Cadel dragged Garuel through the town in the late evening, having familiarized himself with the town’s geography while searching for him, so he could stop wherever he wanted.

The first stop was a clothing store. Not to buy clothes, but because Cadel remembered seeing a display of masks in the window. When he walked in, there weren’t many masks, but it was better than having to scrounge around the market for a replacement for a broken one.

“Pick whatever you like. I’ll buy you one.”

“Umm, I have good taste in men, but not in masks. I’ll settle for anything as long as it covers up well…….”

“It’s nice to have something beautiful to wear. Look, how about this one? It’s got nice curves and a gold pattern. It matches the color of your hair.”

“Don’t you think a white mask is a bit much for me? It’s too bright for a black magician.”

“It’s a stereotype.”

“I like this one better.”

Garuel’s initially reluctant response melted away as Cadel eagerly examined the mask. Cadel looked at the black mask Garuel held up and frowned.

“Dull. No shine, no pattern. Doesn’t it cover too much of your face?”

“Masks are usually worn to cover the face.”

“Don’t they have any designs that cover just one eye, like your last mask?”

“Umm…… I don’t think there’s anything like that. Do you think it’s a shame that my handsome face is covered like that?”

“I’d say that’s rubbish, but I’m not without sentiment. I mean, it’s not even my face.”

Garuel burst out laughing at Cadel’s serious response. It was cute to watch Cadel roll his eyes thoughtfully, trying to find a mask that would somehow cover his face less. After watching him for a few moments, Garuel turned his head at the sound of a familiar voice behind him.

It was the store’s owner. Her freckles and reddish hair covering the bridge of her nose gave her an unpretentious look. When Garuel spotted her, she tilted her head with a faint smile, and her slightly stiff shoulders dropped.

“You must be of the Scarlet Scales Knight Order, right? I was going to stay out of the way so you could enjoy the sights, but I could hear your conversation.”

“Oh, were we too loud? We apologize.”

“Oh, no! It’s not like that…….”

After a moment’s hesitation, she asked Cadel and Garuel for permission, then picked up a mask. It was a plain, dull mask, the first one Garuel had picked out.

“You like this one, don’t you? But you don’t want it to cover too much of your face, am I right?”

“Well, I don’t mind, but our Knight Commander does.”

“Then please give me a few days. I’ll make it the size and shape you want.”

Cadel, who had been staring at the store owner in disbelief at her offer, approached her in surprise.

“Are you sure you can do that?”

“Of course! The members of the Scarlet Scales Knight Order are heroes of the Empire, and now they’re protecting our village, so it’s only fair. Give me three days and I can make it any shape you want, and if you’re going into battle wearing a mask, I’ll make it stronger than normal.”

“Then I ask for your favor!”

“Yes! First, I’d like you to tell me what design you want…….”

Cadel pushed Garuel aside and explained the shape of the mask he wanted the store owner to make. As it turned out, he wanted every square inch reduced except for the area around the left eye.

After a long and unnecessarily wordy list of demands. Garuel looked back at the store owner as Cadel turned to leave.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just take it easy, I’m not one to curse people if I don’t like the results.”

It was a joke he spat out, aware of how the black magician came across to others. He didn’t want to put any unnecessary pressure on her, who was already armed with favors. But the store owner was unexpectedly adamant.

“No one thinks of a lifesaver that way, Sir. This mask will be made to the best of my ability, with the gratitude of the people of my village.”

“…….”

“See you in three days, then!”

With a cheerful wave from the owner, Garuel and Cadel left the store. Cadel casually led him to their next destination, his tight lips and lowered eyes a constant reminder.

“Were you touched?”

“To be honest, ……yes. It’s not something I expected to hear in a place like this.”

“You’re on the front lines of a battlefield, protecting a lot of people, and the world isn’t so rotten that you deserve persecution in return.”

“……I know, and that’s why I wanted to protect them.”

Cadel smiled at Garuel’s expression as it slowly unraveled, and they smiled together.

Their next stop was a tavern. Garuel tried to pretend that he wasn’t such a drinker, but he hesitated when he entered the store and was met with a barrage of stares.

He wondered if they didn’t want a black magician in their midst, unlike the owner of the clothing store. He certainly wasn’t one to get drunk himself, but just as he was about to step out to ensure their happy evening.

“Get the liquor ready!”

“As much as you can! Bring me the best!”

The barkeep, the clerk, and even the customers inside the store were yelling at the top of their lungs to hurry up and serve the drinks. One patron who jumped out of the commotion even dragged Garuel and forced him to sit down in an empty seat. He looked at Cadel, who had nonchalantly taken the seat across from him, in bewilderment.

“What is this situation……?”

“The owner of the tavern is very upset that you’ve been practicing instead of coming to the dining hall, and he was wondering if you’re not coming because the food isn’t good enough, so I told him that your usual staple is alcohol, and word must have gotten around the whole tavern.”

“You brought me here knowing this would happen?”

“I kind of guessed, but I didn’t expect you to be so welcomed.”

At least Cadel had dealt with the tavern’s hysteria before, so he was able to respond calmly. Garuel, on the other hand, was unexpectedly overwhelmed by the hospitality and froze as he looked at the large barrels of liquor piling up on either side of him.

“Here, I’ll treat you to the best liquor in the store. It’s all free, so don’t worry and enjoy!”

“Uh…….”

“We’ll also make you some great snacks, so you don’t have to worry about being robbed!”

“The appetizers here are really good, Sir! This Matisse, a ten-year regular, will guarantee it!”

Soon enough, the townspeople had gathered around the two men and were giving them their undivided attention. One might expect them to be wary of the elite Knight Order of the Empire, but the alcohol-fueled conversation filled them with a courage they normally lacked. The sheer intimacy they exuded made even the hardened Garuel spit out a laugh and shake his head.

“As much as I love to drink, I can’t possibly drink all this, so let’s all have a drink.”

“You are a knight of the Empire after all. How generous of you! Did you hear, Morty? Sir Knight wants us to drink with him!”

“Yes, yes! When else would we hang out with these esteemed knights? Drink to your heart’s content!”

Though he was taken aback by the excessive kindness, Garuel was a born socializer, and once his opponent broke the ice, he began to mingle with the group.

“Haha! You’re not a big drinker either. Is this the spirit of a hero?”

“Well, it’s kind of like that, Mr. Matisse, but you’re not a big drinker, are you?”

“I’ve been drinking for twenty years, twenty years!”

The buzzing atmosphere, the upbeat music, the abundance of drinking buddies and even more alcohol. It was all to Garuel’s liking, and he couldn’t stop smiling. Cadel stared at Garuel’s amused face, then tapped his glass with a playful smirk on his lips.

“Hmm?”

“I brought you here to play with me, and you’re having a blast all by yourself?”

“Oh, are you jealous? Your jealousy is so sweet, I don’t think I need any appetizers.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Give me a minute, I’ll knock them all out.”

Knock them out. The mystery was quickly put to rest when Garuel realized he was going to have a bar fight.

Garuel chose not to wrestle, but to drink, taking on one patron at a time, making bets with them, and using his auto-hungover body as a weapon to knock out everyone in the tavern, including the barkeep. He drank with such flamboyance that the wait was never boring.

Cadel stuck his tongue out as he scanned the crowd sprawled across the bar.

“You really……. What do you call this, a drunkard or a drinking hippo?”

“Please say I’m a born alcoholic.”

“……Yes. That’s amazing.”

The smell of alcohol wafted through the air, making the drink taste even worse. Cadel set down the glass he’d been sipping from and looked over at Garuel, his face redder than usual as if he’d had too much to drink.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

“Drinking always makes me happy.”

“Few people enjoy drinking as much as you do.”

“……Thank you, Knight Commander.”

“For what?”

“For making me feel better. No more useless worry, no more self-doubt, no more anxiety……. Thanks to you, I was able to forget.”

Leaning back against the chair’s backrest, Garuel craned his neck languidly. It was the first time in a long time that he’d been drinking like a maniac, and his mind was foggy. As he stared blankly at the ceiling with a long exhale, Cadel’s soft voice drifted into his ear.

“That’s enough.”

Cadel’s face relaxed as he slowly lowered his gaze.

“I know I can’t find all your worries and solve them all, but I know what your favorite things are, and if you ever feel like you’re having a hard time, just tell me and I’ll make your day.”

“……So how do we fill your day with happiness?”

“I’m already filled with happiness, every day.”

So happy all the time.

Cadel’s face, smiling broadly, was the most beautiful thing he had ever known. Garuel etched his lingering smile deep into his foggy brain, unable to tell if it was drunkenness or love.

“I’ll never forget this day.”