‘He has the confidence to handle my drunken talk?’

Narce glanced at Luca, who was sitting in front of him.

Honestly, he was taken aback.

If it were anyone else, maybe, but hearing it from him, who usually answers with just ‘yes’ or ‘no’, was unfamiliar.

‘It’s starting already.’

Lucas was leaning his upper body on the table, supporting his head with his arm.

He looked completely drunk already. And in reality, he likely was.

Still…

‘He’s completely sober~?’

Perhaps taking Luca’s answer as affirmative, they smiled brightly.

“Ah, thank you.”

“It’s early; looks like you’ve already had a few drinks?”

Narce laughed and replied to the person sitting next to him.

“Yeah~ This is our second round.”

“Ah, where was the first round?”

“On the street.”

A languid voice, sounding unfamiliar, abruptly cut into the conversation. Narce quickly waved his hand.

“Hahahaha! My friend here is very drunk. Right?”

“Uhm…”

“Haha, you really are quite drunk~”

Lucas’s dissatisfied expression only reinforced the fact that he was drunk.

Narce looked at Lucas and activated his ability.

[…More importantly, why would they want to join the table with a drunk who’s using a chair as a prop to pretend to be human, when they themselves are completely sober as if not a drop of alcohol has entered them? Besides, those people have been here the whole time, but I haven’t even been sitting for 10 minutes yet?]

‘Haha… Normally, they’d just ask if they could sit together because they liked him.’

Of course, even if they liked him, they would usually avoid someone soaked in alcohol, so the question would be why they would sit.

In any case, since Lucas is also clergy, to use Elias’s expression, that kind of social activity is unacceptable.

So, I won’t try to stop Lucas’s unique way of thinking, which naturally assumes the other party has an agenda.

‘Alright, then let me try analyzing like Lucas~’

[Perhaps evangelization?]

“Khhh…”

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes. I’m fine!”

[No. His mind is also drunk.]

So he knows.

Still, his other thoughts were functioning well, so it was hard to say he was heavily intoxicated.

Just then, the blonde Old Human woman sitting next to Narce began speaking cheerfully.

“I’m Eugenie Schiller, and this is Ludovika Schneider. We haven’t seen you around this street lately; what’s your name?”

“Gabriel Einzbern. Have you been here long?”

“Sort of~ And you?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lucas.

Lucas, who had been holding and swirling his Glass the whole time, finally seemed to notice the conversation and looked back and forth between the two Old Humans. He squinted slightly and tilted his head.

“Pretty names.”

‘Whoa~’

I almost swore out loud. Narce laughed and subtly nudged him.

That was truly something Luca would never say.

He said it deliberately, even knowing it was a line that wouldn’t even work 500 years ago.

He’s probably thinking he wants to flip the table and leave, and sure enough, using Foresight showed he was thinking the exact same thing.

From an observer’s standpoint, it just looks amazing that he’s building the persona even while knowing it’s a terrible line he couldn’t pull off himself.

‘Come to think of it, he’s not just saying lines.’

Narce observed Luca’s expression and actions.

It was a gesture rarely seen in the Empire, no matter where you looked. It was an expression easily seen across the continent, though.

“Haha, which one of us?”

‘He… took the bait on this line~’

I had to try hard to hold back my laughter, but Luca replied as if it were nothing.

“Do I have to choose? That’s difficult.”

“Then never mind. What’s your name?”

Lucas literally poured the Wine into his mouth and grinned, the corners of his lips twitching up.

“Does it matter?”

“…….”

“More importantly, this is delicious. Have you tried it?”

“I have. But you ordered by the Bottle? It might be a bit heavy to keep drinking alone.”

“Yeah… Well, I was hungry.”

They exchanged glances.

Filling his stomach with alcohol.

For people like the Bourgeoisie or nobles who live with some emphasis on culture, there could be no more absurd statement than this.

They must have felt it from his appearance half-slumped on the table, and from Lucas’s clothes, but these ladies must have felt once again that Lucas was not on their level.

“You don’t look like you’ve been starving.”

“I just arrived in the country, and there wasn’t anywhere proper to eat. Have a drink.”

Luca abruptly picked up the Bottle and poured it into the Glass Ludovika was holding.

He didn’t exactly refuse either. Instead, Ludovika just swirled the half-filled Glass.

“It’s a bit awkward drinking without hearing your name.”

“Haha… It’s Jeremiah Caetani. Is that enough?”

Lucas shrugged, let out a short reply, and drank again.

“Jeremiah? That’s not a Germanic pronunciation. English?”

“American.”

“Oh. You’re very fluent in the Imperial language? But…”

The person sitting next to Lucas rubbed her chin and gave an ambiguous smile.

“That’s not your real name, is it?”

“Are there people who use their real names in entertainment establishments?”

“Haha, this is just a bar, though? Seems you’ve been playing around too much before coming here.”

Despite the slightly accusatory look, Lucas just smiled and tilted his head.

“What’s your real name? Even if you’re Italian-American, Caetani is a family that produced a Pope. You should have been a bit more careful when choosing a fake name.”

“Doesn’t it suit me?”

“No.”

“That’s too harsh.”

Lucas let out a light laugh and replied.

“My last Old Human Maternal Ancestor was from that family. I took it from there.”

“Ah ha… So you have real clergy bloodline~? I wonder if this is okay~?”

“Ah.”

Lucas said shortly and raised his eyebrows with a smile.

“Don’t say things like that.”

“…….”

Narce sipped his drink and looked into the eyes of the Old Humans.

[His current family must be quite good too. Even if it’s an ancestor’s family, people of matching status would have married…]

‘Good.’

The connections part was perceived as Luca intended.

But now, I understand that question Lucas had earlier.

Even in a status-based society, an invisible hierarchy is created depending on the culture one enjoys.

Judging by their way of speaking, educated among intellectuals, and the Bourgeoisie atmosphere emanating from their entire bodies, even if the other person were a noble, they wouldn’t associate with someone who is so steeped in alcohol and entertainment and uses a fake name.

The prediction that this person must be someone deeply immersed in illegal entertainment like prostitution or gambling is strongly coming to mind, so why approach him?

Just because his family looked good? No, they only found that out just now.

The real problem is why they approached this kind of person even before knowing his family was good, even if just out of curiosity.

“Haha, I understand. I also came from a Convent.”

“Hmm…?”

Lucas, who had Wine in his mouth, let out a hollow laugh.

It was fleeting, but he was genuinely flustered.

‘Even so, a Cardinal acting like a thug is more shocking~’

Narce swallowed that thought and watched Lucas’s expression.

Lucas quickly composed his expression and smiled.

“We are of the same kind.”

“Right. Speaking of which, are you two friends?”

The Old Human woman sitting next to Narce asked.

Narce laughed and replied.

“Yes. We were very close since we attended school in America. Even though we look like this, we get along well.”

“Since you attended school? You both look quite young… No. Let me guess. 19?”

At that, Lucas squinted.

“Even so, I’m not completely inconsiderate of others’ feelings. Or were you hoping I was that young?”

“Hahaha! Then… 23?”

“Hmm?”

“Doesn’t seem older than this.”

Lucas snapped his fingers and smiled.

“That’s kind of you. I’m 25.”

“Wow, I had no idea.”

‘Of course you wouldn’t~ Since he’s 18.’

He added 7 years, and they believed it? Is it thanks to the clothes Leo brought?

Narce was impressed by their lack of discernment.

“I thought you were a student, but you aren’t. What do you do?”

“Making paper scraps of diplomas.”

“Ah, university?”

“High school. Even though many people go to university these days, it didn’t really suit me.”

“Well, that happens~ You might find something you want to do later… You don’t have to live like everyone else.”

“Of course. Then, from Ludovika’s perspective, am I someone who can afford to do that?”

Then the Old Human woman sitting next to Lucas smiled again.

“I’d have to meet you more to know that.”

“Hmm, alright.”

Lucas grinned and pushed his Glass towards the table.

“But if you don’t tell me tonight, I won’t get an answer.”

“Excuse me?”

“Since I’ve come all this way, I need to enjoy myself a bit too.”

Lucas swayed as he stood up and put on his Jacket.

Then he grabbed the neck of the unopened Wine Bottle.

‘Uhhh~’

Right.

This is the image I was trying to project.

The two Old Humans who had been sitting with us froze with plastered smiles.

Lucas, oblivious, just kept grinning with half-closed eyes.

“Ah, is there any place that runs a gambling house at this hour?”

I felt the surrounding tables looking this way.

His acting was so real that Narce had to keep using Foresight to check if he was actually drunk or not.

“Haven’t you heard the news? All the gambling houses in the capital have closed down.”

“Ah. Damn it…. I was waiting for just that, what a shame.”

“Do you have a place to sleep?”

“Well, my arrival in the country is still a secret. I’ll have to wander around begging from now on.”

Narce began reading the expressions of the two Old Humans.

They definitely saw him as a troubled individual.

Surprisingly, they didn’t seem particularly offended that Lucas had openly snubbed them.

“Oh dear…. How long will you be in the Empire? You don’t even have a place to stay.”

“I can’t go back to America now. I’ll probably have to stay here forever?”

“You can’t go back?”

“Yeah. It’s one of those things. What table number are you?”

“No need to pay. Since most of the establishments here, not just the gambling houses, have closed down… I should be offering condolences on behalf of the people of the Empire.”

“What did you say?”

“They all closed down. Even if you wait until midnight, nothing will open anywhere.”

The smile slowly faded from Lucas’s face.

Seeing his dramatic expression, the two Old Humans tilted their heads with sympathetic looks.

“You really must not have heard. You’re a New Human, and you’re interested in that sort of thing?”

“They closed down? No way…. Why?”

“Didn’t you know there was a raid? You seem to be from a good family; didn’t anyone tell you?”

“Hahaha…”

Lucas let out a hollow laugh with a face that didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Then, he grabbed the Jacket that was sliding off his elbow, which he had just draped on loosely. It was a sight that looked utterly disorganized.

“Alright. I can’t believe it. No, I’ll try to believe it. Thanks for the information.”

“Not at all. If you need help, come to this spot tomorrow.”

The Old Humans smiled leisurely, regaining control as if they hadn’t been flustered moments ago. Luca, holding the Wine Bottle, twisted off the cork and threw it onto the table, then replied softly.

“Probably won’t need to. It was a pleasant conversation.”

* * *

I quickly finished paying and went outside.

Narce stuck close to my side.

—“How was it, Narce? What kind of people were they?”

—“Haha…”

Narce skirted the question with a laugh, so I asked again.

—“They weren’t ordinary people.”

—“Right.”

At Narce’s clear answer, I slowly continued.

—“No matter how I look at it, they’re not a suitable match. There’s quite a age difference, and the cultural level doesn’t match either.”

—“Haha, maybe they wanted to find a young lover?”

—“What kind of thinking is that…? Are you really a Cardinal?”

I felt the alcohol I had genuinely drunk starting to rise, and I pressed my mouth shut with my hand.

—“Hearing that from you after hearing your conversation just now is a bit surprising~ Button up your shirt!”

—“There’s another Elias here…”

—“Don’t vomit too much. What I said earlier was just for show. Honestly, I had a feeling they were trying to proposition you with something, but as you know, the second meeting is more accurate than the first, and the third meeting is more accurate than the second. To get information, a related conversation topic has to come up too.”

I didn’t bother asking what ‘don’t vomit too much’ meant. Even though he had burned all the alcohol with Divine Power, he seemed a bit drunk himself.

Just then, Narce muttered nonsense.

—“Do they need organs…?”

—“What?”

—“Nothing. So, are we going back now? It’s already past 7.”

—“We should go back. Let’s stop by one more place for a drink and then go straight back.”

—“Ah, you’re not planning on ordering by the Bottle this time, are you?”

If I did, I might seriously die.

—“You’re cleaner than I thought~ You really just came to show your face today.”

Even though I said so, he must have expected something else.

Of course, that’s how it is ‘today’, but not tomorrow. I’ll go around showing my face like today, but I need to start taking action soon.

—“I’ll come back. At 2 AM.”

* * *

I warped back to the hospital room with Narce’s help.

Elias, who had been lying on my bed playing with Pai, sprang up.

Leo seemed to have been called away elsewhere for work.

“Ah, you’re back. My Jerry~”

“Think of another nickname.”

“Okay, Jerome~ Your voice is already gone. You should have drunk like that in my room too.”

Of all the things, there’s a person who makes nicknames for aliases.

I thought they only shortened names ending in S, but I guess not.

“So, how was it?”

“Nothing much happened today.”

There were two people who approached, but since I don’t know their exact purpose, it’s too early to consider it significant.

Instead, I seem to have successfully piqued the interest of the people in that bar.

Naturally, a person who looks like a complete mess and doesn’t even know that Primrose Path was raided would attract attention.

I can only hope they spread some rumors.

“Instead, I’m going out again at 2 AM. How’s the school?”

“There’s Roll Call at 11. But you don’t need to worry about it. Leo extended your hospitalization period.”

Oh?

That worked out well.

I needed to look into that, but since my problem is already solved, now only Narce needs to make an excuse.

I looked at Narce. Elias was also looking at him.

Narce smiled and pointed to himself.

“Ah, so I’m the only one who needs to figure it out~?”

* * *

—“He’s thinking of leaving Pai behind.”

—“Haha, I did that often~ If someone comes, I can just warp back, it’s great.”

At 2 AM, we warped to Primrose Path again, just like earlier.

I brought the Bottle of alcohol in my hand to my mouth.

Having consumed only alcohol all day, I really feel like vomiting now.

But I have to keep it for now.

—“We starting?”

—“Yeah.”

CRASH—!

I stomped on the ground with my foot.

The magic cast on the street broke ridiculously easily. The ground, which had been dirt just moments ago, turned into marble.

‘It wasn’t like this originally, I wonder if their defenses weakened after the raid, or what.’

Narce also seemed to be thinking the same thing, letting out a hollow laugh and just shaking his head.

But being this lax is not good for me.

I shouldn’t just make the customers of Primrose Path recognize me.

Making the owners, or managers, recognize me would be much more effective.

What’s the point if there’s no one to see me when I came here to do that?

The moment I thought that, a light came from behind.

CRASH—!

“Who is it? This drunkard.”

Magic.

Someone used magic from behind.

I tried to push myself up from the ground, but someone kicked me in the back with their foot.

‘As expected.’

They are here.

Right. There’s no way there wouldn’t be guards.

Glancing at the ground, Narce was already pinned down by another guard.

Someone pulled the Wand from my waist.

“What? A New Human?”

“Where do you think you are coming in here?”

“Isn’t he from the Royal Investigation Bureau? Check him carefully.”

Someone started pressing down on my back again with strong force.

‘What should I do.’

This is a good opportunity.

I couldn’t do it in the bar earlier because there were too many eyes, but using Mind Manipulation Magic on them shouldn’t be difficult.

I should stop the violence at an appropriate point and make them take me to their superior. Thinking that, the moment I relaxed my body, a sharp voice was heard.

“Stop!”

The three people holding us stopped their actions for a moment and turned their heads.

“…Shinbu?”

Shinbu?

The voice I heard earlier was a female Old Human’s voice.

‘A cleric setting foot in Primrose Path?’

No.

Lucky. I can’t believe I might catch one already.

This isn’t a typical Catholic cleric.

What affiliation would a cleric entering this place have?

“We meet again here, Mr. Jeremiah.”

The white light illuminating the ground stung my eyes.

But I could tell who he was just by his voice.

The person who sat next to me earlier reached out his hand.

“I told you it was closed.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep