----------------------------------------

The damage that Griffonpeak had sustained during that entire day of fighting could only be described as unbalanced. What I meant by that is how it was spread. The upper city and merchant district were completely fine; in fact, if you only looked at those two areas, you wouldn’t even think the city was attacked. The nobles and wealthy merchants got off well enough.

On the other hand, we have the rest of the lower city. Even as I was making my way to the orphanage, I could see the area where Saori fought the necromancer and where I had my berserk moment against the demonkin assassin. The area around the front gate where we fought the geisenlarg was also terribly ruined. There was so much rubble.

Thankfully, it seems that the three weeks I spent asleep were pretty busy for the city from the looks of it. I could see quite a lot of construction work going on between the builders and mages, especially for the walls. Builders would transport large amounts of bricks up the walls through an elevator driven by equerochsen, where they would place them against the wall and apply a cement-like sludge to stick them together.

Meanwhile on the ground, the mages were busy creating more bricks and that sludge stuff. Earth mages would tear out small rocks from boulders using [Rock Blast] or some similar spell, which would then be pulverized by other earth mages. Laborers would place these ground rocks into two areas, where they would be turned into either bricks or that sludge.

In another area, water mages would start drenching this powder, making it easier for laborers to mould it into a brick form. In the other one, earth mages began grinding everything once again before handing it over to the wind and fire mages. The former would create a tornado for the powder to circulate in like a rotating kiln, while the fire mages began heating everything up.

After all of this was done, the brick would be sun dried while the cement-like substance was turned into a sludge for use. Once everything was on the wall, wind mages began cooling it down while earth mages fortified it.

All of this happened in a rotation. Those who were exhausted were replaced by the resting ones. There weren’t too many mages and they had limits to their mana, so this process wasn’t as fast as you would think. Well, it probably was fast for the people of Artorias, given their technology level.

Fire mages are participating, but they aren’t doing much.

I sadly didn’t have much knowledge on any of this. I never learned how cement or bricks were made as it just wasn’t interesting. However, even I could see that fire mages would be great for drying stuff. Why were only wind mages used? Is it ‘cause wind spells do a better or safer job with it? I had no idea.

Still, just looking at how the mages worked together with the builders and laborers to repair or build something was quite fascinating. I hadn’t had the chance to watch a full construction work up until now. Just watching the amount of work earth mages had to do during a single construction job made me aware why they were so popular, not to mention how useful earth magic was for farm work.

Earth was good for anything related to civilization, wind magic for scouting and transportation, and water mages were most likely very popular around ports or any body of water. So, what use does fire magic have for a city or town? I could imagine quite a lot of uses, especially with anything metal, so why weren’t fire mages more popular?

At the end of the day, maybe the prejudice against fire magic really is from the stigma around the church of Danterno. Well, too bad, Shiterno. Take better care of your followers.

So why was I able to give a detailed description of the construction site? Well, flying with rocket boosters was quite fast, especially when I was trying to get away from Melloxtressa. I had initially ignored the construction work around the city and quickly made it to the orphanage, where I then noticed the city wall behind it was being repaired. I had been staring at it from a random roof for quite a bit now.

I needed time to think. Find myself, you could say. Unlike how I could speak with my parallel minds, I couldn’t just speak to my other half. For some reason, I could imagine her feeling vindictive at what just happened. A new mother? Perfect time to forget about my previous one, right? Yeeeeah, no.

I realized that I overreacted a bit. It wasn’t even Melloxtressa’s fault. She wasn’t really forcing the whole mother-daughter thing too much. I guess it was just bad timing? I did just wake up from that dream with my other half, so meeting Melloxtressa just after that made me a bit prickly.

Even my parallel minds told me that my memories of my Earth mother and dragon mother aren't being merged together. It was just a side-effect of the stressful and surprising situation. I could perfectly think of Mama’s shadowy silhouette and Melloxtressa’s face without any problems now. I probably should return and say sorry but… it’s awkward.

Besides, I had to find the kids first. Make sure they and the caretakers were okay.

I jumped off the roof and made my way to the orphanage's construction site. Well, it’s more like the whole neighborhood required repairs. Eshe’s fight with the demonkin followed by my own really did a number on this whole area. Aside from the construction workers, nobody else was here.

As I approached the construction site, a laborer quickly noticed me and ran up to stop me.

“Hey, hey, lass, this really isn’t— Oh shit, a blue blood priest?!” The moment he tried to stop me, he quickly noticed my draconic features and white robe. “O-Oh, damn! Please, forgive me, Champion Hestia! Please, have mercy on me! I didn’t mean to offend you!”

Hold on, ‘Champion?’

“Please, calm down. You know me?” I stopped moving to ask him.

“Y-Yes, of course, your Highness! A friend told me about your music performance and I attended it with my wife and kids!” He then pointed at one of his co-workers, prompting them to stop eating and give him a “don’t drag me into this” expression.

So, is this person maybe a fan? That’s kinda cool to meet one here.

“I see! Well, I hope my concert was to your liking.” He nodded, exclaiming how much he liked the pastries and food with the whole festive atmosphere.

… Not really what I was aiming for but I’ll take it.

“Well, alright, that’s good to hear. Uhm, you just called me ‘Champion’… Uh, where did you hear that?” I was pretty sure that should still be a secret.

“Huh? W-Well, didn’t you announce that to the whole city, your Highness? That you were one of the Goddess’s blessed? I also heard from some adventurers how you announced yourself as royalty or something. A princess, right guys?”

Uurk!

Now that I thought about it, I did announce that to everybody fighting at the gates, right? Once I admitted my royalty status, there probably wasn't any way for anybody to stop the rumors. Well, except for that one way that Duke Greenveil suggested after the Cedaraille battle — permanent silencing.

“People of Griffonpeak! I, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor, party leader of the C rank adventurer party ‘Aurora’ stand with you!” I said. Muraina and King Drangleic even went out of their way to support me and publicly support my statement. You only needed one person versed in how dragon culture functioned and boom, you would know I was a member of the royal family. Muraina even called me a Champion.

I did all of that to motivate and bring hope to everybody. I was pretty impulsive when I said all of that, but it wasn’t as if I had another option. I had to be in my dragon form for that battle. I had to give people some kind of explanation so they wouldn't be afraid of me. If they thought of me as just another adventurer helping out, we could work together better.

Well, what’s done is done. My secret was out. In that case, it wouldn’t be good to hide it any longer.

“Also, I think the city criers announced how you were one of the city’s heroes with her Holiness, Saintess Eshe. So, uhm, thank you very much for saving us, Champion Hestia. May the Goddess bless you.” The worker and his four co-worker bowed deeply, showing their gratitude. I had to quickly stop them, as it made me feel flustered.

Still, “hero,” huh? I wasn’t sure if that word really fitted me. I wasn’t a hero, Eshe was. The ideal hero would be someone who could lay their life down to help others unconditionally. I, on the other hand, couldn’t always do it for random strangers… I think. I was reckless, sure, but I still thought of myself more as an entertainer.

Then again, words were cheap, actions spoke louder. The song I dedicated to Eshe was a bit cringey, now that I thought about it. It was so good, up until I mentioned “picking up her torch.” Argh, so embarrassing. Calling myself something like the “Heir of Hope,” despite not being that super inspiring like Eshe, is just too pretentious. If I could change the lyrics right now, I would, but the Idol system didn’t allow for that.

System, I would like to change [The Heir of Hope]’s lyrics.

The lyrics of a spell song may not be changed

Verdammt.

Ignoring what just happened, I asked the workers what happened with the orphanage kids and caretakers. They told me they were currently being accommodated in the cathedral, under Duke Olivus’s and High Bishop Theodore’s orders, where the two of them were in charge after the death of Cardinal Bennard.

“Yeah, what a day that was. Not only did Saintess Eshe have to leave us for the Goddess, but it’s been announced that the cardinal fell to his death on his way back to the Olivus duchy. Damn shame.”

“As if. If you ask me, that has to be the Goddess’s punishment. Suddenly leaving the city on the day the Saintess died? It’s not like the church sent anybody to help the adventurers at the gate, and they sided with the merchants and nobles who blocked us from being able to escape to safety in the merchant district. The Goddess had to be mad!” One of the other workers rambled.

“Oi, shush, you idiot. Champion Hestia, please forgive this idiot here! He’s not the brightest!”

Ah, I see. So the King hid the cardinal’s execution with a convenient lie, huh?

Saori mentioned before that the cardinal had left the city for the Olivus duchy on the day the geisenlarg attacked. Most likely, Hamil had warned him ahead of time. Fleeing didnt really help the Cardinal that much, however, as he was arrested in his family’s mansion after the attack and brought back to Griffonpeak where his trial and subsequent execution were held.

The nobility probably knew this open secret. To prevent having people lose faith in the cathedral, they probably spun this lie to keep the common people ignorant. Well, not like I really cared how they handled this. The cardinal and the nobles who supported him got what they deserved. None of this would have happened if it weren’t for those backstabbing, sabotaging bastards.

I said my goodbye to the workers and flew over to the cathedral, where I turned into my fully human form so as to not attract attention. I threw my white robe into my storage for a moment and hoped nobody associated crimson red hair with me.

[Humanize (Major)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

I sadly didn’t get too far. The whole cathedral area was filled to the brim with people using their lunch breaks to pray to a memorial in Eshe’s and her knights’ honor. Everything was wide open and the clergy were making sure to accommodate everybody around.

I could see High Bishop Theodore giving a sermon from afar and I saw the kids and the caretakers. They weren’t crying, thankfully, but they didn’t seem to be happy about things. Eshe’s mourning period has lasted for three weeks now, and it didn’t look like it would end anytime soon.

I decided to leave. I was just happy to see the orphanage doing alright. I didn’t want to push myself onto other people when they were mourning. I’ll meet up with them later when I was in a better mood.

For my next destination, I chose Shaturein. Specifically, Hamil’s hidden base. Tasianna already mentioned that Hamil escaped before she could capture him, and, since they haven’t mentioned him today, he probably hadn't been caught afterward. I wanted to see the place where this maniac lived and also check on the damage I did to the undercity in general.

[Humanize (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Since the entrance to Shaturein probably changed and asking around was too hard, I decided to take the easy path, if it was still open. I flew over to where I made that hole, noticing quite a few mages, knights, and other workers there.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

[Humanize (Major)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

“Excuse me, sir, are you currently working on repairing that large hole?” I asked a random worker, acting like a curious human girl.

“Huh? Lass, you shouldn’t be here. The mages can get quite cranky if you meet them. But, yeah, we are and it’s been going on for a while now with little progress,” he answered, so I asked him why the mages were irritated. “So, you see, have you heard the rumors that there is a whole undercity underneath the city?”

“Ehhhhhh?! Really?! You aren’t messing with me, right, sir?”

He believed in my acting. “Nah, overheard it from the mages and knights. I guess those red-light district guys probably knew the truth, too. No idea why the king and nobles hadn’t dealt with it, but whatever I guess. Anyways, that hole leads directly down.”

“Really?! Shouldn’t it be super deep? That’s a pretty scary thought if you fell there.”

“I checked it. Dark as the God of Darkness. We laborers are only allowed to get close to it with a mage’s or knight’s supervision. Don’t want a sudden death,” he explained. “In any case, the mages down in the undercity are constantly arguing with the mages on our side. There is normally this thick fairnite plate separating the two cities. Heard it protects us from all the unmonitored magic experiments down there. Goddess, help us.”

He then pointed at the giant hole for me and the knights guarding it. “We’re finished constructing the fairnite plate and are ready to attach it, but the mages have been arguing how to do it. Their way or our way, you see. Honestly, those mages are so stubborn, but I guess it comes with the profession, huh? I would be pretty up my own ass if I could create earth from nothing, ha!”

“Oooh,” I feigned curiosity. “So, so, that plate hasn’t been installed yet? If one of those knights were to fly into it, they could end up on the other side, right?”

“Guess so,” he shrugged, uninterested in considering my question. “Anyways, you should get out of here, lass. If you get hurt, your merchant family might get me in trouble. Okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Sorry for bothering you, sir.”

Hmm, my clothes are still too flashy. Well, they were made by Saori so being confused for a merchant’s daughter is the least they could do!

Satisfied with his answer, I walked away from him, only to turn around and sneak through the construction site. It might have been sunny but sneaking past was still easy when everybody was busy. Humans weren’t like Belzac’s beasts, after all.

[Various Spell Buffs] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

After identifying a good path, I cast [Haste] and [Swift Winds] on myself and dashed towards the hole from everybody’s blind spot. I was only a few feet away from the hole when one of the knights’ hippogryphs noticed me and warned its rider.

“Hey, girl, stop!” He tried to stop me but it was too late. I had already jumped into the hole.

“I’ll be alright, don’t worry~” I waved at him before conjuring up a green magic circle for everybody to see, casting [Tailwind] to speed up my descent while preventing them from catching me.

This was also a good time for me to check out if I could still use [Pyrokinesis] well after it merged into [Volcanic Blaze]. It should, but I better test the skill out.

“Fire, light for me the path forward!”

Dramatizing a simple fire snap with my fingers was pretty cringe, but I’m a dragon princess, so your argument has no merit. Joking aside, the fire I held in my palm was lighting up this tunnel, but I didn’t feel much had changed with my ability to control it.

Still, it might require more testing to figure out its actual use. [Volcanic Blaze] could be an empty vessel magic, or maybe it had something to do with geothermal energy? It could be anything. I just needed to find it out later on.

“Oh shit!”

“Yo dazo! Sayonara!”

As I was falling, a few mages noticed me and cried out in a panic. I greeted them in my calmest voice possible and said goodbye. Hmm, now that I thought about it, maybe it sounded like I was attempting suicide? Probably. So I decided to play some music to announce that I was safe.

[Music Resonation (Minor)] [Humanize (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Sunfang Dragon, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor]

Once I saw the light behind this tunnel, I materialized my wings again and sped myself up until I was outside of it. I then looked around, immediately finding the area where I fought Eithalr. I went all out to defeat him, so it couldn’t be helped that I turned it into a desolated black spot on any current map. It seemed they cooled down the lava and just left it there. No signs of repairs, in contrast to the rest of the city.

With my “landmark,” I quickly located Hamil’s secret residence using Muraina’s map. Once I landed, I wanted to enter the mansion, only to notice a lycerepthor coming out of it.

“Huh? Official empire business. Please, leave.” It wasn’t any of the lycerepthors I recognized, then again, outside of Pestrodus and his vice, I didn’t know any of them. Oh, wait, that demonkin was one, too, right?

I took out my white robe and put it back on, before declaring my identity and intentions, “I am Princess Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor of the Dragon Empire. If you are here for empire business, so am I. Can you move out of the way, please?”

If a group of commoners already knew me, I wouldn't be surprised if Pestrodus and his group knew about me. If the news about me being a champion circulated, he would have definitely heard who I am somewhere. His subordinate should have heard about me.

“P-Princess?! Oh sh— Ahem, I-I am sorry but our agents are still investigating the area. My orders tell me I cannot let you in, Champion Hestia!” He was adamant about it.

“Alright,” I replied. “Then call Pestrodus or whoever his second-in-command is. I don’t want to wait for too long.”

If he’s here, then I can ask him about a few things. Spares me the need to find him.

The young lycerepthor nodded and entered the mansion. Once he returned with an older-looking agent, I was led into the mansion and down to the basement, where I met up with Pestrodus.

“Ah, Lady Hestia. Or, should I address you as Champion or Princess?” Pestrodus gestured to me to sit down after telling his subordinates to leave us alone. “Don’t worry, the seats were cleaned. I did it myself after isolating myself inside here for the past week.”

I took on his offer and sat down. “Lady or just Hestia is okay, whatever you like.”

He nodded. “I see… Well, you did mention that wasn’t your full name, but I didn’t expect to learn it after Saintess Eshe’s death… Lady Hestia, since you are one of Her blessed, could you tell me what Her plan in all of this is supposed to be?”

I had heard that the demonkin of envy was posing as Pestrodus’s cousin, so I guess he was asking why all of this was happening. Eshe’s death had affected me also, so I kinda sympathized with him on this matter.

Now, the question was: Should I answer him like any other blessed would or should I speak with the knowledge of somebody who can directly speak with Aurena?

“… Even if you ask me that, I can’t exactly give you a direct answer. Sorry, even after everything, I can’t begin trusting you, Pestrodus.” I decided to hide my knowledge. He was still an agent of the empire.

He sighed but nodded in understanding. “… Being from different countries, it is only natural for you to distrust me. I would too, if I was in your shoes. I did not expect my cousin to be one of the conspirators for all of this. Those demonkin are truly evil.”

“Has anybody told you that Eshe was killed by him? I was too late when I arrived to save her, I apologize.”

“No, no, don’t apologize, my lady. I trusted him too much myself. If somebody were to condemn you, then they should judge me also. I too am guilty of the Saintess’s death. Without a question, this will be a problem for the Folschreck Empire,” Pestrodus sighed deeply. “… I heard a giant dragon had appeared and stopped the geisenlarg king by freezing it solid. An acquaintance?”

“You could say so, yes.”

So, Melloxtressa froze it, huh? Well, guess I wasn’t the one who killed it after all.

“Lady Hestia, I will be departing from Griffonpeak in two days. Maybe it was the Goddess’s wish for you to wake up in time to speak with me."

“You knew I was unconscious?” I lifted a brow.

“I wanted to question you, since you were there when Saintess Eshe died. My insistence earned me a slap from your wolfkin friend. I never expected to be slapped by a beastman… but I guess I was in the wrong here. I later learned enough from them to satisfy my curiosity.”

Saori… I was also rude to her. Saying Tamae-chan knew me better than somebody who has been with me for so damn long. I guess that bitchy side of me came over after I reincarnated. I should apologize to her, too.

“If you’re leaving, what will you do about Eshe’s, Sir Alikar’s, and Dame Anivh’s bodies?” That was the question I came here to ask.

“Their bodies have been preserved, there is no need to worry. We would normally bring their remains back to their relatives… but, in truth, since Saintess Eshe was sold to the church when she was still a child, she technically belongs to the church. I am obligated by law to bring her body to the temple of Sarkarfiina.”

I clutched my hands into a fist. Considering how much Eshe hated the temple she was in, I couldn’t allow him to take them away.

“I would like to request you to not do that, Pestrodus,” I demanded.

“…I had assumed you would object, but even for a princess, I am not allowed to do that, Lady Hestia. I am not a citizen of Kargryx, nor do I believe you would wish to anger the Folschreck Empire in your current situation, Lady Hestia,” he replied, glaring at me sternly, but I did not falter. I knew how to play this.

“Don’t threaten me, Pestrodus. Regardless of the consequences, the chances of you leaving Artorias with Eshe and her knights is zero. I can assure you of that. I made sure to check if there were any traps around, and I understand you let your subordinate go because you acknowledge my strength.”

I used [Mana Eyes] before I entered the basement. I was going alone into this palace, so I had to make sure none of the agents were planning anything. I really came out of nowhere. If they wanted to do anything, they did not have the time to prepare.

“… Lady Hestia, I would like to remind you that even if you are not affiliated with Artorias, the kingdom still must answer for your actions since they hosted you. Even if you left with the Saintess’s body right now, Artorias will be held as a traitor to the church, and as a consequence, to the Folschreck Empire. Do you understand?”

“…”

With how much Artorias has done for me, am I really willing to act selfishly and bring them into a war? Sure, I could fight and maybe ask Melloxtressa to help out, but we were talking about war here. For protecting Eshe’s and her knight’s bodies, I would condemn the life of thousands of people.

How many of those soldiers sent to Artorias were actually willing to fight? How many were conscripted? Am I actually willing to be responsible for even more death and carnage?

Pestrodus tapped by shaking hands, knowing exactly what I was thinking right now. I wasn’t strong enough to bear all these responsibilities.

“I do not believe Saintess Eshe would want you to do this, Lady Hestia. At least, that’s what I learned from my limited interactions with her. I know Lady Eshe’s history. As a Lycerepth judge, that is just part of my duty. Her body cannot be desecrated; in fact, the temple will worship her remains as a sacred treasure,” Pestrodus assured me. “Through my report, they will have no choice but to do so. Saintess Eshe had made a lot of friends with the common folk. Sarkarfiina is socially unstable right now, with tensions high between the nobility and commoners.”

In other words, they have no choice but to treat Eshe’s body with respect. If that was the case, then this probably would be the best course of action. I didn’t know how the children would react, but Artorias wasn’t Eshe’s home. She still loved Sarkarfiina, even with its misgivings. Those who loved Eshe in her home city deserved to mourn, too.

I was finally persuaded and nodded to his decision. “What will you write in your report about me?” I asked after accepting how reality worked.

“… Lady Hestia, you must understand that I am a man of faith. To lie to the Lycerepth and Church would be to lie to Her. This I believe with all my heart. I will have to report everything truthfully, and only the truth. Even if it would damn me.”

Having your cousin exposed as a demonkin who killed a blessed of Aurena would be pretty damning, indeed.

“In addition, it would probably create a terrible reputation for yourself within the Church and Empire, my lady. Champions are meant to protect saints. Seeing as you failed, the church of Aurena might deem you as incompetent and lacking. They would never publicly admit this, as you still are a blessed, but they will do so internally.”

“Pah!” I sneered at what he said. “I was personally blessed by Goddess Aurena, but this is how they treat me? I even have the title to prove it. I consider myself an idol of the Goddess, but I am still officially a champion in her eyes. And yet still, they would do that before even asking my side of the story. Do they trust your report that much, Pestrodus?”

However, he shook his head. “It isn’t that they trust me specifically, they trust the Lycrepth. Besides, there are also other reasons for them to do so.”

“Pray, tell.”

“First, you did not announce your true classification until very late. While I admit, you may become the first new blessed class — the first idol — but this won’t interest the Church. You are still young, they will deem you a rebel similar to Saintess Eshe.”

Good. Sounds just like me. Like how I usurped the blessings of three gods.

“Second, it is clear to me that you have no allegiance to the Church. From your blessing, all I can presume is that you are loyal to the Goddess. If the Goddess hasn’t taken your blessing away yet, you must still be worthy in Her eyes. If the world was only filled with Her light, men like me wouldn’t exist, right? Shadows beckon, even behind holy walls.”

So, Pestrodus is at least aware of the corruption within the church? I don’t think he knows about the demonkins, or even amuses himself with such an idea, but he knows at least certain nobles are corrupt.

“The Lycerepth was made to protect the Empire and the faith, even against those wearing pristine robes and glittering armor. And, to assure I remain true to my order’s motto, I must remain earnest. Please, forgive me if the Church begins to antagonize you, Lady Hestia. From our talk today, I learned that you are not among the corrupted.”

I nodded in gratitude. “You don’t need to. If the holy capital Aureolis does not acknowledge me as a competent blessed, then it is their own fault. I will sing and dance to make people smile, but I will not allow anybody to trample on me like this.”

Pestrodus smiled weakly. I wasn’t sure if he approved of this or not, but at least I learned this person can give out a genuine smile.

Before I left, I also asked him if he learned anything about Hamil but he assured me everything he found was handed over to King Drangleic. The whole trial against Cardinal Bennard was supported by his efforts also. While the common folk will only know Bennard died from an accident, the church most likely will kill him off from their history for what he had done.

A fitting end to an ambitious nobleman who was even willing to dance with the devil to get what he wanted.

“Farewell, Lady Hestia. I am not sure if we will meet ever again. It will depend on my punishment, but I do not believe it will be light. A man like me has enemies within and outside the order.” He wanted to bow but I stretched my hand out, gesturing for a handshake.

He accepted it.

“May the Goddess bless you, Pestrodus. Let the light banish the shadows in your path. If we will meet up again, may it be as allies.”

With my goodbye, I left the mansion and made my way back up. Finding the exit truly was easier than finding the entrance to Shaturein. I just had to ask somebody and I flew over there in no time. Once I saw the sun again, I let out deep sigh.

This sucks. Everything sucks, man. Life sucks. I want to go back to sleep.

“I had thought this would lighten my mood, but this fucking sucks, duuuuuuuude.” I complained to the skies, ignoring everybody around me.

… Why not. That’s what adults do, right?

I flapped my wings and made my way to the middle district, to the area around the hunter’s guild. I looked around, deciding not to enter the guild nor its inn next to it. Once I located a tavern, I landed and entered it.

I looked into my storage once inside, realizing I only had 185 Davi inside. Saori and Ellaine were our party’s treasurers. Sure, I usually carried most of our funds with me if I was going around shopping, but if I wasn’t it would be in Saori’s storage. Her mana has reached an amount where her carrying our money was viable for her. As such, I had no money on me except for the amount Saori gave me all those weeks ago.

This was the money Saori presented to me as a Christmas gift after she worked her ass off in Carine village. It wasn’t a lot, but it had a lot of sentimentality attached to it.

Can’t believe I’m using it to buy ale, but… I guess it’s my pocket money. None of this needed to be announced to Ellaine. 185 should be enough to buy a few pints to get drunk and forget the shit today.

As I sighed once again, I began to look for an empty table. I never understood why adults drank alcohol. I even hated the taste, but I guess I could try drinking my sorrows away for now. Not like I would get addicted to the horrid taste.

“Come on, Tatsuya, it’s still noon! Sensei will be livid if she learns we drank for lunch!”

“Oh, shut up, Kyouya. We’re adults! Segawa-sensei may still be our sensei, but she can’t exactly scold us when we’re legally able to drink now.”

Hmm? Tatsuya? Kyouya? Aren’t those Japanese names?

I walked towards those voices, becoming curious at what they said. I could see two young adventurer-looking men ordering food and drinks from a waitress, arguing about if they should be drinking or not. As they turned their heads around and began gesturing whenever they spoke, I noticed how their complexion looked pretty Asians. A literal rarity within Peolynca.

The only Asian people I knew were Saori, Tamae and her party, and me—

— and now I knew two more.

“Hey, there,” I said once I was standing next to their table.

“O-Oh, hey!” The taller dude with dirt blond hair addressed me nervously. He looked as if he had dyed his hair.

When I turned my eyes to the shorter guy with the spear, all I saw was a frowning face.

“Do I know you?” he asked.