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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Finding Drunkard Kal
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Last year, when Luciano was depressed about not being able to find his master, I did think of him.
Should I introduce them in advance?
But I quickly gave up on the idea.
The first reason was that they were fated to meet anyway.
Even though they met by chance, the two built a deep bond of trust as master and disciple.
Excluding the female protagonist Briana in the original story, his master was the closest and most precious person to Luciano.
I was worried that if I interfered, it might twist their relationship in some strange way.
The second reason was the other person involved—Luciano.
After the muffin incident, Luciano trusted me.
He accepted whatever I gave him without hesitation, treating me without any reservations.
But just because he trusted me didn't guarantee he'd trust the person I introduced.
Luciano was wary of the people around me too.
Whenever I said I'd met someone.
-Who'd you meet? Who? Tell me who.
He'd ask to the point of annoyance.
If I talked to a new stranger.
-Who's that? How do you know them?
He'd interrogate me like that.
He even disliked me getting close to Billy.
-What do you trust about that guy? He's suspicious.
I had no idea why he hated Billy so much.
He barely tolerated my family and Nanny, but anyone else? No.
He persistently questioned and guarded against them.
In that state, there was no guarantee he'd simply accept some random person I brought as his master.
The original story described Drunkard Kal as not having a lenient personality either.
I couldn't shake the worry that forcing them to meet might derail their fated connection.
If there hadn't been this absurd duel in between, I wouldn't have stepped in at all.
'I would've just waited for their fates to connect naturally.'
But it was hard to just watch from the sidelines as Luciano suffered for longer.
Especially since Imperial Consort Isabel had brought up what came next.
There would be another duel soon.
"Miss, are you really going into a place like this? This doesn't seem like somewhere you should visit."
Billy frowned at the place we'd arrived on my orders.
It was a tavern in the capital.
A true drunkard's haunt, living up to its sign 'Liquor Whale,' with drinking sessions in full swing even in broad daylight.
Delia had quickly tracked down Drunkard Kal's whereabouts for me.
As expected, the info was that he practically lived in taverns all day.
-Is this really the person you're looking for?
Delia had even asked that.
Still, she'd found him faster than last time, so her informant network must be coming together well.
"I have to go in. Someone to meet."
"If the master finds out I brought you to a place like this, I'll get an earful."
Billy said anxiously.
"It's fine. It's fine."
It probably would be.
"Then, Miss, promise me one thing. If I say we should leave once we're inside, we leave right away."
Billy proposed, knowing my stubbornness.
"Yeah. Got it."
He grabbed my hand with a dissatisfied look as I agreed easily, and we headed into the tavern.
"By the way, Billy."
"Yes, Miss."
"If some drunkard attacks me, you have to protect me, okay?"
I remembered something as I opened the tavern door and stepped inside.
"Pardon? Miss! Attack? What are you planning to do?"
Billy's panicked voice rang out.
"He's a drunkard, but incredibly strong, so stay sharp."
"No, Miss!"
I grabbed Billy's hand as he tried to hold me back and entered the tavern.
All eyes turned to us in an instant.
Curious glances brushed over us briefly.
It wasn't common for a kid like me to show up in a tavern.
Of course, the attention faded quickly.
Their conversations and drinks were more important.
It was still early, so it wasn't too crowded.
"Miss, let's just go."
Ignoring Billy, I scanned the room and spotted someone who was obviously the man I was looking for.
A middle-aged man with shaggy red hair and a thick beard, already wasted.
His sturdy build set him apart, announcing he was Drunkard Kal.
Filthy as if he'd been drinking for days, he was lost in his own world, downing liquor nonstop.
I approached him slowly.
Even standing right in front of him, he ignored me and kept drinking.
Just as I'd expected—a serious drunk.
'Do I really have to beat him up...?'
But could I even do that?
"Miss..."
Billy stuck close to my side, tense.
"Are you Drunkard Kal?"
When I spoke directly, the man finally turned to me slowly, pausing his drink.
Through his messy hair, blue eyes were visible.
His liquor-glazed, unfocused eyes looked at me and smirked.
"Word of the unstoppable drunk in this place reached even a noble miss?"
It was more mutter than reply.
So, he was Kal, right?
"Let's talk."
"No need. What business does a miss have with me?"
He waved me off lazily.
Then lifted his glass again.
A complete dismissal.
Time to pique his interest, then.
"Cale Pedro."
I murmured lowly, and Cale's body twitched.
He turned to meet my gaze with a creaky motion.
His hidden real name.
And few would remember it now.
Even those around called him Drunkard Kal these days.
So, hearing his true name after so long, he couldn't ignore me.
I smiled at his confused eyes.
"I said, let's talk."
At my addition, Cale's eyes flashed.
His hand shot toward me sharply.
"!"
Too fast for someone who'd been drinking heavily.
I was too shocked to move, but Billy's hand lashed out from the side, slapping Cale's wrist away.
Frustrated, Cale stood and swung a fist at Billy.
Crash!
Chairs toppled with a loud bang from the sudden movement.
Billy leaned back to dodge the punch, then countered.
Just as Billy's hand aimed for Cale's face.
Cale's knee rose toward Billy's side, and Billy retracted to block with his elbow.
An intense exchange in seconds.
I knew Billy was skilled since he'd been hired as my escort.
'Didn't expect him to hold his own against Cale, though.'
Last year, I'd casually suggested Luciano train with Billy.
-Your Highness, how about learning swordsmanship from Billy? He's pretty good.
-No thanks. What do I trust about that guy?
Luciano refused seriously.
He glared at Billy like an enemy, so I couldn't push it.
Luciano oddly hated Billy.
-If you're learning proper knight swordsmanship, I'm not the one to teach you. I didn't train formally, so you might pick up bad habits.
Billy refused too, saying he couldn't teach properly.
That's why Billy couldn't become Luciano's master.
"W-What's going on?"
The commotion drew eyes from around.
After clashing once, the two separated.
Cale's stance grew cautious, realizing his opponent wasn't easy.
"Who're you? Who sent you? To take me out?"
Cale bristled with wariness.
Billy seized the gap to pull me behind him quickly.
"Miss, it's dangerous. Step back."
I'd frozen from the flurry in that short moment.
I'd warned Billy I might get attacked.
But I hadn't expected this cute, adorable kid to get lunged at outright!
"What's happening! Why pick on Kal?"
"They barge in and start trouble! Call the guards!"
Those who'd frozen jumped up and shouted at the sudden chaos.
The air turned hostile, snapping me alert.
"Even a drunkard shouldn't be attacked like that."
"Right. We can't even take his side here."
"Our Kal's drunk antics aren't that bad!"
The last one was a bit iffy.
But people approached as if to help Cale.
I felt Billy tense.
They all eyed us warily, siding with Kal.
Had he managed connections despite being a drunk?
"Let's teach 'em messing with a drunkard gets you a beating!"
"Touching a peaceful drunkard!"
Maybe not.
Some drunkard alliance?
"Daring to cause a ruckus in our turf!"
"That noble miss has guts. Time to show her!"
The ruckus was started by Kal.
Normally, wouldn't you protect the kid and suspect the drunkard?
You drunkards!
Things were about to escalate, so I took a deep breath, gathered my belly strength, and yelled.
"Stop it!"
My voice boomed through the room, full of power.
Everyone looked stunned.
"I said let's talk. Grown men swinging fists first! What do you think you're doing?"
I put hands on hips, glared fiercely, and spoke firmly.
'Is nothing ever straightforward?'
Those about to intervene looked between me and Cale.
Cale eyed me oddly too, while Billy watched my cue.
"Swinging fists first—good or bad?"
"Bad."
Quick-witted Billy answered promptly.
Nice to see him admit fault so readily.
"..."
But Cale stayed silent.
"You—did good or bad?"
No sign of remorse, so I stomped my right foot and pointed at Cale.
Everyone's gazes, having grasped the situation, turned to him.
Of course, with bewildered, suppressed-laughter faces.
Cale clamped his mouth shut like he did nothing wrong, but I kept staring.
Say it.
Answer me.
I stared hard.
"You're saying you did nothing wrong?"
Cale's tight lips showed no sign of opening.
We all waited for his reply.
Silence flowed, creating a weird tension in the tavern.
Won't admit it to the end, huh?
"Should I teach you from the start, step by step, how bad it is to swing fists first? Basic common sense even a kid knows?"
Cale broke a sweat and looked away.
We all stared at him.
"Hmph, pretending not to know kid-level common sense?"
One chimed in.
"Kh, even a drunk knows common sense, Kal."
Another joined.
"Ugh, Kal, say the common sense. Common sense."
Everyone was on my side.
Under the pressure branding him as senseless, Cale's face flushed red.
"Was swinging your fist a good thing?!"
I drove it home.
"No..."
Finally, he muttered softly.
Not fully satisfying, but.
He'd bent his pride—no need to push more.
"What're you doing? Clean up and sit down already."
I told Cale and Billy, then apologized to the staring patrons.
"Sorry for the disturbance. It wasn't a fight."
They replied, holding back laughs at my politeness.
"Ahem, shoulda said you wanted to talk first."
"Kkh, don't bully Kal too much."
"Of course. Just talking."
They chuckled awkwardly, treating it as not their business.
"Heh heh, guess we misunderstood. Sorry about that. Talk nicely."
"Hey, Drunkard Kal. Behave. Listen to this smart miss!"
"Sure thing. Smart miss beats a drunkard. Kekeke."
Mocking Cale, the patrons returned to their seats.
While I sorted it out, Cale and Billy sat glaring at each other across the table.
Grown men acting childish—exhausting, really.
