There's an open-air party going on in Luo Ge.
Enjoy the joy of reuniting with family.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, on the other side of the Demon Continent, Rudeus's life was much more miserable.
In order to return home, Rudeus formed an adventurer party with Rujierd, a warrior of the Superd Race, and Eris, the young lady of the House Boreas.
The adventurer squad known as "Dead End" gradually gained fame throughout the Demon Continent.
However, the journey did not go smoothly...
Although Rujierd's fighting prowess, Rudeus's magic, and Eris's swordsmanship made for a well-coordinated trio, they still struggled to make ends meet.
Especially when we go to a restaurant in the next town.
In order to leave enough funds, all three of them lived frugally.
Eris would always stare longingly at the large amounts of meat and fish on the next table, drooling like a husky.
Looking at the piles of roast meat and bread on other people's tables, and then at the meager amount in her own bowl, Eris was unhappy... very unhappy.
They would immediately show a look of disgust, as if even a dog wouldn't eat it.
On this day, in a well-established restaurant in a town on the Demon Continent, three adventurers named "Dead End" had just arrived.
Not long after.
Rudeus, Rujierd, and Eris sat around a table in the corner, discussing their battle plan.
Speaking of which...
Since being teleported to the Demon Continent by teleportation magic, Rudeus and Eris have been on this unfamiliar continent for almost a full year.
If they hadn't met Rujierd, a man from the Superd Race, at the beginning, they wouldn't have been able to traverse so many dangerous places across the Demon Continent so smoothly.
I remember the first day I transferred to the Demon Continent; it was a dark and windy night.
When Rudeus woke up and saw Rujierd's full head of green hair, he instinctively thought of the terrifying legends of the Superd Race.
It is said that this tribe eats children.
Both he and Eris were terrified.
But as they spent more time together, Rudeus began to understand what kind of person Rujierd really was.
Although he is a bit rigid and doesn't talk much, he is a gentle and kind person at heart, especially towards children, where he is always exceptionally tolerant and forgiving.
At the beginning of the journey... Rudeus was merely following the instructions of the Hitogami to help Rujierd clear his race's name. But now, he has begun to accept this companion, who is like an older brother, from the bottom of his heart.
"Hmm... I've been gone for so long... Paul and Zenith must miss me Rudeus, a lot, right?"
"Maybe... Zenith calls out my name, Rudeus, every day... and cries her eyes out, and Paul is probably the same."
Suddenly, Rudeus couldn't help but sneeze.
" Rudeus... what's wrong?"
Eris leaned closer and asked.
Although Rujierd did not speak, he was equally concerned about Rudeus's physical condition.
"It's fine."
" Eris, I'm sorry to have worried you... If you're sneezing, it's probably because my family is talking about me behind my back."
"Oh, is that so?"
"So you sneeze when people talk about you behind your back? Wow, that's amazing... Rudeus, you know so much!"
Eris suddenly realized and shouted excitedly.
Rujierd, who was standing to the side, was clearly hearing this for the first time, but he still silently made a note of it.
Just as the three were preparing to stop in this demon town to rest for a few more days.
On the Millis Continent, the atmosphere was much more lively.
In a tavern next to the Adventurers' Guild in Milishion, the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
"Hateful!"
"You actually dared to mock me? Luo Ge..."
Paul slammed his fist on the table, reeking of alcohol, "You brat, as your father, I'm not going to let you lose so easily."
"Your swordsmanship is inferior to yours?"
"Is drinking, something I excel at, something I can't even compare to?"
"Old Deng, you're very confident."
Luo Ge sat opposite Paul, squinting at him. "How about we give it a try? Hmm... let's see if I can outdrink you today."
"Since it's a contest, there should at least be a prize, right?"
"As a wager, the loser has to call the other person 'Dad,' how about it?"
"Hey, Luo Ge, this is way too much of a cheat! Win or lose, isn't it just me who's at a disadvantage?"
"Snort."
"Old Deng, are you scared? Giving up?"
"Screw you... I wouldn't dare? Are you kidding me???"
Unable to hold back, Paul instinctively blurted out a swear word.
He then rolled up his sleeves and shouted loudly towards the counter.
Paul made the bald tavern owner bring out all the wine in his stock.
Soon, the table was filled with wine bottles and jars of all sizes, making it completely packed.
The other patrons in the tavern also gathered around to watch the spectacle.
"Sir, is that enough?"
Lilia pushed up her glasses and stepped forward to advise, "Speaking of which... sir, didn't you just say this morning that you would quit drinking from now on?"
" Lilia."
"Don't stop me, this brat is really... he's becoming more and more disrespectful to me as his father. In this family... I, Paul, am the head of the household, I can't be looked down upon."
"Today, I'm going to teach this arrogant brat a lesson and show him what a real man is."
Paul spoke, he glared fiercely at Luo Ge.
Luo Ge, not to be outdone, slammed his hand on the table.
that's all.
The father and son faced each other, looking as if they had completely broken off relations, staring at each other with menacing expressions.
Driven by this atmosphere
But they weren't alone.
If anyone were to notice, they could vaguely see that Aisha and Nanahoshi had unknowingly stood behind Luo Ge, cheering him on.
Of course, Paul wasn't alone behind him; standing behind him were Lilia and Norn.
This contest no longer seemed to be just a one-sided duel between father and son, but rather a battle for all dignity and future standing within the family.
Let's begin!
"Our battle, this contest between father and son, has only just begun!"
"Bring it on, who's afraid of who, old Deng!"
"Call him 'Dad,' and Luo Ge... Don't cry if you lose!"
"This is hilarious! Crying, Old Deng, how much fake alcohol have you been drinking? Speaking of which... I wonder who it was when I was five years old who made me question the meaning of life?"
"Hey, hey, hey, that's going a bit too far."
Although the pre-fight trash talk is unavoidable... it's still a feeling of having your sore spots exposed in public.
Paul couldn't help but twitch his lips.
You brat.
Exposing dark history in public is truly unethical.
To defuse the awkward situation.
Paul quickly changed the subject. "Damn it! Is all you can do is talk?"
"In that case, let's fight."
Luo Ge initiated the declaration of war.
Before the match between the two even started, members of the nearby Adventurers' Guild's rescue team heard the commotion and rushed over.
Shera, Vera... and the search and rescue team members around Paul also squeezed into the crowd to watch the spectacle.
Many Luo Ge faces surrounded the area, and some even started to jeer, seemingly eager to stir up trouble.
"Here we go!"
With everyone present witnessing and cheering, the duel began in a grand and exciting manner.
As time goes by...
The two drank more and more, becoming increasingly intoxicated, but neither was willing to back down or utter a single word of concession.
Amidst the cheers and encouragement of the crowd, the father and son tacitly tossed aside their wine glasses and instead picked up the wine jar, showing it off wildly.
Finally, wow wow wow wow!
Paul couldn't hold on any longer and almost vomited.
"Hello."
" Luo Ge, you cheated, didn't you? You definitely cheated. Who can drink this much and still not show any signs of discomfort?"
Paul leaned on the table and began to voice his doubts.
In contrast, Luo Ge acted nonchalantly and casually, as if he were a bottomless pit, drinking for as long as he wanted.
He accepts all comers.
Of course, Luo Ge couldn't tell Paul that he had absorbed all the wine he drank using magic.
In order to avoid being noticed, Luo Ge also began to put on his Oscar-caliber acting skills.
He blushed and said, "Ugh, ridiculous... utterly ridiculous! Is someone a sore loser? Hey! Old Deng! Is it so hard to admit your son is excellent?"
"Losing to me isn't shameful at all."
"Lose?"
"Are you kidding me?! I, Paul, would lose?!"
The final result is self-evident.
Paul had only been making those tough remarks for less than two and a half minutes when the final result was a crushing defeat. He staggered as he tried to get up, but instead collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
After Paul fell, Luo Ge didn't last long either, collapsing to the ground with a thud.
"Hmm, the master is really something..."
Lilia looked at Paul lying on the ground, her face full of helplessness. "He's almost thirty years old, a father of four, how can he still be so willful like a child? And young master Luo Ge, really..."
However, although Lilia said she was disgusted, her actions told a different story.
She asked Noren Aisha and the bystander Seven Stars to come up and help, so that the three of them could assist the drunk Paul.
Lilia, blushing slightly, picked up Luo Ge by herself. Although young master Luo Ge looked very strong, in Lilia's heart she still thought of him as just a child.
It made her feel like she was causing her a lot of trouble.
Not long after, the father and son, supported by Lilya and the Seven Stars of Aisha Norren, returned to their respective rooms.
The sky had completely darkened.
The crowd in the tavern gradually dispersed, leaving behind only a table full of empty bottles and the smell of alcohol, witnessing this absurd yet heartwarming duel between father and son.