LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 84
Chapter 84. A Sea of Wine and a Forest of Meat
“Uuyaa~~…”
Antendeixis, with a flushed face, slumped on the couch and made a strange noise.
“Uuuh… I want you to pat me too~!”
And then he rubbed his head against my belly, looking for affection.
That arrogant and insolent Demon God! Acting like a little girl with puffed cheeks!
“Okay, okay…”
I hadn’t been able to focus on studying at all. I set my book aside and started to pat Antendeixis’ head.
Since he was in human form now, I could feel a slightly sweaty heat radiating from him… His body temperature was super high…
“Aahihyahihyahiyah! The letters are all blurry~~!”
Meanwhile, at the table, a red-faced Sophia was reading a book with an empty liquor bottle in front of her, laughing out loud.
Naturally, she was also in human form. She gulped down some distilled liquor, becoming completely wasted while peering into the book.
“Uhee… Hiehiehie! Oh, this page… I already read it earlier! Ahhihyahihyahihya!!”
She was laughing so much that she couldn’t even read her book.
That knowledge-hungry Demon of Curiosity! She hadn’t turned a single page since earlier!
“Eh…?”
Leila, who was sitting opposite Sophia, was pulling a face and sliding her chair back.
Suddenly, our eyes met.
“……”
“Please do something…” Leila looked troubled, and I showed her a pose of surrender.
“I won’t be happy unless you look at me properly~!”
At that, Antendeixis’ hot hand grabbed my face tightly.
“Pat me more~…!”
Antendeixis tangled up with me like a spoiled child, his breath reeking of alcohol.
“I’m watching you…”
Since I always took care of him… I hugged his slender body and continued to pat him as if I were nursing him.
How did we end up in such a situation…?
Let’s rewind a few hours back――
†††
That idiot from the Anoitus tribe.
His horn was broken, and his magical power had weakened sufficiently; I had returned the favor with a nosebleed from a Teleportation Spell and said my goodbyes, but it didn’t resolve the matter.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before…”
On the way back, Sophia’s face was grim.
It seemed breaking horns in a fight was unprecedented. Especially when it was done by a five-year-old using bare hands.
…It’s also quite unprecedented for someone to pick a fight with a five-year-old. It’s a special level of absurdity.
Horns are a symbol of identity and dignity for the Demon Tribe. In the Demon Lord Kingdom, there’s even a severe punishment called “Horn Breaking Punishment,” second only to death. Breaking them in a non-duel fight is like gouging out someone’s eyes or crushing their jewels among humans.
Given that there were many witnesses, it seemed to cause ripples in various places. Surprisingly, however, very few voiced criticism against me or showed sympathy for Megalos.
“Even if they were of the same rank, attacking a younger noble who had just been granted their title first, and then this is what happened. They’ll be the laughingstock for generations to come.”
When Platy received my report, she had a delightful smile on her face.
“And yet, what a vivid debut in the social scene you’ve made, Zilbagias.”
S-Social scene…
It’s not the social scene I know…!
“I was surprised that you broke the horn by hand, but… With this, unless they’re total fools or ignorant of fear, they shouldn’t bother you anymore.”
In this manner, Platy lauded me.
And since protests from the Anoitus tribe were expected, I devised countermeasures.
“Just a little poke, and snap! So, let’s say fixing it would be useless since it would just break again right away.”
“That’s a great idea! Absolutely brilliant!”
Platy burst into laughter, and my off-the-cuff remark was adopted as the official response. Not just the horn, but his left arm was broken too, and even his nose was in bad shape. They would probably delay treatment for the horn and put everything else on the backburner. How pitiful…
“I’m really glad you’re a strong child, Zilbagias. Take it easy today.”
After praising me, Platy cheerfully took her leave.
It’s an interesting feature of Demon culture or perhaps their general trend, they tend to relax after battles. Despite the merciless training they typically inflict, they become oddly generous in such moments…
So, my little brawl had been counted as a ‘battle’.
Considering how much pride, rumors, and social status had shifted at that moment, it was a reasonable judgment.
“Well then, let’s take it easy!”
That’s when Antendeixis suddenly popped out from my side.
“You’ve always been taking it easy.”
“No, this time is special! It’s almost mealtime, right?”
He transformed into human form with a swoosh and grinned wickedly.
“What a great occasion! Let’s celebrate your glorious debut in the social scene with a toast! Bring the booze, bring the booze!!”
And so―― Antendeixis gulped down alcohol to go with my late-night snack, even though it was still early in the evening――
Sophia, who had been helping Leila study, also, driven by academic curiosity, took a drink――
――And at first, it was all good.
“Mmm, this wine is sweet and delicious. But when it comes to this distilled liquor or beer, I can’t say if they taste good or not…”
Antendeixis maintained his reason while tasting various kinds of alcohol.
“Mmm… It seems to be getting a bit warm. Is this what heat feels like…?”
Antendeixis often wore outfits that were quite revealing, resembling party dresses. Even then, his chest, already full of gaps, was fluttering, and by this point, he was just slightly red-faced.
“Aah… My head feels all fuzzy…”
It seemed the human-form Antendeixis was weak to alcohol, as he began to get dazed after about the third glass of wine. Looking back now, I should have stopped him then, but I was engrossed in my reading…
What about me? I’m definitely not drinking. After all, I’m five years old.
My body may be growing, but I’m still very much in the range of a child. By Demon standards, that’s totally not okay either. Besides, I never really had the habit of drinking from my previous life.
Regardless, while I was absorbed in my book, Antendeixis suddenly jumped onto the couch.
“Nyah~~…”
Letting out a strange voice, he curled up like a cat.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“…Me too.”
“Huh?”
“I want you to pat me too~!”
What’s gotten into you!? Everyone in the room exchanged glances.
“Why!?”
“It’s always the dumb dog and cat getting all the attention, it’s not fair~~!”
Antendeixis climbed on top of me, throwing a tantrum. After jokingly suggesting “Should I pet you too?” he shot back, “You’re five billion years too early, you little brat!”
“Alright, alright, I got it!”
I never expected him to be like this. I thought I’d tease him later, finding it amusing.
“To think the great Antendeixis would lose his marbles like this…”
Sophia remarked, now joining the fray.
While watching Leila’s study, she measured distilled liquor with a glass, starting an experiment to see its effects on the body.
“Mmm… cough, when the vaporized alcohol flows into my lungs, it makes breathing a hassle, huh?”
“Ohh, that’s the flavor like this…”
“…? Is my vision slightly swaying? Is this the sensation of intoxication?”
Clinking cups while impressed――
“Mm… Hehe, I’m starting to feel fun… Nnfuhih…”
“Ahh, I’m drunk! I’m totally drunk right now!! Ahaha!”
“Oh! Wait! Let’s read a book too!! …Huh? I can’t pull the book out… oh, right! I’m a human right now! Ahahahahahaha~!!”
Yeah… we should have stopped there…
I found their antics amusing and continued to watch…
From there, both of them escalated more and more――
“Uyaa~~~~…”
With dazed eyes, Antendeixis was drooling while rubbing his cheeks against me. Occasionally turning his head, he bit at my neck and arms.
“Wihihihih… Ahaha, did this illustration always look this ridiculous? Hehehe!”
Sophia burst into laughter at an utterly unremarkable illustration, banging the table.
And that brings us to the present…
“Ku~~n.”
Liliana was looking at Antendeixis with a slightly worried expression. After all, she was wedged into her usual spot on my lap.
“Liliana… Can’t you do something about their drunkenness…?”
“Wau?”
She tilted her head.
Yeah… if they were suffering from a hangover, it would be another story, but they were just rambling and not in a state that seemed necessary for treatment. Sophia looked to be having a blast…
“…I think it’s about time for both of you to revert from human form.”
If they reverted, they’d sober up.
The situation was becoming unbearable to watch. Being bitten by Antendeixis was unpleasant, and honestly, the atmosphere was getting suspicious. At this rate, I might end up getting eaten…
“I don’t wanna~~! I wanna stay like this~~!!”
“Eh? Well, that might be okay too! Hey! …Um, how do I cancel it again?”
Antendeixis was throwing a tantrum, and Sophia had even forgotten how to use magic.
She actually forgot how to use it!!
That knowledge Demon!! Forget how to use magic!!
“Ahihyah! I don’t remember anymore! Hehihihihi!!”
While she was laughing her head off, I was literally terrified. I realized in that moment that the method for reversing human transformation was a dangerous spell that could override even a Demon’s powers.
In other words, did this mean they’d be like this for a while…!!?
“Nnnyah! Just watch me!!”
While I was at my wit’s end, Antendeixis began to get angry.
“Don’t worry, I’m totally watching you…”
“Really~~? …You’re… mine alone…”
Antendeixis entwined around me like an octopus. While nibbling at my ear, he whispered, “Forever, forever… I’m yours alone…”
“Ku~~n…”
Usually, Liliana would come close saying, “Me too, me too~,” but it seemed she sensed something unsettling and was acting troubled.
“Ehihihihi! More, more! Ahh, Leila! How’s it going!! Are you making progress with your studies~!?”
“Eep! Y-Yes… I’m making progress…!!”
That’s a total lie!!!
Having her shoulder grabbed by the crimson-faced Sophia, Leila looked to me for help――
“My… my… my…”
I was too busy handling Antendeixis…!!
I’m sorry, Leila…! I swear I’ll make you happy…!!
But not right now…！！！
–In the end, it took about two hours for Sophia to pass out drunk and for Antendeixis to fall asleep.