CHAPTER 26

But that doesn't mean I'll forgive him for everything.

At the end, I said bluntly, pulling out my hand still held by Meyer.

"You said you'd let Jun Karentia's name stay in the history books."

"… Yes, I did."

"You're not lying, are you?"

"No."

"I can't believe it when I see you talking weak."

I grumbled. At first, I pretended to be angry, but at this point, I felt a little sincere.

Meyer smiled softly. It was a vain smile, as if the worries so far were useless.

"You are… You are a really strong person. It's the same."

"… It's as if you know very well what I was like in the first round."

"Of course I know. So wouldn't I have gone there to save you? It was a pre-recorded talent."

When I tried to assassinate Meyer in the first round, my heart pounded whenever Meyer said he remembered the day of the first round.

Fortunately, what Meyer said had nothing to do with assassination.

"I don't remember which performance briefing it was… but I happened to hear Fabian's expedition having a meeting on which dungeon to attack. Oh, just in case, I didn't mean it. You guys were just talking too loud."

Meyer's eyes, reminiscent of the past, faded away.

"It seems that they were thinking about two dungeons, but you strongly insisted that you must attack the dungeon that everyone says is impossible."

I remember.

When I had to speak with my face like a meeting, I was somewhat backed up.

But there were times when I couldn't.

It was at that moment when I tried to pass through a special dungeon with good items.

"You were clean while other members of the expedition were ignoring you as a support type wizard. To me, the scene was very impressive."

I did. I, who doesn't even fight monsters properly, was completely dismissed and asked what I was doing…

Thinking that Meyer was looking at it, my face heated up with shame and embarrassment.

"… Although my opinion was not accepted in the end."

"What about it. It's the second round anyway. At that time, I thought I'd like to work with you….. I didn't know we'd be together like this."

No wonder. Meyer must have been watching me since then.

When I think about it, the dungeon I claimed at that time… I definitely remember that the Black Knights attacked it.

I thought it was a coincidence, but did he listen to me and attack it on purpose?

Since there was a treasure in the dungeon that was attacked like that, it would have been worth paying attention to.

Either he's lucky, or he thought I knew something.

So he came to recruit me in the second round…

Just as the butterfly's wings could be a typhoon on the other side of the world, it was impossible to know how life would flow.

"And you also have the first memory… I feel very reassured. I'm glad you became my vice."

Does such a guy pretend to be drunk and sway people? One of my eyebrows swung up.

"I didn't know that being a vice-commander and treating you without being disappointed was included in the opportunity to accept leaders' drinking habits."

"Haha."

"Next time, don't look at people like this. Okay?"

"Okay. Okay."

Meyer raised his hands as if he had lost because of my grumble. Then he shook the hour hand.

"I will trust you completely from now on."

You're lying. You didn't tell me you had magic.

However, I thought he would let me know after some time.

For now, I decided to settle for just turning the cards one by one.

"I'll do everything you want as far as I can. If I could kill the Demon King… I can give you the throne."

You're joking, right?

The leader of the expedition team that kills the Demon King becomes the emperor. If I were to stand in such a position, the backlash would be ridiculous.

In the first place, the position of emperor is not that easy to hand over to others.

But Meyer's low voice didn't seem like a joke at all. He looks like he has no regrets about the appointment as emperor.

Last time, the words that Axion had shed rang in my ears.

Axion saw it right away.

As long as he kills the Demon King, this man will burn everything and crumble like the white ash left over.

For him, wealth and power are all secondary purposes to killing the Demon King.

Thinking about it like that, I didn't know what to say.

"… You've been drinking so much that you're talking nonsense now, but I don't know if you're going to wake up and regret it."

"No regrets."

"Whew."

I sighed at Meyer's stubborn response, which seemed to be a swarm.

Come to think of it, it's very late. My eyes slowly closed, whether it was because of alcohol or time.

I stood up from my seat. Of course, I didn't forget to take care of the remaining bottles.

I'll drink this alone later.

"I'll be on my way."

"I'll see you off."

Meyer also stood up from his seat. As if he was drunk, his body was twisting.

Maybe it was because his body is big, but the movement was threatening even if he stumbled a little.

If he falls towards me like that…

Just thinking about it will lead to a terrible disaster. I'm already suffocated.

I desperately dissuaded Meyer.

"That's enough. Looking at the condition of the leader, it seems that it wouldn't be enough for him to take me to the bed. Go inside and rest."

"Just to the door."

I can't stop him because he's so close.

Why is the room so spacious, and I was nervous every time Meyer took a step.

That's how a moment of eternity has passed.

In front of the door, I looked back at Meyer with a sigh of relief that I had arrived safely.

"Take a good rest. I enjoyed the wine."

"And then you took my wine. Was it not enough for you to drink today?"

"You shouldn't have pretended you didn't know?"

Does he feel better when he points it out?

People. Sometimes it's better to pretend you don't know!

Meyer leaned on the door frame at an angle. Now that he's leaning somewhere, I'm finally relieved.

"You're a great drinker. Today is my defeat. I'm totally caught."

"It was self-inflicted."

Meyer's eyes bent and smiled. It was clear that he considered my bone-in advice as ridiculous.

By the way…

'He's really big because he's standing so close…'

I didn't know because we were usually facing each other at a distance, but now, even though he was standing at an angle, his gaze was too high to make eye contact.

Rough cheeks. Shaded eyes. A strange silence fell between us.

His breath, which was scattered over my forehead, had the scent of alcohol.

When I realized it, my heart beat fast for some reason.

… Is it because of lack of alcohol?

As expected, I should go back to the accommodation and have another drink.

At that moment, Meyer's disheveled mane-like black hair hung over me and tickled my forehead.

I reached for his hair without thinking.

I was just going to put the bangs that had been parted at an angle behind his ears.

But before my hand touched his hair, Meyer's hand stopped me.

As if he hated me touching his hair. It was obviously a sensitive response.

I only blinked because the situation was not fully understood.

Meyer, who belatedly recognized his behavior, let go of my hand.

The arm that was held in that short time was a little sour.

"… I'm sorry. I was sensitive."

"No. I didn't have a circumstance, either."

I laughed so hard. Well, if the situation was the opposite, I would have wondered what this was.

Even if my boss touches my head, I might think it's funny, but how embarrassing it must have been for his subordinate to touch his head.

I crossed the line. I must be drunk. Going into the accommodation and having another drink is a cancellation.

I was embarrassed, so I quickly said goodbye.

"Good night, then."

"… You too."

Meyer opened his lips as if he wanted to say something, but eventually didn't say anything.

I could still feel Meyer's eyes as I walked down the hall.

At the moment, I wondered what expression he was looking at me with, but I didn't want to check at the same time.

So I finally passed the hallway without looking back.