Chapter 90: Group Stages [1]

Reed, the perpetrator and leader of the chant, looked at me with a sleazy smile while holding a large bottle of champagne in his hand as if it were a newborn baby.

Chuckling, I nodded my head and handed him my glass.

As he poured the purple liquid into my glass, Reed exclaimed.

"TO ASH! OUR HONORARY ELF!"

In unison, the entire table yelled.

"TO ASH!"

Unable to contain the smile on my face any longer, I grabbed the glass and poured it into my mouth.

"*PFFT*"

Coughing as the bitter taste of alcohol spread throughout my throat, a burning sensation following, I asked in between gasps.

"W-water!"

Handing me a bottle of water, Grayson curiously asked as I desperately chugged the bottle of water.

"Is this your first time drinking?"

Before I could even nod my head in agreement, a hand suddenly gripped my right shoulder.

As I looked back, Charlotte was standing behind me, gripping my shoulder, while Angel followed a few steps behind.

Smiling and meeting my gaze, Charlotte answered for me.

"Haven’t you heard? He’s the Sunken Pearl’s drunkard! Or was that all a lie too, Ash? You can’t make the Sunken Pearl team, is that really true?"

"..."

She still remembered that?

Before I could respond, Reed, his cheeks flushed red, threw his arms around me once again and said cheerfully.

"Can you just stay with us!?"

Shaking my head, I gently pushed him back into his own chair and rubbed my forehead.

Behind me, Charlotte chuckled and grabbed a bottle of champagne from a server entering the room.

Not even asking, she unscrewed the bottle and filled up my glass.

Tapping my head, she said while pouring a glass for herself as well.

"By drinking this with me, you shall officially become an honorary elf!"

"...is that a decree from the royal elven princess?"

"YES!"

No longer restraining my expression, I smiled and downed the drink with her.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but sitting down with these elves, I didn’t feel any of that non-belonging emotion I felt when around the main cast or other humans.

It was...peaceful.

Being able to celebrate and drink after a hard-fought match instead of simply training and studying.

Suddenly meeting Angel’s gaze from behind Charlotte, I said.

"That ability of yours to reset cooldowns...is too powerful."

Nodding her head in agreement, Charlotte looked back at Angel as well.

"Thankfully, she’s on our team."

Angel awkwardly nodded her head before saying while bowing at me.

"Ash...I would like to tha-"

Interrupting Angel mid-sentence, I immediately said.

"Not trusted by my own species, really!?"

"...I was wrong."

Charlotte grabbed Angel’s hand and yanked her toward us.

"If you’re so sorry, take a drink!"

...

...

...

Feeling my forehead start to burn, I stood up and grabbed my jacket, avoiding Reed, whose arms were already reaching out to me as he asked.

"Where are you going!?"

Looking down at him, I sighed and said.

"I have to wake up early tomorrow to run, so I should head out."

Slouching in his chair, Reed suddenly said.

"Promise me that you’ll visit my house in the Elven realm, one day."

From across the table, Grayson also yelled.

"Mine too! I already told my mom about how you destroyed Reed in a spar!"

Smiling, I said while waving at the two of them.

"Of course I will. How else am I going to get my flying deer?"

After going around the table and saying goodbye to everyone, who all shook my hands with smiles and also invited me to meet their entire extended families, I finally found Charlotte.

Looking at her, I warned.

"No seafood. I won’t sub-in again."

Laughing, Charlotte smiled.

"Thanks, Ash. Really. If you do ever need help, reach out."

Nodding my head, I waved goodbye at Angel, who was clinging to Charlotte as always, and exited the private room.

However...on the other side of the door, I immediately found myself standing in front of another long table of twenty people.

"..."

Maybe it was the alcohol, but as we awkwardly stared at each other, the door to the private room full of elves still open and visible behind me, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Who knew I’d somehow grow closer to the elves than humans?

Covering my laughing mouth, I stumbled past the table filled with the Sunken Pearl’s first-year team and left the restaurant, embracing the cold breeze outside.

...

...

...

"What was that?"

"..."

Nobody was able to answer Carissa’s question, as they watched Ash stumble out of the restaurant, his muffled laughter still sounding like some comedic soundtrack.

Her eyes glistening, Lily looked away from Ash and down at her smartwatch, where the heroes’ forums were displayed.

[Did anyone see the metal armband the human on the elf team had!?]

[Some heroes next to me said that it...held intent and was nothing they had ever seen before!]

[Is it a new invention!? How do I get one!?]

The perfect catalyst for her to start officially selling the armbands.

Snapping Lily back to reality, Leon suddenly tapped her shoulder and asked.

"Do you remember who we’re facing next?"

Nodding her head, Lily answered while scrolling through the forums praising her invention with a grin.

"We have our next group stage on Friday against the #7 Seed Ark."

Eating a piece of steak, Ren curiously glanced at Leon and asked.

"Are you going to sleep outside today then?"

"...I’ll keep my word."

Seeing Leon’s answer, Ren smiled and stretched his arms.

From beside Leon, Carissa suddenly asked, looking at the restaurant door.

"Is the way I talk annoy-"

Before she could finish her sentence, two voices sounded simultaneously from Lily and Leon.

"Yes."

"Who said that!?"

Ren awkwardly shifted in his seat and eventually said.

"To some, it could be."

"...no one said ’no.’ "

Clicking her tongue, Carissa ignored everyone’s gazes and began eating.

Annoying? She was annoying?

A few seats away, Haerin suddenly stood up and said.

"I have to head back early."