A Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed

Chapter 130: Nadan Royal Academy (6)

‘This is kind of tough.’

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, Sheratiya thought.

She wasn’t kidding—she was genuinely exhausted. She hadn’t been swarmed by as many ladies as I had, but as a popular figure at the ball, she’d had to dance with countless people.

Even when she tried to rest at a table, she couldn’t. Surrounded by people—sons of viscounts, second sons of barons—trying to strike up a conversation, she was so busy smiling that her face felt like it would cramp.

‘Of course, whether accepting Andy Shepler’s invitation was the right move, I’m not sure…’

A lavish reception to apologize?

No way.

She didn’t know Andy Shepler personally, but she knew the Shepler family’s reputation. Sly, cunning foxes—that’s what people said.

‘Maybe they’re planning to pick a fight again, setting up a situation where they have the upper hand.’

Thinking this far, Sheratiya looked back.

She saw me, sighing in relief after escaping the ladies’ attention, and couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

‘Right. If it comes to a fight, Harang will handle it.’

Absolute trust.

It was only natural.

No matter how much of a prodigy Andy Shepler was at the knight academy, he couldn’t have reached Graduate level. Such geniuses were rare—maybe ten across the southern continent. In the Nadan Kingdom, she only knew of Ransel Grantz.

That meant Andy was so far below me that comparing us felt unfair.

‘Or am I being too paranoid?’

Sheratiya considered another angle.

What if they were genuinely showing goodwill?

What if they truly wanted to apologize and offer special treatment?

…Those thoughts vanished the moment she sat in the room and exchanged a few words with the knight students.

“Haha, we’re sorry about last time. Let’s wash away those old grudges with a good drink!”

“Sounds good. You’re not afraid of a little alcohol, are you?”

“No way! Even if the lady might be, how could a man be scared of a single drink? Here… what was your name again?”

“Harang. I’m with the Eddy Mercenary Corps in Marzen…”

“Yeah, yeah, name’s enough, no need for the long title. You’re not a noble. Anyway, bottoms up. Chug, chug!”

‘These guys… they’re trying to get Harang drunk to death!’

That’s all I could think.

Their apologies were utterly soulless, and the students’ focus was solely on how much alcohol I could down. Yet they subtly paced themselves, clearly intending to get me wasted.

The problem was, I was chugging every glass without a care.

“Mmm! This wine has a delicate, refined taste. There’s a hint of iron, and the balanced acidity…”

“What’s this? Not wine, not whiskey either. The scent of ripe pear is quite nice.”

“Oh! I know this one. GlenDron 21 Year. Great stuff. Among sherry-cask-aged whiskeys, I think it’s the most balanced. Personally, I also like the musty vibe of something pulled from a dusty oak barrel deep in a warehouse, but…”

I drank relentlessly and talked nonstop.

Sheratiya wore a blank expression. She’d never known I was this talkative.

What was even more shocking was that my knowledge of alcohol rivaled that of a professional.

She thought.

‘What? This isn’t just something he memorized for meeting my parents? How’s he so knowledgeable?’

My knowledge was so deep and broad that the knight students who’d offered the drinks seemed slightly intimidated. My display of expertise in the luxury of alcohol created an “impressive” aura.

‘What’s with this guy?’

‘Is he someone important?’

‘A commoner knowing this much about alcohol… Could he be the heir of a major merchant guild or something?’

‘What do we do?’

The knight students, momentarily cowed, exchanged glances, their eyes finally landing on Andy Shepler. It was inevitable—he was their leader, friends or not.

“…Haha, your genuine enjoyment of alcohol is refreshing to see.”

“Is it? Thank you.”

“No empty words. Your background knowledge is impressive, and your nose and tongue for flavors are even more so… It makes me, the host, feel good. I’ll have the servants bring more alcohol.”

Andy Shepler continued, looking at me with deep eyes.

But his words weren’t meant for me. They were directed at the knight students, who were hesitating after drawing their swords but failing to cut through.

‘Pathetic. You whined for revenge, and now that he seems impressive, you’re backing off?’

As if Andy Shepler’s thoughts echoed in the air, everyone swallowed their groans.

Of course, they didn’t stay like that forever.

Snapping out of it at Andy’s words, the knight students resumed offering drinks in turns.

“Alright, we’ve rested a bit, so shall we go again? Let’s drink hard until the night deepens!”

“Oh, sounds good. I haven’t had much chance to drink lately… I was just thinking a day like this would be nice.”

“Harang, you’re drinking a bit fast…”

“Oh? It’s fine. I’m pacing myself.”

Still smiling, I accepted their glasses.

Sheratiya watched me with an anxious expression.

With differing thoughts, the drinking session grew lively.

“Ugh…”

“Urk, ugh… No more, I can’t…”

“W-Where’s the bathroom…?”

“Oops, everyone’s overdone it. My apologies. I should’ve kept an eye on things…”

“…”

“By the way, is there more of this liquor? It’s the best I’ve had today, so I’d love to have a bit more, if it’s not too bold…”

About three hours later.

Only Sheratiya, Andy Shepler, and I remained upright, fully sober.

‘What’s with this guy?’

Andy Shepler stared at me in disbelief.

Twenty bottles.

Not 5% beer, but five bottles of 13.5% red wine and fifteen bottles of over 40% high-proof whiskey, all downed by me alone. For a normal person, that amount would lead to acute alcohol poisoning and death.

But I was fine.

No, not just fine—my complexion hadn’t changed at all.

As if I’d drunk twenty bottles of water.

‘How is that possible?’

Sheratiya was equally shocked.

She knew I could hold my liquor, but she hadn’t imagined it was to this extent. That’s why she’d been worried every time the knight students blatantly targeted me…

‘There was no need to worry at all.’

It felt futile.

She felt foolish for all her concern, her expression turning subtle.

That’s when it happened.

Having emptied the last bottle in the room, I spoke.

“Um, we’re out of alcohol.”

“…”

“…”

“Oh, sorry. I drank too much, didn’t I?”

“…No, I’ll have more brought.”

Standing up as if to fetch it himself, Andy Shepler left the room.

Seeing him completely gone, Sheratiya looked at me with a dumbfounded expression and said.

“You can actually drink in this situation?”

“Yes, it goes down fine.”

“No, didn’t you feel it? These guys are deliberately trying to get you drunk to make you slip up…”

“I know.”

“…Huh?”

“The hostility’s far more blatant than last time. Even I couldn’t miss it. I’m doing this on purpose.”

“On purpose?”

“Yes, on purpose. I’m going to drink this place dry today.”

I nodded.

Honestly, this situation was absurd.

The knight students started the fight.

They were the ones who proposed reconciliation.

So why were they so eager to keep picking fights? I couldn’t understand it.

‘The outside world is still so complicated.’

For me, who grew up in the village, these mind games and probing behaviors were utterly exhausting.

I suddenly thought of my Godok peers.

Recalling their straightforward hostility, I muttered quietly.

“I never thought I’d miss Maya.”

“What? Maya?”

Who’s that?

A woman?

Sheratiya was about to ask when Andy Shepler walked back in, his expression as stiff as his voice.

“Drink.”

“This is… Chichiros. And high-aged…”

“You know it… It was quite hard to get.”

“Is it okay for me to drink something this rare?”

“You’ve already drunk plenty—what’s that supposed to mean?”

His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

But I didn’t care.

Smiling as if enjoying myself, I opened the bottle and poured it into a whiskey glass, drinking heartily.

And shortly after.

“…Lord Andy Shepler?”

“What is it?”

“You spiked the drink, didn’t you?”

“…!”

“What? Spiked? This… drink?”

“Yes. The taste is distinctly different. From the reaction, it seems like a sleeping drug.”

My confident statement made Andy Shepler’s expression harden even more.

‘How did he know?’

It was astonishing.

Beyond astonishing—it was shocking.

He’d put in a fair amount, but it wasn’t the kind that would noticeably alter the taste of strong whiskey.

Yet, to pinpoint the sleeping drug so precisely sent chills down his spine.

‘Is he… really someone significant?’

…No way.

Andy Shepler glared at me.

I looked much better than the clueless guy from before, but he still didn’t feel like a powerhouse.

At best, mid-level Expert?

That was probably my limit.

Right, the sweat on his body must be from the psychological pressure of having his wrongdoing exposed.

‘No, it hasn’t been exposed yet.’

Andy Shepler nodded.

Not yet.

Muttering quietly, he drew his sword from his waist.

And swung it at the whiskey bottle laced with sleeping drugs in front of me.

Crash!

“Unbelievable.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve treated you with all sorts of rare liquors, and you dare insult me with baseless accusations?”

“Baseless? The proof was right here… Oh, not anymore.”

I nodded.

I wasn’t disappointed, though.

This was Andy Shepler’s home turf.

Even if I’d kept the spiked whiskey, he’d surely deny it.

So what now?

With no evidence or witnesses, should we keep arguing about who’s right?

Like that exhausting scene at the tavern a few days ago?

…Fortunately, that didn’t seem necessary.

Andy Shepler, his face flushed, said exactly what I wanted to hear.

“A duel.”

“…A duel?”

“Yes. Right now, go get the sword you checked at the ballroom entrance. Today, I’ll crush your arrogance and defend my honor…”

Whoosh.

Thud!

“…”

“…”

“I missed on purpose.”

I said.

As I’d stated, a knife had grazed Andy Shepler’s ear and embedded itself in the wall behind him.

Gulp.

Andy Shepler turned to look at me.

From my expressionless face, a dry voice emerged.

“Shall we continue?”

The black-haired young man speaking seemed… somehow different from before.