Chapter 20 (1/2)

The knights brandished their swords and spoke up solemnly.

“We are the knights of the Grand Duchy of Lyonne. Present your proof of identification.”

“…I have none.”

If they kept ordering him to produce something he didn’t have, Xuan Tian would be in a pretty pickle.

“Then come with us quietly.”

The knights’ hands hovered meaningfully over the hilts of their swords.

“…!”

His eyebrows arched at their actions. ‘Impertinent bastards! Do you know who I am?! If you bastards dare lay a finger on me, I won’t stand for it!’

Determined, he was about to pull out a long needle from his chest, but someone grabbed his elbow. It was Law.

“Do you really want to blow things out of proportion?”

“Do you imagine I should simply let them lay a finger on me?!”

“Just give yourself up. It makes no difference whether you enter with your own two feet or get hauled inside.”

“What?!”

‘The cheek of this absurd rascal!’

“You think they’ll guide us to heaven if we capitulate? It’s as plain as the nose on your face they’re taking us to prison! I’m fed up with prison now!”

Back in Yu Ga, in the Eastern Continent, he had undergone a period of confinement for rising in revolt against the Emperor’s brutal practices. While he had never endured wretched torture or insults as he was a renowned noble—

‘I can’t drink alcohol in jail!’  Offering alcohol in prison was unheard of!

Law shook his head wordlessly. ‘Could this rascal be angling for that?’

The knights were now glaring daggers at the pair. Xuan Tian, who had his hand in the pocket of his chest, hastily drew out his hands.

“Hold! This personage truly received an inv—!”

But the objections of an illegal immigrant who bore no proof of identification fell on deaf ears.

“Meow—”

The two of them headed down to the underground prison all the while suffering pokes dealt by the sharp tips of the knights’ swords.

CLANK—

A desperate Xuan Tian stuck his head between the iron bars.

“W-Wait!”

“Behave.”

Arms crossed, the warden peered down at him.

“L-Look here! This personage shall conduct himself properly in this jail.”

“Right. Stay well-behaved just like that.”

“Very well. Provide me liquor at least.”

“…Liquor?”

“Liquor.”

“That liquor people indulge in?”

“The very same.”

“…”

“…”

The youth’s gaze met the warden’s disdainful one. While the latter hadn’t a clue how Xuan Tian became an alcoholic at his tender age, he was staring at him as if he was pathetic. Law silently agreed with the warden’s unspoken sentiments.

Dang it! Xuan Tian took a gamble and started coughing.

“Ugh, if I don’t wet my whistle… This personage will perish… The Lord’s guest… You’ll get reprimanded big time…”

“…”

“…Cough.”

The warden pivoted on his heel.

“Look here! Did you not hear me? I’m not kidding! It’s true!”

He shook the iron bars frantically.

“I did get an invitation from the castle’s Lord! Liquor! Give me liquor!”

* * *

Two days passed before Kynemeia went down to the underground prison to meet the alcoholic with tremulous hands and his burly cat-toting companion.

“Here, Young Lady.”

“Liquor… Give me liquoooor… Liquoooor…”

The burly man seemed perfectly indifferent to the alcoholic when he said to the warden,

“Please give us some food that’s suitable for Meow. It’s not good to keep feeding it human food.”

“Liquor… Liquooor…”

Unlike the healthy Law, tremors wracked Xuan Tian Xinghai’s frame, and his face was so sunken he appeared to be on the brink of death.

“Liquoor…”