First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

Creak.

 

The sanctuary doors opened and Seria entered surrounded by a group of escorts.

 

Long flowing silver hair.

 

Blue eyes that seemed to contain the ocean.

 

A straight nose and cherry-like lips.

 

Seeing Seria after so long, I no longer sensed the aura of a child from her.

 

Now she exuded the atmosphere of an adult.

 

‘She’s grown up well.’

 

Her beauty, which had been striking since childhood, had matured even further.

 

Not because she was a princess, but due to her mysterious and splendid appearance, she seemed like someone you’d turn to look at if you met her on the street.

 

Indeed, most of the young nobles sitting in the sanctuary were blushing as they looked at Seria.

 

Then they suddenly realized their mistake and belatedly stood up to bow.

 

“We greet Your Highness the Princess!”

 

“We greet Your Highness the Princess!”

 

Seria waved her hand once as if annoyed.

 

“Ah, enough, enough. Just sit down.”

 

While receiving the crowd’s salutes, Seria calmly walked toward her seat.

 

The seat prepared for Seria was naturally in the front row.

 

Step by step.

 

As she walked, Seria spotted Artie and brightened up, waving her hand.

 

“Oh my! Artie, you came too?”

 

“I greet Your Highness the Princess.”

 

Artie bowed her head to show respect to Seria.

 

“Hey, enough of that. What’s with the formality between us? Be comfortable, be comfortable.”

 

“But…”

 

“I said it’s really okay. Your father sent you here too, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Phew, me too. The deity I serve is Gabriel, but I really don’t know what I’m doing coming all the way to the Temple of the Sword.”

 

See you later, she said with a smile, and Seria walked back to her seat.

 

Naturally, she didn’t spare even a glance for me, who was sitting next to Artie.

 

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked Artie.

 

“Princess. How did you come to know Her Highness the Princess?”

 

“I met her while taking classes at the academy.”

 

“It seems you’re also enrolled at Millennium Academy, Princess.”

 

“Yes, I just entered as a first-year in the magic department.”

 

Millennium Academy had combat-related departments like magic, swordsmanship, and spirit arts.

 

As well as non-combat departments like economics and history spread widely throughout.

 

Naturally, the competition for combat departments was much fiercer, and among them, the magic and swordsmanship departments were the top two.

 

“Isn’t Her Highness the Princess in the swordsmanship department? How did you meet when you’re in different departments?”

 

“There are general education classes that all departments take together. There are also things like inter-departmental competitions that combat departments participate in together.”

 

“Inter-departmental competitions. Have you two ever participated in any?”

 

“Well, there are some that we do occasionally for practice… but proper tournaments are held in the second semester. We haven’t been enrolled long enough to have that experience yet.”

 

“That makes sense. Even if you participated, there would be many formidable upperclassmen.”

 

It would be difficult to achieve good results as a first-year.

 

However, Artie’s next words were unexpected.

 

“I heard last year’s winner was a first-year. In Millennium Academy’s long history, first-years have only won three times total, including last year. It was especially talked about because they were of commoner origin.”

 

“That’s remarkable.”

 

Whether magic or swordsmanship.

 

It would be difficult for a commoner to beat nobles who receive early education from childhood.

 

Must be quite an exceptional person.

 

“It looks like it’s about to start.”

 

Kise whispered beside me.

 

While chatting with Artie, quite some time had passed.

 

I focused on the platform.

 

A priest was walking up onto the platform.

 

A priest wearing the ceremonial stole symbolizing the Order of the Sword on his shoulders, with a golden sash around his waist.

 

Judging by his bulging muscles, he seemed more suited to be a knight than a priest.

 

“~~~~.”

 

A mage who appeared to belong to the sect cast an amplification spell.

 

“Ah, ahem. Welcome, everyone who has come to the consecration ceremony.”

 

The priest’s voice resonated magnificently throughout the sanctuary.

 

“I am the current Pope leading the Order of the Sword, and representative of Akinak, the deity of swords. I am Podrico Parmel. We will now conduct the consecration mass.”

 

Pope Podrico Parmel proceeded with the mass as usual.

 

The mass procedures didn’t differ much from other sects.

 

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

 

“Amen.”

 

Among the many nobles, I could see a few devout believers of the Order of the Sword clasping their hands in prayer.

 

When the mass finally ended.

 

“Cardinal. Please bring the sacred relic.”

 

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

 

A cardinal wearing a blue sash around his waist, along with his subordinate priests, brought a long case up onto the platform.

 

The case was engraved with sword patterns symbolizing the Order of the Sword.

 

The Pope spoke.

 

“This is a sacred relic discovered in the forests of the Western Alliance. It is a sacred relic of Akinak, the deity of swords, found after a full 15 years.”

 

Exclamations of “Oh!” flowed from various places.

 

“Since it was first discovered in the Western Alliance of all places, we had quite a struggle bringing it to the Empire. But eventually, the sacred relic has arrived before us like this.”

 

The Pope opened the case lid.

 

Inside was a single crude longsword with faded luster.

 

It looked quite different from the beautiful sword I had seen in the newspaper.

 

It looked believable enough to be an antique sold at a street general store.

 

If not for the sacred power flowing from the sword.

 

‘No doubt about it. It’s definitely a sacred relic of Akinak, the deity of swords. And quite a high-grade one at that.’

 

It couldn’t even be compared to something like the Trickster’s necklace.

 

If it’s this powerful now, how much stronger will it become once consecration is complete?

 

“Let us begin.”

 

The Pope closed his eyes and raised both hands high toward the sky.

 

“~~~~~.”

 

“~~~~~.”

 

Along with him, the cardinals, bishops, and all priests gathered in the sanctuary began reciting prayers.

 

Sharply refined golden sacred power.

 

The energy of Akinak, the deity of swords, condensed at the Pope’s fingertips.

 

Flash!

 

When the Pope opened his eyes, the sacred power extending from his fingertips struck down toward the sacred relic.

 

Like infusing mana into an artifact, he continuously poured sacred power into it.

 

After several minutes passed.

 

The sacred relic, which had initially looked like an antique, gradually began glowing golden and revealing its sacred form.

 

As if old rust was being peeled away.

 

The crowd forgot how to speak and etched that ecstatic scene into their eyes.

 

“They’re coming, aren’t they?”

 

Diago asked anxiously in a whisper.

 

“If they don’t come, all our efforts will be for nothing.”

 

What a pointless worry.

 

I answered with confidence.

 

“They’ll definitely come.”

 

After all, it was a fact confirmed by Deront’s future sight.

 

The Great Seer of the Demon Realm.

 

The only demon who earned the trust of the Demon Lords despite not ascending to the Pantheon.

 

I believe in the power she possesses.

 

“…”

 

Artie’s escort knight.

 

Buckle Chadman’s gaze was directed this way.

 

Did he overhear our conversation?

 

‘It doesn’t matter.’

 

It’s a fake identity anyway.

 

Whooooo-

 

The holy power flowing from the sacred relic was growing increasingly dense.

 

Finally.

 

Flash-!

 

As the burst of light from the sacred relic filled the sanctuary.

 

The circulating holy power gradually subsided.

 

The Pope reached into the case and raised high into the air a sword radiating golden brilliance.

 

“The consecration is complete!”

 

Clap clap clap clap.

 

Applause erupted from all directions.

 

Unlike its initial faded form, the sacred relic now gleamed with beautiful golden light.

 

The overwhelming holy power made my hands tingle.

 

‘Now soon…’

 

The true form of a sacred relic crafted directly by a deity.

 

Nobles and commoners alike were all mesmerized by the sight.

 

But only I clearly sensed another energy beginning to stir outside the building.

 

An alien energy, hot as flame and sticky as darkness.

 

The seventh seat of the Demon Realm’s Pantheon.

 

It was Zagan’s demonic power.

 

‘They’re here!’

 

Crash!

 

Suddenly the wall shattered and thick clouds of dust billowed up.

 

From the collapsed wall, a group clad in black robes burst into the sanctuary.

 

Each gripping swords, spears, and axes in their hands.

 

Igniting ominous, murky flames, they instantly charged toward the Pope holding the sacred relic.

 

“Damn it, shit!”

 

The High Priest of the Sword swore as he swung his arm.

 

Clang!

 

The black sword of the black-robed figure clashed with the Pope’s golden sacred relic.

 

Both swords vibrated violently, spitting sparks.

 

“I don’t know who you are, but you must have underestimated us! How dare you run wild in the Temple of the Sword!”

 

The Pope’s sword won the contest of strength and pushed the black-robed figure back.

 

A series of attacks immediately followed.

 

Thud!

 

The Pope stepped forward with footwork and charged at the robed figure.

 

The robed figure angled his sword diagonally to deflect the Pope’s strike.

 

But the difference in strength was too great, and he couldn’t completely block it.

 

Slash-!

 

Blood spurted as the robe was torn away.

 

Brown skin and black hair.

 

He appeared to be around forty years old.

 

If not for the scars covering his face, he would have handsome enough features.

 

Blood dripped from a fresh wound on his cheek.

 

“Tch.”

 

The Scarred Man swung his sword at the Pope again, even knowing he was outmatched.

 

Their target was the sacred relic in the Pope’s hands.

 

If they couldn’t defeat the Pope, they could never achieve their objective.

 

“Damn! What are these things!”

 

“We’ll join the fight!”

 

The other Priests of the Sword also drew their swords.

 

Clang! Clash!

 

The sound of clashing blades echoed throughout the sanctuary.

 

The holy power of the God of Swords, like aura, enhances physical abilities and sword strength while also increasing cutting power.

 

The Priests of the Sword, wreathed in golden radiance, pressed the robed intruders hard.

 

However, there were too many intruders.

 

“Holy power isn’t something only you can use!”

 

Whoosh!

 

Murky flames erupted from a black-robed figure’s axe.

 

Zagan’s demonic power, the only Demon Lord to specialize in the power of fire, takes the form of flame itself.

 

The demonic power unleashed by the black-robed figure penetrated the golden holy power surrounding the priest’s body and invaded within.

 

“Hii, hiiek!”

 

Sizzle.

 

His skin blackened and rotted.

 

The flames of demonic power corroded and burned the priest’s body.

 

Soon after.

 

The priest, with all flesh and muscle incinerated leaving only bones, collapsed to the floor with a thud.

 

“Kyaaaah!”

 

“Move! I’m getting out first!”

 

“You move! Do you know who I am?!”

 

The nobles who had come to watch the consecration ceremony were all busy fleeing toward the single escape route.

 

The sanctuary instantly became a scene of chaos.

 

“Aren’t you evacuating, Lord Riod?”

 

Artie looked back at me as she ran toward the door.

 

“I’ll stay here and help the priests. Please evacuate first, Your Highness.”

 

“…Will you be alright?”

 

“I’m confident in my abilities. And I have reliable escort knights beside me.”

 

I gestured toward the three clad in full armor.

 

Buckle Chadman was fleeing while protecting Artie when he suddenly turned around.

 

“Please evacuate first, Miss.”

 

“Count Chadman?”

 

“When even a noble heir burns with such fighting spirit, I as a knight cannot shamefully run away.”

 

“Then I’ll help too! If I support the priests with my magic…!”

 

I dissuaded Artie.

 

“At the 3rd Circle level, you’ll only get in the way.”

 

“…How did you discern my level?”

 

“You can tell just by looking, that much is obvious.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders as I continued speaking.

 

“If the Princess participates in combat, Count Chadman beside her won’t be able to exert his full strength while protecting the Princess. I trust you understand that would actually be a disadvantage.”

 

Having said this much, even Artie seemed to be at a loss for words.

 

She bit her lip in frustration and looked into my eyes with determination.

 

“…Please make sure to come back alive.”

 

“That goes without saying.”

 

Artie exchanged glances with Buckle Chadman, then ran toward the door again.

—————
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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