CHAPTER 15: TONE-DEAF HERO

It was a very cold night, but the camp wasn’t.

Bonfires blazed all around the clearing as the scent of wild boar stew filled the air.

A few adventurers laughed as they clanked mugs together, while others sat in small circles, whispering stories of the Red Dragon in half-drunk tones.

Nero sat cross-legged on a log with a steaming bowl of stew in hand.

The taste wasn’t bad... actually kind of good. The meat was tender, the broth rich, and the earthy herbs gave it a smoky warmth that felt nice on the tongue.

What didn’t remind him of home, though, was the amount of alcohol being passed around like water.

A familiar voice wobbled beside him.

"Neerrrooo—!~ You haave to try this one!"

Merlin was already red-faced as her tender cheeks glowed like embers. She waved a massive bottle of rum over her head like it was a trophy.

Across her, Aldura giggled wildly as she hugged another bottle to her chest like it was a child.

"This... this is divine, Merlin!"

Her sentences derailed halfway.

"The trees are moving! Look at them!"

The others looked at them like they were zoo animals.

"They’re not moving, you lightweight."

Merlin said proudly, and then hiccuped.

"That’s just mana distortion~"

"Ahhh. So that’s what mana distortion feels like..."

"No it’s not— you’re just hammered!"

They started laughing like crazy hyenas again.

Nero rubbed his temples.

『Of course... they’re wasted at the same time...』

He tried to focus on his stew.

It was better to ignore the two mages leaned against him from both sides like sleepy cats.

Also, both women had only panties on, so the moment they started drinking inside the tent, Nero rushed to cover them up with thick blankets.

He knew just how thirsty most of these knights were.

They’d probably lose their minds just from seeing Merlin’s or Aldura’s bare shoulders.

『Sigh... I hate this...』

Merlin’s fingers were twirling through his hair.

Aldura’s were tugging lightly at his robes.

"Nerooo~"

Aldura sang softly.

"Your hair’s so soft... and your face... you’ve got such a pretty face, you know that?"

"Ah— thanks?"

"Why do you sound so unsure~?"

Merlin giggled.

"He’s always unsure. Like when I tell him to massage me in the hic... the tub and he doesn’t even take a peek at my boobs floating in the water. What a loser!"

She smacked Nero’s back so hard his soup sloshed right to the rim of the bowl.

It nearly spilled all over his lap.

"Can you two not... do that while I’m eating?"

Merlin ignored him and grabbed a mug.

"Here, drink! It’s a festival! Don’t be a party pooper!"

"I’m not— look, you’re both drunk out of your minds already. Maybe ease up a bit? Especially you, Aldura. I didn’t expect this from a priestess."

Aldura gasped dramatically.

"How dare you, scoundrel! This is a sacred druidic rite of spiritual liberation!"

Merlin raised her mug proudly.

"Yeah! Don’t insult her... my... our culture!"

Nero blinked slowly.

"Your culture is getting blackout drunk?"

"YESSS~" ⸜(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)⸝

Both women said as they clinked their bottles together.

The smell of booze was so strong his eyes watered.

He covered his nose with his sleeve.

"This is so stupid..."

Merlin blinked lazily.

"Shhh... don’t be like that, honey."

She meant to gently press her index finger to his lips to hush him, but she was so drunk that her hand just wobbled and rubbed clumsily all over his face instead.

Nero groaned and turned to Ardan, who was sitting nearby and sipping calmly.

"Is that actually true?"

The knight captain sighed, looking utterly defeated.

"Unfortunately... yes. But don’t ask me why druids think enlightenment comes in a bottle."

Nero shook his head, looking around the camp again.

But something caught his eye.

The refugees.

They weren’t gathered near the bonfires.

Most of them sat far off in the dark, huddled together as they ate quietly in the cold.

Nero frowned.

"Why are they all so far from the fire?"

His head tilted a tad.

"They’ll freeze out there."

He started to rise, grabbing his bowl.

"I’ll tell them to come closer—"

Ardan’s hand caught his wrist.

"Don’t."

Nero looked at him. "Why not?"

The knight captain’s expression softened.

"They’ve just been through a dragon attack, kid."

His eyes narrowed solemnly.

"Fire is the last thing they wanna see."

Nero froze mid-motion.

"Huh?"

"They can still picture the scorched bodies. The moment they see those flames, their stomachs turn. Best thing we can do is keep the fire lit and give them space."

Nero sat down again, quietly.

"Still... I just wish they didn’t have to eat in the cold."

"Wishing’s fine..."

Ardan muttered as he took another sip of beer.

"But our job’s to keep them safe, not to parent them."

Nero nodded slowly. "Yeah... guess you’re right."

Just as he picked up his spoon again—

Thud!

Aldura suddenly collapsed sideways into his lap.

"Wha—hey!"

A frustrated Nero quickly set his bowl aside before the stew spilled all over her.

Her head rested on his thigh.

"Tee-hee—BURP!"

She looked up at him with a lopsided smile.

"You’ve got really nice eyes, Nero... strong jawline too... I like strong jawlines~"

Merlin snapped upright.

"HEY! Get your hands off my student, elven whore!"

But when Nero and Ardan turned to her—

Merlin was actually yelling at a knapsack.

Nero blinked. "Uh... she’s yelling at... a bag."

Ardan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I noticed."

Aldura let out a sloppy gasp and clapped excitedly like she just had a revelation.

"Wait! Idea! Nero should be my student! I’ll teach you how to harness nature’s light and—"

GULP GULP GULP

"—how to drink responsiblyyy~"

"That’s enough of that." (눈_눈)

Nero reached for her bottle.

Aldura hugged it to her chest protectively.

"No! Mine!"

Ardan just facepalmed quietly.

"These are supposed to be two of the greatest mages in the last century..."

Then Nero blinked suddenly.

"Oh yeah!"

He slapped his fist into the palm of his other hand.

"You mentioned something before, Aldura—you said you have an apprentice, right?"

"Hmmm? Did I?"

She put a finger to her chin and burped loudly.

The wave of alcohol hit Nero like a physical slap.

He cringed.

"Yeah... you did. Something about a student."

She made a drawn-out "hmmmm" noise that sounded like she was genuinely trying to think.

Then she grinned.

"Can’t remember~!"

That’s when a very quiet voice spoke up from across the bonfire.

"That would be me."

Nero turned.

A bespectacled girl with neat blue hair and a faint frown sat with her hands folded on her lap. The firelight reflected off her glasses as she looked at him.

She was pretty small and petite, with long hair tied up in a cute braid. Her chest was flat, and she had a tiny, basic face that some people would find pretty.

She wore a gray cloak over a white shirt, a black skirt, thigh highs, and chunky brown boots.

This was the first time he’d noticed her.

He blinked.

"Wait—you’re Aldura’s apprentice?"

She lowered her head.

"Surprised? Of course you are. You probably expected her student to be some radiant prodigy overflowing with pools of mana, right? Not... me."

Her tone was very bitter.

He couldn’t feel a single ounce of confidence in it.

Nero raised a brow.

"Whoa, no, I didn’t mean—"

"Of course you did."

She scoffed.

"You didn’t even realize I existed until now. That’s a typical sorcerer’s behavior. You all think your innate magic talent makes you better than everyone."

She gripped her wooden spoon so tightly it creaked.

Then—

[ⓘ Character Profile Unlocked!]

[Name: Eurvaine Folmeister]

[Level: 12]

[Rank: D-Class Mage]

[HP:

300/300]

[MP: 100]

‣ Attribute: [Water Attribute] [Wind Attribute]

‣ Skills: [Mechanical Accuracy]

‣ Personality: "Bitter Genius"

Nero blinked at the pop-up.

『Ah. That explains... everything.』

He smiled awkwardly and held out a hand.

"Well, Eurvaine Folmeister, right? I actually do know who you are."

She didn’t look impressed, her eyes just narrowed.

"Oh really? Who told you that?"

He pointed at Aldura— who was currently drinking upside down on his lap.

"She did."

Aldura peeked up with glassy eyes.

"No, I didn’t—mmph!"

Nero quickly slapped his hand over her mouth.

"Yes, she did."

"..."

"Anyway!"

He smiled again.

"I didn’t mean to seem arrogant or anything. I’m sure we can be friends since our teachers are... well, kinda. So if you ever want tips with magic, I can help! You might even end up better than me someday!"

The place went dead quiet.

Ardan was already shaking his head slowly.

"Oh no..."

Eurvaine’s hand trembled.

Her bowl fell to the dirt with a soft splat.

Her bangs shadowed her eyes.

"So that’s it... you just wanted to mock me."

"What? No! I—"

"I HATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!"

She screamed so hard her throat broke.

"People who act all kind and noble but still look down on everyone else. I’ve had to sit through countless lectures watching the talented ones show off like it’s effortless while people like me get ignored!"

She stood abruptly.

"Please, don’t act like you’re any different."

And before he could stop her, she turned and stormed off into the dark.

The silence after was deafening.

Even Merlin’s drunken mumbling stopped.

Nero sat there, still half-frozen.

He glanced at Ardan, who gave him a look halfway between pity and "you really stepped in it."

Nero exhaled deeply as his shoulders sagged.

"I didn’t even do anything."

[ⓘ Reputation: "Tone-Deaf Hero" +10]

[ⓘ New Quest: "Make up with Eurvaine Folmeister"]

Nero tilted his head.

『Why is that suddenly important...?』

The panel brought up an image of a beautiful young lady with light-blue hair.

[ⓘ Her twin sister is the first heroine of the story.]

Nero just buried his face in his hands.

『Why do I even try anymore.』

Merlin hiccupped and lifted her mug again.

"Don’t worry~ She’s just jealous."

Aldura nodded sagely from his lap.

"Yeahhh... Eurvaine can be like that."

Nero lifted a brow. (๑•̌.•̑๑)

"Wait, why would she be jealous?"