Chapter 287: Noisy…

I sat at the counter and took a sip of the drink Erika’s maid had poured into a glass.

A mellow mouthfeel, a faint barrel scent... whiskey?

Even so the color is clear and the alcohol is not that high. Far from the whiskey I know.

Has Erika started putting effort into drink too?

I will ask later how they make it. Maybe my knowledge will help.

I took another sip, let out a small breath of relief, and listened to Roy and Hilbyid talking with me between them for some reason.

"Were Filim Academy’s faculty not famous? Even though their classes are that good..."

"That is what I heard. I heard many agreed with Croana-sensei’s aim, or were invited."

"Agree and invite... no, that is so. Being able to put everything into guiding students is a teacher’s fortune, is it not?"

"That too... there are strict faculty and instructors, but not one person who plays favorites. That surprised me..."

"Roy, that is first. You are a hero’s son... haha. True, I have not seen faculty who favor one person."

Roy sitting on my right laughed with a troubled face. "That is so..." He drank the orange drink poured in a slightly deep, slender glass.

Hilbyid sitting on my left leaned a little over the counter at Roy’s reaction and laughed happily.

...Good that they look happy, but why am I between them.

I am enjoying listening so it is fine, but is it not hard to talk?

I smiled at those two with a troubled face, put the glass to my mouth, and took a sip. Then Roy and Hilbyid looking at me smiling showed in the corner of my vision.

I set the glass on the counter, found it strange, tilted my head, looked at the two of them by turns, and asked.

"What is it?"

"How did Raide become an instructor at Filim Academy?"

"I have been curious about that the whole time too."

"How... I was recommended by my unit captain and got to work. They said being an instructor suited me."

In the original story play how Raide became an instructor is not revealed so I do not know, but the analysis group thought he got to work at Filim Academy instead of a reward.

I thought that too... but by then the captain had already recommended me to Filim Academy, and in return I received a mountain as reward.

...Looking back now, the flow was already off from the start.

I only noticed now... I hid the event talk and explained to the two of them.

Then Roy and Hilbyid went blank, tilted their heads, and started asking me from left and right.

"Instructor, unit captain from the war?"

"Aah. That is right. I noticed I had been recommended and was surprised."

"That unit captain has amazing foresight, how to put it? It truly suited Raide, did it not?"

"No... that is so. I was surprised by the captain’s amazingness too, but she always said it was not like that."

"She?"

"She?"

The two of them looked startled and asked back in one voice. I tilted my head. "Did I not say?" and smiled wryly.

I told them the unit captain was a woman, and still in her early twenties. They opened their eyes and were even more surprised.

At that age she trained us subordinates and led us to the end of the war. Tremendous.

And even so she said she still lacked training and headed for a far mission post she requested.

Vice-Captain Taylor too. I want them to understand their own amazingness a little more.

I grumbled like that, put the glass to my mouth, and took a sip. The two of them who had been quiet suddenly started laughing.

...Nnn? Was there a place to laugh in that talk?

Roy looked at my puzzled face, shook his head, held his mouth with one hand, and laughed happily.

Hilbyid patted my left shoulder, pashi pashi, and laughed out loud.

"Hahaha! Not only Raide, the unit captain too? Ahahahaha!"

"Kuffu! Instructor cannot talk about others either, hahaha!"

"...???"

I did not get why they were laughing so hard and put on a puzzled face.

I cannot talk about others. I think I have parts more immature than the captain and Taylor.

Well. Being praised does not feel bad so I will not say anything tactless...

Even so are the two of them not drinking too much? That is the third glass, right?

About an hour after we started drinking, both of their faces were red enough to tell at a glance.

They were red but drinking while talking happily. Seeing they were not making a fuss I thought, as expected.

A main character and his rival. Getting along is natural, I suppose?

As for me half the topics were about myself so I smiled wryly, but I answered properly without dodging.

Of course I did not talk about what I must hide, but I answered honestly what I could.

Being praised makes me honestly glad, and being respected by students is something to be proud of... but there is embarrassment.

After all the older sisters and girl students on the first floor were laughing looking at us.

The glass emptied. I looked at the maid to get another drink, I do not know how many, when my shoulder was tapped. I turned only my face behind.

There were Erika with a troubled face and Hurlin smiling wryly. I tilted my head at the two of them’s expressions.

Erika put her mouth to my ear and murmured so the two of them would not hear, "There is urgent business." I tilted my head with a doubtful face.

I excused myself to Roy and Hilbyid, stood, moved a little away, heard the circumstances from Erika, and put on a troubled face like hers.

Hurlin also whispered to me, "They are almost here." I ended up smiling wryly.

Erika put one hand to her forehead and let out a small breath. I gently stroked Erika’s head with my right as if thanking her.

"Are you all right?"

"No problem. I only thought that being beside you is truly stimulating."

"...I do not know if I should be glad. It troubles me terribly. For now I will tell Roy and Hilbyid I am going home. Only, may I take Hilbyid? Sending him home drunk is a bit..."

"That is so. I think that is better too. I hear he does not have a guard beside him today."

Erika nodded in agreement with a troubled face. I smiled back, nodded, went up to Roy and Hilbyid, and told them I was going home.

Then I told Hilbyid it was dangerous so stay at Nifa Inn today. He smiled wryly but nodded and accepted.

Only, Roy and Hilbyid looking at each other and laughing bothered me... I am not doing Handful things, all right?

Roy said he would see us out. I gently declined, "It is fine," and asked Lucy and the others nearby to look after Roy.

I led Erika, Hilbyid, and Hurlin a little apart out of Fearea dorm.

Then two people in well-dressed adventurer looks were waiting. I pressed my forehead with one hand, let out a small tired breath, and spoke.

"What are you doing..."

"I will say it first. Right now I am off duty. Call me Galt."

"Nuhaha! Then I will say it too. I am off duty as well. Call me Adom."

What are these people doing... I want them to understand their positions a little more.

When I sent that appeal with my eyes Galt-dono grimaced, huffed, "Off duty," and Adom-dono laughed happily. "Seems so."

I let out a tired breath again and thought where to go.

I had word from Hurlin that the two of them meant to go drink at Rude Tavern.

But today is the regular day off and nothing is prepared, and I do not know a place I can take the two of them that will not become a fuss.

One way or another their faces are known to the people. The reason is they sometimes sneak out and drink like this.

...King Adom in particular goes on dates with his wives.

While I worried Erika told me from behind in a small voice, "Nimi-san has prepared it."

Hearing that I smiled with a troubled face, turned only my face to Erika, and said "Sorry." She smiled back and shook her head.

"Look, Galt. Is that not an exchange just like a married couple?"

"...I have started to miss Karimarl. Haa. Guide us already."

"Guide... you came to Rude Tavern alone before..."

"Noisy. Whose fault do you think it is I have not slept for two days."

"Kuhahaha! Give up, Raide. A Galt like this even I cannot stop."

Good that they look happy... haa.

I let out a big sigh in my heart and started walking in front of the two of them as if leading. Behind, Erika and Hilbyid gave modest bows.

Adom-dono laughed happily at the two of them and stopped them with one hand. Galt-dono shook his head with a tired face.

Behind the two of them I could see Sanai-san... what are those sweets in one hand?

No. Do not tell me you pretend to be serious and like mischief too?

Thinking that I looked at Sanai-san with only my eyes while walking. She was stuffing her cheeks with sweets, mogu mogu. When she noticed my gaze she smiled happily and waved one hand, furi furi. I laughed without meaning to.

More of a playful one than a mischief child...