"So, that's what happened."
About half an hour had passed since the two arrived at a small conference room inside the castle. After the failed assault Rom had pulled, Rudeus was responsible for escorting the criminal, now an official camp member, out and safe. After leaving the main hall, he guided Rom to a small side room for quick conferences. The maids working there looked surprised at their entrance. They weren't informed of a meeting scheduled at this time. But as they approached to ask, they noticed the white-robed uniform Rudeus was wearing and cleared the room. The uniform, while not specifically official knightly garb, looked the part—enough for the maids not to question his authority. They returned to serve some tea and promptly left the two alone.
"That was… stupid of me, wasn't it?" Rom replied, sighing.
"It can't be helped, can it? You haven't seen her in what, two months now? Anybody would get desperate at that point. You didn't do anything wrong. If anything, it was my fault for not checking up on you sooner." Rudeus replied.
During the two months Rudeus spent at the mansion, he could have asked to visit the capital to check up on the people who helped him on his last day. It wasn't like he never thought of it before, but he never asked Emilia or Roswaal.
'Now that I think about it, why did I never bring it up for the past two months? It's not like Emilia is a slave driver working me to the ground. Sure, I was busy, but outside the first week, it was never hectic enough never to bring it up.'
Rubbing his cheek, he thought about why he had never visited.
But no matter how much he thought, he couldn't come up with anything.
"Well, even if you say so. Well, anyway, thanks again. These old bones wouldn't have stood a chance alone there." Rom muttered.
Lowing his gaze down to the floor, Rom meekly thanked the magician once more.
It seemed he could only be more indebted to the young boy.
"Excuse me." A voice called beyond the door.
With a quick gait and elegant gestures, an Imperial knight with purple hair entered the meeting room. He scanned the room without losing haste and immediately locked eyes with Rudeus.
And in turn, the boy stood from his chair and greeted the knight approaching him.
"Ah, Julius-san, is the meeting over?" He asked amiably.
It had been nearly an hour since they left the Royal summoning. Rom and Rudeus had just spent the time with small talk. About Rom's current life after his loot house was destroyed, he'd spent the past week in a small hut near a small pond. The nights had been quite chilly, but after the small renovations Rudeus did, the shed held up much better during the cold nights.
But small talk had its weak points. No matter how interesting the people were, talking about nothing for an hour straight had challenges, and Rudeus was getting bored of waiting.
So, when Julius finally interrupted, he was more than happy to return to work and join Emilia.
"No, but it is almost over now. I have excused myself early to discuss something. Would you mind joining me?" Julius politely asked.
His call was calm and tempered, and he asked out with no hidden agenda behind his voice. However, his voice didn't portray friendliness either. Though his voice was kind, his eyes were on a mission, and they never left Rudeus' sight.
"Ummm, sure," Rudeus replied in kind.
But before he followed Julius out the door, he turned back at the giant still enjoying his warm tea.
"I guess this is goodbye, Old Man Rom. I'll let Felt know you're here."
With those parting words, Rudeus quickly followed Julius out of the hall as he guided the young mage to the conference room next door.
As Rudeus entered the room, Julius quickly closed the door behind him and faced the young man in front of him. Julius could not speak and act freely with a third party to see or listen. He was the Knight of knights, after all. He was still in this room, but with just the two, he could relax a bit.
"How has our… guest behaving?" Julius inquired.
"Old man Rom has been behaving, Julius-san. Once I explained what happened, he was content with waiting for Felt… Felt-sama. By the way, will he really be exempt from any punishment? His actions can't be overlooked, but Rom must have desperately sought his surrogate daughter." Rudeus replied.
His last sentences quieted as they left the mage's mouth. Rudeus wanted to believe that a parent's dedication to their family was unbreakable. Sure, there were odd cases of dysfunctional families with abusive parents or unruly children. But from the depth of his heart, he felt the two had a much deeper bond than it seemed.
Because the latter was something he was far too familiar with.
"That is not something to worry about. So long as Felt-sama wishes it, no one will dare try to harm a Royal Candidate's Family." Julius sighed.
He stepped forward and inched closer to a Rudeus across the room.
"Besides, they would have to pass Reinhard first." Julius reaffirmed.
And that acted to calm Rudeus' words. He had worked first to defend a friend in need. But now that he could picture Reinhard in his stead, all his worries washed away like mid-day rain.
"Though, I must ask something of you. That is why I've come here." Julius continued.
"Oh, um, of course, please go ahead." Rudeus readily replied.
"It is a simple manner. But did you expect such a development? I noticed from the corner of my eye you had already prepared to act seconds before the smoke began to rise." Julius questioned.
Rudeus swallowed hard at the question. Was it really safe to admit he was from another world? As far as he knew, he and Al were the only people from Japan, and no one else seemed to know Al was from another world. Roswaal and Emilia were lenient enough to let it slide, but would the Lugunican government do so too? Actually, did any of the people he met so far even believe him? Even if they did, could he explain that a mythical loli Demon lord gave him a magical eye for lending lunch?
'That sounds way too ridiculous to take seriously… Does this world even view Demons well? They clearly don't take kindly to the Elves.'
"Well, I knew Rom was looking for Felt-sama beforehand, but I didn't know he would show up today… I think I was just on edge once the nobles started heckling." Rudeus unsteadily replied.
He didn't feel he could simply lie about the situation, so an answer of half-truths was given instead. While he "knew" an attraction would happen seconds before it did, it was also true he had no clue Rom would show up before the start of the Royal summoning.
And that answer seemed to satisfy Julius' question as he nodded and whispered, "I see." to himself.
"Yes, I recall you were quite stressed when the nobles started their blatant hate towards the candidates. You looked like you wished to act yourself, yet constantly stopped yourself like a lid over some boiling soup. Was this by design? Was your camp's introduction ruined by the sudden intrusion?" Julius questioned once more.
"Our.. design?" Rudeus quietly questioned.
Sure, he had orders to not do anything. Emilia had been upset with his tendency to act first before thinking. So, Rudeus felt that for once, at a Royal summoning in front of the entire country's nobles, he should stick to Emilia's orders and nothing more.
But nothing indicated that a "plan" was set in place.
"Well, Emilia-sama did tell me to stay put. But I don't think there was a plan. At least, I wasn't informed of such." Rudeus replied.
'Wait, am I even supposed to talk about this stuff? Julius seems like a good enough person to not leak private conversations, but he is part of an opposing faction. Could this seemingly meaningless conversation be a probe to fish out some classification from me? Well, sucks for you, bud, because I know crap about our camp!"
"Stay… put?"
With an emphasis on his words, Julius questioned Rudeus at his seemingly ordinary answer.
"Yes, that's correct," Rudeus answered, utterly unaware of the change in Julius' tone.
He just nodded happily since he had no worries about leaking classified information.
At his answer, something changed. Julius was no longer his relaxed self. With his arms crossed, eyes twitching, and his gaze slightly pointed downwards, the tension in the air sharply rose.
"It's not my business to understand the inner clockwork of opposing factions… But in other words, You chose to stay put but defended that man without a moment's thought." Julius questioned.
"Um, I think so… I guess I could have followed orders if Rom hadn't made a scene," Rudeus replied, timidly scratching his head.
This settled it. What might have initially seemed like a minor misunderstanding was now unmistakably clear, affirmed by Rudeus's recent response. The Rudeus he had come to know was an inherently honest man, one who could not abide injustice. While he displayed a momentary lapse of understanding, he swiftly acted to educate himself and rectify his mistakes. In just one day, he could observe a stark contrast between the Rudeus he initially met and the one before him now. Regardless of his prior experiences in high society, Rudeus had demonstrated a sincere and commendable effort to grasp and embody Lugunican civility. As a mentor to the young, inexperienced knight and the catalyst that had set his course towards self-improvement, he couldn't help but feel genuine pride at witnessing this transformation.
With a low growl, he squinted his eyes harder at the confused Rudeus before him, catching on that something was not right.
"I shall only say this once. I am an outsider, after all. If my words seem meaningless, then freely forget what I ask."
Taking another step forward, Julius elaborated.
"Rudeus, In just a few short days, you have learned the Lugunican etiquette and acted properly without a hitch. Just now, you had risked your own life for a criminal, fully knowing its consequences. That is the sign of good character."
Amidst the unexpected praise, which starkly contrasted with the room's prevailing ambiance, Rudeus pondered the conversation's direction. While the premature acknowledgment from the self-proclaimed Knight of knights was undoubtedly gratifying, an inexplicable hollowness lingered within him.
'If he says so, I guess it's true?' He thought to himself, lightly nodding as Julius went on.
'Though, I have no clue where this is going. Besides, is that really even praiseworthy? Acting for nobility was never an issue. Really, since the knights had their designated spot away from the nobles, and the knights around me were thankfully acquainted, I didn't feel like I had to work too hard.'
"But, do you not see the contradiction here? You would throw your life yet refuse to act in your master's stead?" Julius continued his eyes now sharper than ever.
"Huh?" Rudeus hummed.
He couldn't help but let out his confusion. When had the starting praise turned into direct criticism? But more importantly, was Julius admonishing him for defending Rom's life today?
'That doesn't sound right. If that's the case, then I can't agree with Julius' point here. Even if it were just a short while, I knew of Rom and his situation. If I had decided to live seriously, I could have never ignored the old man getting cut down in front of me. There's no way saving him was a bad decision!'
"What is that? Are you saying I shouldn't have saved him?" Rudeus swiftly replied.
Until now, Rudeus had made sure to speak politely and agreeably. It was one of the most essential parts of "noble talk." Even if the speaker was despicable, shouting nonsense and insults, the political battles were won in preparation, not by engaging in needless babble. If Rudeus disagreed with a particular individual, the goal would be to leave and avoid the man for the day, corner him outside their mingle, and not argue and escalate at the scene.
But what Julius had implied, or Rudeus' interpretation, was simply something he couldn't ignore. It scored directly opposite of his current objective of living. Rudeus had no reason to further listen to this conversation if he was here to admonish his earnest living.
"No, Rudeus, that's not the message I intended to convey. What you did today, though it may have appeared reckless, was the act of a virtuous man. The individual, a family member of Felt-sama, may have a criminal background, but there's no indication of ill intent toward the candidates. Without your quick intervention, he might have suffered severe harm in the heat of the moment." Julius quickly replied, defusing the misunderstanding.
"Huh? Then why?" Rudeus questioned back, his animosity towards the knight calming.
"It is your inaction I chastise. No matter how you look, as the Royal Knight, no… not even as an average knight in training, you would have all right to speak up and admonish the noble's derision. And trust me when I say I fully believe you could have done so promptly without directly offending anyone involved. As Emilia-sama descended the stairs, I could see how stressed and fidgety you were from the corner of my eye. It was as if you wanted to act yet kept your actions tethered like a heavy lid on a boiling pot of water." Julius replied.
After Julius's recent remarks, Rudeus started to regain his composure. It became evident that he had momentarily misconstrued the situation. His swift response to aid Rom wasn't the point of contention; Julius had praised him for his timely intervention. Emilia's subsequent, explicit orders truly grated on Rudeus's nerves.
And as Rudeus continued to think the issue through, he couldn't quite grasp why it had brought such a reaction from the Knight of Knights.
'I mean, that was just because of my occupation, right? It wouldn't make sense for a knight earnestly working for his liege to disobey her. Yeah, I don't think that necessarily makes me wrong for not talking up. Besides, Julius handled the issue himself! I don't think any input from me would have helped.'
"But, that's because Emilia…-sama said so, right? It would have been out of line for me to step up since she said so," Rudeus replied.
And without skipping a beat, Julius immediately responded with his own counter.
"That is why it is a contradiction. What your liege meant by "staying put" is something you must talk with her yourself. But I do not believe your actions followed those directives."
Taking a quick sigh to indicate a long-winded answer, Julius paused to breathe and continued his talk.
"Listen, Rudeus. If you intended to honor your master's orders and remain obedient, abandoning that path to save that man made little sense. You consciously endured the noble's derogatory insults, even when the rest of the Imperial Knights took action. Yet, in contrast, you risked your life and the reputation and standing of your camp in the selection process to rescue a criminal. In essence, you defied your liege's commands for the sake of another, jeopardizing her credibility in the Royal selection. How can this be seen as anything but contradictory? If your moral compass guided you, you would have acted promptly in both cases. By doing neither, you have chosen neither loyalty nor morality, but rather a self-serving path instead." Julius then concluded.
"With that in mind, can you truly claim to support your liege at all?"
Unbeknownst to himself, Rudeus found his teeth chattering uncontrollably. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't quell the trembling of his clenched fist. While he managed to conceal much of the distress and shock that Julius's admonishment had triggered, a flicker of vulnerability briefly crossed his face. Nevertheless, he maintained a semblance of a poker face amid it all.
Yet, the Knight of Knights' words struck a deep chord within him, like losing vital pins to a computer's CPU or a damaged charging port. It was enough to disrupt the foundation of his being, though still functional enough to eke out a few more days of use.
And at that, Rudeus just couldn't find himself to reply to what the knight had said to him.
'This is… just like that Priscilla bitch… I think she said something similar, but that can't be right… right? What's wrong with me? The answer is so simple. It's just right there. This is how living seriously is supposed to be, but why can't I say anything back?'
Rudeus continued to seeth in place, unable to speak back to the purple knight before him. He looked away, unable to look Julius in the eye, just like a student educated by a well-meaning but angry teacher.
And Julius fully understood the contents of those eyes.
"Rudeus," Julius called out.
The Knight of Knights considered the mage before him in high regard. He expected the best of everyone, pursued to be the best possible version of himself, and encouraged his colleagues to do the same. It is this quality that granted him the title. He was a knight following direct chivalrous standards and encouraging everyone around him to act and perform better. A model for all the knights to follow.
"It is fine if you cannot answer me today. But you must continue to search and understand today's actions." Julius continued, speaking much more softly than before.
After that, he swiftly turned around and opened the conference room's doors to leave. But before leaving, he turned around the eye of the mage once more.
"Think hard. Return to your core and understand why. Why have you become a knight? Why have you chosen this path?"
With those final words, Julius left the young man to his own and returned to the main hall to continue with the Royal summoning's proceedings.
"So… that's the plan. I hope you understand, Rudeus." Emilia quietly spoke.
Several more hours had elapsed, and the Emilia camp had returned to the Crusch camp. The journey in the carriage had been marked by an eerie silence, with the camp members hardly exchanging words. Emilia wore an inscrutable expression, her face a mask of stillness. Roswaal, usually brimming with joyful smiles, had been noticeably subdued. As for Rudeus, he couldn't shake the Knight of Knights' words from his mind, like an unrelenting refrain playing in the background.
After the quiet and tranquil journey, against the backdrop of a gloomy sunset, Emilia issued her new orders to Rudeus: He was to remain at the mansion under the protective care of Duchess Crusch and a doctor. Remarkably, even before the Royal summoning, Roswaal had planned this a week following the Wolgram invasion. During that time, he had sent several letters into the world, cashing in on old favors.
"Yes… Emilia-sama…." Rudeus weakly replied.
It wasn't solely the lingering echoes of Julius's words that held him back. Despite his internal struggle to commit to living seriously, his hesitation was more profoundly rooted in Emilia's unusually subdued demeanor. While Julius's counsel to 'talk' about the situation did cross his mind, Rudeus couldn't shake the feeling that now was not the opportune moment for such a conversation. Emilia and Roswaal had pressing matters, including overseeing other settlements in Roswaal's territory. Roswaal had even planned to extend an invitation to Emilia for an outing. With solemn farewells, the two nobles departed, leaving their knight and maid behind without looking back.
"Puck. Are you sure I did the right thing?" Emilia's quiet voice echoed from inside the carriage.
As the ambient mana condensed in front of the white-haired girl, the mythical magic floating cat named Puck manifested with a ping, greeting the girl with a smile as always.
"Lia, don't worry about it. It's only natural to grow suspicious of him, after all." Puck nonchalantly replied.
Making a coy smile, the floating puffball circled his daughter three times before comfortably resting on her left shoulder. As the day had already set, Puck wasn't necessarily required to answer, but he had some fuel in the tank since he wasn't summoned once during the day.
In fact, if he was free to do so, he would have no problem tearing down the capital the moment those nobles started insulting the girl for her heritage. Emilia alone tightly held him back and gracefully saved them from his wrath.
Though, he would have no trouble remembering their faces and voices.
"But, shouldn't we have talked to him? You can't know what people think if you don't talk to them, right? I don't think Rudeus lied to me." Emilia whispered back.
"Lia, people can talk but never back it up. To trust people, you should see their actions, not listen to their words. Rudeus might have said he supported you that day, but look what he did today! He did nothing against some bad-mouthed nobles. How could you say he truly supported you?" The cat smugly replied back.
Emilia couldn't find the courage to talk back at her father's words. Though what he said might not have been wrong, her studies taught her never to take scenarios at face value. She read that a leader or great king must always learn to understand the circumstances and edge cases. Good people could perform momentarily evil acts, and bad people could do great deeds.
Of course, the naive girl didn't fully comprehend the message, but still at least understood she should listen to the accused before trial.
"Ma- maybe Rudeus didn't feel too well? Or maybe he was scared, too! It would only be normal to be really scared in front of so many knights and nobles. And I told him to stay put before, so maybe he was hesitant and only acted later! Right up-," Emilia desperately replied before getting cut off.
The idea that that wonderful boy's words on that beautiful day were all lies just wasn't something she could comprehend. No, it was more something that couldn't be true! It was the first time someone had truly believed and supported her, and he was her first friend as far as she could remember.
She couldn't accept that it was all just a fake.
But, the flying cat shot down all and any thoughts she could continue.
"Lia." Puck adamantly called out, quieting his daughter's words with her tail to her mouth.
He took a deep sigh before facing the girl once more.
"Emilia, think about it. If Rudeus was truly afraid of the knights, he wouldn't have risked himself to protect that old man. It's not that he feared them; he just didn't have complete faith in your ability to defend yourself because he knows the truth. Rudeus, he's a deceitful, promise-breaking individual. Remember his promise to protect you no matter what? Yet, when the moment came, he chose to protect his friend, right?" Puck turned to Emilia, his voice carrying a hint of persuasion.
Puck took painstaking care to emphasize the word' friend.' Emilia, who had yearned for friendship like a desert craved rain, instantly grasped the dreadful implication behind her father's words.
The realization struck her like a sledgehammer wielded with the force of a crashing car. Her throat constricted as anxiety surged within her, her knuckles turning white from the intensity of her clenched fists. The rhythmic roll of the carriage, the Earth Dragon's thunderous steps, and the whooshing air outside all began to blur into an indistinct hum as her gaze lost focus.
Only the harsh rasp of her breathing reached her ears in this disorienting silence. She tried to form words to express the turmoil inside her, but her voice seemed trapped in her throat, leaving her in an anguished, isolated silence.
"So… I'm not Rudeus'... friend?" She meekly asked.
With a satisfied grin, the magic cat nodded at her words.
"Mh-hmm!" The cat mumbled.
"So, you shouldn't worry about him now, Lia. You must have been tired after everything today. Why don't you take a nap? I'll wake you up when we arrive." Puck replied.
As if in perfect synchrony, Emilia let out a weary sigh. She had remained composed and continued her dealings with the nobles even after Rudeus had escorted Old Man Rom out of the lobby. Though Julius and the Imperial Knight's vigilant gazes had dissuaded any direct confrontations, Emilia couldn't shake off the sensation of their piercing glares, intensifying her already heightened sensitivity to her appearance. Her constant judgmental scrutiny fueled a deep-seated unease, causing her to perceive her distinctive white hair and elegantly pointed ears as glaring markers of her otherness. These things set her apart and made her feel less than.
Add the hours of rigorous preparation leading up to the meeting and the ceaseless anxiety that had plagued her for days. It was only natural that fatigue had taken its toll.
"All right, Puck." Emilia quietly and sadly replied back.
"Yep! And don't worry, Lia, I'll never betray you. I'll always be by your side." Puck happily replied.
Her eyes drooped, and her father's familiar, comforting words washed over her like a soothing lullaby. In Emilia's eyes, there was no one else to trust in this daunting world but her father figure. From the moment she awoke, disoriented and vulnerable in the cursed forest, she had always had her unwavering trust in her steadfast, father-like spirit, Puck. Through thick and thin, in the face of all challenges, Emilia clung to the steadfast belief that as long as her contracted spirit, Puck, remained by her side, she could conquer any obstacle this world presented.
Within seconds, the tired Royal candidate fell peacefully, devoid of all dreams and nightmares.
And from the corner of the carriage, the spirit in question continued.
"...For this world is unworthy of one such as you."
The words sounded uncharacteristically eerie coming from the half-elf's father. His last words echoed through the night, with nobody but Puck to hear them.
"No, stop! I can't take it anymore!" Rudeus yelled.
Covered in sweat and tangled in blankets, the half-naked mage was besieged by an intense, bizarre sensation from within. With each new development, he squirmed and wriggled, struggling to deal with the surreal situation.
"Aw, where did your bravado go, buddy? It's just a friendly massage!" Felix exclaimed with glee.
And there, the mystery was unveiled. Atop the flustered mage was none other than Felix, the now confirmed cat boy, skillfully massaging every inch of his body. The sensation felt strange, following Felix's rhythmic movements and Rudeus's exaggerated reactions.
"Oh, goodness, I can't keep this up much longer! I'm at my wit's end!" Rudeus moaned.
Felix chuckled, "Well, we're just getting started! Hold on tight because we're in for quite the massage, buddy!"
At that moment, an even stranger sensation entered the mix, causing Rudeus to flail and lose all composure.
"AALlLIliiIIiIEEeEEEeeE–"
And his cries echoed throughout the night.
"Really? That's what happened?"
"Yes! Can you believe it? How was I supposed to know his treatment methods would be so sadistic!"
Rudeus finished as he took another large gulp of Lugunican mead. With a loud slam, he completed his drink and called for another, clearly too drunk to realize what was happening.
It had been approximately 14 hours since the ordeal late last night. Part of the agreement between Roswaal and Crusch was to house and treat Rudeus for his numerous Wolgram curses hindering his magic capabilities. The doctor chosen for this task was Felix Argyle, also known as Blue, for his exceptional talent with water magic and healing.
A detailed seven-day treatment plan was decided after a careful examination from head to toe. While the recommended path would have been much longer, hovering around eight to ten months of weekly checkups, with the start of the Royal Candidacy, they decided to rush the treatment as quickly as possible.
And that decision led to this predicament.
"Rudeus-kyun's really weird~nya. There's no way those curses could remain this long. Neither could you even stand, let alone live. You really are a weirdo~" Felix's cheerful voice echoed in Rudeus' mind.
After his so-called "treatment," the man was left sweating from every orifice, just inches away from passing out. Despite his body being physically okay, the treatment had improved his mental health. He slept through breakfast and lunch, waking up an hour ago when a visitor came looking for the man.
"Apparently, without a gate to latch onto, the curses bound my entire body's natural metabolism, hindering my mana supply. The ties are too strong to undo, so he used brute force to tear the bonds together." Rudeus slurred, taking another shot down his burning throat.
"And that must be…"
"Yep, Painful," Rueus replied.
"You must be going through a lot, eh? Well, that's all good. Drinks on me, bud." Al replied as he patted Rudeus' sullen back softly.
It wasn't common for Al to find himself in the role of comforter, nor was it his preference to spend his day in such a manner. Nevertheless, as he observed his newly isekai'd brother, he couldn't help but empathize with the challenges of starting anew in a different world. Opportunities for a fresh start were scarce, and embarking on a journey in a foreign realm carried its own trials.
Despite his reservations, Al genuinely desired to assist and guide his brother through the complexities of Lugunica. If he could make this transition smoother, even in the smallest of ways, he was determined to do so.
"Uh, you're such a good friend… Al…" Rudeus drunkenly replied.
"Yeah… cheer up, bud. You gotta be strong, ya know? This world ain't easy to live in. You still got what, another week of this to go?" Al asked.
With an exaggerated, theatrical sigh, the mage sitting across from him gazed at his newly filled mug of mead. He stared down at the golden swirl as if he were having an intense conversation with it, nodding and frowning as if it held all the secrets of the universe. As his friend remained utterly unresponsive to his words, Al shook his shoulders and theatrically pointed at Rudeus, telling him to cast another spell to sober himself up. Rudeus, oblivious to the fact that this was the third time he'd cast the same spell on himself, complied with a mischievous grin as if he were participating in a magical drinking game.
"Damm. I get you're in a bit of a pickle, but you really can't handle alcohol, can you? I know I'm the one who brought you here, but you should pace yourself, really." Al commented as he sighed at Rudeus' impromptu behavior.
"Ehhh, just cut me some slack today, okay? This is my usual way of coping with these things..." Rudeus slurred, not quite fully awake from alcohol poisoning.
With his last words out, he took another glug from his mead, Al following suit, accepting the way Rudeus was. No amount of sighing is going to get their conversation going.
So, Al, what's the big idea here? We've gotten pretty cozy, but I don't remember signing up for a drinking buddy so quickly. What's your game?" Rudeus slurred, giving Al a comically exaggerated glare as he accused him.
While his open hostility was clear to notice, his completely intoxicated speech and manner made it impossible to take it seriously. Al just softly chuckled as he scratched his cheek. Well, what would have been his cheek had his helmet been off.
"Not so bright, huh? I guess that explains how lightweight you are. No angle here, bud. Just wanted to get to know you. As I said, few people survive coming from beyond the Great Waterfall." Al replied.
"Great Waterfall? Like Viagra? What the heck are you talking about?" Rudeus slurred his words, slinking into a drunken jumble.
"Ha! From Japan? You're in luck! I'm what they call... an isekai protagonist! Well, not exactly. I mean, I'm not really from Japan... Or, well, that's not entirely true either," Rudeus replied with a tipsy, befuddled expression, his voice trailing off as he continued.
If his previous cheek scratch resulted from his meek response to Rudeus' hilarious drunk behavior, it had now transformed into utter bewilderment. As one finger grew to two, the pair couldn't help but scratch the side of the metal helmet, though their efforts were far from strong enough to leave a permanent mark.
He did treasure the thing, after all.
"Um Earth- no Lugunica to Rudeus. You might want to speak human?" Al called out.
"Eh? Manushya Bhasha? Aise? (Eh? Human Language? Like this?)" Rudeus replied in the Human tongue language.
"Ha, you really have a sense of humor, don't you? You know, I'm something of a linguist myself. But instead of using my mouth, I prefer to let my hands do the talking," Al calmly replied, his expression concealed by his helmet.
Even with his drunken stupor, Rudeus could tell his poor joke was as bad as it seemed. Straightening his back, he continued talking about how he was reincarnated and later transported to another world.
It took about an hour for Rudeus to recount his life so far. He'd skipped over a few embarrassing events, carefully selecting stories that cast him in a favorable light. He almost slipped up when he had to explain why he explored the Northern regions alone. Al seemed to accept his explanation for Eris' injury without pressing further.
"So, let me get this straight. You died in Japan, reincarnated in a new world with your memories and will intact, used that to your advantage to farm your magic attribute, explored the world facing great and small foes alike, then one day ended up here in Lugunica?" Al suspiciously questioned, recounting the brief tale Rudeus had given him.
And with a satisfied grin that his listener had closely picked up every detail, Rudeus gleamed back proud as ever.
"Man, that's just cheating! I had to work tooth and nail for the past…. however, many years just to be a decent fighter. And look at you getting all the cool stuff since birth. Man, you're making me jelly…" Al complained.
And with an uncharacteristic smile, Rudeus teased the poor one-handed knight, saying, "Sucks to be you!". This was very out of character for Rudeus, who usually kept to himself and preferred to be aggressively polite. But knowing that his conversation partner was another otaku that got transported to another world, he felt at home. The alcohol probably helped, but the thought of other worlds and reincarnation was too ridiculous to have a severe conversation about, at least to these two Japanese ex-hikkimori's heads deep into the world of light novels and anime.
"Well, that does bring up the question… You said you died in 20xx and lived in the other world for 15 years, and now here… right?" Al questioned, recounting the minor detail that struck him.
"Hmm? I remember reading some visual novel that just came out that year. It's been a while, but I'm sure that's the year I died." Rudeus replied, now sobering up from the mountain of mead he'd consumed.
Under his masked helmet, Al could only frown at the news. Though Rudeus could not see behind the mask, Al couldn't help but let out a stare.
"Here's the thing. I'm also from 20xx, but I've been here for more than 20 years now." Al monotonously spoke.
"Eh? If that's the case, where did my five years go?" Rudeus asked, just confused as to where this conversation was going.
"Five years missing…" Al quietly muttered, just barely audible to Rudeus.
"Yep! A Whopping five years! But who cares! Time travel? Broken causality? Is the future becoming the past? We've been transported to another world, and I was reincarnated! Who cares what this reality is actually capable of! Nothing surprises me at this point!" Rudeus shouted, his drunkenness somehow returning.
As he finished his final mug of mead, slamming it onto the table, he suddenly became aware of Al's reaction to the information.
"Uh, Al? You okay there?" Rudeus asked, his voice tinged with confusion as he returned to a slightly more sober state of mind.
The air around him seemed to vibrate with a potent energy that everyone in the room could feel. The previously loud and boisterous patrons fell silent, their eyes transfixed on the helmeted figure. His scowl of annoyance from earlier was nothing compared to the intense aggression he now radiated. Despite his face being hidden by a helmet, it was clear that he was prepared to lash out at any moment.
With his drinking buddy suddenly on alert, Rudes had to react.
Activating his Eye of Foresight, his stare fixated on the exit. Ten meters stood in between them and the exit. Quagmire was out of the equation with the wooden floors. If they had to run, they'd have to ignore any pursuers until they reached solid stone ground.
As the sluggish, booze-soaked cogs in his mind continued their lethargic rotation, an astonishingly mundane comment from Al effortlessly deflated any lingering tension in the room.
"Eh, neat!" Was all he said, completely dispelling the ice-cold tension.
"That's it? I thought you were gearing up for a showdown, Al," Rudeus asked, his tone tinged with disappointment and a mix of half-assured relief that he didn't need to resort to magic.
Today, it appeared that his bouts of drunkenness had taken control more frequently than usual.
"I don't know what came over me. It felt oddly significant, to the point where I was ready to take a life, but you're right. We've encountered all sorts of bizarre stuff that the world has thrown at us. A bit of time nonsense isn't worth getting too worked up about," Al replied nonchalantly.
'Well, that's all fine. But with how things are…'
"Hey, what's with that face? C'mon, let's have another drink." Al continued.
"That's all fine with me, but we might want to switch bars," Rudeus whispered.
He subtly pointed toward the other patrons, who were visibly bothered and on high alert in the wake of Al's earlier provocation. And worse, they were all staring at the two, wordlessly telling them to leave.
"Oh. Huh, I know a bar. Let's get out of here." Al admitted.
"So... anyone you fancy?" Al asked.
Within the new bar specifically made for mercenaries and the like, the two "Japanese" duo continued their drinks. With the change in environment, one that better suits cruder and raw conversations of the local ruffians.
When the two entered the bar, a triplet of hoodlums swiftly left. The three had clearly lost their cool, as droplets of sweat beaded down their face, and their skin went cold white when the biggest lanky locked eyes with Rudeus.
"Huh," Rudeus mumbled, not taking notice of the triplets running out of the bar.
"Hmm? What's up with that question? That came out of nowhere," Rudeus replied.
"Not much to talk about, ya know. Besides, isn't this kind of what every Otaku wishes happened to them? You're living the life many others would die for," Al replied, ordering two jugs of cheap beer to enjoy.
"Well, other than that... Eris girl..." Al carefully added.
Despite his efforts to not notice the sudden change in her story, even he could tell something wasn't right with him and the girl. No reason to pry further for unfulfilled love. He had enough experience himself to understand.
"Ehhh. You already know Emilia. She's quite the beauty, you can't deny that, but with how social standings are… Besides her, the maids are pretty cute, especially the blue on- err, Rem. She's pretty... Uh, substantial." Rudeus replied, taking a swig from his jug.
"So, you like blue heads? Or are you just hungering for some bust?" Al jokingly asked.
"You... you make it sound scandalous, Al. I'll let you know, I'm a stout bachelor, following the teachings of my master."
"Hey, now. Don't be like that. What's wrong with admiring beautiful things people worked hard on? It would help if you were honest with what you like. You'll never be happy if you keep lying for appearances, ya know," Al calmly replied.
"Besides, you already got your wizard powers," Al added.
"Well, if you put it that way, I do like some nice knockers..."
'But I don't think that's all to it though... Master Roxy wasn't too endowed, and she was the first person that came to mind after my treatment with Elise.'
Tapping Rudeus' back with a slap, Al shouted happily as ever. "See? Isn't it so much better to be honest with yourself?" He asked as he drained another glug of booze down his throat.
"You know, that's what's wrong with your generation. You should be honest with your preference and love who you like, not all that "true love" shit. That ain't real. It's all fake," he cracked on without care to Rudeus' annoyed stare.
"But hey, living with beautiful maids every day. That sounds nice. For me, it's just the random servants and a little brother with us," Al commented as he put down the near-empty jug of beer.
"Eh, not really. I get along well enough with one of them, but Rem doesn't like me. I don't know why, but she seems on edge and gives me the cold shoulder. And I'm pretty sure I'm inconspicuous when I cop a look from time to time," Rudeus readily confessed his sins.
"Hey, hey. Don't be like that. You should be happy you get to be close enough for a peek. Princess would kill me if I even tried," Al replied, as he cried out how unfair his master was.
"Hoh? Am I hearing that you don't have experience at all? With all that time in an Otaku's dream, I thought you'd be doing one over me. I mean, what have you been doing these past twenty years?" Rudeus deflected, not too comfortable being interrogated by the helmeted man.
"Hey, now. What's this? Do you think I'm some super virgin or something? I'd be embarrassed if that was the case. I mean, I've been here before you were even born!"
"And no, it's not the Princess. She's got looks, I give her that, especially those melons of hers, but I don't see her that way, nor would she see me that way," Al finished, sipping his beer.
"Well, you've been interrogating me so far. You mind spilling the beans then?" Rudeus asked.
Even with his two lives, Rudeus never had much chance to talk about love with a friend. The closest conversations he'd had on the topic were with Soldat, and they usually followed the same pattern. Soldat would get hooked up with some prostitute or adventurer, brag about his findings to Rudeus, experiment with some weird medicine he somehow found, and drink the night away when they see no results.
'With the change of talking partner, this is actually pretty fun to talk about. I can see why everyone else gossiped around now.'
"It's probably best to see her in person. I don't want to spread her around like some trophy without her permission," Al chuckled.
"Ehh? Chickening out already? You sure this person exists? Does she really go to another school?" Rudeus jokingly inquired.
Al let go of his mug on the table and mockingly banged his helmet's side. "I brought this on myself, didn't I?" He mumbled before turning back to Rudeus.
"Fine, fine, I'll tell. We met a while back, about... two years or so ago? I was on a mission with Princess, and we randomly stumbled on each other. She needed some help getting to a nearby village, and I just happened to be going in the same direction."
'Ho! What a classical start to a romance story! The boy meets girl encounter!'
"This is getting exciting!" Rudeus mumbled as he vigorously drank more and more to Al's story.
"Well, turns out she was actually the cause of the issue, so it was pretty awkward having to fight her. Thankfully, I could wrap it up pretty nicely, so no harm done."
"That was quite the reveal, and I'm guessing the events there are camp classified info?"
"Yep, you do have a brain, after all!" Al joked, his beer mug now empty.
"So, what happened next! You can't stop there! What happened after? How did the enemies turned lovers story begin?"
"Well, after wrapping up the issue, she seemed to have nowhere else to go. And it wasn't really her fault either. So I asked her if she wanted to join me on a whim to join our camp, and she agreed. Surprisingly, the Princess took it well. It only took one try to convince her!" Al boasted, adding a strange accent to the "one try" phrase.
"We got to talking, working on missions here and there, and got together shortly after. I'd love to divulge more, but the rest is classified, so that's much I can tell you," Al finished, calling the bartender to refill his drink again.
At the somewhat disappointing ending, Rudeus grumbled a bit. He could understand camp secrets being kept, but concealing your personal life this much seemed suspicious. There was a lot of empty space in the story where the actual meat was. And having skipped all that content to end at the finish line wasn't great storytelling.
'It's as if the actual details of the story don't exist. What's up with that?'
"Ya know, that story was surprisingly disappointing for how long it took to tell," Rudeus replied with a sigh.
He took a swig of his cheap beer, all while Al shook both hands as if to gesture "The fuck did I do?" to the mage.
"Is she a looker though?" Rudeus asked, entirely seriously.
"Oh, most definitely. She's quite the cutie. She wore some kind of knee-length pants with stockings. I don't know why, but that kind of adventuring clothes tickled me pink. Those pointy elf ears, too, are just too cute when they wiggle!" Al bosted, completely in the conversation about his partner.
"Elf ears? Is she an elf? Like Emilia?"
"Oh yeah, she is. Huh, that's right. That lady of yours might even know h-" Al replied but suddenly cut himself off.
"Ah, right," he mumbled, in a depressing tone contrasting his voice just seconds ago.
"Uhh, everything good there? You dropped your mug suddenly," Rudeus asked, not entirely understanding why Al's demeanor had suddenly changed.
"Oh, yeah, thanks. As I said, she's a half-elf, just like your lady. I don't think she'd know her, though. She's from a secluded village quite a ways from here. It's a bit complicated, but she's why I'm working with the Princess. I hope to finish this work and find a nice, quiet place to cozy up with her," Al continued.
"Well, that's pretty neat. Like you said, we are living the dream so many people wish they could have..." Rudeus simply replied.
'Well, I don't think anyone would wish to have erectile dysfunction, though.'
"A dream, huh," Al mumbled in response.
With an incoherent sigh, he downed the remaining booze from the dropped mug and asked for another. He ordered a set of fish sticks, too. He'd done enough talking. He'd be too sad to continue if he had to.
"Well, I'm not going to leave it at that. You're gonna have to spill the juice sooner or later," Al replied, with a hidden mischievous tone behind the metal helm.
"Eh," Rudeus mumbled before getting heckled by Al and booze to spill his beans.
"Then, she slapped me and threw away her dagger before me!"
The young mage Rudeus was crying his eyes out. Covering his sobbing eyes with his already-drenched cloak, he continued his story, freely telling Al about his issues with Eris, Sara and the reveal about his unfettering shogun of the night.
He had made a conscious effort to keep his condition under wraps. Still, in this unfamiliar setting, with the potent liquor coursing through him, he divulged secrets as freely as a gushing public fountain. The only solace he could find in sobriety was the knowledge that he hadn't disclosed any genuinely confidential information. Not that he was aware of any such secrets to begin with.
"Man... You must have h-h-had it rough, huh? What a cruel girl that Eris was, taking the bone of your sword like that," Al replied, his lips quivering as he bit down on his tongue, desperately trying to stifle any laughter at the man's severe medical condition.
In his mind, he continued to express his gratitude to the one thing keeping the conversation possible. His helmet for blocking any and all discussions and muffled laughter daring to escape his throat. Without it, he doubted he could keep a straight face, and the sheer entertainment was so worth the trouble of dealing with the Sum Monarch.
"NO! It was… hic, it was mE~, not her!" He suddenly shouted, slamming his drink on the desk.
"Why... hiccup... why does everyone seem to have an express ticket out of my life? Am I the human version of a 'Welcome, Leave' doormat?" Rudeus continued, his wailing taking an oddly comedic and slurred twist.
With quilled breaths beneath the veiled steel wall, he patted the patient's back as if to comfort him and tried to have the conversation move on.
"Hey, hey. Don't be too down on yourself, bud. Sometimes, men just can't understand, ya know? It's like trying to decipher words in invisible ink, eh?" Al continued.
But as he continued, he couldn't resist letting out a few muffled snorts of laughter here and there. Thank goodness for alcohol, though! It all seemed to go right over the head of one particularly dense magician.
"You-you think so?" Rudeus' drunken stupor cried.
"Yeah, of course. Hey, try to look at the bright side! Maybe this is the universe's way of nudging you toward trying new flavors in life? Variety can be the spice of life, after all. You know, something fruity!" Al playfully hinted.
"Eh? Fruity? You mean I should fuck plants? Is... is that even a thing?" Rudeus innocently asked.
And at that, Al just face-palmed his helmet. He forgot the critical detail that Rudeus was shitfaced drunk. He's so drunk that he's refusing to cast detoxification magic on himself now. With a quick sigh, he continued.
"No... I mean... You have a lot of cool guy friends, right? Maybe take them out? You never know, eh?"
'Huh? Wha' is he on 'bout now? Cool friends? He means the knights, right? The maids are beaut'ful girls, but my willy doesn't work, so they can't be it, and Roswaal... no, he ain't cool. He is the consonant of cool, in fact. So that leaves Reinhard, Julius, Felix, and Al?' Rudeus pondered, sloppily scratching his invisible beard.
'Take 'em out? Whaddya mean by that, Al? Take 'em out... Take 'em out... Take 'em out... Take 'em out? OHHHHHHH. You mean, 'Take 'em out!'' His thoughts continued, slurring even in his head, with the strength of the booze freezing his frontal lobe.
"Yo-you're jenius! Al!" He quickly replied.
"Huh? I don't know about the 'jenius' part, but yeah, you get it, right?" Al excitedly replied, foolishly thinking Rudeus had figured out what he really meant.
"Yeah! I sh-should go beat 'em up! Tha' should make me feel better! Though Reinhard would prob'ly win, an' Julius wouldn't like me if I did. But Felix! Yeah, I can beat tha' femboy to a pulp, even with my hindered mana! Yeah, my blood's pumpin' even jus' thinkin' 'bout it! His fake meows were startin' to piss me off anyways. Time for some sweet revenge! Ah!" Rudeus drunkenly slurred.
With a tipsy swagger, he staggered out of the tavern, his new battle cry echoing through the night: "DESTROY FELIX ARGYLE!" It was a mission fueled by booze, bravado, and a burning desire for feline vengeance.
After talking to the bartender to leave it on Prscilla's tab, Al swiftly followed Rudeus out of the tavern. Thank god they changed bars. With the place more suited to the roughens and mercenaries of Lugunica, the patrons were quite used to the sudden outbursts of the drunk. Some may have given some weird looks, but nobody acted to stop them.
After catching up to the soldier marching to his destination, Al wordlessly hooks his arm around his shoulder, helping Rudeus' unsteady legs.
"Eh? Al. Ah, You'join'in he- Achk!"
But instead of the friendly shoulder-to-shoulder walk, Al playfully tightened his arm around Rudeus's neck, giving him a noogie.
"That's not what I mean, you idiot!" Al exclaimed, his grip still firm around the drunkard's head.
With all his drunken might, Rudeus attempted to wriggle free from the hold but ended up flopping around like a fish out of water. Without mana infusion to bolster his strength, there was no way Rudeus could overpower the experienced fighter. After all, Al had spent the last 20 or so years mastering the art of combat.
His words became incoherent without a sufficient blood supply to his brain due to the chokehold. Under the calming evening sky, his vision blurred and faded to black as he finally felt relief from the playful pressure on his neck.
"Thanks for everything today, Al." Rudeus genuinely thanked Al, free of all his previous drunkenness.
Only a few minutes had passed since Rudeus woke up from his impromptu bedtime. Al had taken him to a nearby park, and the two sat side by side. Well, Al was the one sitting with Rudeus flung over on the grassy ground.
When he woke up, he could only make vague memories of what had happened, but Al helped to fill in the blanks after a quick detoxification spell.
He wasn't completely sober, mind you. The slight hindrance still lingered. The amount of booze he drank would have killed an average person without access to detoxification magic. But with the spell, he was more than enough to manage his bearings.
"What are friends for, huh? I'm not going to lie. This was pretty fun. You rarely get to talk about home here. How about we meet up again later. You mentioned a Visual novel you finished?" Al cheerfully questioned.
"Oh! Yeah! I almost forgot, you never got to finish Witches on the Profane day! Dude, that was an awesome read! I'll happily recount it for you next time." Rudeus excitedly replied.
Rudeus gleamed a bright smile, unaware of the hours of drunken crying. Women were one thing, but Otaku talks about their favorite franchises. It was clear which took priority.
And behind his helmet, Al himself couldn't hide his blush. Well, his helmet did hide it, just not himself.
"Well, see you around, Rudeus," Al said as he raised his fist toward Rudeus.
"Hoh!" Rudeus let out.
There was only one correct answer to Al's provocation.
Taking in the clear signs, Rudeus, too, readied his fist and immediately slammed his own right back at Al's. With a satisfying smack, the fist bump reached its conclusion. The two were now best friends.
"Ack-" Rudeus yelped.
An inexplicable and deeply unsettling sensation coursed through Rudeus's knuckles as their fists connected. It felt as though a sinister, obscure entity had made a fleeting connection with the core of his being, sending shivers from his hand to his heart and finally to his mind. In the blink of an eye, the discomfort disappeared, leaving behind a chilling residue of unease. Rudeus stared at his hand, haunted by the eerie encounter, and a foreboding uncertainty lingered in the depths of his thoughts.
"Did I hit a nerve?" Rudeus mumbled to himself, too confused about what happened to his body.
"YOOOO A FIST BUMP. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE I DID THAT!" Al screamed, spinning around on one heel with unbridled excitement.
Al was so engrossed in the thrill of the fist bump that he might as well have been dancing with a lamp post for all he cared about, anything else.
With another spin, Al promptly left the mage alone, shouting, "Cya, mate," in an overly exaggerated tone, leaving Rudeus to question what the hell just happened to him?
"Oooh." Rudeus moaned.
As soon as he returned to Karsten's manner, Rudeus bathed to get rid of the stench of giggle water. After that, a quick supper was prepared, and he promptly returned to his room, ready for another round of torturous treatment.
"You lasted far longer tonight, nya~. Just a few more days, and you should be good as mew!" Felix happily spoke, ignoring the painful grunts from the mage on the bed.
The pain coursing through Rudeus's body was unlike anything he had ever experienced, and that was saying a lot for someone who had arguably died twice. These curses, bound to his very essence, felt like thin yet unyielding threads coiled around every inch of his being. To break them, one had to painstakingly unravel each knot.
The process would have been less excruciating if he possessed a gate like every other Lugunican. However, Rudeus's unique anatomy perplexed even Felix, a skilled healer. To Felix, each treatment session was akin to dissecting an alien, a curious and somewhat barbaric exploration of a remarkable specimen. He never let his personal curiosity interfere with his treatment. Still, if something piqued his interest and didn't compromise Rudeus's care, Felix had been known to indulge in some of his own fascination.
"You know, you're truly one of a kind! Even Ferris, normally skeptical about anything beyond the Great Waterfall, didn't believe someone like you existed. If the unthinkable ever happened and you passed away, would you mind if Ferris used your body for scientific study?" Felix asked, his curiosity shining through his innocent inquiry.
And upon hearing this, Rudeus reacted out of spite.
"NO! I am not your guinea pig!" He shouted, desperate from the invading hands of his future forensic pathologist.
"Tee, hee. I was only teasing, nya. But do consider it! Ferris will do his best to keep your dignity." Felix teased back, gesturing his hands as if to ward back accusations.
'I know Al didn't mean that, but I swear I will get back at this furry,' Rudeus thought.
But he could only sigh. Regardless of his feelings towards the man, Felix was helping him with his curses. With only his magic backing him up, he couldn't help but feel useless without his vast mana supply.
"But damn does it hurt. Are you sure this is the only way forward? Is there anything else you can do to help me out here?" Rudeus asked.
Taking his fingers to his lips and tilting his head as if pondering the possible solutions, Felix just shook his head at Rudeus' question.
"Not really. Without a gate to focus on, Ferris has to dig in and fix them one by one. If you had more time, Ferris could guarantee less pain, but Roswaal-sama explicitly requested to get this fixed as soon as possible! But, there could be one way to help~," He explained, his lips curled up and one hand rubbing his chin mischievously.
Without losing his mischievous grin, Felix delved into his uniform pocket. Although the pocket was small, his extravagant hand movements made it seem far deeper than it actually was. After tossing out random items like stones, nuts, candies, and coins, each producing a peculiar cat-like sound in the distance, he eventually retrieved something from within.
As the skies stretched above them, Felix's arms rose higher and higher, revealing the mysterious remedy for Rudeus' condition.
"Behold! Ferris' Boko Fruit, Nya!" Felix excitedly exclaimed.
In his hand was what looked like a dried Jujube. But the fruit was utterly black and much thinner than a typical Jujube.
"A Chinese date? What's that supposed to do?" Rudeus questioningly asked.
"Huh? Do you call these dates? Well, this is a dried Boko fruit! It forces your gate to open for instant mana relief for people like me! You don't have a gate, but the effects should be similar." Felix confidently exclaimed.
Taking the black and hard Boko fruit in hand, Rudeus realized how heavy the tiny thing was. Despite its diminutive size, it was much denser than the dates he was used to from Earth, and he had never seen such a plant during his travels or from the botanical guide from his childhood.
"So... is this supposed to help me?" Rudeus questioned, inspecting the so-called Boko fruit more closely as he spun the fruit in his hands.
"Yep! Just bite into it, and you should feel your mana surging in your body! Well, your curses will eat away at it like a pack of Wolgrams, but you'll feel better for a short while. At least that's what Ferris thinks, nya."
"What you think..." Rudeus questioned back.
His voice was filled with just indignation. Just moments ago, Felix remarked just how different his body was. "Was it really safe to take this?" Rudeus thought.
'Well, he is the doctor, after all. What's the worst that can happen.'
With that, Rudeus bit down on the Boko fruit, swallowing quickly as soon as it was manageable. Despite its familiarity with dates, it tasted completely different. The texture was like an old stale mochi. The sticky slime-like texture was unpleasant, to say the least. The taste itself was pretty decent. It was somewhat sweet at first. But after swallowing, the bits of dried skin clung to the insides of his throat, causing an extremely bitter aftertaste.
Suppressing the instinctive urge to throw up, he forced down the fruit in one gulp, compelling every inch of his insides to accept it. "Khhhak!" He coughed. Yet, as the fruit descended into his stomach, he choked violently on what felt like nothing. His chest constricted as if it were filling with water, and his limbs lost their strength instantly. His eyes rolled back, and he tumbled heavily onto the soft white bed he'd been seated on.
"Wha- Rudeus-kyun!" A feminine voice shrieked. But Rudeus was too far gone, his consciousness slipping away as darkness claimed him.