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Translator note: Can't wait to see what happens when he's had a few too many! 🍷🤣
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The Unit to Destroy the Underworld Gate - 4
On the table of the counter seats where we sat, a large chunk of beef cheek meat, simmering in a red-brown piping hot soup on a white deep dish, was placed gently.
"It seems she went all out."
I thought as I saw the sizable chunk. It must be about half the size of my face. My stomach grumbled at the sight of the towering mass of meat.
The amount of bread piled in the small basket was also excessive. What should I do? I didn't feel like I could finish it all.
I was served iced tea, while Julius had red wine, and a beer stein was placed in front of him. They were really splurging, but it felt like a bit too much. I wonder if it was okay for him to drink that much.
"Thank you, Roxy-san."
"It's fine, just a small token of kindness from your elder sister. I'll take care of the men bothering you, Chloe-chan, so take your time eating."
With those words, Roxy moved away from us and started talking to other men at the counter seats. I wasn't usually approached when eating in the cafeteria, but it seemed like she was being considerate.
It felt somewhat embarrassing, this attention.
"...Julius-san, thank you for today. Please eat plenty."
Julius was gazing intently at the wine in the beer stein as if it were something strange.
"Is this normal in the Astoria Kingdom?"
"No, it's different. That's for beer glasses... Julius-san, are you good with alcohol? Please don't overdo it."
"I don't know if I'm good or not. I've never drunk enough to get drunk, and I've never had the time for it."
"...You're quite different from the image I had of you, Julius-san."
"What did you think of me? I remember you being quite surprised just by hearing me speak."
"Julius-san, you're really good at listening to people and have a good memory."
Julius began cutting the beef cheek meat with his knife and putting it in his mouth.
I always noticed that Julius took quite large bites. Despite eating cleanly, he was incredibly fast.
I cut my own meat in half and gently placed it on Julius's plate. He noticed my gesture but didn't say anything. He'd eat it, I suppose.
That's good.
I also put a small piece of meat in my mouth. It had no strong odor, just the mellow flavor of meat melting away in my mouth as if it were dissolving. It was well stewed and very tender.
I dipped torn pieces of bread into the soup and put them in my mouth. The flavor of the soup, infused with the essence of meat and herbs, spread throughout my mouth, making me feel happy.
"Well, um, ...how should I put it? It's like I imagined a tremendously strong and brutal general who, uh, has wine and women attending to him, laughing loudly, like a scene from debauchery."
"Ah, there were people like that in the Empire. Scum who never left their tents and only reported their victories. You're not entirely wrong, but ... for example, what if everything I've told you so far is a lie, and in reality, I was that kind of person too?"
"You're different, Julius-san. I don't think of you like that."
"Why?"
"Because Julius-san, you're not good at lying. You're honest, right? ... And, if that were true, I'd feel uncomfortable."
I poked at the chunk of meat with my fork. It wasn't exactly a commendable action, but as I watched the meat floating and sinking in the soup, I felt like I could talk more easily.
"Is that because you'd think I'm foolish?"
"It's not that... It's just, imagining you with beautiful women, it's a bit... unsettling, I guess... I don't really understand it myself... But when you say I'm ordinary, or have a plain face, or that I'm not cute, I guess that's how you really feel."
"I never said you're not cute."
"Oh, is that so?"
I feel like he said that before, but maybe I was mistaken.
Julius seemed grumpy until we entered the shop, but it seems like it was just my imagination. Now he was talking to me normally, and there was even a hint of a smile on his lips.
Maybe he was just hungry after all. He fought so bravely and got all those wounds, so it made sense. Maybe the alcohol was also helping him feel happy.
If that was the case, then I was glad.
I preferred seeing Julius happy rather than grumpy.
I watched as he quickly finished his portion and took a sip of wine. It lacked elegance as he drank from the large stein, but it was quite a picturesque sight.
I continued to stare absentmindedly at the remaining half of my meat. I was hungry, but that didn't mean I could eat more than usual.
"Chloe. You're the first one Helios has carried besides me. You looked quite composed."
"Julius-san, despite you battling on Cerberus' back, you had a good view. Did I really appear composed? Helios was spinning and swaying so much, I thought I might fall off."
"He was probably just playing around... Helios is not even fifteen yet. It's said that male wyverns live for five hundred years. So while Helios's body is mature, he's still like a toddler. He sees me as his parent, as his father. ...Probably, he recognizes you as his mother."
Julius said it as if it were nothing.
I mulled over the meaning of his words in my mind.
Thinking of Helios rubbing his large face against mine made my chest ache.
He was so cute. Incredibly cute. But still...
"M-Mother... Me?"
My heart was pounding loudly against my chest. I could feel the heat rising to my face.
Julius, casually dropping such remarks, was cunning. Sometimes he was gentle, and sometimes he'd say such surprisingly sweet things without realizing it.
I think he's cunning.
Because it was Julius. There was probably no deeper meaning behind his words. He just said it because he thought that way, that was all.
From my perspective, if Julius were the father and I were the mother, then that would mean, well, it's like, we're married or something, I guess.
It's incredibly unsettling.
Suddenly, I became aware of the wyvern ring on Julius's left ring finger.
I used to think it was a symbol of Julius and Helios's love...
Julius pointed to the plate of leftover meat in front of me and asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"
It was silly how flustered I became over such simple words.
"I can't eat anymore..."
"I'll take it."
Julius pulled the plate toward himself and finished the portion I left with a few bites.
I wasn't sure why, but I found even that to be cunning.
As I realized the concentrated gazes directed towards us, I quickly raised my head, only to see Roxy and the men at the counter seats grinning at us. They were all the people we knew. We weren't close, but we were acquaintances.
I wish they would stop. Those middle-aged men starving for some romantic excitement must be bored. Feeling like any further embarrassment might become fodder for their amusement, I tightened my expression.
We've finished eating, so let's go home. That's best. Let's do that.
"Chloe-chan, there you are!"
Just as I was thinking of leaving, a deep, loud voice pierced my ears.
No sooner had the door to the dining hall swung open, revealing a rather boisterous figure entering, than it became clear: it was none other than Roge, whom we had parted ways with just earlier on the summit of the northern demonic mountain, while the sun was still high.
Roge was clad in the same military attire of the mercenary corps as when I had seen him during the day.
He seemed to be alone; there were no others accompanying him.
"I went to the alchemy shop to express my gratitude, but you weren't there. The neighbors told me you might be here at the dining hall. I'm glad I came, glad to see you!"
"Roge, welcome. Keep it down, will you?"
Roxy admonished as Roge boldly entered the dining hall and sat down beside me, grinning.
Roxy, who was generally kind to customers, seemed unusually annoyed. Roge's loud voice must have been quite disruptive.
"Roxy-san! Get me a beer, too! And since you've taken care of me today, I'll treat Chloe-chan and Julius to dinner, so leave it to me."
Roge declared.
"Huh? Are you sure?"
I thought Roge was rather noisy, too, but since he offered to treat us to dinner, I decided to overlook it entirely. Beside me, Julius glared at Roge with evident displeasure.
Julius disliked loud people, so it's likely he disliked Roge as well.
Roxy wordlessly placed a beer in a stein in front of Roge. I heard her mutter softly, "You're a nuisance, Roge."
With Roge's appearance, it seemed like even more attention was drawn from the other patrons of the dining hall than before. Everyone seemed so idle.
"Well, it's great to see you. I wanted to properly thank you, but Chloe-chan and the others were already leaving in a hurry, so I hurried back to the capital." Roge said.
"That's quite an early return. How did you manage to come back?" Roxy inquired.
"My subordinates were badly injured, and we were running out of healing magic and herbs, so I used the return key that Chloe-chan made for me a while ago. It was expensive, but it was worth it to have it made in advance." Roge explained.
"All of you were covered in blood, weren't you? Your subordinates were on the brink of death. I should have used healing magic on you... I'm sorry." I said regretfully.
At that time, Roge didn't let go of me while embracing me, and the next moment Julius carried me and flew off on Helios, so there was no opportunity for that.
I do remember them losing quite a bit of blood. Since I could use healing magic, I wish I could've helped.
"It's fine. A subordinate who leaves me behind to die on my own is worthless. They should keep fighting even if they're on the brink of death. Right now, they're resting properly at the infirmary. Well, it's okay, they're alive." Roge replied.
"I see..."
Roge seems to have a kind face, but he was quite strict with his subordinates. As the leader of the mercenary corps, he probably had to be strict anyway. It was a world I didn't quite understand. If Julius were injured, I would want to heal him right away.
Glancing at Julius, I saw him sitting in silence, looking somewhat disgruntled, while he gulped down about half of his wine.
I wondered if he was okay.
I hope he's good with alcohol.