Chapter 24: Don't Go (Patreon)

Night fell, the sky gradually shifting from a bright blue to a mysterious depth, with stars beginning to twinkle overhead.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying the chill of the evening.

And because they were near the sea, the wind seemed mixed with the scent of the ocean.

Inside the Witch's Cottage, Haru and Erika were currently enjoying a candlelit dinner, savoring Italian cuisine—not the famed Naples-style with its thick crust, but the crispy, thin-crusted Roman style.

Outside the window, the distant chirping of insects and the nearby rustle of leaves in the wind intertwined, composing a beautiful nighttime symphony.

Since it was very late and finding a place to stay in the small town would be difficult, the three of them decided to spend the night at the Witch's Cottage.

Lukulazia, of course, was very welcoming, albeit in a manner that involved having them buy groceries and cook.

She was the owner of the house, and they were the visiting guests, yet she remained lying on the sofa from start to finish, unceremoniously enjoying the maid's service.

By the way, Marianna's cooking skills were... not exactly praiseworthy, much like her driving.

So this dinner was actually prepared by Haru and Erika together.

To be precise, Haru was the head chef and cook, while Erika and the maid assisted.

Although his culinary skills were only average, they were still much better than those of the mistress-and-maid pair. However, the two did prepare a few Italian dishes to treat him.

"...So! Stop spacing out and pour me more wine!"

"You've had enough."

"Hah?! Just this little? Are you looking down on my alcohol tolerance? Let me tell you, I never get drunk~"

"Sure, sure."

"Grr~ You don't believe me?"

"No, I believe you."

"Hmph! I know you don't believe me. If you don't, I'll drink to prove it!"

"..."

Girl, I suspect you're trying to "get back" at her by drinking all of Lukulazia's stored wine.

But although he 吐槽 (tǔ cáo – roasted) this internally, even the witch, the owner of the house, had no objections, so he, a guest, certainly wouldn't say anything.

However, the currently tipsy golden-haired girl... Haru hadn't expected her alcohol tolerance to be quite high.

However, she couldn't withstand her own relentless chugging!

Looking at the several empty wine bottles accumulated on the table, and the equally numerous ones scattered underneath, one could imagine the golden-haired girl's drinking capacity.

These were all Erika's personal achievements. In contrast, the glass of wine in front of him on the table was still half-full.

It was red wine, and quite mellow, but Haru wasn't like the two drunken girls present.

That's right, not only Erika, but even the maid, Arianna, was heavily intoxicated, currently hugging a wine bottle and sitting dazedly by the staircase with a silly grin.

Erika's alcohol tolerance was slightly better; at least she could still sit across from him and chatter, though she was clearly drunk.

Then, perhaps thinking Haru didn't believe her, the girl puffed out her cheeks in protest, put down her glass, and directly picked up the wine bottle, chugging it down with a "glug glug glug," displaying her bold side. It was just—

Thud~

"Ugh I can't eat anymore Arianna! Help me back to my room~ Hurry up!"

"..."

The outcome went without saying. After another fierce round of chugging, the heavily intoxicated girl began to act out.

After casually tossing the bottle aside, she abandoned her usual ladylike demeanor. Swaying, she called out to her maid.

Unfortunately, the maid was in even worse shape than her, already passed out and unresponsive.

But the drunk Erika didn't care about that?

The girl stood up while issuing commands, and in her dazed state, she seemed to mistake the figure she saw for her maid. So, just as Haru stood up, amused and exasperated, she lunged towards him.

"Arianna~ I'm sleepy, take me back to my room to rest!"

"Stop messing around."

"Hurry up~"

"Alright, alright, stop squirming."

"Huff Arianna, since when did your hands get so big? So ticklish Not there, dame~"

First time awkward, second time familiar. To prevent the drunken girl from thrashing and causing trouble, Haru had no choice but to scoop her up in a princess carry.

It had to be said, Erika's figure was absolutely top-tier among her peers.

And even though drunk, her clear, melodious voice had gained a slightly husky, seductive quality.

Moreover, her drowsy, intoxicated eyes, under the candlelight, stared directly at him, like an affectionate gaze that made one's heart flutter.

For a moment, Haru couldn't tell if she was truly drunk or just pretending to be?

Or perhaps, not as completely wasted as she appeared?

He didn't know. But after he picked her up, the girl quieted down considerably, blushing as she wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing him to carry her upstairs without protest.

Although he was a first-time visitor, the Witch's Cottage wasn't large.

Besides Lukulazia's bedroom on the second floor, there were only two guest rooms, so there was no chance of getting lost.

"Meow?"

Just as the two reached the upper floor, a black cat meowed and followed behind them.

Needless to say, it was definitely that certain witch controlling her familiar to "spy" again, so Haru simply ignored it.

Click~

The guest room wasn't large, but it was warm and comfortable.

And the flickering candlelight added a touch of dreaminess and haze to the room.

But now wasn't the time to admire the ambiance. Holding Erika, Haru quickly reached the resting area and gently laid her down on the bed.

Tug—

But just as he turned to leave, his sleeve was caught by a fair hand.

Their eyes met. Turning his head, Haru found Erika, her face flushed, looking at him.

"Don't go..."