First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 34

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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 34

 

‘What?’

 

In the first place, divine names have a structure where no two can be the same, and with the title of the eighth divine seat attached, it’s certain.

 

This is referring to me.

 

To be precise, my previous life.

 

The eighth divine seat of the Demon Realm, Pluton, who is now dead and gone.

 

‘That means…’

 

Could it be these guys?

 

The Pluton Sect that I had been searching for so desperately.

 

The encounter was so unexpected and sudden that my mind went blank for a moment.

 

“Pluton, you said?”

 

“Yes. We belong to a sect that serves the Demon Lord Pluton. We only share the commonality of serving a deity from the same lineage as Vergil’s Sect, but otherwise have no connection whatsoever.”

 

“Tell me more details. Was the Pluton Sect still remaining? Are there more members besides you?”

 

“Well, that is…”

 

As Geohan fumbled, Merry firmly placed her hand on his shoulder.

 

I stared at her with cold eyes.

 

“I’ll speak from here on.”

 

“Merry.”

 

“First, I apologize for hiding our identities until now.”

 

“Let me ask one thing. Why on earth did you work as a maid?”

 

“Because we judged that a maid’s position would be advantageous for secretly observing the imperial family’s movements.”

 

Honestly, whether Merry leaked imperial secrets or not wasn’t my concern.

 

What mattered was whether these people were really the Pluton Sect.

 

And the reason they kidnapped me.

 

‘Cael de Argent has no connection to the Pluton Sect.’

 

Unless they knew my true identity as Pluton’s reincarnation, there would be no reason for them to seek me out.

 

Could they really know?

 

My true identity?

 

‘No.’

 

The possibility is low.

 

‘There’s no way they could know. Unless… nah, that can’t be.’

 

It would be quite chilling if true, but it probably isn’t.

 

I asked directly.

 

Naturally, I kept my insight activated.

 

“What’s your reason for seeking me out?”

 

Merry answered.

 

“I don’t know either.”

 

“…You don’t know?”

 

“Yes. When I reported to the Pope through communication that Your Highness could handle demonic energy, there was an immediate order to bring you to the sect.”

 

The Pope would naturally refer to the highest priest of the Pluton Sect they belong to.

 

“Then what was that about being chosen by the Demon Lord earlier?”

 

“That too… we don’t know the exact meaning. We only heard the Pope say such things.”

 

“Is there a possibility you intend to harm me?”

 

“If killing was the purpose, he would have issued an assassination order rather than such a troublesome command.”

 

Merry answered decisively as if there wasn’t even a shred of doubt worth considering.

 

The other two nodded as well.

 

Everything Merry said was true according to my insight.

 

“I’ll tell you the rest when we get there. That person will personally explain the reason we came to kidnap… no, escort Your Highness.”

 

My mind was quite confused.

 

It seemed I needed to organize my thoughts a bit.

 

‘So we end up meeting like this. When I was searching so desperately, these guys were nowhere to be seen.’

 

After my death.

 

The sect must have greatly declined.

 

Since the Pope and priests would no longer be able to borrow power from their deity.

 

It would practically be closer to a small gathering than a sect.

 

Nevertheless, they steadily maintained their lineage and ultimately came to face me directly like this.

 

They had led a sect without a deity for a full 13 years.

 

‘Fate, perhaps.’

 

Meeting these guys here felt like the world’s arrangement.

 

Like an irresistible great flow.

 

It seemed as if the mysterious someone who reincarnated me had pre-designed for me to meet them at this very moment.

 

‘Would it be right to follow these guys?’

 

Perhaps staying in the Imperial Capital as is might be the better choice.

 

‘This is probably the turning point.’

 

Whether to follow them now or not.

 

Depending on that choice, the future would change dramatically.

 

I had that premonition.

 

“Well, fine.”

 

My deliberation wasn’t long.

 

“Let’s go together. To see the face of that Pope fellow.”

 

I pride myself on having pretty good instincts.

 

The intuition that saved my life several times in the Demon Realm.

 

That sense was telling me to follow them.

 

‘The blessing’s duration has ended too.’

 

Now there’s truly no turning back.

 

However, from the moment I made the decision, my heart felt rather relieved.

 

As if I was returning to where I originally belonged.

 

“You’ve made a wise decision, Your Highness.”

 

When I readily agreed, relief flashed across the trio’s faces.

 

They too must have been inwardly worried that things might not go well.

 

“Then, I’ll activate the warp point!”

 

Wooooong-!

 

The mage began chanting an incantation.

 

The warp point was enveloped in brilliant blue light, brightly illuminating the moonlit forest.

 

For a brief moment, all sorts of worries and troubles flashed through my mind.

 

I shook my head vigorously to dispel the distracting thoughts.

 

Once I cross a line, I don’t look back.

 

That was the way I had lived since the Demon Realm.

 

“Warp!”

 

Wooooooong-!

 

The cluster of magical light gently embraced my entire body.

 

I closed my eyes as I felt my vision inverting.

 

* * *

 

When I opened my eyes, what I saw was a small town.

 

Pebbles crunching underfoot and sparsely grown weeds.

 

It was a shabby small city where even the streets weren’t properly maintained.

 

Centered around the main road, wooden buildings 2-3 stories high and closed shops were lined up in a row.

 

Since it was deep into the night, naturally there were no people wandering the streets.

 

The settled night air was cold.

 

The city was peacefully asleep in a quiet atmosphere.

 

Countless starlight sparkled like the Milky Way in the sky.

 

“Where is this?”

 

“Southern Empire, a city called Harten. It’s quite a distance from the Millennium Empire.”

 

“Do you have your base here?”

 

“Well, you could say that.”

 

The large man answered while scratching the back of his head.

 

“Though calling it a base is a bit much…”

 

He added as an afterthought.

 

“Haaaaah…”

 

Suddenly the mage let out a groan of pain.

 

Merry looked at the mage with disdain.

 

“Pathetic mana capacity. Making such a fuss over just this much.”

 

“Just this much! Do you know how much mana teleportation consumes? An ordinary mage couldn’t even dream of traveling this distance instantly, even with a warp point!”

 

The mage protested indignantly.

 

The large man beside him picked his ear and interrupted.

 

“Stop your whining, Kise. It’s annoying to listen to. A grown man acting so pathetic…”

 

“Shut up, Diago!”

 

Kise, Diago.

 

Those must be their names.

 

‘That noisy mage is Kise. The large man is Diago.’

 

I repeated their names in my head.

 

“Hey.”

 

When I spoke casually, Kise and Diago flinched.

 

Merry shook her head at the two foolish men and sighed.

 

“Do you guys know my name?”

 

“Uh, um.”

 

“I think I heard it was Ka… something.”

 

…You kidnapped me without even knowing my name?

 

Well, even if I’m a prince, I’m not the first or second prince at the top of the succession line.

 

Ordinary imperial citizens wouldn’t know all the royal family members’ names.

 

“It’s Cael. Cael de Argent. Remember it.”

 

“What a wonderful name. Cael, Cael… Mm, it rolls off the tongue nicely.”

 

The mage Kise savored my name and laughed aloud.

 

Though his face was hidden by his robe, I could tell he was wearing a bright smile.

 

“Then should I call you Prince Cael from now on?”

 

“Do as you like.”

 

“Yes, Prince Cael.”

 

Kise looked down at me and offered a handshake.

 

What a friendly fellow.

 

“Since we’re at it, shall we introduce ourselves properly?”

 

Flutter-.

 

Kise pulled back the hood he was wearing.

 

Bright red hair like burning flames was revealed.

 

His moderately wavy hair and pale skin gleamed, and with gold earrings and necklace, he looked like a handsome playboy at first glance.

 

His red eyes, matching his hair color, sparkled.

 

“I’m Keith Bluster.”

 

His full name was Keith Bluster.

 

That was the mage’s name.

 

“It’s my turn next.”

 

Now the large man pulled back his hood.

 

Bronze skin. Bold features.

 

His short-cropped black hair stuck up in spikes, but it wasn’t messy—rather neat.

 

He had an intense appearance that matched his deep voice.

 

“I’m Diago Jupiter.”

 

Diago bowed his head politely.

 

Having finished their introductions, the two looked intently at Merry.

 

Merry fiddled with her blonde hair and replied indifferently, as if asking what they expected.

 

“His Highness already knows my name.”

 

“But you don’t know her full name, right?”

 

That’s true.

 

I am curious about Merry’s full name.

 

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Merry quietly spoke.

 

“…I’m Merry Hedlynn.”

 

Merry Hedlynn.

 

A pretty name.

 

Though this had somehow turned into introduction time, our destination hadn’t changed.

 

I urged Kise, who was closest to me.

 

“Anyway, I’d like you to guide me to your base quickly now.”

 

“Ah, yes. Let’s go right away. Merry? Show him the way.”

 

“Am I your servant?”

 

Smack-!

 

Merry flicked Kise on the back of his head.

 

“Ow, why are you hitting me! You could just ask nicely!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

“Violent women aren’t popular, you know. How are you going to get married later acting like this?”

 

“…”

 

“Heh heh heh. Just ignore that fool. I’ll guide you.”

 

Diago supported my back as we began walking.

 

Kise got smacked on the back once more by Merry.

 

A sharp sound rang out along with a brief scream.

 

“Ow…”

 

Kise rubbed his back while groaning.

 

Though her expression remained stoic, this was the first time I’d seen Merry act so actively.

 

“We’ve arrived.”

 

Eventually we stood before a building.

 

It was among the taller buildings in this city of generally modest structures.

 

A triangular roof rising from the center.

 

White walls built of marble.

 

Stained glass painted in brilliant colors.

 

At the top of the building, a symbol was prominently carved showing something egg-like placed on a jeweled pedestal.

 

I recognized that symbol.

 

Hornus, the god of hope, one of the neutral deities.

 

It was his symbolic emblem.

 

Though we Demon Lords mock him as a minor deity.

 

‘What are you people?’

 

I looked at the three with such a gaze.

 

Didn’t you say you serve Pluton?

 

This is clearly Hornus’s temple, no matter how you look at it.

 

“Ahem. Well… there are circumstances.”

 

Receiving my gaze, Kise began to explain.

 

“The Demon Sect has a strong impression of being evil gods, after all. If they openly operate a sect, people would stone them as heretics. No, getting stoned would be fortunate. In severe cases, they could be captured and burned at the stake.”

 

“So?”

 

“Usually, they disguise themselves as the Temple of Hornus, the God of Hope.”

 

“Then people would come looking for them thinking it’s a real Temple of Hornus, right?”

 

“That’s true. So they actually hold masses for Hornus too… In fact, lately it seems like they hold more masses for Hornus than for Pluton.”

 

“…Is that really okay? Won’t they receive divine punishment or something?”

 

“It’s fine. The masses for Hornus are just pretense anyway. It’s literally just a disguise.”

 

“Then what about other sects? There are 8 Demon Lords in total. There must be sects that worship the other 7 besides Pluton.”

 

“They’re all the same. Since they can’t openly conduct missionary work in the open, they’ve all hidden in the shadows. One of them even disguised themselves as a guild and started missionary work, but they did so unnecessarily well that they grew into a massive guild.”

 

They’re ridiculous, Kise added.

 

Well.

 

From my perspective, it seems more ridiculous that these bastards who claim to be servants of a god would hold masses for other gods just to disguise themselves.

 

“Let’s head inside now. The Pope should be waiting.”

 

As Kise said, there was no need to waste more time here.

 

We opened the door and went inside.

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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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