Chapter 780: Wine, Laughter, and Quiet Regrets ( 780 )

"And that’s my father," Lograc muttered, tired.

Chieftain Gumarak was pulled into the grand hall between King Lioness and King Veldrac. His beard bristled, and his boots scraped loudly on the floor.

He roared, cursed, and shouted at them with every step, yet his hand kept reaching for the wine goblet nearby the table.

Lograc sighed, one hand over his eyes. "Truly hopeless..."

Beside Javier, Kezzoth and Kivira looked at each other with tired faces.

Both princes sighed at the same time and turned away.

Their fathers, two kings, were already too drunk, laughing like boys and acting like children.

"Well! Let’s ignore our fathers and have fun tonight!"

Marcellus said, shoving a goblet to Kivira while Cedric pressed another toward Kezzoth.

"Drink, brothers!" Cedric laughed. "This night is ours."

Even Lograc, who sighed a moment ago, got his share from Marcellus with a grin.

Javier looked around the hall. Nobles and guests watched the drunken kings. Laughter and music filled the air. With no one paying close attention, Javier moved his hand to his side.

A faint light glowed, and from his storage he pulled out a slender bottle. The glass shone under the crystal chandeliers, and the red liquid inside glowed like fire.

"Oho!" Marcellus’s eyes widened, his grin sharp. He leaned close and whispered, his eyebrows moving.

"Isn’t that your father’s expensive wine from the private cellar? You cheeky boy!"

Javier exhaled softly and did not deny it. Quietly, he uncorked the bottle and poured the wine neatly into a crystal glass. He took a sip calmly.

Cedric’s grin grew as he snatched the bottle from Javier’s hand.

"Kids don’t drink much!" Cedric said with a laugh, lifting the bottle high.

"This is ours now! Ehehehe!"

Javier’s brow twitched, but his expression stayed calm.

Inside, he groaned.

...Kids, he says. I’m already fourteen. Yet here I am, treated like a child while they drink my bottle.

I’m older than you, Marcellus. Cedric too. Well, if we count the memories from my past world, anyway.

He exhaled softly and watched Cedric and Marcellus pour the expensive wine freely into the goblets of Lograc, Kivira, and Kezzoth.

And there it was.

They all looked childish when they drank, grinning, laughing, racing to see who could finish first.

Enjoying themselves as if their fathers weren’t around.

It’s true, huh, Javier thought quietly.

No matter how old a man is, he can still feel like a child again... no matter how old.

He let a small smile show, then took another quiet sip.

Well... I couldn’t say anything, could I?

Since I’m like them too.

From the day I was a baby in this world, I was already childish... even though I had an adult mind buried inside.

Heh. I wonder what made me like that.

Probably because deep down, I just wanted to enjoy life again.

Because I know... once I become an adult, soon enough, I’ll lose these happy moments.

Moments of being a child.

Moments where I can still laugh freely, act silly, and not carry the full weight of responsibility.

Moments of simply enjoying the real now.

Just like back in my old world.

Back when I was Junichi.

And now... I’ve turned fourteen in this world.

Four more years, and I’ll be eighteen.

A real adult, if I compare it to my old world.

And when that time comes... I’m sure I’ll miss these days.

The days of being happy as a child.

Being chased by Liana.

Being scolded by her nagging voice about manners and rules.

Being followed by her wherever I tried to sneak off to.

And Gloria too... quietly there, steady, never leaving my side.

Javier swirled the red liquid once more in his glass, his eyes steady but his chest tightening faintly.

Those simple days... will be the memories I hold onto most.

Time keeps flying fast, huh?

From my baby days... to eleven... and now fourteen.

So many things have happened.

In just the blink of an eye, I’ve already reached this age.

Already fourteen.

Starting to carry responsibility.

Meeting this person, meeting that person.

One step at a time, my world keeps getting bigger, whether I want it to or not.

School. Noble life.

Then war... clashing with the so-called Hero.

I killed them in rage.

Crushed those Saints of the Three Gods.

Fought the nobles’ coalition.

Then came that thing people here call "Celestial."

Cleaning the filth. Fighting them again and again.

Even being separated from Liana and Gloria for a time...

And dragging myself into this harem mess.

Then war with the Human Kingdom.

And killing Edmund... when he was fully corrupted by the filth.

Javier’s eyes lowered faintly, his fingers tightening on the glass.

And now I owe a debt to Kliatana.

Still... the weight of her promise lingered.

Javier exhaled softly.

One day, she’ll come to claim it. And when that time comes...

Ugh! Let’s hope it doesn’t turn into my harem.

This harem mess is already enough to ruin my life.

Damn.

Javier lifted his glass and drained the last sip, his face calm and polite for the nobles watching, but inside he was groaning louder than ever.

Six already fighting over me... if Kliatana joins that circle, I’ll never know peace again.

He set the glass down with practiced grace, masking his thoughts behind the faintest of smiles.

Javier’s eyes drifted across the hall. Amidst the laughter and noise of his brothers, Lograc, Kivira, and Kezzoth, he noticed one figure seated apart.

Heres.

The elder half-brother sat quietly, sipping from his cup, seemingly content in solitude.

Javier moved closer, his steps measured, and sat across from him.

"Brother... why alone in this party?"

Heres lifted his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Ah, little brother. Nothing much. I just enjoy the night alone."

Javier tilted his head slightly. "Why not join Marcellus and Cedric?"

Heres let out a long breath and chuckled softly. "Haaa... if I joined them, they’d be too loud. You know how they are when drinking... and worse when drunk."

Javier’s lips curved faintly. "Hmm? Then why not join Aelius?"

Heres barked a small laugh, lowering his cup.

"Hah. Do you see how Athine glares at anyone who even tries to approach them? No thanks, I don’t want to be part of that mess."

Javier exhaled lightly, his eyes shifting toward Aelius and Athine in the distance. Sure enough, the two were sitting close as always, Athine’s sharp gaze enough to drive away even the boldest noble.

Guess Heres made the smarter choice.

( End Of Chapter )