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  Vol 2 Chapter 21: Crimson Wine Demohrone!

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  As they returo the town, night had already settled in. They hadn’t realized the time, nor sidered the innkeeper’s kit would be closed to them at such a te hour. Not keen to impose upon her again, and further swayed by a few eager “kids” cm for a bit of fun, they redirected their evening toward the Adventurer's Guild.

  “Thank you kindly for pleting the mission and dug the iigation. I know it was a demanding task,” the receptionist said warmly as she accepted the report.

  With a polite nod, Marlyno and Farkonia stepped away from the guild’s ter, mission aplished. Meanwhile, the others had already chosen a spot to settle in, a variety of food and drink.

  The Adventurer's Guild served as more than a pce for quests and inquiries; it also doubled as a tavern. The venience suited its patrons, with tables often den with steaming dishes and brimming tankards. Only Veridith, the you among them ao e of age, was bound to fruit juice, casting her longing goward the ale.

  “…Aris, you’ve asted alcohol, have you?” Sisi noted, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched Aris’s subtle hesitation, the unmistakable rea of a novice drihough Aris maintained her usual expressionless demeanor, Sisi’s well-honed eye for such things didn’t miss a beat.

  Aris gave a small, quiet nod. Before her dest into the abyss, she had been but fifteen, still shy of the drinking age, and moreover, as a saintess, alcohol had been strictly forbidden.

  “Well, then, tonight marks your first! Let’s see what you’re made of!” Sisi announced, downing another hearty swig from her mug.

  “Easy now, Sisi,” the captain cautioned with a chuckle, “You’d best not overdo it, or you’ll regret it .”

  “Oh, e notain, there’s always magic to sort out a hangover,” Sisi grinned, unbothered. pared to her usual dramatic persona, she seemed far more rexed tonight, albeit with a slightly impish air still hanging about her.

  Where Sisi was downing drink after drink, Mira opted for moderation, delicately nibbling on skewers and nursing a regur beverage, wanting to avoid any sleep disruptions from a hangover.

  “This is an iing brew… It looks like beer, but it’s surprisingly light,” murmured Misako, sav her drink. The taste was curiously familiar, eg the fvors of the s she’d had at the shrine in her youth.

  “Fruit wine, I think,” Marlyno replied, tipping back her own gss. “It’s cheap but popur with adventurers for its sweetness and affordability.”

  Marlyno, who usually projected a calm, measured demeanor, evidently ehe drink herself, as her gss was already halfway empty.

  “Hmm, yes, not bad. It’s got its own charm pared to wine,” mused Elyssa, her every sip exuding a refined elegahat made the modest drink appear rather exquisite. Meanwhile, Diana— who had been the oo suggest the outing for drinks—was the first to fall, slumping over the table not long after their arrival.

  “Ha! Diana, you’re such a lightweight!” Sisi teased, pointing at her friend sprawled across the table, skewers now finished and grinning with clear delight.

  “...N-no, I’m not…,” Diana protested weakly, slowly lifting her head, her bleary eyes log onto Sisi with a suddeermination. In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward and bit down on her friend’s arm.

  “Ouch! Diana, let go!” cried Sisi, attempting tle free.

  “Won’t… let go… Not a lightweight!” muttered Diana with a fierce pout.

  “Wrong target! You’re biting the wrong person!” yelped Sisi, though her struggles did little to dislodge Diana, who had somehow mao end up half-curled into Elyssa’s p, her teeth firmly tched onto the slight rise beh Elyssa’s clothing.

  “Stop trig me! Only Elyssa gets to call me a lightweight!” Diaed, her bite firming slightly as Elyssa’s startled cry broke the air.

  That st decration hit Elyssa with full force. The words swirled in her head, leaving her beet-red and flustered, all thoughts scattering. Only I call her that?

  Realization washed over her like a wave, a mix of mortification and bewilderment filling her cheeks with warmth, her entire body flushed as though on fire.

  “No… This won’t do…” She stammered, trying to shake herself free from Diana’s grip. With a swift, instinctual movement, she tapped Diana’s forehead just firmly enough. Taken by surprise, Diana’s grasp faltered as she slumped forward, mumbling ily before slipping into unsciousness.

  Elyssa panted, her face still afme, rec from both the close proximity and the undeniable tension that had surged through her. She cast an embarrassed gnce around, hoping no one had witnessed her rea.

  “Ah… perhaps I should give you a recipe food hangover remedy,” Farkonia said dryly, watg the se with a faint smile. As a green dragon well-versed in poisons and potions, she knew how effective it would be for one of their kind. It might be the only thing that could help Diana tomorrow.

  “…Thank you,” Elyssa replied, grateful for Farkonia’s thoughtfulness. She knew Diana wouldn’t fare well without it.

  At the other end of the table, Sisi, not tent with only one petitor, had turned her attention to Aris, eared just as steady despite the many mugs they had each gohrough.

  “You’re the first I’ve met who keep up with me! I, Sisi, name you my greatest rival!” she decred grandly, taking another deep swig.

  “However, don’t think I’m done just yet! Time to show you my true drinking form!” Without hesitation, she downed her mug in one impressive gulp.

  Naturally, Aris followed suit, mirr Sisi’s speed and drinking without so much as a blink.

  “No way! A worthy challeo the Crimson Wine Demon!” gasped one onlooker, watg in disbelief.

  “No, no, wait— look, her speed’s pig up! And somehow, her oppo is still keeping pace!” said another, both excitement and shock flickering across his face.

  “Yes… we may be witnessing a legendary duel,” murmured yet another, nodding in awe.

  Gradually, more adventurers began gathering around, cheering on the impromptu petition. Sisi, renowned in the guild as the “Crimson Wine Demon” for her ued drinking prowess, was drawing quite the crowd. Excited by her first real challehe adventurers eagerly offered to cover the tab, thrilling itle's iy.

  As cheers rang out and tankards ked, the guild staff grew increasingly worried. “Um… we may be running low on drink,” oaff member ventured hesitantly, gng anxiously at the dwindling barrels.

  Luckily, the duel ended just as supplies hit the st dregs. As the crowd watched, one young woman finally stilled, her eyelids drooping before she colpsed onto the table, a dazed spiral filling her eyes. Her rival calmly set her gss down, expression uhough her victory was clear.

  For a heartbeat, silence reighen, the Adventurer's Guild erupted with a roar, g and cheering.

  “All hail the neion! The Crimson Wine Demon has beehroned!”

  “I ’t believe it! The Crimson Wine Demoed!”

  They turo the victor, eager to hear from this neion.

  “Anything you’d like to say, oh mighty one?” asked one of the adventurers, voice filled with reverence.

  ...

  “...You're all too loud,” she replied coolly, her tone unged.