Chapter 213
A tavern not too far from the Magic Tower.
Having come here a few times for meals, Franz found that it wasn’t a particularly unfamiliar place either.
“Anyway, it’s rare for the Magic Tower master to suggest drinking first.”
Arian said that and poked the stir-fried vegetables in front of her with a fork and brought them to her mouth.
For a ducal daughter to eat food deliciously from a shabby tavern, if other nobles had seen it, they would have considered her a weirdo.
Not that Franz was particularly different, though.
“I just felt like drinking today for some reason.”
As Arian said, Franz wasn’t the type to particularly enjoy alcohol.
Since nobles usually drank more wine than water, such a person could be considered a weirdo in a different sense.
“Did something bad happen today by any chance? Like getting scolded a lot by Your Majesty…?”
“Nothing much happened at the Imperial Palace… or maybe it’s a bit much to say that…”
“What happened? You aren’t planning to keep it to yourself again, are you?”
Arian asked with eyes full of curiosity.
Franz let out a long sigh, Haa-, and picked up his cup filled with fruit wine.
The sweet scent of fruit wafted over, followed by the pungent scent of alcohol.
“Apparently, something strange appeared in the underground city left by Deliaspi Dyne.”
“Something strange?”
“It seems a passage connected to another dimension has appeared, though I’ll have to go see it myself to be sure.”
“Another dimension… I can’t even imagine it. Anyway, it’s no ordinary matter.”
Arian spoke in a serious tone and carefully lifted the cup beside her with both hands.
Gulp, gulp…
The alcohol content of the fruit wine was higher than expected, but she drank it surprisingly well.
Hopefully she wouldn’t get drunk at this rate.
“I’ll probably have to investigate that passage for a while. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll have to be away during that time.”
“Being too competent is a problem, I tell you… Who knows if you’ll be like this even after getting married…”
Arian muttered to herself and drooped her shoulders.
Naturally, Franz didn’t hear her.
“What was that?”
“I said the Magic Tower master is too amazing.”
“I’ve never really thought of it that way…”
“Is that not something a person who created an Artificial Mana Core for the first time in history, subjugated the Demon Lord, subjugated the Demon God, and is now a demigod should say?”
At Arian’s sharp remark, Franz merely sipped his drink.
Didn’t they say it’s off-putting when an outstanding person is too humble? It really seemed to be exactly that kind of situation.
The drinking session lasted a little longer than Franz had expected.
He had only intended to have a light drink, but somehow they both ended up drinking too much.
As they exited the tavern, Arian suddenly threw her arm around his shoulders.
“Magic Tower Masteeer-! You aren’t planning to end it like this, hic, are you…?”
“So you want to drink more here…?”
The investigation of the gate in Nostra was two days away. In other words, he had a day to spare.
However, heavy drinking didn’t really suit his temperament. He had already drunk more than usual.
“Let’s go to your house for now.”
“Sounds good…! I actually have a wine I’ve been saving, you know…? We can drink that…!”
No wonder she was pouring it down so excitedly earlier; at this rate, she was a complete mess.
Franz let out a short sigh and set off toward Arian’s House.
['Anyway, why am I perfectly fine…']
She wasn’t the only one who had drunk a lot.
Franz had also drunk more than usual, but his mind was perfectly clear without any issues. It was as if he hadn’t drunk at all.
It wasn’t like his glass alone contained juice instead of alcohol, so he had to conclude his body had changed.
['Is this also the power of divine energy…?']
Though he didn’t know whether to call this an advantage or a disadvantage.
Amidst various complicated thoughts, they arrived in front of Arian’s House.
“Arian, we’re here.”
“Then let’s go in…!”
Arian took large strides and threw the door open.
The servants inside the mansion were startled by Arian’s behavior and their eyes widened.
“Just please bring the wine I’ve been saving.”
“Yes, I will bring it to your room.”
Arian gave the order to the servants as if nothing was wrong and took a step forward.
['She seemed perfectly fine just now…?']
Franz thought so, but he didn’t bother showing it and followed Arian.
Of course, he didn’t forget to give the servants an apologetic nod.
From their perspective, he would be nothing more than the person who got Arian completely drunk.
Eventually, the place Franz arrived at was none other than Arian’s room.
It was decorated rather charmingly, which could be called cute. It felt distant from the usually meticulous Arian.
“Phew, it feels a bit hot…”
Arian muttered and casually slipped off the robe she was wearing.
Since it was just outerwear anyway, she didn’t expose her skin or anything, but the act of taking off her clothes itself gave off a strange feeling.
But then, Arian suddenly stumbled.
Franz hurriedly caught and supported her.
“Arian, are you okay?”
“No… I’m not okay…”
Arian spoke in a low voice and clung to Franz even more, resulting in a posture that was no different from a hug.
“Magic Tower master…”
It was the moment she gazed intently at Franz and was about to stand on her tiptoes.
Knock, knock…
Suddenly, a knock was heard.
Arian let out a short sigh and pulled away from Franz.
Afterward, when she opened the door, a servant was standing there, holding wine and glasses.
“I have prepared the wine you requested.”
“Thank you. And please tell everyone not to come near my room.”
Hearing Arian’s words, Franz was merely puzzled.
They weren’t going to have a secret conversation, so why was she telling them not to come near the room?
Before that question could be resolved, the door firmly closed again.
Arian turned around and looked at Franz.
“You’ll enjoy it with me, right?”
“Sure, if it’s just a light drink.”
Since he wouldn’t get drunk anyway, a little bit didn’t seem like it would be a problem.
On the contrary, he was a bit worried about Arian, but…
['I can just detoxify her with divine power before I leave.']
Having finished his thought, Franz sat in front of the small table placed by the window.
Then, Arian sat opposite him, and the transparent glasses were filled with wine.
“It’s a wine I really cherished.”
“I don’t know if it’s okay for me to drink something like that.”
“I’m offering it because it’s you, Magic Tower master. Go ahead and try it.”
“Then I’ll drink it gratefully.”
Franz picked up the glass and brought it to his mouth.
It wasn’t a lie that it was a cherished wine; it had a more excellent taste and aroma than any wine he had drunk so far.
“It’s delicious.”
“Right? It’s a wine I really like too.”
Had she sobered up in the meantime?
Arian’s pronunciation wasn’t much different from usual. Her face was still flushed red, though.
The drinking session that started like that didn’t end easily.
The first glass they tilted as they began to share small talk soon became two, and then surpassed three.
And then, before they knew it, the final glass arrived.
Arian, who was filling the empty glasses with wine, tilted her head.
“Looks like we’re all out now.”
Franz’s glass was empty, and Arian’s glass was filled with only about a sip.
“Then let’s finish that and call it a night.”
“Aren’t you disappointed, Magic Tower master? It’s a really delicious wine.”
“Well, I am a bit disappointed. But what can you do?”
“Is that so…?”
Arian stood up with the glass in her hand. She slowly approached Franz.
Gently resting one hand on Franz’s shoulder, she gave a soft, grinning smile.
Should he say her actions exuded a certain allure?
Franz didn’t look at her and turned his head away unnecessarily.
“Magic Tower lord, no, Franz.”
At the sound of his name being called, Franz turned his head.
It was because she had never once called him by his name since he became the Magic Tower lord.
That was also why it felt special.
“Let’s share it.”
“It’s fine. You dr… Mmph?.”
It happened before Franz could even finish his sentence.
Arian, having tossed the remaining wine from the glass into her mouth, pressed her lips against his.
Wine flowed over their touching lips.
For a brief moment like that, Franz swallowed the wine passed from Arian, gulping.
What on earth was this situation?
He wasn’t even drunk, but it felt like his brain had stopped working.
It was while Franz was experiencing such confusion.
“Franz, did you know…? The people of the Duke Phrygia have an incredibly high tolerance for alcohol.”
Arian whispered softly in his ear.
In the end, every moment she had pretended to be drunk up until then had been an act.
He didn’t particularly feel a sense of betrayal. He was just confused.
“I didn’t plan on going this far either, you know. But someone cut in line.”
“What line…?”
“Well, that’s hard to say.”
In context, it must mean someone else had kissed him first.
But since he had no memory of it, it was just frustrating.
Well, that was that…
Snap-.
As Franz snapped his fingers, Arian’s body floated into the air.
“U-ueh?”
Arian merely looked at Franz with a flustered expression.
Franz let out a sigh, Haa-, and set Arian down on the bed next to him.
“If you drank, go to sleep nicely. Don’t cause trouble.”
“Then what if I didn’t drink…?”
“If you’re curious, try it once.”
Franz slowly stroked Arian’s head.
At the same time, he channeled divine power into her to erase any lingering effects of alcohol.
Because it would be tiring if she had a hangover tomorrow.
Anyway, when did she switch back to formal speech?
Informal speech wasn’t bad in its own way, but this was definitely a bit more comfortable.
“I’m really trying hard. Even if I’m the most lacking among them…”
“I don’t think you’re lacking. If I really had no feelings in the first place, I wouldn’t have made that promise that day.”
“What does that…”
Franz waved his hand and slipped out of the room before Arian could even finish her sentence.
She should be able to figure out that much on her own.
Soon, receiving bows from the servants as he exited the mansion, Franz aimlessly looked up at the sky.
The weather was definitely cool, yet why was his face so hot?
It seemed he was drunk after all.
It was two days after that.
In the Eastern Continent, Franz returned to the underground city after about a month.
In front of him was something shimmering in blue.
It was none other than a gate connected to a labyrinth.