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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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“Late.”
It was quite some time later when I slipped out of Ankerfall’s workshop.
-Come take a look!
-Hey mister, what you’re looking for is this way!
Colorful customer solicitation.
As expected of the Imperial Capital, the nights showed no mercy.
Before I knew it, this street too was decorated with red flags and red lights.
There were many bars targeting dwarves near the workshop, and where there was alcohol, pleasure districts were inevitable.
Like the dark inner thoughts of humans,
only after meeting this late night did the pleasure district reveal its true colors.
Well, while returning late was normal, what really concerned me was Yeriel.
Even when I was at Black Tower,
she always waited for me on the first floor, taking short naps until I came.
‘It makes me feel too sorry…’
As a supervisor, she could have given me demerits at least once,
-Lev, you shouldn’t do this next time!
-It could be dangerous because there are people who come for surprise inspections!
After what was essentially just cute scolding,
-Today too, since you said you were training, I’ll let it slide!
-…And… aren’t you hungry?
She always vaguely let things pass like this.
Actually, if following the Academy’s FM regulations, I would have exceeded 50 demerits long ago.
In other words, thanks to Yeriel turning a blind eye, additional growth was possible and I could avoid expulsion.
“But… today couldn’t be helped.”
After finishing the antiques roadshow for the ring,
I couldn’t avoid having a drink… with Ankerfall.
He seemed to be in a good mood and kept bringing out drinks to offer me, and
-Ding.
“Look at this ethereal form…”
Ash Dispersion had its bowstring replaced with the Black Dragon’s tendon, which had a higher rarity than the Water Dragon’s tendon, after Master Craftsman Ankerfall’s touch.
It seemed to like the bowstring too, as additional effects appeared.
‘Indeed, attribute attacks are a perfect match.’
So, my drinking was all for spec improvement, that’s what I mean.
‘The taste of alcohol in this world wasn’t bad either.’
Of course, given my status as a student, drinking might be somewhat problematic…
I was in my late 20s in my previous world, a mind-body training uncle, and…
Lev Denec wasn’t a minor in this world setting either.
Therefore, this level of small deviation should be fine.
‘Sweet…’
It had been a really long time since I had a drink,
and Ash Dispersion’s grade had also risen from S+ to SS grade.
Two SS-grade items that could only be farmed in the late game.
Gradually, the equipment was taking shape.
What remained were the damn hard to raise stats and proficiency work?
Fortunately, there was still time left until [Gate of the Netherworld], so I had thought about what to do in between.
‘Trial 3 and Circle Magic, perhaps?’
If I raised my stats a bit more, Trial 3 would be worth trying,
and I had prepared a gift to thank Sinatis, the wind beast I owed from the day Tobiel appeared.
Also, for smooth use of the Shackles of Inscription, since mana consumption would increase going forward, it would be good to properly learn magic from Yeriel.
‘In the end, my thoughts come back to Yeriel.’
As I thought of her like that,
“Huh?”
Yeriel really appeared in the distance.
Unlike usual, her pure white hair wasn’t tied up but loose.
Wearing just thin clothes with a cardigan wasn’t her usual outdoor wear either.
She was looking around anxiously as if searching for someone.
-Tap.
I immediately approached her and grabbed her wrist.
-Thump!
“…! Lev…!”
While the Imperial Capital had good security during the day, that story changed when alcohol was involved.
Especially, as depicted in the original game, the underground pleasure district was somewhat dangerous for women.
“So you were here….”
She showed a momentarily relieved expression upon seeing me,
then with a tense expression again, she paced around me.
“…?”
In my current state, the smell of alcohol must be quite strong…
“Lev……”
Was the smell too strong?
Yeriel’s expression began to freeze rapidly.
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‘No way, Lev wouldn’t…?’
A tingling and unfamiliar scent.
For Yeriel, who normally didn’t touch alcohol, she couldn’t help but be sensitive to the smell… coming from him.
Yeriel’s heart sank with a thump.
Late hour wandering in the red-light district, a man alone, strong smell of alcohol….
Wasn’t the conclusion drawn from this combination simple?
‘Ughh….’
It was awkward.
Was it okay to get angry at him without thinking? When they weren’t even dating…
Yeriel began to seriously contemplate how to react.
Of course, even now if he said,
‘I just went to a restaurant that had a strong smell of alcohol!’
Yeriel would believe him right away.
Or if he would just tell her honestly…!
That alone would be enough.
She would try her best to understand.
Of course, since he had acted inappropriately for a student’s status, as an elder she would need to give stern advice.
‘Yes…!’
Yeriel decided to follow her convictions.
Public was public, private was private, so what needed to be said should be said.
-Swoosh.
Yeriel gently took Lev’s hand, then looking at his chest spoke.
“Lev, we are students of Claris Academy, the most prestigious in the Empire…?”
“…?”
“Of course, I understand well about… test stress, or the pressure that builds up during studies… And accordingly, the ways of relieving it… would be different for each student…”
“Ye…riel?”
“Yes. While that should certainly be respected… but regarding relationships between men and women…”
Somehow the more she spoke, tears welled up in Yeriel’s eyes.
“Still…”
Why was it?
Around when she was trying to forcibly suppress this emotion,
Lev’s mouth, which she had been desperately waiting for, opened.
“Yeriel, wait.”
“Huh…?”
“Hold tight.”
These three firm words reassured Yeriel.
It seemed like there had been several times like this in the past.
“Ah!”
Instead, Lev took Yeriel’s hand and led her.
“Lev…?”
.
.
.
-Buzz buzz.
-Tap tap!
After going around and around the noisy alley’s bars…
Lev and Yeriel finally stopped in front of a darkened blacksmith’s workshop, closed for the night. He sighed and brushed his bangs back.
“It might be hard to believe, but I came here to get my bowstring replaced.”
He then showed her his black crossbow, his primary weapon.
“Oh…?”
It certainly seemed true, judging by the fresh oiling.
“And I had a few items appraised. Wait, want to sit down for a bit?”
Lev crouched down and opened a small backpack, and Yeriel joined him.
Inside the backpack were various scrolls and potions bearing the Imperial City’s insignia.
Among them, she briefly glimpsed a white, shining ring.
It was a beautiful ring, the kind used in engagement ceremonies.
Come to think of it, Lev was also from a noble family, and there must have been talks of engagements with other families.
He wouldn’t have visited the red-light district.
“…I’m glad. I’m glad…”
As expected, he was the Lev that Yeriel believed in.
‘I’m an idiot…’ She was embarrassed.
Countless people had passed through Yeriel’s life, but why could she never think calmly when it came to him? She had confidently declared in front of Aria that Lev was a good person and she firmly believed in him!
“Ah, and about the alcohol… The craftsman was a dwarf, and you know how the atmosphere gets? This is my fault, though.”
Lev’s confession brought Yeriel back to her senses. There was still this matter.
“R-Right! Lev, that wasn’t right…! We came to the Imperial City to receive an award, so we also represent Clarice Academy…!”
“Right.”
Embarrassed by her near-misunderstanding, Yeriel rambled, “As you heard at the awards ceremony, we always have to be exemplary… so…”
“Yes.”
Crouching down like this made them feel closer.
“…”
“So… uh…”
“So?”
Lev’s expression seemed to ask why she wasn’t scolding him more. And when Yeriel noticed a subtle mischievousness in his expression,
“This kind of… behavior…”
her gaze was already falling to the ground.
Slide.
“!!”
Lev whispered in her ear, “Why? Were you afraid I went into that red-light district?”
“…!”
Yeriel couldn’t bring herself to deny it, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly.
His pleasant voice tickled her ear.
“Yeriel… you have a richer imagination than I thought.”
“…………”
Like the flickering red lights in the next alley, Yeriel’s face flushed hot.
She wouldn’t be defeated.
She grabbed Lev’s sleeve and spoke softly, “…Lev, you’re naughty….”
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Punishment?
Snu?