Old Men Drinking 2

  I asked Danton a question before beginning.

  “What I am about to say is a top secret. It’s much more important than something like my identity.”


  “Oh? A secret bigger than you being the hero Ruck? ……What is it?”


  “I just want to make sure. Promise me that you won’t tell the others in your tribe. Not even the other chiefs.”


  “I……”


  “It’s not that we don’t trust them. But it could be dangerous.”


  “I see. In that case, I will guard your secret.”


  It was probably a little tedious, but I wanted to show how serious I was.

  “I don’t care about my identity that much as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. But this is different.”


  “Is it one of those ones that I should die before telling anyone?”


  “You can always just not hear it? I can’t say that you won’t be in danger after hearing it.”


  “Does Shia know?”


  Would Danton be angry that his daughter was involved in something dangerous?

  I wondered. But I couldn’t hide it from him.

  “Yes. She was a part of it.”


  “Then as her father, I must hear it.”


  Danton said strongly.

  “.……Aren’t you angry that she got involved?”


  “Hardly. Why would I? Shia is a first-rate warrior and we our a proud tribe.”


  Danton said with a smile.

  “But do not tell Shia that I said that. I don’t want her to get too confident.”


  “I understand. And I agree with you about her capabilities.”


  “Aye, I’ve seen her fight when we took on the High Lords.”


  Goran said. Danton smiled happily.

  And then he drained his cup.

  “It brings me great joy to hear that from the hero Ruck and Goran, the greatest Warrior. Even if you are just being polite.”


  “I never exaggerate when it comes to the abilities of Adventurers. It’s the truth.”


  “I see. Then I am very glad. It’s an honor to our tribe.”


  Danton was teary-eyed now.

  The three of us continued to drink for a while.

  And then Goran said, “Why are we drinking quietly? Shouldn’t you be explaining something to Danton?”


  “Ah, that’s right. Can I?”


  “Yes.”


  And so I organized everything in my head and then began.

  “It seems that there are many vampires inside of the royal capital now.”


  “That is a terrible thing.”


  “It means you can’t be too careful even when you’re inside of the city.”


  “Hmm.”


  And so I told him about the incident that happened the other day.

  Starting from Kabino and to Marquis Mastafon.

  The fact that the dark ones had a way to break through the barrier.

  And then I told him about the evil god head.

  “It was that strong in spite of only being a head?”


  “Yes. It was stronger than a High Lord.”


  “That will be a great threat. Not just to this city, but to the wold.”


  Danton said with a serious expression.

  I continued.

  “Not only that. I think this is the bigger problem for the beastkin, but this head can strengthen the vampires.”


  “Strengthen?”


  “Yes. Arch Vampires become like Lords. Lords becomes High Lords…… It is as if they all gain a rank.”


  “So it would be like if you went hunting a lesser only to encounter an Arch.”


  “Indeed. However, there seem to be limits to this. I have yet to see any lessers that have been strengthened.”


  I explained that there were also some Lord and Arch Vampires who had not been strengthened.

  Even Goran, who had already heard all of this, listened intently with Danton.

  After I finished, Danton said, “I would like to fight them too.”


  “That will have to be after you are healed.”


  “Yes, you must leave it to us until then.”


  Goran said as he poured Danton another cup.

  “We’re still gathering more information. Even I don’t have anything to do.”


  “That’s true. Locke won’t be very useful until the fighting begins. So he must leave matters to us at the Adventurers guild.”


  “I will also do what I can to help.”


  “I’m comforted to hear that, Danton.”


  We drank long into the night.

  And Danton and Goran stayed the night at my mansion.

  When I woke up the next morning, Milka was already awake.

  She was running about and working.

  “Good morning, Milka.”


  “Ah, good morning Mister Locke! I’ll bring you your breakfast immediately!”


  “Thank you.”


  I entered the dining hall and saw that Danton and Shia and Nia were already there.

  “Oh, you three are up early.”


  “I heard from my father that you will allow me to apprentice for you. I am so very grateful!”


  “Is that what you want, Nia?”


  “Of course!”


  “I see. In that case, it is decided.”


  “Yes!”


  After that, Luchila and Lord Gerberga, as well as Grulf, came down and we all had breakfast.

  When we finished eating, Lord Gerberga approached me.

  “What is it? Lord Gerberga.”


  “Cluck-cluck.”


  Lord Gerberga clucked and pecked at my hand.

  “Luchila. Is Lord Gerberga angry?”


  “No, I don’t think he’s angry. But he does seem discontented.”


  “But why?”


  “Cluck-cluck!”


  “I think that Lord Gerberga wants you to talk to him less formally.”


  “Indeed? Is that true? Lord Gerberga.”


  “Cluck.”


  Lord Gerberga landed on my lap and pressed against me.

  “Yes, he doesn’t like it at all.”


  If Luchila said so, then it must be true.

  Perhaps he had observed that I didn’t talk like that with Danton anymore and it became unbearable.

  “Alright. We’ll be more friendly from now on, Lord Gerberga.”


  “Cluck!”


  Lord Gerberga clucked with satisfaction.