Chapter 185

Chapter 185. School Trip (4)

After enjoying a pleasant hot spring bath, we arrived at the Annex Restaurant.

Although it was the infamous Holy Kingdom cuisine, perhaps because it was a high-class inn in a famous tourist spot, the food laid out on the table looked so appetizing that it made your mouth water just by looking at it.

A body warmed up by the hot spring and a feast laid out to the point of breaking the table legs.

It was a happy combination that would naturally bring a smile to your face just by imagining it.

But…

“Ugh…! I, I didn’t do anything wrong…!”

“Don’t sit next to me.”

“Ah, how… how can the world be so unfair…?”

The atmosphere inside the restaurant was as cold as a snowstorm in winter.

“Come on! Friends usually sit next to each other, right?”

“Who’s your friend? You traitor!”

Sophia, who was fiercely driving Lanes away.

“Perhaps… is God… a flawed being?”

Camila, who was now starting to doubt her faith.

“…What on earth happened?”

I turned to Iris and asked.

Iris shook her head as if she didn’t understand the situation either.

“Well… Camila and Sophia have been talking about things like the wealth gap and revolution since earlier…”

“They don’t even answer when I ask why.”

Yurina shrugged and shook her head.

“……”

I didn’t quite understand the situation, but I decided to leave it alone, thinking that intervening would only make things worse.

I turned my gaze away from Sophia and Camila (who had suddenly become close after the hot spring for some reason) and looked down at the table filled with delicious food.

“Wow… is this really the Holy Kingdom?”

The food was so impressive that I couldn’t help but admire it.

Although the Holy Kingdom was notorious for its bad food, perhaps because it was a tourist spot, they had put in quite a bit of effort, and just looking at it made my mouth water.

“Hehe. How is it? Holy Kingdom food can be delicious if made well!”

“Although there’s hardly any traditional Holy Kingdom cuisine here…”

Well, as long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters.

“By the way… it feels strange to be here relaxing like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Termal region is where Grace rests. I’ve been here a few times for the Seven Stars Church events, but I never thought of relaxing like this back then.”

“Ah.”

Indeed.

If we had visited the Termal region for a religious event, we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the hot springs and feast like this.

“Light of Life Grace… she’s considered a saint in the Holy Kingdom, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Iris nodded.

“Hmm. It’s a bit different from the Republic.”

“How is it in the Republic?”

“Well… her recognition is a bit lower. The stories about the Five Great Heroes vary slightly from country to country.”

Each country tends to emphasize the exploits of their own heroes or elevate their character, so the same events are told with a certain bias to suit their tastes.

‘Especially since Light of Life Grace is a support type.’

While stories like Sun’s Sword Reynaldo cutting down thousands of demons or Iron Fist Ryu Jinseong smashing the Archbishop’s head are more attention-grabbing, Grace’s story is harder to stand out.

In countries other than the Holy Kingdom, the story of who Light of Life Grace was isn’t even properly told.

‘Light of Life Grace.’

I suddenly became curious.

“What kind of person was she?”

“Grace?”

“Yeah.”

“She was said to be infinitely merciful, loving, and caring. There’s even a story that she willingly used a holy relic bestowed by God to save a single injured child.”

“I’ve never heard that story before.”

I nodded with an interested expression.

“Hmm. This is something you learn in the first-year history class at Reynaldo Hero School…”

“I was asleep.”

“……”

Was I at the back of the class for no reason?

“Oh, by the way… did Grace also have the ‘Seven Eyes’ like Iris?”

“Yes, of course. This is a divine blessing passed down through the generations to the ‘Saint.'”

Iris touched the corner of her eye and nodded.

“So Iris is a distant descendant of Grace…”

“No, the Seven Eyes aren’t passed down genetically like the Holy Mark. It’s more like a blessing… it manifests one day without any warning.”

Iris made a somewhat bitter expression.

Her life, which was just that of an ordinary girl, must have changed greatly when she awakened the ‘Seven Eyes.’

For better or for worse.

“In the past, I resented God for these eyes… but not anymore.”

Iris looked at me and smiled.

“Because of these eyes, I can be here with Dale now.”

“…Iris.”

A strange atmosphere was forming between me and Iris.

“Hmm. Did you forget that we’re here too?”

“Just the two of you, how selfish…”

I felt the sharp gazes of Professor Elisha and Yurina.

“Ahem. Sorry.”

“Hehe. By the way, just eating is a bit boring. Shall we order some drinks?”

“Is that okay?”

“Anyway, the real schedule starts tomorrow. Let’s have a light drink.”

Professor Elisha called the waiter and ordered drinks.

“Now, let’s toast to a fun school trip.”

“Haha! Come to think of it, I think this is my first time trying Holy Kingdom alcohol!”

Berald’s eyes sparkled as he emptied his glass.

And then.

“Ugh.”

A distorted expression.

Berald covered his mouth with his hand and barely managed to swallow the alcohol.

As if expecting Berald’s reaction, Professor Elisha smiled leisurely.

“Hehe. Holy Kingdom alcohol is famous for being strong.”

“…It doesn’t really match the image.”

“Does Candidate Yurina not like alcohol much?”

Professor Elisha looked at Yurina’s almost untouched glass and asked.

“It’s not that I don’t like it… I’ve hardly ever tried it because it might interfere with training.”

“Then try it this time. You won’t be holding a sword today anyway.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

Yurina took the glass at Professor Elisha’s suggestion.

She downed the full glass in one go.

“Wait. Holy Kingdom alcohol shouldn’t be drunk like that…”

“Oh, it’s better than I thought?”

Yurina, who had emptied her glass, opened her eyes wide and spoke.

“I only ever touched it to my lips before… but alcohol is more fragrant and enjoyable than I thought.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. May I have another?”

“Hmm. Don’t drink too much, though.”

“Haha. It’s fine.”

Yurina shrugged and held out her glass.

She spoke with a confident expression, as if there was no need to worry.

“Professor, you know whose descendant I am, right?”

* * *

And so, the drinking continued for an hour.

“Hehe. Dayyyl~ Where are you?”

Yurina, with bleary eyes, looked around for me.

“…Sigh.”

I sighed as I looked at Yurina, who was completely drunk.

‘Come to think of it, Yuren was weak to alcohol in my past life too.’

Even when Berald and I were drinking every day, he would quietly lean against a tree and sip tea.

“Hmm. It seems… our great hero’s descendant is completely drunk.”

Professor Elisha chuckled as she looked at Yurina.

She glanced at me and spoke.

“Candidate Dale, since you’re sharing a room, could you take care of Candidate Yurina?”

“Why did you encourage her to drink then…”

“It’s not my fault she kept drinking even though she said she was fine.”

“Ugh.”

I swallowed a sigh and helped Yurina to the room.

“Dayyyl~ Carry meee~.”

Yurina clung to me as we walked.

The strong smell of alcohol wafting from her made me sigh again.

“Here, get on my back.”

As I was about to carry Yurina and start walking.

“Hehe! Let’s go for a walk! Let’s go for a walk, Dale!”

Yurina, on my back, flailed her legs.

“What walk? Let’s go inside and sleep.”

“Waaalkkk~!”

Yurina, pulling on my shoulders and whining like a child, made me eventually turn towards the annex garden.

The moonlight shone down on the beautifully arranged garden path.

“Dale… your back is warm.”

A soft whisper came from behind.

The soft sensation of her thin clothes, changed after the hot spring, transmitted through.

“……”

As my mind went blank from the sensation I felt from behind.

Whoosh.

“…Huh?”

A bright white light suddenly appeared before my eyes.

‘What’s that?’

It was too bright to be a firefly.

A white light the size of a fist circled around me like a bug, then suddenly disappeared somewhere.

“What was that.”

I tried to follow the light, but.

“Ugh. Dale… I feel dizzy…”

I had to stop at Yurina’s words from behind.

“Let’s go in.”

I gave up on the sudden white light and headed to the room.

“Phew.”

After arriving at the room, I laid Yurina down on the bed.

Fortunately, or unfortunately.

Since we had already changed clothes after the hot spring, there was no need to change her clothes again.

“Dale… I’m thirsty.”

“I’ll get you some water.”

I brought her some cold water, and she drank it like a squirrel eating an acorn.

“Ah.”

“Feeling better?”

“Uhn… I’m, fine.”

She didn’t look fine at all.

“Go to sleep.”

“……”

As I was about to turn and head to my bed.

“Eek.”

Yurina pulled my hand and laid me down on the bed.

She climbed on top of me as I lay on the bed.

The moonlight streaming through the window shattered on her silver hair, making it shine dreamily.

“Y, Yurina?”

“Dale… why don’t you touch me?”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t we dating? Shouldn’t we at least kiss?”

Come to think of it, I had kissed Iris and Professor Elisha, but not Yurina yet.

“Or… do you not want to… with me?”

Yurina looked down at me with eyes heated by alcohol.

As I opened my mouth slightly to answer her question.

“Mmm.”

Soft lips covered mine.

The scent of alcohol stimulated my nose as her soft tongue stirred inside my mouth.

“Hehe. Finally… we kissed.”

“…Yurina.”

As I reached out to the smiling Yurina.

“Ugh.”

“Huh?”

“I feel… nauseous… Ughhhh!”

Yurina, covering her mouth, rushed to the bathroom.

I sighed as I patted her back while she vomited into the toilet.

‘No.’

It feels like I did something wrong when she vomits right after kissing.