Drink Yourself to Death

The smoky bustle of the barbecue restaurant mingled with the malty aroma of beer, creating a rare atmosphere of relaxation in the apocalypse.

After several rounds of drinks, the mood grew livelier.

Yang Shan had clearly gotten overexcited. With an arm around Luo Li's neck, his voice grew louder and louder. "Li Zi! I'm seriously happy for you, buddy! I always thought you were wasting your talent staying home playing games, but look at you now! A B-rank big shot! Let's see who dares call you a coward again!"

He slapped Luo Li's shoulder hard, his breath reeking of alcohol. "With us brothers working together, A-rank missions, S-rank vampires-none of them will be a problem! We'll earn contribution points till our hands cramp! Buy big houses! Marry... uh, anyway, we'll have it all!"

Lin Wei remained fairly restrained, sipping her drink. Watching Yang Shan, who had already started talking nonsense, she shook her head helplessly.

A Tu kept his head down and ate, only raising his glass in a fluster to take a sip when Yang Shan occasionally called on him.

Luo Li's alcohol tolerance was actually nothing special, but after the power of his Path strengthened his physique, his tolerance seemed to have improved considerably too.

Several bottles of beer later, he only felt some heat in his cheeks. His head was still reasonably clear.

Looking at the visibly tipsy Yang Shan, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Shan Zai, take it easy. Don't you have patrol duty tomorrow?"

"P-patrol? Who cares!"

Yang Shan waved a hand, nearly knocking over a plate. "I'm happy today! The captain gave me leave! Come on, come on! Fill it up! Li Zi! If you're my brother, down this glass!"

He opened another bottle of beer and poured it into Luo Li's glass without taking no for an answer, not even noticing the foam overflowing.

Unable to dissuade him, Luo Li could only accept the glass. He knew Yang Shan was genuinely happy for him, and that brotherly bond was especially precious in the apocalypse.

"Fine. One last glass."

Luo Li clinked glasses with him, tipped his head back, and drained it.

"Good! That's my man!"

Yang Shan burst into a satisfied laugh and gulped down a large mouthful himself. Then his gaze started to go a little unfocused. Staring at Luo Li, he suddenly lowered his voice and asked conspiratorially, "By the way, Li Zi, be straight with me... you and that 'distant cousin' of yours... how far have you gotten? You've been living together so long. Hasn't anything... hehehe..."

He let out an extremely sleazy laugh and waggled his eyebrows, his meaning plain.

Luo Li nearly spat out the beer he'd just taken a sip of and shot him an irritated glare. "Get lost! Can't you think about something wholesome for once?"

"How isn't this wholesome?"

Yang Shan sounded utterly justified.

"You're both single, you like each other, sparks fly... it's perfectly normal! Look at Lin Wei and A Tu, right..."

As he spoke, he tried to steer the conversation toward the two innocent bystanders beside them.

Lin Wei immediately put on a stern face. "Brother Shan, you've had too much."

A Tu buried his head even lower, his ears red to the tips.

"Who-who's had too much? I'm perfectly sober!"

Yang Shan stiffened his neck and turned his attention back to Luo Li, speaking in an "I get it" tone. "Li Zi, don't be shy! What can't you tell your buddy? Have you already... hmm?"

He made another suggestive gesture.

Thoroughly annoyed by him, and emboldened a little by the alcohol, Luo Li decided to give him a scare.

He set down his glass and leaned toward Yang Shan, an inscrutable smile on his face. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "Shan Zai, guess... why my strength has been improving so quickly lately?"

Bleary-eyed, Yang Shan froze. "W-why? Isn't it training and talent?"

"That's only part of it."

Luo Li shook his head with an air of mystery, lowering his voice with a hint of temptation. "Actually... there's also an ancient, mysterious secret technique from the East called... the 'Great Art of Yin-Yang Union'! Heard of it? It works wonders!"

Yang Shan: "???"

His eyes widened, and he seemed to sober up a little. He stammered, "What-what union? Great-great art?"

"Exactly!"

Luo Li spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face, even patting Yang Shan on the shoulder as he spoke earnestly.

"So, Shan Zai, finding a girlfriend is important. She doesn't just keep your bed warm; she can also help your cultivation and improve your strength. All sorts of benefits in one! Look at me. I'm the perfect example!"

Yang Shan was completely taken in, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to process it.

He looked at Luo Li's "serious" face, then thought about how his strength really had shot up like a rocket lately. His head was a muddle, and he actually found himself half believing it...

Although Lin Wei hadn't caught the details, one look at Yang Shan's dumbstruck expression and Luo Li holding back laughter told her it couldn't be anything good. She couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead.

Just then, the screen of Luo Li's phone on the table lit up with a message from Castorice.

[Casti]: Luo Li, are you still not done? It's already very late.

[Casti]: [A kitten peeking out sticker]

Looking at the cute sticker on the screen and Castorice's concerned words, Luo Li's heart softened instantly, and his mischievous mood vanished.

He picked up his phone and quickly replied:

[Li]: Almost done, almost done. Shan Zai got wasted. I'll head home once I get him back.

[Li]: [Head pat.jpg]

After replying, Luo Li looked at Yang Shan, who was still struggling to digest the "Great Art of Yin-Yang Harmonious Union," and sighed before standing. "All right, stop thinking about nonsense. Come on, I'll take you back."

"I-I'm not drunk! I can still drink!"

Yang Shan tried to struggle, but his steps were already visibly unsteady.

Luo Li ignored him and told Lin Wei and A Tu, "It's getting late. You two should head back and get some rest too. Leave Shan Zai to me."

Lin Wei nodded. "Okay, we'll head off first, then. Sorry for the trouble with Brother Shan."

She glanced at Yang Shan slumped in his chair, shook her head, and left with A Tu.

Luo Li propped up the drunken Yang Shan, paid the bill, and dragged him out of the barbecue restaurant with difficulty.

The cool night breeze seemed to sober Yang Shan up a tiny bit, but he became even more talkative.

"Li-Li Zi... listen... that secret technique... is it legit?"

"Li Zi... you've changed... you never used to be like this..."

"You think having a girlfriend... makes you so great..."

"I want a girlfriend too..."

His chatter gave Luo Li a headache. He wished he could just use [Space Folding] to toss him back into his dorm.

But remembering that this idiot had drunk himself into this state because he cared about him, Luo Li could only resign himself to dragging him slowly along the empty streets.

After finally getting Yang Shan into his bed in the patrol squad dorm, Luo Li watched him fall asleep almost instantly and start snoring thunderously. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, feeling as though he'd completed an arduous mission.

He wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead, turned, and left.

As he walked home, the chilly night breeze dispersed some of the smell of alcohol and barbecue clinging to him.

Filtered through the Blood-Erosion Clouds, the city's neon lights looked somewhat bizarre and surreal.

After all that trouble, his mild buzz had mostly faded, leaving only the relaxation and fatigue of completing a mission and spending time with friends.

As he neared the entrance to his residential complex, he spotted a familiar figure waiting there from afar.

The soft streetlight traced the girl's slender outline, her long silver-purple hair stirring gently in the night breeze.

She wore that cream-colored dress with one of Luo Li's light jackets draped over it. Her hands were held in front of her as she stood on tiptoe, looking in the direction he would return from.

She seemed to have been waiting for a while.

Something seemed to bump gently against Luo Li's heart, and his steps quickened of their own accord.

"Castorice? Why did you come down?"

He walked up to her, his voice carrying surprise and a barely perceptible trace of heartache.

It was still a little chilly outside at night.

When Castorice saw him, her purple eyes instantly lit up as though filled with starlight.

She let out a small sigh of relief and said softly, "You still weren't back, so I was a little worried.

And you didn't reply right away when I messaged you..."

Her voice sounded especially soft in the quiet night.

Only then did Luo Li remember that while supporting Yang Shan, he'd had his phone in his pocket and hadn't had a chance to check it.

"Sorry. Shan Zai was a completely drunken mess. It took ages to get him back."

As Luo Li explained, he naturally reached out and took her slightly cool hand.

"It's cold out. Don't come down to wait next time. I know the way."

With her hand wrapped in his warm palm, Castorice gently returned his grip and shook her head. "It's all right. Have you... been drinking?"

She frowned slightly and leaned closer, sniffing gently with her little nose like a wary yet curious little animal.

"A little. Shan Zai kept making me drink."

Luo Li felt a little embarrassed.

"But I'm not drunk. See? I'm perfectly fine."

Castorice carefully examined his face. Apart from his eyes being brighter than usual, he really didn't look drunk, and only then did she relax.

Remembering those people on Amphoreus who got utterly drunk and made spectacles of themselves at aristocratic banquets, she frowned slightly. "Alcohol... it's best not to drink too much."

"Got it, little housekeeper."

Luo Li smiled and squeezed her palm, leading her home by the hand.

They returned to the warm rented apartment and shut the door, completely blocking out the chill and noise outside.

Luo Li took off his jacket and let out a long breath, feeling all his fatigue surge up.

First a demanding mission, then handling the guild's questions, and finally taking care of his drunken childhood friend-today really had been packed.

Castorice went to the kitchen to pour him a glass of warm water. Looking at his slightly tired face, she asked softly, "Tired? Would you like to take a shower first?"

Luo Li accepted the glass and took a sip. The warm water slid down his throat, bringing a feeling of comfort.

Looking at the gentle, considerate girl before him, he felt his heart fill with an immense sense of contentment and peace.

He set down the glass, reached out, and gently drew her into his arms. Resting his chin on her sweetly scented hair, he sighed contentedly. "Mm, a little tired. But... holding you for a while will recharge me."

Castorice quietly leaned into his embrace, feeling the rise and fall of his chest and the warmth coming through his clothes. Her cheeks grew slightly hot, but she didn't push him away.

She reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, asking quietly, "Did today... go smoothly?"

"Mm..." Luo Li closed his eyes, enjoying this moment of tenderness.

"Finished the mission and earned plenty of contribution points. The guild didn't give me any trouble either. They even gave me a list of higher-level missions. Shan Zai and the others... are doing pretty well too."

He briefly recounted the day's events, leaving out the details of the fighting and his nonsense with Yang Shan about the "secret technique," sharing only the lighter parts.

Castorice listened quietly, occasionally giving a soft "Mm" to show she was listening.

"...It's just that Shan Zai talks way too much when he's drunk."

Luo Li couldn't resist complaining.

Remembering how Luo Li had previously described Yang Shan's personality as "loud and excitable," Castorice's lips curved slightly. "He sounds... like a very interesting person."

"Interesting? More like deafening."

Luo Li chuckled. Looking down at the gentle profile of the girl in his arms, he felt a stir in his heart and couldn't resist the urge to tease her.

He tightened his arms slightly and leaned close to her ear, whispering with a touch of grievance, "Castorice, Shan Zai even made fun of me today. Said I thought having a girlfriend made me so great."

He paused, his tone becoming utterly confident. "Well, I think I am pretty great! My Castorice is the best, most beautiful girl in the whole world!"

Caught off guard by his sudden directness, Castorice flushed red to the ears and buried her face in his chest, her voice coming out muffled. "...Talking nonsense again."

"How is it nonsense?"

Luo Li wouldn't let up, gently rocking her. "Tell me, isn't it true? Aren't I pretty great?"

Unable to do anything about his teasing, Castorice could only nod ever so slightly, her face red, and admit in an almost inaudible voice, "...Mm."

Luo Li was instantly overjoyed, feeling as though that tiny "Mm" had completely swept away the entire day's fatigue.

He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her hair, his voice becoming utterly earnest and content. "It's so good to have you by my side."

Castorice didn't answer. She only quietly tightened her arms around his waist a little.

For Luo Li, the day's battles, the guild's questions, his friends' noisy antics... everything ultimately became the figure waiting beneath the light when he came home, and this reassuring embrace.

That was enough.

[Ding! Detected: after intense social interaction and missions, the host has returned to a warm everyday life. Sweetness of emotional interactions with target 'Castorice' has increased, and feelings of belonging and happiness have risen significantly.]

[(Mental fatigue has been effectively relieved. Mental state has become more stable.)]