Chapter 19: I’m not drunk

Everyone stared at me, surprised by my sudden outburst.

“How can she be so holy! Look, everyone! Do you truly believe the statue is broken?!”

Belladriel gave me a puzzled look, then turned to the statue…

And a surprising sight unfolded.

“W-What? The arm…!”
“It was broken just now!”
“How…?”

The arm was perfectly reattached, looking cleaner and more polished than before.

I raised my hands and addressed the crowd.

“Having heard the holy Etherion’s words, the Shine Order has displayed a new power! This is a miracle of Etherion, a miracle of the Shine Order! Everyone!”
“As expected!”
“Long live the Shine Order!”
“Oh, Shine Order!”

Everyone knelt in reverence.

Belladriel continued to stare at me, bewildered.

She couldn’t understand what had happened.

This wasn’t her magic or power.

It was the result of the items I’d used.

“Return to 3 Minutes Ago, Poof!” and “Make Everything Clean!”.

Two single-use items.

The former reverted inanimate objects to their state three minutes prior.

The latter restored old items to a pristine condition, complete with a special effect which I’d directed at Belladriel to make it seem like her doing.

“You…”
“Shine Order, mind your tone.”

I whispered with a smile.

Belladriel was dumbfounded, but couldn’t show it. She played along.

“As Messenger Isabel said, everyone, bear witness! The punishment I spoke of was to watch over this holy statue with reverence! Do you all believe in Etherion?!”
“Oh, Etherion!”
“We praise the Shine Order’s miraculous power!”
“Hallelujah!!!”

Belladriel’s fabricated miracle strengthened the followers’ faith.

Their reverence for her grew, and her Malice Gauge decreased.

[You have prevented Belladriel Dresia’s evil act!]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge has decreased by 1%.]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge is at 97%.]

‘One down.’

I smiled and looked up at Belladriel.

She stared back, expressionless.

Something felt different.

Usually, after such an event, we’d celebrate with a drink.

But tonight, she just drank silently.

I broke the awkward silence.

“You’re quiet tonight.”
“Mind your own business.”

She dismissed me and drank more.

“Drinking too fast isn’t good for you. Take it slow.”
“Slow…?”

Belladriel glared at me and tossed the tankard aside.

“Are you… ordering me?”

She hiccuped, her face flushed.

I smiled faintly.

“Of course not. Did I do something wrong today?”
“Something’s changed since you arrived. Things don’t go my way anymore… I can’t quite explain it.”
“I don’t see it that way. Thanks to me, you’ve become more holy. People will follow you even more devotedly.”
“Holy…”

Belladriel stood up.

Her face darkened, and she glared at me menacingly.

“Cut the….Holy? Humans can’t be ruled by holiness alone. By fear! I’m furious because I haven’t been able to rule by fear since you arrived! Do you think you’re safe, even if you are the Black Hound?”

‘Understandable.’

‘I expected this.’

She was a cynic who enjoyed judging people as a cult leader.

Since my arrival, she’d been forced to act holy.

Belladriel didn’t desire holiness.

She wanted to be a wicked villainess, controlling lives as she pleased.

A true villain, toying with life and death.

Her obsession stemmed from past trauma.

She sought holiness as a saint, wanting to be a role model.

But that holiness led to betrayal and ridicule.

So she decided a manipulative witch was the true saint.

But even with her twisted views, I would save her.

That was the Mediator’s, the Black Hound’s, role.

“I suppose I have been interfering with your work lately. But thanks to me, you’re more revered.”
“Who wants that?! You meddle too much… do you have another motive? Trying to manipulate me? Political games won’t work on me.”

[Belladriel Dresia is about to commit an evil act!]
[Belladriel Dresia is considering burning you alive for interfering with her work!]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge is at 97%.]

‘Here we go.’

I’d been waiting for this.

To trigger the next event.

I smiled, pleased.

“Another motive? Of course not! I’m merely enhancing your holiness to increase people’s loyalty. That’s why I’m here, Belladriel.”
“Funny… you think they’ll follow me forever just because I’m seen as holy?”

Belladriel grabbed another tankard and chugged it.

I stood up calmly.

“Of course. They’re practically worshipping you now, after today’s miracle.”
“Speaking of which, how did you fix that statue?”
“Well…”

I put a finger to my lips.

“Trade secret.”
“Crazy
. Fine. You’re going to die anyway. I’ll call the knights…”
“If the knights see you drinking like this, they might misunderstand.”
“…”

Calling them would damage her image.

Rumors would spread.

“You’re a sly one.”
“How about a wager?”
“What?”
“Belladriel, if you win, you can do whatever you want with me. Kill me, whatever. I’ll comply. But if I win, you spare my life and grant me a wish. Deal?”

She scoffed, incredulous.

“You’re insane… what’s your angle? What do you want?”
“Just answer. Deal or no deal?”
“You little…”

Belladriel sighed, exasperated.

“Fine, fine. I was going to kill you tomorrow anyway. I suppose I can grant a wish. I am the Shine Order, after all.”
“Thank you. Let’s do this.”
“…?”

I pointed at the tankards with a smile.

Belladriel’s eyes widened.

“A drinking contest?”
“Yes. Who gets drunk first. How about it?”
“Huh? That’s unfair… can’t you see I’ve already been drinking?”
“Then let’s do this.”

I smiled and matched the number of tankards she’d consumed.

Five.

I chugged them all, then asked, “Now we’re even, right?”
“Hah, unbelievable. You think you can beat me? I have a high tolerance, you know?”

‘High tolerance?’

‘Even better.’

I clasped my hands together.

“Oh? Good. Then try to beat me.”
“Don’t regret this.”

Belladriel sat down and grabbed a tankard.

“What are you waiting for? Sit.”
“Right.”

Thus began the drinking contest.

I sat and faced her.

Belladriel drank confidently and handed me a tankard.

“Drink!”
“Haha, alright.”

Hours passed, and dawn approached.

Belladriel continued drinking, becoming increasingly intoxicated.

“Hic… wha’re you… why’re you such a good drinker…”
“Well, I am the Black Hound.”

She truly had a monstrous tolerance.

How could she drink 50 tankards and still be conscious?

If it weren’t for my “Sober Condition” item…

I would have lost.

“Really… hic… I can’t stand you… hic…”
“I think I won this wager. Maybe you should stop drinking?”

Belladriel hiccuped, her eyes glazed over.

She stumbled towards me, reeking of alcohol.

“Hic! You’re so annoying… you’re handsome… and why are you making me nice… hic…”

Was she being affectionate?

I murmured, concerned, “Are you alright?”

Belladriel waved her hand, slurring, “I’mfine, I’mfine.”

“Really… hic… you’re making me look weak…”

She whined and looked up at me, tears in her eyes.

Drunken truth?

I chuckled.

“No, you’re strong.”
“Really…?”
“Of course.”
“Hee… then… compliment me…”

She pushed her chest against me, looking up with teary eyes.

I gently stroked her hair.

“Good job. You were especially amazing today.”
“Hee… you’re the one who did everything…”
“But you played your part perfectly. As expected of Belladriel.”

She giggled every time I stroked her hair.

She acted like a man, but…

Drunk, she seemed different.

Lilith Tycoon did mention her true self emerged when intoxicated.

“Hic… damn assistant priest… so annoying…”

Belladriel finally collapsed.

Her face was flushed, but she fell asleep, snuggled against me.

“Wow, strong. Very strong.”

[You have prevented Belladriel Dresia’s evil act!]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge has decreased by 1%.]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge is at 96%.]

‘Oh, the gauge decreased. Nice.’

Morning arrived.

No events scheduled today, so we could sleep in.

I suggested we get gukbap for our hangovers.

Belladriel donned her usual poor disguise.

Sunglasses and a beret.

“…”
“Aren’t you going to say anything, Belladriel?”

She flinched and blushed, clearly remembering last night’s embarrassing behavior.

“I won the wager, right?”
“W-What wager?! Did we have a wager?!”
“Come on, Shine Order, don’t lie. You confessed your love for me yesterday…”
“W-Who?! I never said that! I just… acted cute and asked for compliments…”

She covered her mouth, realizing her slip-up.

I narrowed my eyes and sighed.

“Hmm. You do remember. So, I won, right? Can I make my wish?”
“D-Did you really drink all that?”
“It wasn’t that much.”
“You… cheater…”

‘Cheater?’

‘That’s not the point.’

I leaned in with a serious expression.

“So, are you going to grant my wish or not?”
“Sigh… fine. What is it?”
“Well…”

My plan.

I whispered it to her.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

I smiled, applying silent pressure.

Belladriel sighed and reluctantly agreed.

“Fine…”
“Thank you, Belladriel.”