Naysis Ferne: Hey—you’re Di Qi Ju…Di Qi Ju, right?
Di Qi Ju: ……
As we stepped off the stage, Breman left me with the job of welcoming Three’floral while he went off to rub our victory in the waiter’s face.
While it seemed strange to me at first, I think I understood his motives now…
As I waited for Three’floral Dawn, a little scamp hovered around me, chanting my name as she stuck out her head.
Objectively speaking, Naysis had the bearing expected of a country’s princess, her looks were delicate and adorable as well. However, I just didn’t take to her.
I doubt I’ll ever take to a woman as unpredictable as her.
Naysis Ferne: Your surname is “Di Qi” (No.7) does that mean that there’s a No.1 ,2…6 as well?
Di Qi Ju: …I guess there are, what about it?
Naysis Ferne: Nothing much, I was just being curious.
Di Qi Ju: ……
I turned to look at her companion, the butler Carmen, who was standing by her side innocently looking around at the non-existent scenery.
Naysis Ferne: I bet you have some kind of protective badge on you, the kind used by those mechanists. Don’t you, Di Qi Ju?
Di Qi Ju: …huh?
Naysis Ferne: Recently, that occupation has seen an upsurge in the country of Skill. These mechanists would invest their wish points into some mechanical contraption as they felt that researching such a thing had endless possibilities.
Naysis Ferne: I’ve seen them promote “A badge that would prevent any fatal injuries” or something similar to that effect.
Di Qi Ju: Oh, is that so.
Was it that strange to combine technology and wish points? Well, either way my survival had nothing to do with some unknown technology from a different world.
Seeing my nonchalance, her eyes lit up and she smiled slightly as if her theory had just been proven right.
Naysis Ferne: I knew it! That officer Breman must’ve spent a large sum of money to attain such a thing for you to use, just for that bit of self-satisfaction from watching the badge take effect.
Naysis Ferne: Just now as well, he purposely tricked Double Seventeen into surrendering. If he had continued for a few more strikes, you would’ve probably lost your life.
Naysis Ferne: And here I thought he was great boyfriend material with his dashing looks and bearing. Must’ve been tough on you to have such a superior, Di Qi Ju.
Di Qi Ju: Well…I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Breman.
Naysis Ferne: Huh? Don’t tell me you’re really gay? I thought he was just forcing you to be with him.
Di Qi Ju: ……
What do you mean gay?! I really want to deny that…but then I’ll have to deal with this “trouble”…
Naysis Ferne: But don’t worry. If you need me to, I’ll find a way to save you from the vile clutches of Breman!
The young girl cracked her knuckles as a show of her readiness to intervene.
Breman…didn’t you say that she would lose interest immediately? Why do I feel that she has gotten even clingier…
Di Qi Ju: I say…haven’t we just met? There shouldn’t be any reason for you to cling to me like this.
Naysis Ferne: Hmm? Don’t all friendships and romances start with a chance meeting?
Di Qi Ju: …it’s not like all meetings last for long.
Naysis Ferne: But, I just saw it with my own eyes, you’re amazing, Di Qi Ju.
Di Qi Ju: …huh??
Naysis Ferne: Those protective badges created by the mechanists aren’t very stable. Yet you bravely stood there without even blinking, ready to take that terrifying blow. Just based on your audacity alone, you’ll be able to attract a few fans.
Di Qi Ju: That…
But that was because I couldn’t even react to it…
And after all my run-ins with monsters, I’m kind of numb to this level of shock…
Naysis Ferne: Compared to that, your superior is clearly lacking!
Naysis Ferne: About that…are you sure you won’t reconsider what we just talked about?
Di Qi Ju: ……
“What we just talked about”, did you mean when you confessed to Breman but got rejected and instantly turned towards me and confessed?
Having heard all this, I finally understood why he went so far as to act as a hooligan in the National Fragrances.
“Breman: …this kind of girl would lose interest soon enough. Let’s get down to serious business instead.”
Your plan is to show off your “unruly” side in order to shift her focus from you onto me, isn’t it, Breman!
That’s right, she definitely lost interest in YOU.
……
Come to think of it, how many times have you dug a pit for me to jump into…Breman…
Di Qi Ju: Look, little sister…
Naysis Ferne: I’m already 15, I’m not a little sister!
Di Qi Ju: Alright alright…
Di Qi Ju: I still have a mission on hand so I can’t move about as I wish…given your qualifications, I’m sure you’ll be able to find a boyfriend easily. You should find a more suitable boy instead.
Naysis Ferne: ……
Naysis Ferne: A suitable boy…such a person doesn’t exist in this country anymore.
Di Qi Ju: ….?
She lowered her head, clearly pondering something.
I do not know what she has gone through, but the her right now had an expression that suited her young looks.
—the worried look of a teenage girl, a worry that confused her.
Especially when this expression appeared on a face like hers, it made others want to express their affection for her.
Originally I didn’t like her very much, but right now, I had this urge to reach out and comfort her.
Naysis Ferne: —!
However, she deftly evaded my hand.
Di Qi Ju: …?
Carmen: —Princess Naysis doesn’t like being touched by people, please watch yourself, Di Qi Ju.
Di Qi Ju: …alright.
Naysis Ferne: Don’t be like that Carmen, he’s a foreigner after all.
In just the span of a short exchange, she reverted back to her lovable yet slightly mischievous self.
Naysis Ferne: By the way, judging from your words just now, you aren’t actually gay, are you Di Qi Ju?
Di Qi Ju: ……
Naysis Ferne: Then, it’s not like you can’t accept me.
Di Qi Ju: ……
Di Qi Ju: …Princess Naysis, I still have to receive a person, please excuse my departure.
Naysis Ferne: Hey—
This is just a bit too much for me to handle…as a person who has never had any experience with the fairer sex, I still don’t have the ability to handle this type of conversation!
Naysis Ferne: …
Naysis Ferne: ……
Carmen: Princess, I haven’t seen you dig in for the long haul for quite some time.
Carmen: Are you serious about it this time?
Naysis Ferne: I’m always serious, Carmen.
Carmen: But…not every man in this world is as self-restrained as you think.
Naysis Ferne: I’ve heard that sentence a million times now.
Naysis Ferne: I’ll make sure to observe the situation.
……
……
At night, in the most opulent restaurant of the National Fragrances, within a cubicle on the third floor, Breman and Three’floral were having their planned dinner.
As the two chatted, there were no outsiders or followers beside them. Naturally I wasn’t there as well. I was stationed outside of the cubicle, quietly watching the human traffic along the hallway like a bodyguard.
Given their respective positions, the contents of their talk must’ve been critical, the sort of thing I wouldn’t want to blindly stick myself into.
Roughly 30 minutes into the meal, the cubicle door opened. Breman beckoned for me to enter and pulled up a seat beside him.
Three’floral Dawn: Oh, little brother, you haven’t had your meal as yet have you? How about a drink to go along with it?
His face was flushed red from the wine, judging by his glazed eyes, he was slightly drunk. Their talks must’ve gone well for him to lower his guard this much.
Breman: That’s right. It’s rare for Master Three’floral to be so happy today, you should join in as well.
Di Qi Ju: …alright.
Three’floral Dawn was currently slicing into a succulent beef steak on his plate, taking advantage of that, I leaned in and whispered in Breman’s ears.
Di Qi Ju: What kind of trouble are you getting me into this time?
Breman: Haha! I don’t know what you’re talking about…by the way, do you drink?
Di Qi Ju: I don’t or should I say, just smelling it makes me drunk.
Breman: …actually I’m not really good at drinking as well.
Di Qi Ju: …I get it. Can I say no?
Breman: But I haven’t said a thing yet!
Di Qi Ju: Isn’t it just to tank the alcohol?
Breman: No no, I just want you to enjoy a meal here.
Di Qi Ju: Isn’t that the same thing!
Three’floral Dawn:—-I say, Little Brother Di Qi Ju…
Di Qi Ju: —Ah? What’s the matter?
I immediately left Breman’s side and picked up the conversation.
Three’floral Dawn: What do you think the word “alcohol” means in the circle of the wealthy and influential?
Di Qi Ju: I’m not sure…
Three’floral Dawn: Haha…it means “honesty”.
Three’floral Dawn: Alcohol makes a person honest. This old man has toured the financial scene for years and during those years, using alcohol to measure a person’s sincerity has rarely failed me.
Three’floral Dawn: Will this little brother accommodate this little habit of mine?
Di Qi Ju: But…aren’t you already drunk?
Three’floral Dawn: Hah, no way! How can this be called drunk?
Three’floral Dawn: Men! Bring us more wine!!
Waiter: —-understood.
A short while later, a number of wooden casks were brought into our cubicle. As the waiter cracked open the cask, the fruity smell of red wine burst out of its wooden container and filled the cubicle. Looking at the alcohol of unknown percentage, I silently cursed in my mind.
Three’floral Dawn: Come come, let’s drink!
He picked up the filled wine glass and downed it in one gulp as if he was drinking plain water. His portly body does make him look like a giant wine casket…
Three’floral Dawn: Let’s drink!
Di Qi Ju: ……
Breman: Hah…just drink, take it as a celebration for our first successful deal.
Di Qi Ju: …….
…kill me…please.
……
Half an hour later.
Breman: ……
Breman: Master Three’floral, the wine’s gone.
Three’floral Dawn: …oh?
Three’floral Dawn: I guess it is…well that’s it for dinner.
By now, his face was as red as the wine itself and his posture was slightly unstable. Yet, his words were still remarkably clear and coherent, completely unlike what you would expect of his drunken state.
Is this the final form of a drunken businessman?
Breman: Di Qi Ju, are you alright?
Di Qi Ju: Other than an urgent need to relieve myself, I’m fine.
Breman: You brat…you actually hid this ability from me.
Di Qi Ju: I didn’t hide anything…I really haven’t drank before!
Di Qi Ju: —excuse me, I need to head to the washroom!
With an awkward dash, I burst into the washroom and undid pants. Immediately, the toilet was filled with the aroma of wine.
Am I even peeing…isn’t this all wine…
Furthermore, while the initial taste was pretty strong, it felt like I had ingested water instead.
Come to think of it, alcohol could be considered toxic as well. Doesn’t that fall under the parameters of my wish ability.
Which means my ability saw the wine as harmful and expelled it directly!
This…so this is what it means to “drink as if you’re drinking water”.
……
……
As we walked out of the National Fragrances, the sidewalk lamps had just begun lighting up.
The lamps were the same kind of fuelled lamps we saw in Honor, except their luminescence was much more warm and gentle.
They gave the area a tangible sleaziness found in places that advertised a certain kind of nightlife.
Three’floral Dawn: Hah…I haven’t had such a pleasant drink in such a long time.
Three’floral Dawn: Little brother, you have a pretty high alcohol tolerance. Such an honest youth is hard to find nowadays.
Di Qi Ju: Ah hah…
Three’floral Dawn: However, the night’s still young and there’s still a lot to do.
Breman: Master Three’floral means to continue somewhere else?
Three’floral Dawn: Since you’ve already brought this old one here, how about we visit the flower district(red light district)?
Breman: ……
Breman: Flower district huh…sure, if that’s what you want.
Three’floral Dawn: It would be even better if you wanted it as well.
Breman: Haha…
Di Qi Ju: …?
Di Qi Ju: Breman, what’s a flower district? A shopping district for flowers?
Breman: I guess you could say that, however, the goods and services are mostly flower women. (prostitutes)
Di Qi Ju: Flower women?
Di Qi Ju: Flower women….
Di Qi Ju: ……
Hearing that foreign term, I seemed to have understood something…
Footnotes:
Credits:
Special thanks to Steve Granger!!
