Bake expressed his regret with pursed lips, but instead of answering, Gallan downed the alcohol from the bottle. It was a waste of time to pour it into a glass, no matter how thirsty he was.

Of course, if there was no reluctance in Bake to explain how this trick worked against a skilled person like Calix, who didn’t even seem to have properly held a wooden stick, it would have been a lie.

Although Bake, who had a soft hand that seemed to have never properly held a stick, couldn’t know, to some extent, there was a natural sense for someone who used a sword.

Especially when the difference in skill was distinct, even without wielding a sword, one could naturally gauge the outcome.

“I’ve seized the opportunity enough. If it weren’t for a moment of carelessness, it would have been impossible. I’m a foolish guy. To still not have regained my senses after being treated like that by a woman.”

“…….”

“Anyway, I’ve done my job, so leave the rest to the gods. Such tricks won’t work twice.”

Gallan was about to drink from the bottle again, but he stopped, took off his gloves, and only wore them on his left hand.
Bake, who realized the fact belatedly, frowned.

“Why is there only one?”

“It was taken away.”

“Taken away?”

“They heard that there’s a poison device inside the glove.”

“Then you should have been more careful. What if you knew what kind of poison it was, and tried to detoxify it?”

“I don’t know. It’s a poison that is not used in the Empire. And usually, it’s shorter-lived to figure out what kind of poison it is and obtain an antidote than not knowing. Let’s hope Duke Pierin doesn’t suffer too much.”

After breaking through the clear gap in skill, the first thing Gallan did was to attach gloves, shoes, and all sorts of devices. Thanks to this, with just a very small, truly very small scratch, the goal could be achieved.

It couldn’t be called an honest method, but honesty didn’t fill the stomach. Choosing only the dirty tasks that others didn’t do inevitably built up honesty. There were only discreet and sly skills.

Gallan eventually emptied one bottle of alcohol and reached for the next.

Even the back-alley quack advised against drinking, but it wasn’t as easy as saying. Especially, the alcohol consumed after work was no different from heavenly honey. Even if wounds burst and festered, he couldn’t stop drinking.

That was the only consolation.

“More importantly, what happened to her?”

“What do you mean?”

“That woman. Didn’t you say that if you finish this task safely, she’ll arrange a position for you?”

“Of course, I have to let you meet her. Wait. I’ll try to arrange a position as soon as possible.”

Bake raised his head with an effort to appear nonchalant. Despite giving a confident answer, Gallan needed some time to create the position Bake wanted.

“Why that expression?”

Bake, scratching his back foot, asked first.

Gallan forcefully put down the bottle he was drinking, making a loud sound. At the crumpled face like a folded paper, Bake twitched and took a step back.

“Because it’s obvious what kind of expression that woman will make. She hates me. Don’t you think she believes her life is ruined because of me?”

“…….”

“Who really got ruined.”

Gallan snorted and emptied the bottle.

At some point, if he didn’t drink alcohol for a certain period, his hands trembled, but it didn’t matter. Anyway, he was drunk most of the time. He was just a little less drunk when he was working.

Gallan was convinced that his life had gone awry. And he knew very well who the culprit was.

“As I swear, that woman was the problem. If that thing hadn’t been born, my life wouldn’t have fallen into this abyss.”

“Now that the inspection is over, it’s better to stop going out now.”

“It seems you’re getting tired of me now that everything is done.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay. The horrible gaze that looks down on me, despising me like seeing a worthless bug! It’s all okay. It’s not like seeing those eyes a few times. Even your only daughter doesn’t look at you like that, right?”
Mentioning his daughter seemed to bother Gallan, and he opened his eyes wide. The alcohol he had just swallowed seemed to be rising, and a reddish hue began to spread on his face.

Gallan looked at Bake and chuckled, then spread his arms wide like a fanatic.

“But he must know. No matter how much he denies it, there’s something that won’t change. It’s a fact as long as my blood, the blood of a mercenary he despises so much, flows in that body.”

“……. ”

“Respected sir, please enjoy the fun moderately. It’s a word from someone whose blood has been flowing from the veins. Honestly, where would that blood go? To the mother and the daughter, right?”

“Are you insulting me?”

“Advice, or rather a warning? Well, something like that. It’s something only someone who has experienced it can say.”