Chapter 59: Ari is a woman who is easily bought.

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Ari is a woman who is easily bought.

Two days after ordering the liquor, a package from Fernus arrived at the Valdegrim residence, so Draven received it personally.

The box was protected by several magical inscriptions and bore the seal of the royal Varzometh family, so Ena watched the package with her usual expressionless face.

"Another gift from your fiancée?"

"That’s right."

"I see."

Draven carefully began removing the seals and found a dark glass bottle inside, decorated with golden details.

The container was accompanied by a small document certifying its origin.

Draven examined it.

’I don’t know this brand.’

However, the description indicated that it was a liquor reserved for special occasions and that its annual production was limited.

’I suppose it’ll do.’

Ena looked at the bottle.

"Planning to start drinking?"

"No, it’s not for me."

"Then what do you need it for?"

"It’s a gift."

"For a woman?"

Draven stopped moving.

"..."

Ena watched him.

"What’s the matter, Sir Draven?"

"Nothing, nothing’s the matter."

"I see."

The maid remained silent for a few seconds.

"You should be careful."

"About what?"

"You already have enough women worrying about you."

"..."

Draven closed the box.

’Why does everyone jump to the same conclusion?’

That afternoon, Draven returned to the academy.

Although he still had to avoid intense physical training, the healers had authorized him to attend classes as long as he didn’t make any unnecessary efforts.

His intention, however, was to visit a certain professor, and he didn’t have much difficulty finding her.

Ari was sitting in a room used by the combat professors, reviewing some documents with a bored expression, while several messy sheets and an almost empty bottle sat on the desk.

Draven knocked softly on the door.

"Professor Ari?"

The woman looked up.

"Huh?"

When she recognized the visitor, she smiled.

"Look who decided to come back!"

"Good afternoon."

"Already done recovering?"

"I still need a little more time."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to visit you."

Ari raised an eyebrow.

"Me?"

"That’s right."

The professor watched him for a few seconds and then smiled.

"Does Taliah know you’re here?"

"..."

"Because if you’re still injured and she catches you bothering the professors, she’ll probably end up scolding you."

"I’m starting to think everyone’s afraid of her."

"Of course!"

Ari burst out laughing.

"You should’ve seen her when she was little and once chased a classmate for twenty minutes because..."

"Professor."

"Yes?"

"I brought something for you."

Draven placed the box on the desk, at which Ari stopped talking and her eyes immediately went to the package.

"What’s that?"

"A small gift."

"For me?"

"That’s right."

The professor opened the box and, when she saw the bottle, her expression changed.

"..."

She carefully took it in her hands and then read the label.

"Wait..."

Draven watched her reaction while Ari read the name again.

"Is this authentic?"

"I hope so."

"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GET THIS!?"

Draven smiled.

"I know someone from Fernus."

"This isn’t something you can buy in just any store!"

The professor examined the seal.

"This reserve almost never leaves the demon kingdom!"

Draven slightly raised his eyebrows.

’Looks like Zenash chose well.’

"I thought you might like it."

Ari looked at him and then directed her gaze back to the bottle.

"Can I keep it?"

"Of course."

"Really?"

"That’s why I brought it."

The professor stood up immediately.

"Draven!"

"Yes?"

"You’re a wonderful student!"

"..."

"I always knew you’d go far!"

Draven tried to hold back a smile.

’Why do I feel like those are the most fake words I’ve ever heard in my life?’

Ari removed the seal from the bottle and Draven raised a hand.

"Are you going to drink it now?"

"Of course!"

"But aren’t you on the clock?"

The professor looked at him with absolute calm.

"Draven."

"Yes?"

"When you’re a grown-up, you just want to drown your sorrows in alcohol..."

"..."

"And I can review documents while I drink."

"I see..."

Ari looked for two glasses.

"Want to try some?"

"No, thanks."

"Excellent decision! That way there’s more for me."

The professor poured a small amount, examined the liquid, then tasted it and remained still for a few seconds.

"..."

Draven watched her with curiosity.

"How is it?"

Ari set the glass on the table.

"Draven."

"Yes?"

"If you ever decide to leave the academy, let me know."

"Why?"

"So I can go with you."

"..."

The professor started laughing and Draven smiled.

’It definitely worked.’

The conversation continued for quite a while.

Ari talked about her years as an adventurer, her battles against magical creatures, and some incidents she had caused during her youth.

Draven listened patiently and, occasionally, the professor digressed into stories related to Taliah’s childhood.

"And then little Taliah tried to lift a sword that was almost as big as she was!"

Draven smiled.

"I would’ve liked to see that."

"It was hilarious!"

Ari took another sip.

"Then she started crying because she couldn’t lift it."

"Taliah crying over that?"

"Of course!"

Draven briefly imagined the scene.

’That I would’ve really liked to witness.’

The professor continued telling stories.

Little by little, her cheeks began to take on a reddish tone and her movements became somewhat less precise.

Although Ari had considerable resistance to alcohol, the liquor from Fernus was much stronger than the drinks she usually consumed, and Draven had noticed it after watching her pour her third glass.

’I think that’s enough.’

He decided to change the subject.

"By the way, Professor."

"Mmm?"

"How’s the investigation of the forest going?"

Ari looked up.

"The investigation?"

"Yes, the one about the intruders."

The woman remained thoughtful for a few seconds.

"Ah, that..."

She drank another sip.

"It’s a pain."

"Why?"

"Because now all the professors have to write reports."

Draven smiled slightly.

"Sounds complicated."

"It’s terrible!"

Ari lightly hit the desk.

"I’ve been filling out documents for days!"

"They still haven’t figured out how they got in?"

"Of course not."

The professor frowned.

"And that’s the worst part."

Draven remained attentive.

"What do you mean?"

"That those guys managed to enter an area supervised by the academy without triggering the alarms, and it’s believed they used magic to block our signals."

"I understand."

"And now everyone wants to know who made the mistake!"

Ari finished her glass, at which Draven waited a few seconds before continuing.

"Did they find anything that would allow them to identify them?"

The professor settled into her chair.

"A few things."

"Like what?"

"Weapons, fragments of armor, magical tools..."

Draven felt he had reached the important part.

"Did they also find documents?"

"I don’t remember."

"..."

"There was too much stuff!"

Ari made a gesture with her hand.

"The security people took everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything they could recover!"

Draven pretended to be surprised.

"I thought some objects would’ve been destroyed."

"Yes, many were destroyed."

The professor raised her empty glass.

"But they found enough remains to fill several boxes."

’Interesting.’

Draven was getting important information thanks to the drunk woman spilling everything.