“It’s been a while since we’ve had a drink together.”
“Right?”
Renny handed me her empty glass. I poured some liquor from the bottle into her half-tilted glass. Renny downed it in one go with a shaky hand.
Purple liquid dripped from the corners of her mouth down her chin.
As I watched, I popped a peanut into my mouth as a snack.
Hmm, nutty flavor.
While I chewed the peanut, Renny instantly emptied her glass and thrust it at me.
“Another drink!”
By the way, isn’t it a bit much to be on the ninth bottle without even touching the snacks?
I clicked my tongue at Renny who was starting to blush.
Drinking with Renny, the heavy drinker, was quite exhausting.
I’ve never seen a drinker like her slam down ten bottles in one go.
I wondered how she ever managed to drink at a bar.
It wouldn’t be surprising if she drank every drop at the bar, given her insane tolerance.
Even now, two more bottles disappeared into Renny’s stomach while I took a breather. It was an astonishing capacity. She was chugging down high-proof liquor like water, despite not being low in alcohol content.
Thank the Phoenix that Renny was loyal to Karina.
“Hey.”
“Did you call me?”
“Why aren’t you drunk?”
…Oh, the effects are starting to kick in. I distanced myself from Renny, whose eyes were glazing over, and answered.
“If I get drunk too, who will clean this up?”
“Maybe the maids will?”
…The maids would likely clutch their necks if they saw this mess of bottles everywhere. As I scanned the chaotic lounge, I met Renny’s peculiar gaze.
“Drinking this much isn’t good for your health. And tomorrow is your turn; can you handle it?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!”
“You’re too defenseless.”
I thought I could easily subdue her right now. Renny waved her hands dismissively.
“It’s fine, it’s because it’s you!”
“Renny. Do you even understand what you’re saying?”
For a comment like that, Karina would smack her on the back. If there was a recording device around, it would have been a lifetime source of teasing. Good thing Karina was asleep, otherwise right now…
“Why? Are you confused?”
Renny tilted her head cutely, which was quite strange but adorable. I gently pushed her away.
“Back off. You smell like alcohol.”
Just smelling it might get me drunk. But Renny seemed to have no intention of pulling away. She grabbed my hand, and pulled it toward her chest.
“Renny?”
“Are you confused? Even after this?”
The soft sensation on my palm.
“Get a grip. Let go of my wrist too.”
“Why? Just do as you please! We’re close, aren’t we?”
What kind of drunkenness makes you push your chest into someone’s hand? What exactly is our relationship?
I personally didn’t mind, but being in this misunderstood situation was a bit much. Should I forcibly sober her up?
I summoned the power of the Phoenix within me. The sensation of an appropriately sized chest in my hand was enough to awaken my sense of urgency.
“Johann…?”
“From today, you’re banned from drinking more than three bottles.”
“Not allowed!”
I started to infuse Renny’s body with the power of the Phoenix.
————-
“…Hey.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“It’s a secret from Karina, okay? If she finds out, I might actually get banned from drinking.”
Renny grabbed my hand with a desperate look. It was cute seeing her desperately trying to hide her antics from yesterday, fearing she might get banned from drinking. I made a joke.
“Then I guess I should go tell her more.”
“What? Hey, hey! Don’t do that! It’s the joy of my life!”
“Just kidding.”
“Don’t make jokes that could make someone’s heart drop.”
“Before you drop your heart, I wonder if you actually have one left.”
Good thing this is a fantasy world with plenty of ways to sober up. If it were an ordinary world, I might have drunk myself to death before even meeting me.
“I may look this way, but I drink in moderation, you know?”
“A person who drinks in moderation doesn’t throw a drunken tantrum!”
“Ah, I made a mistake yesterday!”
“A mistake?”
“Yeah, a mistake… huh?”
Renny’s head turned awkwardly like a broken doll. Following her gaze, I saw Karina cutely tilting her head.
“Oh, Renny. What kind of mistake did you make yesterday?”
“Um… um.”
“Johann, tell me what she did. I think I heard Renny screaming…”
“No, I just drank a little…”
“You said you threw a tantrum, right?”
“…I’m sorry!”
Renny immediately bowed her waist 90 degrees in apology.
Drinking itself isn’t a mistake, but drinking to the point of throwing a tantrum is something to refrain from. Hmm.
As I watched Renny’s apology unfold, Karina caught my eye.
“Johann, did you drink with Renny while I was sleeping?”
“I had a bit. Renny kept insisting we drink.”
“Next time Renny asks to drink, invite me too. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“That’s what she said.”
“Of course! To drink with Ms. Karina, it’s a touching moment!”
Renny shook her head like a frantic puppy, trying to redeem herself. She looked like she was grateful just to be allowed to drink with Karina. Karina sighed at Renny’s enthusiastic reaction and addressed me.
“Johann, do you really have to tell?”
“Of course.”
Seeing Renny drunk, I immediately thought that they shouldn’t be drinking together. Until now, I had been watching like a hawk, but she got reckless this time.
But what made her want to drink in the first place?
“Renny, didn’t you say you had something to talk about?”
“Something to talk about? Oh, uh…”
“Is it something you can’t say to me?”
“No, it’s not that… I just didn’t want you to worry. It’s not a big deal, but I got a letter from my hometown. It’s a bit strange.”
“A letter?”
“I’ll go grab it.”
Renny immediately spun around and dashed to her room.
She returned shortly, holding out a crumpled letter for us to see.
[Come visit your hometown. It’s paradise here. If you come, everyone can be happy -]
“Yeah, well, it’s concerning. I’ve received letters from home occasionally, but they were just asking how I was doing. But this one is different.”
“It’s suspicious.”
“It really is.”
It was clearly trying to lure her in somehow.
This could very well be a flimsy excuse for a drinking session between us. Or was it the other way around?
Anyway, Renny wore a serious face, expressing her concern.
“I think something might have happened in my hometown. Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about it anymore, but it still worries me. But it feels like a trap, so I’m hesitant to go…”
“Don’t go. There’s no need to shoulder unnecessary danger.”
There’s no reason to heed a dubious letter. It’s already a headache dealing with outsiders, and I can’t afford to lose Renny’s support. And who knows…
Who knows?
“Renny, could you give me that letter?”
“Huh? Uh… I don’t mind. What do you want to do with it?”
“I want to investigate the letter. I’d like to know if something serious is happening in your hometown or if it can be easily brushed off.”
“If you do that, I’d be grateful… but wouldn’t it just make things more complicated? It might just be a weird letter from someone who’s drunk.”
“Like you?”
“Yeah, well… hey Ms. Karina! I don’t get drunk!”
She seemed a bit affected by my comment, as Karina squinted at Renny, who quickly looked elsewhere.
“R~enny. Did you just say that with your mouth?”
“No, um, that… I’m sorry!”
“Johann, please don’t buy her any alcohol for a month.”
“Understood.”
Considering what happened yesterday, I should probably avoid giving Renny any more alcohol. She might face withdrawal symptoms or something, but separating this heavy drinker from alcohol seemed like the right decision.
To think she would drown in liquor just because she had some worries.
“My source of vitality…”
“Don’t look for vitality in alcohol; find something else.”
“Do you think it’s easy to find something like that? What do you think I do on my day off? The only thing I can do is drink and swing a sword… it just piles up…”
What’s piling up?
Is it alcohol?
I stared at Renny’s belly, which didn’t fit the profile of a heavy drinker. Who would look at that smooth belly and think of her as a drunkard?
“Why don’t you try dating instead?”
“Do you think finding a boyfriend is easy? With work, I can hardly meet anyone except you.”
“We have subordinates.”
Those Theology Department graduates. They’re likely getting chewed out in the office right now…
“Are you crazy?”
“Johann, I don’t think that’s right.”
“Sorry, that was out of line.”
“Honestly, I’d rather date you than anyone else.”
“…”
“Renny? Is this a surprise confession?”
“Ah, no! That’s not it… I’m sorry!”
Why are you running away?
Karina and I watched Renny’s retreating figure in the distance, both muttering under our breaths.
“Looks like there will be one more.”
“Indeed, there will be one more.”
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