Two days passed.
Drake spent most of his time leveling up his skills and hunting with the others.
Meanwhile, Sassa had slowly begun recovering under their care.
She still wasn't completely herself, but she was talking again.
Drake entered the room.
Sassa looked up at him.
"Hi… Drake…"
Her voice was quiet, but there was considerably more life in it than before.
Drake smiled and sat down beside her on the bed.
"A bit better now?"
"Yes…"
Sassa lowered her gaze.
"Thank you… for saving me and taking care of me."
"You finally started talking, huh?"
Drake gave her a sheepish smile.
"Yeah…"
Sassa was quiet for a moment.
Then she looked down at her hands.
"I… have to get up and… continue to live."
A tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
"They sacrificed their lives for me…"
She looked at Drake.
"Right?"
She wasn't asking because she didn't know the answer.
She needed someone else to tell her that she was allowed to keep living.
Drake nodded.
"Yes."
His voice was firm.
"You have to live. If you give up now, it would be an insult to them."
[Ding!]
[Host, I congratulate you. I didn't know you were this deep.]
'You…'
Drake wanted to curse the System.
He kept it to himself.
He stood from the bed.
"Then…"
He looked at Sassa.
"What do you think about joining my party?"
[Ding!]
[New Feature Unlocked: Party!]
Sassa's expression immediately became tense.
"I—"
Drake raised a hand, cutting her off.
"Don't worry."
He smiled confidently.
"I'm strong enough that you won't have to worry about anything. I think you already saw that."
"Still…"
She hesitated.
Drake extended his hand toward her.
"I know that after what just happened, it's difficult to simply join another party."
His expression softened.
"It's your choice, Sassa."
He paused.
"And besides… this party thing is new for me too."
"You'd be the first member."
Sassa looked at his outstretched hand, then back at him.
She seemed confused.
"But… what about all the other guys?"
She tilted her head.
"Aren't they… in your team?"
Drake scratched the back of his neck.
"They're…"
He thought for a moment.
"Just some friends. I'm not in their party."
Sassa looked at his hand again.
"So…"
Drake smiled.
"What do you think?"
His hand remained extended.
Sassa hesitated for another few seconds.
Then she slowly reached out.
"Al… alright."
She took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
[Party Formed!]
[First Member: Sassa]
[You can check the health and location of party members at all times, even across dimensions.]
Drake blinked.
Even across dimensions?
That was going to be useful.
Drake and Sassa left the room together.
Waiting outside was the entire Haruhiro party.
The moment they saw Sassa walking out, smiles appeared on their faces.
They had been waiting for this.
Shihoru, however, had a somewhat strange expression.
She was…
A little jealous.
Drake was still holding Sassa's hand.
Sassa noticed it.
Her cheeks immediately became slightly pink, and she quickly let go.
Drake looked toward Shihoru.
"Did you get jealous, perhaps?"
"N-No!"
Shihoru's face went completely red as she lowered her head.
"Hahahahaha!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Sassa simply watched them.
The warmth.
The laughter.
The ridiculousness of the group.
It reminded her of her old party.
For the first time since the Silver Forest…
She smiled.
…
The day continued.
Eventually, their celebration turned into drinking.
By the time evening arrived, most of them were completely drunk.
Shihoru was sitting on Drake's lap, her upper body sprawled across the table as she loosely held a barrel of beer.
Drake looked down at her.
"I told you it was a bad idea to drink."
Everyone was drunk except Drake, Manato, and Sassa.
And, of course, Amelia.
"Drake! Drake!"
Amelia flew around him, staring curiously at the beer.
"It seems good! I want to drink it too!"
"You can't, Amelia."
Drake reached up and gently pinched her ghostly cheeks.
"You're a ghost."
Amelia pouted.
Drake smiled.
"Don't worry. I'm going to find a way to get your body back."
Amelia's eyes immediately widened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Drake nodded.
"It's a promise."
Amelia's expression brightened instantly.
She flew forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Then—
Muah!
She planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
Drake blinked.
Amelia froze.
Her entire ghostly body slowly turned bright red.
She had…
just kissed Drake.
"Kyaaaaaah!"
She immediately screamed and dove back into the necklace.
Drake simply smiled.
"Drake…"
Manato's drunken voice suddenly caught his attention.
"I think…"
Manato squinted.
"I see a goblin behind you…"
"What?"
Drake immediately turned around.
There was nothing there.
"Manato, what the hell—"
He turned back.
Manato was already collapsed against the table, completely unconscious.
Drake sighed.
"Unbelievable…"
Suddenly, he felt someone cling to his arm.
"Drake…"
Sassa.
Her voice was soft, and her breath carried the unmistakable scent of alcohol.
She had drunk more than anyone else.
Perhaps she was trying to drown the grief that still lingered inside her.
She leaned closer to him.
"Drake… I…"
Her fingers tightened around his arm.
"I want to thank you…"
She whispered the words near his ear.
Drake was a little drunk himself.
He had never drunk before today, but thanks to his high stats, he was still able to remain relatively lucid.
"How can I…"
Sassa's face slowly moved closer to his.
"…thank you properly?"
"Sassa…"
Drake's expression changed.
"What are you doing—"
Before he could finish, Sassa pressed her lips against his.
Drake immediately pulled away.
"Hey."
His face had turned red.
"What are you doing?"
Shihoru was right there, sleeping peacefully on his lap.
Sassa simply touched her lips with one finger, her eyes slightly unfocused.
"Your lips are sweet…"
She smiled faintly.
"They taste like candy…"
Drake stared at her.
"Sassa, you're drunk."
She didn't seem to hear him.
Instead, she grabbed his sleeve and began pulling him away.
"Hey—wait."
Drake tried to resist.
Shihoru was gently left sitting in the chair, but she didn't even stir.
"Sassa, let me go this instant—"
Drake's words became less convincing as the alcohol finally began catching up with him.
His vision blurred slightly.
His balance faltered.
And Sassa continued dragging him toward one of the rooms.
'Fuck…'
...to be continued
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Also, I plan to make this Grimgar world finish in a couple of more visits.