Chapter 155: Dinner, Dinner, Drinks, and Dinner
Chapter 155: Dinner, Dinner, Drinks, and Dinner
A corner of a humble restaurant.
The squad members, who had initially agreed to keep their distance, had become so close that their first meeting seemed like a distant memory. They were now gathered together, chatting boisterously.
In particular, seeing Li Shuguang—who had been the most adamant about keeping his distance—leading the squad members in my stead made me wonder what was even going on anymore.
A while ago, he even gave Han A-bin a thick stack of A4 papers, calling it a "Secret Manual"…
For the record, that manual wasn't something a normal person could follow, so I politely returned it.
A person should have some conscience, after all.
Of course, I made sure to commit it to memory. It might come in handy later.
While everyone else was busy bonding with their fellow squad members, a clear sound rang out.
Clink, clink, clink.
The crisp sound echoed through the room, and everyone, including myself, fell silent and turned toward the source.
"Now, now! Everyone, your attention, please!"
Li Shuguang spoke as he tapped his glass with a chopstick.
"Ahem. First, before we begin this gathering, it would be proper for the eldest among us to give the opening remarks."
Standing up as if to deliver a grand oration, he glanced toward me.
Well, I don't want to.
The only reason I dragged my heavy body out here was for my disciples and to save your face as a martial arts master.
With that thought, I took a sip from the glass in front of me.
I sipped the white, sweet, and sour drink that had a heavy sugary aftertaste.
"Since he says he'd rather not, I shall start in his stead."
He's quick on the uptake.
If I had been forced to do it, I would have just said something half-hearted and ended it.
Eat well, retire in good health, or I hope you achieve enlightenment.
Hmm. Even that’s too long. Is there a way to shorten it further?
While I was lost in thought, he continued.
"Then, before we begin, I would first like to express my gratitude for this chance encounter. For us, who possess entirely different powers and backgrounds and are each following our own stories, to meet like this is truly nothing short of a blessing from the heavens."
Hmm. To say that, isn't it true that six of them are from your sect, three are fellow Magical Girls, and the only outlier is Chris?
Ah, well, seeing as there are Caucasians among your sect members, I suppose their origins might be different.
And it’s not a blessing from the heavens; it’s more like a massive blunder by the Management Bureau.
"Despite our different sects, I am grateful for the generosity you've shown in opening up and sharing everything for our mutual growth."
Rather than different sects, weren't our entire systems different?
Well, there was something to be learned, in its own way.
Since my master, the Heavenly Demon Sword God, didn't care much for efficiency, my mana flow wasn't exactly smooth. However, thanks to a few words from the martial artists, I managed to achieve a slight increase in efficiency.
About 1%?
Of course, at my level, that 1% is actually quite significant.
"I won't say cliché things like hoping this bond continues forever. I've been through Mobilization Training a few times myself, and I know all too well how these things end."
Yeah, it’s always like that. They always say let’s meet up, but then they never call.
I’ve had more drinks with random middle-aged men I met at a tavern than with people from these things.
"Even so! That doesn't mean this moment right now has lost its luster!"
Sure, sure. That’s all well and good, so can you wrap it up now?
"Now, everyone, raise your glasses high!"
Everyone smiled and raised their glasses.
I raised mine with a half-hearted, awkward expression.
Because the liquid in this glass was definitely not alcohol.
It was probably goat or horse milk yogurt.
I can't remember the name, but there’s an alcoholic drink made from it; they should have served that instead.
Of course, I know this is the military… well, the Defense Force, so it’s only natural there’s no alcohol. I’m just grumbling.
"Cheers!"
It’s not a "cheers" if there’s no booze.
Regardless of my inner thoughts.
"Cheers!"
Everyone shouted and clinked their glasses.
Well, maybe not everyone.
There were two who had clearly never been to a drinking party before.
"Uh…! Ch-cheers?!"
One was a Soviet Magical Girl who stood with her glass raised high, letting every approaching glass clink against hers, unable to lower her hand.
"Burp."
And one was an idiot who didn't clink glasses with anyone, instead sporting a white mustache around her mouth as she let out a loud belch.
In other words, Baek Si-hyun.
Good grief, Baek Si-hyun’s mental age seems even lower than Chris’s now.
If she were alone, she might have been ostracized at a drinking party, but…
"You're supposed to clink glasses before you drink."
The female Martial Artist sitting next to Baek Si-hyun gave her that advice with a smile, then refilled Si-hyun’s empty glass.
That was the result of Baek Si-hyun’s natural charm.
These were squad members who had lived and breathed together for about two weeks. In other words, they had already witnessed Baek Si-hyun’s antics multiple times.
To a stranger, she might seem like a slow child, but after spending time with her and seeing her goodwill, they realized she was just inexperienced in minor social graces.
They radiated a generous atmosphere, almost like older siblings.
Han A-bin and I have seen her cause major incidents, so we see her differently, but these martial artists wouldn't have experienced that.
"Ah, is that so?"
"Well, it must be your first time at a drinking party."
Even if it’s her first drinking party, don't people do toasts from a young age?
Like at birthday parties.
Even Chris knew the "Cheers" chant; she just got confused because she didn't know when to lower her glass.
Despite my cynical observations.
"Now, let's toast again! Hero Baek Si-hyun!"
"Let's do it! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The two of them, getting along famously, had their own private toast.
Well, all's well that ends well.
Even if Baek Si-hyun’s mustache got even thicker.
Deciding I could finally take my eyes off that idiot, I looked around.
"So, you're saying there's no need to maintain mana in the bow at all times?"
"Exactly! The thing that flies is the arrow, and the bow is just the tool to fire it! In that case, our research has proven that the bow's tension is practically just for show! Of course, if you use Bestowal Techniques, the bow is important too! But your weapon seems similar to our Illusionary Weapons. If that's the case, there's no need to reinforce the bow itself!"
"I see. Thank you for such valuable and important information."
"Oh, it's nothing! It's not even that important! We don't really use bows much anyway! Fellow long-range weapon users should help each other out!"
Han A-bin was deep in conversation about Bestowal Techniques with a boisterous man who looked like he could down a gallon of ale while laughing heartily.
Wait, a long-range weapon user?
With biceps the size of my waist?
He looked like he’d be more at home swinging a giant mace.
I thought that to myself, but I didn't go over to say anything.
I didn't feel like interrupting.
"So, how exactly does the 'Form' work? I read a paper saying that unlike Magic Circles, even if you put a formula into a doll to make it act a certain way, it won't activate!"
"Ah, that's been a topic of debate among us martial artists as well. Some believe it's possible because humans are the center of all things, while others suggest that the existence of a 'person' itself functions as a single Form…"
"The 'center of all things' sounds a bit too metaphysical. The theory that a person's existence itself is a Form sounds quite plausible! Though it's not my specialty!"
"Hero Baek Si-hyun, you're quite smart… I wish you were always like this."
"I'm always like this!"
"Yes, yes, our smart Hero Baek Si-hyun. Now, let's wipe your mouth."
She was finally showing off her intelligence for once, only to end up having her mouth wiped with a tissue by a female Martial Artist who looked four or five years older than her.
Are they mother and daughter?
There’s barely any age difference; what are they doing?
Those words lingered in my mind, but again, I didn't intervene.
I just watched them quietly.
And tilted my glass.
* * *
How much time had passed since the dinner began?
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
The question was directed at me as I sat quietly observing the kids and sipping my drink.
I turned my head toward the voice that had become familiar over the past few weeks.
"I don't know. How does it look to you?"
Unlike our first meeting, I answered him with a prickly tone.
There was no need to wear a mask for someone who already knew my personality.
"You don't look particularly happy."
Despite my thorny words, Li Shuguang sat down beside me with a smile.
"Well, I'm doing fine in my own way. Instead of hanging out with boring old me, why don't you go talk to the others?"
My words were practically an order to leave, but that was only because I had nothing to talk about with Li Shuguang. I actually thought this dinner was going quite well.
I’m used to being alone, and the lively atmosphere wasn't bad.
Despite my answer.
"Do you remember our first patrol?"
Li Shuguang spoke, his smile never wavering.
Our first patrol…
Is he talking about when that slime monster appeared?
"Vaguely. Why?"
Since he was ignoring my dismissal anyway, he wasn't going to leave no matter what I said, so I gave him a half-hearted response.
"Do you remember what I told you then about the Great Masters?"
Great Masters? Did he say something like that?
I merely furrowed my brow for a moment to recall the memory.
"Hmm. As I thought, given the situation back then, you don't remember."
Li Shuguang looked at my face and spoke as if he understood everything.
When I nodded in agreement, he continued his explanation.
"Since you know martial artists well, you must know that even after they retire, a certain amount of power remains."
"Right."
"Then you likely know this as well. Retired martial artists remain in the Alliance to train the next generation. Among them, those who have contributed since before the Alliance was even established are called Great Masters."
"…."
Hearing that explanation, I couldn't bring myself to speak. It felt as though he was describing someone specific.
"To be honest, those Great Masters always had a shadow cast over their faces. Some of them can't even sleep properly and cry out in pain…"
A hint of darkness seeped into Li Shuguang’s previously bright voice.
He probably sensed it.
That the Great Masters and the being before his eyes were the same.
"So, are you saying you're going to pour me a drink because I deserve to be treated like one of those Great Masters?"
Had my emotions wavered?
Even to my own ears, the words that tumbled out were incredibly inconsiderate toward Li Shuguang.
The only reason I hadn't lost my mind completely was that I had controlled my voice so the others couldn't hear.
The contrast between the boisterous dinner party and the seat where I sat began to sharpen.
An uncomfortable, oppressive atmosphere.
In the midst of that vortex.
"Yes. I saw the same shadow. Great Master Lee Ha-ram."
Li Shuguang bowed his head.
Then he looked up and continued.
"That is why I wished to do what I could."
As he spoke, he refilled my glass.
Before I knew it, my glass had become empty.
"For now, I've arranged this gathering in my own way… If it was uncomfortable, I apologize. However, I will just say this one thing."
The Martial Artist quietly bowed his head.
Then, he spoke.
"Thank you."
At those words, I silently turned my head, looking out the window as I tilted my glass.
Beyond the glass was a pitch-black night, but through it, several searchlights from the Great Barrier were shining down toward the ground.
It wasn't a bad feeling. At all.