A few hours later, the trio returned to camp.

  Besides taking down the Colossal Veridian Iguana, they had also completed three of Kiki's Gold-rank advancement quests along the way—enough to report back with a clear conscience.

  The only thing they hadn’t found was a trace of the Bloody Lands.

  “No sign of the Bloody Lands... It’s really hard to find it in a forest this massive…” Hilda said with a tinge of disappointment.

  In her eyes, discovering the Bloody Lands sooner was always better.

  The longer it was left unchecked, the more it would expand—and the more terrifying the blood wave it could generate would become.

  Caius understood that as well and offered a few words of comfort.

  “Don’t worry. We’re not the only ones out here investigating. Plenty of mercenaries and adventurers have taken up the task. The Empire’s investigation team is also involved. I’m sure we’ll find it soon enough.”

  “Mm,” Hilda nodded at his reassurance.

  Lunch was a young wild boar.

  Caius wasn’t particularly skilled in cooking, but when it came to grilling, that was a different story.

  Put him in a kitchen and he’d likely whip up a pile of bizarre abominations, but give him a campfire and a handful of seasonings, and he’d return a feast worthy of kings.

  At least, that was Hilda’s opinion—she couldn’t stop singing its praises.

  As for the little Catgirl, no further proof was needed—the way her lips glistened with oil said it all.

  To Caius’s surprise, Hilda seemed to enjoy spicy food.

  While grilling the meat, he’d added a few wild chili peppers they had picked along the way.

  Hilda, curious, had asked to try a skewer—and one bite was all it took.

  “So spicy… but so good!” Hilda gasped as she fanned herself with one hand, eyes shining with excitement.

  “You don’t eat spicy food often?” Caius asked.

  “Not even ‘not often.’ More like almost never. Very few chefs prepare spicy dishes. But your grilled meat with those peppers—amazing!” Hilda replied with genuine admiration.

  “Haha, glad you liked it,” Caius grinned, pleased.

  Grilling was pretty much all he could do.

  After all, back in the Wasteland, you couldn’t exactly lug around a full set of cooking tools.

  That world didn’t have spatial rings, after all.

  They had to live on rations, and those things—well, let’s just say they were edible.

  So Caius started grilling to improve their meals, pairing it with a bit of beer—a little joy in a bleak world.

  “Honestly, barbecue should be eaten with alcohol, not tea. Do you drink?” Caius asked.

  Hilda blinked, then licked her lips and replied, “I don’t really like alcohol, but since you’ve said it like that… I’m willing to try.”

  “Perfect! I brought some!” Caius chuckled, pulling out a barrel of rum from his spatial ring.

  Yes, alcohol was part of Caius’s supply run.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Just as Hilda stored fine tea sets and delicate snacks in her spatial ring, Caius kept his favorites—cigarettes and booze.

  “Top-quality rum. Want some?” he offered.

  “Yes!” Hilda’s eyes lit up with excitement.

  For nobles, alcohol was something to be appreciated. Her elders in the Clan adored it.

  She simply didn’t drink much herself, but she had always been curious about what made people love it so much.

  Caius poured her half a cup.

  Hilda took a tiny sip, then gave a thoughtful expression like a sommelier at work.

  “Well?” Caius asked, expectant.

  “It’s a little sweet… and kind of fruity. Not bad!” Hilda nodded, then added, “But I still prefer tea.”

  “Alright then—try one of the extra spicy skewers and chase it with a sip of rum,” Caius encouraged.

  Hilda nodded and followed his suggestion.

  The moment the spicy meat hit her tongue, her mouth burst into heat. She gasped and quickly took a sip of rum—then looked surprised.

  “Whoa… that combo actually feels kinda amazing!” she exclaimed.

  “Right?” Caius laughed, pouring her another half cup.

  Even Kiki wanted a small serving. So the three of them sat there, eating skewers and sipping drinks.

  Soon enough, Caius was the first to finish eating and lit a cigarette, hanging it from his lips with a sigh of satisfaction.

  After a good meal, a smoke was the cherry on top—blissful as a god.

  Kiki, as usual, was on point and produced a lighter to help him light up.

  But then came a hiccup.

  Caius turned to the sound and saw Hilda sitting on a wooden log, hugging her cup and staring blankly into the distance.

  She hiccupped again, her face flushed bright red.

  Caius raised an eyebrow.

  At first, he’d thought the redness was from the spice—but now it looked suspiciously like… she was drunk?

  No way. She’d only had one drink, maybe one and a half at most.

  And rum here wasn’t strong—barely over ten percent alcohol. He drank it like juice.

  A Platinum-tier warrior shouldn’t be downed by a single cup, right?

  But the facts didn’t lie—Hilda was definitely tipsy.

  She sat dazed, blinking slowly, her posture slack.

  Caius leaned closer and waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey. Ditz? You good, little ditz?”

  “I’m not a ditz! I’ll hit you!” Hilda suddenly snapped, waving her tiny fist and giving his shoulder a playful bop.

  Caius let out a breath of relief—at least she was conscious.

  Didn’t seem completely hammered.

  Still, it was weird. Normally, Hilda would argue if he called her “little ditz,” but she wouldn’t go as far as to punch him.

  Something definitely changed when she drank.

  He couldn’t quite put his finger on it at first—

  But then he noticed.

  When she saw the cigarette in his mouth, Hilda tilted her head, then pointed at it curiously.

  “What’s that?”

  “This?” Caius removed the cigarette. “It’s a rolled smoke.”

  “Is it tasty?” she asked innocently.

  Caius: “…”

  “It’s not for eating. You smoke it. Kind of like a cigar,” he explained.

  Was her IQ dropping after getting drunk?

  Was she really turning into a little ditz?

  Then she started eyeing the cigarette in his hand with a strange eagerness.

  Caius hesitated, then cautiously asked, “Wanna try?”

  “Yes!” she immediately reached out without the slightest hesitation.

  That was unusual.

  Hilda was always extremely polite.

  Caius was starting to realize what was off—

  Drunk Hilda wasn’t just a bit dimmer—she was a whole lot bolder.

  Seeing her expectant face, Caius hesitated again.

  He really didn’t want to be the guy who corrupted the Little Swan.

  So finally, he refused.

  "Forget it, you really shouldn’t smoke this stuff. It’s bad for your health."

  “No! I want to try it!” Hilda puffed up her cheeks, clearly defiant.

  Caius raised an eyebrow.

  What the hell?

  Was she rebelling now?

  “No way. You’re not smoking. Girls shouldn’t be smoking,” Caius said firmly.

  Hilda froze for a moment. Then her head drooped, and her shoulders began to tremble.

  Caius blinked in surprise.

  Wait—she’s not about to cry, is she?

  But the next second, Hilda’s voice rang out, trembling with frustration.

  “Everyone looks down on me... just because I’m a girl…”

  “They all say girls shouldn’t wield a sword… But I will learn!”

  “I’ll prove them all wrong!”

  “You won’t let me smoke? Then I’ll damn well smoke!”

  She suddenly lifted her head, golden light bursting from her body.

  Caius: “…”

  In the very next instant, Hilda shot her tiny hand out, reaching for the cigarette in Caius’s hand.

  Seeing this, Caius instinctively retreated.

  But Hilda was right on his heels, her small hand darting straight toward the cigarette.

  At that moment, both their bodies were airborne.

  They were practically face-to-face mid-air, Hilda’s chest nearly pressing against Caius’s.

  But she didn’t seem to care at all. Her eyes were locked with laser focus on the cigarette in his hand.

  Caius was stunned.

  Drunk Little Swan… why does it feel like she just got stronger?!