Chapter 71 : Personnel reduction (3)

It seemed he readily accepted the suggestion that exploring the labyrinth might be helpful.

“There’s nothing as grand and beautiful as love.”

Even if it was a matter of life and death.

Especially if it was for such a beautiful woman like her—it was more than enough to captivate a man’s heart.

“I heard you were Princess Kanabi’s dedicated priest.”

“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”

“They say you entered the labyrinth for her…”

“Well, it just turned out that way.”

“Perhaps…”

“Yes?”

The man’s gaze darkened ominously.

“Did you also…?”

“Yes?”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but given the context, was he asking if I had joined because I was in love with Princess Kanabi? It was an absurd suspicion.

Before I could even react to his question, someone else responded first.

Smack!

“Argh!”

“Hey, you lunatic! How dare you be so rude to the priest?!”

“You…! No matter what, hitting that hard isn’t right!”

A noble who had smacked the questioning man on the back of the head stood up in anger.

Watching the two of them bicker and fight, I silently agonized.

Me and Princess Kanabi?

“I’ve never even thought about it.”

No, to be honest, it wasn’t like I had never seen her as a woman.

I was a man, after all, and it’s natural to be drawn to a beautiful woman.

But I never let it show.

I was a priest, and she was a patient.

“There’s a line that must never be crossed.”

That’s why his question was both painfully accurate and an impossible trap to answer.

“If I answer, I lose dignity. If I don’t, I create unnecessary hostility.”

Thankfully, the nobles intervened aggressively.

After some thought, I realized answering might leave a good impression on them, so I spoke.

“It wasn’t a heavy burden. From the beginning, it was the will of the divine that led me to the labyrinth.”

“You don’t have to answer. He was out of line.”

“No, it’s fine. If you’re curious, I should answer. Whether I enter the labyrinth with you or with the church’s punitive force, the path may differ, but the result would have been the same.”

“So you intended to enter from the start.”

“Is it because of that prophecy? The one given 300 years ago, to seal the labyrinth?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Ugh, you! Apologize immediately to this devout man!”

“Why is he so thoughtless?”

Whether because my answer eased his mind or because his friends were angry, the man obediently lowered his head and apologized.

“I let my emotions get the better of me. I apologize.”

He was still in an emotionally turbulent phase, so I had to be generous. Compared to difficult patients I’ve dealt with, this didn’t even count as troublesome behavior.

“Please be more careful in the future. There’s nothing sadder than a good intention being misunderstood.”

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Just when it seemed everything was wrapping up nicely, a noble sitting next to him nudged his side and gestured toward a bottle of liquor.

“Ahem, may I offer you a drink as an apology?”

“Sure, I’ll have a drink.”

I immediately lifted my glass when he mentioned alcohol.

They say alcohol makes everyone equal like dogs.

Four hours into the gathering.

Princess Lasiell had spoken to each team member individually and returned to her quarters about two hours ago.

“That’s when the real drinking began.”

The two hours with Princess Lasiell had been a time for observation and cautious conversation, but the two hours that followed were pure chaos.

Everyone had a high alcohol tolerance, likely due to their physically demanding jobs.

“How much do these people love alcohol?”

As the drinks flowed, the invisible lines that had separated them began to disappear.

Soon after, all distinctions between nobles, priests, and commoners vanished entirely.

The only two categories left in the room were: humans and dogs.

Nobles avoiding commoners? Commoners wary of nobles?

Once sufficiently drunk, social status became irrelevant.

“Woof woof woof!”

“Bark bark bark!”

“Arf arf arf!”

“Oh, dear God…”

At some point, the loud sounds started to resemble the barking of dogs.

How should I handle the people who’ve turned into dogs?

“You can just leave them like this. They’ll manage on their own.”

“They’ll probably sleep on the street…”

“If they have any sense, they’ll just sleep inside the shop and wake up later. The ones who lost already are sleeping over there.”

When I turned my head at Sister Melody’s words, I saw people really sleeping on one side as if they were dead.

“Ah, really?”

So I don’t have to take care of them?

I couldn’t see clearly, but I was relieved.

“Father, maybe it’s time for you to head back?”

“Uh… Should I?”

“Yes, Father, you’ve had quite a lot of rest.”

“Me? I’m fine. I’m not drunk.”

“No, you are drunk.”

This is a little unfair.

I may have drunk a lot, but I’m still having a proper conversation, right?

I’m different from those people making those barking noises, so why can’t they understand my true feelings?

“I’m really upset. I can’t stand it.”

“…Do you cry when you get drunk?”

“Maybe? Am I crying now?”

“Yes, you’re crying.”

“ot….”

Oh, I am crying.

I really am drunk.

Now that there’s clear evidence that I’m crying, there’s no room for excuses.

It’s ridiculous, but I guess I was a dog too.

“It’s just tears, that’s all.”

The only good thing is that I’m just crying and not acting strange.

My mind is still quite clear.

“So… ugh?!”

I was going to say there’s no need to worry about me.

But Sister Melody had already lifted me up and hugged me.

“What, what are you doing?”

Her bold action sobered me up instantly.

I knew she was strong, but how could she lift an adult man like this?

“Oh my, your strength is no joke.”

“Where are you taking Father, Sir Knight?”

The remaining ‘humans’ watched the scene and laughed, asking.

My tongue was a little loose from the alcohol, but it didn’t seem like I was drunk enough to turn into a dog.

“I’ll definitely remember this tomorrow.”

I’m really stacking up some embarrassing moments here.

Sister Melody responded to their questions.

“I’m taking him back to his quarters since he’s drunk.”

“His face looks fine… Ah, never mind. He’s completely drunk. Well then, see you next time. Father, Sir Knight! Please be careful on your way back!”

Seeing my face, which was drenched in tears, he admitted I was drunk and let us go without resistance.

“I… I should greet the princess before leaving…”

I didn’t realize I was drunk until I acknowledged it, and why does the drunk feeling hit me so strongly now?

I hadn’t planned on drinking this much, so it felt unfair.

There were quite a few people encouraging Sister Melody to drink, and I ended up drinking it all on their behalf, which led to this unfortunate situation.

“Princess left two hours ago.”

“Ah… right. I completely forgot. Ugh, the world’s spinning. I don’t usually get this drunk.”

“Yes.”

“So… if I just wait a bit, I’ll recover quickly! Can a hangover be treated?”

Sometimes people come to the temple to recover from hangovers.

Could I, with my abilities, remove my own drunken state?

I don’t drink often, so I had never tried it before and wasn’t sure.

“Could you please let me down for a moment?”

My tongue was loosened, and my words started to slur.

I was clearly trying to speak carefully, but why did my voice sound so sloppy?

“You’re turning red. I’ll just keep walking like this.”

“No, no, I’m really fine. Let me down. I can cure it in one go!”

“You’re drinking to get drunk, so do you really need to sober up? Just leave it. Aren’t I here to help?”

If there’s no protector, I understand, but she was here and would take me back to the quarters, so why use holy power unnecessarily?

“It’s fine! I can just cure it in one go!”

I tried to use my holy power to heal, but strangely, nothing came out.

“Eh? Why isn’t it working?”

“When you’re drunk, it’s natural that it doesn’t work well. Self-healing while drunk is difficult.”

“It shouldn’t be like this.”

“Is something bothering you?”

Of course, it is.

A priest drunk and being carried by a woman back to the temple?

The moment someone finds out, I’ll be the laughingstock the next day.

“I’ll explain that it happened because of me. So don’t worry, you won’t be made fun of.”

Eh? How did she know what I was thinking?

“I knew because you said it yourself.”

“Of….”

I must have spoken it aloud, not just thought it.

I really should stop thinking it…

“I guess I’ve become a dog. Should I bark too?”

Like those other people?

“I recommend you stay quiet.”

If you say not to, I won’t.

I tend to listen pretty well.

“Heh.”

I suddenly started laughing.

I shouldn’t be laughing while crying, but something random that came to mind was too funny to resist.

“Isn’t it funny? Nobles or commoners, regardless of rank, become equal in front of alcohol. The people who drew a line between ‘I’m a noble, and you’re a commoner!’ suddenly arm in arm, dancing and playing together when drunk.”

“…….”

“If you’re going to act like that, don’t pretend to be so dignified.”

Why did they act so aloof when they could have just had fun like that?

Actually, this is a case of “do as I say, not as I do.”

Even among priests, many who wielded holy power looked down on others, so I had thought to myself, “I shouldn’t be like that.”

“Father.”

“……”

“Father?”

My ears started to ring, and my eyelids grew heavy.

Unable to resist the alcohol’s effect, I finally closed my eyes.

I should have asked to be let down…

Sadly, when I opened my eyes again, a terrible hangover awaited me.