Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Vol 2 Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Tipsy
Lufin wine was sweet and easy to drink.
Its fresh fragrance tickled the nose, it reminded a bit of pure fruit juice.
But it had a good amount of alcohol, blending that adult taste into it.
It appeared to be extremely popular among women, and yeah, with that taste I could really understand that.
And as a fruit wine, it didnt have the bitterness of beer, either.
"Ahh, this is pretty good," I splendidly emptied my mug in one go and ordered another from the staff.
"Youre good yourself, missy, but I cant let you beat me."
Seeing me drink, the handsome guy increased his own drinking pace to catch up to me.
So~~mehow I can see ulterior motives there.
Dont think you can do whatever you like with me even if I get smashed!
"Would you not say drinking while judging the state of a lady is unmanly? ——or did you have some inappropriate thoughts?"
With quite an amazing smile, Ilya warned the handsome guy.
Ah, a beauty glaring at you is intense...
"Heh, dont rush me, were just warming up, right, Misses?
The handsome guy was rather bold, it seemed.
Please look after me, Ilya.
"——still, a match is a bore if we dont bet something, like those boys over there."
I could see a vein pop on Ilyas temple.
She was still smiling, but...
"...what would you have in mind?"
"Heh, nothing much. If I win, the miss here and I spend the n-woah."
"Hahh? Did you say something?"
Ilya-san, if you stab knives at peoples hands, you might cut off some fingers, you know?
Ilya was smiling after she stabbed the knife from the food between the handsome guys fingers.
Nono, thats scary, okay!
"Wow, thats scary, blond Miss."
Indeed.
"Well, calm down. I like the women, but Im no monster. A date in the evening is all I want. How about that?"
That show-off winked again.
It looked quite catching, so I couldnt laugh.
"I refuse."
But it looks like it didnt work on Ilya.
"Youre a tough one! Hey, how about you, silver Miss? Were talking about you here?"
While they were talking, I had emptied another big mug.
This is so nice...
"Ahh~, this might be delicious.... eh? Ah, a date? Ah, having fun, right? Sure~"
"Alice-sama!!"
I wonder what she has, Im in a great mood here...
"Hyahaha, you get it, Miss."
In high spirits, the handsome guy also ordered his second mug.
"Then if I win~, youre going to settle the bills for everyone here tonight, okay~"
Whooooooo, the people around us cheered.
I answered by waving back.
What is this~, Im in a good mood~
"H-hoh? You sure know how to play the game, silver Miss? Sounds fun, Im in!"
With the terms clear, the handsome guys eyes turned serious.
His cheek muscles seemed to be twitching, though.
Anyhow, he looked motivated.
His eyes were glittering.
We daringly glared at each other.
Next to us, Ilya seemed upset for some reason.
"...hey, blond Miss."
"Yes?"
"Humans can smile like that?"
"It would seem so."
Next to me, Ilya and the handsome guy were talking.
What is that all about?
"Ahahahaha! Whats with you, you keep your hat on even inside? Ahahaha!"
"This is my style! Hey, silver Miss, arent you drinking too much!? Are you alright!? Uargs"
With a pale face, the handsome guy held his mouth.
Wimp. He shouldve had two mugs less than me...
"Well, ignoring who is more smashed, the match is decided, is it it not?"
"Ridiculous, this is... I... against such a Miss? Uargs."
"Is it not?"
Pressured by Ilya, the handsome guy nodded while he kept moaning.
"Urg... a man doesnt go back on his word. I just need to pay, alright? Alright?"
"Ahahaha, have you heard that, guys~~?"
Whooooow, the cheers rose again.
"You heard the lady! Eat more~! Drink more~! Today, everythings that dudes treat!"
It turned into a hearty revelry.
Ahhhh, what is this, I feel really good...
Wait?
Ilya, whats with you? You look so kyeewt...
"Ilya, come on~ youre not gonna drink with me~?"
"If I drink as well, the wolves around us will get wrong ideas."
"Hmm? I dont really get it, but well, alright."
Still, this is boring~
Having n.o.body to drink with is boring~
Ah?
Theres someone good~
Lets go~
——The case of Takeshi
"d.a.m.n, my heads killing me... s.h.i.t."
"Dont drink with such a depressing face."
First, I headed to the boy who had lit the fuse to the drinking matches.
It looks like hes drunk quite a bit, but hes lost to the other one over there.
I think the other one said hed chat me up in case he won, but the girl was considerately keeping him company.
Hah, this is beyond hope...
"Woah, who are you!?"
"Oh shut up, Takeshi. You sure youre alright with losing to him?"
"Whos Takeshi! Ive never even heard the name!?"
Apparently getting talked back to with a frown comes with some pressure.
"Who cares about names."
"Thats way too arbitrary! Ouc-, s.h.i.t, my head rings..."
"Pathetic, youre really pathetic. Won or lost, youre beyond hope. Are you stupid? You think thats cool?"
I think if Takeshi had won, hed have gone out with that girl, was it?
Oh, well, who cares about the details..
"Shaddup. What would a woman know of my feelings!"
"Hah, you cant win, drown your worries in booze and bother strangers with them. Of course she wont look at you then."
"d.a.m.n you!"
He vigorously reached for my collar to draw me up——and stopped as Ilya lay her knife against his throat.
"Whoa!?"
Ilyas so cute~~
"If you have this much energy, then direct it at her."
"What?!"
"Have you ever told that girl your feelings?"
"...but... Cyra likes him..."
Takeshi visibly faltered.
I took a big gulp from my mug.
Ilyas face looked a bit displeased.
"But you still like her, dont you?"
"!"
"Theres no guarantee. But itll never be over like this, will it? Your love."
Ah, come to think of it, back when I was in the soccer club, I get the feeling Id been asked for advice like this a lot.
Id listened to peoples worries so much it had tired me out.
I still couldnt leave them alone though.
"Have some courage. And if its still no good... Ill join you when you drink your worries away again."
I made an encouraging, good smile.
"Sis..."
Sis?
Oh, who cares.
——The case of Kenji
When Takeshi had formed some sort of resolve, the other boy had shaken off the girl and moved to a seat at the counter.
"You drinking, Kenji?"
"Kenji...?"
He looked at me quizzically when I sat down next to him.
"Oh, you..."
"Werent you going to chat me up if you won the match?"
"..."
"Heh, I know, you used me as an excuse. Youre also quite the p.u.s.s.y."
"What would you know about it!"
He hadnt done anything in particular, but Ilya was warningly knocking her knifes grip against the counter.
It made a pretty good sound.
The faces of the staff cramped, though.
"Dunno. You think keeping quiet and running away is manly?"
"!"
"Are her feelings or your feelings ever going to settle if youre acting that vague?"
I ordered the next big mug from the old guy at the counter.
Ilya seemed about to cry.
"Im an outsider, so in the end whatever I say is irresponsible. If I were in your shoes, Id probably be lost, too. But you know," I stopped for a moment and smiled at the boorish Kenji. "If those two are important to you, then treat them with your utmost sincerity. Otherwise youll regret it."
"Youre..."
Kenji looked like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Sorry.... youre right. Youre a good woman, Sis."
Sis?
"Have a good love, Kenji."
I raised the mug in my hand for a toast.
...hm?
By the way, what am I doing here?
When I returned to the table wed been at in the beginning, I patted the handsome guy sitting there with his head hanging, on the back.
"Owouch! Wait, no? Wait, what are you doing, silver Miss!"
"Why so gloomy? Thanks to you, at least those two boys mood has cleared!"
"Hahh? And your tone...?"
The handsome guy quizzically looked at Ilya.
Ilya shook her head in exasperation.
"Sometimes, relaxing like this is fine, too..."
"S-sure?"
I took one coin from the leather bag hanging at my waist.
I flicked it onto the table.
"Its been a blast. If this isnt enough for everyones tabs, you pay the rest."
"A g-gold..."
A noticeably loud cheer arose around us.
Without turning towards them, I say bye and waved as I left, my back toward them.
Instead, Ilya made a proper bow, though.
"Sis... youre so cool."
Sis?
I left the dining hall in a pretty good mood.
——The next day
The moment I woke up, I was a.s.saulted by a furious headache.
"My head hurts... whats... going on..."
"..."
Ilya looked at me with a difficult mien. Why is it you dont answer me!?
"Did she do something, dragon la.s.s?" Till, who had returned at some point, looked at me through half-opened eyes.
Just what had happened to me!?
"It was nothing of importance, but... I believe it would be better for Milady to abstain from drinking."
I didnt catch the latter half properly, but Till nodded exasperatedly.
"One will head out again. You at least make the dragon la.s.ss cla.s.s-up," Till said and strode out of the room.
Her harshness kinda makes her cute, that Till...
"Mmm... I wonder when we have to checkout. If we stay another two nights in this room, maybe we should make reservations already."
I took the coins from the leather bag on the shelf.
"Hm? Isnt there a gold coin missing...?"
"...you are imagining things, Milady."
"I-I do? If you say so, Ilya."
This is weird...
Anyway, my head hurts and I cant think properly.
"Sorry, Ilya. May I lay down for a while?"
"Of course, Alice-sama. Should I bring you some water?"
"Yes, please."
"Hehe, as I thought. I like this Alice-sama."
"Eh?"
"But that one really is..."
For some reason Ilya blushed. Then she quickly got up from her chair to get water.
"That one?"
I dont really get it, but theres a lot for us to do today.
As Till said, Ilyas cla.s.s-up is indispensable if were thinking about the future.
We need to quickly find the Ruins around here and get it done with.
If its Ilya and I as we are now, theres no way we cant make it.
Also, I want to take an easy job from the Guild here.
Have to pay traveling expenses.
Besides, leaving aside whether I buy it or not, I need new equipment.
I picked up the Lightning Rod at my bedside.
"Since its cracked, I guess I cant use it anymore..."
In fact, when I had recklessly gone out on my own and thrust it into the mouth of that bear, it seems the lightning jewel cracked and it doesnt give off lightning strikes anymore.
With that, in combat its nothing but a wooden stick.
No matter how much I mainly fight with magic, its still harsh.
"But I still dont want to throw it away..."
I gently put the rod back and sighed.
Either way, theres a lot to do.
It wasnt the time to remain in bed.
But thinking really made my head hurt...
"Here, Alice-sama."
Ilya came back with just the right timing.
"Ah, thanks."
While being healed by Ilyas smile, I took the gla.s.s and drank.