Chapter 81: Chapter 82: Burglar Cat or House Cat? (5)

༺ Burglar Cat or House Cat? (5) ༻

“They say it’s a very expensive drink. Even the Duke of Freesia might only have one bottle a year.”

Fuwong—

I took out a golden glass bottle.

The glass was literally golden.

To be precise, it was the golden liquid sloshing behind the clear glass that gave it its color.

The label attached read.

Nectar

Could it be the fruit wine said to be enjoyed by the gods?

Cariote’s eyes also sparkled at the sight of the golden glass bottle.

“Nectar. I’ve heard of it too. They say once you taste it, you’ll never forget it for life. Indeed, you’ve received a fine item. I have only heard rumors and never had the chance to try it.”

Cariote, who had just been filled with thoughts of leaving the city, seemed intrigued by this precious drink.

Does she enjoy alcohol?

The Barbaroi generally seem to have that vibe.

Of course, I was different.

As I said just now, I don’t really care much for alcohol.

Just an occasional glass or two.

And that’s more for business drinking to complement the mood during dinner parties than out of a desire to get drunk.

After all, now that I’ve surpassed certain limits, I no longer get drunk, no matter how much I drink.

Of course, I usually don’t show it, but the perceptive Cariote seemed to have noticed.

“Judas, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but do you not care much for alcohol?”

“How did you know?”

With Cariote, my lies and acting were seen through more quickly than expected.

While it’s partly because Cariote has the first-rate instincts of a hunter, at this point, I started to become a bit curious about why my deceptions were always uncovered.

Glup—

Instead of answering, Cariote poured the golden liquor into a glass.

Fuwong— Fuwong—

As she lightly shook the halfway-filled glass, the scent of fruits, dense yet bursting with sweetness like it was compressed and then exploded, instantly filled and spread throughout the kitchen.

It was a marvelous fragrance.

The image of a fruit orchard, ripe and rich, popped into my mind in an instant.

“The scent is nice.”

Cariote commented, her nose twitching slightly.

“Nectar, there are so many stories about fools who killed friends to obtain this drink. To think of sharing such a thing with another. It’s unimaginable for those who love liquor.”

Indeed.

That’s where you saw through it.

Glup—

Soon, Cariote gulped down the drink in her cup in one go.

The act of swallowing what was in her mouth seemed strangely sensual.

Was her nape always this pale?

For someone called a demon hunter, her skin was smooth without a single scar.

And her eyelashes are longer than I thought.

Honestly, I thought ‘handsome’ suited her better than ‘pretty’.

Looking at her now, Cariote is a beautiful woman who just lives roughly and has shorter hair than most women.

If she grew her hair out and wore a dress, she’d be the spitting image of a noble lady.

With a large noble-friendly chest…

“……”

Why am I conscious of such things?

Am I intoxicated by the scent of the nectar?

Me, who has surpassed level 40, getting drunk?

I scoffed at the ridiculous idea.

Because ever since the days of my youth, when I got drunk and lost everything including my wallet, I’ve made it my commandment never to get drunk again.

And as far as I’m concerned, it’s an unbroken record.

Swoosh—

I got up from my seat for a moment to clear my head.

“Just a moment, I have some business.”

* * *

The strategy was this.

The Angel’s Feathered Robe strategy.

Just like the woodcutter who hid the angel’s clothes to prevent her from returning to the sky.

I planned to get Cariote drunk, then hide her belongings to waste her time searching for them, making her say, “Oh no, I’ve missed the flight.”

I know this was a bit sly.

But that’s how I’ve always been.

And I have no choice for the sake of Cecily and Naru.

If I don’t keep Cariote here, the world might be in danger.

Anyway.

Two things were necessary for this strategy.

Good liquor.

That’s covered with the nectar.

And secondly, temperature.

A high temperature for the alcohol to circulate quickly through the blood vessels.

I operated the mansion’s heating system,

Warm enough to question the spring night’s chill.

Yet not too warm, that wouldn’t do.

A keen Cariote might notice and spoil the mood.

“Did you wait for long? The bathroom’s broken. With old houses come problems.”

After adjusting the heat, I moved to the kitchen table.

Cariote had already downed about half a bottle of nectar,

Seemingly tipsy without any provocation from me.

“This is good liquor. I had a few more drinks than I realized.”

“Really? I’m glad it suits your taste. The expensive stuff is usually better.”

Swoosh—

Cariote then reached towards her waist.

Fumbling in a small pouch, she pulled something out and said.

“Judas, I’d like to borrow something of yours.”

“…Borrow something of mine?”

“Yes, something small will do.”

“What are you talking about? What’s small?”

“The thing you always hide in your pants.”

What kind of conversation is this?

I have many things hidden in my pants, usually,

But they’re all rather large in one way or another.

Nothing small.

Wait, something small… Perhaps this?

Swoosh—

I pulled a folding utility knife from my pocket.

Yes,

It was a fruit knife.

“This should suffice.”

Swoosh—

Cariote finally smiled contentedly, slicing through the jerky with the dagger.

“This jerky is made from wild boar I hunted myself. Just one piece is enough to sustain you for a day.”

“Oh.”

“I wouldn’t normally share it with just anyone. But since I enjoyed such fine liquor, I must reciprocate. It’s the Barbarian way to repay kindness with kindness.”

The jerky was delicious.

The salty taste burst in my mouth and, surprisingly, turned tender, easily sliding down my throat.

But with something in my stomach, I became fully alert.

I needed to keep Cariote here.

It’s already half past seven.

There’s still time before she leaves on the airship at nine.

I need to keep her occupied for at least an hour and a half.

I asked, pretending to be interested.

“This jerky is delicious. Do you have a knack for making preserved foods like this?”

“For a Barbaroi, this is basic knowledge, isn’t it? Don’t tell me you can’t make jerky, Judas?”

I can’t make it.

I only know how to eat it.

The only thing I can cook well is fried eggs.

Will I be exposed as a fake barbarian?

As I hesitated to answer, Cariote chuckled, “Huh-“

“True, in Barbaria, cooking and preparing food is mostly women’s work. Was it the same in your tribe? The Mokele Mbembe, was it?”

“Right. The women cooked there too. The men just sat around.”

“No, that must be a lie. In the Mokele Mbembe tribe, the men do the cooking. I’ve done my research on your tribe, Judas.”

Really?

My lie was uncovered.

Honestly, I was more shocked about the fact that the Mokele Mbembe tribe existed.

I made up the name on the spot.

What a bizarrely named tribe.

As I was sweating bullets, Cariote chuckled again, “Huh-“

“Judas, you often lied. Everyone has a past they want to hide, so I didn’t pay much attention to it.”

“……”

Glup—

Cariote had already finished another glass of nectar.

Perhaps because of its higher alcohol content, Cariote’s face was flushed with intoxication.

“Does my face look strange?”

“No.”

The redness in her cheeks seemed like it could cause misunderstandings for a man.

This girl, could it be he’s blushing because of me?

“It’s a bit, hot, don’t you think?”

Cariote asked me.

Hot?

The heating is on, but it’s not so hot to make such a comment, is it?

Is it the alcohol talking?

“It’s hot. My clothes feel like I’m in a sauna.”

Thud—

Cariote stripped off the leather jacket she was wearing.

And by hanging it on the chair next to her, her toned shoulders, arms sleekly trained for battle, and breasts tightly pressed against her tank top were exposed.

It was a body brimming with healthy vitality.

To expose herself so openly before me.

I might even think she’s trying to seduce me.

Honestly, I don’t know where to rest my eyes!

As I was growing restless.

“So Judas, you didn’t hold me back just to give a farewell drink. You must have something you want to say. Or something you want to do.”

Quite perceptive.

Did she notice?

Perhaps she had a vague sense that I wanted to keep her from leaving.

Even though she looked drunk, I couldn’t let my guard down, and as I was thinking this, Cariote stood up.

Is she going to pack up and leave?

I have to stop this quickly!

What should I do?

My head was spinning in all directions at that moment.

But Cariote didn’t pack anything.

She slowly walked over, pulled out the chair next to me, and sat down.

“…What now? Why come sit next to me?”

“I got a bit chilly after taking off my coat. But if I put it back on, I’d feel too hot. Being next to you, I thought I’d feel the warmth of another person.”

I see.

Like a cat seeking a warm spot.

But now that Cariote was closer, the scent of fruit wine wafted strongly.

I now noticed the sweat, bead by bead, flowing down her neck.

As the view got closer, the long eyelashes and slightly reddened lips sparkled even more.

And because of that, my heart fluttered a bit.

“…There’s still time before the airship lifts off. Judas, I’d like it if you told me the reason you stopped me. It must be important.”

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