Might
(That's right, first I have to fix my appearance. If I go out to town looking like this I'll be laughed at.)

Might had fled the training school with only the clothes he had been wearing. They were clothes the training school had given to him. If he didn't at least mend them back into shape, he wouldn't be able to listen to the stories of the people in town.

He hurriedly dressed himself. From there, he heard a dry "chop chop" sound outside.

When he peeked through his window to see what it was, he saw Lorence at the back of the inn whole-heartedly chopping wood with an axe.

Might
Lorence-san, what are you doing?

Lorence
Oh, is it Might? As you see. If you want, you can come here.

As Lorence invited him, Might came around to the back side of the inn.

He stood up the firewood and swung the axe down, chopping it into two pieces splendidly with a dry sound. In that powerful series of movements there was little useless movements and no gaps.

Might
Wood-chopping in the morning? Who would ask you to do such a thing...

Lorence
No, that's not right.

While he said that, Lorence easily cut a piece of firewood. A dry sound was made and the firewood cracked right in two.

Lorence
Though I spoke about various things with the owner of this inn yesterday, recently I heard that he's having trouble with things like wood-chopping. At least only while we're indebted to him, I thought I could help...!

Certainly the owner of this inn was an elderly person with various worries. Though it was a simple thought, it wasn't bad to chop wood here to thank someone that prepared a hearty meal and a warm bed- Might thought so.

When Lorence paused for a breath, he wiped off the light sweat blotting on his forehead.

Lorence
How about it, Might, why don't you try doing some?

Lorence presented him the axe, and Might took it in one hand. But. ...As soon as he held the it, he couldn't hold the weight and it fell to the ground.

Might
Kuh...!

Lorence
Oops... Are you ok?

Might
So, sorry. It's such a heavy one.

Truth be told, Might meekly admired that Lorence could swing such a heavy object so easily.

Lorence
Ok, put up a piece of firewood.

When he said that, Lorence put on a firewood length and left it.

Might
Ri, right. Well... Here I go!

With a shout Might brandished the axe over his head, and swung it down at the firewood.

-But, it didn't touch the firewood, and the axe was stuck into the stump they used as a pedestal.

Might
Uwah?!

Lorence didn't say anything and he quietly watched Might's behavior.

Might
(How embarrassing... Lorence cut them so easily.)

Paying attention to were it was, Might swund the axe again at the firewood. With a thick sound, the axe ate into the firewood. ...But, the firewood wasn't cut.

After that he challenged it many times, but still he thrust the axe violently into the stump, and even when the firewood was hit it wasn't cut, and he continued to fight hard.

Lorence silently watched him until then, gently called to him there.

Lorence
Might. Is this your first time chopping wood?

Might
Y, yes...

Lorence went behind Might and glued himself to his body, and took Might's hands,

Lorence
All right, Might. Don't use any useless strength.

Might's hands slowly held up the axe.

Lorence
If you aim the axe right above the firewood, with that weight...

He said that, and the axe was thrown off of the firewood. A dry sound was made, and the firewood cracked into two beautifully.

Lorence
-The firewood cracks naturally.

Might raised his voice in admiration.

After that, under the guidance of Lorence Might's wood-chopping skills began to look good in itself.

Lorence
That's right, don't strain yourself... Good. As I would expect from you, Might, you're a fast learner.

Might
It's because you gave me precise advice, for sure.

Indeed, as Lorence said if you dropped the axe precisely over the firewood it'd cut beautifully in two, without putting much power into it. As he became accustomed to it, the hardships he had at first seemed like a lie.

When the sun rose high in the sky, Might and Lorence had finished cutting the amount of firewood without worry for some time. The old owner of the inn expressed his gratitude to the two many times.

Lorence
By no means, you should be thanking this boy. Because of him we finished twice as soon, no, three times sooner.

Might
It's not like that. I'm still a chick compared to Lorence-san.

Lorence
Hahah, a chick? But isn't the bird of prey that dances in the sky majestically born a chick too? Might, your time as a chick is already over, use your wings to take off.

Might was grateful for Lorence's unexpected words of appreciation.

And then Might went to look for information as he had originally intended.

Might
(Though if I begin questioning people I can get some information...)

Might strolled around in town asking for information. The marketplace and plaza, the theatre and bar and places like that, he walked from one end of the town but didn't find someone with any prominent information.

Might
(After all that I have nothing... I'm going back to the inn)

And so Might returned to the inn alone.

Might
Good, I'll go to the other rooms. To start with- Lorence-san's room.

Might immediately enquired about Lorence's room.

Might
Excuse me... Lorence-san, are you there?

Lorence
Oh, is it Might? That's perfect, come in.

Lorence invited Might to come into the room, and in there Lorence and Pam were pondering something.

Pam
Might~, This is awful~.

Might
Awful... Did you run into something?

Lorence
That is... A small problem has come up.

Lorence answered with an unpleasant expression.

Pam
The money we got from the King has disappeared!

Lorence
...I'm ashamed but... While I was absent for a moment, the money given to us from His Majesty's country was lost.

Furthermore, he whispered into Might's ear.

Lorence
However, by chance Pam happened to pass by the front of the room, and he was called first. Pam should be left out of conversations about replacement plans, but I also seemed fairly upset...

Pam
Whaat whaat? What are Might and Lorence talking about?

Pam smiled without worry. Surely it might not become a solution to the problem, but the truth is that the seriousness of the situation was softened somewhat by this smiling face.

Might
...Maybe it was a robber...?

Lorence
No, it doesn't seem to be a mere robber. Only the money for the preparations has been lost. More than half was left.

Pam
Excuse me, because Lorence is very miserly, when he counted how much we had left he noticed there wasn't enough.

While Lorence cleared his throat,

Lorence
Pam, don't call being "methodical" being stingy. --Anyhow, if it was the way robbers steal, there would be things other than money, and I think he would have stolen anything and everything but...

Might
That's true... If it was only the preparation money, it's as if they were only borrowing it for awhile...

As he started to say that, Might had a flash of intuition.

Might
...Lorence-san, was the preparation money being held in a bag?

Lorence
Yes. It was in this leather bag.

From his pocket Lorence took out a familiar used leather bag.

Might
This leather bag, has no one else touched it other than Lorence-san?

Lorence
Of course. Because I am managing all of the travel expenses. I was the last one to touch it.

Might
Pam, try sniffing the scent on this leather bag. Anything other than Lorence- san's scent is the scent of the criminal.

Pam
Might, you're smart~! Yeah yeah, I'll try sniffing it.

Pam brought the leather bag close to his nose, and he sniffed the scent.

Pam
Sniffsniffsniff...

Lorence
Did you find out anything?

Pam
Aa~h! This scent, it's Leica's scent~!!

Might
Are you certain, Pam?

Pam
Yeahyeah, mixed with this smell of sake, it's Leica's scent for sure!

Might
As I thought...

Lorence
That huge halfwit-!! Taking his Majesty's important preparation money!

Lorence was instinctively worried. But, he instantly pulled himself together, and regained his firm attitude.

Lorence
Might, Pam! Look for Leica!

Overpowered by his heat, the two followed Lorence out to town.

Lorence
...According to that pattern of that man's actions, I'd estimate he'd be around...

As he said that, Lorence was heading towards the central bar of the town.

Fulfilling that guess, Leica was there gulping down sake.

Leica
...Oh, everyone is gathering.

Lorence
Leica! What did you do with the money?!

Leica
Oro, I've already been found out? As expected of Lorence, checking every minute detail relentlessly.

Lorence
Don't joke with me! Bastard, I might know what you used that money on!

Leica
My bad my bad. It's a long journey and weren't you just a little worried about your purse? So I thought I'd earn some money on horse racing, so I just borrowed a little.

Lorence
...So you did that, do you know what someone who takes someone else's things without permission is called?

Pam
I know! It's "Thief-san", right?

Might
...And, how did the horse races go?

Leica
It was my best work. Today Lady Luck was watching over me in a scary way. Anyway today I bet on winning race after winning race after a big win!! And just like that my funds were swelling up many ten times larger and I was becoming a very rich man!

Leica
But as a man, when you get a lot of money that you haven't obtained you don't think of the great cost. On the last race, I put everything I had on the dark horse with absolute self-confidence! ...However this made Lady Luck extremely angry.

Lorence
You, you couldn't have...

Leica
That's right! I placed my bet on the dark horse, and was bumped off clearly.. . In short I'm the penniless of the broke. Na, isn't it my best work?

It might have been the sake in Leica that let him answer in a fine mood that was making Lorence angrier and angrier, and his face reddened deeply as he shouted.

Lorence
-You bastard!! That was granted to us by His Majesty the King-!!

Might and Pam desperately held back Lorence.

Might
Lorence-san, please calm down!

Lorence
Let go of me, Might, today is not a day of forgiveness! I'm going to beat this frivolous man into shape right here-!!

Leica
Oh, don't say that Master Lorence! Can't that overly serious mind of yours be a little more flexible?

The blood rose to Lorence's head and made him a deep red, and Leica who didn't dare to look Lorence in the eyes gulped down his sake- One might call the inflammatory words tit for tat, and invisible sparks flew around the two.

Eventually, the guests of the shop heard the commotion and gathered around. They began listening to the person who stirred up the quarrel and for the outcome of things, and a crowd of people multiplied around Might and the others at once. At the center nonchalantly ignoring him was Leica gulping down sake, and Lorence who continued to glare at him as if he was ready to spring at any moment.

Might
(This is ugly... I don't want to cause a commotion in a place like this.)

Might
(First Lorence has to settle down...)

Pam
Might, water came.

Pam took the glass back in his hands.

Might
Thanks, Pam. Come on, Lorence-san, drink this and settle down.

Lorence took the glass from Might, and drank it all up in one breath. And at that time he began taking deep breaths-

Lorence
-?!

The complexion of Lorence's angry face faded to blue very quickly.

Might
Lo, Lorence-san, what's wrong-?!

Lorence
Th, this... isn't water - It's sake!!

Pam
Eh? Eeh? But I, didn't I order water...?

Panicking, Pam asked the old man at the counter of the shop.

Old Man
If you say "water" here, it's our weakest sake. The babies of this neighborhood also drink it around here instead of milk.

All the guests around them unanimously cheered.

Lorence
Da, damnit...!!

Leica, who had been watching silent until then, burst into laughter.

Leica
My goodness, firm Master Lorence. If you drink sake maybe you'll become a sentimental drunk?

However, before Leica's eyes he promptly noticed Lorence's accident. He was ghastly pale first and his complexion flushed and reddened, and his eyes became set.

Might
(Do, does this possibly mean... He's getting drunk?)

Did Lorence's complete change worry Leica too,

Leica
A, huh...? Hey, Lorence...

Lorence
Lo~re~n~ce~is~it?!

That voice wasn't articulating clearly. When Leica sat facing Lorence, he snatched away Leica's glass forcibly and gulped down the contents in a breath.

Leica
Ah, idiot, if you drink such intense sake in one gulp...

The guests surrounding them spontaneously cheered at such hearty drinking. Leica panic and took back his glass, but the contents were completely drunken up.

Guest
Onii-san, that's some good drinking. You're good with your mouth, aren't you?

Guest
Come on, drink some more.

Lorence drank up the glasses in rapid succession as if he was drinking water.

Leica
I, idiot, stop that Lorence...

Lorence
Idiot?! Who is the idiot, idiot?

With completely set eyes Lorence pointed at Leica, and shouted in a slurred tone. Lorence continued towards Leica, unintentionally being overpowering.

Lorence
Mainly, I don't like your irresponsible points! Don't you have and age suitable for you? Don't you?!

Leica
Su, such a remark...

Lorence
It's like this and like that! A frivolous person like you, sometime, that irresponsibility will get you killed! Do you understand?!

Leica
Ha, hah...

Though Leica tried to handle a suitable response, Lorence stopped caring and began talking a acting like the usual Leica, the way he ate food and the way he walked he meandered and continued to preach- The typical effects of sake.

Pam
Uuuu, Lorence is scary.

Unable to stand seeing him in this state anymore, Might entered to stop Lorence.

Might
Lo, Lorence-san. Leica will reflect on this, so let's slowly go back to the inn.

Lorence stared at Might with a set look. Might tensed under the extreme expression instinctively.

Lorence
-Might...

-In the next instant, Lorence grinned widely and pulled Might to him.

Might
Wah?!

Lorence
Might, you're an obedient and cute guy, unlike Leica~.

Lorence joined Might's shoulders, and brought his drunken face close.

Might
Lo, Lorence-san, wait a minute...

Lorence
You must not become an irresponsible man like Leica. Ok~ Promise me~.

Might silently looked to Leica for assistance. Leica sent a signal back that seemed to say (I've got it handled).

Might
Ye, yes. I promise.

Lorence
Goood, splendid splendid. Well then, proof of our promise...

Might
Eh...

At that time, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

Lorence forcibly pulled Might's face to him, and snatched Might's lips.

Though it was only a childish kiss with their lips on pressed against other, still they were pressed for 5 seconds, and 10 seconds. The actions were so sudden that Might wasn't able to reject them, and he remained stiff.

Might
?!-

Finally Lorence released Might.

Lorence
How was that, Might, hahahaha...

Even Leica couldn't do anything but watch the scene dumbfounded.

-Pulling off Lorence who was staying on, Might and the others left the bar when it was completely dark that night. Even from the distance to the hotel Lorence was in the same mood, he was entwined red-faced with Leica as he was in an awful state of singing a group song of the knights of the royal palace.

When they arrived at the inn, Might escorted Lorence to his room.

Lorence
Aaaah~ glory to~ the kniiights~ and~. Miight, sing with me~

Might
Lo, Lorence-san...

Might sat Lorence on the bed.

Might
Come on, Lorence-san, let's go to sleep already today. I think we have to leave early tomorrow morning, right?

Lorence
Sleep? Did you say sleep? Don't say such stupid things, Might! It's not night yet is it~!!

As soon as he said so, Lorence fell on the bed with Might.

Might
Wah?!

Lorence
Miight~ You are~ a really cute guy~.

Lorence's slurred his speech as he said that, trying to embrace Might.

Might
Lo, Lorence-san, just a minute, you're, heavy.

Lorence
Miight~ Might~ Might~~~.

Though it was Might that was trying to leave the bed, because he was drunk it seemed he lost his senses, so he couldn't add and subtract from his power, and he wasn't easily able to separate from Lorence.

Before long, he didn't hear Lorence's voice.

As Might watched his appearance, before he knew it he was breathing like a sleeper, and Lorence had an indescribably happy face as he slept.

Might
(Huu... It looks like somehow he went to sleep. Well then, me too...)

Although Might tried to separate from Lorence, Lorence had the same amount of power in his arms, and he wasn't able to slip out of being embraced.

Might
(Uh... Th, this is...)

He tried twisting his body to somehow get away from Lorence, but his grip didn't loosen at all. Helplessly, Might stayed as he was for a little while.

Might, worried about his state of being held in the bed by Lorence, sighed deeply as he stared at the ceiling.

Might
(Hah, something about today has been tiring...)

Might
(...I think that I saw an unexpected side of Lorence today. I wonder if he's been collecting various things? Or was this the real Lorence-san...?)

And, he watched Lorence's sleeping face another time. Sometimes he saw Lorence say his name in his sleep, and suddenly he remembered the kiss, and Might spontaneously became flushed.

Might
(That was... That... Was an accident, right... Yeah, it must be that sort of thing)

Suddenly Might's heart began beating quickly. On the other hand, Lorence's arms were only embracing him closely and strongly before, and he remembered something that seemed warm and peaceful.

Might
(That seems wrong... When I'm held close like this, somehow it calms down my mind...)

Slowly being wrapped in the relieving feeling, Might slowly fell into a catnap before he knew it.

Man's Voice
T, Might, wake up... Might...

Someone's voice jolted him awake, and Might opened his eyes.

It was Lorence that woke Might up. Judging from his expression, the sake had completely left his system.

Might
Ah... Lorence-san, good morning...

Lorence
Might, why were you sleeping in my bed-?!

Might
...Huh?

Lorence
This morning, aren't you supposed to be sleeping next door? How in the world did this happen?!

Might
Umm, is it possible... Lorence-san, you don't remember what happened yesterday?

At those words Lorence's expression froze.

Lorence
Ye, yesterday? No, We went to search for Leica at the bar, then after I was made to drink sake I don't remember well...

It seemed he didn't know what happened in that place, because Might thought it truly looked like Lorence couldn't remember.

Might
(This is... Maybe I shouldn't tell him about yesterday's disgrace...)

Might
Umm... At that bar you were made to drink sake, and you fell asleep right away, and me and Leica and Pam took you back to the inn...

Lorence furrowed his brows, and tried desperately at that time to recall his memories.

Might
A, and then, when I tried to put you in bed to sleep, I got a bit sleepy too, and I couldn't really seem to get back to my room, and I unintentionally lied down in your bed...

If at all possible Might explained in a harmless way. Lorence listened to the explanation and kept a thoughtful expression that seemed to not be able to understand.

Lorence
I see... No, wait, are you sure you aren't forgetting to say something...?

Might
Eh? No, it's nothing. It's nothing...

Voice
Yo, wake up, you two.

At that time, Leica entered the room.

Lorence
Leica...

Leica, while alternately comparing Lorence's and Might's faces,

Leica
Oh, were you on your way to having fun~.

At once both their faces turned red. Of course Might's face became red because he was embarrassed, but Lorence's face flushed out of anger. As Lorence began flaring up, Leica said.

Leica
Oh my, nevertheless the disturbance the master made yesterday was quite an attraction.

Lorence's behavior stopped suddenly.

Lorence
Wha...

Leica
I thought for sure you were a non-drinker because every time my sake was refused, you were unexpectedly a skilled drinker, and reserved Lorence.

Even though the panicking Might tried to stop him, Leica ignored him and continued.

Leica
But, your picking fights was a little worrisome. Other than me, wasn't Pam completely frightened?

Lorence
Nu...?

Leica
But, of course the most surprising was Might...

Lorence
Might-?! What happened to Might?!

Leica
Even though you were a powerful drunk I was taken aback when you forcibly snatched Might's cute lips. That you have that sort of hobby...

Leica's words left Lorence dumbfounded. And Might unintentionally hung his head in shame.

Lorence
Might... That story he just told, could it possibly be true? This guy's... Is it one of Leica's jokes?!

As Might looked down he shook his head. If Leica didn't hide it here, he wasn't going to deny it.

Might
Lorence-san, those... things Leica said, are true...

Lorence
!

Astounded, Lorence sat down on his chair without any power. With a grin Leica continued,

Leica
Well, I don't really care about a person's hobbies. But from now on train on how to drink a little more sake, Lorence.

He walked out of the room when he left that message. Once again only Lorence and Might were in the room. A heavy silence filled the room.

Lorence
Might...

It was Lorence that broke the silence. Lorence stood up slowly, and faced Might,

Lorence
This... I'm sorry...

He bent down and made his large body small, looking up. Might was confused by the sudden apology.

Might
Eh, ah, no, that...

Lorence
This Lorence Lancaster, even though I wasn't accustomed to sake, has made a mistake unworthy of a soldier-- The mistake of a lifetime.

The expression on Lorence's hung head couldn't be understood, and he fell into a tone of extreme self-hatred for what happened yesterday.

Might
Lorence-san...

Lorence
I apologize, and I want to do some serious soul searching although I'm sorry. For that, will you leave me alone for a little while...?

Might
Ye, yes...

Might slipped out of the bed, and somehow tip-toed out of Lorence's room. Thought he turned around in front of the door, he didn't hear anything inside.

Might
(Lorence-san, it looks like you're extremely upset... It's not good if you brood too much about this...)
