Ch.145Chapter 145 – Masterpiece

After a while, I returned to the inn with my lightened wallet after receiving it from Christina, who had emerged carrying an armful of books.

By then, quite some time had passed, and evening was approaching.

“Ah, there you are!”

Sarah was approaching us, saying this.

She was carrying several large boxes in her arms, yet she didn’t appear burdened by them at all.

“Did you carry all that here?”

“No, we had them delivered. When we came out after selecting wine at the liquor store, they had already arrived.”

Looking inside, I could see boxes sorted by category—what appeared to be groceries, herbs, minerals, and monster materials.

“So you’re loading them onto the carriage now.”

“She said we shouldn’t work in the middle of the night and should finish everything now so we can rest properly.”

I nodded at Sarah’s words.

Then Christina stepped forward.

“Let me help you…”

“It’s fine. This is the last batch anyway.”

She said that, but the boxes were stacked higher than Sarah’s height.

Sarah might be strong enough to move them easily, but appearances matter.

I lifted about half of them.

“Thank you, Kay.”

Sarah said with a smile.

Christina was carrying an armful of books she had bought earlier, while Sarah and I carried the boxes side by side. As we headed toward the carriage, we ran into Beatrice, who was smoking a cigarette there.

She seemed to be in a good mood.

“Where’s Eve?”

“She’s organizing things inside.”

Beatrice said this, then put out her cigarette and continued.

“Today was the day—the store had some discounted alcohol. We snatched it all up.”

“Discounted?”

“They said it was leftover stock that wasn’t selling. Since we’re not selling it but drinking it ourselves, we bought some.”

“They had quite a variety too.”

Eve said as she came out from inside.

“Hmm, at least we won’t have trouble sleeping from lack of alcohol for a while.”

“I don’t think you ever had trouble sleeping because you couldn’t drink.”

“There’s such a thing as quality of sleep, quality! Honestly, I can’t sleep deeply if I can’t drink.”

A slightly bitter expression seemed to cross Beatrice’s face as she said this, but it disappeared quickly.

“Anyway, our journey will be much more comfortable now.”

“Just a warning—don’t drink too much, okay?”

“I know how to moderate myself.”

To be honest, Beatrice’s eyes already looked half-glazed.

Could she be experiencing withdrawal symptoms already?

Looking to the side, I saw Eve just smiling slightly.

“Should we put the luggage in the storage?”

“We’ll sort it by category. Let’s go in together.”

Following Eve into the storage area, we loaded the goods.

“Every time I come to the storage, I’m amazed at how incredible magic is.”

“I know, right?”

It was remarkable how this small carriage had enough space for four people to live, plus a spacious storage area.

With such thoughts, I closed the storage door and came out to find Christina emerging from her room.

“What are we doing now?”

“We’ll have dinner at the inn and depart early tomorrow morning.”

Eve said as we came outside.

“By the way, what happened with contacting the magic tower?”

This was about the warp gates needed to visit the other seals that Christina and the priest we met at the holy site had mentioned.

Beatrice shook her head regretfully.

“They must be busy; I haven’t received a reply yet.”

“I hope it comes soon.”

At Eve’s words, Beatrice smiled.

“I think they’ve already seen my request and are preparing everything, which is why they haven’t contacted us. By the time they do, they’ll probably tell us exactly where to go and what to do.”

“That would be helpful.”

Eve said with a smile.

“Shall we go finish off the day in style?”

“I’m in!”

Beatrice responded enthusiastically as soon as Eve made the suggestion.

+

“Ahhh!!!”

After dinner, Beatrice had ordered drinks, saying she wanted a light nightcap.

Perhaps due to the cold weather, a cool beer went down her throat, and she was exclaiming in delight at the taste.

“Wow, this tastes really good! Maybe because it’s so refreshing.”

She said this while popping dried fish snacks and pieces of meat into her mouth.

Then she happily exclaimed again.

“Ah, it melts in my mouth… This is the taste…”

“You sound like an old man.”

As I said this while drinking water, Beatrice immediately glared at me.

“Says someone who can’t even drink. The nerve.”

“Well, I guess it’s just my constitution.”

“Hmm…”

At my words, Beatrice looked at me mockingly.

Then she opened her mouth.

“I’m curious just how weak you are with alcohol that everyone says you can’t drink.”

“I wonder about that too. I don’t know myself.”

Beatrice’s eyes narrowed further.

She probably thought I was being evasive.

“I really don’t know.”

“Who doesn’t know their own drinking habits?”

Right here.

No matter how many times I ask, Eve and Sarah just laugh and never tell me.

Recently, I’ve been hoping that maybe it’s nothing strange and I just fall into a deep sleep.

“By the way, Sarah seems to handle her alcohol pretty well too?”

“Do I?”

Sarah tilted her head as she put down her glass.

Unlike Beatrice, whose face was slightly flushed, Sarah appeared completely composed.

“Eve is taking quite a while.”

“I feel a bit bad that we’re just sitting here while she’s gathering information.”

“Oh, there’s no need to feel sorry. This is the easiest place to gather information anyway.”

A voice suddenly came from behind me.

Looking up, I saw Eve looking down at me.

“You made it back safely.”

“Were you worried about me?”

“Yes.”

Eve smiled brightly at my words and pulled out the chair across from me to sit down.

“Judging by your face, you found something?”

“I did get some information. Not completely up-to-date, but still.”

Eve said with a smile.

Sarah looked at Eve and asked:

“Did you gather more information than expected?”

“Yes. There’s a lot of unreliable information, but also some good bits.”

“Can you gather so much information in such a short time?”

Eve nodded at Sarah’s question.

After ordering wine from a passing waiter, she began to explain.

“As you already know, this inn is operated by the Merchants’ Guild.”

“Is there a place where guild members exchange information?”

At my question, Eve smiled lightly.

“Not exactly. But using this building usually means you’re a merchant affiliated with the guild.”

By then, wine and a glass had been placed in front of Eve, and she poured herself a glass while speaking.

“Merchants travel everywhere. If you simply buy someone a drink and ask if they’ve heard any news, information gathers surprisingly quickly.”

“I see.”

It seemed that choosing this inn was not only because Eve was affiliated with the Merchants’ Guild but also because it was easy to gather information here.

“So what news do you have?”

“Since we’re planning to rest today, I’ll organize the information and tell you tomorrow.”

Eve said this while pulling out a piece of paper from her pocket.

It was a newspaper like the ones I often saw in the capital.

“Wow, there was a merchant carrying that around?”

“I got this from the innkeeper. I paid for it.”

Eve said with a smile.

And judging by how she put it back in her pocket, she didn’t intend to discuss what information it contained tonight.

As we continued drinking, Beatrice grinned and said:

“Hey, instead of just drinking like this, let’s have a real drinking contest.”

“A contest? We’re leaving tomorrow, you know.”

“Come on, it’s a waste. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

Beatrice smiled as she put down her glass.

“Those who can’t drink aside… you two can handle your alcohol pretty well, right?”

“I can’t say I drink little, but I’ll pass. I have to drive the carriage tomorrow.”

Eve declined and stood up with her chair, moving closer to me.

That naturally left Sarah and Beatrice.

“Well then, let’s see how long our Miss Sarah can last.”

“Haha…”

Sarah looked at me briefly.

Thinking she might be asking for help, I looked at Beatrice.

“She doesn’t seem to want to drink much. Should we take it easy?”

“Come on, let’s go with six bottles.”

Beatrice said with a smile.

“Let’s see who gives up first.”

So Beatrice and Sarah began to drink, with Sarah looking at Beatrice with a somewhat ambiguous expression as she drank.

“By the way, who’s paying for this?”

“I won’t be paying for these six bottles. Either Miss Seraphina or Miss Beatrice will have to cover them.”

Eve said this but didn’t leave her seat as she continued sipping her wine.

She seemed curious about the outcome.

“Alright, first round!”

Beatrice exclaimed enthusiastically as she tilted the bottle.

And a little while later…

“Urrrghhhh…”

After emptying about two and a half bottles, Beatrice began to stagger.

“…Are you okay?”

“I’m fiiiiine…”

No, you’re not fine at all.

Looking at Beatrice with disdainful eyes, I stood up and took the bottle away from her.

Turning around, I saw Sarah sipping her drink.

“Oh, if there’s any left, please give it to me.”

Sarah showed no signs of intoxication despite having emptied three bottles by herself.

She calmly took the bottle Beatrice had left behind and poured the remaining alcohol into her glass.

“Are you really okay?”

“Oh, yes. This much is nothing.”

Sarah answered nonchalantly.

“Was it actually low-alcohol?”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Eve said as she checked the label on the bottle.

Then she slightly frowned.

“You’ve been drinking quite expensive stuff. It has a high alcohol content.”

Seeing Beatrice, who usually enjoys drinking, finally collapse, I wondered if the alcohol content was particularly high.

I went over and smelled it, immediately feeling like I might get drunk just from the aroma.

“Wow, that’s really strong.”

“You can tell just from the smell?”

I answered Eve’s question by waving my hands dismissively.

Eve seemed to understand my response.

But Sarah showed no change at all.

“…I had no idea Miss Seraphina could drink this well…”

“For some reason, I don’t get drunk easily no matter how much I drink.”

‘Is she some kind of monster?’

It seems that when she looked at me earlier, it wasn’t because she didn’t want to drink, but because she wanted me to stop Beatrice.

Sarah had no visible changes except for a very slight redness in her face compared to before, as if she had some organ that separately stored and expelled alcohol.

While I was trembling at the sight of her, Sarah asked as if she had just remembered:

“So, since I’m the last one standing, does that mean I win?”

“Yes.”

Because Beatrice is already dead.

“I’m not deaaad…”

Her tongue was completely twisted and her face was bright red, yet she was still talking.

Judging by her occasional dry heaving, it seemed like something might come out at any moment.

“This won’t do. Let’s end here for today and get some good rest before meeting again tomorrow.”

Eve said this as she tidied up, and Sarah and Christina began to help.

Meanwhile, I made Beatrice drink cold water to revive her consciousness, then took a sip myself.

My head was already dizzy just from smelling the alcohol.

‘How did they even drink this stuff, seriously.’

Some people get headaches just from the smell.

As I tried to drive away the rising headache while carrying Beatrice on my back, I stood up.

“One more driiink… urp.”

“Stay still… hey, don’t throw up!”

I said in alarm to the incoherent Beatrice.

Fortunately, it was just dry heaving, so no disaster occurred.

‘I need to put her down quickly.’

I was extremely anxious about suddenly being entrusted with this ticking bomb.

“Should I just throw her into the carriage?”

“That would be pitiful. Let’s take her to her room. I have some hangover remedy I made before.”

Sarah said with a smile.

Her gait wasn’t unsteady at all.

I carried Beatrice up the stairs to the women’s room and tossed her onto the bed.

“Ugh…”

“I’ll leave her like this.”

After roughly dropping Beatrice, Sarah approached me.

“It’s a bit disappointing.”

“What is?”

“I was thinking, since we’re resting anyway, I might spend some time with you, Kay.”

“That’s what I was thinking too.”

For some reason, Eve joined in on Sarah’s comment.

“There’s always next time.”

“Yes, next time for sure.”

“Right, next time.”

After saying this, the two briefly glared at each other.

Then they cleared their throats and spoke to me.

“Well, rest well tonight, Kay.”

“See you tomorrow morning.”

“Sleep well, benefactor!”

I responded to everyone except Beatrice and left the room.

‘Oh, my head.’

It seemed the cold water I drank to drive away the headache hadn’t worked.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t she say she had a hangover remedy?’

I briefly considered going back to ask Sarah for one.

But I hadn’t even drunk anything, just smelled it.

I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily.

“Tonight, I should sleep well.”

Sleep would probably help.

I thought this as I lay down on the somewhat hard bed.

If I could just fall asleep, the day would be over.

+

And then.

Hours passed, but I couldn’t sleep.

‘Ah, damn it.’

I had made the wrong judgment.

The headache was preventing me from sleeping.

If it were a sharp pain, I would have asked Sarah for medicine, but it was just a slight throbbing that I could endure if I tried.

The problem was that when I tried to ignore it and sleep, it was too bothersome to let me rest.

‘Surely I’m not reacting this way just from smelling alcohol.’

I briefly wondered if this was possible, given how weak I am with alcohol.

It seemed to be subsiding compared to earlier, so it would gradually improve, but I had an ominous feeling that morning would arrive before I could get any sleep.

“Should I count sheep?”

As I muttered this to myself, I began to consider how to resolve my current situation.

Unlike in the city, there was no light coming in from outside as I prepared to count sheep. At that moment—

-Click

I heard the sound of a window opening.

It was coming from the room next door.

I immediately sat up.

‘What the—’

I opened my window and checked the adjacent room.

The window was open, and I saw a shadow jumping out of the room.

Then it closed the window and descended toward the ground.

From what I could see, the figure was wearing a hood.

‘Damn it!’

I quickly jumped out through the window, grabbed the wall, and checked the adjacent room.

I had heard that they would lock their door for safety, and rather than breaking down the door to check, I thought it would be faster to verify through the window.

I carefully opened the window slightly to check if the people inside were safe.

‘Please.’

Through my eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, I began to make out the silhouettes of the people inside.

“Kay… that’s…”

I heard what sounded like Sarah sleep-talking, along with regular breathing sounds.

The number of breathing sounds was roughly three or four.

‘Thank goodness.’

Relieved that everyone was safe, I immediately jumped down.

‘Then what kind of person was that?’

It could have been a petty thief or something similar, but I needed to track them quickly.

Whoever it was had approached my companions undetected, so I needed to at least confirm their identity.

‘But I definitely didn’t sense anyone.’

Since I wasn’t sleeping due to the headache, I should have noticed if someone had broken in.

Yet the figure had suddenly emerged from the next room.

As I quickly descended to the ground, I caught a glimpse of the hooded silhouette entering an alley.

Fortunately, it seemed I hadn’t spent too much time checking the adjacent room.

I ran quickly, following the hood, and saw a shadow weaving through the narrow streets.

‘Who are you?’

As I was thinking this, the shadow suddenly stopped.

After seeming to consider for a moment, it immediately started running again.

‘Damn it.’

I quickly gave chase.

The shadow began changing its route, entering various alleys.

‘Have I been spotted?’

I briefly considered whether I should retreat.

Even the moonlight I had been relying on was dimming as clouds covered it, making the surroundings even darker.

‘Should I back off?’

Just as I was thinking this, I saw the shadow entering a corner.

‘Let me try one more time here.’

If I could catch them, great; if not, I would immediately withdraw.

With that thought, I turned the corner and was immediately met with a kick.

I quickly blocked it with my arm, dodged a punch the opponent threw, and immediately threw a punch of my own.

The opponent deflected my punch, and I simultaneously dodged theirs.

Just as I was about to deliver an uppercut, the hood covering the opponent’s head fell off, and the moonlight, which had been hidden by clouds, reappeared.

Seeing the opponent’s face, both of us stopped.

“Why are you coming out of there?”

“What are you doing here?”

We both spoke in dumbfounded voices.

I could smell a mixture of alcohol and tobacco.

“Well, well.”

Beatrice was looking at me as if she couldn’t believe it.