TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 98
I stopped by a tavern after a long time.
To reward myself for working hard, I briskly walked to a store filled with short memories.
A tavern located on the outskirts of the Capital City.
‘Grape Tavern.’
The ‘Grape Tavern,’ known for its delicious draft beer and dried snacks, is a place run by a young Female Tavern Owner and was featured in the novel as Yuria’s favorite spot.
-Ding.
“Welcome~ This is the Grape Tavern. Oh my!”
The Female Tavern Owner, who was in the kitchen, exclaimed “Oh my” at the sight of a regular customer she hadn’t seen in a while. Greeting me warmly and kindly, the Proprietress gave me a smile. I waved lightly and bowed my head toward the Proprietress.
“It’s been a while, Proprietress.”
“It’s been so long that I thought you were dead.”
“How could you think a Young Man with a bright future was dead? Apologize.”
“Hohoho, it just means I’m that glad to see you.”
I responded to the Proprietress’s joke with a light laugh and said.
“I had some business in the Capital City, so I stopped by briefly. Do you have a seat?”
“Of course~ If there isn’t one, I’ll make one for you.”
The Female Tavern Owner answered brightly with a smile. She was an exceptionally kind person who had once kicked out a Troublesome Guest and had been offering great service ever since.
As we exchanged stories about each other’s recent lives with bright smiles, the Female Tavern Owner glanced toward the corner of the restaurant and spoke to me.
“By the way, didn’t you come with a friend?”
“A friend?”
“Yes. You two used to come here occasionally in the past. They arrived first and are sitting over there.”
A friend… who could it be?
With bitter doubt about whether someone like me, who had spent lonely Academy Days without friends, could actually have a friend, I turned my head following the Female Tavern Owner’s gaze. In the corner of the tavern, I saw a Pink-Haired Woman sitting alone, sipping beer.
Taking a sip of beer, she frowned and muttered, “Ugh… bitter,” with a familiar expression that made me let out a small smile.
Noticing my ambiguous expression, the Female Tavern Owner cautiously asked.
“Should I set up a separate table for you?”
I shook my head, politely declining the Proprietress’s consideration.
“No, I’ll sit over there.”
I walked lightly toward the secluded place where Yuria was sitting.
Despite there being plenty of good seats, I found it amusing that Yuria had chosen a secluded place. And her sitting there, despite disliking alcohol, made me smile even more.
*
“Why are you drinking alone like a tragic Heroine?”
Yuria looked at me with startled eyes. Her half-drunken eyes, partially closed, showed a mix of surprise and confusion as she looked at me.
“Ricardo? How did you end up here?!”
“Why would the most handsome and perfect The Man in the world come to a tavern? To drink, of course.”
“What nonsense….”
Yuria chuckled softly, responding to my words. Even though I was being sincere, her playful reaction made me smile along with her.
With a soft scraping sound, I carefully pulled out a chair and sat across from Yuria.
Drinking alone felt lonely, but now that I had company, I felt much better.
I asked Yuria, who wore a bitter smile, a question.
“May I sit here?”
“You’re already sitting.”
“If you said no, I was planning to run away.”
Yuria chuckled softly again and gave her consent.
“Sit down.”
“Thank you. I almost ended up drinking alone, but now I’m saved.”
“What about the Young Lady…?”
Yuria glanced behind me and asked, but I shrugged and answered her question with, “The Young Lady is asleep.”
After ordering beer and dried squid from the clerk, I looked softly into Yuria’s eyes.
Her eyes were moist.
Her expression looked gloomy.
Seeing Yuria’s downcast face, as if she had just been crying, I thought, ‘The Heroine is always crying.’
Although the novel often depicted her in a melancholic light, seeing it in person stirred something unpleasant in my heart.
While the novel was a bright and hopeful Romance Fantasy enjoyed by female Readers, that only applied to the male characters.
The Heroes were physically strong but carried their own deficiencies.
Yuria, on the other hand, was physically weak but filled the emotional voids of others.
While this dynamic brought excitement to the novel, it likely wasn’t a pleasant experience for Yuria herself.
Not that Yuria was weak. She possessed Healing Magic talent that was incomparable to her peers, and her knowledge of Holy Magic was extensive.
Mikhail, Ruin, and the other Supporting Male Leads excelled in every aspect, but that didn’t mean Yuria was lacking.
Their talents simply lay in different fields.
Hans’ Matter was the same.
I cautiously thought she might feel skeptical about her reality, where she always received help.
She was praised by those around her.
But there wasn’t much she could do herself.
The novel had described Yuria’s feelings about the current timeline—a period of wandering about her worth amidst complex Interpersonal Relationships.
She had been bullied since her 1st Year.
Hans had fallen to darkness.
And now was the time when she felt disillusioned with her incompetence, as she always relied on the Heroes during crises.
So, I could somewhat predict the worries Yuria might be harboring.
Though I could be wrong.
I cautiously started a conversation with Yuria, who wore a gloomy expression.
“You’re having a hard time, aren’t you?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
“I just thought studying and Academy life must be tough for you. Unlike me, you didn’t throw away your grades.”
“…It’s manageable.”
Yuria answered with a bitter expression.
Though her tone was firm, as if to tell me not to worry, her gloomy face revealed the stress she felt from her studies.
Hoping to make Yuria smile, I jokingly made a smug expression and said.
“Live like me, relying on your face. It’s thrilling.”
Yuria chuckled softly and replied.
“Do you know how annoying you are?”
“That’s exactly the point.”
“Pfft! What even is that… really.”
I thought I had eased Yuria’s hardships a bit, but it seemed I hadn’t helped much.
Seeing Yuria’s somber expression, I gave a bitter smile and shifted to lighter topics, asking about her day.
“Did you enjoy the tteokbokki earlier? I worked hard to make it as a special order.”
Chugging her beer, Yuria replied.
“It was really delicious.”
Not good with alcohol, Yuria frowned and muttered softly, “Ugh… bitter,” expressing her honest thoughts.
‘Too much of it wouldn’t be good.’
Knowing from the novel that Yuria got drunk after three beers, I worried about her drinking too much and smiled faintly.
“I’m glad you liked it. I put a lot of effort into it. Though it was an unfamiliar kitchen, I accidentally used salt instead of sugar, but I’m glad it tasted good.”
“…What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I made it deliciously.”
“…”
At my straightforward comment, Yuria lowered her head.
In a slightly trembling voice, Yuria cautiously asked me.
“Do you do that for just anyone?”
Yuria’s ears turned red as she lowered her head. Whether it was from drinking past her limit or something else, her flushed ears caught my attention as I shook my head.
“I don’t give my heart-and-soul-made tteokbokki to just anyone.”
“Then why did you give it to me?”
“Because you’re a precious Friend?”
“…”
Yuria’s ears turned even redder.
‘I don’t think I should let her drink any more.’
Expecting a cheerful drinking session, I felt that at this rate, a Tragedy of having to deal with a Drunk Person like Yuria might occur.
Taking advantage of Yuria bowing her head, I carefully moved the Beer Glass next to her to the corner.
-Softly.
Yuria, who was staring intently at my hand as I stealthily hid the Beer Glass in the corner of the Table.
Yuria, resting her chin on the Table with a Sullen Expression, puffed out her cheeks and said to me.
“Why are you hiding it?”
“…I didn’t do anything.”
“Lie.”
Awkwardly smiling, I returned the Beer Glass to Yuria’s side.
Yuria, who had puffed out her cheeks, grinned as soon as her Beer Glass was returned, and then gulped down the remaining beer.
After wiping the foam from her lips, she frowned and muttered, “Ugh… bitter.”
Shaking my head at Yuria’s actions, I said.
“For someone weak to alcohol, taking a shot like that is admirable.”
“Why?”
“Just because.”
-Softly.
Yuria, whose pride in drinking had taken a hit, stared at me intently again.
“Who do you think I’m doing this for…?”
At Yuria’s arrogant tone that ended on a rising note, I responded with a small smile.
“By any chance… did you know you were overcharged today? I charged 10 Gold more, though.”
“?”
Yuria stared at me with a bewildered expression.
“…Is that not the case?”
“No.”
“Oh…”
Unintentionally confessing, I scratched the back of my head and gave a cheerful Smile.
“Looks like I’ll be caught by the Imperial Army.”
“…”
“I’ll make sure to tell the Proprietress to give you some service.”
At Yuria’s cold expression, I was at a loss for words.
An awkward atmosphere lingered.
As more people gradually gathered in the Tavern, Yuria and I continued to drink.
One glass.
Two glasses.
As I noticed Yuria’s gaze losing focus, I felt uneasy.
“Haa…”
With a heavy sigh, Yuria opened her mouth.
“Ricardo.”
Not in formal speech.
Yuria spoke in casual speech.
Smiling at her unguarded demeanor, I replied.
“Why are you calling me?”
“It’s just that…”
After hesitating for a long time, Yuria finally spoke.
“Don’t you hate me?”