Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 74

Chapter 74

"Did you seriously get drunk off one sip?"

"No, I didn't."

"Then why did you smash someone else's glass?"

"That, that guy—... Ha, forget it."

"What? Forget what?"

What's wrong with him all of a sudden? "That guy"? Ravian? All I said was that he enjoys brewing wine.

"Ravian, do you enjoy brewing wine?"

"Yes? Yes, I do."

Ravian blinked in confusion, and our eyes met. When I tilted my head, he tilted his too.

Just then, a hand shot out in front of me—Kali's hand.

"Ah, what's wrong with you. Stop interrupting and just sit still."

I grabbed Kali's hand and pressed it onto the table. Worried he'd cause more trouble, I held it firmly, and he calmed down again.

What a funny guy.

"I want to invest in this peach wine."

"Invest... you mean?"

"You won't have to worry about being threatened anymore—you can brew your wine freely. I guarantee it. This is delicious."

"B-but how..."

"I'd like the bottle design to be my choice. I think this peach wine would suit a clear bottle better."

"But clear glass is so expensive!"

"That's why I'm offering to invest."

This wine has a great scent, but more than that, its color is beautiful. I think it would sell well if packaged in a pretty glass bottle with matching glass cups. The packaging should be luxurious too.

"Can you also make a non-alcoholic version?"

"By non-alcoholic, you mean..."

"Just a peach-flavored drink, but in the same bottle. So it can mimic the real thing."

"I can make it, but that wouldn't be wine, would it?"

"Some people can't drink alcohol but still need to look like they are."

I tapped the back of Kali's hand as I said this. Not everyone enjoys drinking, so there should be demand. I should sell that as a set too.

"Wh-why are you offering me all this?"

"Because it tastes good. And the scent is lovely—when it spilled on my dress, it wasn't unpleasant."

Ravian clasped his hands together, his eyes glistening with emotion. He seemed unable to believe this was happening.

"Do you have any attachment to this shop? If not, I'd like you to open a new one in the ducal territory."

"Huh?! Th-the ducal territory?!"

"I mostly stay in the ducal territory rather than the capital."

"May I, may I ask for your name, miss?"

"Algenprina Hariella of the Algenprina ducal house. That should prove I'm no swindler, right?"

"Huff!!"

Ravian's eyes grew so wide they looked like they might pop out. After catching his breath, he slapped both cheeks with his hands.

"It's not... a dream."

"Would you rather it be?"

"Ah, no! Absolutely not!"

"I'll take care of your debt. In return, you give me your best wine first. How about it?"

"Th-that...! Of course, I'll give you the best wine first. But is it really alright for me to accept such generosity..."

"Have you heard the saying that opportunity comes to those who are prepared? Think of me as that opportunity, Ravian."

"Ah, miss!"

"Understood? Then pack your things and lie low. I'll send someone tomorrow morning."

I filled my empty glass to the brim. I thought it would taste even better with some carbonation—too bad this world doesn't have it.

While sipping the peach wine, I felt awkward keeping Ravian standing, so I told him to pack anything he could take in advance. He nodded enthusiastically and quickly disappeared.

"Kali."

"What."

"Why are you sulking?"

"What, sulking? I'm not."

"Don't you like Ravian?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Kali was silent. I carefully reviewed our conversation. Though it might be unfortunate news for Kali, I'm good at picking up on things like this.

So...

"Ravian said he loves brewing wine—he never said he likes me."

At my words, Kali practically jumped out of his seat, but I held his hand firmly so he couldn't escape.

Whether he knew his face was burning red or not, Kali frowned and shouted.

"I know!"

"You know? Good, then. I'm glad you know. I thought you didn't."

Oh, how adorable. But he's still fifteen. Fifteen. Damn it.

Realizing that any further response would drag him deeper, Kali finally shut his mouth.

"Shall we go? Check out the night market?"

"...Fine."

I stored the half-empty peach wine in my Goblin Club, and we said goodbye to Ravian. After reminding him once more to hide and that we'd send someone early the next morning, we left the shop.

I held Kali's hand tightly as we stepped into the bustling street. As soon as we came out, a man performing a flashy fire show caught my eye.

Is that him holding alcohol in his mouth and spitting it out?

"Kali, can you do that?"

"Ha... what do you take me for?"

He looked genuinely offended, so I was about to apologize when—

"Of course I can. Want me to do it now?"

"Don't! Don't!"

So that's what hurt his pride!

Afraid he might actually breathe fire if I kept watching, I quickly moved on. There were people performing bizarre circus acts in the middle of the street, and swindlers selling overpriced goods supposedly from across the sea.

"Yawn."

After one round, I was starting to get bored. I couldn't exactly take Kali into a tavern.

"If you're tired, let's go back."

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired."

Just as I thought we'd had our fill and headed for the carriage, a shabby carriage came barreling toward us, ignoring all traffic.

The rough-looking coachman shouted curses, telling us to get out of the way.

"Who is that crazy bastard?"

"We're going to get hit! Hey, hey! We're going to be hit! Kali!"

"The one who should dodge is him."

"Hey!!! You crazy bastard!!!"

The coachman, seeing that we wouldn't move, also screamed, asking if we wanted to die.

Wait a minute—that's absurd. If they're the ones careening out of control, shouldn't they be the ones dodging?

"You move, you crazy bastard!!!!"

When I suddenly yelled, Kali burst out laughing.

"Puhaha!!!"

"Th-that!!!"

Despite his words, Kali didn't want to collide with the carriage—he smirked and yanked the reins. The swaying carriage lost balance and toppled over.

"Oh dear. You should have driven safely!"

I peeked out from behind Kali, who had stopped the horse, and shouted at the fallen coachman.

"Y-you bastards...!"

Just then, another carriage and about five or six riders emerged from the direction the first carriage had come from. The fallen coachman grinned at them—they were clearly on the same side.

"Ugh, they just can't let it go quietly. I'm exhausted."

Including those who jumped out of the carriage, there were about ten of them.

"Kali, what should we do?"

"They don't look like ordinary merchants."

"They look like bad guys, don't they? What are they up to?"

"Hey, you bastard!!! Why did you stop?!"

"No, brother! They crashed into us first!!"

"What? Who are they?"

All eyes turned to us.

"They don't seem like they'll let us go."

"Hmm."

Kali looked around. We were on a deserted road. There was a separate road for carriages—why were they using this one? Unless they had something to hide.

"What are you bastards!!"

"And who are you to block my path?"

Kali sneered, and the man's face twisted.

"What did you say?"

"Brother, doesn't his voice sound young?"

The apparent leader grinned fiercely and raised his hand. A gust of wind blew, flipping our robes back.

Is his unique magic wind?

"Ha...! Just kids."

"They've got decent looks, don't they?"

"Tch, grab them. Can't leave witnesses."

Something was fishy. Who are they to talk about witnesses on someone else's turf?

"Oh, looks like they want to fight... what should we do?"

"You stay put. I want to try something."

I dismounted with Kali and pulled out my club just in case. But their reaction was surprisingly different.

"A magical tool?"

"Brother, her unique magic is a magical tool?! We happen to be short one, don't we?"

"Oh, we're just one short, so we can take her."

One short? So they've already caught several people...

"Hey, uncles, do you know human trafficking is illegal in the empire?"

"Puhaha!!! Little miss, illegal is what makes it profitable. Consider yourself unlucky."

"That money must be more important than your lives. Kali, I need to ask them something, so don't kill them all."

"What are these brats saying?"

"She said not to kill them all?"

Laughter erupted from the group. But it didn't last long.

A massive pillar of flame erupted from beneath the man standing on the far right, consuming him instantly.

"G-gaaah!!!"

One brief death cry—that was all. When the flames subsided, all that remained was ash drifting in the air.

Silence fell instantly. Even I was stunned by Kali's magic.

What just happened? Kali's fire isn't lava—it's just regular hot fire. So how did it turn a person to ash in seconds?

Unless...

"Since you could use two magics at once, I thought I'd try too. And it worked."

This crazy bastard had used both Flame and Corrosion simultaneously.

"What, what is this..."

"What trick did he pull?!"

Two types of mana swirled around Kali's right hand. Sensing the black and red energy, I swallowed hard.

Seriously, the most broken magic ever. It's insane—he can blow his nose without using his hands.

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