Chapter 347

Chapter 347

Cadel dragged Garuel through the town in the late evening, having familiarized himself with the town’s geography while searching for him, so he could stop wherever he wanted.

The first stop was a clothing store. Not to buy clothes, but because Cadel remembered seeing a display of masks in the window. When he walked in, there weren’t many masks, but it was better than having to scrounge around the market for a replacement for a broken one.

“Pick whatever you like. I’ll buy you one.”

“Umm, I have good taste in men, but not in masks. I’ll settle for anything as long as it covers up well.......”

“It’s nice to have something beautiful to wear. Look, how about this one? It’s got nice curves and a gold pattern. It matches the color of your hair.”

“Don’t you think a white mask is a bit much for me? It’s too bright for a black magician.”

“It’s a stereotype.”

“I like this one better.”

Garuel’s initially reluctant response melted away as Cadel eagerly examined the mask. Cadel looked at the black mask Garuel held up and frowned.

“Dull. No shine, no pattern. Doesn’t it cover too much of your face?”

“Masks are usually worn to cover the face.”

“Don’t they have any designs that cover just one eye, like your last mask?”

“Umm...... I don’t think there’s anything like that. Do you think it’s a shame that my handsome face is covered like that?”

“I’d say that’s rubbish, but I’m not without sentiment. I mean, it’s not even my face.”

Garuel burst out laughing at Cadel’s serious response. It was cute to watch Cadel roll his eyes thoughtfully, trying to find a mask that would somehow cover his face less. After watching him for a few moments, Garuel turned his head at the sound of a familiar voice behind him.

It was the store’s owner. Her freckles and reddish hair covering the bridge of her nose gave her an unpretentious look. When Garuel spotted her, she tilted her head with a faint smile, and her slightly stiff shoulders dropped.

“You must be of the Scarlet Scales Knight Order, right? I was going to stay out of the way so you could enjoy the sights, but I could hear your conversation.”

“Oh, were we too loud? We apologize.”

“Oh, no! It’s not like that.......”

After a moment’s hesitation, she asked Cadel and Garuel for permission, then picked up a mask. It was a plain, dull mask, the first one Garuel had picked out.

“You like this one, don’t you? But you don’t want it to cover too much of your face, am I right?”

“Well, I don’t mind, but our Knight Commander does.”

“Then please give me a few days. I’ll make it the size and shape you want.”

Cadel, who had been staring at the store owner in disbelief at her offer, approached her in surprise.

“Are you sure you can do that?”

“Of course! The members of the Scarlet Scales Knight Order are heroes of the Empire, and now they’re protecting our village, so it’s only fair. Give me three days and I can make it any shape you want, and if you’re going into battle wearing a mask, I’ll make it stronger than normal.”

“Then I ask for your favor!”

“Yes! First, I’d like you to tell me what design you want.......”

Cadel pushed Garuel aside and explained the shape of the mask he wanted the store owner to make. As it turned out, he wanted every square inch reduced except for the area around the left eye.

After a long and unnecessarily wordy list of demands. Garuel looked back at the store owner as Cadel turned to leave.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just take it easy, I’m not one to curse people if I don’t like the results.”

“Well, it’s kind of like that, Mr. Matisse, but you’re not a big drinker, are you?”

“I’ve been drinking for twenty years, twenty years!”

The buzzing atmosphere, the upbeat music, the abundance of drinking buddies and even more alcohol. It was all to Garuel’s liking, and he couldn’t stop smiling. Cadel stared at Garuel’s amused face, then tapped his glass with a playful smirk on his lips.

“Hmm?”

“I brought you here to play with me, and you’re having a blast all by yourself?”

“Oh, are you jealous? Your jealousy is so sweet, I don’t think I need any appetizers.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Give me a minute, I’ll knock them all out.”

Knock them out. The mystery was quickly put to rest when Garuel realized he was going to have a bar fight.

Garuel chose not to wrestle, but to drink, taking on one patron at a time, making bets with them, and using his auto-hungover body as a weapon to knock out everyone in the tavern, including the barkeep. He drank with such flamboyance that the wait was never boring.

Cadel stuck his tongue out as he scanned the crowd sprawled across the bar.

“You really....... What do you call this, a drunkard or a drinking hippo?”

“Please say I’m a born alcoholic.”

“......Yes. That’s amazing.”

The smell of alcohol wafted through the air, making the drink taste even worse. Cadel set down the glass he’d been sipping from and looked over at Garuel, his face redder than usual as if he’d had too much to drink.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Drinking always makes me happy.”

“Few people enjoy drinking as much as you do.”

“......Thank you, Knight Commander.”

“For what?”

“For making me feel better. No more useless worry, no more self-doubt, no more anxiety....... Thanks to you, I was able to forget.”

Leaning back against the chair’s backrest, Garuel craned his neck languidly. It was the first time in a long time that he’d been drinking like a maniac, and his mind was foggy. As he stared blankly at the ceiling with a long exhale, Cadel’s soft voice drifted into his ear.

“That’s enough.”

Cadel’s face relaxed as he slowly lowered his gaze.

“I know I can’t find all your worries and solve them all, but I know what your favorite things are, and if you ever feel like you’re having a hard time, just tell me and I’ll make your day.”

“......So how do we fill your day with happiness?”

“I’m already filled with happiness, every day.”

So happy all the time.

Cadel’s face, smiling broadly, was the most beautiful thing he had ever known. Garuel etched his lingering smile deep into his foggy brain, unable to tell if it was drunkenness or love.

“I’ll never forget this day.”