Chapter 2

“Ah… it’s already getting late.”

Just like Dexter’s darkened face, the sun too was already sinking low. For some reason, she felt a subtle stubbornness toward Aunt Anne, who had not come looking for her.

Was it because a belated rebellious streak was slowly rising within her?

Irien suddenly sprang to her feet and cried out energetically.

“Alright! A-anyway! Since we’ve met again after so long, should we go have a drink?”

“…A drink?”

“Don’t tell me. Dexter, it’s not like you can’t even drink, right? A great mercenary who killed a Red Dragon wouldn’t possibly back out over a drink, would he? Nah, no way.”

Irien put on an irritatingly smug expression and bluffed for no reason. In truth, the only alcohol she had ever had was one or two small sips now and then whenever she and Aunt Anne made fruit wine. But… she had a strange confidence that she would somehow be able to drink well.

Besides, now that she no longer even had a place to sleep, she felt as though she needed to drink if she was going to sleep outdoors. Since it was such a remote country place, nights became quite cold even when it was not winter.

And if things went well, she could have a drink and coax Dexter nicely enough to stay one night at his house. Just like when she had fallen asleep there after playing at his house as a child.

In a cheerful tone, Irien spoke to Dexter.

“So, are you coming or not? Hm?”

“My request comes first, though.”

“Well, whatever it is, it’s probably just some tiny errand from the village elders. I’ll help you later! For now, let’s go have a drink together. Hm?”

Moving right up in front of the pensive Dexter, Irien urged him on. More than anything, she wanted to show Dexter some side of herself that seemed grown-up.

After all, Dexter, who monopolized the village elders’ attention and affection, and she, who was happiest staying shut up at home, were always being compared. Besides, since she could not return home anyway, she wanted to drink at least and get properly drunk.

Thinking of the village elders, strict Aunt Anne suddenly came to mind.

Her aunt, who still treated her like a child even though she was now a full-grown adult.

Whatever it was that worried her so much, she still would not let Irien so much as go near the inn.

Now and then, when she saw the elders coming out of the inn arm in arm, their faces full of merriment, her curiosity would stir. Just what exciting things went on in there?

“Hmm? Dexter?”

Irien urged Dexter once again.

If not now, she might never get another chance like this again.

Perhaps flustered by the sudden suggestion, Dexter was silent for a moment, but soon he smiled and answered.

“Well, alright. If you say you’ll help me.”

“Of course! I’ll help you. Then follow me!”

Just once, she truly wanted to beat that obnoxiously impressive Dexter at something.

Even if that something happened to be drinking!

As if on cue, the sun had begun to sink low and the sky was turning with sunset colors, so the timing was perfect too.

Irien headed toward the inn tucked away in one corner of the village, the place she had had her eye on for some time. The second floor was the inn proper, but on the first floor they sold simple snacks and beer.

It was a place she had always thought she would visit at least once after coming of age, and now she was finally getting to go there only today.

At last, was she about to fall into the corruption of an adult’s tastes!

For some reason, the feeling that she was about to do something she ought not made the corners of Irien’s lips slowly lift.

“Welcome! What can I get for you?”

“Two beers here, please!”

“Irien, what brings you here? Ahem! By the way, is Miss Anne doing wel… no, wait, isn’t that Dexter! You rascal! You’ve gotten even more handsome!”

Mr. Hope, the innkeeper taking their order, raised eyebrows like black soot when he saw her. But soon enough, busy welcoming the famous Dexter, he completely forgot all about her existence. Still, why was it that whenever Mr. Hope saw her, he always started asking after Aunt Anne?

While Irien sat there with a sulky expression, Mr. Hope looped a thick arm around Dexter’s neck and kept grinning so wide his gums showed.

“Hmph… I’m always treated like leftovers.”

Watching the two of them, Irien stuck out her lips in a pout. Only after Dexter and Mr. Hope had finished exchanging news of how they had been for a long while was she finally able to drink her beer.

“Drink! Bottoms up!”

Irien cried out, lifting her glass high.

Freshly grilled sausages bursting with juices, cream stew with an irresistibly rich aroma, and above all, beer that went down smooth and cool.

Irien was extremely excited to be properly outside for the first time, drinking alcohol like this. If she got thoroughly drunk and wandered around the village as she was, Aunt Anne might have no choice but to let her back into the house again.

Not because she was worried about her, but at least because she would be embarrassed.

And so one glass. Then two.

Once it started passing five glasses, Irien felt as if the world before her eyes was wavering.

“Aren’t you drunk, Irien?”

“I’m not drunk. I told you, I’m not drunk!”

Shaking her head vigorously, Irien looked at Dexter in front of her. Perhaps because time had passed in the meantime, Dexter had grown more.

No, if she had to be precise, he had grown more solid. Not just his body, but something about the way he spoke and carried himself had become firm, without the slightest trace of wavering.

Through her swaying vision, she could see Dexter’s handsome brows narrowing in annoyance.

“Irien. Shouldn’t you be going home now? Aunt Anne will be worried.”

“Whaaat? Ah, don’t worry. Don’t worry. Aunt Anne wouldn’t care even if a parasite like me died. That’s right, that’s right.”

“W-wait? Irien!”

Bang!

A noise so loud that all the customers around them turned to look rang through the inn.

Irien, who had been nodding her head, had slammed it straight down onto the table with a thud. At the sight of her, Dexter jumped to his feet in alarm and checked whether she was alright.

“Ha, honestly, you really are….”

Contrary to what Dexter had feared, he confirmed that Irien was perfectly fine. He bowed his head and apologized with a glance to the surrounding patrons who had worried along with him. While he was doing that, Irien lifted her head with a silly grin, showing not the slightest sign of pain.

“Hey. Dexter. Listen to this. Do you think this makes any sense? Aunt Anne… told me to marry Thomas. And if not, she said to get out of the house. So I came out! If she tells me to get out, did she think I couldn’t leave! I can just leave. But no matter what, I can’t live with Thomas, who looks like a squashed tomato! That’s right, that’s right!”

“A squashed tomato… well, I mean, it’s true that he does look like that. Anyway, Irien, you’re drunk. Let’s go back. I’ll take you.”

“I’m not drunk! Anyway! Dexter, isn’t that right? How can you get married when you don’t know anything? And he’s ugly too! It’s not that I’m so impressive that I’m being picky! I just hate ugly men! Why? I just do!”

Watching Irien, who was plainly rambling drunkenly, Dexter let out a long sigh.

How many times did she have to turn his insides upside down before she would be satisfied?

Irien had always been like this. Self-willed and impulsive.

She had always been that way since childhood. Dexter quietly looked at Irien, seated across the table.

Both cheeks flushed red from the effects of alcohol.

Long straw-colored hair softly disheveled.

Even the large green eyes brimming with tears as if aggrieved.

In appearance, Irien looked exactly like a meek little fawn from the forest. Though her personality was the complete opposite.

While Dexter was nursing a headache, Irien started prattling on by herself.

“Nooo! I! I don’t want to marry Thomas! That bastard being ugly isn’t even the whole story! I have my own standards…”

“…What are those.”

After sighing several times, Dexter seemed to decide it would be better to just listen. He rested his elbow on the table, propped up his chin, and asked back. Then Irien chattered away excitedly.

“It’s nothing much. He just has to earn good money, be handsome, be someone I can talk to…. uh… and be good in bed! How can I get married without checking that first!”

“What did you say?”

“Nooo! That’s how it is. Even if he’s rich and handsome, if his d*ck is small, then it’s all ruined… and that’s the most important thing, but you can’t know until you take a look… mmph!”

At that utterly ridiculous line of talk, Dexter shot to his feet and covered Irien’s mouth with both hands. Then he rubbed his face dry for a moment, and the next instant spoke in a slightly irritated voice.

“Then check. You just have to compare, don’t you.”

“Mmm? What did you sayyy?”

Even in her drunken state, Irien blankly asked back as if she thought she had misheard. Dexter rose from his seat and said,

“The conditions you want. Let’s see if they match up with me.”