First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

From 5-star onwards, one transcends the realm of Sword Runner and is classified as Expert class, capable of wrapping aura around weapons.

 

Other children my age would be exceptional to reach 3-star.

 

Considering that the majority are struggling around 1st or 2nd star, this is remarkable.

 

Naturally, the amount of mana I can handle has increased considerably.

 

Creak-

 

Someone entered through the sanctuary door with the sound of hinges scraping.

 

“Huh? Is mass over?”

 

Black hair grown to the waist and red eyes.

 

It was Deront Ikulain, the Great Seer of the Demon Realm.

 

“You’re here.”

 

I raised my hand in greeting.

 

Deront was carrying a fruit basket in her hands.

 

“Please eat. I bought this for Cael and grandfather to share.”

 

At some point, I had started calling Nicolaus grandfather instead of Your Holiness.

 

What’s amazing is that as soon as I changed the way I addressed him, Deront also started calling Nicolaus grandfather.

 

Thinking of our actual ages, there’s no comedy quite like this comedy.

 

“Hehe, thank you. Didn’t Tom from the fruit shop pester you for a date today?”

 

Deront looked similar to humans, but she wasn’t without demonic characteristics.

 

Like her pale skin.

 

Or the cat ears protruding from her head.

 

Or the tail sprouting from her bottom.

 

Fortunately, she could hide such features with the power of the sacred relic ‘Trickster’s Pendant’ that Merry had worn when infiltrating the Imperial Capital.

 

Thanks to this, Deront was living a normal daily life mixed among humans.

 

“Don’t even mention it. He’s so clingy every time I see him, it’s incredibly annoying.”

 

That brat, she used to throw fits saying she didn’t like receiving help from humans.

 

Whether the mental education worked, I don’t see such signs anymore, so I’m pleased for no reason.

 

“Even now I’m barely holding back from wanting to kill him.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

…Though sometimes the cruel nature unique to demons does pop out.

 

Still, for having made a master-servant contract, I treated Deront quite gentlemanly.

 

“Aren’t you eating, Cael? I’ll peel a banana for you.”

 

“It’s fine, I’m okay. I’m not hungry.”

 

“What’s gotten into you? You always used to gobble up food disgustingly like a starved pig whenever you saw it…”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“Ah, nothing at all… haha.”

 

So sometimes she crawls up like this.

 

I actually think it’s not bad.

 

This is much better than being scared and trembling.

 

“By the way, where is everyone else?”

 

Look at her changing the subject.

 

“Diago went to exercise, Kise is practicing magic in the research room, and Merry… she’ll probably be back soon.”

 

“Really? Where did she go?”

 

“Just wait a moment.”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, the sanctuary door burst open.

 

Huff, huff. Merry entered with a flushed face, breathing heavily.

 

Seeing Merry’s complexion, I cheered inwardly.

 

It seemed like.

 

“I found it…!”

 

Merry had splendidly completed her mission.

 

* * *

 

Four years ago.

 

After resolving to subjugate the Demon Cult.

 

We devoted our hearts and souls to finding traces of the Demon Cult whenever we had spare time.

 

However, for the past four years, they had been too quiet.

 

They showed no movement at all, as if they had all disappeared underground at once.

 

Then a few days ago.

 

We confirmed that one guild had resumed activity.

 

-They’re all the same anyway. Since they can’t openly conduct missionary activities in the light, most of them are hiding in the shadows and operating secretly. One even started missionary activities disguised as a guild, but the guild became unnecessarily successful and grew into a super-large guild.

 

As Kise had mentioned before, among the Demon Cult sects, there are those who conduct missionary activities disguised as guilds.

 

The seventh throne and 8th in rank among the Eight Demons.

 

Currently 7th ranked, it was Zagan’s sect.

 

Though last in combat power among the Demon Lords, he’s quite troublesome as he frequently employs wicked schemes.

 

Merry, who obtained the information, immediately infiltrated the guild and pursued their trail.

 

Though she couldn’t reach high-ranking priests like cardinals or the pope, she succeeded in discovering their purpose.

 

“They were collecting sacred relics.”

 

“Sacred relics?”

 

“Yes, indiscriminately, regardless of which deity they belonged to.”

 

Sacred relics.

 

Objects imbued with divine power.

 

Each one is a powerful artifact, but what could they be aiming for by collecting sacred relics?

 

Surely it’s not money.

 

“What are they planning to use them for?”

 

“Surely it’s not money.”

 

Coincidentally, it was the sweat-soaked Kise and Diago who recited the exact same line as my thoughts.

 

The two had been practicing magic and exercising respectively, then rushed to the sanctuary upon hearing news of Merry’s arrival.

 

“They must be collecting them for some purpose, but I can’t get a feel for it at all.”

 

“That’s what I’m saying.”

 

Then Kise stood up, spreading his index finger wide.

 

As if he had a good idea.

 

“Ah! That’s how we can do it.”

 

“What?”

 

“If sacred relics are their goal, that means we can lure them using sacred relics as bait, right? We happen to have one sacred relic on our side too.”

 

Everyone’s gaze turned to Deront, who was wearing the Trickster’s Pendant.

 

“Ah.”

 

Deront made a shrill sound and covered her neck.

 

She seemed quite fond of the pendant.

 

She glared fiercely at Kise’s red eyes.

 

“I’m not taking it away, you fool! I was just joking around.”

 

Well. It definitely wasn’t just a joke.

 

When Deront came out firmly, he must have changed his attitude midway.

 

“Actually, there’s one place presumed to be where they’ll appear.”

 

Merry pulled out a crumpled newspaper from her pocket.

 

The front page of the newspaper carried an article about a famous actor from the Western Alliance performing in the Imperial Capital for the first time.

 

Merry ignored that article and turned the page.

 

On the next page was a large photo of a beautiful sword with runic characters carved on its blade.

 

“Order of the Sword? Consecration ceremony?”

 

Diago read the article’s headline.

 

I also guessed that this article was the reason Merry had pulled out the newspaper.

 

“Order of the Sword, new sacred relic discovered after 15 years. Consecration ceremony scheduled for late March…”

 

There are two ways sacred relics are created.

 

Either a deity creates them directly, or a high-ranking priest of that deity bestows a blessing upon an object.

 

Naturally, the former performs far better.

 

The sacred relic of the Sword Deity discovered this time was also of that kind.

 

A case where it was created directly by the deity and sent down to the Intermediate Realm, but after long years passed and its whereabouts became unknown, it was found again.

 

When a priest performs consecration on the sacred power that has been somewhat diminished over the long passage of time, it recovers to the same performance as before.

 

“Unlike sacred relics crafted by priests, opportunities to encounter sacred relics made directly by deities are rare.”

 

Especially the Sword Deity is a god who possesses divinity ranking among the top of the neutral gods.

 

I can’t even fathom how much sacred power is contained within that.

 

“From their perspective, there couldn’t be more delicious prey than this.”

 

Indeed.

 

If they properly pull off just this job, they could achieve effects greater than collecting dozens of miscellaneous sacred relics.

 

“But would they really appear at the consecration ceremony? With so many people gathering, security will be tight too. If they’re targeting the sacred relic, wouldn’t it be ideal to aim for after the consecration ceremony ends?”

 

“That’s not the case, Your Highness.”

 

It was Nicolaus, who had been quietly listening, who answered my question.

 

“Once the priest performs consecration and the sacred relic regains its original power, it will be transported to the Order of the Sword’s treasury afterward. Security is much tighter there. Rather, the day of the consecration ceremony is when security is at its most vulnerable.”

 

Is that so.

 

If Nicolaus’s words were true, then the opportune moment was indeed only the day of the consecration ceremony.

 

However, these are beings who have been hiding themselves and operating in the shadows of the world all this time.

 

How likely is it that they would brazenly appear at a major event like a consecration ceremony?

 

Does that sacred relic truly have such value to them?

 

Enough to break their long silence and emerge into the light?

 

“Deront.”

 

I called out to the Great Seer of the Demon Realm who was eating fruit.

 

“Future divination, is it possible?”

 

Deront’s future divination is one of the most powerful cards we possess.

 

It’s not something that can be used at any time.

 

Deront’s own power had diminished compared to when she was in the Demon Realm, and even if her power remained the same, various prerequisites were needed.

 

Still, whether they’ll come or not—for such a limited binary future, it might be possible to read.

 

“I’ll give it a try.”

 

Deront temporarily set down the half-eaten apple in the basket and concentrated her mind.

 

Though no wind was blowing, her long black hair whipped about wildly.

 

Demonic energy surged and enveloped Deront’s entire body.

 

Deront closed her eyes.

 

We all held our breath and waited for her to take her next action.

 

Deront remained motionless for quite some time.

 

In the stillness that seemed as if time had stopped, someone’s swallowing sound could be heard.

 

When Deront’s eyes finally opened,

 

Her pupils were glowing a deep golden color instead of their usual red.

 

“I found out.”

 

Deront’s red lips parted.

 

“They’ll come. Those beings.”

 

“Is that really true?”

 

“Yes. I saw a future where a group wearing black robes storms the consecration ceremony and steals the sacred relic. Among them were some who used demonic power.”

 

“Are you certain it was Zagan’s demonic power?”

 

“Hmm… probably so. It was demonic power that blazed like fire.”

 

Among the Demon Lords, only fifth throne Aderzhen, Zagan, and I use the power of fire.

 

However, for Aderzhen and me, fire is just one of many abilities.

 

Only Zagan uses fire attributes as his main power.

 

“It’s definitely the Zagan Order.”

 

The attributes possessed by a deity’s demonic energy also manifest in their priests’ demonic power.

 

If they used the power of fire, then they must be those who serve Zagan.

 

‘Zagan… I remember well what you did to me.’

 

There’s a saying that the sister-in-law who stops the fight is more hateful than the mother-in-law who strikes.

 

When Vergil was attacking me on the front lines, Zagan hid behind and cowardly shot only one or two attacks at a time, grating on my nerves.

 

While wearing that unpleasant giggling smile.

 

‘You’re my first target.’

 

Since Zagan’s proxy, being the lowest-ranked Demon Lord, would be the weakest among the Demon Lords’ proxies, the burden would be lighter too.

 

“We’ll also participate in the consecration ceremony.”

 

At my words, Merry, Kise, and Diago nodded resolutely.

 

Nicolaus spoke with a worried expression.

 

“Please be careful, Your Highness. I’ll stay here and guard this place.”

 

It might be different if this were the era when Pluton was still strong.

 

The current Nicolaus is of no help in terms of combat power.

 

Anyway, these three alone should be sufficient for now.

 

“Can I go to sleep now…?”

 

Deront asked while blinking drowsily.

 

I recall that after using future divination, one is overcome with extreme fatigue.

 

When I gave permission, Deront grabbed several fruits from the basket and scurried off to her room.

 

Incidentally, since there were no more rooms on the second floor, Deront was using a small side room attached to Nicolaus’s room.

 

“Then we need to decide that.”

 

Diago spoke up.

 

“Whether to hide nearby and storm in late after they appear first, or participate in the event as visitors from the beginning.”

 

If possible, choosing the latter would definitely be advantageous.

 

Hiding nearby while waiting is easier said than done—to avoid all those eyes, we’d have to stay quite far away.

 

It’s obvious that our response would be delayed.

 

The mental energy wasted maintaining stealth without being caught would also be considerable.

 

The problem is that for a sacred relic consecration ceremony, they wouldn’t accept just anyone as a visitor.

 

‘It would be nice to have some plausible identity…’

 

Tsk, when I lived in the Imperial Capital, I didn’t have to worry about such things.

 

“There’s a good method.”

 

Merry’s blue eyes sparkled.

 

“I’ll find out the list of nobles scheduled to participate in the consecration ceremony. We’ll briefly knock out the most manageable one among them, then use the Trickster’s pendant to disguise as that noble.”

 

“Ooh!”

 

Kise snapped his fingers.

 

“That’s good, isn’t it?”

 

I also nodded in agreement.

 

There are some risks, but compared to hiding nearby and waiting, it’s much more efficient.

 

Moreover, if one person disguises as a noble, the rest can be passed off as guards or attendants.

 

“Good. Let’s go with that method.”

 

Doing this made me feel like we’d become villains somehow.

 

But so what?

 

We’re part of a demon cult anyway.

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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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