After parting ways with Merell and returning to the room, the usual group was waiting there.
“Huh? Where are AI-chan and Merell-san?”
As I slid into the kotatsu next to Leanne, Natalia asked.
“We’ve lost a valuable comrade…”
Leanne murmured solemnly.
“Hey! Don’t just kill me off!”
AI-chan protested in my head, but no one else could hear it.
Since my head was getting noisy, I took out the talisman and summoned AI-chan beside me.
“Phew… This is definitely better. Ah, we safely arrived at the town of Ludoe and came back. Merell-san is staying at her boyfriend’s house.”
AI-chan explained.
“Oh, so you made it. Nothing happened?”
“The security was terrible. Well, you could also say that Merell-san’s forgery magic is just that good.”
“Huh… So, what’s next?”
“Merell-san is gathering information, so we’ll be on standby until the day after tomorrow. Let’s take it easy.”
As AI-chan finished explaining, Annie silently poured wine into my glass.
Then, we toasted and started drinking.
Annie had probably already been drinking for a while and seemed quite drunk.
“Leanne, since we have some time, let’s talk to the king.”
I wanted to report and ask about what’s happening in the north.
Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.
Clive and his group were there, so I was curious.
“Understood. I’ll be going to the castle tomorrow for another matter, so I’ll arrange an appointment then. Let’s go together the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
With that, I had a free day tomorrow.
Might as well take it easy.
“Yuuma! Yuuma!”
As I was settling my plans, Lily called my name with a smile.
“What is it?”
“Stand up for a second!”
Ah… So Lily heard about it too.
This is why I ended staying up late the other night.
“Alright, alright.”
As I stood up, Lily also happily stood up and came closer.
“Do it! Do it!”
At least say the subject.
I mean, I get it, but still.
I wrapped my hands around Lily’s back and the back of her knees, then lifted her up.
“Wow! This is amazing!”
Lily excitedly wriggled in my arms.
“What do you mean by ‘amazing’?”
“Just amazing!”
As she said that, Lily reached out and pulled on my cheeks.
“Sigh…”
I let out a deep breath and put Lily down.
“Yesterday, Natalia did it for me, but Yuuma, you just feel different—so much more secure!”
Lily said that as she climbed into the kotatsu, so I returned to my spot as well.
“What are you guys even doing?”
“It was heavy. I mean, probably light in terms of weight, but it was heavy for me.”
Natalia nodded in agreement.
“Well, with your strength, sure. The best you could manage is Alice.”
“Alice was really light.”
What the hell are they doing on the third floor?
As I sipped my wine in exasperation, I noticed AI-chan staring intensely at Pamela.
((“Stop that.”))
I used telepathy to tell AI-chan to quit it.
((“But Pamela-san is the only one who hasn’t done it. It’s not fair to leave her out.”))
((“Pamela is off-limits.”))
((“Huh? Why?”))
((“She’s the kind of person who doesn’t like that kind of thing in front of others.”))
You could tell just by looking at her demeanor.
((“Ah… I see. She’s a proper lady, after all. Well, so is Leanne.”))
That one’s special.
((“Just leave her be.”))
((“So, you’ll do it when you’re alone with her...? Wait, that means…”))
((“Anyway, don’t tease her.”))
((“Fiiiinee… But still, Master, you’re amazing. You really pay attention to people’s personalities.”))
Anyone would.
((“I just don’t do things people dislike.”))
((“There it is… ‘Person’ written as ‘My Woman’…”))
And now she’s added “my” to it…
“What are you two whispering about?”
Annie, drinking wine diagonally to my left, asked.
“Nothing.”
“No, you guys go completely silent when you do that telepathy thing. It’s unnatural... more like creepy.”
Well, it’s hard to hold a conversation while using telepathy.
“It wasn’t anything important. Here, cheers.”
“Cheers…”
Annie downed her wine in one go.
“Make sure you go back to your own room tonight.”
“I will. But since I have the day off tomorrow, I’ll keep drinking…”
Is she gonna be okay?
“Pamela, want a drink too?”
Pamela wasn’t that strong, but she could handle alcohol.
Well, I’ve had to carry her back to the dorm before.
“Yeah. Since it’s a special occasion, I’ll have some.”
“It’s empty… I’ll bring another bottle.”
Annie shook the bottle and stood up.
“Bring Pamela’s glass too.”
“Mm.”
I asked Annie as she stood, and she nodded.
“Oh, mine too.”
“......Mine as well.”
“Get me one too.”
“I will never drink alcohol again!”
Looks like everyone except Lily was drinking.
“You guys can drink if you want, but you’re all weak, so don’t overdo it.”
“......Says the girl who passed out and slept in Yuuma’s bed. You even said, ‘Your bed smells nice.'”
“I never said that! Stop making things up!”
Saying that, Annie left the room.
“......She totally said it, right?”
Alice looked at me.
I do remember her saying it, but…
“If she says she didn’t, then she didn’t.”
“......So cool.”
“Right?”
For some reason, Leanne responded with a smug face.
After a while, Annie returned with glasses for everyone and a bottle of wine, and we all drank—except for Lily.
That night, once again, I didn’t get to sleep in my own bed.