First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 89

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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 89

The interior of the cathedral was dark.

At least it wasn’t so dark that objects couldn’t be distinguished, thanks to the starlight streaming through the windows.

Long wooden chairs prepared for the faithful were lined up in rows.

At the front, like other cathedrals, there was an altar for mass.

On top of the altar lay a single long coffin.

‘There’s someone inside.’

The presence of life could be felt from within the coffin.

Someone was trapped inside.

However, their breathing was faint, suggesting they were unconscious.

“Huff, huff.”

Raeseya Welton was sitting on the floor, leaning against the altar.

I slowly approached her.

“Raeseya Welton. I have many things I want to ask you.”

I continued speaking through gritted teeth.

“Do you remember Prince Cael de Argent?”

Looking back.

All the trials that befell me after reincarnating in the Mortal Realm were caused by these bastards.

Summoning Papuwa, the cannibalistic demon from the Demon Realm to kill me.

Targeting my life in Gerpelt Forest during a practical training visit.

Killing Ellia and forcing me to be exiled from the Imperial Capital.

It was all their fault.

The Baal Sect.

I had always been curious.

Why exactly had they tried to kill me?

It’s not like they knew my true identity as Pluton’s reincarnation.

What grudge did they have against me that they were so desperate to ruin my life?

Now it was time to hear all those answers.

“Prince Cael… I have heard of him before.”

Stories about me flowed from Raeseya Welton’s mouth.

“He showed prodigious talent in his youth, but met an early end due to an unfortunate accident. A tragic genius. If he were alive, we might have met at Millennium Academy.”

That’s how my reputation had spread among the general public.

Stories about handling demonic energy or being expelled from the imperial registry were secrets known only to those involved.

“Shut up! You disgusting bastard.”

It was hard to control my emotions.

That attitude of deliberately pretending not to know made my blood boil.

“All of it… It was all planned by you. Everything that happened to me! It was all your scheme! You loathsome agent of Baal!”

After reincarnating.

No, even when I lived in the Demon Realm, I had never been this angry.

Even when I was killed by those Demon Lords, I felt empty at most, but my emotions never surged this violently.

Leisia questioned back as if she didn’t understand.

“Agent of Baal?”

Displeasure could be read in her expression, as if she had heard an unpleasant joke.

“You’re gravely mistaken. While it’s true I’m part of the Demon Cult, I have no relationship with Baal whatsoever.”

“You keep lying…”

“Rather, I’d like to ask you. Why are you so certain I’m an agent of Baal?”

“That’s because…”

There was no decisive evidence to be certain.

She was a prime suspect investigated by Garcia.

I had concluded so because the comparison with my insight confirmed she was definitely evil.

The feeling I had when I first saw her also played a part in my judgment.

The intuition that she was someone connected to the Demon Cult.

Since I completely trusted this intuition that had saved my life multiple times since the Demon Realm.

Combining all this evidence, wouldn’t it be stranger if she wasn’t an agent of Baal?

“The deity I serve is not some petty false god like Baal.”

Leisia rose to her feet, her eyes gleaming with madness.

“The only one among the Demon Lords to ascend to the Pantheon from a subjugated race. Though he ascended to the Pantheon last, he possesses the most superior martial power—!”

My heart sank with a thud.

With each syllable that came from her mouth, it felt like swallowing heavy stones.

“The Eighth Throne, Lord Pluton.”

Suddenly, that day when my life changed dramatically came to mind.

My first meeting with Nicolaus flashed through my head.

[The few priests and bishops all left the sect, and the already small religious influence became even more pitiful.]

My fake agent who had committed atrocities.

Before Nicolaus led the effort to drive him out, priests who couldn’t bear the fake agent’s evil deeds had left the sect.

“…You were one of those priests back then.”

I lowered my sword arm in dejection.

My judgment had been too hasty.

The investigation results from Nox Cartel and Garcia were only about a ‘high-ranking priest of the Demon Cult,’ and I was the one who first brought up the term ‘agent of Baal.’

‘Then the reason for doing such things…’

Though I didn’t know the detailed circumstances since she left the sect early.

She would have naturally felt that the connection with Pluton had been severed.

Her rambling about offerings and sacrifices to the Demon Lord now made sense.

Just as Nicolaus tried to attract my attention by making me pope.

Leisia had tried to attract my attention through human sacrifice, offering students as sacrifices.

“Ha, damn it.”

I roughly rubbed my face.

‘This means I have to investigate everything from the beginning again.’

Moreover, since I had revealed all my hidden powers in front of thousands of students, conducting secret investigations would be difficult going forward.

Right.

Since things had come to this anyway, I should quickly kill this woman and go look for Seria.

Just because she was once my priest didn’t mean I had any intention of forgiving her.

“You said your name was Asel. So you really were Prince Cael de Argent, thought to be dead.”

Leisia moved toward the coffin placed on the altar.

“I don’t know what circumstances you have… but this worked out well. Should I call this fate too?”

Creak.

The coffin lid opened.

Seeing the silver-haired woman lying inside with her eyes closed, I widened my eyes.

“Get out of here right now. If you ignore my words, I’ll kill the princess.”

Whooom.

A beam of light floating above Leisia’s head was aimed directly at the unconscious Seria’s forehead.

That beam’s speed exceeded the speed of sound.

At this distance, it was absolutely impossible to block.

With one gesture from her, Seria’s life would vanish as precariously as a candle in the wind.

“That bastard I’ll chew to death…!”

I bit my lip.

Provoking her here would be dangerous.

I stood still in place and opened my mouth.

“If I leave as you say, can the princess live?”

“She can live. However, she’ll have to stay with me from now on.”

“What?”

“I also have a sense of crisis. I didn’t expect to remain unscathed after touching Millennium Academy students. A direct imperial princess would have sufficient value as a hostage.”

Leisia smiles bitterly.

“Conveniently, Prince Killian, a prominent heir to the throne, is also this student’s brother.”

Leisia intends to use Seria as a hostage to secure her own safety from the Empire’s threats.

Until death.

Being proficient in dark magic, placing a restraint to prevent resistance would be simple enough.

She could even completely remodel her mind.

If I fail to stop her here.

Seria would spend the rest of her life ending without ever seeing light again.

“I’ll give you 10 seconds. Open the door and leave the cathedral within that time. If you disobey my command, the princess’s life is forfeit.”

Leisia immediately began counting down.

“10, 9, 8…”

Damn it.

What should I do.

“7, 6, 5…”

If I force an attack, she will kill Seria without hesitation.

But I couldn’t listen to her words and escape from this place either.

Thinking of the bleak future that awaits Seria, it would be a life worse than dying here.

“4, 3, 2…”

There was no more time to deliberate.

Retreating wasn’t even a consideration.

I’ll strike her with everything I have here.

Even if Seria dies.

Creak!

At that moment, the cathedral door suddenly opened.

“Your Highness!”

“Prince!”

“Your Highness the Prince!”

Merry, Kise, Diago.

Reinforcements from the Pluton Sect had finally arrived.

I was worried they might have exhausted their mental strength rushing to break through the barrier.

But looking at their complexion, such concerns seemed unnecessary.

“Tsk.”

Leisia clicked her tongue.

“So it was you lot. The vermin that were attacking my barrier. Let me see those damn faces once…”

Leisia’s eyes widened greatly after confirming the group’s faces.

The same was true for the group as well.

“Grace? You, you’re Grace, right?”

Merry called out to Leisia pitifully.

Leisia’s pupils shook.

“Merry… Leader? Why is the Leader here… Even Kise and Diago?”

Kise irritably scratched the back of his head.

“The Prince said it was an emergency situation so we rushed here… but you were the cause, Grace.”

Diago lowered his voice as if this entire situation was deeply regrettable.

However, his expression alone was murderous.

“After leaving the sect, I wondered what you were doing, but the path you ultimately chose was human sacrifice. I’m disappointed.”

Raeseya Welton.

No, Grace choked up and shouted.

“What do you all know!”

She cried out pitifully as if vomiting all her pent-up resentment.

“What did you all do to turn His attention back?! If the main sect had found a solution from the beginning, I wouldn’t have had to do such things! While He turned His back on us, what did you do for Him!”

“Many things happened.”

It was Kise who answered her words.

Kise gestured toward me with his eyes and said.

“This person is the next Pope of the Pluton Sect. The first human in history to wield demonic energy.”

“What… did you say?”

I raised demonic energy as if responding to Kise’s words.

Kwarrrrk-!

Pitch-black energy blazed fiercely.

Leisia’s face was colored with shock upon seeing the demonic energy I raised.

“A human… wields demonic energy?”

Leisia laughed like a deranged person and clicked her tongue regretfully.

She was certainly laughing, but paradoxically looked very sad.

“Really, truly regrettable. If only I had known of your existence a little sooner…”

“It’s not too late yet. Leisia, no, Grace.”

I extended my hand toward her.

“Come here and take my hand. And repent for the sins you’ve committed. Then Pluton will also look upon you with favor.”

Grace withdrew the beam aimed at Seria.

Large teardrops flowed down her wrinkled cheeks.

Grace clasped her hands together as if deeply moved and smiled brightly.

“Really… could it be? Could I feel His warmth once more?”

“Of course. Come, come here. Come take my hand and repent for your sins.”

“Ahh…”

Grace staggered and slowly approached.

Merry, Kise, and Diago quietly turned their gazes away.

Just before her hand reached me.

Swish-!

I swung my sword and severed Grace’s neck.

“Yes. Repent to your heart’s content. In hell, that is.”

The severed head flew through the air along with a single tear.

Just before consciousness was completely cut off.

I read the last words Grace left by the shape of her lips.

‘Just once, even if only once, by Pluton’s side…’

Thud, roll roll.

Grace’s head rolled across the cathedral floor.

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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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