Chapter 40

I naturally joined the drinking party and started to down one glass, then another.

I didn't really like alcohol and had never attended a drinking party before.

However, today I seemed to understand a little why people drank and why they had drinking parties.

It was really the first time in my life that I had drunk so much.

Even though Teresa was a drinker, I didn't know exactly how much she could drink, so I tried to hold back, but no matter how much I drank, I felt completely fine.

"Hey, I'm not drunk."

"Sure, sure."

"Really... I'm not drunk. Why am I so fine? Do I drink well...?"

"That's the 49th time you've said you're not drunk. One more and it'll be 50."

"See... That's strange? I'm not drunk at all."

"Indeed. You've finally reached 50."

Ding!

[Seiza 'Mingming Betting on Life' has donated 1,000 coins.]

[Not as much as Mingming, but this kid is cute lol, gotta keep an eye on him.]

Ding!

[Seiza 'Teresa Born in Heart' has donated 1,000 coins.]

[If it's a new fan, I'll keep an eye on him.]

"Annoying."

While I was shaking my head because the Seizas kept talking about donations, I felt something was getting chaotic around me.

The sun had already set, and people from various families had come to pick up their young ladies.

"Ah, Miss! Why did you drink so much when you can't handle alcohol?"

One young lady, who seemed used to such situations, was calmly sending the drunk young ladies out one by one and ordering the servants to clean up the club room.

The party was breaking up like this.

"What a pity......"

I'll just have one more glass and then leave. I'm not drunk at all yet.

I felt a familiar loneliness.

Being left alone because no one was looking for me was something I had always experienced since childhood.

'...I need to go back to the dormitory.'

As I got up from my seat and tried to leave the club room, Patricia followed me.

"I'll see you back, Miss Teresa!"

"It's fine... I can go by myself."

"What? You're swaying like that?"

"I'm walking straight... I'm fine..."

"You're walking sideways right now."

At that moment, a voice that shouldn't have been heard here echoed in my ears.

"Teresa Squire."

I opened my eyes, which were half-closed from the lack of strength, and confirmed who it was.

"...Father."

Raul, who had just appeared, scanned the frozen club room and then fixed his gaze on me.

He clicked his tongue and said with a twisted expression.

"Follow me."

* * *

I was clearly walking straight.

'Was this road always so bumpy?'

When I laid out the terrain, I remember this road was laid out straight.

Not only the road was strange.

The strangest thing was that Raul was here.

Raul doesn't come to Valhalla. That was the setting.

'But why is he here?'

He even came to find me. I couldn't think of any reason.

Just as I tilted my head in confusion.

Thud.

Raul, who was walking in front, stopped and turned to look at me sharply.

"What are you smiling about?"

I must have been smiling like a fool without realizing it.

But I felt good.

My heart tickled.

Raul scolded me with an even more bewildered expression.

"Are you laughing in this situation?"

"Father... You're my father now, right...?"

I'm Teresa, so Raul is my father now, right?

"If you're drunk, just follow me quietly."

He urged me with a very displeased tone, and I extended my hand.

"Father... Can I hold your hand...?"

I wanted to walk holding hands with my father all the way home...

I wasn't sure if I said the last part out loud or kept it to myself.

It was because the road and Raul kept moving, making me lose focus.

Still, I kept extending my hand to Raul, who kept moving back and forth.

Words and actions filled with sincerity that I would never easily do under normal circumstances came out without hesitation, thanks to the alcohol.

Raul sighed deeply and turned his back without holding my hand.

Just hold my hand... It's a wish.

As I grumbled softly, Raul suddenly knelt on one knee.

"Get on my back. It will take a while to get to the dormitory this way."

"......Hehe."

How did he know that being carried by my father was my wish?

As I climbed onto his back, Raul stood up effortlessly.

Despite being middle-aged, he looked young and strong, and he was incredibly strong.

Well, Teresa was also very strong.

I chuckled and said,

"Teresa... looks like her father."

"You're saying nonsense. When I was young, I was never like you."

"But... We're the same..."

"Shut up."

For some reason, Raul's voice seemed much softer than before.

It even seemed to have a hint of a smile.

Because of that? I felt the courage to reveal a secret I had kept inside for a lifetime.

"Father... Do you know?"

I needed to say something important, but drowsiness suddenly hit me, making my eyes heavy.

The strong arms holding me firmly and the warm heat, along with the gentle rocking with each step, were all like a lullaby.

"I've always... envied children... because their parents came to pick them up..."

"......"

"I've... never had that experience..."

"......"

"No one ever came to look for me... But today, Father came..."

One of the many thorns deeply embedded in my heart slowly came out.

If not for a day like today, the lonely memories buried deep in the dark subconscious would have been gently painted over.

"So today... I feel like I'm a less pitiful person..."

I closed my eyes comfortably.

A gentle sleep without dreams came over me.

Ding!

[1,000,000 coins donated in the shortest time!]

[New Seizas are entering.]

[New Seizas are entering.]

[New Seizas are entering.]

...

[Channel level upgraded from Silver to Gold]