Chapter 9

“That guy. That guy’s here!”

“Kairon. How dare you mess with our Captain yesterday…!”

After finishing the morning training with the Black Iron Vanguard, I arrived at the dining hall.

The Silver Guards, who had already started eating, glared at me with fierce eyes.

“Plymus, why are they acting like that?”

“Don’t mind them. They’re just insignificant.”

Even if I tried not to care, it was impossible.

It wasn’t the first time Abelin’s Silver Guards disliked me and the Black Iron Vanguard, but today it was especially intense.

Not wanting to cause trouble during precious lunchtime, I tried to ignore their glares and started eating.

But.

“Ugh…”

A low groan clearly reached my ears.

I stopped eating and turned my head toward the source, only to see Abelin, pale-faced, struggling to lift her utensils.

Seems like she’s paying the price for yesterday’s heavy drinking.

“Ah… Ugh…”

As the meal continued, the painful groans persisted, and each time, the Silver Guards’ glares at me grew even sharper.

“What are you looking at, you white-clad fools! Can’t you take your eyes off me?”

My Black Iron Vanguard shouted back, but it only backfired, further provoking the Silver Guards.

“You guys should be the ones keeping quiet, you black-clad brutes! Don’t act like you don’t know why Lady Abelin is suffering right now!”

“Hmph, she deserves to suffer. She tasted the bitterness of defeat against our Captain, didn’t she? Drinking herself silly was the only way to forget that shame!”

“What? You muscle-headed fools…!”

Unable to take it anymore, the Silver Guards stood up from their seats.

In response, the Black Iron Vanguard also rose, and the two groups began to glare at each other, ready for a confrontation.

“You better take back those words, Black Iron Vanguard.”

“Silver Guards, you should just accept your defeat!”

The voices grew louder, but since clashes between the Black Iron Vanguard and the Silver Guards were nothing new, it didn’t bother me much.

What bothered me was something else.

“Ugh…”

The shouting seemed to be giving Abelin a headache, as she covered her ears with both hands.

Seeing that, I couldn’t just let this continue.

“Quiet down!”

My loud shout silenced the commotion.

With the noise gone, I lowered my voice and spoke calmly.

“Everyone, quiet down. Do you think you’re the only ones here? I understand your feelings. It must be hard to see Abelin suffering from a hangover.”

“Yeah, it’s hard! Don’t act like you don’t know why Lady Abelin drank so much! I’m suspicious. What were you planning after getting our Captain drunk…!”

*BANG.*

I slammed my spoon on the table, startling the Silver Guard who was about to confront me.

“Hey.”

I spoke in a low, firm voice, and the Silver Guard flinched.

“It’s my fault for letting Abelin keep drinking. I apologize for that. But open your eyes and see what state your Captain is in right now.”

The Silver Guards, who had been busy arguing with the Black Iron Vanguard, finally turned their heads.

They saw their Captain, Abelin, with her head down, waiting for the ringing in her ears to stop.

“Captain? Are you okay?”

“…Not at all.”

Abelin’s voice was barely audible due to her terrible condition.

“So please, just be quiet.”

“We’re… sorry…”

The Silver Guards, realizing their commotion had caused their Captain pain, quietly sat back down.

The Black Iron Vanguard, seeing their opponents suddenly lose their fighting spirit, hesitated but eventually returned to their seats and continued eating.

I was about to start eating again when I heard some of the Vanguard members whispering.

“Hey, did you see that? Our Captain just helped Abelin out of a tough spot.”

“Now that you mention it, yeah. He could’ve just left her to suffer!”

“Wait. Are our Captain and Abelin really…?”

“Ahem!”

I cleared my throat to stop the whispers, and the Vanguard members fell silent.

But the problem was that the Silver Guards started whispering too.

“Is that guy really the Kairon I know?”

“No, he’s definitely changed. Taking care of Abelin before his own subordinates… I can’t believe it.”

I wanted to tell the Silver Guards to shut up too, but that might just reignite the conflict.

The quickest way out of this situation was one thing.

“Phew… I’m done eating. I’ll head out first.”

“Captain? How did you finish all that food so fast…?”

“Everyone, rest well. See you at the training ground later.”

I quickly finished my meal and stood up.

I returned my plate and hurried to leave the dining hall, but…

“…”

Abelin was still suffering from a headache, unable to even lift her head, let alone continue eating.

I was about to leave but ended up walking over to Abelin.

A few Silver Guards reflexively stood up, but I ignored them and asked Abelin.

“Abelin. Are you okay?”

“…”

“Stupid question. Of course, you’re not.”

“Obviously.”

Abelin lifted her head with difficulty and looked at me with tired eyes, grumbling.

“Do I really have to say it out loud for you to know I’m not okay?”

“It’s not my fault you’re like this. You brought it on yourself.”

“That’s exactly why you’re so dense…!”

“At least you have the strength to talk. Even if you’re not feeling well, make sure to finish your meal.”

“I was going to do that without you telling me.”

“Good. You know how to take care of yourself best. Let’s go back to that place once you’ve recovered. It seems…”

I smiled and patted Abelin’s shoulder.

“We have a lot to talk about.”

“Ugh, ah…!”

At my words, Abelin let out a pitiful groan and sat up.

Still looking exhausted, she gave me a faint smile.

“Next time, it’s your treat.”

“That’s a problem. My wallet isn’t thick enough to handle your drinking.”

“What are you talking about? Next time, I won’t drink like yesterday! Ugh…”

Abelin snapped but immediately paid the price with a headache and lowered her head again.

“Well, anyway. Take care of yourself.”

I left Abelin behind and walked out of the dining hall.

As soon as I did,

“Hey, Kairon.”

Benedict, who had been waiting at the exit, stopped me.

The captain of the 8th unit, a cheerful and friendly guy I had been close to in my previous life.

One of the faces I was happy to see again.

“Why are you here, Benedict? Did you have lunch?”

“Our unit didn’t have morning training, so we ate early. And why do you think I waited here to talk to you as soon as you came out? Obviously, I have something to ask you.”

“Benedict, what do you want to ask me? That’s unusual.”

“Unusual? The unusual thing is what you did, Kairon.”

Benedict smirked and asked.

“Hey, Kairon. So, did you really just drink with Abelin alone?”

“…Why are you asking in such a shady tone?”

“Because I’m curious. You always fight with Abelin whenever you see her, and suddenly you go drinking together? What happened?”

“Nothing happened. We just drank.”

“I’ve told you before, but you can’t lie, Kairon. You didn’t just drink, did you?”

“…”

This was the umpteenth time I’d heard that I couldn’t lie in this life.

I guess I need to seriously think about and study this part.

“Anyway, where did you two go to drink? Can you at least tell me that?”

“That’s easy. But why do you want to know? Do you have someone to go with?”

“Hehe. Actually…”

Benedict grinned and looked somewhere.

In that direction was the Vanguard hospital.

A woman who had finished her meal at the dining hall and was heading back to the hospital met Benedict’s gaze and walked over to us with a bright smile.

“That’s Sophia. What do you think? Her smile is as warm and beautiful as sunlight, right?”

“…Yeah. I guess so.”

“Why the face, Kairon? Jealous because Sophia’s too pretty?”

“…”

A new love blooming in this place.

Especially since it’s my friend’s, I should be happy and bless it.

But the reason my expression isn’t good is…

That yellow.

The unpleasant yellow aura emanating from the woman named Sophia.