Chapter 9
âEveryone! Iâm sorry for the trouble that I caused yesterday! So, I made a lot of food! Please eat up! Cheers!â
âââCheers!!âââ
The four members of <Running Wolves> had gathered in a corner of the dining room of <Mistletoe Inn-tei> to begin a dinner party. The table was lined with dishes that Renka had prepared in the kitchen, and they all began to eat together with a toast.
âRenkaâs food is so delicious! The soup tastes just like our hometown. I sometimes get a craving for itâ
âYes! I donât have much time to cook soup when weâre adventuring⌠Renka-chan, itâs delicious!â
âIâm glad. Please eat a lot. And please give me some more ale!â
âOkay, here you are!â
Alvin began to devour his food, while Milis slowly took a sip of the soup. The soup from back home was a favorite of both of them, and Renka had made a lot of it. Renka also ordered more alcohol as she ate her food. Hearing Renkaâs order, the young innkeeper replied and brought more alcohol to replace the empty glasses.
âYes⌠itâs really delicious. Renka is a good cook. The meat is cooked perfectly, and the sauce is just the way I like itâ
âIâm glad it suited your palateâ
Shinji was also smiling as he cut the main course steak into small pieces and put them in his mouth. Renka nodded in satisfaction at the sight of him and sheâs happy to hear the praise of the honest Shinji.
âNow we are at the intermediate-upper rank⌠I canât wait to move up to the upper rankâ
âAl-kun, it is too early. Arenât we just promoted yesterday?â
Alvin started to get drunk and Milis criticized him. He has a dissatisfied look on his face. Renka and Shinji laugh bitterly.
âUpper ranks have an image of being special, so thereâs no point in rushing it. If we continue as we have been doing, we will eventually riseâ
âWhatâs more, I think weâre already have the strength higher than the upper-lower rank. So, just take our timeâ
Three of them looked at Shinji at the same time as he spoke while drinking his alcohol. And Alvin tilted his head at Shinjiâs confident words.
âHow do you know that?â
âHmm? How do I know that? Because my former party was in the upper rankâ
Shinji suddenly made a shocking statement. And the three of them couldnât help but raise their voices. Yet, Shinji only puzzled.
âWhat is it? Whatâs so surprising?â
âIâm surprised! When Shinji joined, we were in the intermediate-lower ranks! And wasnât there another party that was higher than us, so why join us?â
âI think I know why youâre so calm, Shinji-sanâŚâ
âWhat are you thinking⌠really?â
Shinji laughed at the three different reactions and continued talking.
âIâve seen the other parties. As a result, <Running Wolves> was the best. I thought Alvin, Milis and Renka had a lot of talent. I didnât use rank as a selection criterion tooâ
Gulp⌠Shinji drank his alcohol and shook his glass, shouting for more. And the three of them listened to him quietly.
âSo, thereâs no doubt in my eyes. Alvin, Milis, and Renka are all good people, and the party atmosphere is good. Iâd like to continue to do my best at this rate. âŚWhat is it?â
With an unusually embarrassed look on his face, Shinji concluded his story. By the time he had finished, all three of them were looking at Shinji with strange smiles on their faces. Alvin put his arm around Shinjiâs shoulders and squeezed his shoulders.
âIâm glad it was Shinji who joined us! All right! Letâs drink more! Mil and Renka, letâs drink!â
âYou have to drink in moderation, Al-kunâ
âItâs good to have a drink occasionally! Iâll have one too!â
âEven you, Renka-chan⌠And you, Shinji-san, please stop them!â
âIâm sorry. Iâm on Alvin and Renkaâs side todayâ
It seems that even Shinji refused with a crisp face, and Milis gave up by muttering, âIt canât be helpedâ.
With that, Alvin and his friends talked about their time in their hometown, Shinji talked about his past, and the feast went on until the end of the hour.
* * *
âAl-kunâŚâĄâ
ââŚâŚâŚâ
Milis is falling asleep, lying on the desk with a muffled smile. Next to her, Renka was also slumped down on the tablet. Seeing the two of them collapsed, Shinji stopped drinking with Alvin.
âLetâs stop here for now, Alvinâ
âThatâs right⌠ah, they drunk⌠that was funâ
âYes, it was fun. Letâs drink again. Do you want to go out for a drink with the guys this time?â
âThat would be nice too!â
Alvin smiled happily. But then, Shinji chuckled, âBy the wayâ, while looking at the two girls who had fallen asleep.
âIâll wake them up and ask them to go to their room. Weâll have to clean up tooâ
âItâs not good to wake them up, so letâs carry them. Iâll carry Mil, so for Renka, can you?â
Alvin then easily carried the sleeping Milis on his back. But Milis is not wake up, and still dreaming.
âI feel bad about carrying her without permissionâŚâ
âItâs okay. Youâll just put her on the bed. Then weâll both clean up hereâ
âAll right. If she says anything, could you help me follow up?â
âYeah!â
With that said, Shinji put his arms around the sleeping Renkaâs back and knees and lifted her up. Itâs a princess hug. Then, Shinji follows behind Alvin as he leads the way.
While walking, the vibration of the walk brought Renka back to consciousness. And the first scene she saw is Shinjiâs face. Still, she was quietly leaning against Shinji, who was carrying her without any awareness that she was already awake. Besides, Renka wasnât uncomfortable, and she was thrilled by Shinjiâs warmth.
âRenkaâs room is that way. See you later!â
Alvin walked to the front of the next room and shaking Milis while says, âMil, give me the key to your roomâ. On the other side, Shinji also called out to Renka, who was still held by him.
âRenka, do you have the key? Iâll put you to bed, okay?â
ââŚYeah, itâs hereâŚâ
Shinji smiled at Renka, who reacted more properly than he expected.
âCan you make it to bed by yourself?â
At this moment, Shinji and Renkaâs eyes met. From the look of Shinjiâs gaze, Renka can only feel his concern. And Renka was so excited to be held by Shinji, but he didnât seem to be aware of it at all. For some reason, that seemed to dissatisfy her.
âIâll open it⌠just carry me like thisâ
Renka should be able to stand, but she begged Shinji in a sweet voice. And Renkaâs heart was pounding more and more, but Shinji just nodded calmly. They unlocked the door and entered Renkaâs room.
Once in the room, Shinji slowly carries Renka to her bed. As he walked, he cast a weak aphrodisiac spell on Renka.
Renka misinterpreted the magical thrill in her chest as Shinjiâs strength supporting her and the effects of intoxication. She was aware of Shinjiâs face so close to hers, yet he was as normal as ever.
As Renka lay down on the bed, Shinji slowly withdraw his hand away from Renka. There was no insolence at all. It was natural, but Renka was wondering if she was not attractive enough. She doesnât know why she has this strange and lewd thought, still she doesnât resist it.
And when Shinji trying to stand up, she could feel it and stop it.
Yet, he really doesnât do anything.
For some reason, that frustrated her.
Because of this Renkaâs arms immediately went around Shinjiâs neck and head.
Renka pulled Shinji to her and kissed him.
Renkaâs first kiss, which was just a touch, tasted like the last lemon liquor Shinji had been drinking.
Renka is so aggressive after Shinji gave her some spell!
And Renka gave her first kiss to Shinji not Alvin!
