Let’s wrap up the story. After a while, Kainel and Ariel returned with food, their hands full of goodies.
Grilled wyvern forelegs and salamander skewers. Definitely sounds like fantasy food. The glistening dishes looked quite appetizing, but…
“…Huh? Mardol?”
“Looks like it. Shh.”
I brought a finger to my helmet, signaling for silence.
The waiting line was long, and quite a bit of time had passed, so my glass knight had leaned against my shoulder and fallen asleep.
His gentle snores were steady and calm.
Thank goodness. He looked really worn out, and I was worried. Maybe the alcohol was getting to me, as my head began to feel slightly dizzy.
“Ariel.”
“What is it, Helmet?”
“Please take good care of Mardol. I think I need some fresh air.”
My shoulders were starting to ache, and with my teammate fast asleep, that felt like enough. So I tried to step away.
“Uuuh… Licht…”
Mardol grabbed my ankle as if to say, “don’t go.” Yeah, he was always like this.
“…Licht.”
“What is it, Kainel?”
“Are you dating Mardol?”
The clueless golden retriever looked at us with a weird glare and asked. But here’s where I could counterattack.
“We’re just friends. So, are you two dating?”
“…”
Immediate counter-question back to the hero couple! How about that, you can’t answer either, right? I mean, if they’re just close friends, this could happen.
“So, please don’t misunderstand. I have someone I truly like…”
“…Licht?”
“Oh, you’re awake.”
Whenever I tried to plant a flag, he’d always do this. Just when I didn’t know when he woke up, I started hearing a buzzing voice from my shoulder.
Well, it’s alright today. She’s worried about the fire so much, so I’ll let this slide.
“I really am going to get some fresh air. My head is spinning.”
“You’re such a flirt, Licht…”
“No, I’m not.”
“Hohoh. Be careful out there, Licht.”
She handed me a candy as a farewell. Maybe having a drinking party was the right approach. If it weren’t for my suggestion, Mardol might not have enjoyed the festival.
‘Looks like they’re having a lot of fun.’
Before I knew it, she was chatting animatedly with Ariel, enjoying something. I heard my name tossed around here and there, but let’s ignore that.
It’s not strange for teammates to check each other’s status. It’s common for close comrades’ names to pop up in conversation after a battle when taking a break.
‘Sweet.’
I felt the texture of the candy in my mouth. The one Mardol gave me, chewing on it.
It was clearing my mind! I turned around and headed away from my party towards the main street. During that time…
“Hey, boy.”
“…What is it?”
“Can I ask you for directions?”
An elderly-looking gentleman approached me.
*
The place he was looking for was a cocktail bar.
“Thank you, young man.”
“…It’s nothing. I just did my job.”
His antique-looking outfit indicated he was no ordinary old man. Just as I successfully guided him, I was about to leave the place when…
“Care for a drink? Young man.”
“…I’ll decline.”
The old man made a suggestion, handing me a small glass.
“Don’t be like that, I’m Malta.”
“I’ve got company. They’ll start worrying if I’m gone too long.”
Something felt suspicious, so I refused. Going to an unfamiliar place and drinking something from a stranger is just crazy.
“…You’re looking for someone, aren’t you? I can help find them. I’m an astrologer.”
What? In that moment, I hurriedly sat down. I was hesitant, but he might have valuable information about our saintess. Events could unfold in such a way. I really had no reason to refuse.
“Haha, so you’re sitting down. But before that, let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Do you believe there are weights to lives?”
Malta threw a philosophical question at me. The clear drink in his glass trembled as if vibrating. Why does this feel so familiar?
‘Something seems to ring a bell…’
I racked my brain, but the sensation felt odd—as though I were fumbling around a dark room trying to find a light switch.
“Common question, isn’t it? To save five lives, you need to sacrifice one. If given a choice, what would you do?”
“…”
Is this the trolley dilemma? I’m reminded of a story about a train careening down two tracks, with a broken brake, and having to pull a lever to change its course.
“I believe there’s no weight to lives, young man. Isn’t it common sense that five lives are more precious than one?”
“So you’d kill one?”
“If that’s the only way, then indeed.”
Malta smiled benevolently, but something behind that poker face felt off. The moment I thought of sacrificing the driver…
“…That’s a fallacy. Isn’t that inherently contradictory?”
“Oh? Why do you think that?”
Suddenly, I grew furious. He was clearly twisted. Even in such a serious conversation, Malta remained unfazed.
“The very nature of your words judges the weight of life, Malta.”
“…Hmmm. That’s interesting. So what’s the right way?”
I sighed as I placed my hand on my helmet’s brow. Of course, a person’s life can’t be weighed on a scale! What is this, ancient Egypt?
“Whether it’s five or just one, we must save them all. That’s the right way.”
“Sounds like something a hero would say.”
“That’s just common sense.”
“I’m satisfied, young man. Maybe we’ll get along well.”
A smirk crossed his lips. In an instant, I got a bad feeling, and I instinctively stood up.
“There’s no way that’s true.”
“…Young man?”
While the info about our saintess was important, this was too much. The lingering sweetness of sugar on my tongue helped me regain focus.
‘Danger. This cocktail bar itself is a trap.’
What’s worse, my mind seems to be getting fuzzy. Even though it’s my first time here, I felt strangely at ease.
This cocktail bar was devoid of any drinks or customers. Where did this glass even come from? I could feel anxiety creeping over me.
“Aren’t you going to drink? You’ll need to if you want the information you’re looking for.”
There wasn’t even a bartender around. My instincts screamed to escape now. I felt my senses sharpening like a drawn blade.
“No, thank you.”
I stared at the trembling clear liquid in the glass. Drinking that could only end in doom. It must be poison. I should have realized that merchants tend to con people at festivals.
I felt like an ant standing one step away from a pitfall. Cold sweat ran down my back.
“Well then, since you’ve entertained this old man, I’ll tell you one thing as promised.”
As I stepped towards the stairs, he spoke up. I just had to turn the doorknob to step outside.
“If things keep going as they are, you’ll never meet the person you’re looking for.”
“…”
“What do you think? If you come back and drink, I’ll tell you how.”
His bothersome words made me glance back at him, and there he was, grinning. If it was about our Nameless Saintess, I knew I’d meet her someday.
“Go screw yourself.”
“…What a fiery young man.”
Seeing his face, I spat out some profanities. A prick of anxiety bloomed in my heart, but I walked straight ahead.
“May the blessing of Akasha be upon your path.”
I ignored his muttering from behind. I didn’t want help from a madman who sacrifices lives to find a loved one.
*
The old man was left alone in the cocktail bar.
“…What did I do to the helmet? Tardun.”
The head muttered softly, readjusting the mask he wore. He smiled relief upon realizing his powers didn’t work here.
“To have a hero capable of grasping the powers of two, I’ll need to recalculate once I return to the Demon King’s Castle.”
He stretched his neck, showing signs of fatigue as he glanced at the clear liquid in the glass.
“Originally, I was to drink the ‘Lumen’s Slumber’ and fall asleep. My omniscience has been distorted.”
He clicked his tongue at the thought of dwarves creating masterpieces while enjoying drinks to rest.
“…I covered this place in ignorance, yet here I am, escaping.”
With a snap of his fingers, people began to appear. Only the spot where Su-hyun had sat was empty, while the rest filled up.
“Still, they won’t remember today’s meeting, boy.”
In the sea of faces, he continued to mumble to himself, seemingly unnoticed.
“Destiny has already started moving in accordance.”
More precisely, it appeared that no one was aware of his presence here.
“Ah, bartender. A martini, please. Get rid of the Lumen’s Slumber.”
“Order received, sir.”
The head placed the order with the bartender passing by. Earlier, he had tried to offer a drink to the helmet-wearing academy student across the table, but failed.
“It was a good drink, such a shame.”
He pulled out a book from his pocket and began jotting notes.
“Currently, Dennis can’t master 3D Magic Circles. Even if he were to raid the academy, there shouldn’t be an issue.”
He turned his gaze toward a blue-haired man in the distance. Their eyes met; the academy professor seemed to be living in a drunken stupor.
“…I wonder what Tardun is thinking. The one who was ordained and summoned by Akasha is us two, after all—Dennis.”
His eyes narrowed, reflecting a bright white aura, but he couldn’t recognize the head sitting afar.
“Then there’s Licht. No, Su-hyun.”
His lips curled further upward. He was confident this would be a person who could help with his prophecies.
“Heroes who seek to save all must undergo trials.”
His notes, labeled with “Apostle of Gluttony,” sprawled out, outlining a mind map where the word “impossible” appeared several times,
“I shall give you the worst trial you cannot overcome.”
The Demon King of All Knowledge was gathering all the information he had on the Black Knight.
