Chapter 273

We all went down to the garden in front of the river together.

The water of the Mulde River, appearing black, flowed fiercely in the wind. The sound of the reeds bending in the wind could be heard before it. For coming to play and drinking alcohol, it was quite a gloomy scene.

‘Drinking here? This isn’t right.’

“Um, this is a big problem.”

Tsheringen, walking beside me matching my pace, muttered quietly.

I had a rough sense of what she meant by a big problem. The scenery was one thing, but the other side was the issue. I replied to her softly as well.

“You didn’t expect it to go this far either.”

“Yeah. Haha. Who would have thought there was a spell in the world connecting a brewery and beer glasses…. I wonder who invented something like this?”

Her tone was truly hollow.

There should be a word that encompassed this sense of futility, absurdity, and patheticness somewhere, but unfortunately, even German couldn’t provide it.

“Probably an adaptation of a combat supply transport spell for drinking purposes? Hm…. I felt that Heike liked alcohol since the second exam, but I didn’t know she’d become Elias’s accomplice like this.”

Tsheringen said mechanically while walking forward. She was analyzing it as if some tremendous disaster had occurred.

“Guys~! Come here!”

Elias, who had gone ahead first, shouted while shaking an empty glass. Tsheringen, who had been looking at him with a smile that meant nothing, asked me.

“Lukas, do you drink well?”

“Just average.”

“I see. Me too.”

Tsheringen smiled softly and extended her hand to me.

“Let’s endure it together.”

“You’re full of enthusiasm even at times like this.”

I lightly slapped her hand and said. At first, I wondered why she kept suggesting high-fives, but since she did it every time, Tsheringen felt like a high-five and the high-five felt like Tsheringen. If she suddenly stopped now, it would feel a bit empty. Before I could pull my hand away, Tsheringen grabbed it firmly and said.

“You’ve been wearing gloves a lot lately. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“Well. It’s fine.”

“I see. That’s a shame.”

Tsheringen let go of my hand with a smile and changed the subject.

“By the way, since we have to be in Bavaria from tomorrow evening, we should feel a bit better.”

“Yeah.”

Tsheringen had said that because of meeting the king, but for me, there was one more reason. Tomorrow in Bavaria, there was the Ash Wednesday ceremony. If I was dying of a hangover during the ceremony, it would be quite embarrassing.

Anyway, after stopping by Bavaria, it was time to return completely to daily life now. Back to a day filled with subduing victims and transporting them to the hospital. Since that was what I had hoped for, I looked forward to the day of returning to the capital.

“Why aren’t those three coming!”

Elias waited for us standing in front of the garden table.

The ones coming last were only Tsheringen and me, so who else? When I turned around, there was Heike. The gose that Elias had filled earlier was now being drunk by Heike. She seemed to be slowing down because she walked a step, drank, walked another step, and drank again.

“Heike, come quickly.”

“Tasty.”

“I see.”

“Feels like I could drink it forever.”

“I see….”

We dragged Heike along, matching our pace, and followed Elias. Strangely, Elias did not stop at that table but kept walking ahead. Even when we reached the small coniferous grove, he did not stop.

“Huh?”

Ulrike, who had been walking a step ahead, said in a bewildered voice.

‘Huh.’

I felt the same as Ulrike. Right now, in front of us was a boat of moderate size floating on the river. The Prussian flag and the small Anhalt flag attached in front like a permit caught the eye. Leo asked with a darkened face.

“Why is this here? I clearly saw it at Elias’s house a few months ago….”

“Guys, we’re going to ride the boat.”

“We were going to drink in the garden.”

“It is the garden. All the way to this river is Luka’s garden. Why?”

“…….”

Leo just gave up and gestured.

Elias grabbed our hands one by one, warped us onto the boat, flicked his wand to raise the anchor, and slammed the glasses down on the table. At that moment, the boat seemed to move slightly. Of course, upon closer look, it really was moving. I glanced once at the empty cockpit and frowned as I asked.

“What is this? Do you know how to drive?”

“Why? I got my license before I was even ten. There are 113 official seals just in this cockpit. I thought I was going to die accumulating formulas over ten years.”

“Why formulas… This is automatic?!”

“Haha, but you can trust it.”

Tsheringen’s words at least reassured me.

With this, I once again confirmed that Elias’s school grades, which had hit rock bottom, were fake. Operating a boat automatically with 113 magic formulas—this guy was no ordinary either. He didn’t have a car under Elias’s ownership yet, but if he bought one later, he’d probably turn it into a self-driving car too.

Elias took out sausages and meats of unknown names from inside and placed them on the table.

“Ah~ Luka political debut commemoration~”

Elias said that and raised his glass alone in toast before pouring alcohol into his mouth. Ulrike asked with a bewildered face.

“Hey, what. No toast?”

Elias nodded while chugging the alcohol. Seeing him waving his hand at us, it seemed like he meant to just quietly drink quickly. I had no idea how he had endured until now.

We pretended to clink glasses among ourselves and drank.

“Wow, it’s good.”

“Really too tasty.”

Following Tsheringen’s admiration, Heike’s dry mutter came again. If I stayed next to Heike, it felt like I’d hear only this phrase all day.

“Wow, what harmony is this? I have to come to Luka’s house often to drink this.”

As Elias said that, his eyes were directed at our glasses.

As he waved his wand loosely, a box flew in from somewhere. He caught the box with his chin and said solemnly.

“Now, let’s play poker. Everyone except the winner does a shot.”

An hour passed like that.

Fortunately, we broke Elias’s stubbornness and changed the rule so that even the one chosen by the winner didn’t drink.

Elias’s strategy of suggesting a game because he was worried we wouldn’t drink was brilliant. Since everyone had a competitive spirit, no one refused the proposal.

But I had no idea why he said it so confidently.

Elias was objectively quite good at games, but now, perhaps because he was excited, he couldn’t keep up and often gave opportunities to me and Tsheringen.

“Hm, everyone except us drank quite a bit.”

Tsheringen said while looking at Ulrike sprawled on the floor. From earlier, Ulrike kept trying to dip her hand in the river, so Elias kept pulling her out.

‘Sigh…. If she can get close like this, it’s fortunate.’

That was why none of us stopped Ulrike’s antics. It was just pitiful for me and Tsheringen, who had to keep being next to the alcohol-smelling people….

Ulrike suddenly slapped her own cheeks and sat up straight in her seat, saying.

“Truth game, anyone.”

‘Drunks should go sleep if they’re drunk, but they always do this.’

Of course, we couldn’t go sleep. Because Elias had locked all the cabin doors, there was no place to lie down except on this floor. What a thorough guy.

At Ulrike’s words, Leo replied with a rotten face.

“I have bad memories of that, so no. Elias will hate it for the same reason as me.”

Personally, it was the worst game. Because I had no curiosity about people, I really had nothing to say.

That it wasn’t fun was something Elias had agreed to in the Catacombs. He had even been caught by the vigilante captain while doing it? I carefully placed my glass on the table so as not to trigger the refill spell and said.

“Yeah. Not great. Instead of forcing a game, let’s just watch the boat go, guys.”

“No? Let’s play a game.”

Elias said seriously.

“What?”

This guy, who had even been caught doing it, what?

Elias chugged his alcohol, wiped his mouth, and said.

“I have a lot of questions for Luka. During the five shots we drink, you’ve only had one shot until now.”

“Mind your own business?”

“Sniff sniff….”

“…….”

While I looked at Elias expressionlessly, Tsheringen asked with a smile.

“I haven’t drunk much either. Elias, no questions for me?”

“I’ve known you too long.”

“I want to do it too.”

“Is there something in the alcohol? Why do these guys like alcohol so much? Do it among yourselves.”

Heike and Leo said almost simultaneously.

There were too many people here. Every time it got quiet, the audio didn’t empty, and my ears hurt. Elias said with a confident face.

“I’ll go first? Okay, Luka.”

“Why you first?”

“Because you missed us when you were caught.”

He thought I couldn’t answer, so he asked this?

Now I saw that the other friends were also waiting with eyes open for my answer in their own way. My image was more….

‘Am I seen as someone who can’t even say this?’

I shook my head.

“You’re wasting the chance too much. Of course.”

“Oh.”

Heike blinked and said.

Elias jumped up from his seat a beat late, shouting.

“Ooooo?!”

“…….”

Heike seized the turn in this gap.

“I’ll go next. Lukas. Want to come play at my house next?”

“Is this really truth game?”

“Ah, right. Aren’t you uncomfortable playing with me? If I invite you home again, can you come?”

“Yeah…. Why would I be uncomfortable….”

As I answered roughly, Ulrike, who had been sprawled, shouted with a slurred tongue.

“Wow. I want to go too!”

“Yeah. You come too.”

“Guys, let’s stop.”

“Why?”

“Why…?”

The gap felt quite severe. I felt like a middle schooler who had tagged along on a retreat. Drinking alcohol with 19th-century people was truly extreme difficulty.

Even though I swallowed those words, they must have sensed the reality check in my tone, as silence flowed. The friends looked at me with eyes wide in surprise.

Unlike the other friends, Leo was sober from the alcohol right away, so he wasn’t particularly surprised. He just stroked his chin and asked this.

“Looks not fun?”

At those words, Ulrike, who had been dozing, suddenly started looking back and forth at us with a tense face. Ulrike always worried about discord, so it was understandable.

“…It might cause misunderstanding. I can’t say it’s fun, but it’s you guys’ way, so it’s good, let’s continue.”

Leo slowly asked Narce.

“Narce, you can use insight on Lukas easily. Compared to foresight, how much health does it use?”

“Barely any~ I haven’t used it until now, why? Should I?”

“If you just intend now, you can definitely know if it’s a lie or not.”

“Hahaha, yes.”

“…….”

“You said you can’t fit in, Lukas.”

I hadn’t said that? But it was close to my inner thoughts. Was this guy using mind-reading too? I now realized that Leo was also somewhat drunk. He hadn’t sobered up. He just hadn’t looked drunk. Whether Leo was acting in his own way or not, he picked a fight with me with a nonchalant face.

“Let’s do five rounds.”

“…….”

Leo picked the questions brilliantly.

I had no choice but to drink all five times. And now, Elias was clapping and laughing.

“Wow…. Luka’s drunk.”

“Not drunk.”

I should wash my face in the river water.

The moment I thought that, I realized I was drunk.

Washing my face in this pitch-black river? Perfect for accidental drowning. As soon as I thought that, the alcohol cleared up, and I returned to normal.

‘Good.’

If drunk, just sleep, why sit and wash face. Just sleep. I spread magic power on the floor, used it as a mattress, and went to sleep. Fortunately, everyone had lost their minds, so no one stopped it.

From the next table, I could hear Tsheringen and the other friends muttering.

“Leo’s insight is pretty good. I knew, but.”

“Wow~ As expected, good at everything.”

“Now that Lukas is out, let’s kill until only one remains among us. Who to kill next?”

Heike was saying something brutal in a deeply sunken voice from being drunk, nonchalantly. That was the problem. Who to take out first to boot from this game.

That was the last thought.

When I opened my eyes, it was dawn, and Elias was warping us to our rooms.

*  *  *

“Haha~ I saw Luka drunk, so my wish came true.”

In the carriage going to Dessau Station, Elias said while grinning.

Narce sitting next to me was still half-asleep and dozing, and the same went for Leo across from us.

In comparison, my mind was very clear. From the beginning, I hadn’t been able to sleep continuously, and since I slept for the first time then, the sleepiness had come faster.

“Why only me? Everyone was drunk. Now looking, they seem worse than me.”

“There’s that. But when everyone’s drunk, they sleep. Boring. Next time, no alcohol.”

‘Yes. Good thinking. Drink moderately.’

This time, I had no choice but to welcome Elias’s grumbling.

At that moment, the coachman’s voice came from outside.

[We’ve arrived.]

“Arrived, guys! Wake up! Outside~!”

Elias shook Leo and Narce awake and dashed outside.

When I got off the carriage, the same scenery as yesterday unfolded. Numerous Anhalt citizens were standing at the barricade line around the train station.

No, there was one difference from then.

I approached close to the barricade line with one guard accompanying me. The person leaning on the barricade handed me a bouquet of yellow tulips. He said nothing and looked at me with tense eyes. However, that was just because he had met the ruling family. Since I could see the favorability, I could be certain that his silence wasn’t negative.

“Thank you.”

I extended my hand for a shake. He cautiously took my hand. I smiled, gave an eye greeting, and moved around. Several people holding flowers similarly to the one I just met were visible.

After briefly greeting them and returning to the steward, he smiled and said.

“I’m glad to see a day like this.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. But you look a bit tired. You must have had fun yesterday?”

“Well.”

I just thought I should never play with Elias again. Even if playing with him, it had to be after confiscating his alcohol.

The steward had a pleased expression, then handed me my bag and looked at the train station.

“It’s a shame you have to go now. But now that you can warp freely, you can come often, right?”

“I’ll try.”

“Hoho. Come often. And….”

He pushed the leather carry-on he was holding toward me.

“Please receive this. It’s a gift from the eldest young master.”

“…….”

For a moment, I felt my head go cold. More accurately, chilling. I looked down at the large black box-like bag he held. I had thought the carry-on he was holding looked excessively new. Looking at the red ribbon tied to the handle, I asked.

“What’s inside?”

“He instructed not to open it, so I don’t know what’s in it either.”

“It just arrived?”

“Actually, it’s been here since two days ago. He asked to deliver it right before you leave, so I’m giving it now.”

Right before leaving?

I maintained my smile and asked.

“Why?”

“It must be because he wanted to give a surprise gift.”

“…I should write to Brother. I was glad to see you again. See you next time.”

I gave the steward my final greeting and boarded the train again.

Next was a stop at the Saxon Union Duchy and the Duchy of Brunswick. From there to the Grand Duchy of Baden, and finally to Bavaria.

The friends who had boarded first saw the box I was carrying and asked.

“Oh, what’s this?”

“A gift from Brother.”

“…….”

Elias shut his mouth. Curiosity rose on Heike’s face, but there was no time to respond to it.

“Guys. I’ll go in first.”

“Uh uh. I’m going in too. Dying….”

Ulrike, sprawled on the sofa in the first car, staggered to another car. The alcohol didn’t seem that strong.

Of course, my interest wasn’t there.

I found the compartment car, drew the curtain, and sat down. Elias naturally followed me in.

When I opened the clips of the black carry-on and unfolded it, numerous items were visible. Just in case, I didn’t touch them, and what was visible was another black box, a shoe case, first-class rail tickets to Italy, several clothing accessory cases that didn’t take much volume like neckties or gloves… a book, wine, and a letter. That was all.

Elias cast magic power on the box, then nodded at me and rummaged through the items. I hadn’t touched in case there was an artifact detecting my magic power, so it was good help.

“Your tastes are similar.”

Elias said while opening the Italian-made shoes and glove box and setting them aside. At a glance, nothing seemed particularly strange. After taking out everything else, what remained was now the other black box that had been inside the carry-on.

Elias looked at me once and nodded while taking out the box.

“I’ll open it, Luka.”

“Yeah.”

I replied shortly while fixing my gaze on the box.

Click, the sound of the clip releasing scratched my nerves unusually. However, that irritation didn’t last long. At what appeared before my eyes, I hardened my expression.

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