I decided to take Karubene to a bar to cheer him up.
Perhaps it was because of the cool nickname “Monoceros Karubene” that I gave him, but his mood seemed to have recovered. He was singing along with the others, fully integrated into the group.
“Five glasses of wine, the cat drank them,”
“A cat drinks wine?”
“My cat does.”
We were laughing uncontrollably, spewing nonsense at each other, and playfully shoving each other as we stumbled around.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“Indeed, it would be problematic if you continued in that state.”
Sharin seemed satisfied as she ate yakitori. Beside Karubene sat a woman with an imposing aura, drinking wine.
“Where are you traveling to?”
“Me? I’ve never really thought about it. I just keep going because it’s fun. That tattoo on your arm is cool.”
The woman’s muscular arm was adorned with a large tattoo of a goblet.
“This? I got it when I was fifteen. I hated my family, you see, so it was an act of rebellion. After that, I drifted from one man to another. In the end, when I started dating a woman, I was finally disowned.”
The woman laughed heartily, smoking a cigarette. Everyone has their own life’s drama.
“But I’m happy. Because I’m free. If you’re a Satyr, you should be free too.”
“Naturally. The only thing that binds me around is these damn Elves.”
Meanwhile, some people were frowning as they watched the Satyrs causing a ruckus in the middle of the bar. A Faun couple, sitting at the counter on the far end, were quietly drinking. They raised their eyebrows as if to say the mood was completely ruined.
“Satyrs are really noisy, so unrefined, it’s unbearable.”
“They just drink all the time and don’t work at all.”
Then, the two began to whisper to each other. So, this is what inter-species friction looks like. Given that he was mingling with the Satyrs, Seilenos was likely of a similar nature. The Minotaurs, meanwhile, were silently carrying sake barrels. There were a few other Faun customers visible, but none of them were making loud noises.
This looks like it’s going to be quite difficult. It might work out better with the Elves. No, it didn’t go very well when we met before.
Well, at some point, I’ll have to take Karubene back. It’s dangerous after midnight. I can’t fight while carrying a drunken companion on my back.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Hey, hey, you’re leaving already?”
“Why don’t you have a drink too?”
Dodging the eagerly pushed cups, I managed to drag him out of the bar and into the outside. Karubene had completely passed out.
“Cecilia’s going to be mad about this.”
“Indeed, I let him drink too much.”
Together, we carried him, supporting his torso and legs, and returned to the hotel. The entrance, which had been so lively earlier, was now completely empty. We exchanged an awkward nod with the single guard who was standing there and went up the stairs. If I were a Faun, I probably wouldn’t like Satyrs either. After all, cleaning up after those drunkards would surely be waiting back at the bar.
Carrying a sleeping person is quite a task. We finally reached the second floor. Then, we heard voices from above. I put Karubene down on the floor and, with Sharin, we strained to listen.
“…That can’t be true, you’ve met before, haven’t you, Sister?”
“Yes, but I didn’t know about it then.”
It seemed to be Shimon and Clarissa arguing.
“What do you mean, Hiroaki and the others are False Heroes? They saved me, and we were fighting a Basilisk. The two who came with me also saved us.”
“I know that. But they are now wanted criminals. And that girl from Bicorn. If she truly is Sen no Tsurugi, we need to hear her story.”
I see, so that’s how it is. And they know about Sen no Tsurugi too. I don’t know about the nickname “False Hero,” but leaving that aside, we need to get out of here.
“Wanted? What did they do? Is it information I don’t know again? It’s always like this. I, who couldn’t become a Sage, am left out of it all. It was useless to give birth to me, I can’t even be a spare.”
“Shimon, I’m not saying that. I’m worried about you… Just stay away from them.”
“It has nothing to do with me. Then I’ll do as I please. Even if you think they’re evil, Sister, to me, they’re saviors.”
This is bad. They’re coming back. Sharin and I, dragging Karubene, hurried into the room ahead of them.
“Where were you just now? Ah, I knew it.”
As soon as we entered, Cecilia confronted us with a terrifying expression. But that wasn’t the priority right now. I relayed what had just happened to everyone.
“Prepare to run.”
“But Arisugawa, what about this one? Are you going to hand Sen no Tsurugi over to the cult?”
That’s right, we came to meet the Sage because of Sen no Tsurugi. Then, it would be best to leave this child behind. Even if they are enemies, she’s just a child. They will protect her, surely.
Just then, as if perfectly timed, there was a knock at the door.
