The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

118 – Forgotten Memories of Last Night

Franz opened his eyes to a skull-splitting headache.

‘Just what in blazes happened…?’

He remembered receiving his dukedom at the banquet.

Being hounded by the nobles for what felt like an eternity, and then when they’d all finally gone, Yustia had been completely drunk.

He seemed to recall stepping onto the balcony with Yustia for some air, and having a sip of wine…

‘But then… nothing?’

Regardless of anything else, judging by the throbbing in his head, he had definitely drunk an ungodly amount.

It was the first time since his hard-partying college days he had ended up like this, so the sheer absurdity of it made a dry laugh escape his lips. Did he ever imagine at this age he’d black out?

If there was any solace to be found, it was that he’d at least made it back to the Magic Tower in one piece. Though finding solace in that was laughable in itself.

‘That aside…’

Franz rolled his eyes to take in his surroundings.

His limbs felt heavy, and wouldn’t you know, he wasn’t the only one on the bed.

Yuna, Yustia, Hera, Arian. No less than four women were tangled together on the bed. Franz’s bed wasn’t exactly large, after all.

‘Did I bring them here? Or did Arian…?’

The memory was hazy, so I decided to piece it together as best I could from the scraps of information I had.

First off, it was unlikely Arian brought them. If it was her, she wouldn’t have come to the tower master’s chambers, she’d have gone straight to her own place.

She’d thrown a fit when Yuna had just taken a quick shower, didn’t she? So sleeping here was unthinkable.

That left only one option…

‘I brought them here…?’

Franz raised a hand, pressing his fingers to his forehead.

What in the hell was he thinking, bringing them here?

Of course, he could be sure that nothing had happened. He wouldn’t have even considered it.

Still, at the end of the day, they were a man and women. The fact they were sleeping in the same room, in the same bed, that alone was a problem.

And his companions were a duchess, a hero, a saint, and an elf chieftain, no less…?

‘If this got into the wrong ears, it would stir up a storm for sure….’

In this era, where there was little in the way of entertainment, gossip about men and women was always prime material.

And if a newly minted duke was involved in that kind of thing, they’d be sure to chew him up and spit him out.

Of course, he could just ignore it, but best to not give them the chance to start, right?

But the problem didn’t stop there.

It wasn’t just these four who were at the banquet.

Making a fool of himself in front of the nobles could be excused, but…

‘Did I perhaps make some kind of mistake in front of His Majesty…?’

Sure, they were close enough that he’d just laugh off a lot of things.

But that was in private. In public, there were lines that should never be crossed.

Regardless of this or that, the water’s already spilt, can’t scoop it back up, can we?

Let’s just pray quietly. A prayer that nothing bad happened.

Franz, around this point, started to wonder if this headache was really from a hangover.

Then it was.

“Uuh-.”

Yustia, who had been sleeping with her head on Franz’s left thigh, made a strange sound and wriggled. She seemed to be having some bizarre dream.

Franz stared blankly at her. Not for any particular reason, mostly because he was too hungover to move.

But then she started to inch upwards, and before he knew it, her arms were wrapped around his waist.

‘What on earth is she dreaming?’

Franz was a little flustered, but didn’t do anything about it.

At that moment, a memory flashed through his mind.

━ You’re annoying… Just looking at you makes my chest feel tight… Hiccup-, I even wore this outfit to look good for you today…

Even if it was just drunken talk, if this situation kept going, he couldn’t help but get bothered by it.

‘But is the saintess even allowed to say stuff like that?’

If she’s a saintess, then isn’t she supposed to be a symbol of purity as defined by the Goddess church? The believers must believe that too, so they would surely be disappointed if they knew about this behavior.

The believers actually wished for the Saintess and the Saint to somehow get together, but Franz had no way of knowing that.

Then it was.

“Uuh-.”

Yustia let out a faint groan and opened her eyes.

Since Franz was already looking at her, their eyes naturally met.

One second, two seconds, three… in that state.

Blink, blink, blink.

Yustia’s eyes flickered open and closed, then snapped wide open, her body jolting upright.

“Just what in the… hell is going on?!”

Her trembling pupils and voice, thick with shock, mirrored her feelings. Waking up, sprawled on a bed, clutching a man – well, it’d understandably throw anyone.

But even that reaction didn’t last long.

“Ah, ugh— my head…”

Yustia groaned, pressing her hand to her forehead. Yesterday’s drinking had clearly left a nasty hangover.

Franz chuckled, a soft *pfft*, at the sight.

This was Yustia, wasn’t it? So stubbornly righteous, so seemingly untouchable. Who knew he’d live to see her laid low by a hangover?

Yet, who could have known that even *that* amusement would be fleeting.

“Haa—, that’s a bit better.”

Yustia’s hand, still pressed to her forehead, glowed with a pale light, and she settled into a familiar expression, as if nothing had happened.

A goddamn miracle, plain and simple.

Franz could only stare, dumbfounded.

‘So, she just… wiped away a hangover…?’

Everyone knew that divine power could heal wounds.

Hadn’t they survived the battle with the Demon King thanks to that very power?

But no one had ever suggested it could clear away a hangover.

Though, come to think of it, if a hangover counted as a bodily ailment, it really shouldn’t be *that* odd.

It felt, somehow, unreasonable.

‘Why can’t *I* do it…?’

If the Saintess can perform a divine miracle, shouldn’t the Saint be able to do the same?

It’s not like I want to resurrect the dying, just get rid of a hangover. Is that too much to ask?

Franz, lamenting his fate inwardly, finally made his ultimate choice.

“Justia.”

“Yes?”

“Do that for me too. My head aches.”

They say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. If swallowing a little pride can erase this hangover, it’s a win, no doubt.

“Alright. Get up.”

Franz, clutching his throbbing head, pulled himself up. Justia immediately placed her hand on his forehead.

Her hand began to glow brightly, and at the same time, a lukewarm sensation flowed into him. It felt strangely good. It goes without saying that his headache vanished.

“There, all done.”

Justia said, taking her hand from Franz’s forehead. The hand that had glowed so brightly was now back to normal.

Franz stared at her blankly, and thought.

Her face seems oddly flushed.

The reason for her flushed face was the memory of their earlier embrace, but Franz, the very person involved, remained oblivious.

And so, right after Franz and Justia made a fuss over his hangover, the other three also woke up.

Whether they hadn’t drunk that much, or they were just naturally resistant to alcohol, they didn’t seem to have a hangover.

Then again, Ariane is from the North, where wine is a specialty, and Hera must have frequently drunk fruit wine with the Elves. And as for Yuna… one would even like to know if she *can* get drunk in the first place.

Anyways, seems like not that big a problem, thank god….

“Tower Master, can we talk for a bit…?”

“Now…?”

In the end, Franz had to get an earful from Arian.

Something about how it wasn’t right to make everyone sleep in the room, how could he drink so recklessly, and so on. Each word was true, leaving him speechless.

But then, Arian, mid-sentence, suddenly turned red in the face. And to top it off, she started to stutter.

Franz was a bit puzzled by her behavior, but thought, ‘Ah, guess she’s really mad,’ and brushed it aside.

Truth be told, Arian’s blush was because of what happened last night, but she had no intention of bringing it up.

And so, after that chaotic morning, came lunch.

Everyone gathered in the Tower Master’s office, settling their stomachs with Franz’s special hangover soup.

Arian spoke.

“Tower Master, what are your plans for today?”

Plans….

Truth is, there wasn’t much left to do in the tower. Each department was running smoothly, and the clerks they had hired previously were doing their jobs well. At most, he might have to deal with a few documents.

But, outside of that, there was a very important matter left.

“I’m thinking of going on an estate inspection.”

It’s my land, I should go at least once.

And help out Director Yuna while I’m at it.