Chapter 606
Chapter Title: Reconciliation and Regret
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606.
Niel and Machel sat at opposite ends of the room.
They wouldn't even look at each other, their heads turned away.
The warm heat rising from the floor naturally warmed their bodies.
Niel, feeling an unnecessary thirst, reached for a water bottle in the corner of the room.
The moment he poured the water into a cup and brought it to his lips.
"Pfft! W-what is this? Is this alcohol?"
Spitting out the alcohol he had in his mouth, Niel wiped his lips and hurriedly checked the other bottles.
"It's all alcohol!"
With a dumbfounded expression, Niel rushed to the hot spring attached to the room.
Scooping up a cup of the steaming hot spring water and letting it cool, Niel took a mouthful.
"Gah?!"
The sharp taste that instantly filled his mouth made Niel spit the water onto the floor without thinking.
"W-what is this?"
He quickly looked to the side.
"Good for skin health and fatigue recovery. Harmless to the human body, but do not drink as the taste is unusual."
Niel felt a headache coming on.
In the end, it meant the only thing to drink when thirsty was alcohol.
'This is insane, seriously.'
"Stop making a fuss, Niel Roda."
Machel said with a sigh.
Niel scoffed at his words and returned to his original spot.
Just as a strange silence began to fall once more.
*Grrrrooooowl-!*
A sound came from Machel's stomach.
Machel covered his face with his hands.
Seeing Machel, Niel let out a sneer.
"Just like a mage who just sits in a corner reading books. So weak-willed. To make such a pathetic sound after skipping just one day's meal..."
*Grrrrooooowl-!*
"..."
The same sound came from Niel's stomach.
In a way, it was only natural for such a sound to be made.
Niel and Machel.
The two had starved all day.
On top of that, they had done pure manual labor during the day without using aura or magic.
Plus, the various delicious foods laid out in the room were currently stimulating their sense of smell.
It couldn't be helped that their bodies were reacting honestly.
Machel glanced at Niel, who turned his head away with a bright red face.
'Ah, this is so embarrassing!'
Niel pressed down on his tactlessly noisy stomach and screamed internally.
He had sneered for no reason, only to invite even greater ridicule.
"Pfft."
Machel burst out laughing.
"You haven't changed a bit, Niel Roda."
"What about me?"
"The needlessly rigid parts. You're strict even with yourself. And how you become endlessly doting when it comes to your lord."
"Hmph! And you think you're any different? You're needlessly free-spirited, aren't you? Besides, you're just as much of a doting fool!"
Niel retorted sharply and then sighed.
Looking at Niel, Machel spoke.
"Should we eat first?"
"...Fine."
Niel nodded as well.
It was strange to keep starving in front of food when they were hungry.
It wasn't like the food was at fault.
Machel took a bite of a meat dish and exclaimed in admiration.
"This is quite delicious."
"Don't eat it."
"Why are you picking a fight?"
"I made that. So don't eat it."
"..."
Machel let out a deep sigh.
"I feel like I told Young Master Leo something unnecessary. I wouldn't have if I'd known it would turn out like this."
"Unnecessary story?"
"Something like that."
"..."
After hearing Machel's words, Niel hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Is it... by any chance, something about me?"
Machel didn't answer.
'No wonder. Chelsea Llewellyn asked me something strange too... so that was why.'
Niel also recalled the earlier conversation.
The awkward atmosphere continued to flow.
While eating, Niel started choking and pounded on his chest.
Machel frowned at the sight.
"Stop making a scene and drink this at least."
"Don't be ridicu... lous! *Gulp!* *Gasp! Gasp!*"
Niel managed to swallow the food and spoke.
"I'll never drink something like alcohol! You drink it!"
"I don't drink alcohol either."
"Oh really? You look like the type to break school rules the most, yet you don't drink?"
"I made a mistake once after drinking. I decided not to drink ever since."
At those words, Niel's face crumpled.
'How annoying. How can his reason for not drinking be exactly the same as mine?'
As a heavy silence fell.
'Young Master Leo... must have prepared this occasion for the sake of harmony between the Jerdingers and the Llewellyns, right?'
Perhaps his and Machel's relationship was an obstacle for Leo.
'The young lady is also building a friendship with Abad.'
The direct descendants of the Jerdinger family, his lords, were making an effort.
In such a situation, he was building a wall with Machel over something from the past.
As Niel, the loyal knight, was lost in these thoughts.
Machel opened his mouth.
"Niel Roda."
"What?"
"I'll be honest. I still have feelings for you."
"What?"
For a moment, Niel looked dumbfounded.
But a moment later.
He let out a snort of derision.
"For someone like that, didn't you have a pretty big scandal? There was that whole uproar in your second year when you supposedly broke up with your girlfriend and sobbed your heart out, right? Getting disciplined for drinking in the dorms was just a bonus."
At Niel's words, Machel let out a deep sigh.
"Let me be honest. That's the reason I don't drink."
"What?"
Machel scratched his head roughly.
"Back then, didn't a rumor spread that you started dating a guy? I drank myself stupid because of that and made a mistake. Fortunately, I didn't mention your name."
Niel's mouth gaped open.
When Niel was a first-year.
During a school trip, he had gotten drunk for the first time and, in his stupor, unknowingly said he had dated a guy before.
Of course, that guy was none other than Machel.
Thanks to that, the rumor spread throughout the entire school.
"I resented you for seeming to have forgotten me so easily. That's why I acted so hostile toward you."
It was an old, long-forgotten scandal.
"But because of those lingering feelings, I never dated anyone while at the academy."
Hearing Machel's words, Niel let out a hollow laugh.
"Same here."
"What?"
"That rumor. It started because I got drunk over you, too."
Niel and Machel stared at each other in silence.
Then, as if on cue, they both burst into laughter.
Niel, who had been laughing for a while, clutched his aching stomach, hiccuping as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Really. We're both so pathetic."
"Yeah. It's a sorry sight."
Machel agreed, looking at Niel.
"But it's too late to go back."
"Yeah. It's too late."
Niel nodded too.
"Niel Roda. The young master and young lady wish to resolve the animosity between our families. You know as well as I do that it won't be easy, right?"
"Yeah. It's a difficult task. Still, I want to follow their wishes. I am a knight of the Jerdinger family, after all."
"The same goes for me. I am a mage of the Llewellyn family."
Niel and Machel stared intently at each other and spoke.
"We can't be a hindrance to our lords."
"Right. So I want to start our relationship anew."
The two of them smiled at the same time.
"Let's forget our past feelings. And be friends."
"I agree."
Niel extended his hand, and Machel took it.
It was a reconciliation after a full five years.
"Wow! I feel so relieved!"
Niel said in a refreshed voice, lying spread-eagled on the floor.
Then he shot up.
"In that case."
"Are you going to drink?"
"Yeah. It's not like I didn't drink because I didn't want to. I'm an adult now. It's unfair, isn't it?"
Niel said, pouring alcohol into his own cup.
"Want me to pour you a glass?"
"Hah. Now that there's no need to dwell on that day's mistake... shall I break my abstinence as well?"
"Yeah. There's nothing to make a mistake about anymore."
As if relieved, Niel poured Machel a drink.
They clinked their glasses and took a sip of the alcohol.
Niel grimaced in distress at the taste of liquor spreading in his mouth.
"Ugh. I don't think I'll ever really like this."
Machel chuckled at the sight.
"Haa. Anyway, we're both adults now."
"Yeah. Back then, we used to talk about how we'd be married by this time."
"We were both just kids, but we sure were fearless, weren't we?"
"Yeah. But it was nice."
"Yeah. It was."
Recalling old times, the two clinked their glasses again.
***
"Ooh! It's cold! Cold!"
Leo, who had come to the room assigned to Chelsea and Niel, wore a puzzled expression as he watched Chelsea dive under the covers the moment he entered.
"It's not that cold, though."
Chelsea, who had been wiggling under the covers, paused and then peeked her face out.
"Yeah, it's not actually cold."
With a meaningful smile, Chelsea stood up, wrapping the blanket around her body.
Leo looked puzzled at Chelsea, who was tightly wrapped in the blanket.
*Thump- thump-*
Chelsea approached Leo.
Beneath the dragging blanket, something scattered on the floor was visible.
It was none other than the clothes Chelsea had been wearing just a moment ago.
Coming before Leo, who was looking at her with an incredulous gaze, Chelsea slyly lowered the blanket from her shoulder.
Her sky-blue hair cascaded down her neckline, revealing a slender, white shoulder.
"Alluring, isn't it?"
Chelsea asked with a deep smile.
Leo grabbed the blanket wrapped around Chelsea.
"Eh?"
And pulled it without hesitation.
*Whoosh-!*
"More cute than alluring."
Leo chuckled, looking at Chelsea, who was wearing a swimsuit.
At Leo's reaction, Chelsea pouted her lips.
"What? No fun. Would it kill you to even be a little flustered?"
"You shouldn't tease an adult."
Leo slipped his hands under Chelsea's armpits and lifted her up as if picking up a cat.
Then he carried the flustered Chelsea to the hot spring attached to the room and tossed her in.
"Kyaaaaah?!"
*Splash-!*
"Gah! That's so mean!"
Ignoring Chelsea's complaint, Leo closed the door and changed into the provided swimsuit.
Then he entered the hot spring.
Sinking into the hot spring and stretching out his arms and legs, Leo leaned back and muttered.
"Ah, this is refreshing."
"Wow, you're really like an old man. Your body is a boy's, but how can you act so much like an old man?"
Chelsea jeered quietly, but Leo paid her no mind.
"What are you going to do first when we go to the government building tomorrow?"
Leo chuckled at Chelsea's puzzled expression.
"I'm thinking of meeting the Spirit of Purification first."
"To make a contract?"
"Yep."
Leo said it as if it were a very simple matter.
"Well, I guess it would be hard for even a Great Spirit to refuse a contract with you, Leo."
"It doesn't matter if it refuses."
"Huh?"
In front of the bewildered Chelsea, a water ladle floated by.
It was filled with hot spring water.
-Take this!
*Peep! Peep!*
-Piora and Kiruan. Please stop.
-Hey! Phoenix! Fairy! Lady Elsie told you to stop! You want me to rip your wings off?!
*Screech!*
-Eek!
Piora and Kiruan, who had been splashing water at Elsie, were terrified by Rariel's murderous shout.
"..."
Chelsea fell silent at the scene.
Leo gestured toward the commotion and said.
"If it refuses, she'll snap its neck."
'Somehow, none of Leo's summons are normal.'
Chelsea muttered to herself.
Then she looked up at the night sky.
"Machel and Niel. I hope they've reconciled."
"I'm sure they have."
At Leo's reply, Chelsea gave a soft smile.
***
"Ugh."
Niel felt a splitting headache.
'Just how much did I drink yesterday?'
He couldn't remember clearly.
The only thing he was sure of was that they had drunk all the alcohol in the room.
'Ah, I'm never drinking again.'
A long time ago.
Making the same vow he had made years ago when he first drank, Niel tossed and turned.
Then, feeling something warm beside him, he unconsciously snuggled into its embrace.
The feeling of warm, firm, yet soft skin brushing against him felt good.
"Ughh..."
Machel, who was next to Niel, let out a pained groan.
Even so, he pulled Niel closer into his arms.
Niel obediently burrowed into the embrace.
"..."
"..."
The two, about to fall back asleep, suddenly sensed something strange and their eyes shot open.
The two of them, holding each other under the blanket, froze instantly.
Their thoughts came to a screeching halt.
A moment later, without prompting, they both lowered their heads to look under the covers.
When they looked up again, both their faces had turned deathly pale.
Just as horrified screams were about to erupt from their mouths.
*Creek-*
"Machel, I'm sorry. The two of you... Kyaaaaaah?!"
Chelsea, who had entered the room, let out an involuntary scream and ran back out.
Leo, who followed her in, was silent for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"Looks like we interrupted something important."
"Y-Young Master Leo! It's not! It's not what you think! This! This! Don't go, please listen to me!"
Niel shouted, his face pale as a sheet.
But Leo left the room immediately.
Looking at Chelsea, whose face was flushed as she gaped, Leo let out a hollow laugh.
"I told them not to cause any childish trouble, and instead, they caused some very adult trouble."