what you’re saying?”

“Asking for evidence is one of the first things a culprit says when cornered. Psychologically.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Arthur let out a hollow laugh.

As he said, there wasn’t a shred of evidence.

However, Killian was certain that Arthur knew something about this situation.

His intuition was telling him so.

‘Of course…’

He was worried about Cael, but in one corner of his heart, he believed in him.

Regardless of whether the guy was precious to him or not, it was hard to imagine Cael being defeated by someone.

When he was just 8 years old.

He was a child who showed the spirit to charge without hesitation at a 15-year-old teenager, who would have seemed like a mountain from his perspective.

He’ll handle it well on his own.

The complaint was that despite being the same competitor for the throne, he knew nothing.

While only Arthur knew something.

The information gap that already existed made Killian anxious.

“This won’t do.”

Seria looked up at Killian with a determined face.

“I think I need to go. Brother.”

“What? Go where? Didn’t you hear them tell you to stay put? What if you get kidnapped too!”

“That would be better. Rather than being unable to do anything while family is captured.”

Seria took a deep breath and showed resolute eyes.

“I’m going to His Majesty.”

The declaration that followed was like a bomb from Killian’s perspective.

“Wh, what?”

“I said I’m going to His Majesty. His Majesty would know what’s happening. You can spend your whole life waiting in this room!”

Killian was startled and grabbed Seria.

“Hey!”

But she had already dashed out the door like an arrow.

Killian stared blankly at her retreating figure.

‘Damn…’

Meanwhile.

Arthur sat in his seat, lost in thought.

Though he knew slightly more than others, not knowing the full truth was the same.

Arthur anxiously looked at the night sky outside the window.

Just what.

‘What happened, Lipton.’

* * *

Thud!

I came to consciousness with the sound of something being thrown onto bare ground.

I opened my eyes.

Dark stone walls and vertically lined iron bars came into view.

‘Was I unconscious for a moment.’

My head throbbed as if it had been struck by a hammer.

My body ached all over, as if it had been bound by ropes.

As consciousness returned, I was able to gather some information.

This place was the Imperial Prison.

And what had been thrown on the floor… was my body.

“You’ve finally come to your senses.”

Still lying face down, I only lifted my head to look toward the source of the voice.

A middle-aged man with red hair and red eyes.

Humanity’s only 9th Circle mage.

It was Gregory van Ifrit, Duke.

‘Right, that’s what happened.’

The moment I encountered the Count and his knights in Gerpelt Forest.

Survival instinct filled my mind completely, telling me I had to escape this situation somehow.

However, my body, exhausted from the previous battle, wouldn’t obey.

After a brief struggle, I was captured with surprising ease.

‘No, even if I had fought in perfect condition… this guy would still be too much for me.’

Humanity’s strongest.

Along with the leader of the Western Alliance who was said to have achieved the 9th star in swordsmanship, the Ifreet Duke before me was the person closest to that title at this point in time.

To be confident of victory, I’d need my aura to reach at least the 7th star.

Right now, I could only make vague guesses.

Clank-!

My arms wouldn’t move freely, and when I looked, I saw handcuffs had been placed on them.

These weren’t ordinary handcuffs.

“Those handcuffs are anti-demon sealing tools.”

Anti-demon sealing tools?

“They have the effect of sealing not only magic power and aura, but also demonic energy. It’s useless even if you want to rampage freely. You’ll never be able to break free with your strength.”

“You… Your words seem a bit harsh, Count. I’m still a prince, you know.”

“Your princely status has already been stripped. You’ve been expelled from the Imperial House registry. Do you understand? You disgusting servant of demons.”

“Well, well.”

Clank-!

Even when I tried to tear off the handcuffs, it was beyond my strength.

The Count was right.

However, I had doubts about his claim that it sealed demonic energy as well.

‘If I do it right… it might actually work?’

It felt like I could invoke demonic energy as usual without difficulty if I just applied a little force.

Of course, I wasn’t stupid enough to test that in front of the Count.

Even if it worked, he could just bring stronger sealing tools.

‘For now, I’ll play along, then look for a chance to escape.’

I had returned to the Imperial Capital that I thought I could never come back to.

If I had my way, I wanted to go find the children and exchange final greetings.

I knew all too well that it was absurd nonsense.

As soon as my strength recovered, I would leave this place.

‘Where would be a good first destination?’

If someone born as royalty, living abundantly without want, were to end up on the streets, it would certainly be very uncomfortable at first.

But on the other hand, it was actually for the best.

I could now enjoy freedom that I never had when living as royalty.

“Excuse me, Count?”

Having organized my thoughts, I called out to the Count.

“What happens to me now?”

“First, you’ll have to spill everything you know. What your true identity is. Whether you’re really Cael, or a demon wearing Cael’s mask. If you’re really Cael, how can a human handle demonic energy. What your purpose is.”

“Hmm… and then?”

“If your answers are satisfactory, you’ll be able to die without pain. But if they’re not satisfactory, you’ll suffer all kinds of torture and die painfully. Perhaps you’ll spend your entire life in a test tube, neither dead nor alive.”

What kind of nonsense is this now?

“A test tube?”

“It’s a field I’ve been researching recently. Magic that transfers human consciousness into an artificial brain to grant eternal life. But if used differently, it could also make someone suffer eternally, couldn’t it?”

“…Isn’t that black magic? As far as I know, there are similar techniques in the Demon Realm.”

“Are you admitting that your true identity is a demon wearing Cael’s mask?”

“That’s not it.”

Hah.

I let out a sigh.

Everything was already ruined anyway, so there was nothing to worry about.

I didn’t know if he’d believe me, but I might as well try saying something.

“I really am Cael. As for handling demonic energy, when I was young, someone tried to assassinate me, and I became able to use it after absorbing demonic energy from carnivorous plants from the Demon Realm. I investigated through my own independent route and found out the culprit was Sabina. Sabina de Argent, First Empress.”

“…”

“There’s a possibility that the First Empress is colluding with the Demon Cult, specifically the Baal Sect. Well, killing me is unavoidable, I suppose, but please make sure to crush those bastards too. There’s also a possibility that First Prince Arthur might be involved.”

“…”

“You’re not listening to me right now, are you?”

“Do I need to listen to worthless nonsense that isn’t worth hearing?”

Actually, I knew this would happen.

It couldn’t be helped.

From his perspective, whatever I said would sound like a demon’s whispers.

“I came today, but from now on, the Imperial Guard will take turns monitoring you.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I’ve given orders to kill you immediately if you do anything foolish, so behave yourself.”

With those words, the Count made his exit.

Seeing him go down the stairs, this place seemed to be above ground rather than underground.

I could hear the footsteps of knights coming up from the lower floor to change shifts.

“Hah…”

There were no windows.

I couldn’t even tell if it was day or night.

‘Seeing a knight grieve over his comrade’s death, I thought I was envious.’

Grieving someone’s death, mourning them.

The fact that one could shed tears sincerely.

“Now that the situation has actually come, it’s not so pleasant.”

The image of Ellia with her head pierced kept flickering before my eyes.

I was too exhausted. I wanted to rest a little.

I leaned against the prison wall and closed my eyes.

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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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