Chapter 72. In the Same Bed

Claude, half-asleep and groggy, suddenly jolted awake, eyes wide open.

But if you have any conscience, take a good look.

Who is truly in a more shocking situation right now?

I glared at this shameless hero, fuming. I felt like I might burst into tears.

“Ah…”

Even he seemed a bit flustered, as if he wasn’t entirely devoid of conscience.

Claude alternated his gaze between my face and where his hand had been groping, letting out a low groan.

“I didn’t do it on purpose…”

“I’ve known for a long time! You’re just a lecherous womanizer!”

“What? I’ve been called ascetic in my life, but never that…”

“You used to hug people to sleep, and now you’re touching them?! Are you sure you hugged me just because of body heat?”

“I was taking care of you because you’re so weak you catch colds and faint all the time…!”

Claude growled.

His fierce demeanor made me a little intimidated.

But it was sheer luck that our loud argument woke the other two.

Mihail, who had been gripping my left hand tightly, squeezed harder. By the time I, sensing it quickly, turned my head, the ominous prelude to a war had already begun.

“Interesting.”

Mihail said chillingly in a voice that was not at all amused. Sounding like he had just risen from hell, he smiled angelically.

“You seem to have a lot of free time in the North.”

Johann, who had been relatively in the corner of the bed, also got up, muttering in a cold voice.

Claude shouted as if he was wronged.

“You’re acting all noble when you’re all waking up in the same bed!”

Hmm.

Now that I think about it, he had a point.

Since I had no memory from quite early on, I had no idea how I ended up in such a morning.

The events of the night could be inferred through the conversation of these three shameless men.

“Are you comparing yourself to me, who only holds hands while sleeping?”

Mihail said confidently, as if asserting his innocence.

Indeed, there was a significant difference between a thigh and a hand.

For some reason, I felt more trust towards Mihail in this matter, and without realizing it, I leaned slightly towards him, away from the other two.

Then Johann snorted as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Ha! Who was the first to jump up and cling to Seraphina?”

“…I merely asked her to show me the light of purification.”

“While licking her palm, no less.”

“……!”

Startled, I moved away from Mihail.

Come to think of it, this guy had an unusual obsession with my hand. I wouldn’t mind him being enraptured by the light of purification, but his expression was a bit odd!

“It’s better to just lick her hand. Didn’t you embrace her and lay her on the bed?”

This time Johann was attacked.

Claude sneered at him.

“You begged and pleaded to let her stay here because you cleaned the room.”

“…Marseus does not beg.”

“Be careful, Purifier Seraphina. Do you know what he did to you when he laid you on the bed?”

“W-What did he do?”

Even before hearing the answer, I was already looking at Johann with distrustful eyes. He seemed wronged, but seeing as he couldn’t refute anything, it seemed he had no memory of it.

My distrust grew.

“He said there was vomit on you and offered to undress you.”

“……!”

“When did I ever…!”

I opened my eyes wide in surprise. Johann, who was about to make an excuse, froze when our eyes met.

Just to clarify, I slept in the clothes I wore yesterday. And there was no vomit.

…This perverted bastard.

Pretending to be drunk and trying to pull something!

I silently cursed Johann a thousand times over as I slowly moved away from him.

He hastily began to make excuses.

“It was absolutely not intentional. I just thought it was a dream…”

“Why would you dream about that!”

It seemed he had nothing to say on this matter. Johann, at a loss for words, gaped like a fish a few times before clamping his mouth shut.

“If I hadn’t pulled him off, you would’ve been in trouble.”

Claude boasted proudly of his contribution.

Ah, so that’s why Johann was sprawled in the corner of the bed.

But you know…

“So is that why Your Grace slept on my thigh?”

I asked, squinting my eyes slightly. Claude, trying to recall, said,

“I shoved Johann aside and collapsed myself… Honestly, I don’t remember after that.”

From the circumstances, it seemed he just fell asleep right there.

With the situation roughly sorted out, I finally looked at Mihail. When our eyes met, he smiled sweetly.

“When I entered the room, everyone was already knocked out. It seems I’ve proven my drinking capacity is the strongest.”

“What…!”

“Are you kidding me?”

Johann and Claude’s expressions crumpled like paper.

But the ultimate victor, Mihail, continued speaking to me, as if the voices of the defeated were of no concern.

“I was merely impressed by Miss Sera’s abilities.”

And with that, he gently took my hand again.

Hahaha…

How should I react to this…

It was then that a knock was heard.

Without waiting for a response, the visitor opened the door wide. Then they glanced around at us tangled messily on the bed.

“You slept well in such a cramped space.”

Ionia spoke in a tone so businesslike it sounded even more mocking. Jesuf was with her, repeatedly muttering “Oh my” while covering his mouth with one hand.

The two entered the room.

Ionia, standing in front of the bed, asked in a steady voice.

“Do you have a hangover? Considering how much whiskey you drank, it’s likely.”

Oh…

Such incredible charisma, not holding back even in front of the three heroes.

I looked up to Ionia and spoke on behalf of the three men who couldn’t say anything.

“I don’t have a hangover, so there’s no way they would…”

As I glanced at their faces one by one, seeking agreement, these guys subtly avoided my gaze.

“……?”

What is this?

They were acting all fine and fighting as soon as they woke up.

Could it be…?

“Do you all have hangovers?”

Were they just pretending to be fine to act tough? Could it really be that?

I was so dumbfounded that I stood there with my mouth agape. Judging by their expressions, it seemed my guess was correct.

“Oh, the smell of alcohol.”

At that moment, Jesuf waved his hand and grimaced.

“Setting aside the others, what about Your Majesty?”

What on earth could this mean?

Seeing Johann avoid eye contact with a face that had nothing to say, I realized this situation was very unusual.

I soon found out what it meant through Jesuf’s words.

“A person who detests being under the same roof as a drunkard…”

“Hey, that’s unnecessary…”

“To become a drunkard yourself and show such disgrace…”

“So you’re saying you’ve caught me now?”

Johann frowned and glared. Jesuf, realizing he had hit the mark, quietly closed his mouth.

Anyway…

These foolish souls, whose pride leaves nothing but dust.

Honestly, they looked quite pathetic.

Enduring hangovers and acting like this.

“I’ll prepare some potions.”

Perhaps thinking the same as I did, Ionia shook her head and spoke briefly.

Now that I looked, Faye was standing by the door, and when our eyes met, she greeted me warmly. I smiled back at her, equally pleased.

But Faye soon left to carry out Ionia’s order.

She was off to fetch potions to free these poor souls from their hangovers…

“Please listen for a moment.”

Ionia began speaking in a businesslike tone, as if she hadn’t come without a purpose.

“The presence of the undead has been detected in Elmon’s barrier.”

“…What?”

Johann squinted one eye. Already struggling to endure his headache, hearing such bad news made it throb even more.

“When was this report received?”

“Yesterday.”

“Why are you telling me now?”

“Because you were drunk.”

“……”

Johann couldn’t find words to respond and let out a low groan.

Was it because of the change in Elmon, which he believed to be safe? A cold light flickered in his blue eyes.

Soon, Johann stood up.

“Are you going there yourself?”

“Of course.”

With that, Johann gestured for the potions to be brought quickly. Then he signaled me to follow with his eyes, but before I could move, Claude and Mihail got off the bed first.

“We’ll make sure there’s never a need for a purifier in Elmon again.”

“We’ll give it a thorough cleaning, by the will of God.”

I looked at the two with a face full of things I wanted to say.

What is this?

It sounds like they’re doing it for Elmon, but it’s clear they’re just trying to stabilize the place and take me away…

Johann’s expression twisted, like he was thinking the same thing.

But what could he do?

In this situation, where Ionia had reported so openly, there seemed no reason to leave the two behind.

And at that moment, I saw it. Ionia’s eyes shining sharply.

It was similar to the look I thought I had imagined seeing in her eyes last night when I was drunk.