Chapter 32: Side Story – If You Say We Can't Go Back, Then Follow This World's Rules

Early Original Author note:
This story includes scenes of underage drinking. It is not intended to promote or encourage such behavior. Just to be clear.

The night before we left Elna Village.

In the end, we decided to hold a victory celebration.

On the way back to the temporary house after training, Raiga and Rizel were stopped by the acting village chief and others who were waiting, and somehow got invited along without much resistance.

Well, I wasn’t exactly opposed to it either.

I’m not really one for noisy gatherings, but just this once, I wanted to see the smiles of the villagers who had been saved.

Besides, when they said if we didn’t join, the villagers would just make a ruckus on their own, I thought it only natural to want to join in.

◆

The celebration was basically a standing party around a campfire.

Their heartfelt offerings were laid out on the tables.

I had a herb-stuffed roasted bird cut up for me and headed back to my comrades.

Everyone was holding their chosen dishes, forming a circle.

“As expected, Raiga-sama and Yuto-san don’t drink, huh?”

Karen-san said, nibbling on some cheese after taking a sip from her cup.

Her profile was flushed red.

Whether it was from the firelight or the alcohol, I couldn’t tell.

“Huh, so you’re lightweights?”

“Just judging by looks, Raiga seems strong, though, doesn’t he?”

Putting Myudy aside, Rizel was naturally drinking too.

…Seeing someone who looks about elementary school age gulping down ale — a beer-like drink — would definitely be illegal by Earth standards.

Well, she’s older than she looks, so it’s probably fine.

“No… in the world we came from, humans can’t drink until they’re twenty.”

“Hmm, so how old are you two now?”

“I’m sixteen.”

“I’m fifteen… I haven’t had my birthday yet in that world.”

That reminded me — on what date do we actually age here?

We were on Earth in July.

Here, it’s September. Of course, being another world, there’s a time discrepancy.

Luckily, this world also has twelve months a year, just like Earth, and the days don’t differ much.

Instead, each month has thirty days, making a year 360 days.

It’s a slight difference, but within a reasonable margin.

If the year was like 700 days, that would’ve been a real hassle.

“Then, there’s no problem in this world. What a waste.”

Myudy murmured repeatedly as she reached for some wine — apparently an aged vintage kept secret by the village chief.

This area’s specialty was wine from the start.

Its maturity made it valuable even to the long-lived elves, with some bottles worth enough to build a house…

The owner had passed away, and rather than letting it be stored away unused, they decided to share it now that we’d avenged the fallen.

It was an offering to the deceased.

…To be honest, it was probably also about wanting to let loose for a moment.

She opened the bottle without hesitation, poured some into a glass, and checked the aroma.

Then she took a sip and immediately smiled.

That smile gave off a mature charm, enough to make even me, a man, feel a flutter.

“Ahh… delicious, so delicious. You don’t get to taste something like this unless it’s a special occasion.”

Still, the words sounded like something an old man drinking sake would say.

“May I have some too?”

“Me too~!”

Refusing to share alone, two others quickly crowded around.

They enjoyed it just the same, letting out blissful sighs.

…gulp

I couldn’t help but swallow my saliva.

Could it really be that good?

I remembered my father enjoying his evening drink when I was little.

He’d gulp down canned beer with snacks in hand, and I wondered just how wonderful that drink must be.

“May I have some too?”

Since I might not get the chance to drink again, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Hey, Yuto?”

I couldn’t believe it.

Raiga’s voice carried that disbelief.

“For Yuto-san, that’s unusual.”

Karen-san also reacted similarly to Raiga, casually sipping her second cup with suspicion.

“…From now on, we have to live in this world. So, it’s okay to get a little used to it here. Don’t you think?”

I asked, but Raiga stayed silent.

“Well, if that’s how you feel, then drink.”

Meanwhile, Myudy didn’t seem to mind at all, roughly poured some wine, and handed me the glass.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Enough time had passed.

I told myself that and broke Earth’s drinking rules.

I cautiously tilted the glass, smelled it.

It was like the scent of grape juice concentrated many times over.

That alone almost made me dizzy, and I felt like coughing.

But I gulped it all down at once.

Gulp. Gulp.

I fight off the sourness and desperately swallow it down. Is this… what adults call an acquired taste? I honestly can’t tell.

“Y-you idiot! Who downs it all at once?! What a waste…”

Even Myudy’s scolding doesn’t really reach me right now. All I can feel is this heat churning in my stomach. Like someone dropped a burning stone inside me.

The heat spreads from my gut through my whole body, and before long, it’s like my brain is melting too.

“…Haa.”

A sigh slips out of me without thinking.

“Sour.”

“Guess you don’t get it, Yuto—you’re still just a kid, huh?” Rizel says with a teasing tone.

Even her mockery doesn’t bother me. I just want to do something about this burning sensation, so I start unbuttoning the top of my shirt.

“H-hey, Yuto!”

Raiga’s voice sounds panicked—but somehow that just makes it even funnier.

Trying not to laugh, I fan my clothes to cool myself down.

When I do, he hurriedly looks away.

I glance down too—and see the Stigmata exposed on my chest.

…But what’s the big deal?

I feel light, fuzzy… and amazing. I could just float away like this forever.

“Yuto-san, are you… drunk, maybe?”

“Getting tipsy off one glass of wine? I know it’s your first time, but still—that’s pretty weak, don’t you think?”

The two of them sound exasperated.

—Still too hot.

Maybe I should just take everything off. If I can escape this heat, I don’t care how.

And just as I reach for my jacket—

“…Cut it out. That’s indecent. Raiga, stop staring. You’re not subtle.”

Myudy snaps again.

In that moment, her voice overlaps with someone from my memories.

“…You’re just like a mom.”

“—Excuse me?”

She sounds completely dumbfounded.

“Uuuh… Mom…”

“H-hold on a second!”

Even though I’m stumbling like a drunk, I tackle her.

But Myudy still catches me gently. I cling to her like I’m hanging on for dear life, wrapping my arms around her back.

And before I know it, tears are spilling from my eyes.

“I don’t have any kids, so give me a break.”

She sounds genuinely annoyed.

But she doesn’t push me away.

To me, she really does look like a mother.

“Raiga, she’s your partner. Do something.”

When I look up at her, that usual air of confidence is completely gone, and confusion is written all over her face.

The gap between the two is so funny I almost burst out laughing—until she glares at me.

—Nope. Definitely not a mom.

Before Raiga can touch me, I slip away from Myudy and head over to Rizel.

“Rizel feels like a little sister.”

“Ehehe~ Really? Even though I’m older than you, you know? I’m the big sister here.”

Rizel doesn’t seem to mind one bit.

I pull her into a warm hug and melt into her soft, cozy presence.

“Karen-san is… Karen-san.”

“Hehe, and Yuto-san is Yuto-san.”

At some point, Karen-san’s gotten pretty tipsy too.

We take each other’s hands and do a simple little step together.

It feels like we’re at a royal ball. Doesn’t matter that we’re outside—none of that matters to us now.

We smile at each other, and then, we part.

“For the finale—”

And so, the last one.

I turn to face the final person—Raiga.

"Raiga is—"

"Raiga is—"

Caught in Yuto’s tear-filled eyes, I find myself frozen in place.

The way she looks now—so different from usual, so open and innocent—she seems like the sweetest kind of intoxication, more powerful than any drink.

…The fact I’m thinking all this while completely sober means I’m not much better myself.

“What is it?”

I answer gruffly, trying to cover up my embarrassment.

“Raiga is…”

Yuto repeats once more—and then suddenly collapses forward.

I lunge to catch her.

“Yuto!?”

The other three quickly rush over.

But—

“…She’s just asleep.”

“She really is a total lightweight~”

Listening to her soft breathing in my arms, I can’t help but smile.

“What a handful…”

“We’ve got an early start tomorrow, so let’s wrap things up, shall we?”

At Karen’s words, the mood naturally begins to settle down.

And with that, I end up being the one tasked with taking the thoroughly-drunk Yuto back to the girls’ quarters.

—In that final moment, I could’ve sworn she was about to follow up with “an idiot.”

Did I say something that bothered her?

Still wondering about it, I leave the plaza behind.