The Drinking Sage 27

That day was a special day for Sword Star Silvia Isolde. To understand why, the clock hands needed to be turned back a bit further into the past.

Her roommate who had been gone for a long time, not showing his face after going to a distant place. Loran.

In truth, Silvia wasn’t the type to feel her emotions that well. No, to put it boldly, she was in a state where she didn’t even know what emotions were.

However.

For some reason, when she was left alone in the spacious imperial dormitory, rolling around on that soft bed.

She couldn’t help but think.

‘What is Loran doing and where is he?’

Before falling asleep, when she blankly stared at the ceiling, somehow his face came to mind.

It felt strange, so when she closed her eyes and tried to sleep, Loran’s face was drawn on her dark eyelids.

‘This is strange.’

What kind of phenomenon was this?

Silvia lacked the capacity to explain this unfamiliar feeling. She merely felt awkward toward the strange emotion and went to sleep.

Silvia didn’t know. That what she was feeling now was ‘longing.’

Sometimes when she realized that the man’s scent was disappearing from the bed, she somehow became dissatisfied.

‘I’m waiting like this, why isn’t he coming?’

It felt strange that someone who should naturally be by her side wasn’t there.

So when Loran returned, she felt peculiar. Silvia didn’t understand the emotion of ‘happiness’ well, but she thought it might feel like this.

Just that she didn’t like the gray-haired woman who came along beside him.

Loran’s place beside him certainly belonged to her, Silvia. She couldn’t tolerate anyone who dared to covet that position.

Though she was displeased about being scolded by Loran because of that.

So. Naturally, she didn’t like it when, on that day, Loran was leaving to meet someone.

Silvia’s stubbornness to follow Loran, who kept trying to leave her side on his own. Nevertheless, he calmly accepted it.

The reason she acted that way was simple.

Reassurance. Silvia felt like she regained her sense of purpose only when she was beside Loran.

Anyway. Silvia grabbed Loran’s collar as usual. She was planning to just follow him while sleeping.

‘He said not to interfere.’

Since she could move while sleeping, it wasn’t a problem for her.

However.

-Rather than that, hold my hand as you walk.

How strange that outstretched hand felt.

Someone extending their hand to her. Saying to rely on them because it could be dangerous.

All of that was so awkward and, on the other hand, so curious.

‘Ah.’

When their hands touched, it was electrifying. As if she had an illusion of electricity running through her body from the point where their fingers met.

But one thing was certain: ‘it felt good.’

Walking while holding Loran’s hand. Although her consciousness cut off immediately as she fell asleep.

One emotion had sprouted in a corner of Silvia’s heart.

‘I want to keep holding it.’

She wanted to feel the warmth of Loran’s hand from now on.

Therefore.

“You.”

How dare.

How dare she try to steal that man’s warmth from her hand.

“Who gave you permission to take him?”

It was inevitable that she couldn’t forgive her.

 

Silence.

A girl who suddenly entered as the door was destroyed.

Seeing the clear hostility in her emotionless gaze, it was a bit perplexing.

‘Why is she acting like this?’

I knew the Sword Star was showing possessiveness toward me.

But I wondered if this was something to get so angry about.

Perhaps I had been misjudging her feelings toward me?

I awkwardly observed the atmosphere between the two while still shirtless.

Silvia was staring at Adela with clear hostility in her silver pupils.

And Adela too.

Curling her lips crookedly, she was returning that hostility.

Then those red lips opened.

“You.”

Her tongue began to form words.

“Are you crazy?”

Adela’s eyes curved. In that enchanting gaze that might seem lovely at first glance.

There was a definite intention to cut down the opponent with words.

“How can you just destroy this place? You’ll be punished, you know?”

“So what?”

“It will cause trouble for His Highness. Don’t you remember when His Highness told you not to do things that would hinder graduation?”

“…”

At those words, Silvia closed her mouth.

Not because Adela’s words were logical, but it seemed more because she was causing me trouble.

Having confirmed this, Adela’s tongue danced.

“Ah, of course you wouldn’t remember. If you knew, you couldn’t act like that. Oh wait, or maybe?”

Adela’s mouth corners curled crookedly.

The smile clearly contained mockery.

“Maybe you knew but didn’t care? Well, that makes sense. You’re even stubbornly refusing to leave His Highness’s side on your own whim. How thoughtful of you?”

“…”

Silvia’s eyes narrowed.

Even someone as emotionless as her, how could she not notice that Adela’s words were disparaging her beyond measure?

“You know. If you keep acting like this, you’ll be a hindrance to His Highness-“

“So what?”

Once again.

Silvia repeated the same words.

“…?”

Adela’s brows furrowed.

She seemed to be waiting to hear what Silvia had to say.

But that was a mistake.

In a sword fight where women’s tongues clash, the moment you back down even once, you get cut by words.

“So you’re so great that you left your mana on his body?”

“~~~Ugh?!”

Whack- Adela’s cheeks quickly flushed. As if she hadn’t expected that to be discovered.

Of course, I was the same. I looked at Adela with a sour expression.

Adela hurriedly gathered her words.

“No, what are you saying? Do I look like a novice magician to you? Retrieving mana placed in someone else’s body is simple for me.”

“That’s not what I meant. You know it too.”

After finishing her words, Silvia quietly walked toward me.

Standing beside me, emotionlessly staring at my exposed upper body without a shirt and.

She brought her face close to my nape.

“Y-You…! What are you doing?! How can a woman do such a vulgar thing!”

Adela, surprised by this sight, raised her voice in a sharp tone, but.

“Look at this.”

Regardless, Silvia raised her head and continued speaking.

“His scent isn’t there at all. You completely coated his skin with your mana. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“Ugh…!”

Adela’s mouth opened and closed and.

Meeting my eyes, she rolled her eyes around and.

Redirected the conversation to counter-attack.

“How do you know that? Hah, so the Sword Star knows all sorts of things? Are you undercover? I’ll report you to the Academy?”

“You’d know too if you smelled him all day by his side. Oh, but you can’t do that, can you? Because you’re someone who can’t even say you want to be by his side.”

“…”

Kka-deuk.

A terrifying sound of teeth grinding was heard. It was enough to worry whether they would break.

Adela was staring at Silvia with clenched teeth.

“This is ridiculous… You’re the one acting like a tomboy, not a woman. Do you enjoy being stubborn with others as you please?”

“Still better than someone who leaves their mana on another person’s skin as they please.”

“How admirable. So, you don’t care about His Highness’s instruction not to do things that hinder graduation? Because you’ll do as you please?”

“…”

This time, Silvia’s mouth was closed. Adela had struck a part where Silvia absolutely had no response.

However, it was only her tongue that was silent.

Sword-like shapes flickered around Silvia’s body. It was a clear intent to fight.

Simultaneously, the sound of electrical currents crackling was heard behind Adela. It was the magic she had shown before.

A situation about to explode. Now, regardless of appearances, they seemed ready to physically clash.

“Enough!”

Just like when I stopped the Saint and the Sword Star from fighting before. But with much more force in my voice than then. I intervened.

Still without having put on my upper garment, I sighed and opened my mouth.

“Sage. Please stop. Continuing this war of words here is burdening me. Don’t you know that?”

“…”

Adela calmed her momentum. Thankfully, she listened to my words properly.

Turning my gaze, I now addressed Silvia.

“Sword Star. The same goes for you. Didn’t I tell you before? That we agreed not to engage in such matters.”

“…Yeah.”

“Then why are you doing this? Do you not take my words seriously?”

“No.”

A brief answer. Silvia spoke briefly and withdrew her energy.

Her gaze trembled slightly, and eventually, a tone without emotion seeped into my ear.

“You. Where are you trying to go this time? Without taking me.”

“How did you know that?”

“I heard everything.”

Silvia’s small mouth began an explanation. It was a story about how she happened to overhear the conversation between Adela and me.

“I was sleeping, but the sensation of your hand disappeared… Then I thought you might be here, so I waited in front of the door. It seemed like you were talking about something, but since you said not to interfere, I stayed still.”

“…”

“But suddenly you’re saying you’re going somewhere. And without me, with another girl.”

“What problem does that pose to you?”

At first glance, it might sound coldly indifferent. But what I really wanted to say was this.

“Does my absence from your side bother you that much?”

“…”

Silvia moved her lips. She herself seemed unsure of what to say.

Then, as if she had somehow found an answer, she whispered softly.

“…I like holding hands.”

“…”

“I want to keep holding it. I wish you wouldn’t keep going somewhere.”

“Hmm.”

Like a child whining to a parent.

It was a rather self-centered confession without much consideration, but.

‘You’ve changed.’

The Sword Star, who knew nothing of emotions and couldn’t show courtesy.

The very fact that she could say such things was progress, so.

I simply nodded.

“Very well.”

“…?”

To Silvia, who tilted her head in confusion.

I spoke in a warm voice.

“Then before I leave the Academy with the Sage, I will give you time to spend with me.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. So please be satisfied with that.”

“…”

Silence.

After a moment without words, Silvia.

“…Okay. I understand.”

She agreed to my proposal and, of her own will, grabbed my hand.

“Let’s go now. I’m sleepy.”

My lips formed a bitter smile.

‘It feels like I’ve gained a younger sister rather than a peer.’

No, to be more honest, it’s closer to having a daughter, but.

Anyway, since things seemed to have been settled, I put on my upper garment and was about to return holding Silvia’s hand.

“Your Highness.”

“…”

A voice cold as ice.

Adela was looking at me with a gaze that swirled with chilliness.

“You look very happy. Didn’t you come to see me today?”

“I apologize.”

I was so focused on stopping the Sword Star that I neglected the Sage.

As I quickly apologized, understanding her feelings.

Adela said, “Forget it,” and then.

“Do as you please. Well, Your Highness must have your circumstances. It’s none of my business if you want to dye, wash, or lick with the Sword Star.”

“…”

“However.”

Adela pouted her lips.

The obsidian pupils glancing at me coldly, quietly conveyed.

“From the moment you come to the Tower with me, your place is by my side.”

Just you wait, as if.

As if she was planning to devour me the moment we went to the Tower. Seeing her make such an open declaration.

“As you wish.”

I calmly agreed.

My head was starting to ache. I was gradually becoming fatigued from the fierce psychological warfare of the women surrounding me.

Nevertheless, as the main culprit of all this, in order to take responsibility. I suppressed everything I wanted to say and simply agreed.

Yes. I had my reasons for everything. I think I responded rationally according to those reasons.

However.

Even then, I couldn’t stop one final reflection.

‘Why do I feel so much like a playboy?’

I felt as if my character was in free fall, and that was truly uncomfortable.