First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 82

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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 82

It had been over 4 years since I last met Gabriel.

The last memory was receiving his blessing when I fled from the Imperial Capital.

His voice after such a long time was more welcome than I had expected.

[It seems there have been various circumstances.]

Gabriel’s voice settled down warmly.

[I know that you were erased from the Imperial House registry. Where have you been and what have you been doing all this time?]

“It’s a bit of a long story to explain…”

I began telling Gabriel my story.

How I was discovered to possess demonic energy and had no choice but to flee from the Imperial Capital.

How I met people from the Pluton Sect in that process.

How I was asked to become the Pope of the Pluton Sect.

How I had been staying with the Pluton Sect since then, planning revenge against the Demon Cult.

I confided everything about the past 4 years to Gabriel.

Gabriel listened to my words silently.

As I had felt before.

Sometimes, even without working together to find solutions.

Just quietly listening can be a great source of strength.

[I see. So those who fled with you back then were Pluton Sect members.]

When all my stories finally came to an end.

[You must have suffered greatly.]

I could feel that Gabriel was trying to comfort me.

[Despite being a Demon Lord, you’re surprisingly sentimental, and I remember you cherished the humans of the Imperial House quite dearly.]

“…That’s right.”

[It’s unfortunate. But there’s nothing I can particularly help you with in that regard.]

I gave a bitter smile.

“I know. It’s all in the past anyway. Besides, that’s not why I came here.”

[Then what is it for?]

I told Gabriel that Baal’s agent had infiltrated Millennium Academy.

And that I was also enrolled as a student to capture him.

“His identity has already been identified. Now I just need to catch him, but as you know, I can’t use my full power inside the school.”

[There are watching eyes, so you can’t use demonic energy.]

“Right. So I need reinforcements. An assassination organization called Nox Cartel has promised reinforcements too, but I thought it would be good to have stronger forces.”

Gabriel grimaced when the words Nox Cartel came up.

[You’ve gotten involved with some nasty people.]

“You seem to know them well.”

[I have believers who constantly offer prayers. I’m saying this out of concern, but it would be best not to get deeply involved with those guys.]

Gabriel speaking so negatively made me curious.

“I was already thinking that way… is there a reason?”

[Sebastian di Jeyhall, the head of Nox Cartel, is a dangerous human. An organization with such a person as their leader can’t be normal. Don’t trust that Professor who’s supposed to help you too much either.]

“Got it. Thanks for worrying about me.”

[What worry…]

Gabriel clicked his tongue, telling me not to say nonsense.

Such a transparent guy.

I never once thought in thousands of years.

That Gabriel and I could have such a peaceful conversation.

“So reinforcements are possible, right?”

Gabriel sighed.

[Attaching a bunch of mediocre ones would only be a burden. I’ll attach one Cardinal and two Elite Knights. This should be sufficiently meaningful force.]

“Thank you.”

Gabriel’s Cardinal.

And two Elite Knights – they would definitely not be inferior compared to Nox Cartel’s reinforcements.

‘I was right to come find Gabriel.’

Perhaps he had grown fond of me after giving his blessing at the baptism ceremony.

Gabriel had never once been unfavorable toward me.

Celestial and Demon Lord.

Two beings that seemed like they would never mix like oil and water had somehow opened their hearts and begun conversing.

It was a strange thing.

Perhaps all conflicts that exist in this world stem entirely from lack of communication?

[Cael.]

I flinched as I was about to turn and leave.

Had Gabriel ever called me by name before?

I think he always just called me “you” or “you bastard.”

‘Cael…’

Not Pluton, not Asel.

Cael.

Cael de Argent.

That was the only real name I had in this world.

[Don’t die.]

I let out a chuckle.

What pointless worry.

“I won’t die, you bastard.”

I already died once, so I can’t die again.

Not until I stick a blade into the necks of those Demon Lord bastards.

* * *

The aura attribute conversion class continued.

Now, except for some students, almost everyone could convert their aura to their respective attributes.

Whoosh-!

“Haha! This is incredibly cool!”

Fail swung his sword while wreathed in blazing flames.

Hiss-

The flames transferred to the scarecrow, burning it black.

Rumble! Crack!

Every time Max swung his sword, thunder and lightning swirled.

“Nice!”

Max, who had blown up the scarecrow with lightning, let out a satisfied laugh.

Veronica was still sparring with Lessor.

“Haaah!”

Whooom-

Lessor’s swordsmanship, transformed into light, couldn’t penetrate the water barrier Veronica had deployed.

“Damn! Still can’t break through!”

“It’ll take a hundred years.”

Lessor seemed very frustrated that his attack was blocked again, but breaking through Veronica’s water-attribute aura specialized in defense seemed far off.

Whoooosh-!

A fierce gale wrapped around Cathy’s body.

Students nearby seemed to struggle just to stand against the wind pressure.

“I did it! I finally succeeded too!”

Cathy withdrew her aura and jumped up and down in place, enjoying the joy of success.

Students who hadn’t yet mastered attribute conversion looked at her with envious eyes.

I was included among them as well.

“Damn, this is frustrating.”

Whoosh!

I swept back my hair while deflecting the surging flames in the fire zone.

“Why the hell isn’t this working?”

Amelia had explained the reason once before.

She said my talent being too exceptional was the problem.

But I couldn’t agree with that statement.

If talent is exceptional, shouldn’t one easily master techniques in all areas?

When I looked into it, both the Imperial Guard Captain and the Western Alliance Leader that Amelia used as examples.

While they didn’t use attribute conversion as their main technique, they apparently mastered it quickly.

“You want me to teach you the trick?”

Eventually, I went to Veronica to ask for the secret.

“It’s nothing special. You just go into the zone and endure a bit, then an image pops up in your head, right?”

“Nothing pops up at all.”

“Well then, I have no way to teach you. I got it in one try.”

“…Don’t people often tell you that you’re really annoying?”

“Oh my, that sounds like a compliment to me.”

Veronica snorted smugly.

“Looking at you, Asel, I can’t tell if you’re skilled or ordinary.”

“What are you talking about now?”

Veronica pointed at me with her finger.

“When I heard you defeated Ragnor in the transfer exam, I thought you were really strong. But your actual ranking was dead last among the 6 transfer students?”

Veronica poured out her words.

“During the class competition, you seemed to barely pull your weight, but seeing Meirei foam at the mouth and charge at you, it seems like there’s something more to you.”

“Wait, how do you know that? You collapsed and were carried to the infirmary then.”

“I heard from other kids later. I was curious how our class won.”

Right. That makes sense.

Veronica continued.

“You easily beat down Lessor, who may have a nasty personality but definitely has skills, yet you can’t even grasp attribute conversion while other kids are mastering it… What are you really? Are you deliberately hiding your power?”

“Why would I do such a pointless thing? I need to get good grades too, man.”

“True. Unless you’re a concept freak or attention seeker, there’s no reason to do that.”

Concept freak? Attention seeker?

Sounds like modern slang, but it doesn’t sound like good terms.

I mulled over Veronica’s words.

‘Who would have thought that controlling my output to avoid attention would actually draw more attention.’

But I can’t show my full power either.

I’ll just have to be more careful going forward.

“Kek, there’s still an idiot here who can’t do attribute conversion?”

“What were you doing while everyone else was working hard?”

“Kuk kuk kuk, that’s what commoners are like.”

Lessor came over with his gang to mock me.

That bastard is picking fights again even after getting beaten up like that.

I’ll give him credit for guts, at least.

Flash!

When I glared at Lessor with fierce eyes, he flinched.

“What, what the hell! Can’t you look properly? Want to die?”

Does that guy know how pathetic he looks right now?

“Sigh, when will he ever grow up.”

Veronica also shook her head as if she pitied Lessor.

Lessor trembled with his fists clenched.

“Tch!”

He clicked his tongue and turned around.

He still doesn’t seem to have learned his lesson. Should I stomp on him once more?

-However, if something similar happens one more time, it’ll be hard to protect you then.

Garcia’s voice flashed through my mind.

I roughly scratched my head.

“Phew, this damn temper of mine.”

It seems like I’m the one who needs to come to my senses.

* * *

That night.

Dormitory.

“Attribute conversion?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you still can’t do it?”

“That’s why I’m asking you, isn’t it? You trying to piss me off?”

I asked Ragnor for the trick.

Wouldn’t this sword genius provide a clear answer?

“Hmm.”

Ragnor generated a small aura in his palm.

Crackle- Crackle-

The aura transformed into the form of electricity.

Whoosh-

Then took the form of a cold blizzard.

Flash!

Soon it changed into the appearance of light.

He really is an amazingly talented guy.

While other kids can only convert to one attribute so far.

This guy was already handling three different attributes just from what he’d shown.

“Even if you ask for tricks, there’s nothing I can tell you.”

Ah, right.

For this incredible genius, swordsmanship would be as simple as breathing.

So there are no tricks or anything.

Because everything just works when he does it.

“I should just give up.”

I flopped down on the bed.

“Attribute conversion isn’t even mandatory. I’ll just quit, damn it.”

“Puhaha!”

“Why are you laughing?”

“I can’t help it when laughter comes out. Hahaha!”

That’s annoying.

Should I give him a knuckle sandwich?

But to land a hit on Ragnor, I’d have to attack him seriously too.

“Ugh.”

I’d rather die than suffer.

I tossed and turned to look out the window.

The cluster of stars floating in the night sky seemed to shine particularly clearly today.

‘…Hm?’

Dark clouds appeared at the edge of my vision.

The dark clouds covered the starlight and blanketed the entire sky gloomily.

Soon after.

Spotting something faintly glimmering on the surface of the dark clouds, I immediately shouted.

“…Hey, grab your sword. Quickly!”

Ragnor frowned as if he couldn’t understand what was happening.

“What? Why, what’s going on?”

“Damn it!”

Blue magic circles were forming on the black storm clouds.

Transportation magic circles created with the mana of Black Mages.

It was obvious whose doing this was.

‘Raeseya Welton…!’

That wicked bastard had made the first move.

I shouldn’t have waited a week—I should have taken action immediately.

To think she was insane enough to plan terrorism on a school-wide scale!

‘It’s already too late.’

Rumble—!

Blue lightning shook my retinas.

“Kyaah!”

“What’s happening!”

Students’ screams could be heard from all over the dormitory.

My consciousness grew hazy.

I lost consciousness along with the sensation of being sucked into somewhere.

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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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