Soon—
something strange began happening near the center of the ballroom.
The sudden loud shouting immediately caught my attention.
"…Hm?"
For a moment—
I almost thought a fight had broken out.
Several nobles were laughing loudly while others gathered around excitedly as though watching some grand spectacle unfold.
Curious—
I walked closer.
Then froze.
"…Uh?"
I genuinely didn't know how to react to the sight before me.
At the center of the crowd—
the King of Virelian himself sat proudly in a chair.
And directly across from him—
sat Leon and Ogram.
The two idiots both wore terrifyingly confident grins.
Meanwhile—
a long table rested between them.
Filled with enormous bottles of alcohol.
One.
Two.
Three—
No.
There had to be at least ten massive beer bottles already lined across the table.
I stared blankly.
"…What the hell are they doing?"
The answer became obvious immediately afterward.
King Altheris suddenly laughed loudly while slamming one bottle onto the table.
"You two fools seriously think you can beat me?!"
Leon pointed dramatically toward the King.
"HAHAHA!"
"Your Majesty!"
"You underestimate us!"
Ogram cracked his neck while grinning fiercely.
"I never lose when it comes to alcohol!"
The surrounding nobles erupted into cheers instantly.
Apparently—
the strongest people in the Empire had decided to hold a drinking competition in the middle of the Imperial Ball.
I slowly closed my eyes.
"…I want to go back to the academy."
Meanwhile—
Elena stood nearby holding her forehead in complete embarrassment.
Even Queen Elowen looked visibly speechless.
Beside her—
Crown Princess Ismeria quietly covered part of her face while trying to hide her embarrassment elegantly.
Only Reinheart seemed completely thrilled.
The prince practically slammed the table excitedly while shouting like a child watching gladiators fight.
"LET'S GOOOO!"
"Father destroy them!"
"No wait— Leon win this for me!"
"I BET ON OGRAM!"
The entire ballroom had devolved into chaos within seconds.
Then—
King Altheris suddenly grabbed another bottle before grinning sharply.
"Very well then."
"Let us begin."
Leon immediately stood up dramatically.
"OI!"
"Bring us stronger alcohol!"
Ogram slammed the table loudly.
"TONIGHT WE DRINK LIKE WARRIORS!"
The nobles cheered even louder.
I stared at the scene in complete silence.
Beside me—
Astravax suddenly stood upright atop my shoulder.
His golden eyes sparkled intensely while staring at the mountain of alcohol bottles on the table.
[T-That…]
The black cat sniffed the air dramatically.
[That smells divine, human.]
Before I could react—
the idiot dragon immediately started pulling my hair aggressively.
[Drink it!]
[Drink it, mortal!]
"Shut the hell up."
I smacked the black cat lightly while trying to pry him off my head.
Several nearby nobles stared at me strangely.
Astravax ignored them completely.
His eyes remained locked onto the alcohol like a starving beast discovering treasure.
[I command you as the Dragon of Eternal Stars—]
[Acquire me that divine liquid immediately.]
"You're literally just an alcoholic lizard."
[BLASPHEMY.]
Meanwhile—
the drinking competition had already started.
Leon slammed down his second bottle while laughing loudly.
Ogram crushed an entire mug in one go.
And somehow—
King Altheris was keeping up with both of them effortlessly.
Reinheart had completely lost his mind in excitement.
The prince was now standing atop a chair shouting nonsense.
"FATHER!"
"DESTROY THESE OLD MEN!"
Leon instantly pointed toward him.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD?!"
Even several nobles had started cheering sides now.
The ballroom had officially descended into complete chaos.
And somehow—
the ancient Dragon of Chaos beside me wanted to join in too.
I slowly covered my face with one hand.
"…Humanity is finished."
On the other side of the ballroom—
Marian Croft had somehow forced both of her disciples to sit beside her.
And from the looks on their faces—
both Emma and Vivienne desperately wanted to escape.
Marian elegantly crossed one leg over the other before glancing toward the chaotic drinking competition nearby.
"Oh my~"
"Look at those embarrassing men."
"At least we women know how to behave properly."
Emma immediately deadpanned.
"…You're literally the least proper person here."
Marian ignored her completely.
Instead—
the mature woman suddenly lifted a spoon toward Emma with a teasing smile.
"Now Emma~"
"Open wide."
"Ahhh~"
Emma's entire face instantly turned red.
"S-Shut up y-you old hag!"
"I-I'm not eating like that!"
Before she could even finish—
Marian casually shoved the food directly into Emma's mouth anyway.
"Mgh?!"
Emma nearly choked while glaring furiously.
Meanwhile—
Marian turned toward Vivine next.
"You too~"
Vivine panicked immediately.
"M-Master, I can eat on my own—"
Marian suddenly pouted dramatically.
"Hmph."
"So both my disciples hate me now?"
Vivine immediately shook her head frantically.
"I-It isn't like that!"
Meanwhile—
Alyssa Croft slept peacefully against Marian's chest through the entire conversation.
Completely unaffected by the chaos surrounding her.
On another side of the ballroom—
Yelena quietly glanced toward her father.
Kazis Zephyr.
The proud noble immediately straightened awkwardly the moment his daughter looked at him.
"Father…"
"…You're not going to drink with them too, right?"
Kazis visibly stiffened.
"N-No!"
"I'm not like those idiots!"
"Not all men behave like that, Yelena!"
Yelena simply stared silently afterward.
Truthfully—
she held deep resentment toward the royal family.
Years ago—
during the war against the Astryx Empire—
her mother had warned the military about the enemy forces lying in wait.
Yet her warnings were ignored.
And eventually—
she died during the battle that followed.
Kazis noticed the expression in his daughter's eyes.
Then quietly sighed.
Meanwhile—
Silver stood awkwardly beside Alaric Ryker.
The young swordsman's mind was currently in complete chaos.
Should I ask him to join them?
…Maybe he wants to?
…Screw it.
Silver coughed awkwardly.
"F-Father…"
"Do you maybe want some drinks too?"
Alaric's cold onyx eyes slowly shifted toward him.
Silver nearly regretted speaking instantly.
"…Hm?"
The strongest human alive spoke calmly.
"I'm not drinking with those idiots."
Silver immediately nodded nervously.
"R-Right."
But then—
Alaric spoke again.
"Though…"
"How about you and I share a drink together instead?"
Silver froze completely.
His eyes widened slightly.
Ever since his mother's death—
Alaric Ryker had changed entirely.
Cold.
Distant.
Emotionless.
Most conversations between father and son usually revolved around training or family matters.
Nothing more.
Yet now—
for the first time in years—
his father had invited him for a drink.
Silver immediately straightened awkwardly.
"Y-Yes!"
I quietly smiled while watching the atmosphere around me.
The once formal Imperial Ball had completely descended into chaos.
Leon was somehow arm wrestling royal knights while drunk.
Ogram kept yelling loudly about "true warrior spirit."
Reinheart was cheering for literally everyone at the same time.
Emma looked seconds away from murdering Marian.
Vivine sat there apologizing for things she didn't even do.
Silver awkwardly shared drinks with his father.
Even Yelena's expression seemed softer than usual while watching the scene unfold.
For once—
nobody was fighting.
Nobody was dying.
No blood.
No screams.
Just laughter.
Warmth.
Peace.
I quietly sat down beside Elena and Aurelia while staring toward the ballroom lights.
Elena glanced toward me briefly.
"…You seem calmer."
I smiled faintly.
"…Maybe."
Aurelia silently sipped her drink beside us while observing the ballroom calmly.
For a moment—
I simply watched everyone.
Samuel laughing loudly.
Clara finally smiling again.
Tristan speaking quietly with Silver.
Even Astravax was currently stealing food from noble tables while nobody noticed.
And somehow—
watching all of it made something inside my chest ache softly.
A warm feeling.
One I had almost forgotten existed.
My eyes slowly lowered.
"…Rio."
Inside my mind—
silence answered me.
Then quietly—
I smiled.
Are you watching this?
Happiness.
I told you…
I'd give you a reason to smile.
In the future—
there would be catastrophes far beyond anything humanity could currently imagine.
Wars.
Calamities.
Creatures capable of swallowing entire kingdoms whole.
Inside the original novel—
there eventually came a point where all hope was lost.
A future drowned in despair.
A world where humanity stood on the edge of extinction.
Yet—
as I sat there watching the warm atmosphere surrounding the ballroom—
something inside me quietly changed.
Leon's laughter echoed loudly nearby.
Selena smiled while speaking with Samuel.
Silver awkwardly shared drinks with his father.
Even the nobles—
people who constantly hid behind masks and pride—
looked genuinely happy tonight.
Warmth.
Peace.
Happiness.
Things that once felt impossibly distant to both versions of Rio.
Slowly—
a new resolve formed inside me.
A vow.
A resolution.
My crimson eyes slowly shifted toward Irina Emberheart sitting amongst the nobles silently.
Then—
toward the countless people filling the ballroom.
It doesn't matter who stands in my way.
Oblivion.
The Black Cross.
The twisted cults hiding within darkness.
Even the Gods themselves.
If they threatened this peace—
if they sought to drag humanity into despair once more—
Then I would destroy them all.
No matter the cost.
A faint smile slowly appeared on my face afterward.
Just for you, Rio.
___
Just like that the Imperial Ball had come to a end.