Ch-39: Imperial Social Banquet (1)

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The center of the continent.

An imperial banquet that unfurls in the imperial palace.

It is a supreme honor for any family just to get an invitation for participation.

Infinite opportunities open up just by participating.

This is the Imperial Social Banquet.

The paramountcy and dominion of aristocrats leading the continent.

"Did a lot of your friends died while hunting the ogre? That's just so sad~"

And, a frivolous man who did not fit into such a noble place. A handsome man with gorgeous blonde hair and contrasting copper skin.

The Hero of the Kingdom of Alitia, Gis.

He crossed his legs and sat in an unbecoming posture, picking up one of the grapes and put it into his mouth.

"It was a noble sacrifice. Their sacrifices will be recorded in the history and passed on to the future generations."

Contrastingly, the man sitting opposite to Gis was perfectly well suited to the lavish backdrop of Imperial Social Banquet.

A handsome man with long, curly hair neatly arranged, exuding the atmosphere of an upright nobleman.

The Hero of the Kingdom of Carta, Lorian.

He took a sip from the cup of tea in a gentleman posture.

"Sacrifice… heh heh, you sure know to wrap it up in flowery words. Well, whatever. But these days, rumors say that your party has still not recovered from the damage taken during the Ogre Subjugation… I was thinking, are the rumors true~?"

Gis lampooned while looking at Lorian's party members busy chating with other nobles.

They haven't increased in numbers since the Ogre Subjugation.

Still, 5 people.

Eri is actually for handling luggage, so there are only 4 people in actual sense.

To Gis' sarcasm, Lorian replied with a smile.

"I found out that day. It's better to have a compact, small and qualitative group than to increase numbers with mediocre people."

"Aha, how come your 'chip-chip' tone sounds sarcastic to me?"

"I didn't mean to, that's how you feel."

"Damn, Lorian. As I have said many times, I hate the way you circle up and talk like little girls of your aristocratic class."

"Then let me be straightforward. Do it in moderation. Rumor has it that your party already has more than 16 members. Do you just pick up any girl or woman that comes to your liking?"

"Nope, the fit between us should be good too. Honestly, the women that I can like are all over the continent. I can't take all of them with me, so I made a compromise, isn't that rather good enough?"

Lorian frowned.

"Then let me ask you one thing. How many of your party members can actually participate in battles?"

"It's a lot more than you can fathom. Because everyone is more talented than you think. These b!tches behind me were all in Cloud's party, weren't they?"

Gis pointed his thumb behind his back.

Behind him stood two beauties.

Neria, a beautiful girl with short blue hair and the childhood friend of Cloud.

Ophelia, a beauty with golden blonde hair and emerald eyes, a former teammate of original Cloud's party and a saintess candidate.

Unlike his other party members, they were not allowed to act freely.

In the first place, they had a different status from other party members in Gis' party.

For Gis, they were just trophies.

Lorian looked at the two women and sighed deeply.

"You say that after you erase the bruises on the back of her neck."

"What?"

Gis turned back to look at his 'trophies'. As Lorian said, there was a bruise on the back of Neria's neck.

He furrowed his brows.

"Hey, Ophelia."

"…Yes, Hero."

"Didn't I clearly told you to make the outside intact?"

"I'm sorry. I couldn't see it because of the collar."

"What if you didn't see it? Do you want to say that it's my mistake? By the way, what if like Lorian saw it, other nobles saw it too? I'm going to be known as a bastard who abuses his party members… Was that really what you were aiming for? Do you want to get revenge in that way, even if you are timid otherwise, huh?"

""

"…Absolutely not. It was a mistake…"

"Shut up. You are too comfortable these days, eh? Let's go back today."

Ophelia's shoulders trembled. She lowered her eyes and nodded her head.

"Understood… Hero-sama…"

"Aren't you too harsh on them? I may not know about men, but I know you were kind to women."

"For these back stabbing b!tches who I can't even f**k?"

Gis wrinkled his brow.

Lorian gave him an interesting expression.

"It's not like you. I thought you would have already played with them. To be honest, I'm utterly surprised that you still haven't. I had thought you would have already had your share of fun and would have thrown them off somewhere."

"Playing with a saintess candidate and throwing her off? Ha, you think I'm crazy?"

"Isn't that so?"

"F**k you, Lorian. I have a head too. I have no intention of turning the church into my enemy."

A saintess must be a virgin.

If someone steals her virginity before the next saintess is decided, that person will be excommunicated and receive a punishment worthy of his crime.

"So, I will wait until the saintess is decided. After the saintess is decided, I don't have to look at the face of the church."

Saintess candidates who are not selected as the saintess are nothing more than just nuns. And if the church had to choose between a Hero and a nun, it would naturally raise its hand in support of the Hero.

"I see. I think her being a saintess candidate is the reason that stops you, so the other girl… What about her?"

Gis sighed deeply at Lorian's words and scratched his head.

"Damn it, I've been busy all this time. Do this, do that. How severe is the interference, you know? Tsk-!"

Moreover, there was also no time to search for that wimpy Cloud.

So he had asked one of his supporters and his adoptive mother, Haley, to catch him… but was turned down.

Haley had also instructed him not to engage against Cloud for the time being, which he simply couldn't comprehend.

'How interesting it is to make fun of that bastard.'

No matter how much his adoptive mother, Haley, instructed him against it, Gis had no intention of giving up on his own pleasure.

"So, I came with a lot of anticipation for today. He has been missing for the past few months, but won't he come to the Imperial Social Banquet anyway?"

Refusal to attend the Imperial Social Banquet without any good reason is an insult to the Empire and the Emperor who rules it.

Moreover, it is "the Hero Cloud" who has no political foundation.

He wouldn't want to create any further problems for himself. He will probably come unconditionally.

Gis giggled and whispered into Neria's ear.

"Finally, the long-awaited day has come, Neria. The day you will graduate from your virginity status in front of your childhood friend."

To Gis' words, Neria could no longer pretend to be calm. Her eyes fluttered like crazy. Her teeth clenched and clashed, and her body shook in terror.

Gis smiled brightly as he watched Neria shivering to her terrible future.

Like a child who had received a toy as a gift from his parents.

Lorian was already tired of this, but this time he was more tired of Gis.

Gis wanted to take pleasure in savoring Cloud's expression while depriving the innocence of the person he loved right in front of his eyes.

Not touching her for months just for this show. As always, Gis' obsession with his twisted desires was abnormal.

"Uh? Look, Neria! The audience to watch your wonderful maiden pluck show has arrived~!"

Neria turned her head into the direction Gis was pointing at. To the entrance to the Imperial Social Banquet.

There, a handsome man in a black tailcoat sauntered.

An overwhelming handsome appearance that stood out even in the Imperial Social Banquet where there were a lot of handsome men and women.

It was Cloud.

'Cloud…'

Neria was moved to tears on seeing the face of her childhood friend she had not seen in a really long time. She wanted to run up to him right away and greet him, saying hello.

But she didn't deserve it, she didn't have the strength in her.

All she was allowed to do was to look at him from far away.

– Look, look!

As he walked in, the nobles began to murmur among themselves.

– Who is that person? Really handsome…

– Which family is he from? Shall we speak with him after a while?

Some of the young aristocratic girls who were attending the Imperial Social Banquet for the first time spoke admiringly about his appearance.

But most of the nobles put him down.

– Well, isn't it the Incompetent Hero? He has been hiding for months, did he finally decide to come out?

""

– The Incompetent Hero? Why is he called that?

– You don't know? Though he's all slick and shiny on the outside, but from inside—weak, weak to the core. Even though he's a Hero… um, maybe he is even weaker than the newly recruited knight in my house?

– Well, maybe. But anyway, he's a Hero.

– Really? Heh, it doesn't matter how high the name goes, but the lower blood will always be of those lower runks.

– Of lower bloodline… I..see.

Some even openly raised their voices as if to make other's listen.

Cloud didn't care about them and their gossips.

He just looked around once.

He didn't see the one he was looking for.

'Looks like she hasn't arrived yet.'

He let out a small sigh and sat down in a suitable place. After he got a drink from the waiter, he ordered the dishes and started dinning elegantly.

Gis looked at him and grinned.

""

"Man, our hero is eating alone. He must be lonely. Well then, I will be the one accompanying him."

Gis ambled towards Cloud with a smile on his face and sat down next to him. He patted him on the shoulder and said something.

Watching this, Lorian smiled.

Gis' behaviors are like childish pranks, but it's different if the person being targeted is Cloud.

For Lorian, the scene where Cloud and Frillite were shoulder to shoulder was still present in his eyes.

'She's not a person that likes of you can touch with those lowly hands.'

It would be really nice to make you come to your senses properly at this point.

While was Lorian thinking so.

Quang-! Clink-! Clink-!

Gis' face was planted onto the table.

The plates on the table broke and fell down, making a clattering noise.

Cloud raised his left hand, which grabbed onto Gis's hair.

""

The dull-witted expression of Gis who could not understand the situation was engraved into the eyes of the nobles.

Quang-!

His face was once again planted onto the table.

Silence fell over the place, all over this Imperial Social Banquet.

* * *

Gis' actions were no different from usual. He approached Cloud with a lighthearted attitude and mocked him. He draped his shoulders, disturbed his meal, and undermined his dignity.

If it was the usual 'accommodating' Cloud.

– Haha, first tell me kiddo, you did the things I asked you to do the last time? Or, do you want to show off what an unruly orphan like you has become, punk?

He would have accepted it as a fun game in a jovial tone. Because that would be more fun.

However, for some not so good reason, Cloud was not feeling very well right now.

Cloud grabbed onto the back of Gis' head with his left hand and slammed it down on the table.

Quang-! Clink-! Clink-!

—followed by a loud noise.

Because of which, Gis could not understand the current situation for a still second.

Cloud lifted his head.

Everyone's figure who was attending the Imperial Social Banquet came back into Gis' sight.

Astonishment, surprise, bewilderment.

The nobles were looking at him with such emotions.

Quang-!

It wasn't until the second time his face was planted onto the table that Gis understood the present situation.

Heat ran all the way up to his head.

'T-This trash?!'

He didn't know what this p**sy bastard was thinking, but he knew that he was going to make him regret it.

Gis grabbed Cloud's wrist, which was pressing down on his head.

He tried to throw it off…

'What kind of power is this..!?'

He couldn't even shake it.

Ogre's Glyph.

Cloud using it had a higher strength stat than Gis. Although it wasn't a huge difference, it was enough for Cloud to subdue Gis.

'What the hell is happening..!'

Gis groaned inwardly and swung his hand towards Cloud's throat.

He couldn't fantom what means this loser bastard used to make himself stronger, but one's vital points are unavoidable to not be defended. If Cloud's throat was caught, and he stumbled, he was going to get out of this.

'Take a taste of hell, b!tch.'

Don't think it'll end up as easily as last time.

However, his vow couldn't come true.

The moment he saw Gis' right hand move, Cloud lifted his hand from Gis' head and pulled his body back.

Gis' hand cleaved through the empty air.

Before his hand could retrieve itself back, Cloud grabbed Gis' neck with his right hand. Without giving him a chance, using the power of his whole body, he whanged Gis' body on the floor.

Crrrak!!!

A different level of impact from when Gis was thrown on the table resounded in the whole surrounding.

"Kuh..!"

The impact Gis' body suffered was also different from when he was thrown on the table. He felt jolted all around, but it felt the worst in his head.

Mild concussions.

Gis couldn't stand up straight, and that moment was enough for Cloud to get on top of him.

He smacked Gis' stomach, followed by his buttocks.

He interlocked Gis' elbows along with his knees.

Leaving no room for resistance.

In terms of the beast world, he bit on the neck of the prey.

The game was already over.

If it were someone else.

Gis is also a beast, the one you can consider as a viper.

Even if you bite his neck, his spleen will remain. Gis rolled his tongue and pulled out the saliva he had hidden in his gums.

It was not just saliva.

But, Cockatrice poison with dried saliva.

Cockatrice's poison is so poisonous that it is only used on enemies one dearly wishes to kill.

Therefore, it is a poison that should never be used against another Hero, but the current Gis did not care about that.

There was only one thought in his mind, to bite, chew and defeat the person in front of him.

He waited for the timing.

And the moment Cloud was about to slam his fist…

– Spit!

He spitted on the face. Cloud's face turned back.

'Done. Bastard, now slowly go to hell.'

Gis' face rose for a smile.

He soon succumbed to embarrassment.

The saliva he had spit was sandwiched between Cloud's closed teeth as Cloud looked at him with his head lowered.

If Gis was a poisonous Salmusa [1], Cloud at this moment was a Honey Badger [2].

– Spit.

Cloud's spit bounced off the marble floor. Gis looked at the saliva that was thrown out with empty eyes, while Cloud continued with moving his fist.

What followed was unilateral violence by the strong.

The people at the Imperial Social Banquet, all looked at each other, totally overwhelmed by the sight.

Cloud bashing Gis.

It was something no one could have ever imagined. The realism never came.

Meanwhile, Neria came back to her senses.

'Oh, no..!'

She undoubtedly felt good for Cloud as he thrashed Gis.

But, Cloud has no political foundation. There may be Gis' own fault in this, but the most important thing right now is that there are too many eyes as witness.

Even those who saw it are, at least, high-ranking nobles of the Empire, those who normally considered Cloud to be an unworthy Hero.

What kind of aftermath will come to him when this situation gets over…

Neria came up with a terrible thought and ran up to Cloud.

"Cloud, I know that you're angry, but calm down. Please?"

Cloud didn't stop despite her earnest tone.

"Cloud! Please, calm down!"

Neria grabbed Cloud's arm and tried to pry him away from Gis. But his body didn't move. Not knowing what to do, Neria felt her emotions floating in turmoil, as if she was gonna cry.

"What kind of fuss is this!!"

Cloud's fist halted still at the loud shout that came from the entrance of the hall.

A figure came striding in, tearing through the crowd of nobles who were watching the fight.

"It's Gis again, you…. Cloud…?"

The one who just shouted was none other than Frillite.

Seeing her, Cloud looked at her and greeted her with a calm smile.

"It's been a while, Frillite."

[1] Mamushi, also known as Salmusa, is a venomous pit viper species found in Japan.

[2] As fearless predators, honey badgers won't hesitate to take down scorpions or venomous snakes for dinner. Even a bite or sting from its prey, such as the highly venomous Cape cobra (Naja nivea), can only temporarily knock out a honey badger.

You can read fully translated chapters, including the last chapter, for $20.

p(a)treon.com/Daoist02