Chapter 18 – Day-1 (1)
It had been three days since Elwin and the others arrived in Mediale. Tomorrow would mark the start of the third phase of the LAMPAS Hunter Exam.
And wasn’t proper condition management one of the most important aspects of any test?
“W-wait, are you serious!? I didn’t mishear that, right?!”
But Gale had just heard something completely unexpected.
His red eyes quivered at what he’d been told.
“Yes, you heard correctly. You’re free to relax until dinner.”
Gale had been ruthlessly ground down under Elwin’s strict, minute-by-minute training schedule. Not a second had gone to waste.
“Since you’ve been working so hard, take the afternoon to enjoy yourself. Oh, and here’s some spending money.”
Elwin handed Gale a small pouch.
It felt a little surreal—a youth giving allowance money to someone older than him. But thankfully, no one around found it strange.
“Gasp! H-how much is in here?! One, two, three-four, raccoon…”
Gale peeked into the pouch with trembling fingers, then gaped in disbelief.
“You little…! You’re seriously filthy rich, huh?!”
“Didn’t I tell you? I have more money than I can rot.”
“Ooooooh—! Praise be to the kid! Long live the Sugar Lord!”
Gale’s eyes were practically glowing in the shape of coins.
‘That’s our penny-pincher, alright.’
Elwin burst into laughter at Gale’s shamelessly honest reaction.
“You can use it however you like. I’ve put in enough, but if you run short, you can open a tab under ‘Pan Tveron’s’ name.”
“Got it!”
Gale readily agreed.
“But you do know excessive drinking is off-limits, right?”
Elwin’s expression suddenly shifted to that of a strict teacher.
Gale Garav was a well-known boozehound.
A bird never skips the mill, and neither would Gale ever walk past a tavern untempted.
“Beer’s fine, drink all you want. But nothing too strong.”
It was easier to restrict the type of alcohol than the amount—Gale’s tolerance was infamously high.
“C’mon! Day drinking is basically medicine, right? Medicinal booze!”
“I said no. A glass or two of wine at most. Nothing beyond that.”
“Cheh. Fine.”
Gale pouted but relented. He was aware that tomorrow was exam day, after all.
“You’ll be picked up in Central Plaza later. It’s a bit tricky to find your way back, so Nahr will come get you. Alright, shall we go?”
“…Huh? Oh, yeah.”
Elwin led Gale somewhere.
“Ta-da! Here’s the portal!”
Inside one of many rooms was a portal.
It looked like an ordinary door, but a blue shimmer rippled beyond it.
“Step through here, and you’ll arrive at the first floor of the Association’s headquarters. I’ve already informed the front desk, so you can use the back exit.”
“…Wait a sec. If it was this easy, why did we run in circles on the first day?!”
“Ehehe… Both Nahr and I totally forgot. It’s been a year since we were last in Mediale.”
As Elwin scratched his head sheepishly, he suddenly said, “Oh, right! Gale, could I ask you a favor while you’re out?”
“A favor? What is it?”
“Well…”
Elwin spoke quietly, calmly explaining the request.
“That’s it? …Doesn’t sound too hard.”
“Thank you, Gale! If that situation comes up, I’m counting on you!”
Beaming, Elwin gave him a push on the back.
“Sorry for taking your time. Now go have fun!”
“W-wait! Don’t push—waaah!”
“Have a good time~”
Watching Gale vanish, Elwin’s lips curled upward.
“I hope the two of you get along well.”
His face made it very clear he had something up his sleeve.
***
Before long, Gale found himself in Central Plaza, Mediale. The first place he spotted was a tavern—and of course, he marched right in.
He ordered some food and a cold beer.
“Ahh! That hits the spot!”
Thud!
He slammed his emptied mug down onto the wooden table.
“This is heaven. Oh, how I missed you, alcohol!”
During the airship ride, he hadn’t been allowed a single proper drink.
Or… maybe just a sip?
“That butler guy’s a real stickler. So naggy, too.”
Nahrhan Ferdic had a textbook perfectionist personality.
Like most of his kind, he was fanatical about cleanliness and hygiene.
—Gale-nim, that’s filthy.
—Master Elwin is still quite young. Would you please act as a proper adult role model? Try to keep alcohol under one bottle while aboard the airship.
—Nicotine is harmful. I understand it’s addictive and hard to quit, so I’ll permit one cigarette a day.
He’d been shackled by a litany of restrictions!
At first, Gale had pushed back, but he was no match for Nahrhan.
—You’re already 35… oh, pardon me. As someone who’s lived carelessly until now, I’m sure you’ll cooperate, yes? You didn’t age just for fun, right? Right, Gale-nim?
With cold logic and undeniable facts, Nahrhan utterly crushed him.
“Like master, like servant.”
That stubborn streak definitely reminded him of Elwin.
Gale sighed deeply.
“Didn’t think it’d actually come to this…”
When he’d first met Elwin, he’d thrown out some flippant lines. Now they’d become reality.
Just remembering it gave him goosebumps.
“Forget it. I should just enjoy myself.”
Shaking his head, he raised his hand high.
“Hey! One more beer over here!”
“Yes, coming right up!”
Soon, a cheerful young boy brought out the food.
“Here’s your beer! Oh, and this—if you don’t mind, please enjoy it.”
The boy offered him a plate of steaming, freshly fried potatoes.
“Oh! Looks tasty! Are you even allowed to give out freebies like this?”
“Ha ha! It’s fine. I’ve got a feeling you’re the kind of customer who’ll bring in good business—and maybe even put on a show.”
“…A show? What makes you think that?”
The boy winked, his eyes flashing faintly violet for a moment.
“I’ve got good instincts. Haven’t been wrong once.”
“Yeah? That’s convenient.”
The boy placed the dish down swiftly.
“Anyway, enjoy! Let me know if you want anything else!”
“Oh, thanks for the fries!”
As Gale watched him bustle away with a grin, he muttered,
“…Do all Mediale taverns treat first-timers this well?”
He hesitated briefly… then shrugged and took a big swig.
“…Whatever. No complaints here. Thanks for the food!”
Crunch!
Just as he was getting into it—
Clatter!
The tavern door burst open and someone entered.
“Welcome~!”
The waiter greeted them brightly. But unlike him, the lively, boisterous tavern atmosphere froze in an instant.
Gale, mid-sip, sensed the shift and turned his head.
“What the hell? Why’d it get so quiet?”
Everyone in the tavern had gone stiff, staring toward the entrance.
Following their gaze, Gale saw the new arrival.
“Is there a seat available?”
“Ah, well…”
Gale instinctively began sizing up the guest. His eyes were sharp.
‘Small frame… short stature… most likely a woman. A mercenary? Adventurer? Doesn’t look particularly strong…’
Her face was hidden beneath a deep black robe, but he could tell she had nerves of steel.
“Hah! The vixen has arrived.”
She hadn’t so much as flinched at the sudden change in atmosphere upon entering.
‘Definitely an outsider. Did she have a falling out with the others? Maybe a love triangle?’
Gale watched with growing interest. A fight might break out—and watching bar fights was a tavern’s true joy.
“Damn. Of all places, why’d she have to show up here?”
“What a buzzkill… tch.”
“Ugh—kills the mood. How are we supposed to enjoy drinking now? Let’s move.”
Clomp, clomp.
The place turned icy, with passive-aggressive muttering spoken loud enough for all to hear.
Yet the woman didn’t hesitate—she walked forward, unfazed.
“Tch. What a bunch of pathetic men.”
Gale decided to ignore it.
‘Was hoping for a brawl, but this is just mouth-fighting. Total keyboard warrior energy… Boring.’
What mattered to him was the alcohol and a bit of light entertainment—not their drama.
“Ahhh, this is the good stuff! One more over here!”
But then, unintentionally, he got involved.
A soft voice reached his ear.
“Hello.”
The woman in the black robe sat down across from him.
Through the cloak, bright violet eyes looked directly at him.
“Nice to meet you. Mind if I join you, even though it’s our first meeting?”
“No thanks. This old guy’s in a solo-drinking kind of mood. Try another table.”
Gale looked around with mock concern. Several dagger-sharp stares were aimed their way.
“Yikes. Get this wrong and I might get stabbed.”
He waved his hands dismissively.
“Seems like plenty of people here would love to sit with you. Try them.”
“Oh my. Don’t I get a say too? I’m not interested in drinking with weak men.”
She smiled behind her hand, alluringly.
“Besides… this table isn’t reserved, is it?”
She slipped off her cloak—and her long hair fell in soft waves.
“Let’s have a drink together. I’ll cover the bill.”
A striking beauty.
Her pale violet hair and eyes were rare, and her soft smile carried an elusive, ethereal charm.
“My name is Sercia. Sercia Edelweiss. And you?”
But Gale wasn’t impressed.
“Yeah, not interested. Don’t bother me.”
He snorted.
“I prefer seasoned ladies. Girls like you? Not my thing. I don’t go for kids still smelling like milk.”
He had already been burned—badly—by one “kid”… Elwin.
Getting involved with another would be a disaster.
‘She looks about the same age as that brat, too.’
A second brat? Hard pass.
Besides, his gut told him this girl was nothing but trouble.
“So just scram, will you? My drink’s getting lonely.”
A typical woman might’ve flushed with embarrassment at such rude rejection.
But Sercia wasn’t typical.
“Oh good, I was worried you’d get the wrong idea. I get that a lot—people mistaking basic human decency for romantic interest.”
“Huh?”
“I can’t stand bearded uncles like you, either.”
With a sweet smile, she instantly cast Gale as the delusional one.
“You just look gross. Probably smell gross. Just overall gross. Not my type—I’ve got high standards, you see.”
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Gale swore he could see her words becoming invisible arrows stabbing him in the chest.
“Ugh! She said ‘gross’ three times…!”
He managed to snap out of it and glared at her.
She didn’t back down.
“You sassy little brat.”
“Why, thank you. You filthy old man.”
The two were locked in a fierce war of words—
Crash! Bang!
Suddenly, something shattered nearby.
“You damn b*tch—!”
A furious voice shouted as someone stormed into the fray!