“Alcohol?”
Ruite heard the unexpected news just as he was finishing lunch with Dane.
Ciel, spotting them, jogged over with a bright expression.
“Yeah, apparently Vice-Commander Elka gave Varen some liquor as a gift.”
Elka was a well-known connoisseur; she loved drinking herself, but she also enjoyed collecting rare, high-quality spirits to share with others.
“It turns out only the three of us in the Research Department aren’t on duty tonight. They invited us to join. What do you think?”
In principle, drinking was strictly forbidden within the Knights.
However, because the job was so grueling, filled with constant injuries and life-threatening situations, it was tacitly allowed as a way to relieve psychological stress.
Of course, a massive banquet was out of the question, but small gatherings of like-minded members sharing a few quiet drinks were common practice.
“I’d love to go.”
Anticipation spread across Dane’s face.
“What about you, Ruite? If you’re not up for it, don’t feel pressured. Just say so.”
Ruite hesitated.
As Ciel said, he wasn’t on duty, so he had planned to go back to the dorm early and catch up on sleep.
Although he was of legal age, he wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol, so he wasn’t initially keen.
“Ruite, let’s go together.”
Dane looked at him with sparkling, pleading eyes.
It was an invitation from a superior, and his colleague wanted it desperately.
Above all, Ruite hadn’t been in the best of moods lately.
He’d adjusted perfectly to the work and life here, but his temper was frayed because of one specific person.
“I’ll go too.”
He’d heard somewhere that there’s nothing like alcohol to clear a gloomy mood.
Besides, Ruite knew that even if he went back early to sleep, thoughts of a certain someone would keep him awake.
In that case, socializing was a hundred times better.
Ciel happily gave them the time and place.
After dinner, Ruite headed to the main building’s 3rd Lounge with Dane.
“Ruite, can you drink well?”
“Hmm, I haven’t had much practice, but I have a feeling I’m not very strong.”
While chatting with Dane, he pushed open the lounge door.
Inside, Varen greeted them first with a raised hand.
Ciel was sitting across from him, surrounded by several members of the Combat Department.
“Hello—”
Ruite froze mid-greeting.
He had just spotted Chester sitting right next to Varen.
It was unexpected; Chester was not the type to enjoy these kinds of lively social gatherings.
“Sit, sit! Here, Ruite, over here…”
Varen excitedly pointed to a seat.
It was right next to Chester.
Ruite stared flatly at Chester for a moment, then sat next to Ciel as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Varen, who had meticulously planned the seating for his junior’s benefit, could only look on in confusion.
“Chester, I think you’re being hated.”
“I can feel it too, so shut up.”
“Did something happen?”
If he knew, he’d fix it, but not knowing was the problem.
Chester was currently suffocating with frustration because he couldn’t figure out why Ruite was being so cold.
He kept sending glances Ruite’s way, but Ruite only talked happily with Ciel and Dane, never sparing him a single look.
Regardless, the gathering began smoothly.
Varen poured out the amber liquid Elka had given him.
Glasses met in the air with a crisp, refreshing clink.
Happiness spread across the faces of the knights as they downed the spirits.
Ruite stared at the amber liquid in his glass, then knocked it back in one go.
Chester, who had been watching him like a hawk, nearly jumped out of his seat.
‘Who drinks high-proof liquor like water without pacing themselves?’
Unaware of Chester’s inner turmoil, Ruite savored the taste and looked at his empty glass with shimmering eyes.
“This is delicious.”
“Right? The Vice-Commander never gives out bad stuff.”
Ciel, enjoying the rare relaxed atmosphere, wore a grin much looser than usual.
The quiet mood ripened quickly.
With alcohol and good company, it was impossible not to have fun.
Varen skillfully boosted the energy, and the knights, thrilled to finally blow off some steam, chattered loudly.
Ruite even struck up conversations with some of the Combat Department members.
He casually emptied glass after glass while exchanging stories.
“Huh? Why is the table shaking?”
Varen, who had been laughing, noticed the table vibrating and looked around.
He quickly found the source: Chester’s leg.
Chester was anxiously bouncing his leg while watching Ruite talk to others.
Lacking any mental composure, he poured a drink down his throat every time someone refilled his glass.
Finding it hilarious, Varen purposely kept Ruite’s glass full.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, Chester stood up.
Conveniently, the knight sitting next to Ruite had just left, claiming exhaustion.
Chester slid into the empty spot.
Ruite was so focused on his conversation he didn’t even notice Chester’s move.
He laughed with the knight across from him and reached for his glass, but a hand suddenly shot out and snatched it away.
“Oh.”
Ruite turned his head in surprise.
“Stop drinking. You’ve had too much already.”
Indeed, Ruite’s cheeks were flushed deeper than usual.
Seeing him giggling and smiling so freely, it was clear the alcohol had started to loosen his mind.
Just watching this made Chester’s insides twist.
He was barely holding back his urge to drag Ruite away; he couldn’t stand seeing him show such a defenseless, cute side to the other knights.
“Captain, why are you taking other people’s things? That’s my glass, give it back.”
Apparently not completely wasted yet, Ruite still used formal address.
When Ruite kept reaching for it, Chester simply downed the entire glass himself.
“Hey, you…!”
Ruite bit his lip and glared at Chester.
That trivial act became the start of a petty, unnecessary fight.
Upset that Chester drank his liquor, Ruite got a new glass from Ciel.
Varen expertly refilled it, only for Chester to snatch it again.
The pattern repeated.
Ruite would stubbornly get a refill, and Chester would intercept and drink it for him.
Eventually, Ruite managed to read Chester’s movements, successfully dodging his hand a few times to take a sip.
“Phew…”
“…Haah.”
A while later, both of them slammed their glasses onto the table at the same time.
After a fierce battle of snatching and dodging, they had ended up drinking roughly the same amount.
“You two really get along well.”
Ciel rested his chin on his hand, watching them with a warm, satisfied smile—like a parent watching siblings play nicely.
“Hey… you… seriously, stop it while I’m being nice.”
Ruite’s tongue was half-twisted.
Dane tried to intervene from the side, whispering, “Ruite, that’s insubordination…” but it was no use against a drunk.
“You’re the one… hic… stop it. Just listen to me.”
Chester wasn’t in any better shape.
A knight nearby worriedly muttered, “Captain, you shouldn’t force things on your subordinates…” but Chester didn’t hear a thing.
“Hmm, it seems they have the exact same tolerance.”
Varen, who had been spectating the petty squabble alongside Ciel, nodded as if he’d reached a grand realization.
It wasn’t just those two, though.
As the night went on, more and more knights were losing themselves to the alcohol.
Varen finally stood up and grabbed both of them—who were still growling at each other over a glass—to help them up.
“Ciel, I’ll go drop these two off at the dorms.”
“Need help?”
“No, you look after the kids here. And you have to keep me company later; I’m not done drinking yet.”
“I’m not satisfied yet either.”
The other knights stared at them with mouths agape, looking half-dead from their own intoxication.
Those two had drunk the most in the room, and they were still not satisfied?
“Alright, my cute juniors, let’s go in and make up.”
Varen, looking strangely delighted, practically dragged the two of them up the dormitory stairs.
“Seriously annoying guy. Always has to have his way.”
“What did I do my way? You think you’re any different?”
With Varen in the middle, Ruite and Chester bickered all the way up.
Varen hummed a tune as he stopped in front of Chester’s room.
He skillfully rummaged through Chester’s uniform pocket and found the key.
Varen knew where both their rooms were.
He knew they were right next to each other.
However, as soon as he opened Chester’s door, he shoved both of them into the single room together.
“I don’t actually know where Ruite’s room is. Well, I’m tired, so I’ll be heading down now!”
Varen offered a breezy goodbye and slammed the door shut.
Ruite stumbled as he tried to stand.
“This isn’t my room… if he was gonna take me, he shoulda done it right.”
Ruite fumbled with his uniform with slurred words.
Finding his key, he tried to push off the floor and stand.
But his body wouldn’t obey his drunken mind. Before he could even take a step, his vision spun.
As his center of gravity shifted and he began to fall backward, Chester lunged forward and reached out for him.
“…”
“…”
Their gazes met at point-blank range.
Ruite had fallen back and landed naturally on Chester’s lap, while Chester had his arms wrapped around Ruite’s waist and back to keep him from getting hurt.
