The Drinking Sage 32

A brightly shining mass of power shoots out quickly.

The speed at which it advances is truly rapid. That power pouring out with the intensity of light.

Slash!

Silvia immediately responded by drawing her sword and cutting it down.

The light splits into two halves and blasts backward.

Of course, for the audience sitting there unaware, it was nothing but light pollution.

“Aaaah!”

“What is this?!”

People are startled and clamoring at the holy power that brightly illuminates the dark theater.

‘Hmm.’

I looked around at the scene and sighed in relief.

‘Fortunately, she showed restraint.’

It seems she controlled her power enough not to harm ordinary people. None of the audience members were hurt.

However, that doesn’t mean the original target of the attack wouldn’t be displeased.

“…”

Silvia frowned her delicate eyebrows and gripped her sword handle.

The fact that she didn’t immediately go on the offensive after defending might mean she had grown enough to read the atmosphere in her own way.

“Are you really going to do this?”

She recited that in a low voice. The hand gripping the sword handle was quiet. If her owner’s command were to drop, it would make a metallic sound without delay.

In Silvia’s question of whether she was “really” going to do it, there was a sense that she knew Rinet wasn’t being serious yet.

“…Hmph.”

As if that prediction wasn’t wrong. Rinet also dusted off her hands and sat back down in her seat.

Rinet answered with pouted lips.

“Never mind. I’m not as thick-skinned as some people.”

And then she showed no more aggressive intent. She meant to end it there.

“…”

Silvia also released her grip on the sword handle without making any retort. She too silently plopped down in her seat.

Silence.

The sharp attitudes of the two women and the actually sharp actions that had been exchanged in the theater.

“Hey, what was that…?”

The theater was surrounding us with an unpleasant atmosphere.

“Looks like two women fighting…”

“Is it a jealousy fight?”

“Wow, imagination really can’t beat reality. What’s the point of watching a harem play? When there’s someone whose reality is a harem.”

I involuntarily rubbed my face dry at the words that distinctly reached my ears despite people thinking they were whispering.

‘To think I would display such an unseemly sight.’

While in the imperial palace, I was the very definition of an exemplary imperial member. Somehow, since entering the academy, I feel like I’ve become a libertine.

“Excuse me… the play is about to start, so we’d appreciate it if you could be seated. It’s problematic if you cause too much commotion.”

Look at how a staff member who was managing the theater quietly approached and whispered.

“…Right. I apologize.”

I sighed and quietly gave my response.

As I lowered my gaze to look for my seat.

“…”

A truly awkward scene entered my view.

Rinet seated at the edge of the back row, that is, to my right.

And two seats to her left, that is, to my left.

The chilly atmosphere created by the two women who wouldn’t even look at each other with me in between.

It seems I would have to sit in the middle and watch the play.

“You both…, no. Never mind.”

I was about to open my mouth but then shut it.

Because in a situation like this, there were no presumptuous words a man could say.

I resigned myself and sat down in my seat. As if they had been waiting for it.

Slide.

Immediately, a soft texture was placed on my hand.

“Hmph.”

The warm palm touching my right hand. It was Rinet’s hand.

“Yawn.”

The cold palm touching my left hand. It was Silvia’s hand.

-….

Unable to bear the gazes of the various audience members who were glancing at us. I blankly stared at the ceiling.

The ceiling was dim. The black space without a single point of light was so dark you couldn’t see an inch ahead.

‘It’s just like my future.’

Perhaps my heart had weakened. An unnecessary thought came to mind.

I collected myself and lowered my head to look forward. Actors were climbing onto the stage, the only place shining with light in the dark space.

“…”

Magical engineering lighting.

Like those lights illuminating this darkness.

Is there a secret strategy that could overcome my predicament?

 

[Grrr, kill him!]

[Captain of the Knights. There’s no need to kill me. By any chance, are you free this holiday?]

The play proceeds with cheesy lines.

The male protagonist, who was initially troubled by being surrounded by female knights.

At some point became shameless and was now enjoying the harem development.

‘Is such a play even allowed to circulate in public?’

Isn’t it excessively harmful to public morals?

I wondered if I should contact the empire and immediately ban such cheap entertainment, but.

“Ah, this is it!”

“Female knights should have lines like that, you know.”

“The male protagonist is so gallant, it’s great!”

Seeing the imperial citizens showing good reactions to such vulgar romantic comedy.

“…”

Thinking that it was also the duty of those in high positions to understand the hearts of those below, I eventually gave up the idea.

‘Hmm.’

By the way, how are the two women on either side of me watching this play?

In fact, looking at the theme, it’s an extremely male-oriented play. Unless women have unusual tastes, there’s no reason for them to come to see this play.

‘Come to think of it, it seems the Sword Star was somewhat looking forward to this play.’

Since women who use swords are the main characters, perhaps she’s watching with quite some interest.

I was curious and was about to turn my head to the left.

Thunk-

The sound of something slightly heavy resting on my shoulder.

Yet the texture was fine, feeling just like human hair.

“…”

‘No way.’

Didn’t she say she wanted to watch it?

With a slightly suspicious heart, I lowered my gaze slightly.

A crown of silver hair was captured at close distance.

It was the head of the Sword Star, Silvia Isolde.

Saeaek- Saeaek-

Even breathing sounds quietly echoed.

“…Hmmnya.”

Silvia had seemingly headed straight to dreamland. She was leaning her head on my shoulder and taking a sound nap.

Whew- I sighed at the sight.

‘After insisting on going out to have fun, she ended up falling asleep.’

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel a bit upset, but on the other hand, I could understand.

‘She often slept well by my side usually.’

She would walk while holding my hand and sleeping beside me.

Today, from the moment I woke up, she hadn’t taken a moment of sleep. It seemed reasonable that she would fall asleep from fatigue.

Then, what about the Saint?

My head turned slightly to the right.

“…”

Surprisingly, Rinet was focused on the play without moving even a little.

Rather, as if there was something she was extremely focused on. She was straining her eyes as if not to miss even a single moment.

‘What is she thinking?’

Is there some special meaning this play brings to Rinet?

Until the end of the play, I continued to observe Rinet’s face, but.

She didn’t make even the slightest movement and remained focused on the play until the end.

As if there was something she wanted to confirm.

 

After the play ended.

Holding the hand of Silvia, who was dozing while walking, I headed back toward the academy.

Of course.

“Today’s events were quite regrettable, weren’t they?”

Along with a classmate we met by chance, but.

While walking facing forward, the ash-gray pupils glancing at me had quite a displeased aura.

Although it was uttered as if not particularly concerned. The fact that Rinet was uncomfortable was something even a child could understand.

“I apologize.”

I answered calmly with a guilty heart.

What else could I say? A man with disorderly female relationships has no freedom to open his mouth.

“…Hmm.”

Rinet saw my attitude and softly snorted.

The sight of her slightly raising her white finger to twist her ash-gray hair. Somehow, it seemed she had something to think about.

“Prince.”

“Yes.”

Silently, but immediately. I respond to Rinet’s words.

‘I should at least respond well.’

At the very least, maintaining a proper attitude would be good for soothing a woman’s heart.

With that thought, I took the most humble approach possible.

‘It’s only natural.’

I didn’t want to see Rinet, Adela, or Silvia getting hurt.

It wasn’t a matter of graduating from the academy or anything of that sort.

The man named Lorang von Welert considerably disliked seeing others get hurt because of him.

That’s how it had been until now.

But.

“It’s not good to show only that kind of attitude.”

“…?”

Suddenly.

At a truly unexpected angle, my expressionless face crumbled at the statement that came out of nowhere.

Looking directly at my face, which rarely showed clear signs of confusion.

The Saint opened her fine lips.

“This kind of thing will happen all the time in the future. Are you going to behave like this every time?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know.”

Rinet’s words are sharp.

It’s not sharp because it hurts me.

It’s sharp because it doesn’t beat around the bush and accurately pierces the core.

“I love you.”

“…”

“And although I don’t know everything, I think other women will too. Well, like that irritating silver hair over there.”

I chose silence because it felt awkward to confidently answer “yes” to those words.

As before. It was to avoid becoming shameless after making a mistake.

However.

“But, despite that, you shouldn’t be like this.”

“Pardon?”

Rinet.

Was giving advice to the very person who was committing the wrongdoing.

Moreover, even that advice was so unfamiliar that, like a fool, I stupidly asked again.

Rinet looks straight ahead. Between the already dimming night sky. Looking at the brightly shining stars.

She quietly recited.

“Why do you think I watched that play?”

“…Well, I don’t know.”

That was my honest feeling.

Shamefully, I really couldn’t think of a single reason why Rinet would watch that play.

It was quite understandable.

“Yes. The reason why I watched a harem comedy despite there being a separate cathedral romance. You must not understand that, Prince.”

Right.

As Rinet said.

I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t choose a play that featured herself as the subject.

Then, the reason Rinet watched that play.

‘Is it also a reason why I should act differently?’

In fact, it wasn’t a statement that was easily understandable.

I silently gazed at Rinet. It meant please tell this ignorant man the answer.

“Hehe.”

But, Rinet didn’t grant my wish.

She smiled softly. Then, with small steps, she came to my side.

Making sure not to touch Silvia, who was holding my hand on the other side. She extended her arm and wrapped around my body.

With the expression of a woman in love. Looking at me.

“No. It wouldn’t be fun if I told you so easily.”

She whispered in a sweet tone.

“I’m a woman too. Do you think I would say such things with my own mouth?”

“…I see. I was inadequate.”

“Yes. Prince, you really are an inadequate person.”

Rinet withdrew her arm from my embrace.

“So.”

Next, she raised her finger and placed it on her lips.

“This is homework. To figure out what I meant.”

“Is that so.”

“Of course. Then, I’ll give you one reward. A very special reward? You can look forward to it.”

And then, she smiles like the sun.

Seeing that, one thought suddenly came to mind.

‘Why is it?’

Until now, I had never felt that Rinet was more mature than me.

I always thought she seemed still immature and that I needed to watch over her.

‘How is it.’

That her smile as a Saint is so benevolent.

“Yes.”

Inevitably.

“I understand. I’ll live up to your expectations.”

I also smiled bitterly. At the same time, I declared firmly.

Finishing the conversation, Rinet, Silvia, and I returned to the academy.

After returning, I would be going to the Pitch-Black Tower with Adela.

“…”

Looking up at the dark night sky.

It seemed like my confused heart due to the women who express their feelings moment by moment.

‘I need to find the answer.’

Just as there are stars shining brightly in the pitch-black canvas.

I thought there would be a secret strategy to overcome this predicament.