Looking at Luin, I smiled faintly and observed his expression.

"...You... you..."

The expression of his eyes wide open like a broken cuckoo clock was a masterpiece.

"How...."

A ruined appearance that I would want to keep forever if I could take a picture.

Pleased that Luin, who lived with an air of self-importance in the novel, had broken down with just one word, I smiled faintly and raised my glass.

"Shall we toast?"

Because the best side dish to alcohol was someone else's dark history that had nothing to do with me.

"Sh... sh... shut up!!"

"Hmm?"

"Right now, the memory loss magic...."

"Oh my? Isn't memory loss magic black magic? I thought you were an innocent magician, but to think you were a black magician who could even use memory loss magic.... This is truly... I'm about to cry."

"...!!"

"Oh, and I'm not really crying."

Luin, who had been biting his lip in shame, roughly raised his glass and shouted.

"Cheers!"

-Bang!

Luin, who had clinked glasses with all his might, gulped down the alcohol and looked at me with a flushed face, speaking in the smallest voice possible.

"Don't say anything."

In a voice so small that even an ant couldn't hear it.

"Pardon?"

"I said shut your mouth...."

"What did you say? I can't hear you well?"

"...!!"

As the loud, questioning voice echoed across the table, Luin's eyes widened in a hurry and he brought his hand to my mouth.

"Shut up...!"

"Oooob...!!"

"Please...!"

If someone has something to say, they should say it clearly and articulately, I hated seeing him speak in a dying voice. If he was a man, I wouldn't have known what to do if he had said 'Shut up!' in a manly way.

Ah, of course, I have no intention of stopping even if he said that.

"Do you want to see someone die of shame...!?"

"What story are you telling me to be quiet about?"

"...That, that!"

"Hmm?"

"..Come on!!!"

"Hmmmm?"

"You know too. That I... cried."

"Aha! You mean when you cried, Luin."

"Hey!!!"

I felt like I would get addicted to the sight of Luin repeatedly standing up and sitting down with the rise and fall of his voice, but I decided to stop here. As a fellow man, it was wrong to make fun of another man's tears.

Of course, I plan to tease him for the rest of his life, but I thought it was necessary to restrain myself a little for now.

"I'm asking you like this..."

"Hmm..."

"Please...!"

Because Luin has to live a long life for me to tease him a lot.

I smiled faintly and whispered to Luin in a low voice.

"Is this voice okay?"

"...You don't have to go that far."

"Then this much?"

"Don't joke arou... (Don't joke around.)"

Satisfied with the sight of Luin speaking through gritted teeth, I asked him in a moderate voice.

"So."

Because it seemed like there was something we had to talk about today as men.

"Why did you cry?"

"..."

"As a fellow man, I have to hear it."

Because today, I was planning to be a special love counselor for the algae.

Zero dating experience.

Zero experience in getting a girl.

I thought that if I, who had done more counseling than anyone else in my past life, were to counsel Luin on his love life, he would surely be reborn as a new person.

It would be more helpful for his mood to confide in me, who could curse him out heartily, rather than confiding in someone else with his dirty personality.

So, with good intentions...

"...Mind your own business."

"..."

"It's none of your business."

"...Ah."

I smiled as I looked at Luin, who was refusing a person's goodwill.

"Was it like this?"

Because sometimes it's necessary to bestow goodwill by force.

"...Yuria, why aren't you hesitating?"

Of course, only to Luin.

"You son of a bitch!!!!"

Looking at the violently reacting Luin, I said.

"If you don't tell me why you cried, I'll ask someone else."

"..."

"Like a magic department student who knows nothing."

"..."

"Or Hans, who would probably like to hear your story the most..."

"Hey..."

"Ah! It would be best to ask the person involved, Yuria."

"Okay...! I'll tell you."

Luin became polite.

Luin, who had given up on life, cleared his throat with a resigned expression and said.

"How much did you see."

"...Hmm?"

"Me and Yuria fighting. How much did you see?"

"I didn't see much."

"You must know roughly."

"Hmm... from when you said, 'I'm going to win,' and fired 'Seed Shot'?"

"Then you saw everything...."

Luin, who had gritted his teeth at my brazen expression, let out a deep sigh and slowly began to tell a story he would never tell anyone else.

"The reason why I cried was...."

"..."

"So..."

"Yeees~"

"Haa... do I really have to say it?"

I looked at Luin's pained expression and answered as if it were obvious. Because that's why I was sitting in front of Luin.

"Yes, because the wounds of the heart must be healed through sincere conversation."

It was a kind of confident demand, thinking that I should be provided with at least this much of a side dish to alcohol, since I had made a long trip while avoiding drinking with beautiful women.

"...It's not just because you want to make fun of me?"

"Was I caught?"

"I really want to kill you."

"If you can."

"..You arrogant bastard.

"Is it as much as you, Mr. Algae?"

Luin, who had emptied his glass once again, let out a sigh that seemed like the algae on his head would wither and said.

"Yeah, it's the same whether I die because I said it, or because you said it."

"Oh... you're a man."

"It's because of you!!!"

"Hahat!"

Luin made a serious expression and began to open his mouth.

"You asked why I cried."

"Yes."

"What other reason could there be between a man and a woman."

"...Hmm?"

"I got rejected."

"You idiot."

"...You son of a bitch."

"My words slipped. It's the first time I've seen someone cry because they were rejected, haha!"

"...Where did the guy who said he would comfort me go?"

"Isn't he right here? The angel with wide eyes in front of you."

"Not a demon?"

"Demons have wings too."

"..."

Luin wanted to somehow land a blow on Ricardo, who wouldn't lose a single word.

"Anyway, that's why I cried."

"Hmm..."

"If you were beaten up by the person you like, you would cry too, wouldn't you?"

"I've never been beaten up."

"...Yeah, you're so great."

"But, what do you mean you were rejected when you didn't even confess?"

"Hey."

"Yes."

"Have you ever been hit?"

"No?"

"I thought I was going to die."

It was Luin's serious answer without any pretense.

"If he hit you that hard, it's as good as hopeless."

The lonely Luin emptied his glass and asked me a rather emotional question.

"Hey."

A question about what I thought of him.

"What do you think of me when you see me?"

At Luin's words, which were one of the top 10 questions a man would hate to hear, I momentarily frowned, but I calmly composed my expression and answered.

"Algae?"

"You son of a bitch."

"There's no other answer."

"Not that. What do you think of me as a person."

"Hmm..."

"Don't worry about my feelings and just say it."

If he said that.

I didn't refuse Luin's suggestion and just said what was on my mind. Because it wasn't right to refuse such a suggestion.

"To be honest... I think you're trash."

"Hey."

"Trash among trash. The kind of food waste that can't even be recycled. Ah, since it can be used as fertilizer, it's not the worst."

"...Don't you hate me too much?"

"Didn't you tell me to be honest? When I see you, Luin, I can't think of any other answer but trash."

"You should have said the good points first. Then say the bad points."

What is this algae talking about?

"There are no good points."

Luin, who was shocked by my answer, was silent for a while and then asked me again.

"There are no good points?"

"No."

"Not even one?"

"There won't be any even if you're reborn."

-Grip.

"Think carefully. There must be at least one. Like I'm handsome, or that I'm reliable at times."

"Is it as much as me?"

"Should I kill you?"

"If you can."

It was Luin who was beginning to hate the world.

I carefully conveyed a message of hope to the dejected Luin. Although I had only said bad things, it was karma.

"It can't be helped. You've never shown me a good side so far, Luin."

"..."

"I've saved you several times, but instead of thanking me, you get angry and say 'I'll get my revenge~'. Do you think I'll say good things or not?"

"..."

"Your personality... no, you as a person seem to be rotten, Luin."

Luin, who was looking at me with a bright smile and an expression that said he was finally relieved, clicked his tongue in disbelief. Now that he thought about it, it wasn't wrong.

"...Fuck."

He had never thought he would learn something from Ricardo.

"Hmm?"

Today, for some reason, this annoying guy was only saying the right things, so he couldn't even curse at him.

The resigned Luin poured alcohol into my empty glass and spoke in a low voice.

"Haa... hey."

"Yes."

"Don't you have a girl you like?"

A conversation that men always have when they're drinking.

I had never even thought that such words would come out of Luin's mouth, but at the sight of Luin asking a human-like question for a change, I smiled faintly and answered honestly the words I had thought of deep in my heart.

"A girl I like?"

Because it was a question that had to be answered with sincerity.

"I..."

"Yeah."

"I like all pretty girls."

"...Fuck."

"My dream is polygamy. It's my dream to be surrounded by beauties."

"Is it okay to say that so confidently?"

"It's a way to get scolded less by being honest from now on, rather than saying it later. Just like you say that you're not an algae, Luin."

"Should I really kill you?"

Luin, who was only getting hit with bones, felt like the world was hateful today.

I clinked my glass against Luin's, who was raising his glass alone, and said 'Cheers'.

"It's less lonely to eat together than alone."

"..."

"Especially after being rejected by the girl you like."

"You son of a bitch."

"Puhaha!!!"

Luin, who was wiping the foam from his lips, looked at Yuria with sad eyes and said.

"How long have you known,"

"Known what?"

"That I like Yuria."

"Pardon?"

Don't tell me, that clueless fool thought he had been hiding it well until now?

"I thought I had hidden it well."

'...'

Looking at the ecosystem-disrupting species who seemed to have learned about love through magic, I let out a hollow laugh and answered honestly.

"I've known from the beginning."

Everyone knows except you.

Of course, Yuria probably doesn't know.

"Who wouldn't know when a person who yells at everyone else is only nice to a specific person. Everyone knows."

"When did I ever yell like a crazy person...."

"Put your hand on your heart and think about it."

"..."

"You do have a conscience."

At the great growth of Luin, who had developed a conscience, I smiled and continued what I was saying.

"So is that why you cried?"

"..."

"Because you were beaten up by the person you like?"

"..."

"'I didn't cry!!!' while yelling pathetically."

"...Stop it. It hurts because I've been hit too much."

"Hahaha!!! You've had a good experience. People come to their senses after being hit."

"Ha... you son of a bitch."

Luin gave a bitter smile and asked in a low voice.

"Yuria doesn't seem interested in me, does she...?"

"No."

"Is it to the point of being hopeless?"

"If you're reborn, I think it'll go up by 1%."

"Is it that bad."

"Of course. Because an algae can't escape the shackles of an algae."

"That damn algae... haa..."

I asked Luin in return.

"What do you think, Luin."

"About what."

"Why do you think you were rejected?"

Luin, who had an expression as if he were carrying all the worries in the world, lowered his head and said.

"I don't know."

"..."

"I don't know if she has someone she likes, or if she just doesn't see me as a man."

"Maybe the person Yuria likes is me."

Luin made an expression as if he sincerely disliked me and said.

"You're full of it."

"...Is that so?"

"Why would Yuria like you, who was such a jerk at the academy."

"..."

"You and I are the same."

"Don't curse at me. It's not pleasant."

"You son of a bitch."

Luin, who was filling the glass, smiled slightly and said.

"If Yuria likes you, I'll shave my head and call you 'hyung'."

"Hmm? Really?"

"Really."

"You can't take it back later."

"Does a man go back on his word? That's how impossible it is."

Luin, who had dug his own grave, let out a deep breath as if he were refreshed and raised his glass.

"Thanks."

"...Don't mention it."

And so, one glass.

Two glasses.

By the time it was over five glasses.

-Commoner!!!

At the sight of Schuen, who had dealt with Velian, calling out to me, I slowly stood up from my seat and said goodbye to Luin.

"Oh... someone's looking for me."

"Go."

"This is the life of a popular person, Luin."

"...You son of a bitch."

"Then I'll be going."

"Yeah."

Because there was someone who had something they wanted to say more than me.

"Then you two have a good talk."

"Two people?"

"Yes."

Looking behind Luin, I said in a low voice.

"He's been waiting for a while."

Luin, who looked where I was looking, saw a man approaching with a glass and his eyes widened.

"...Hey."

Hans smiled slightly and said.

"It's been a while, Luin."

The conversation between the two men continued for quite a long time.

-So you did that because of that.

-···

-I get what you mean. But why did you kill innocent people?

-····

-Yes! Like you said, I know the people you killed were criminals who deserved to be beaten to death, but you still shouldn't have done that!

-···

-You had no choice? Hey... do you even know what your situation is right now?

-···

-You have to live your whole life on the run. You have to live in a place where no light comes in, worrying about the imperial army that might invade at any moment.

-···

-It's not something you can just say is okay!!! You can never come out into the light for the rest of your life!!! You moron!!!

I tried not to listen to the detailed story.

-And my magic!

-...

-You son of a bitch...

-...

-I can't take it anymore. Fuck, let's fight.

Even if the voices were loud.

Even if the words exchanged were so intense that everyone at the drinking party looked at them at least once.

-Get up!

Because that was a problem between the two of them.

I didn't want to get involved just because I knew the novel about the two people with many stories. I didn't want to defend Hans just because he was on my side.

After all, the two were enemies and friends.

I was afraid that if I acted nosy, we would just exchange a half-hearted greeting and part ways, so I tried to pretend I didn't know and just hoped that their relationship would be better than before.

-Yeah, today you die and I die.

-...

-You're not going to fight me? I'm going to fight.

-...

Whether their relationship got worse than before.

Or whether it became as good as before. The result was not something I had to accept, but a problem the two of them had to accept.

-...

-...

I just had to not get involved in their conversation and create an atmosphere where they could talk comfortably.

Though I don't know what will happen.

"It's gotten quiet."

Yuria, who was giving a lap pillow to the passed-out Shuen from excessive drinking, smiled faintly and spoke to me.

"It has."

Yuria, who was stroking Shuen's hair, smiled brightly and gave a nod of greeting.

"Isn't it time we started speaking informally?"

"Ahaha... I'm more comfortable with formal language, so Yuria-ssi, you can speak comfortably."

"I'll wait."

"What?"

"Until you speak comfortably."

Is it because of the alcohol?

Or was it something she had wanted to say for a long time? I was smiling awkwardly at Yuria's lighter demeanor than usual.

Because she seemed strangely more seductive than usual.

Yuria, who smiled lightly, smiled brightly, filled the empty glass with alcohol, and held it out.

"Cheers."

"...Cheers."

-Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

"Kya!"

Yuria, who had emptied her glass, wiped the foam from her lips with her sleeve and smiled thrillingly.

I, who smiled faintly at Yuria's behavior, which would make a stranger mistake her for a heavy drinker, thought to myself, 'The class must have been very hard,' and asked her a question.

"Have you always been a good drinker?"

Because the Yuria I knew was not a person who particularly liked alcohol.

Yuria, who shrugged her shoulders at my question, shook her head and answered.

"No, I hate it."

"For someone who hates it, you drink it so deliciously?"

"Hahat...! Do I?"

"The class must have been too hard."

"...It was hard."

"..."

Yuria, who let out a sigh that came from deep within her heart, filled the empty glass with alcohol and held it out again.

"Shall we have a toast?"

"That's enough for today."

"...Why?"

"No excessive drinking."

"...Ah, why!!!"

"Excessive drinking is not good for your health."

"You're cheap.."

"Because I'm originally a cheap person."

"Tsk..."

Is it the power of a drunk heroine?

Yuria, whose drunken antics even seemed cute. I, who nodded my head at Yuria's charm, which made me understand why that green algae guy had fallen for her, raised my glass.

-Gulp.

Of course, not as much as my young lady.

"Why are you drinking alone!"

"Because I don't get drunk."

"Ugh... you coward."

"If you have a complaint, you can become a Sword Master."

"Tsk..."

Yuria, who had puffed out her cheeks, turned her head with a 'tsk,' but soon stopped and smiled awkwardly at the sound of the two men's conversation coming from behind her.

-You've been like that since the old days. If you want something, say it!

-Do you know how many times I've said it?

-I'm a blockhead, so you have to say it three times for me to understand!

-Is that even a person!

-I'm not a person, I'm a green algae, you son of a bitch!

"Pfft."

It wasn't me who laughed.

It was Yuria next to me who laughed.

Yuria, who burst out laughing as she looked at the arguing Luin and Hans, let out a faint sigh and raised her glass.

"Those two, they always fight when they meet, whether it's in the past or now."

"You seem to know them well."

"I know them well."

"Is that so? When I was at the academy, I didn't see you and Hans-ssi hanging out that much."

"Really...?"

Yuria, whose lips twitched, smiled faintly and muttered in a low voice. 'Yes... you wouldn't know now.'

For some reason, I felt a little left out.

"Ah, by the way, Ricardo."

"Yes."

"Ricardo, what's your ideal type?"

"My ideal type?"

Perhaps because the half-drunk Yuria said it, for a moment, I had the illusion that Yuria was hitting on me. Yuria's drunken antics, full of charm, were dangerous even for me, who was taking care of a super beautiful girl.

"Hmm..."

An ideal type.

"I don't know. I like pretty people."

"Then am I your ideal type too?"

"What...?"

"I'm pretty too."

Surprised by Yuria's smiling eyes, who had suddenly brought her face close, I stared blankly at her face and nodded my head.

"You're pretty."

Because it was true that she was pretty, one way or another.

"Pfft...!"

"..."

"I'm not going to eat you, so don't be scared."

"Isn't that something a man usually says?"

"...Hmm."

Yuria, who was looking at my eyes, smiled with her smiling eyes and opened her pink lips.

"Because I can't eat you."

"..."

"You're too nice."

"...Yes?"

"Hahaha!"

"My pride is hurt, so is it okay if I get angry?"

"No. Don't get angry."

"..."

"Because you're really scary when you're angry."

"..."

"So, don't get angry."

Why is she like this?

I smiled awkwardly at Yuria, who was exuding more seductiveness than usual.

"You seem different today."

"...Do I?"

"I think it's the alcohol."

"Is that a good thing?"

"You've become more seductive than usual. What should I say, more mature?"

"..."

"From now on, I think it's better to drink only in front of people you can trust."

"...Really?"

Yuria, who pouted her lips, furrowed her brow at me.

"Idiot."

"What?"

"Ricardo is a fool."

"...Uh.."

I, who was flustered, looked at Yuria with a broken expression. Because I didn't know how to react in this situation.

What was certain was.

"Beep...."

The heroine of the novel was not a heroine for nothing.

"Don't get angry and let's drink together often from now on."

"...What's the meaning of that?"

"It's a pure suggestion without any ulterior motives. I think it's better to drink with me, who you can trust, than with ambiguous people."

"I think there's a sly thought hidden in there."

"Sly? I'm a person who has even been certified as a nice fool who can't be eaten."

"...You got me there."

Yuria smiled faintly and fiddled with her lips.

"You know, Ricardo."

Yuria, who looked at the sky, stretched and said.

"I hate you, you know?"

"Is that so?"

At Yuria's words, I nodded my head and didn't show much of a reaction. I had apologized for the past and received forgiveness, but I knew that the feeling of hatred would not easily leave someone's heart.

"You're not as shaken as I thought?"

"I've known since the old days that I'm a person who deserves to be hated. In the first place, I didn't live a good life to the point of gaining someone's favor."

"...You're a smooth talker."

"Of course. I'm a person who's a corpse without my mouth."

"...Tsk."

Along with the sound of Yuria's deflating, the stars in the night sky were shining beautifully.

Yuria, who was reaching for the stars, was looking at the sky, clenching her fist as if she were about to grab a particularly shining blue star.

"You know, Ricardo."

"Yes."

"You know, I."

"I'm listening."

Yuria, who opened her fist that was holding the star with a 'pop' sound, said with a sad expression.

"I hate myself."

"..."

"I only cause trouble."

"..."

"I make mistakes I can't take back."

"..."

"And yet, the me who tries to be forgiven..."

-Squeeze.

"I really hate myself."

I couldn't see Yuria's expression.

What kind of expression she was making when she said these words. With what kind of eyes she was looking at the stars and expressing her feelings about herself, I didn't see.

Because right now, the stars shining in the night sky were just beautiful.

"The stars are really bright."

"..."

"Not so bright that it hurts the eyes."

"..."

"Not shabby either."

"..."

"I think the night sky shining faintly is really beautiful."

I said to Yuria.

I said how I thought of myself, with my honest feelings.

"I like myself."

"..."

"I have a reckless personality and I cause trouble at the drop of a hat."

"..."

"I say I'm a romantic, but my dream is polygamy."

"..."

"I really like the me who reached the level of a Sword Master at a young age."

I smiled faintly and gave a shy compliment.

"Of course, I'm also handsome."

"Pfft..."

"You'd have a hard time finding a man like me even if you searched the whole world."

"...Whatever."

"Because I'm a rare species."

"...Tsk."

I looked at Yuria, who was smiling faintly, and said.

"So, don't hate me."

"..."

"Because I like you."

"..."

"Of course, this isn't a confession, but as a person to a person. As a friend. And as a member of the opposite sex, I don't dislike Yuria-ssi."

"..."

"If I had to say, I'd say I like you."

"..."

"Even if you, Yuria-ssi, have done something so wrong to me that I could die."

"..."

"I don't dislike Yuria-ssi."

Yuria's eyes fell from the stars and looked at me. Yuria, who was looking at me with eyes that seemed like they were about to fall, said to me in a tearful voice.

"Because of this..."

"..."

"Because of this... I can't help but be 'jealous' of you."

"...What?"

Yuria, who was about to grab me with her trembling hands, soon turned her head, sniffled, and got up from her seat.

"Ah... sniffle... I think I drank too much."

"Ah... that's right."

"I'm going to go in first. I'm sorry for my drunken antics today."

"No. It's okay because you only showed a cool side of yourself."

"Really?"

"Of course, I'm saying that I was cool."

"Puhaha...!"

Yuria, with tears in her eyes, didn't look at me and got up, taking care of the collapsed Shuen and Veilin.

"Then I'll go in first."

"...I'll go with you."

-Flinch.

"It's okay."

"But."

"They're girls. They're going to shower and sleep, so Ricardo, please understand."

"..."

"You were disappointed just now, weren't you?"

How did she know?

I, who had my inner thoughts read by Yuria, smiled awkwardly and waved my hand.

"Go in safely."

Yuria, who was walking arm in arm with Shuen, stopped and said.

"Mhm!"

I was relieved by Yuria's bright smile.

*

And so, the next day.

"...Yuria-ssi."

"...Yes?"

"...Do you have anything to say?"

"Ahaha... I drank too much yesterday, so I don't remember."

Yuria did not remember what had happened yesterday.

The events of last night, when she seemed like a 'different person'.