Chapter 51 – What is a hero to you?
Episode 51
The atmosphere at the banquet hall, which had been ripe, became calm before I knew it, and people were leaving one by one. Looking out of the large glass window, the moon and stars had already risen brightly and illuminated the night sky.
I asked Elfriede.
“Elfriede, shall we go soon?”
“Well, yes.”
Elfriede left the banquet hall first, and I spoke to Celine.
“Celine, don’t wait, go to your room first. I’ll go get a drink.”
“Saint Estelle is worried about it, so don’t eat too much.”
“Yes, I understand.”
That’s what I said, but I’m going to drink whatever I want. How long have you been drinking!
“Abel, where have you gone?”
“Oh, I’m coming!”
I followed Elfriede, who was waiting for me, and went out of the banquet hall. When I came out, Elfriede told me to follow her.
“There is a bar I know, so go there. Quiet and nice atmosphere.”
“Okay. Let’s go!”
It’s alcohol, alcohol!
#
Abel and Elfriede headed to the bar in Poculum’s shopping district. Located in a pretty corner, this place was a kind of bar (bar) type of pub. As Elfride said, it was quiet because there were few customers, and the atmosphere inside was not bad.
‘Was there a bar like this in the Middle Ages… Didn’t the writer make a mistake in historical research?’
Elfriede gestured to Abel who was thinking such a useless thought.
“Sit over there.”
“Oh, yes.”
Elfriede seemed familiar with this place, so she went to the long table in the center and sat down casually.
“You must have been here many times?”
“Not a lot, often. I really like the atmosphere here. Sometimes he comes alone.”
“Ah…”
“What would you like to drink?”
Abel’s eyes twinkled at Elfride’s question.
“Beer! Something cool!”
Seeing that figure, Elfriede burst into a light laugh and asked.
“Ale? Or do you like lager?”
“Oh, is it something else?”
Although Abel often drank beer, she did not know what types of beer were available. Elfriede said to Abel.
“Then why don’t you try both?”
“Oh, good.”
Elfriede said to the bartender who was polishing her drink.
“Look, give me two glasses of lager and ale.”
“Okay.”
The bartender went to get a drink, and Abel asked Elfriede.
From noble mtl dot com.
“Do you want Elfriede to drink beer too?”
“I like beer quite a bit too. There is a unique refreshing feeling that you don’t feel in wine, right?”
At Elfride’s words, Abel nodded her head.
“You know something!”
“Whoops, is that so?”
After waiting a while, the bartender brought two glasses of ale and two glasses of lager. And she sensibly placed a glass of each type in front of Elfriede and Abel.
The two moderately frothy beers looked delicious no matter what they drank. Just looking at it is full of refreshing feeling. Abel swallowed her saliva.
“I guess you haven’t had a drink in a while.”
“Yeah…To be honest, I didn’t even have time to drink. There was also a saying about making a body, but…”
“Then, let’s drink as much as we want today. Sometimes you have to let go like this.”
“As expected, right?”
Elfriede and Abel raised their glasses to each other.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers.”
The glasses were lightly bumped and the two took a cool sip.
“Kyaa!”
“It tastes good.”
Elfriede and Abel both emptied exactly half a glass.
Abel was very surprised by that appearance. For Elfriede, before she was a hero, she was from a high-ranking noble family. Nobles would prefer wine, but Elfriede seemed very familiar with beer.
“You eat well!”
“You are doing quite well. Maybe you can catch up to my speed.”
“Oh, so you want to bet who will go down first?”
“A bet?”
Elfride blinked her eyes, and Abel explained to her.
“The person who collapses first gets what they want later. Of course, as long as the other person doesn’t get into trouble, how about it?”
“…That’s interesting. OK, I’ll accept it.”
Abel took a different glass this time. I don’t know if the beer from earlier was ale or lager, but the beer she drank a while ago was characterized by a light and high carbonation. Thinking about what this beer would be like, Abel drank his glass.
“Huh? The beer has a peculiar smell. It’s refreshing.”
“This is a characteristic of our Vesta Kingdom Ale. It makes it fruity.”
“Ah, this is ale.”
The ale itself was less carbonated than the lager I drank a while ago, but it had a rich aroma. The color was also a bit dark.
“Which do you like?”
“I like them both because they are delicious…. You look a bit like a drunkard when you say this, hahahaha.”
“What? You might like a drink. As long as you drink and don’t have accidents, I think it’s okay.”
Abel nodded her head at Elfride’s words. As long as she doesn’t have accidents like she said, wouldn’t it?
The two chatted happily and shared a glass with a simple snack. Elfriede asked Abel when the two of them were slightly reddened from the alcohol.
“Abel.”
“Yes?”
“There is something I want to ask you.”
Sensing that Elfride’s voice had become slightly serious, Abel looked at her.
“What question?”
“What is a warrior to you?”
Abel was a little taken aback when he heard the question. She was so out of the blue with a question that was too abstract. What is her hero?
“…Well.”
“You can answer slowly. Because I know that the answer requires thinking.”
Abel was silent for a moment. She seemed to be seriously thinking about Elfride’s question. Elfriede had a subtle smile on his face.
This was one of the distinct differences between Abel and Levius. When she asked Levius the same question in the past, Levius answered without a second thought.
Of course, if the words that came out of his mouth were true, the story would have been different. However, it was clear to Elfriede, who was able to grasp the intentions of her opponent with her holy sword of trust, that those answers were all words full of pretense.
On the other hand, Abel gave a careful answer after thinking for a long time.
“Can I give you an example?”
“An example?”
Elfriede was intrigued by her unconventional answer. Nodding her head, Abel said.
“Let’s say there is a wagon speeding down a very narrow road with cliffs on either side. But no way, someone has collapsed in the middle of the road due to unavoidable circumstances.”
Abel gives an example as if telling an old story. Seeing his appearance, Elfriede smiled lightly and asked.
“So?”
“The problem is that there are four people riding in the carriage, not just the driver. If the carriage turns around to avoid people, it will fall off the cliff.”
“I guess so.”
“At this time, if an ordinary third party discovered this situation, who would they try to save here? Probably, I think, by and large, they will try to save more people.”
“I guess so.”
It was a common choice. It is said that human life has no weight and its weight cannot be compared, but in general, we will try to save more people.
“That is the choice of an ordinary person, a criminal. But then, who will save the man who has fallen on the sidewalk?”
“You mean saving someone like that is a hero?”
Asked by Elfriede, Abel shook her head.
“No.”
“Then?”
“…Even if you have to choose between the two, I think it’s a hero to somehow save both.”
Elfriede’s eyes widened. Seeing Elfride’s reaction, Abel scratched her head.
“Ah…Of course it’s a bit far-fetched. Heroes are people too, but you can’t save everything, can you? It was a story that I had to make an effort to do that.”
Abel thought Elfride was surprised by her unrealistic words. But Elfriede wasn’t like that.
She never had the idea that she would become a warrior who would save everything, just like she said of Abel. A hero must save everyone in any situation. There was a time when she thought so passionately.
However, as she continued her life as a hero, she began to compromise with reality at some point. At some point, there was Elfriede Bathory, who chose to sacrifice a cow for the sake of the great.
“…Yes, you are right.”
Elfriede was deeply moved by Abel’s answer. The answer that came from his right mindset awakened her forgotten thoughts of the past.
Elfriede, who was grateful for that, said to Abel.
“As expected, you are a true warrior. One day you will become a better warrior than me.”
“Ah, you don’t need to open it like that. How could I be better than Elfriede…”
“No, I assure you.”
The corner of Elfriede’s mouth lifted slightly and gave off a warm smile.
Abel was slightly taken aback by the look on her face.
I’ve seen her smile a few times, but it was the first time I saw such a gentle smile. Is it because I’m drunk? Or was it because she was filled with emotion while answering Elfride’s question?
“You will surely become a great warrior.”
The smile reflected under the lights looked so beautiful.
#
After that, Elfriede, who was in a good mood, declared that she would order Abel any drink he wanted. Then Abel responded and ordered her to drink a lot, and the table was filled with only the glasses the two of them had emptied.
The faces of the two were already red. With the winner of the bet still undetermined, Elfriede said in an agitated mood.
“…It would be nice if Levius resembled half of you, no, even half of you.”
“…That person is bad in my opinion? I must have received a lot of help from Celine myself, but the problem is that she treats her like that. Animals also know the kindness of people, but since he doesn’t know that, he might be worse than animals.”
Elfriede laughed.
“I didn’t expect you to speak so harshly.”
“Ah… Did you talk too much?”
“No, that’s right. Obviously I expected something from Levius, but he always disappointed me.”
Elfriede smiled bitterly. Seeing her expression, Abel offered comfort.
“…You must have been sad.”
“Obviously there were times like that. But it’s okay now. Abel, because you are there.”
“Yes?”
“You are the true junior warrior. I will help you with both my mind and heart. You can always tell me if you have any difficulties in the future!”
Elfriede said that and showed her own chest. Abel then turned her head away.
“Why is that, Abel?”
“Oh…No. I will keep her words well engraved.”
“Um, yes! Feel free to talk!”
Elfriede didn’t realize it, but as Elfriede stretched out her breasts, her breasts came out in front of Abel’s eyes. Because of that, Abel turned her head away.
Although Abel’s reaction was questionable, she didn’t mind and Elfriede smiled.
“I want to get closer to you in the future.”
“…Yes?”
Abel looked a bit surprised. Elfriede pondered for a moment why he was reacting like that, but when she realized what she was saying, she was startled and said,
“Oh, no. Not in any other sense, just in the sense of being friends…”
“Oh, I know. I was surprised to hear it all of a sudden.”
Abel’s answer put Elfriede at ease. I’m glad he accepted it the way it was. But Abel thought as he drank her drink.
‘…I almost misunderstood.’
Abel emptied the rest of her glass and said.
“If Elfriede thinks of me that way, that’s fine with me.”
“…Is that so? I’m glad you think so.”
“Then Elfriede, are we friends from today?”
Abel held out her hand while saying that. Elfriede looked at his hand, then she smiled and held it.
“…Yes, please take good care of me in the future.”
“Please take good care of me.”