Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Under the Moonlight, Booze Party (2)
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"Is your left hand alright?"
"......"
After sending off the grumbling Pindenai, a new pair of faces approached this time.
Magic Judge Tairn All Bellocus and Royal Guard Captain Gloria Grace.
The two weren't in their usual robes or armor but casual clothes—this was the king's consideration as well.
Due to this incident, they'd ended up opposed not just to the grand magus but to me too, though it was all a misunderstanding. The intent was to smooth over any hard feelings with a drink.
"Ahem."
That's why Gloria cleared her throat awkwardly but spoke clearly.
"I am one who follows His Majesty's orders. I move only by his sword, as he desires."
"......"
"If His Majesty issues the same command again, I will obey without question. However......"
Seeing her words drag on, Tairn beside her let out a wry smile. I sat silently, looking up at her.
"I never imagined His Majesty could be compromised. I'm sorry."
Self-reproach for not realizing it herself, and guilt as a knight for failing to protect the king's safety.
Watching Gloria bow her head to me with those feelings, I took a sip of my drink.
"No matter."
"......"
"You just did your duty. I have no feelings about it, so don't worry."
Gloria slowly raised her head at my response. Tairn beside her chuckled loudly.
"See? He's not the type to hold grudges. What a magnanimous guy."
"Um, and I hear you'll be joining the royal household from now on. Looking forward to working with you."
Gloria offered a handshake, but one of my hands was bandaged, the other holding a glass.
Realizing her mistake, she started to pull back, but I set down my glass and took her hand.
"Likewise."
In terms of the story's progression, she wasn't someone I could just brush off.
So for now, I figured I'd build at least a solid rapport.
"You two should drop the formalities, no? You're comrades serving the same king anyway."
"Um, in that case......"
"Do as you like."
Gloria, who'd been gauging my reaction, nodded with a much more relaxed expression at my words.
"Yeah, looking forward to it."
That wrapped up our chat with the two. We weren't close enough for a long talk anyway.
The massive roasting meat was starting to cook through, drawing a crowd around it.
I stayed put, just sipping my drink. No signs of getting drunk yet.
"Is this seat taken?"
Then another man approached me. King Orpheus, who should have been resting.
I started to stand, but he waved me off and plopped down beside me.
"I wanted a drink too, but they told me to hold off for recovery's sake."
Orpheus flexed his empty hand wistfully. Possessed by the evil ghost, he needed rest right now.
He turned toward the bonfire and grinned.
"Well done overcoming all three trials. Congratulations. Honestly, I didn't think you'd pull it off."
"They were all high difficulty, so naturally."
"Heh, true enough. Even I have to say they were vicious."
Defeating Magic Judge Tairn All Bellocus.
Resolving Elenoa Luden Griffin's nightmare.
And finally, unraveling the mystery of the late king's will—the royal family's secret.
"You'll get ample rewards, but are you really okay with this?"
"......"
His gaze had shifted to me, filled with worry and concern.
"It's going to be a chaotic time. More mockery and criticism than you expect—maybe even worse."
"That goes for the kingdom too, not just me."
"And that's my burden to bear."
He was right.
So right that I nodded in satisfaction without thinking.
The royal family facing criticism over a black mage was inevitable.
But having me at the center of it? That didn't sit well with Orpheus.
"Why not revise the laws on black mages and ease into it gradually?"
I shook my head at the suggestion to first erase prejudice against them.
"Too late for that. And they'd resist even more."
"Hmm."
"Don't worry about it."
At my firm reply, Orpheus nodded slightly and said he understood.
I could feel his infinite trust in me there.
"Oh, right."
He clapped in a way that didn't suit him, probing lightly.
"How old did you say you were again?"
"Twenty-eight."
"I see."
Orpheus nodded exaggeratedly for no reason, then cleared his throat and deliberately changed the subject.
"You've spent quite a bit of time here with my little sister, haven't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I've heard you two hang out pretty often, so you must be closer than most?"
"......"
"......Was it obvious?"
I just wet my lips with my drink, ignoring Orpheus as he scratched the back of his head.
With a sigh of "Whew," he patted my shoulder.
"Think about it. Elenoa seems pretty fond of you too, and I'd welcome someone like you."
"......"
"And at twenty-eight, it's not strange to already be married with kids."
I set down my glass and replied slowly.
"I have a fiancée."
"What?!"
Orpheus stared at me in genuine shock, like he'd never imagined it.
"Ahem, looks like I overstepped. Sorry about that."
He backed off awkwardly.
To make sorting things with Gideon easier, I hadn't broken off my engagement with Erica.
'Handy after all.'
The fiancée status was a great shield against nosy interference.
'Once I'm back at the academy, it'll be fine.'
Erica must have regained her old independent self by now, enough to bring the dissolution papers.
After that, I couldn't use the fiancée shield anymore, but for now, I'd milk it while I could.
"Never figured you for someone with a love interest."
"It's a family-arranged engagement."
"That figures."
His "knew it" reaction irked me a bit.
Then I spotted a maid running over from afar. She seemed to be looking for King Orpheus.
"Whoops, caught me. I'll be off then."
"Have a peaceful night."
"You too—drink in moderation. You're the kingdom's one and only recognized black mage now. Precious cargo."
King Orpheus patted my shoulders firmly as he walked off.
Through this incident, his mind hadn't collapsed, nor had the evil ghost taken his body.
Watching his noticeably more grown-back figure, I hid my smile behind my glass.
"Deus! Come eat!"
Darius called me, waving a fully cooked hunk of meat in the air.
Deia glanced my way and beckoned too, so I slowly stood and joined them.
"Have some food with your drinks. Don't pass out like you did at the estate."
I'd heard plenty about old Deus wandering the estate dead drunk and rude.
No matter how much he drank back then, he never showed a buzz.
"Ah, your hand."
Deia hesitated after handing me meat, spotting my left hand.
Then she slowly held a piece up to my mouth.
"I did this to you, so I'll take responsibility."
"......No need to feed me."
I wasn't in the mood for meat. It was a clear night; I just wanted to savor my drink alone.
"Gonna make me look bad?"
Deia shot me an annoyed glare. With no choice, I sighed and took the meat from her.
"Ooh! Ohhh!"
Darius watched from the side, looking moved.
Even as my and Deia's faces soured simultaneously, he held out his glass unperturbed.
"Come on! Our siblings' bond is the Verdi Family's strength! Glasses up!"
"Damn it, not 'siblings' like some old man."
Deia scowled at Darius right away.
Clink.
I reached out and clinked glasses.
"Ooh! Ohhhh!"
Darius teared up at that, and our eyes turned to the youngest together.
"Betrayal?! Ugh, seriously."
Deia reluctantly extended her glass under pressure.
Our three glasses clinked with a cheerful ring against the campfire flames.
The scene evoked the Peach Garden Oath from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and I slowly pulled back my glass.
"Touching! I thought we had no family love at all!"
Darius, dancing with joy, wedged between me and Deia, throwing his arms around our shoulders.
My left shoulder wound flared, making me jerk away—and Deia snapped at him instead.
"Drunk already?! You know that's him! Be careful!"
"S-Sorry."
Darius tucked tail and apologized instantly. Truth be told, his injuries were worse if we were counting.
"Whew, you okay?"
Both turned their attention to me. Glancing at my left shoulder, I offhandedly said to the worried Deia,
"You could've shot a bit lighter."
"......Huh?"
"Yeah?"
They spoke in unison, staring at each other, then started rambling in tense voices.
"W-Wait, you can shoot lighter? Oh! Right, mana-loaded gun, so controlling that..."
"Even possible? If power depends on the user's skill, it's a finely crafted piece."
Watching them take it seriously, I felt awkward and tossed out,
"Joking."
They froze solid.
Staring at me again, and after about three seconds,
"A JOOOOKEE?! From Deus? That Deus made a joke?!"
"Where'd you learn that crap! Figures! Guy who lived off booze and women..."
The commotion spread instantly.
"The professor made a joke? R-Really? What'd he say?!"
"Master ignores my words, but let's hear what he said."
[My disciple has some cute sides too, huh?]
Facing the crowding people and ghosts,
"Hah."
Irritation flooded in.