Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 73

Chapter 73

I never expected that the moment I rolled to the other side, I'd come face to face with Kali, water still dripping from his face!

"Ahem, wipe your face. You're dripping!"

"Pervert."

"Ah, it's not what you think!"

"Thath's whath they alwayth say."

Out of nowhere, a guilty conscience pricked at me.

Even though he's like this, in the original he was a cold Grand Duke who wouldn't bleed even if you stabbed him—how did he end up like this?

Still struggling on the bed, Kali tossed a black robe at me.

"Get up. Stop squirming on someone else's bed."

"Wh-who's squirming?!"

Kali and I threw on our robes and snuck out of the townhouse. Though the sun had set and it was completely dark, the capital's main streets were still bright and bustling. Lights were lit everywhere, people crowded the streets—only the color of the sky had changed.

"Wow! This is my first time at a night market!"

We walked through the streets in our robes. Most taverns and restaurants were packed, and we occasionally saw drunk people staggering along.

"Make sure you don't lose me, Kali."

I meant don't run off alone—stick with me, got it?

"Hold my hand."

"Huh?"

"Hold my hand."

Kali extended his palm toward me. It wasn't the first time I'd held his hand, but for some reason, I felt shy and hesitated.

After a moment of hesitation, Kali reached out first and took my hand.

"Let's go."

"...Do you even know where we're going?"

"You wanted to go to that tavern from earlier, didn't you?"

"Correct! I thought you'd try to stop me—what's with you?"

"Empty words won't stop you."

We pushed through the noisy crowd. The street lined with taverns was brighter than the others, but the farther we went toward the end, the fewer people there were, and the darker it became.

"I think he said to look for a black sign at the end of this street."

"Why is it so creepy here? All the shops are closed."

It seemed to be a spot pushed out of the main commercial area. We found the black sign, but the shop was dark.

Didn't he say he'd be open late?

"We have uninvited guests."

"Who are those big guys? Such a nuisance."

Three burly men were blocking the front of the shop with the black sign reading "Ravian."

"Hey, Ravian! We know you're in there! Open up!!"

The shop was dark, but the men were sure Ravian was inside, pounding on the door.

"How do we get rid of them? Kali, loosen up your fist."

"Do you think they'll listen to words?"

"I just thought of something I want to try. Help me out."

I hid in a side alley and pulled out the hat. It was dark so I probably wouldn't be seen, but just in case!

After covering myself with the hat, I cast the magic—the golden gem containing Sier's magic snapped open its eye.

Ugh, this is still creepy every time I see it.

An eerie fog began to spread at my feet. It slowly expanded until it reached the men.

"Wh-what is this? Fog all of a sudden..."

The pounding on the door stopped. As the men looked around, I whispered to Kali.

"Can you make fist-sized flames? Around those men."

"You mean like a torch?"

"Yeah! Something similar, but floating. Blue would be even better."

When I thought of will-o'-wisps, I pictured blue flames.

Kali made a puzzled face but obediently created the flames.

"Ooh! Red will-o'-wisps!"

One by one, the flames appeared around the men, quickly surrounding the area.

"Huff! Wh-what is this!"

"Brother, isn't this place... getting a bit eerie?"

"What?"

With fog blocking their view and red flames suddenly floating around, the men panicked and scattered in all directions.

"Hari, can you pull out another one?"

"Huh?"

"Can you use the magic stored in the club simultaneously?"

"Oh, I've never tried that. I wonder if it works."

"Then pull out Leo's shadow."

That was an evil and brilliant idea. I kept Sier's fog active and pulled out Leo's shadow.

I felt the mana drain from the club—I had a strong feeling that this was the limit of Leo's shadow.

The massive shadow that had taken over the floor began to climb the walls. What should I make to send them screaming?

I created the largest, most shapeless shadow I could. The men, distracted by the flames, began staring at the writhing shadow.

"Br-br-brother. Th-that... is that only visible to me?"

"Wh-what the hell! We were just supposed to grab the guy in the shop!"

I reached a hand out from the shadows and grabbed a trembling ankle—the man screamed and jumped.

"Kyaaaah!!!"

"Aaah! Brother!! Let's go together!!"

"Brother!!"

I watched the men flee in an instant, feeling a bit pathetic. As their screams faded, the shadow subsided.

"Ah, I used up all of Leo's shadow."

"How much did you get from Sier?"

"He didn't give it to me—he poured a ton of it in himself."

I stroked the now-dim golden gem with a wistful look, but Kali—clearly understanding what I wanted—ignored me and knocked on Ravian's shop door.

"Hey, we know you're in there."

"Kali! How is that different from those guys earlier? What if he's scared and won't come out?"

"For the dress cleaning fee."

At the mention of the dress fee, a clattering sound came from inside. After a moment, the door cracked open and Ravian's frightened face appeared.

"Oh! Ah, miss! I didn't expect you to come tonight!"

"Hey, Ravian. Can we come in?"

"Yes, yes!"

Ravian opened the door wide, turned on the lights, and carefully drew the curtains.

"Who were those guys?"

"Was it you who chased them away, miss?"

"They were in the way."

"...Thank you."

Ravian rubbed his haggard face. He led us to an old wooden table and wiped it repeatedly, even though it wasn't dirty.

"Is it alright to bring you to such a humble place..."

"Forget that. Who were those guys?"

"Th-they're nothing. My father had some debts from his generation. After he passed, I started paying them off... but business hasn't been good, so just paying the interest has been overwhelming."

Come to think of it, the first time I saw Ravian, wasn't he being thrown out of a tavern?

"That guy who shoved you earlier?"

"Yes. He's the son of the man my father borrowed money from. He's also a craftsman who makes fruit wine, like me."

"And?"

"If I give him the peach wine recipe that's been passed down through my family, he said he'd forgive all the debt."

"...So you gave it to him?"

The family recipe?!

Well, a person has to survive!

"But even when he makes the wine using that recipe, it doesn't taste like my family's wine... so he insists it's not the real recipe and won't forgive the debt. He keeps telling me to bring the proper one."

"Is the recipe authentic?"

Kali asked, resting his chin on his hand on the table.

"Yes. It's the real recipe."

"Then it's the maker's fault."

Kali's finger pointed at Ravian. His expression stiffened slightly.

Unless the family recipe isn't all there is...

"There's an inherited unique magic."

"Haha. I didn't expect to be found out so quickly."

Ravian spoke with a bitter smile—he'd already resigned himself. The recipe was correct, yet he couldn't get the debt forgiven.

"That wine you spilled on my dress earlier—I came to buy some. Can I taste it?"

"Ah! Yes, yes. Of course."

Ravian went through the back door and returned with two glasses and a bottle of wine. The bottle was black, and the cups were wooden.

I remembered the color being pretty. Flavor is important, but for commercial success, appearance matters too.

As he poured the wine, a rich peach fragrance filled the air. A smile naturally formed on my lips at the scent, as if surrounded by a tree heavy with peaches. I smelled the wine before taking a sip. It was sweet, but the sensation on my tongue was light rather than heavy.

The real value of this wine was in its aroma—that sweet, lingering scent.

"Delicious!!"

"Huh?"

"Really delicious."

I met Ravian's anxious gaze. The conviction in my voice must have reassured him—he let out a sigh of relief.

"Why isn't it selling? It's so good."

"I had some distributors at first, but at some point, all the deals fell through. I lowered the price, but I only lost money instead of making a profit..."

It was obviously that guy's doing. Trying to get his hands on the peach wine recipe by any means.

"Um, won't the young master try some?"

"He can't."

Getting drunk here outside the estate would be a disaster.

"Why not."

"Are you really a contrarian?"

When I grabbed his wrist to stop him, Kali's eyebrows twisted in dissatisfaction.

"Then just take one sip."

I poured most of the wine into my glass, leaving only a sip's worth. Kali grumbled but obediently tasted it.

"How is it?"

"Not as sweet as the scent. Not bad."

"Hmm, Ravian."

"Yes?"

"Do you absolutely have to keep this bottle design?"

"The bottle? No, I just use it because it's cheapest..."

Ravian smiled sheepishly.

The flavor is guaranteed. So all we need to do is change the packaging and deal with the troublemaker.

"Do you enjoy brewing wine?"

"Yes! I love it."

BANG!!

A loud noise suddenly erupted from the table.

Kali had slammed his glass down, shattering it, and shot up from his seat with a startled face.

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