439

 [Chapter 126]

[Enlightenment Seeps into the Sword (5)]

Ariel.

Her beauty that caught people's eyes along with her appearance that didn't seem like an Ein despite being one was enough to capture the hearts of the general public.

Moreover, her transformation into a mermaid in water added to her mystical aspect.

It was natural that she received media attention and emerged as a representative face of the player industry.

And she was also On Tae-yang's sixth wife.

She couldn't not have star quality.

"But Ariel player seems to really have a cheerful personality. I think her party members must laugh a lot because of Ariel player in daily life. I'm envious."

"Ah, I'm not someone who bursts out laughing like on broadcasts. Cheon-seo has better wit than me. When Cheon-seo starts talking, the kids are about to die laughing."

"Really?"

"Of course! The person who talks the most in our party is Cheon-seo? But that absolutely doesn't mean Cheon-seo talks too much and is noisy!"

"I wonder if Lee Cheon-seo player might be watching the broadcast."

"Huh!? This doesn't get edited? That's not good... Cheon-seo, you know I meant it in a good way right? I really think you talk too much! That's why our party atmosphere is so bright!"

A pure and pitiful airhead.

An unpredictable cheerful newlywed.

As far as Eun-ha remembered, there were too many nicknames referring to her.

That's how much she was seen as a source of laughter and bright future for people whose lives had become impoverished through repeated disasters.

Ariel always talked on broadcasts about what activities On Tae-yang's party did for the citizens.

The more she appeared, the more people believed without doubt that the world was moving in a better direction.

"...I really can't imagine Ariel player being quiet. She doesn't seem like she'd get lonely easily. The type who plays well alone?"

The only interview broadcast of Ariel that Eun-ha remembered.

Sure enough, she talked about On Tae-yang's party's achievements in that broadcast.

About the operation that finally subjugated Samael, one of the Nine Demons, after many casualties.

She who was speaking as if excited then hesitated for a moment upon receiving the reporter's question.

Then as if it never happened─.

"─Yes, that's right. It seems I'm the type who doesn't get lonely easily. Rather, Tae-yang often tells me he's lonely."

"I didn't know On Tae-yang player had that side. It doesn't seem like it's been long since you got married... how's married life?"

"It's all good. Since it's a relationship continuing from academy days, should I say we know what each other wants now? I think it's so nice how we consider each other."

Ariel on screen was always smiling brightly.

People couldn't help but be captivated.

Unlike them, she seemed to be living in a bright and glamorous world. Listening to her story made them feel like they were living in such a world too.

"They say many people admire Ariel player's way of living. Do you have any advice for those people?"

"Hmm... Marriage is the grave of life?"

"Haha! You just said it was good, was that a lie?"

"Hey, I'm joking, joking. Just... I hope I meet someone I really like. I recommend not getting married later and regretting it, tempted by momentary loneliness."

"It sounds just like your personal experience? Haha!"

"Do you think I'm a fool who married without knowing I'd be Tae-yang's sixth woman? I... Yes, I think I'm happy meeting really good friends and a man."

"Yes, I heard good words. Ah, I'm asking out of personal curiosity, but how do you usually manage yourself? Your style was a hot topic recently too. If there's any elixir you eat, could you share some with me..."

"Ah, I just live on dew! Even though party members tell me to eat more, I originally didn't eat much!"

Like that.

People were intoxicated by her glamour.

☆

"I knew you'd be like this."

"Why? What did I do wrong?"

Her tongue was completely slurred.

Eun-ha clicked his tongue seeing Ariel's eyes unfocus after chugging a bottle in one go.

She quickly got drunk from drinking without circulating internal mana.

"Drinking without even side dishes in the first place... What were you thinking trying to drink?"

"I was going to drink thinking of Eun-ha. Did your heart flutter?"

"Oh my. Your head should flutter."

"Ow!"

Ariel grins with a loosened face.

Eun-ha who heard such a brazen joke flicked her head that was splashing water with her legs.

Ariel surprised hugs her head with both hands.

Meanwhile, Eun-ha snatched the alcohol from her.

"How can you steal my alcohol!?"

"You said to drink together but you drink straight from the bottle, and only give me one paper cup? I'll pour for you so you drink from a paper cup."

"That's mean. It's my alcohol but I can't even drink it as I please..."

Ariel whimpers.

Eun-ha ignored her tears and poured soju into a paper cup.

She downed it as soon as she received it.

Then she held out the paper cup asking for one more.

"Huh? What is this. Why are you only pouring this much?"

"I feel like I won't be able to drink at this rate."

Eun-ha poured less than the amount he poured earlier.

He said with his mouth as if worried about alcohol for himself to drink, but inwardly he was worried about her.

This kid is trying to drink alcohol like water.

I'd understand if she drank while using mana but this isn't right.

Though not showing it, he was quite surprised inside.

Because she who seemed to like socializing and not like alcohol was chugging alcohol ignorantly.

Watching her drinking behavior, it was hard to tell if she was drinking alcohol or if alcohol was drinking her.

"Match your drinking speed to me. Why are you trying to go ahead alone?"

"Then I can't get drunk quickly!"

"What's good about getting drunk quickly?"

"It makes me feel good! And I sleep well!"

"You'll get sick like that. Wait, but you seem quite experienced drinking?"

"Me? Hmm, the first time I drank was... I don't know! It seems so long ago I don't even remember. Pour me quickly!"

"...Let's cheers with me."

"Cheers!"

Ariel speaks cheerfully.

Eun-ha who clicked his tongue in disbelief heard while listening to her story that she enjoys drinking alcohol usually.

By her standards, enjoying alcohol means drinking like this.

"Without side dishes?"

"I eat side dishes if there are any."

"Who do you usually drink with?"

"You."

"Don't joke around."

"I drink alone. Do you think people who can keep up with my drinking capacity are common?"

She's so brazen.

Eun-ha sighed.

He didn't know she who was noisy but had a good personality lived drowning in alcohol every night.

Seeing how she's drinking now, the signs don't look good...

What did that On Tae-yang do? If they even got married, he couldn't not have known her condition...

She drinks until completely drunk.

As if living without thinking of tomorrow.

Judging from Eun-ha's experience, this type generally didn't end well.

How could a player who often has to fight anytime anywhere be fine living drowning in alcohol to the point of not being able to take care of themselves?

It was the worst for a party.

"Why do you drink?"

"Because alcohol calls me, and I call alco...ow!"

"I don't mind you drinking, but drink in moderation."

"Isn't that minding?"

"Talk back."

"No Eun-ha is really mean. Are you telling me not to drink alcohol then? How can you live in this world without drinking alcohol?"

"You'll find a way to live somehow."

"Oh, I love that positive thinking."

What should I do with Ariel.

While Eun-ha was seriously contemplating, she was quite in high spirits.

Even more than her usual noisiness.

"But I don't want to not drink alcohol. If I don't drink even this, I have to spend time blankly alone at night?"

Ariel retorts nonchalantly.

Eun-ha poured soju into her cup while looking for something to say.

She proposes a toast.

Eun-ha toasts silently.

"But I'm so glad I'm not drinking alone today. And No Eun-ha. I thought this before too, but are you strong with alcohol?"

"I've never been drunk."

"Liar. Say something that makes sense."

"It's true."

"...Really? Then how do you live without getting drunk on alcohol?"

Ariel widened her eyes.

Eun-ha glanced at her wearing a dress shirt without properly buttoning it then turned his head.

His feet in the water are cold.

"I told you earlier. You can live without getting drunk. You'll find a way somehow."

Eun-ha muttered in a bleak tone.

It was now a distant thing.

A story that doesn't exist in this regressed world.

There were many times he wanted to get drunk, but in the end he couldn't get drunk.

Nevertheless, he lived.

Even if it was like a living corpse.

People don't die easily.

"So quit a bit. I won't tell you to not drink at all."

"...I'm not as strong as you."

Eun-ha persuaded as kindly as possible.

She who was about to say something to him soon bumped his shoulder with her head.

She who leaned on him like that mutters.

"I can't do it alone. I'm someone who can't live without depending on others."

"...Seems like it."

Ariel keeps bumping his shoulder.

Eun-ha took the alcohol from her while being pushed as she pushed.

Now she didn't ask for alcohol either.

"Ah, then I can depend on you."

"I really hate people bothering me."

"I won't bother you!"

"You're plenty bothersome now?"

"Are you saying I'm bothersome now? Me?"

"Wouldn't you be bothersome?"

"I'm hurt..."

Why is she making a face like it's out of the blue.

Eun-ha who had been bumping heads the whole time pulled his body back and found her looking at him ridiculous.

This kid will cause trouble someday if left like this.

It would be good to make her quit alcohol completely or control it to some extent.

Meanwhile Eun-ha carefully examined Ariel.

As long as he was bringing her into the party, he needed to fix her problem.

Soon he came up with a solution.

"─You can drink alcohol. Yeah, just drink as you like."

"Huh?"

"But don't try to drink alone. I won't mind how much you drink if you drink with me or the kids."

Telling her to quit from the start would be quite unreasonable.

So Eun-ha decided to go step by step.

If she drinks with the kids, the kids will probably stop her from drinking too much.

Prevent her from drinking alone, and gradually reduce the frequency of drinking over time.

That was the method Eun-ha could think of currently.

But─.

"─Then you'll be my drinking buddy? Great! I love it so much!"

"Not just me but other kids too..."

"I'll be comfortable drinking with you! Since you drink better than me, it'll be fine no matter how much I drink right?"

"Crazy..."

Ariel laughed brightly.

Eun-ha was at a loss for words.

Regardless of what he said, Ariel suddenly jumped into the pool.

"Ah, it's cold!"

She who jumped into the water with clothes on.

Ariel who stuck her head above the surface looked at Eun-ha once and waved. Soon she swam freely in the water like a mermaid.

This kid is really drunk on alcohol.

She laughs brightly like a crazy person.

She suddenly takes off the dress shirt clinging tightly to her body.

Below had long since become a mermaid's tail.

Eun-ha drank soju watching her occasionally show her face above the surface with a face saying he didn't know anymore.

In the end a whole day passed.

Are we arriving in Yokohama tomorrow?

Quite some time passed drinking with her.

In the end he couldn't find any particular clues.

Eun-ha chugged soju as if trying to swallow his regret.

Just then─.

───.

A singing voice was heard.

Humming without any lyrics.

Eun-ha turned his head towards the direction of the sound, to Ariel humming while looking at the sea.

Come to think of it, Ariel was good at singing.

Eun-ha recalled memories of the past.

She was good at singing. There were even people who liked her singing.

However, not only was she good at singing, but she could use magic through singing.

Thanks to the gift .

She uses the principle of the 5th rank Diva Siren as a base with .

It's my first time seeing it up close.

It sounds just like a whale crying.

Sometimes it sounds like a woman crying sorrowfully.

Eun-ha watched her singing using the Diva Siren principle.

Now that he looks, something is floating in front of her mouth.

A microphone?

A water droplet that looks like a thin lens.

She seemed to be amplifying sound by passing it through the water droplet.

The water droplet is an amplification device.

Not one but three?

But the thinly spread water droplets weren't just one.

Thin water droplets of different sizes were floating at regular intervals.

The water droplet area widened further from the mouth.

Only then did Eun-ha realize.

Sound passing through the first water droplet is amplified again when touching the second water droplet.

And when touching the third water droplet, the sound expands even more than before.

Amplification upon amplification upon amplification.

So she can vocalize without using much strength.

─Ah.

Eun-ha soon opened his mouth.

The realization that passed momentarily struck him hard.

If the power is weak, amplify it.

Eun-ha got up from his seat and drew out the black thorn.

Like Ariel singing.

If the power is lacking, just overlap the magic several times until the desired power is created.

Doesn't he have that level of mana control?

So─.

"─Yes, this is it."

Eun-ha smiled with satisfaction.

The sword in his hand was flashing emitting golden light.