First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 54

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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 54

 

The reception room on the second floor of the manor.

 

“….”

 

Baron Riode and his son sat facing Seria across a table.

 

Maids set tea and refreshments on the table.

 

Knights of the Imperial Guard stood solemnly on either side of Seria.

 

As the knights’ steel-like gazes turned toward the baron, he unconsciously lowered his eyes.

 

Trickle, trickle, trickle.

 

Seria poured tea into her teacup.

 

A fragrant herbal scent spread in all directions.

 

“Mmm.”

 

Clink.

 

After savoring the tea once, Seria set her teacup down on the table.

 

“I understand that Albren is famous for its herbs… Indeed, it has a wonderful aroma as its reputation suggests.”

 

Baron Riode waved his hands as if deeply honored.

 

“You, you flatter me. I’m truly relieved that it suits Your Highness the Princess’s taste.”

 

“I’ll ask you straight to the point.”

 

Seria looked intently at Jerbahn, who sat tensely.

 

“Where were you and what were you doing on the day of the consecration ceremony?”

 

“I, I’ll tell you everything.”

 

Jerbahn explained his situation as if he had been waiting for this moment.

 

Ten days before the consecration ceremony.

 

While traveling to Nelbern, he was attacked by bandits in Buehern.

 

Just when he thought he would surely die helplessly, he was rescued by an unidentified group.

 

However, the saviors he thought were good people suddenly struck his neck and knocked him unconscious.

 

When he woke up, he was in an unfamiliar inn, and the consecration ceremony had already ended.

 

“That’s what happened.”

 

Jerbahn’s expression looked pitifully wronged.

 

Seria immediately followed up with another question.

 

“Describe those people’s appearance and clothing.”

 

“There were four of them in total. Three wore armor and one was cloaked in a robe, so I couldn’t see their face. Among the three in armor, one was a large spearman, one was a mage who specialized in flames, and the remaining one seemed to be a woman based on build… probably a swordsman. I saw a sword at their waist.”

 

A large spear-wielder.

 

A mage who specialized in flames.

 

And a female swordsman.

 

It was a composition that matched exactly with the people the Imperial House was looking for.

 

‘No doubt about it.’

 

Seria came to a conclusion and continued listening to Jerbahn’s testimony.

 

“As for the robed one… based on voice and build, they seemed to be a young man. The only other thing I remember is that their personality seemed extremely nasty.”

 

Jerbahn was recalling the robed figure’s remark to the one-eyed bandit leader about sparing his life if he crawled between their legs.

 

“….”

 

Seria’s expression wavered for an instant.

 

It was such a dramatic change that anyone could notice it immediately.

 

The knights looked at Seria with puzzled expressions.

 

“…Your Highness?”

 

“Ah.”

 

Ahem, ahem.

 

Seria coughed exaggeratedly.

 

Seria, who quickly returned to her usual expression, spoke.

 

“That bastard has means to perfectly disguise himself as others. You mustn’t jump to conclusions hastily. Even his appearance before contacting you could have been fake.”

 

“You mean disguise?”

 

Seria explained all the suspicions currently directed at Jerbahn.

 

When the explanation finally ended, Baron Riode covered his face with both hands in despair.

 

“Why must such things happen to my son…”

 

“I now know that it wasn’t something Jerbahn did. That’s why I told you, didn’t I? That bastard has means to disguise himself as others.”

 

Jerbahn, who had been listening quietly, nodded his head.

 

“It seems certain that those people disguised themselves as us. They were so strong that I couldn’t believe it even seeing it with my own eyes.”

 

The overwhelming force that instantly turned the bandits into shredded pieces.

 

If it were them, it seemed entirely possible that they could subdue corpses revived by the Demon Lords’ power.

 

“Since it’s confirmed that they’re capable of disguise, the possibility of revealing their identity is slim, but… I’ll cooperate with the Imperial House to the maximum extent I can.”

 

Jerbahn clearly expressed his intentions while unable to hide his nervousness.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

– My lord, I’ve brought the item the young master requested.

 

A maid’s voice was heard from outside the door.

 

Baron Riode glanced at Seria while reading the situation.

 

Seria nodded slightly.

 

“Come in.”

 

When the baron gave the order, the door opened with a creak.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

What the maid held in her hands was an old robe.

 

Jerbahn took the robe from the maid and explained.

 

“This is the robe the attacker was wearing. When I opened my eyes, I was wearing it. My original clothes were probably taken.”

 

“Give it here.”

 

Jerbahn handed the robe to Seria.

 

Seria examined every part of the robe thoroughly.

 

The dark brown robe, almost black, was an ordinary item that could be easily obtained anywhere.

 

“….”

 

As Seria examined the pockets, shiny grease stains came off on her hands.

 

“What was in the pockets?”

 

“Fried chicken.”

 

“…Fried chicken?”

 

“Yes. Though it was completely cold…”

 

Fried chicken out of nowhere.

 

Had they put leftover food in the pocket and forgotten about it?

 

Or had they put it there out of guilt toward Jerbahn, telling him to at least eat this?

 

Though ridiculous, Seria thought it was probably the latter.

 

Jerbahn continued speaking.

 

“The other pocket had some money in it.”

 

“I see. So did you eat all that fried chicken yourself?”

 

“…I was too hungry, so I did. And I used the money to hire mercenaries.”

 

Seria handed the robe back to Jerbahn.

 

“I can’t tell anything from this alone. I appreciate the gesture, but it wasn’t very meaningful.”

 

Baron Riode bowed his head in apology.

 

“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Princess. You came such a long way, but we couldn’t be of much help…”

 

“Not at all. Just knowing that the person we’re looking for isn’t Jerbahn is a great gain. I’ll report to the Imperial House that the Riode family are also victims and knew nothing.”

 

“Thank you. Thank you so much…”

 

Baron Riode’s eyes grew moist.

 

From his perspective, having imagined even a terrible ending, Seria’s words were nothing short of a declaration of salvation.

 

“I’ll be going now.”

 

Seria stood up.

 

She declined Baron Riode and his son’s offer to escort her and came out of the manor.

 

Just before boarding the carriage.

 

The knight walking alongside was startled to see something flowing down from the princess’s eyes.

 

“…Your Highness?”

 

Seria was crying.

 

She wasn’t sobbing with a choked voice, nor was her expression crumpled with sorrow.

 

But from her two eyes, long streams of tears were clearly flowing down.

 

“…He was there.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Her voice was too quiet, so the knight who couldn’t hear properly asked again.

 

Seria wiped her eyes with her sleeve and said.

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

Clatter, clatter.

 

The party left Riode Manor and departed toward the Imperial City.

 

Inside the carriage, Seria stared blankly at the sky outside the window.

 

Warm sunlight poured down onto the green earth.

 

Seria’s expression was indescribably mysterious.

 

It seemed relieved, yet longing, yet overwhelmingly emotional.

 

‘He was alive.’

 

She clenched both hands tightly until they might break.

 

The first moment she suspected was when he threw himself to save her.

 

– Isn’t this dangerous! Why on earth did you come here!

 

She was curious.

 

Who was this strange man?

 

Who could he be, to send such affectionate and worried glances at her, whom he’d clearly met for the first time today?

 

– Anyway, then and now, you’re not the slightest bit helpful.

 

– When you return to the Imperial Capital, it would be best to reselect your escort knights.

 

His arrogant tone as if he knew the Imperial House well.

 

– She’s far more helpful than those idiotic Imperial Guards.

 

In his characteristically aggressive and rough speech, she was reminded of someone no longer by her side.

 

So she became angry.

 

Because absolutely, absolutely, that guy could never appear before her again.

 

She hated this man who had turned her efforts to forget into nothing and brought past memories to the surface.

 

Her thoughts changed shortly after.

 

– Sigh, you idiot. Couldn’t you have spoken more quietly?

 

During the aftermath process when everyone’s attention was focused in one place.

 

The moment she properly heard the mage’s sly high voice for the first time.

 

– Good work, little princess. Leave the rest to us.

 

Seria realized that these were the very people who had fled with that guy four years ago.

 

There was no mistake. She could never forget that voice.

 

Then.

 

That guy… really?

 

She waited desperately for the man’s identity to be revealed.

 

Days felt like a thousand years.

 

As soon as his identity was finally determined, she immediately formed an investigation team and departed for Albren.

 

And.

 

– You, have you seen me before?

 

– Uh, no. This is the first time I’m meeting you.

 

Actually, she had already realized it then.

 

Who the man who saved her really was.

 

When Jerbahn mentioned that guy, she was so overwhelmed that she failed to manage her expression.

 

Drip, drip drip.

 

Teardrops fell onto her two clenched fists on her thighs.

 

She tried to hold back, but could no longer control herself.

 

The tears she’d lost control of poured down like a waterfall.

 

“Huu-huk, huk. Huaaaang!”

 

Seria wailed loudly with sobs.

 

The flowing tears sparkled brilliantly, catching the sunlight.

 

‘…He was alive.’

 

Now she could be certain.

 

Seria repeated it in her heart over and over, lest she forget.

 

‘Cael… was alive.’

 

And I had met Cael.

 

* * *

 

Time flew by like an arrow.

 

June 13th.

 

In the blink of an eye, the weather had already become quite hot.

 

People’s clothing had gotten shorter, and the sounds of insects vibrated through the streets.

 

Thwack! Clack!

 

The courtyard behind the temple.

 

The sound of wooden swords clashing rang out clearly.

 

“Haah!”

 

Merry’s thrust aimed at my abdomen.

 

I deflected it by striking diagonally with my sword.

 

Whoosh!

 

And a swift counterattack.

 

Merry didn’t panic and defended by clashing swords.

 

But unable to respond to the following series of attacks, her center slowly got pushed back.

 

Finally.

 

Swish!

 

My wooden sword grazed Merry’s collar.

 

If it had been real combat, her head would have flown off.

 

Knowing this fact, Merry raised both hands and calmly admitted defeat.

 

“I lost.”

 

“You worked hard today too.”

 

We collapsed onto the courtyard and gulped down water.

 

Merry brought a towel and wiped away sweat.

 

“You’re amazing.”

 

Merry said.

 

“Everything’s amazing to you.”

 

“I’m serious. Your Highness sometimes seems unaware of how amazing your achievements are.”

 

Merry pointed at herself with her finger.

 

“My level is 8-star. Meanwhile, Your Highness’s level is barely mid-5-star. Even though it was a sparring match without using aura, this should normally be impossible.”

 

A 5-star warrior had defeated an 8-star warrior.

 

If I told people this, they’d just laugh and tell me to stop talking nonsense.

 

“If you can defeat me, then under the premise of not using aura, the beings who could defeat Your Highness on the continent could be counted on one hand. Your Highness’s aura growth speed is amazing, but… in terms of pure swordsmanship, you’re an unprecedented genius in history.”

 

I’m not a genius.

 

Anyone who struggled to survive for thousands of years would acquire some level of skill.

 

My swordsmanship was a product of struggle.

 

I drank every last drop of water and asked.

 

“The enrollment application submission date started today, right?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

The application deadline was June 20th, one month before the transfer exam.

 

But there was no reason to submit it right at the deadline.

 

Wouldn’t it be more comfortable to get it done early?

 

“Let’s get going.”

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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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