Chương 92: Acting Defeated

"You charged into the Middle Floors and defeated the Monster Rex, yet this is all you amount to?" Hyakinthos looked down at Cael with contempt.

"I barely touched you, and you are already finished?"

"The rumor says you have Magic that raises adventurers' Levels. Use it. Show me."

"Oh, that is Apollo Familia's captain, Hyakinthos. A Lv. 3 adventurer."

"This is getting good. Wasn't there a rumor that Hestia Familia's captain has Magic that raises Levels? Is he going to show us?" The adventurers in the tavern grew excited. None of them had expected a simple show to involve a true Lv. 3 adventurer.

"I advise you not to get too arrogant," Cael said with a cold smile.

"That only makes you look weak. But since you want to see it, I will let you see it." Blue magical light appeared around him. Unlimited Blade Works quietly activated, creating the atmosphere of an extremely long-chant spell. Cael casually gathered a few especially dramatic chant fragments from his memory.

"I awaken as the Red Dragon Emperor who bears the truth of kings, raising endless hope and immortal dreams to the heavens..." He chanted nonsense with a serious face for half a minute. Hyakinthos actually waited for him to finish, and Cael was laughing so hard inside that he almost lost his composure. When the timing felt right, the chant ended and Cael released a powerful aura that seemed to reach Lv. 3.

"Ohhh! It really is Magic that raises Levels!"

"The rumor said it could be used on a whole party. That is absurd."

"It was true!" The watching adventurers erupted in shock.

"Hmph." Hyakinthos scoffed, but jealousy twisted his expression. So the rumor was true. If Lord Apollo brought this boy into the Familia, how much affection would Apollo give him? Hyakinthos had devoted everything to Lord Apollo. Why should a boy like this make Apollo want him so obsessively? His jealousy flared, and he instantly punched toward Cael. Cael met the punch. For a few exchanges, they seemed evenly matched. Then Hyakinthos began driving him back with repeated blows.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"So that is all your Level boost amounts to? I have not even used real strength. Have you never fought anyone before? This is the price for injuring my companions. Accept it." Cael held both hands in front of him and let Hyakinthos attack. The slight curve at his mouth looked like pain to others, but in reality, not even his skin was broken. All right. This should be enough. His foot slipped, and he fell into the corner.

"Aaaaaah... that hurts." Lili, hiding off to the side, almost laughed out loud. Lord Cael was being terrible.

"Hmph. That is all you have. We are leaving." Hyakinthos withdrew his slightly trembling hand into his sleeve and spoke with disdain. Damn it. He really had risen to Lv. 3. Fortunately, it was only a Level increase. Otherwise, this would not have been so easy. Apollo Familia left the tavern with the air of victors. After they were gone, Cael and the others climbed up from the floor, brushed dust from their clothes, and calmly returned to the table. No matter what happened, wasting food was unacceptable.

Not even the soup had been spilled.

"Tch. They got beaten like that and still want to drink. How funny."

"They are just shameless. But I have to admit, that Magic was real." Ignoring the noise around them, Cael and the others resumed drinking and laughing.

"Wow, controlling my strength was exhausting. How was my acting?" Tengen asked after draining another cup.

"My strength has increased too much. Holding back was difficult, but I did my best to act," Kyojuro said in a much quieter voice than usual.

"You all acted well, especially Tanjiro and Boar Boy," Cael praised.

"Um... Captain, I was not acting just now," Tanjiro whispered, rubbing his swollen cheek with tears in his eyes.

"I-I did not get hit," Inosuke said with his arms folded, though his unnatural voice proved that his face had been struck too.

"Good thing I hid," Zenitsu said in relief.

"If you do not eat soon, the food will get cold." Lili climbed back onto her chair and began stuffing meat into her mouth without restraint.

"Aaaah! How underhanded! Stealing food alone? I will steal some too!" Inosuke shouted and lunged onto the table.

"Hey, you two!" Tengen cried. The table quickly became lively again, leaving the nearby adventurers stunned. Just how unbothered was Hestia Familia? They had just been beaten and were already cheerful again. An hour later, aside from the two girls, Giyu, who disliked drinking, and a dazed Muichiro, everyone was walking unsteadily. Their strong bodies kept their minds clear, so Cael opened the World Gate in a hidden alley and sent the Demon Slayers home. They had no place to stay in Orario yet.

Cael had suggested an inn, but they preferred returning home if they could sleep there. Lili studied Cael curiously. His eyes were still perfectly clear, without looking drunk at all.

"That is because of a Skill," Cael explained.

"Any negative effect on my mind is nullified, including drunkenness. Even Soma's divine wine would not affect me." Lili blinked, her cat ears twitching in her transformed form.

"Then when Lili tried to get Lord Cael drunk before, Lord Cael was pretending. And what Lord Cael said back then was also intentional, right?"

"I was pretending," Cael said.

"But everything I said was sincere." He knew she was talking about the day she had tried to steal his watch.

"So Lord Cael really is a hopeless flirt. You were trying to charm Lili from the start," Lili muttered, her cheeks red.

"Did it work?" Cael whispered by her ear.

"No, it did not." Lili turned her head stubbornly.

"Oh? Then I will just have to keep trying." Cael smiled. He had watched enough romance stories to use a few techniques. As they chatted, they followed the street into an unfamiliar area.

"Hm? There are suddenly a lot more people over here. Many of them are heading that way. It looks lively. Let us take a look." Cael looked toward the bright lights and the moving crowd, then started in that direction.

"That direction!" Lili froze, then immediately panicked and hugged his arm, trying desperately to pull him back.

"Lord Cael cannot go that way. There is nothing interesting there. Let us choose another street."