episode_0043

“Tan!!”

““Ta-da!!!””

Gulp!

““Wow!! This is the taste!””

“… ”

I don’t know what makes the alcohol I drink every day so delicious. Is it because I never get tired of it?

The old men’s glasses were filled with alcohol as soon as they were empty. It was the same yesterday.

They offered me a drink as if they didn’t allow me even a moment’s pause. Of course, I could have refused it.

Honestly, it was delicious.

It was the kind of taste that you couldn’t get used to without drinking it.

“Then do it again!!”

““Ta-da!!””

The wine went into everyone’s mouths. And then it was filled again.

“Newcomers are here, so I can’t rest. Let’s do it again!!”

““Ta-da… !!””

The complexions of the new recruits the old men spoke of are getting darker and darker. Their entire bodies are also turning red.

“Again!!!”

“Okay, just a moment… !”

“Newbies can’t rest! Drink up!!”

Guys, stop feeding them now. If you keep doing this, they’ll all run away tomorrow!

I’ve been in that situation myself, so it’s not easy to endure that. In fact, it might be better to just fall asleep or pass out here.

You can never escape from that trap until you die.

widely!

With those words, one of them banged his head on the table.

“Hey! How can you leave already before we even start!”

I thought they were worried for a moment, but they weren’t. After laying the fallen child down on the sofa next to me, I picked up my glass again.

“Drink in place of the one who fell!!”

oh—!!!

I couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that the tension of the old men was still alive and well.

Well, they’re not ordinary old men.

He looked with sympathy at the new recruits who were collapsing, trying to understand and convince them.

How much time has passed?

With most of the new recruits down, only five were left to endure their drunken stupor. And they were all of this race.

When I first saw this race here, I was honestly surprised.

But if you think about it, this isn’t a place like Demeria where there aren’t any members of this race, but Suljirik where all races are gathered, it’s not that strange.

If you think about it positively, their goal of coming to reclaim their country is the same as everyone else’s. If you think about it negatively, it means that they are rebels in the end.

Looking around, I saw that a total of 12 people had collapsed. Judging from the fact that there were an unusually large number of new recruits this time, it certainly seemed like there was an urgent need for personnel.

But, they can defeat the royal guards with this kind of army…

Is it possible?

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

If only we could get a stronger army than this, its functionality would be sufficient.

However, a strong military is not something that can be easily obtained.

Roughly speaking, we need to gather at least 100 people who are stronger or of equal strength to the men here.

Now, the number of these men is roughly 40.

Here we have 60 more people to rescue.

This is a demand that is logically impossible.

Even now, I think there are only a few people who are stronger than them or have the same level of skill. But now there are 60 people?

No matter how much I think about it, this is impossible.

“Oh my gosh!!”

I could hear the men’s lament.

“I had high hopes because I drank quite a bit, but I’m already passed out.”

“That’s right. I was finally getting excited.”

“There’s nothing I can do, Prince.”

“Uh… Yes?”

Unlike me, the prince who kept running with them had his eyes open. At first glance, it seemed like he was holding on with mental strength.

“Drinking with the prince like this brings back old memories.”

“… Yeah.”

“Wow… Even back then, the atmosphere was really harmonious.”

“Right…”

“I was happy back then.”

The bright atmosphere suddenly became somber. What happened?

“Ahem! Don’t worry, Prince! We’ll definitely help you!”

“That’s right!”

“Thank you… oh… ”

He snorted and rocked his body back and forth. Eventually, unable to bear the hangover, he dropped his head.

As soon as the men confirmed that the prince had collapsed, they carried him to the room right next door.

And then I came out and sat down at my desk again.

“… ”

Their mood was different from before, they were just quietly lighting cigarettes and putting them in their mouths. It must be okay, right?

From what I heard from the prince, it seems like they were also soldiers who worked for their country.

Even though they lived like unemployed people, they were soldiers of their country.

I felt sorry for only seeing him as an old man who liked to drink.

The silence continued for several seconds. The length of the cigarette gradually decreased.

And the moment they all threw their cigarettes into the ashtray.

widely!!

“Let’s go for round 2!!!!”

oh—–!!!!!!!

“Drink!! I’ll drink until I die today!!”

“The prince is not here, so drink now!!”

‘?’

Were they really just a bunch of old men who liked drinking?

Give me my worries back! What the hell am I doing!

“Logs! Why is your glass empty!”

“… ”

It’s me now.

“I thought I’d never see my long-awaited drinking buddy again.”

“Haha… ”

“But you were the one who came as the escort knight.”

“I didn’t know I would come either.”

“How humble. I thought you were a mercenary when I first saw you.”

“Not that much. I’m the weakest among the kids.”

“Is that so? I heard that all of the escorts this time are first-year students. Are they all that strong?”

“… Well, if that’s what you understood, then you could say that.”

“I see… Aren’t you worried about your friend?”

“… ”

What should I say here? Can I tell these people the truth?

“… will do.”

“I see… Sorry, I think I had too much to drink.”

“It’s okay.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, is it okay if I ask you one question?”

“Something.”

“It was a top secret that there were only first-year students in this escort. How did you know?”

“That’s thanks to Ilya next to you.”

“What does that mean?”

“Ilia is currently working at the palace and relaying information to us. As you know, elves are good at that kind of thing.”

“I see… ”

I slowly turned my head and looked at Ilya next to me. She was quietly looking at me and smiling.

But her eyes looked sad.

“Anyway! Young people who drink well are precious! Today, I can’t go out comfortably like yesterday! Then, tada!!”

braided!!

‘Ah… please save me.’

please.

“Keu!! Again, the alcohol I drink in this second round is sweet again.”

‘What the hell is the difference!’

It’s just… a delicious drink.

“Ilia! Your cup is empty too!”

“I, I’m okay.”

“I’m enjoying it like this, but what if I can’t enjoy it alone?”

“Then just one drink.”

“Okay. Then Ilya is participating too, so let’s do it again!!!”

“Tan!!!”

As we all raised our glasses, Ilya put his glass back on the table without finishing half of it.

Ilya’s head rested on my shoulder.

‘Huh, huh?’

Oh, no way!

“Ugh…my head hurts…”

‘That can’t be true.’

“Ilia, you haven’t had a drink?”

“Ah… that’s right. I thought elves were strong against alcohol because they were immune to mental magic.”

‘Oh, right? A mistake?’

What if you don’t know that!

“I think it’s more confusing because everyone who came today drank a lot.”

‘That’s why you shouldn’t forget that!’

“There’s nothing I can do! Then drink again!!!”

Ah… that’s right.

I’m going to fall too.

***

“Sigh… ”

“You really drink well!”

“Thank you… ”

I listened to them with barely a smile on my face. It was a really meaningless conversation going on right now.

Now is the chance to see if they care about me.

I leaned on his shoulder and whispered to Ilya.

“Ilia? If you’re drunk, go to your room.”

“I hate it… ”

“My back hurts like this.”

“I don’t like it… I won’t go.”

She’s more stubborn than I thought. Despite my continued persuasion, she shook her head strongly.

“Hehehe. This reminds me of the old days.”

While I was distracted by Ilya, the old men watched us gloomily.

“What kind of memory is it this time?”

“Are you curious?”

“Well, I’m not really curious.”

“Is that so? It’s the story of Ilina’s former owner.”

“I’m curious about that.”

“I knew it.”

The old men looked back and forth between Ilia and me, giggling. Something feels off.

“That’s right…That was when Ilia and his master first came here. Has it been about a year already?”

The old men nodded their heads as if they were amazed at the speed of time passing.

“Gentlemen. Just get to the point.”

“Hey! I was just about to empathize.”

“What do you mean you empathized? You just said something.”

“Yeah, to get to the point, when the two of them were drinking with us, Ilya was always right next to the owner.”

“… Is that all?”

“Yeah.”

‘There is no middle ground!’

“Now that I think about it, don’t they look alike?”

“Is that so? I think the owner back then was more handsome.”

“Yeah, honestly, this kid’s complexion is too dark.”

“Still, the atmosphere feels similar… right?”

‘If you openly curse at me while I’m right in front of you, what should I say in response?

The men put their heads together and thought deeply even though the person in question was right in front of them, and then started talking.

“He was definitely more handsome back then. He had a brighter impression and seemed kind.”

“Do I look bad?”

“Oh my! You’re young, so you wouldn’t be this upset, right?”

“No.”

“Yeah, it’s all a joke, you’re young.”

“Yes.”

I got up from my seat.

“Where are you going, you young one?”

“I’ll go and lay Ilya down. I’m uncomfortable and Ilya will be uncomfortable too.”

“Okay. Just lay him down in the room next to the one we went in.”

“Okay.”

This is your last chance to escape.

I hugged Ilya right away. She was as light as a feather.

It was really light.

The sight of her sleeping soundly was so beautiful that it reminded me of a work of art. Looking at her like this, I think I understand why she is always being hunted.

I took Ilya into the room and carefully placed him on the bed.

‘Why can’t you refuse when you can’t even drink?’

When did you grab my arm again?

Ilya smiled at her appearance and pulled his arm away from her grasp.

“No…I don’t like it… ”

“Huh?”

As I pulled my arm away, Ilya waved his arm in the air with a pained expression as if he were having a nightmare.

“Please… No… ”

“?”

“I’ll do whatever you tell me to do… ”

“What’s wrong?”

“Ugh… ”

Asking her a question didn’t give her an answer. Aren’t you sleeping?

no.

Looking at her condition, I could tell she was definitely sleeping. This was sleep talking.

Is this the previous owner talking?

But when I heard the old men’s stories, they said he was a good person… Is he living a double life?

The longer I listened to her sleep-talking, which was impossible to guess, the more she resisted and suffered. Let’s calm her down for now.

Something you can grab instead of your arm…

After looking around the room for a moment, I found a long, strong club like an arm and placed it in her arms.

Ilia’s hand, which had been wandering for a moment, slowly embraced the club, and it felt more real than before. Should I ask tomorrow…

I shook my head.

There’s no need for me to know about your painful past.

With a sigh, I got up from my seat and left the room.

“Shouldn’t it be time to stop being so stubborn and think about moving forward!”

“I know, Prince. But… how could we abandon the General?”

“Then what are you going to do! I’ve been trying so hard to persuade you for months, but all I can do is explain the plan at the door!”

Outside the room, the drunken prince was expressing his anger by slamming the table.

“…Your Majesty, you seem to be quite drunk. Let’s go in first… ”

“Yeah. It’s all my fault.”

“… No.”

“If I hadn’t kicked out General Luca back then, this situation wouldn’t have come to this. I understand why he doesn’t accept my demands. I’m a foolish and weak prince.”

Even when I listen to their story, I can’t understand what they’re talking about at all. But one thing.

I heard a familiar name.

‘Luca.’

If my guess is correct, then the Luca they are talking about there is that Luca.

“Prince.”

“Who are you… Tsk! Is it you, Logs.”

The drunken prince expressed his displeasure and hostility toward me with his whole body. It would have been better if he had hidden it a little.

Well, this will be the last one.

I smiled evilly.

“What, what is it!”

“I know a guy named Luca.”