First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 49
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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 49
Slash—!
The body of the Hwain charging toward Seria was split in half.
The knight clad in full armor perfectly blocked every enemy approaching Seria.
‘What the hell is this person.’
The knight left behind by that rude noble who had spouted nonsense at her.
From the voice and build, it seemed to be a woman.
But that wasn’t important at all.
‘How is she this strong?’
Overwhelming.
Every time her sword cut through the air, the Hwain were swept away like autumn leaves.
They couldn’t even get close to her vicinity.
Moreover, this knight wasn’t just protecting herself.
Thwack!
The knight charged into the battlefield with a blue flash.
Three Hwain were ganging up on a single priest.
Just when he thought he would surely die at this rate.
Swoosh—!
The knight’s sword swept across.
A single strike.
The three Hwain were completely shattered by the wave of aura.
Right after saving that one life.
“Graaah!”
Slash!
The knight swiftly returned to her original position and slaughtered yet another Hwain trying to reach out to her.
She was truly dominating the entire battlefield alone.
How was such divine skill possible?
‘She’s not just any Sword Master.’
There were ranks among Sword Masters too.
Though those from 7-star onward were commonly grouped under the classification of Sword Master.
That level could be found with difficulty in key positions of nations if you looked hard enough.
But 8-star was different.
They were so few you could count them on your fingers across the entire continent, and rarely belonged to any organization.
People sometimes compared 8-star knights to mythical creatures.
That’s how difficult they were to encounter.
One such remarkable person was right before her eyes.
“Graaah!”
Slash!
Another Hwain fell to the knight’s sword.
Seria tried to engrave every sword technique the knight displayed into her memory.
The pinnacle of swordsmanship.
The realm she should ultimately aspire to reach was here.
‘That bastard who has such a person as his subordinate… what exactly is his identity?’
His rudeness was displeasing.
But his abilities themselves were truly outstanding.
5-star at such a young age.
Among the nobles she knew, no one had achieved such accomplishments.
Even his subordinates were extraordinarily exceptional.
One was an 8-star knight, supposedly difficult to meet in a lifetime.
The other two, the spearman and mage, were also displaying tremendous presence as they massacred the Hwain.
To Seria’s eyes, they seemed far stronger than even the High Priest of the Sword.
‘I’ll have to investigate thoroughly when I return.’
There’s definitely something there.
Without a doubt.
‘Still, I should express my gratitude.’
It was true that they had saved her life.
A momentary childish decision had nearly cost her life.
When she returned, she definitely wanted to thank them.
Of course! She’d still have to collect what was owed to her.
Whoosh!
A sword energy flying from afar shattered the Hwain.
“Your Highness the Princess!”
A familiar voice she had heard countless times since childhood.
Seria smiled brightly with joy.
“Count Gamillan!”
Zeroph Gamilan and the knights of the Imperial Guard joined the battlefield.
It seemed they had sent reinforcements from the Imperial Capital after receiving news.
The Millennium Empire and this place Nelbern weren’t far apart.
Crack!
The Hwain being turned to mush by the Imperial Guard’s swords.
She was saved.
Now there was absolutely no chance of dying.
Seria’s legs gave out and she nearly collapsed from relief.
Then she became aware of the situation and pulled herself together.
‘It’s not over yet.’
Their side had overwhelming superiority in strength.
However, the enemies had the weapon of not dying even when killed.
How this battle would conclude was still unknown.
Then.
Crumble.
Suddenly, all the Hwain’s bodies collapsed.
The fierce momentum they had displayed just moments before was nowhere to be found.
They became handfuls of ash and crumbled to the floor.
“…”
The priests and knights fell silent seeing their enemies, who had been fighting to the death, instantly turn to ash.
One thing was certain.
We had won.
“Yessss!”
“We won! We’re alive! We survived!”
“Damn Demon Cult bastards! Serves you right!”
Waaaah!
When someone let out a cheer, shouts poured out from everywhere like a bursting dam.
Merry watched the entire scene through her helmet and smiled.
‘You succeeded.’
The cause of this phenomenon was clear.
Cael, who had slipped away alone, had killed the enemies’ leader.
People jumped around shouting with joy.
But if there were those who rejoiced, there were also those who grieved.
Throughout the sanctuary, there were people gathering the ash that had fallen to the floor, clutching it and shedding tears.
“Sob! Thompson! Thompsooon…!”
“I’m sorry… sob! If only I had been a little stronger… waaah!”
The scars of battle were spread deep everywhere.
It was unfortunate, but there was nothing that could be done about it.
Even this much – if Merry, Kise, and Diago hadn’t been here.
The number of casualties would have been incomparably higher than now.
Buzz!
Something vibrated in her pocket.
Merry reached into her armor and pulled it out.
It was the communication stone that had been distributed in Harten before the operation began.
‘Retreat.’
That single word appeared on the communication stone.
Kise and Diago approached Merry.
“Hey Merry, you saw it too, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It seems His Highness the Prince has succeeded.”
Diago said briefly.
Those two were also holding communication stones in their hands.
Kise urged them.
“Let’s get out of here quickly. We’ll teleport to meet up with the Prince, then warp to Harten.”
That was the moment.
Step, step.
Someone walked toward them through the crowd that was savoring the joy of victory.
“So you were all here.”
Artie’s personal escort knight.
It was Buckle Chadman.
He looked around briefly, then asked with a puzzled expression.
“Where is your master?”
“…Why are you asking that?”
“It wasn’t intentional, but I happened to overhear your conversation during the consecration ceremony.”
Buckle glared at the three with sharp eyes.
“You three. Didn’t you know that the Demon Cult would attack this place?”
Even amid the noisy cheering.
Only those words struck everyone’s ears as if the surrounding sounds had been muted.
“What did you say…?”
“Is that really true?”
People began gathering one by one.
Perhaps sensing the serious atmosphere here, the cheers were gradually dying down.
“I’m certain. I heard it clearly.”
Buckle continued with a confident voice.
“They’ll come, right? If those guys don’t come, all our efforts will be for nothing. They’ll definitely come.”
Diago flinched.
That line was definitely from a conversation he had with His Highness the Prince.
“This was a conversation they had just before the Demon Cult attacked, while the Pope was in the middle of performing the consecration. Certainly, they knew about this situation in advance.”
Those words were the decisive blow.
Murmur, murmur.
Restless noise spread throughout the hall.
“What kind of efforts were you so worried about going to waste? Won’t you tell us?”
High Priest of the Sword Podrico Parmel.
Imperial Guard Captain Zeroph Gamilan.
Direct Imperial Princess Seria de Argent.
The gazes of all those who could be called important figures of the Empire were focused on them.
Kise bit his lips hard.
‘This is bad.’
It was fortunate beyond measure that their faces were hidden by full body armor and helmets.
The High Priest of the Sword, Podrico Parmel, cleared his throat and came down from the platform.
“Ahem. First, I sincerely thank you for your help. I saw with my own eyes that all three of you achieved remarkable feats on the battlefield. Without you, the number of casualties would have been incomparable to now.”
As if he had something to say.
The Pope first expressed his gratitude.
“Therefore, the Sect would like to reward you without fail. If it’s alright with you, would you please reveal your identities?”
A tense atmosphere.
Before long, even the murmuring noise stopped, and people were focusing on them while holding their breath.
Seria whispered in Zeroph’s ear.
“Could what he said be true? That they knew about this situation?”
“Whether it’s true or not, the fact that they’re suspicious individuals remains unchanged.”
Zeroph’s gaze fell on Merry.
“Especially that one – even if I fought with all my heart, I wouldn’t be able to win. Hiding one’s identity means there’s a good reason for it. It’s dangerous, so please stay behind me.”
Zeroph seemed to be considering even the worst-case scenario.
Like them suddenly turning hostile and attacking people.
But Seria, who had been with them throughout the entire battle from start to finish, didn’t think that would happen.
“They’re suspicious, but… they don’t seem like bad people.”
To Seria’s words, Zeroph replied with an expressionless face.
“We’ll have to wait and see about that.”
The silence lasted for a long time.
What broke the stillness was Kise’s frivolous voice.
“Ugh, you idiot. Couldn’t you have spoken more quietly?”
Diago protested as if feeling wronged.
“How was I supposed to know he’d be eavesdropping like some pervert?”
At the word ‘pervert,’ Buckle’s expression twisted for a moment.
Kise sighed and declared to the audience.
“Anyway, this feels a bit unfair. Without us, the number of casualties would have increased exponentially, yet we’re being treated like criminals. I’m so hurt I could die.”
The Pope waved his hand.
“Not at all. Please don’t misunderstand. I’m simply asking you to reveal your identities because I want to reward you.”
“We don’t need any reward. We only did what was natural. Well then, we’ll be going now.”
Kise turned toward the sanctuary doors.
Clank.
Knights of the Imperial Guard blocked their way.
Undeniable tension was clearly visible on the knights’ faces.
“Excuse me, Pope? This seems a bit different from what you’re saying and doing?”
The Pope’s massive muscles twitched.
“The Order of the Sword holds nothing but gratitude toward you. That’s not the Order of the Sword’s will, but the Imperial House’s will. Isn’t that right, Count Gamillan?”
Zeroph’s expression crumpled at being suddenly mentioned.
‘He’s trying to pass the responsibility.’
Though suspicious, they were heroes who saved the Order of the Sword from crisis.
From the Pope’s standpoint, pressuring them wouldn’t look good.
“Sigh…”
From Zeroph’s standpoint, it was equally burdensome.
An 8-star knight alone could sweep away most of the people gathered here.
Beside them were a 7-star spearman and a 7th Circle mage as well.
Three of those rare master-class superhumans.
“I’ll ask just one thing. Did you really know that the Demon Cult would attack this place?”
Zeroph tried his best not to offend their sensibilities.
‘I can’t handle them right now.’
Though he held the title of Imperial Guard Captain and was often active in external affairs.
It wasn’t as if he was the only Master Class in the Imperial Capital of the Argent Empire.
He desperately needed their help.
“No?”
Diago answered naturally.
Zeroph hid his tension and continued questioning.
“Then could you tell me who you were referring to when you mentioned ‘those bastards’ in your conversation?”
“Hmm… well.”
Diago pretended to think deeply and evaded the question.
Just then, someone pointed at Kise, who had been standing quietly beside them, and shouted.
“That person is casting magic right now!”
It seemed there was a mage mixed in among the people.
The crowd was startled in shock.
Kise tilted his head slightly and chuckled.
“Oops, I got caught.”
I thought I was being careful, secretly casting while buying time.
That mage over there seems to know what they’re doing.
“But it’s already too late.”
The teleportation magic was already complete.
Clear light enveloped the three people.
“Teleport.”
Whooom!
The mage pulled a short staff from his back pocket and aimed it this way.
Drawing up mana, he spoke the incantation.
“Dispel!”
A spell to cancel cast magic.
A red beam of light rushed across the sanctuary.
But as if it were nothing, it was futilely swallowed by the teleport’s light.
Kise laughed mockingly.
“As if that would work?”
Whoooosh!
Brilliant light filled the entire sanctuary.
People raised their arms to shield their eyes.
After a few seconds, when the light subsided, they turned to check where the three people had been standing.
“…”
No one was there.
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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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