First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 98

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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 98

Suppression of the emerging criminal organization that appeared in the Western Alliance.

“Should we go right now?”

Now that the target was decided, there was no time to dawdle.

I rose from my seat.

“There’s no need to rush this much… Well, if that’s what you want.”

Garcia answered while sipping his black tea.

He pulled out a bundle of papers from the shelf and handed it to me.

“The organization’s name, location, and member status are written on those papers. Don’t lose it and keep it safe.

“You’ll handle attendance for me, right?”

“Why would I? You should talk to your homeroom teacher directly.”

“…”

Now that I heard it, he was right.

Garcia, who was the Class F supervising professor, had no obligation to handle my attendance as well.

* * *

In front of Professor Amelia’s Research Lab.

I was worried the professor might not be there since it was Saturday, but fortunately Amelia was working overtime despite it being the weekend.

I immediately filled out a field study application and submitted it to Amelia.

“Field study? To the Western Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t even been enrolled for long… Is it worth missing classes at this time?”

I had thought of a reasonable excuse for this.

“Recently, I’ve been getting a lot of attention, making it hard to focus on my studies. Plus, I’m still under severe stress from the aftermath of the Void Tundra…”

“So you’re saying that while you look fine on the outside, you’re struggling inside.”

“That’s right. I want to take about a week to recharge through travel.”

“I understand.”

Amelia put the field study application in her desk drawer and said.

“I’ll schedule your individual tournament for Friday. If possible, try to return by Friday.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing how she deliberately scheduled my matches for the latest possible date, this person must really want me to finish the individual tournament with a perfect record.

“You may go.”

I left the research lab at Amelia’s dismissal.

The next destination was already decided.

I passed through the Academy’s main gate and headed to a secluded back alley in the Imperial Capital.

As I raised my magi, a black magic circle formed beneath my feet.

“Transport.”

Swoooosh.

I instantly warped to Harten and entered the Pluton Sect.

Crunch- Crunch.

“Wow, this is really delicious.”

Deront was sitting in a wooden chair eating fried chicken.

I quietly approached from behind and stole a piece of fried chicken to eat.

“Hey, what bastard… Oh, it’s Lord Cael!”

“What bastard?”

“Ah, nothing. Haha. It’s been a while!”

Deront showed an awkward forced smile.

“Where are the others?”

“They’re probably lounging around in their rooms right about now.”

“Call them all. I have something to say.”

Deront ran around gathering everyone.

A few minutes later, all members of the Pluton Sect including Nicolaus gathered in the sanctuary.

“Prince? What brings you here at this hour?”

Kise scratched his belly and yawned.

Merry and Diago also looked at me with questioning gazes.

I got straight to the point.

“Is there anyone among you who can come with me to the Western Alliance right now?”

“The Western Alliance… you said?”

“Why the Western Alliance all of a sudden?”

I explained the current situation to the group.

To root out Baal’s agent who had infiltrated the Imperial Capital, the help of the Nox Cartel was absolutely essential.

I was heading to the Western Alliance for the Nox Cartel’s entrance exam.

“The Nox Cartel?”

Merry was shocked as soon as she heard the name Nox Cartel.

“That won’t do, Your Majesty. Getting involved with such heinous people will cause big trouble!”

“But aren’t we, as a demon cult, just as heinous?”

“While we are a demon cult, we don’t deliberately harm people! The Nox Cartel are people who kill as casually as eating. To think you’d become one of their members…”

“It’s fine. I have it all figured out.”

Though in truth, I wasn’t really considering the consequences.

I stayed quiet since telling Merry the truth would likely cause a scene.

“It can’t be helped.”

Diago strapped his spear to his back.

“I understand Your Highness’s words. I don’t know about the other two, but I will accompany you.”

“Thanks, Diago.”

Merry also sighed and stepped forward.

“How could I send Your Majesty alone to such a distant foreign land. I will also come with you.”

“What! Then I’m the only one left out again?”

Kise looked at the faces of the two who had decided first, then made eye contact with me.

“Do I have to go?”

“You absolutely have to go.”

“Why! Why only me!”

“Why do you think? We need to warp.”

If Kise the mage was excluded, we’d have to take a carriage all the way to the Western Alliance.

My spatial movement technique wasn’t complete yet, so I could only set destinations to places I’d directly visited.

Though Kise’s warp magic was the same, given his free-spirited personality, he would definitely have experience visiting the Western Alliance.

“You were confirmed from the start no matter what. Pack your bags.”

“Nooooo…”

Kise trudged off with gloomy steps to pack his things.

Deront stared at me with bright eyes.

“Do you want to come too?”

Deront shook his head.

“I have things to do here.”

“What do you have to do? All you do every day is eat, sleep, and shit.”

“…That’s not true?! I’m also working hard to be helpful to Lord Cael.”

I suddenly remembered what Kise had said in the Void Tundra.

He said that a gift would arrive for me soon from Deront.

“Is this related to the ‘gift’ you mentioned?”

When I asked casually, Deront nodded.

“That’s right. Lord Cael will be really happy too, you know? You can look forward to it.”

“Alright, I understand. I’ll be waiting.”

It’s unfortunate to lose the high-ranking demon Deront’s power, but the remaining three are sufficient for combat strength.

‘If possible, I’ll make sure they won’t need to use their power.’

The entrance exam is a stage solely for evaluating me.

It only has meaning if I pass using my own strength alone.

However, bringing them along was to deal with any unforeseen variables.

I don’t know how strong the Nox Cartel is, with one of the Top 10 Strongest of the Continent as their leader.

Even if the possibility was small, I needed people who could assist me when problems arose.

With my current 5-star power alone, I was still lacking to face the highest-level powerhouses of the human realm by myself.

“Will you be alright?”

Nicolaus asked with a worried expression.

“I’ve heard of the Nox Cartel before. I can’t help but feel uneasy about Your Majesty getting involved with such unsavory people.”

“Don’t worry. I’m the person who will become the Pope of the Pluton Sect.”

Nicolaus’s eyes widened.

He patted my shoulder with a warm smile.

“I will pray that Pluton’s blessing always be with Your Majesty.”

I wanted to tell him that was something he need not doubt.

Merry, Kise, and Diago came down from the second floor with their luggage.

Kise and I stored the luggage using subspace magic.

“The Western Alliance is quite vast… You do know where we need to go, right?”

At Kise’s question, I curled up the corners of my mouth as if it were obvious.

“Let’s go to Suinuk.”

The Western Alliance, as its name suggests, was an alliance of numerous small nations, unlike the Empire which was a single country.

And among them, the largest country was Suinuk.

“Understood. Everyone hold on tight.”

Kise’s mana emitted a brilliant light.

“Warp!”

Wooooong-

White light enveloped the four people.

From outside the light, I read Nicolaus’s lip movements as they blurred.

‘Please be careful.’

I responded with a smile.

* * *

When I opened my eyes, we were in the middle of a forest again.

Clear night air and the hooting of owls.

Though dark, the refreshing atmosphere calmed my mind.

“Ugh, this is exhausting…”

Due to traveling a long distance at once, Kise bent over and panted.

I looked around.

I had seen quite a few forests in the Intermediate Realm, but this forest was somehow unique.

Should I call it raw nature untainted by human touch?

‘It’s probably because this is a country where beastfolk live.’

A race that combined human appearance with animal characteristics.

Most of them only lived within Suinuk and rarely came outside.

Beastfolk slaves were traded at very high prices.

“That’s probably why Suinuk doesn’t welcome humans very much.”

I explained the customs of Suinuk to my companions as we walked through the forest.

What I studied in the Imperial Capital was helpful at times like this.

“To beastfolk, humans are cruel and vile creatures who might capture and sell them at any time.”

Diago panicked and bit his lips nervously.

“Your Highness, then won’t we have problems wandering around like this? You said they hate humans.”

“It’s fine. Just wandering around is okay. We’re not the only humans in Suinuk.”

I hardened my expression and added.

“But if any problems do arise, the beastfolk guards won’t take our side.”

“You mean we need to complete our objective as quietly as possible.”

Causing a commotion wouldn’t benefit us in any way.

We walked along the forest path.

The midnight forest was extremely dark, but no one couldn’t see the path ahead due to darkness.

“Let’s go to the city first.”

I took out a map of Suinuk from subspace.

This map was also among the bundle of papers Garcia had given me.

“Kise. Do you know where we are?”

“Of course.”

Kise pointed to a spot on the map with his finger.

“Good. Then if we keep walking along this path, we’ll reach ‘Mantangkar’. Let’s make it our base.”

Mantangkar was one of the most active trading cities in Suinuk.

It was easy to gather information and had abundant infrastructure, making it perfect as a base.

Our first destination was decided.

The group increased their pace and marched through the midnight forest path.

“Your Majesty.”

Merry called me.

“Do humans sometimes kidnap slaves even within Suinuk?”

That’s ridiculous.

If humans are caught kidnapping slaves in Suinuk, they’re usually killed on the spot.

If captured, they’re executed after terrible torture.

This was officially declared by Suinuk law.

“No way.”

So I confidently shook my head.

“No matter how much they like money, they wouldn’t do such a bold act…”

Stop.

I stopped walking.

Because I realized why Merry had said such a thing.

“Mmph! Mmph mmph!”

“Hey! Hurry and load him in the wagon!”

“Kuhaha! With this, we can eat and drink well this year!”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

About five humans were loading a bound lion beastfolk into a wagon.

The lion beastfolk’s mane was stained with tears as if sensing his future.

Dumbfounded, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Those bold bastards are right in front of us.”

Merry drew her sword from its sheath.

Blue sword energy condensed on Merry’s blade.

As expected, she understands without being ordered.

Kwang-!

The sword energy that flew from the sword tip shattered the wagon to pieces.

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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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