First of All, I’m Drinking - Chapter 99

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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 99

“Aaahhh!”

“Who are you?!”

The kidnappers drew their swords and pointed them at us.

I also drew my sword from my waist.

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? We’re making money!”

“Don’t you know that slave kidnapping is punishable by death in Suinuk?”

“Hmph, why should I care about that? It’s fine as long as we don’t get caught.”

“Suinuk manages missing persons so strictly, yet you think you won’t get caught. Your intelligence is astounding.”

These were people who couldn’t be reasoned with.

If these bastards had succeeded in their kidnapping, the anger and distrust toward humans in Suinuk would only grow stronger.

And it would cause setbacks in our journey as well.

“Just die.”

Killing slave kidnappers in Suinuk was not a crime.

Swoosh—!

With one swing of my sword, the torsos of all five slave hunters were completely bisected.

Blood spurted up as the body parts collapsed with a thud.

“Mmph! Mmph mmph!”

I approached the Lion Beastfolk who had witnessed that scene right in front of him and untied his bonds.

“Are you okay?”

“Phew! Thank you for saving me!”

The Lion Beastfolk bowed his waist and expressed his gratitude.

Considering that beastfolk mature faster than humans, he looked very young.

“How old are you?”

“I’m five years old this year!”

As soon as he heard that, Kise made a fuss.

“Huh?! Five years old? I thought you’d be over ten.”

“Beastfolk originally develop faster than humans.”

Diago taught Kise a piece of common knowledge.

Meanwhile, Merry was staring intently at the Lion Beastfolk with a light blush on her cheeks.

“So cute…”

I didn’t know she had a side that liked cute things.

I took out a few pieces of jerky from subspace and handed them to the Lion Beastfolk.

“How did you end up getting caught by slave hunters?”

“I had some business so I stopped by Mantangkar, and there was a delicious smell so I went into the mountains and then…”

“It’s a typical method. Luring young beastfolk with food. From now on, you shouldn’t carelessly go to unknown places just because something smells good.”

“Yes, big brother!”

The Lion Beastfolk answered energetically and then tore into the jerky I gave him.

He ate it so deliciously that it seemed like he had been starving for days.

“We’re also trying to go to Mantangkar, so if it’s okay with you, let’s go together. There might be other slave hunters hiding in this forest.”

“Yes, big brother! Thank you.”

“But Young Boy, didn’t you ever think that we might be slave hunters too?”

“Huh! Are you slave hunters, big brother?”

“No, we’re good humans. But what if we really were slave hunters? Why would you follow us so readily?”

“Ah… But big brother gave me food.”

The Lion Beastfolk smiled brightly and held up the jerky triumphantly.

“People who give food are good people.”

Diago sighed and shook his head.

“I think I understand why beastfolk get kidnapped by humans so often.”

Just because they have animal characteristics doesn’t mean their intelligence is actually at animal level.

I guess it’s just because he’s young.

“What’s your name, Young Boy?”

“I’m Muramad Renji! What about you, big brother?”

“I’m called Asel. …Wait. Muramad Renji? Renji?”

“Yes.”

I’m sure I’ve heard that name somewhere before.

While I was searching my memory, Kise opened his mouth wide in shock.

“Renji, as in Emperor Samaho Renji?”

“That’s my Father!”

“Good heavens…”

Now even the other companions expressed their surprise with their whole bodies.

The son of Emperor Samaho Renji, Muramad Renji.

This little Young Boy is the prince of Suinuk?

‘What kind of… ridiculous coincidence is this.’

What are the odds that as soon as we arrive in Suinuk, we save a beastfolk from being kidnapped by slave hunters, and that beastfolk turns out to be a prince?

“Anyway, thank you for saving me, big brothers! Big sister! I’ll ask Father to give you presents!”

The Lion Beastfolk, Muramad, smiled innocently and rubbed his face against mine.

Could this be the present that Deront mentioned?

In any case, it was certainly divine fortune.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

“Where are you, Your Highness!”

In the distance, booming voices along with moving torches.

They seemed to be knights from Suinuk who had come looking for the missing Muramad.

“Oh? That’s Genta’s voice! Over here! Over here!”

When Muramad waved his arms above his head and shouted loudly, the beastfolk knights soon came running hurriedly.

Beastfolk with various characteristics – crocodile, cat, seal, fox, and others.

Merry’s pupils were blissfully dilated as she looked at them.

‘She doesn’t like cute things, she likes animals.’

When we return, I should suggest getting a pet for Merry.

“Your Highness! Are you alright! Are you injured anywhere?”

“You humans! Get away from His Highness immediately!”

The beastfolk knights surrounded us with their respective weapons drawn.

Muramad waved his arms frantically and shouted.

“No, Genta! These people saved me!”

“Is that really true?”

The crocodile beastfolk at the front responded.

That guy’s name was probably Genta, and he seemed to be the leader commanding the knights.

“Yes. The people who tried to kidnap me are over there.”

Muramad pointed his finger at the corpses of the slave hunters.

A gruesome scene with blood and organ fragments scattered about.

“This big brother even gave me food.”

Muramad proudly waved the jerky that was now only about the size of a finger joint after he had finished eating.

The knights looked flustered and exchanged glances with each other, then soon lowered their weapons.

“We apologize. We were rude to His Highness’s benefactors. We beg your forgiveness.”

Led by the crocodile beastfolk Genta, the beastfolk knights all bowed their heads to us in unison.

“Not at all. It’s understandable that you would be suspicious.”

Since I had even received an apology, I had no desire to make more of a fuss about it.

Genta asked cautiously.

“What business brings you to Suinuk?”

“I’m here for a brief visit while traveling. I plan to stay for about a week.”

“Bro! Let’s go to our castle together!”

Muramad naturally dropped his formal speech.

Just moments ago was before his identity was revealed, and now that it was clear who he was, he seemed to want to speak casually.

Should I use formal speech then?

“By castle, you mean… the Beast Kingdom Royal Palace, right?”

“You don’t need to awkwardly use formal speech, bro. Just be comfortable.”

“Oh, okay.”

Indeed, it felt strange trying to use formal speech with a much younger beast-man kid.

“His Majesty seems to wish to commend your achievements.”

Genta spoke with the most benevolent smile he could manage.

But since his face was that of a crocodile, it only looked eerie.

“If it’s alright with you, would you accompany us to the royal palace? We will provide escort.”

“Yeah, yeah! Let’s go together! Bro!”

Looking at Kise and Diago’s expressions, it seemed like they were telling me to decide as I wished.

Merry still couldn’t take her eyes off the beast-man knights.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

It’s not just anything – they’re offering a reward, so of course I should go.

I nodded readily.

* * *

The next morning.

Through the warp point in Mantangkar, we instantly moved to Rantaskar, the capital of the Beast-man Kingdom.

Like the Millennium Empire, Rantaskar’s central district was extremely bustling.

The exotic atmosphere brought a freshness that truly felt like traveling.

The food sold by street vendors was also different from the Empire’s culture.

They deep-fried insect-type monsters and sold them whole with their shells, and there were many uniquely shaped fruits and spices.

Glance.

The beast-men walking the streets openly stared at us humans.

Among them were both curious gazes and those filled with hostility.

I whispered to Muramad.

“Do people here usually find humans fascinating?”

When we went to Mantangkar to use the warp point and stay overnight, the atmosphere wasn’t like this.

The beast-men in Mantangkar didn’t pay any attention to humans.

“Well, there aren’t many cases of humans coming all the way to the capital Rantaskar. Usually tourists mostly go to areas near the border or regional hub cities.”

Muramad tapped his chest with his fist as if telling us not to worry.

“Bros and sis don’t need to be scared! No one will harm you when you’re with me.”

“Is that so? Then I’m counting on you.”

“Yeah!”

Kise grumbled with dissatisfaction.

“Tch, I feel like a monkey in a zoo.”

“Can you handle the consequences if a monkey beast-man hears you say that?”

“Ahem.”

After walking through Rantaskar city for about 30 minutes under the knights’ escort, we finally arrived at the Beast Kingdom Royal Palace.

Naturally, it was quite modest in scale compared to the Empire’s Imperial Capital.

But it had sufficient dignity for a nation’s king to reside in.

As we approached the city gate, the guards recognized Muramad and saluted.

“Loyalty! Have you returned, Your Highness!”

One of the guards was a tiger, the other a bear beast-man.

It seemed they deliberately placed intimidating beast-men at the entrance.

“Yeah! Oh, these bros and sis are the people who saved me, so you don’t need to check their identities! I’ll go see Father with them later.”

“Understood.”

Thanks to Muramad vouching for our identities, we easily passed through the city gate.

The interior of the castle was more splendid than expected.

Dozens of intricate mosaic patterns were embedded in the ceiling like constellations, and geometric patterns embroidered with gold thread continued endlessly.

“Bro! I’ll be in my room! See you later!”

Muramad said that and scurried off to his room.

Genta guided us to a guest reception room.

“If you wait here briefly, His Majesty will summon your party.”

Merry spoke up.

“Are there any precautions for the audience?”

“There are Beast Kingdom court etiquettes, but you don’t need to worry about them. As long as you’re not too rude, you may act according to human country etiquette.”

“Understood.”

“Ah, but there’s one thing I must tell you in advance.”

Genta lowered his voice and continued.

“The current Emperor greatly enjoys and delights in combat. Even if His Majesty proposes a duel to your party, you must absolutely not accept.”

I wondered if I heard wrong and asked back.

“The king proposes duels to people who come for an audience?”

“There have been several precedents in the past. Beast-men generally enjoy combat. However, everyone who dueled with His Majesty left the audience hall with something broken.”

“Is he that strong?”

“Yes.”

The entire party was shocked by what followed.

“The current Emperor currently holds 5th place among the Top 10 Strongest of the Continent. He’s probably the strongest person in the Western Alliance excluding the General.”

The General was 3rd place. Duke Ifrit was 4th place.

5th place meant he was a powerhouse right below those two.

Remembering Duke Ifrit’s prowess, I couldn’t help but feel my whole body tingle with excitement.

‘I’d like to fight him once.’

Compared to when I fled from Duke Ifrit four years ago, I had developed significantly too.

My realm had risen, and I had awakened a new technique called dark attribute aura.

I was curious how far my current self would fare against the strongest of the Mortal Realm.

Knock knock knock.

Along with the knocking sound, a high and cute voice rang out.

“Bro! Father is calling now!”

It was time to go for an audience with the Emperor.

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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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