22. The veil lifted (5)
“You guy!!”
At first I thought Ben had had an accident.
I thought it was well deserved since he was very thorough when it came to my ‘health’ and had the aspect of a berserker, but what I heard next instilled doubt in my thoughts.
“mile! “I told you never to do such a dirty thing again!”
hmm? Did Ben even know that guy’s name?
Now that I think about it, the voice seems to be quite different.
There’s no way the transformation would have arrived just then…
I glanced back.
‘…Ben is here, right?’
Although he is still fuming with anger, the person standing calmly behind me is clearly Ben.
That means that the person who grabbed the druggie named ‘Miles’ by the collar was a completely different person.
Craddangtangtang!
Wow, it seems like we already know each other, but they are really merciless.
‘To throw it into the world?!’
The man who had been excitedly holding and shaking the collar seemed to catch his breath, then turned his head and looked this way.
I was inwardly shocked as I looked pitifully at the druggie who was stuck in the corner with his face distorted like that of a demon, but that only lasted for a moment.
The guy immediately softened his expression and spoke carefully with an expression of regret on his face.
“My friend made a big mistake. “I apologize.”
“No, well… it’s okay.”
“no. I almost got in real trouble. I thought it would never happen again after it happened to me once. sorry. “I need to make some kind of compensation…”
I’m really fine.
I just want to quickly go back and rest while counting the gold coins I won today.
So, no matter what was offered, I quickly rejected it and tried to go back, but…
“Oh, you said you like alcohol, right? Coincidentally, there is a bar on the second floor here. “I’ll buy some alcohol there.”
“!”
“You can drink as much as you want.”
Stand tall.
All action stopped. Can not help it. Because this is like an instinct.
“As much as you want?”
“Yes, as much as you want.”
“….”
This is force majeure.
“Daemon…?”
As if sensing something ominous, Ben cautiously calls me.
Hot Only then did I barely come to my senses.
no. Ed said so much, but I have to endure it.
I have to endure it for the sake of Ben, who is following me so diligently. You have to be patient. Don’t be deceived by the devil’s whispers like that….
“It’s a pure apology, so there’s no need to feel burdened. “If you feel burdened, it would be good if you could at least give me some know-how on how to get it.”
“I don’t have the know-how.”
“Ah, wasn’t it too much to dig up know-how from the first meeting?”
no. It’s not because it’s my first time meeting, it’s really not like that.
“Then let’s start by getting to know each other first.”
A voice with a strange sense of playfulness that makes you feel more friendly.
I thought as I watched his eyes twinkle playfully.
This kid is a player.
It is obvious that he is good at attracting people.
A normal person would naturally like it, but it doesn’t work for me, who knows everything!
‘I thought…’
When I came to my senses, I found myself on the second floor, holding hands with him.
I got hit! why?!
What on earth is a bastard like me doing to suffer this even though he knows it?
The overwhelming sense of shame made me want to rip my hair out. Of course, my head is precious, so I replaced execution with clenching and unclenching my fist.
“What are you thinking about?”
“…nothing.”
no. When I think about it carefully, it makes sense. Because it’s been a long time since I drank alcohol.
Especially for someone who likes alcohol like me, it was worth skipping.
So, I guess I should drink some alcohol so I don’t fall for this trick again…
“Daemon…”
“Ugh.”
I was so blinded by alcohol that I forgot the existence of the disruptor.
I broke into a cold sweat as I looked at Ben with his earnest expression.
If he had been more forceful and fussed with me, at least I wouldn’t have felt any remorse, but seeing him look at me with such a docile expression makes my conscience prick.
In fact, it’s even scarier.
Therefore, I tried to compromise as carefully as I could, keeping an eye on his feelings for fear that his feelings would be greatly hurt.
“I’ll just have one drink.”
“….”
“I won’t get drunk.”
“It’s up to you…”
“Yes! Isn’t it okay as long as you don’t get drunk? “Why don’t you have a drink there too?”
“…That’s it.”
A heavy sigh fell on the table.
Although he didn’t show it, I secretly flinched.
Is it still not possible? Judging by Ben’s reaction, he seems rather offended.
I gained nothing and lost favor. It’s the worst.
A sigh escaped me. Ben, who must have heard that again, trembles and stares at me.
“….”
“….”
The one who should sigh is this side, but the look in his eyes seems to be asking why you are sighing.
I felt out of breath for some reason and took a deep breath again without realizing it, and he slowly spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
“Just… one drink.”
“yes?”
“It may be disappointing, but it would be better to plan for the next time. sorry.”
It took some time to understand what he said.
Did I hear correctly that the guy who I thought would never give permission is giving me permission? Could it be that my ears heard what they wanted to hear?
After going through several procedures in my head to confirm that what he said was true, I answered with joy in my mind, barely able to hide my excitement.
“yes.”
at las!
I sat down at the table, humming a song in my head.
As I was about to check the menu, the guy who looked at me and Ben back and forth as if he was interested raised his hand and called for someone.
“Everything on the menu, one by one.”
I fucking love you.
When I asked if this was too much of a waste, he said that if there were any leftovers, he would give them to his friends.
Where else in the world can there be an angel like this?
The drinks came out quickly.
I ignored Ben’s concerned gaze and excitedly looked through the bottles. And I suddenly became depressed.
‘I can’t believe I can only taste one of these many things.’
And that’s not just one bottle, it’s one glass.
You can take the extreme approach of mixing them together, but then it is difficult to feel the unique taste of the alcohol.
I couldn’t end a long-awaited drink in an ambiguous way like that, so I grabbed this and then that again, feeling like I was going to cry.
That must have been frustrating.
“Hmm… If it’s hard to choose, should I make a recommendation?”
“yes?”
“If you like bitter taste, this is it. If you like a clean aftertaste, this is it. If you like sweet things, this is it. If you like something that feels soft on your neck, this is it. And…”
The explanation continued endlessly.
‘Hey… you bastard…’
Isn’t that amazing?!
This guy also seems to like drinking quite a bit.
Somehow, feeling glad to see him, I listened to his long words in silence until the end with a satisfied expression.
Next to me, Ben looked tired, but whatever.
For me now, this choice is like the choice of a lifetime. The opportunity I was given after such a long time was too precious to make a hasty choice because of his insight.
After much deliberation, I finally chose one and finally held the glass in my hand. How was the liquid flowing inside so bright?
Since I couldn’t promise when I would be able to drink it again, I was sipping it with tears in my eyes, when the guy who was drinking with me suddenly opened his mouth.
“Is it a little noisy?”
“hmm?”
“There are a lot of rough guys, so they get into fights whenever they drink.”
“…ah.”
People punching each other on one side.
But aren’t fights normal in bars? When I tilt my head and look at him again, he narrows one eye and points somewhere with his finger.
There were two people there, grappling with their brutality.
“Do you want to bet on which of the two will win? Oh, of course, my brother is next to me.”
“I’m done.”
“Don’t take it out.”
He smiles slyly and gently gives Ben a shoulder hug.
Only then did I know what his intention was.
A drink that refills a half-empty glass.
He narrowed his gaze by crossing his shoulders and poured me another drink.
It might be an insult to demons, but I couldn’t help but feel this way.
‘It’s impossible for there to be such angelic demons in the world.’
As I hurriedly emptied my glass, it was filled again.
Drink again, refill again, drink again, refill.
How many times did that repeat?
──My memory was interrupted.
***
The smile is innocent, but the red eyes are clear.
The expression was relaxed, but the movements were as tight as ever.
Dangerous.
My instincts sound the alarm. I felt like I was frozen for a moment due to the fear that overtook my whole body and I couldn’t even lift a finger.
Ben barely came to his senses when he emptied three bottles of alcohol and drank half more.
As if the frozen time had been broken, I finally came to my senses and lowered my gaze.
He must have been shaking. The hands under the table were still shaking intermittently.
‘I couldn’t stop it.’
Even though I was able to stop him the first time he seemed drunk, I just watched him until he downed three and a half bottles of alcohol.
Because at that time, my strongest instinct was warning me of danger.
It’s definitely the most easy-going moment on the outside, but why?
However, Ben, who had been fighting with the Demon King for a long time, knew well that trusting your senses rather than your eyes was more helpful in extending your lifespan.
That’s why I couldn’t say anything while watching my patient pour a new drink.
“Ha haha….”
Because I drank alcohol without any snacks, the red eyes that were clear at first became a little blurry.
He rubs his face against the table and laughs brightly. As a result, one of the bottles lined up next to me fell over.
‘…I think the number of empty bottles has increased recently?’
As expected, there are four bottles lined up in a row.
A total of five, including those who fell and rolled on the table.
I can’t believe I just emptied more bottles. Even if this is fast, isn’t it too fast?
The stiff feel has softened a little. It means that the most dangerous moment has passed.
Still, Ben didn’t relax. It’s only eased a little, but it hasn’t completely disappeared.
His touch, which was still aimed at the person in front of him, was now telling him that he needed to be nervous in a different way.
just as expected.
“Are you the enemy?”
“no.”
“Then you are the enemy?”
“Not even him.”
“Who is the enemy?”
“Not here now.”
“Are you an enemy?”
“no.”
The drinking began.
He said he wouldn’t get drunk….
Ben quietly covered his face. Meanwhile, the demon’s questions were being repeated again and again, making it even more miserable.
I gave permission for no reason. An overwhelming feeling of regret came over me. The way he was sighing made me feel like he was going to do something if I wasn’t careful, so I just closed my eyes and allowed him to have a drink.
‘It shouldn’t have been allowed.’
The Devil’s Joker. Demon Arut, the proud commander of the 0th Corps of the Demon King’s Army, who killed the last warrior.
The same questions and answers had been repeated endlessly for 20 minutes already.
Some people may ask why we pay so much attention to this person who is so drunk that he is wandering around.
But I can only say that because I don’t know anything about him.
Yes, it looks easy. It might seem pointless. Then, why don’t you try to answer that question in the affirmative?
The question ‘Are you the enemy?’
If you can’t answer or say yes, the Commander of Corps 0 suddenly changes as if he’s never laughed and starts running at you with a dagger.
In such cases, if the injuries were at least severe, the body would be so tattered that it would be unrecognizable.
So how can you not be nervous?
In particular, if such a situation occurs here, it is difficult to handle it.
‘Fortunately, it’s still at level 1…’
His drunkenness is divided into three stages.
Step 1: Question, Step 2: Suspicion, Step 3: Investigation.
If you deny the question ‘Are you an enemy?’ in step 1, it will just be skipped.
In the second stage, this is followed by the question ‘Why?’ If you don’t answer correctly at that time, the attack will begin.
Stage 3 can be seen as just the beginning of the massacre.
To give an easy example, the question ‘Why?’ is answered with ‘Daemon is the Demon Lord. So do I. So let’s say you express the opinion that ‘we are not enemies’.
In step 2, we just skip it, but in step 3, we ask ourselves, ‘Why is that? ‘He could be a betrayer or a spy, right?’ And I ask again.
How can you answer that other than simply denying it? If you become speechless due to the absurdity or repeat simple denials, they will attack you and say, ‘You are the enemy after all,’ and it will drive you crazy.
‘It will never go as far as level 3.’
With that in mind, I made up my mind and stopped Demon’s hand from reaching for a new bottle.
The cloudy red eyes roll over and take in me.
What is contained there is clear dissatisfaction.
It’s not life or anger, it’s just dissatisfaction. Nevertheless, Ben, who froze for a moment like a mouse in front of a cat, swallowed his saliva and barely opened his mouth.
