After much merrymaking, good food and good wine, the dinner ended when we were all full in body and soul.
We left the dining hall and walked down the corridor to leave the castle.
'Well, we ate! It was delicious!
'Yes, it was. It may be the first time that Mee has eaten such delicious food to her stomach.
'The ingredients themselves are not so different from what we usually eat. It's probably just the way they're cooked.
The two of us, Irene and I, followed behind Satsuki, Mee and Cyril, who were walking in a tipsy and satisfied mood.
Irene, who was walking next to me, peeked at me and said happily.
'Well, I'm glad to hear that everyone was satisfied. It was worth the effort to invite them.
'Yeah, it was a satisfying time for me too. But it's been a while since I've been invited, so I was wondering, do you always have such a grand meal at the castle?
'No way! They only do that when they welcome people, but usually it's more simple. But the cooks are very good, so the food is good.
Irene replied, still wearing a dress because she hadn't changed her clothes.
She was wearing a revealing dress, and her skin, which was slightly red from the alcohol, looked strangely glamorous, and I was almost mesmerized, so I pulled my gaze away from her.
'Hmmm...? What's the matter, Will, your face is getting red. Is it because of the alcohol? So, you've fallen in love with my good looks, haven't you?
Irene then strikes a s*xy pose.
I wonder if she has been drinking too much.
And she's not the only one who's tipsy.
My mouth is getting light, too.
'If you're going to blow yourself up like that, I'll break my promise and say that you're certainly attractive to the opposite s*x right now. Be a little more aware. You're a beautiful woman, Irene.
Aileen's cheeks, which were already blushing, turned even redder.
I'm not sure what to make of it.
'...... Satsuki, that's a pinch. Satsuki is also making a strong appeal.
'Gosh, ...... but if I go into that thing, I'll just be a distraction. ......'
'You're surprisingly concerned about such things, aren't you?
The three adventurers seemed to be whispering something to each other as they watched us.
I took the opportunity to say a few words to them as well.
'You guys too. Satsuki, Mee and Cyril are all very attractive. Not many men are surrounded by as many wonderful women as I am now. In that sense, I guess I'm a very lucky man.
When I said this, the three girls who were my adventurer friends also froze.
All three of them have dyed cheeks and round eyes.
'...... This is bad, this is bad. Will is pretty bad right now.
'Yes, sir. It's bad. He's a natural seducer.'
'The fact that he seems to be saying it honestly is what makes him dangerous. ......'
The evaluation from the girls was quite harsh.
We are aware that it is important to praise others, but it is also important to do so without saying a word.
It was when we were having such an exchange in the hallway of the castle hall.
'Hey, I'm sorry.
Satsuki, who was walking while looking around, bumped into a man who appeared from the corner of the corridor.
At the sight of the man, Satsuki stopped with a puzzled look on her face.
The man was someone I knew well - and didn't like to see.
He's tall, medium height, like me, and wears fine robes.
He should be forty this year.
That is to say... if I were to age as I was, I would look like that.
Finally, Satsuki came to her senses.
'Heck, ...... what? I'm not sure what to say. I'm sure you've seen the resemblance. ...... I thought you said you were a court magician here.
'Satsuki, don't you think you should say hello?
'Oh, yes, you should. Hey! My name is Satsuki. I'm Will's adventurer friend. You're Will's father, right? You're just like Will. You're just like him.
'............'
My father, James Glenford, took one look at Satsuki and Mi as if looking down on them from his tall stature, then ignored them both and turned his gaze towards me.
'William, I no longer have any expectations of you, but I'll give you some advice.
The man spins his words in a voice similar to mine, but without inflection.
'Choose who you associate with. If you associate with vulgar people, your quality will also fall. If you associate with people of high rank on a regular basis, you will naturally raise your own consciousness. The opposite is also true - if you associate with such people, you will be dragged down.
Without waiting for me to reply, he turned to walk past us.
On the way, he bowed only to Irene and walked down the corridor with his shoes clacking.
But I couldn't ignore it.
'...... wait'.
'What, do you still want something?
Gosh.
I was hitting my father in the face with my own fist.
The girls around me looked on in stunned amazement.
James stumbled for a moment, but did not fall, and still looked at me with cold eyes.
'...... What are you imitating, William?
'That's what I'm talking about. Take back what you just said. Do you even know what you just said?
'...... Hmm, I see. If I don't like something, I'm gonna get violent. I guess it's too late for that.