I’m Not the Final Boss’ Lover

Nova was eighteen! He fought monsters, yes, but he was still underage! If anything, it was a relief they had enough conscience to not give Sevi any alcohol. But what about Julieta? Was she okay? Hastily looking around, I met eyes with Julieta, who was timidly sitting in a corner, gulping down liquor. We stared at each other in silence as a moment of silence fell. The size of the cup in her hand was enormous. She smiled shyly, but didn’t hide the cup as she mumbled, “It’s been a while since I’ve drunk, you see…”

“Haha, Jun! Do you know how well this lass drinks? Enough to put you to shame! I’d never have expected such a hidden gem in the special unit!” Robur exclaimed, casting a look of satisfaction at the acolyte. She had to be the real deal to receive the shield keeper’s acknowledgment.

I beamed and opened my arms to Julieta. “And here I’d been looking for a drinking buddy in the wrong places!”

“Hang on now, Jun. This doesn’t mean you can go drinking with just the two of you without me, hear?” Robur hastily interjected.

I replied incredulously, “We can drink in three! The more the merrier, after all.”

Robur and Julieta broke out in giggles. We clinked the huge cups in our hands, tossing their contents into one another. Axion shook his head watching us kindred spirits, remarking, “Oh dear. At this rate, the Dark Knights’ stock of liquor will run out in less than a month. The people that shouldn’t have met ended up meeting.”

“A month? One week is enough. I see there’s a limit to the deductions of a weakling that gets drunk on a single jar of alcohol?” Robur smirked.

I listened for a moment, busy with drinking, then interrupted, “Unfortunately, our stock of liquor will be staying safe. We’ll rest only for today, then head straight into raid preparations starting tomorrow. There’s a dungeon we need to enter in a week.”

“Haha! Oh, Jun. You shouldn’t make such jokes at these times,” Axion said, waving his hand with a smile.

Why did he think I was joking? I stared at him blankly and replied, “I don’t joke about dungeon raids.” And as soon as my words fell, the mood grew cold. In reality, I had a record of defending the nonsensical declaration of attaining level 40 in 6 months.

“She’s a demon… A dungeon-closing demon…”

“His Excellency had reason to favor her… Because they’re the same demons.”

“From one demon to another…”

Everyone broke out into murmurs upon hearing that they had to head straight into another dungeon with hardly any rest. Putting aside Nova, who was senseless from intoxication, Sevi and Julieta looked pale. Having experienced my stubbornness, they knew I wouldn’t overturn a decision I had made. The party members went through Kubler Ross’s 5 stages of grief before seeming to brace themselves. Then, they started asking questions in resolute tones.

“What’s the dungeon this time?”

“What are we going against? I don’t suppose it’s anything easy, considering how urgent you seem, Vice-captain.”

“A dragon,” I answered simply as if reciting the menu for tonight’s dinner. Everyone blinked. It was clear that they had either not heard properly, or were denying reality. I decided to make them understand. I raised my cup with a smile and repeated, “We’ll be facing a dragon.”

* * *

Needless to explain, the party was turned upside down after that. The kids of the special unit were more stunned about going to a level 51 dungeon than about facing a dragon. As for the elite squad members… Despite being level 51, their faces hardened; they knew how terrifying dragons were.

“I never knew there would come a day when I’d be facing a dragon.” The detailed list of participating members hadn’t been released. Yet, Axion naturally believed that he and the Red Wolves would be joining. “Who’d fight the dragon if we didn’t join?”

Axion boasted the strongest firepower aside from Mayer. A dragon made for such a fearsome opponent that his power was necessary.

“It’s a pity that we can’t take the Star Squad along… but I’m glad to be able to join the special unit. I can’t miss out on a chance to face a dragon.” Robur also showed a warlike side to her as she burned with fighting spirit. The way all of them feigned unwillingness when they were looking forward to it inside… They always went on about me being a dungeon addict or whatnot, but the way I saw it, they were just as bad themselves. But then again, as the saying went, birds of a feather… For all they complained, I supposed these people managed to become elites of the Dark Knights because they were on the same wavelength as Mayer.