Her Love of Drink
My Journey with Amora had been going remarkably smoothly.
She approached every training session diligently, and her results were flawless.
...There was just one thing that bothered me...
Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?
Aren't you always drinking...?
Mm, good eye.
You admit it way too proudly!
Of course. Why wouldn't I?
Think about it. Have I ever neglected my training or fallen short?
Well...
Fufu, don't have a good rebuttal to that, do you?
Even you know I've never given you reason to find fault with me, Captain.
So don't worry. A few sips of alcohol won't make me lose my composure, now or ever.
This is merely a little indulgence of mine.
That's impressive...
Ahaha, how kind of you to say so.
Though I wouldn't call it impressive.
I simply refuse to allow myself to lose my composure.
After all, that's the bare minimum expected of the head of House Stranis.
...Now then. Focus training was next, wasn't it?
As if to prove her point, Amora completed the rest of the training perfectly as well.
And yet... why did something still bother me?
Captain! We've received a request for support from the Orbital Search Team!
It sounds like there are more monsters in today's attack than they expected.
That said, they only needed a bit of backup, so it shouldn't be that demanding of a quest.
What would you like to do?
It didn't sound like a difficult quest, but we'd only just finished training.
Would Amora be too tired?
Are you sure you'll be okay?
You needn't even ask.
Think about it. Today's training schedule was decided in advance, wasn't it?
Which means everything up to this point has been within my calculations, wouldn't you say?
It's only natural to leave yourself enough leeway for the unexpected.
So tell them we'll join them at once. Fufu.
Okay! I'll send them a message right away.
Still, we're only there to provide support.
Just think of it as part of your training.
When we arrived, we saw packs of monsters swarming the area.
They weren't particularly dangerous, but they'd cause plenty of trouble if left unchecked...
Well then—
...
Just when I thought Amora was ready to set off, she suddenly paused and raised the flask to her lips.
...Weren't we going in right away?
Indulge me this much. It's not as though I can drink while I'm fighting.
Or perhaps... Would you care for a sip too, Captain?
She teasingly held out the flask she'd been drinking from.
I'll pass...!
Fufu. Such an upstanding young man.
In that case, I suppose I'll finish it myself—
Kraaawr!!
Just then, a monster suddenly lunged at her from behind.
Watch out! Behind you!!
*Stab*
Oh my... It's just a little drink before the main event. It's rude to intrude on my fun, isn't it?
Without so much as flinching, Amora drove her weapon through the monster's belly.
...All while still holding her flask in her other hand.
Monsters truly have no manners.
...
...Ahh. Wonderful.
Now then, shall we really get started?
Amora sprang into action, her earlier leisurely demeanor nowhere to be seen.
Her movements were graceful, yet precise.
...There was no way someone who'd been drinking until just a moment ago could move like that.
Thank you, Captain. Thanks to you, we finished clearing them out ahead of schedule.
My member deserves the credit.
Understood. Please extend our thanks to your Journey member as well.
Sooo, that Journey member you're talking about is the woman over there, right?
Naru pointed toward Amora.
Wow! So if you become a Journey member, you can drink even while you're on a mission!
That'd be Ms. Roberta's dream job!
Please don't get the wrong idea about the Journey...
Still, I'm impressed.
I heard you two just started the Journey together... I didn't expect her to be this capable already.
I definitely didn't expect her to help out in the other sectors too.
Agreed.
I guess that's why the Captain doesn't get on her case about it.
If she keeps delivering results, what's the harm in a little drinking?
Note to self... [If you perform well, drinking on the job is allowed.]
That's not what I said.
...Whatever. We should start wrapping things up too.
...Just to be safe, Ms. Roberta, you shouldn't drink after work either.
*Flinch*
Huh? Did Roberta quit drinking?
...No. It's less that I quit and more that...
We're making her quit!
Yes. Ms. Roberta has seemed unusually tired lately. Alcohol is the suspected cause, so I'm eliminating it.
I told you, you've got it wrong. It hasn't affected my work at all.
You never know. One day, it could catch up with you all at once.
Ugh... You really say scary things without batting an eye.
Exactly! And according to the calculations of the brilliant, super genius elite Naru, if drinking really is causing your fatigue, something terrible will happen at least 47 years from now!
Well, obviously. Do you have any idea how old I'll be by then?
...Our trainee's talking nonsense again.
Please let it go, Ms. Roberta.
Her point is that she'd like to have you around for a long time.
...I would as well.
*...Sigh* You two, seriously... Fine, fine. You win.
I won't drink. Happy? Now let's finish up and head back.
Hehe, okay!
After briefly explaining the situation to the Orbital Search Team, I returned to Amora.
That should be everything for today.
Good work, Captain.
You too, Amora.
It was hardly anything. Fufu.
As she spoke, Amora raised her flask to her lips once more.
...It was only then that I realized what had been bothering me all day.
Hey, Amora.
Yes?
...Have you ever thought about cutting back on the drinking?
Hmm? Why ask that all of a sudden?
You saw me today, didn't you? A few sips of alcohol don't cause me any trouble at all.
Unless... Mm, were today's results not enough to convince you?
This has nothing to do with your results.
I'm just worried about you, Amora.
...Hmm? What do you mean by that?
Are you saying...
You're not worried about the Journey or my training results, but... me personally?
Drinking isn't good for your health.
I want you to be around for a long time.
...
Oh, Captain... You really do say things that are terribly easy to misunderstand.
...
I don't think I could give up drinking entirely.
It's one of life's great pleasures for me.
But... If it matters that much to you, Captain... Perhaps I could cut back a little.
Amora answered playfully before walking on ahead.
...From the now-capped flask came the faint sound of liquor gently sloshing inside.