Chapter 56. Festival of the Kingdom of Kalus (2)
On top of the cliff.
The path leading to the spot where the flag was planted was narrow and rugged.
After barely climbing the steep hill, an unmaintained, narrow trail appeared.
The untended path was blocked in several places by oddly twisted trees and large rocks.
No matter how fast a horse one rode, the obstacles that loomed like traps made it difficult to gallop properly.
As a result, many of those who had gallantly set out ended up getting stuck here.
If one pushed recklessly, the horse’s leg could break on a jutting tree root or rock.
Karsen dashed through that dangerous path without hesitation.
As if he and the horse were one, he ran through the mountain trail like a crimson wind, stepping on rocks and leaping over twisted tree stumps in perfect sync.
After passing the dizzying mountain path, a cliff hugging the side of a river appeared.
The path to the summit was a narrow ledge, barely wide enough for two grown men to walk side by side.
Worse, the path narrowed further the more one advanced.
A single mistake wouldn’t just injure the horse—it could send them both plummeting down the cliff.
Because of that, most participants gave up their horses halfway and climbed the ledge on all fours like crawling.
“Move!”
But even on that perilous path, Karsen did not dismount.
Instead, he accelerated.
By now, there was no one ahead of him.
As he climbed the terrifying cliff, the summit came into view.
A red flag fluttered in the wind.
Karsen turned his head.
‘He’s not here.’
Leonard was nowhere to be seen.
“Did he give up?”
Disappointing.
He thought Leonard would push through and catch up somehow.
That blazing competitiveness deep in his eyes—perhaps it had merely been jealousy.
“So it ends in a hollow victory after all.”
Before he knew it, Karsen reached the cliff summit and, still seated in his saddle, stretched out his hand toward the flag.
The moment he grabbed that flag, he would be the winner of the second match.
Naturally, regardless of the third match, he would have beaten Leonard in their rivalry.
And this gap in victory would never be closed again.
Just as he reached for the flag with confidence—
“Who said you could claim victory so easily?”
Tap!
A hand suddenly seized the flag.
Amazingly, that hand had appeared from below the cliff.
A shadow holding the flag suddenly leapt up over the edge.
The horse, startled by the sudden appearance of the man, raised its front legs in alarm.
Karsen barely managed to calm the horse and looked, shocked, at the man holding the flag.
“No way… did you climb the cliff?”
The man had scaled the sheer cliff with his bare hands.
All for the sake of victory.
He had chosen a bold and extreme method that no one else had attempted.
“This match is mine.”
Declaring boldly with the flag in hand—
That man was Leonard.
‘Impressive. Far beyond what I imagined.’
Karsen was truly impressed.
“What made you make such a choice?”
“There was no way to win through normal means.”
Leonard replied between gasping breaths.
“Do you acknowledge my victory?”
“Of course.”
Karsen gave a wide grin.
“I acknowledge it cleanly. There was no rule saying one couldn’t climb the cliff.”
＊ ＊ ＊
The festival, which had been in full swing, was now nearing its end.
As the sun began to set, the final match was held.
“What kind of competition is next?”
Will it be swordsmanship again?
Or maybe something unexpected, like arm wrestling?
“Did you know that the liquor of the Kingdom of Kalus is famous?”
“Ah.”
At Moritz’s words, I let out a small sigh.
Yes. I know it very well.
“It’s a bit strong, but its unique sweetness makes it popular even in other countries.”
I’ve heard that too.
That man over there, who keeps glancing at me even as he prepares for the next match.
The Crimson Monarch told me about it.
Wait a moment.
Is there a reason he’s bringing up alcohol now…?
Unfortunately, my hunch was right.
Countless bottles of alcohol were being carried into the arena.
“The final match is a contest of drinking capacity.”
＊ ＊ ＊
A long table was set in the arena, and the participants took their seats.
Countless bottles of alcohol were placed on the table—and that wasn’t even all of it.
Behind them, there were mountains of liquor bottles piled up.
Good heavens, how many bottles are there?
With another fierce match anticipated—
“Then, get ready… and begin!”
The sound of a horn signaled the start of the final match.
The participants’ hands began to move quickly.
Liquor bottles were emptied and refilled repeatedly.
As the massive kegs were drained, the number of participants passing out in a drunken stupor increased.
And before long, only a few remained.
“Prince Karsen!”
“As expected, no one can match His Highness!”
“No, look over there. That outsider is impressive too!”
Sure enough, the ones showing remarkable endurance were Karsen and Leonard.
Their relentless drinking stirred cheers and foot-stomping from the crowd.
But all I felt was worry.
‘Are those two going to be okay tomorrow?’
Why are they drinking like their lives depend on it?
“But where did Cedric go?”
I hadn’t seen Cedric for a while now.
＊ ＊ ＊
Thud!
Leonard, who had just drained his ninth bottle cleanly, placed his glass down on the table.
“Why don’t you give up, Prince Karsen?”
Thud!
Karsen also slammed his glass down forcefully.
“Your boldness certainly pleases me, Sir Leonard.”
He, too, had just finished his ninth bottle, just like Leonard.
Karsen twisted the corner of his lips into a smirk.
“But we’re far from done. I’ve never lost to anyone before.”
Let’s see who wins in the end.
Just as Karsen reached for the next bottle—
“Woooooah!”
“That guy is seriously amazing!”
Suddenly, the energy from the audience flared up.
Leonard and Karsen, both slightly tipsy, turned their eyes toward the unexpected commotion.
And they saw him.
Unlike their boisterous contest, a man silently emptying his glass in one corner.
Spotting the source of the cheers, Leonard let out a hollow laugh.
“Looks like we both already lost.”
＊ ＊ ＊
“Who is that guy?”
“He’s amazing. How many bottles is that now? His pace isn’t slowing at all.”
“He’s downed seventeen bottles!”
That’s right. The man savoring his drink with leisure in a corner.
Everyone’s heads turned naturally toward the source of the cheers.
‘What… am I seeing right now?’
For a moment, I doubted my eyes.
My mouth fell open in shock.
The man kept sipping his drink, glass after glass, without pause.
Usually, when people drink, their cheeks flush. But unlike everyone else, his complexion hadn’t changed a bit.
What is with this man? Now that I look again, he’s an incredible drinker!
No, more importantly—since when has he been sitting there?
I’d been so focused on Leonard and Karsen that I hadn’t even noticed he was part of the competition.
“I never imagined the Sage of the Forest would be such a heavy drinker.”
Even Moritz, who had kept a calm expression throughout, couldn’t hide his surprise.
That’s how astounding Cedric’s drinking capacity was.
Deng, deng, deng.
Finally, the bell rang to signal the end.
The winner was Cedric, who had astonishingly emptied nineteen bottles.
“He’s incredible. He’s walking perfectly fine!”
“Is he even human…?”
Cedric descended from the stage with a steady gait.
The applause and cheers from the crowd who witnessed it didn’t stop.
…He’s truly amazing.
Who would’ve thought that reserved Cedric would turn out to be a heavyweight drinker?
Truly, you can’t judge people by appearances.
Even as a joke, I’m never asking Cedric to drink with me.
That was what I was thinking—
“When you have a powerful magician at your side…”
A voice came from behind me.
Not unfamiliar—no, I thought I knew who it was.
When I turned my head, I saw crimson hair.
Though I had only seen him a few times, his face had become familiar.
“A magician with such a high tolerance… Quite the desirable talent for the Kingdom of Kalus. Though thanks to him, I lost my bet.”
Karsen sat beside me as if it were the most natural thing.
He looked surprisingly fine for someone who had drunk.
There was a slight hint of intoxication, but no obvious signs.
“You still haven’t given up, have you?”
Another familiar voice followed.
It was Leonard.
“You should give up now.”
With those words, Leonard sat beside me as well.
Wait, why are both of them so fine?
They must be exhausted from competing in all three rounds. Wouldn’t it be better to go back and rest?
Just as their presence started to feel a bit suffocating—
“I truly have a question for Your Majesty the Empress.”
Karsen asked.
As promised, he did not forget his manners in front of others.
“What are you curious about?”
“That explosive. Were you really planning to detonate it? If I hadn’t agreed to the negotiation?”
Ah, that explosive.
“Do I have to answer that?”
“Isn’t it fine to be honest now? Even if you really had planned to do it, there’s no taking back the negotiation.”
“Maybe… I did think we might actually have to blow up the dam.”
“Hah. I did think you had guts… but this is surprising.”
“Compared to the pain of watching the people slowly dry up and suffer, that risk felt like nothing.”
“There could’ve been a real war, you know?”
At Karsen’s words, I gave a small smile.
“Of course, it was only the worst-case option.”
“Worst case? Then, there were other ways?”
I nodded.
Naturally, I hadn’t just intended to recklessly blow up the dam.
“Today is a festival to affirm the friendship between our two nations, right? If he’s not too drunk, he might just show it.”
Yes. Maybe I’d envisioned this all along.
Ever since I left the Empire.
No, from the moment I sought out Cedric to solve the drought.
Fweeeee— Bang, bang, bang.
Sparks shot up into the sky, soon bursting into radiant rings of light.
“What… is that?”
“Fireworks.”
Since he remembered the fireworks, it seemed he wasn’t too drunk after all.
It was something I asked him to do, but doing it while drunk wouldn’t have been easy.
Well, that’s just how he is.
Someone who always keeps his promises with me, no matter what.
“…Fireworks?”
“Yes. Flowers made of fire. Come to think of it… he’s giving me flowers again today.”
As if in response to my words, fireworks burst again above our heads.
＊ ＊ ＊
The blazing sparks lit up the night sky, falling like a shower of flower petals.
A soft white glow landed on Helena von Schwaben’s face.
Her eyes shimmered with radiant colors—too beautiful and mysterious to describe with words.
Her dazzling golden hair was painted with vivid colors by the fireworks.
As if painting on a white canvas, enchanting hues spread across her hair.
At that moment, a breeze blew, sending strands of her hair fluttering gently through the air.
Turning to Karsen, Helena smiled brightly and said,
“Thank you for holding this festival to celebrate the friendship of our two nations. This is my return gift to your country… and to you.”
Karsen stared at her as if entranced.
In his eyes, reflecting Helena’s figure, new emotions had begun to stir.
Barely regaining his composure, he murmured in a low voice.
So quiet it wouldn’t reach her ears.
“What am I to do… I like her even more now.”
—
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