LosFra - Character Story - Karula

---Encounter:

Karula: Pleased to meet you. I am named Karula.

Karula: Feel free to call me Karula.

---Chapter 1:

Akuta: Kwa... Fwaaah~...

Akuta: I'm getting sleepy. I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I'll go straight to bed.

Subordinate man: Akuta-sama, I apologize for coming so late.

Subordinate man: I would like to ask something of you... Would you make some of your time for me?

Akuta: Sure, I don't mind.

Subordinate man: Thank you very much.

Discreetly opening the sliding screen, the karaza subordinate entered the room.

Akuta: So, what do you need?

Subordinate man: I have been investigating the wine cellars in Karaza.

Subordinate man: It is when I found odd the alarming rate at which the number of sake jug were dropping...

Subordinate man: During the course of my investigation, I could confirm they were clearly being depleted faster than the regular demand would presume.

Akuta: Hum... So you're thinking someone's been stealing them?

Subordinate man: Yes, I am afraid...

Akuta: Let me just ask you this, are only sake jugs being stolen?

Subordinate man: I cannot say for other locations... though I believe it to be the case.

Akuta: Got it. Thank you for working so late. I'll take over from here, go and get some rest.

Subordinate man: Very well. Thank you, Akuta-sama.

Akuta: Theft targeting exclusively sake jugs... And considering Karaza's strict security, it's coming from the inside.

Akuta: I have someone that comes to mind about this... I'll start by asking this person directly.

Karula: I have come answering your invitation.

Akuta: Sorry to call you late into the night.

Karula: Fufu, are we not in good enough terms for this?

Karula: Would it be acceptable of me to have certain expectations in regards to such a late invitation.

She titled her sake bottle.

Akuta: No, we're not drinking tonight. I have summoned you here to ask you a question.

Akuta: Not long ago, I received a report about sake jugs disappearing from cellars.

Karula: Oh, is that so? Thieves are scary indeed.

Akuta: And basically, I can't allow a criminal to get away with it. Karula, do you have any idea about this?

Karula: Unfortunately, I cannot say I do.

Karula: In any case, to infiltrate Karaza for the sole purpose of stealing alcohol... I don't know if I should call it courage, of foolishness.

Akuta: Yeah, and that's why I'm assuming it's coming from the inside.

Karula: ...My. Do you happen to have a clue regarding who the culprit may be?

Akuta: Who knows?

Karula: Fufu. I will be sure to deliver you this sake thief if I were to run into them.

Karula: If that is all, if you may excuse me. I will bring you a present next time.

Akuta: (I poked around a lot, but I couldn't get her to admit it. Though I'm sure of one thing, she's the culprit.)

Akuta: (Which now begs the question, how do I get a confession out of her...)

Akuta: !!

Akuta: Kuku, with my secret plan.

Akuta: (Now then, is she coming tonight or not...)

Akuta: (I tried considering cellars which haven't fallen victim yet, and even if it's not Karula, this one's sure to get their attention.)

Akuta: (Too bad though, it's a trap. The sake in here has been distilled so much and is so strong it could set someone on fire.)

Akuta: (Silver vine-like stuff has been added as a bonus. The effects of this will be extraordinary.)

Akuta: (And while they're out drunk, I come out of my hiding spot and capture them. If this isn't a truly perfect plan I don't know what is.)

Karula: What might you be doing here?

Akuta: !?

He heard a voice behind him, which caused what felt like his heart bursting out of his chest.

Karula: Aah... You are on guard against the sake thief, aren't you?

Akuta: W...Well, that's basically it. Anyway, what have you come here for?

Karula: Isn't the moon beautiful tonight? I was in search of a nice place to treat myself to some sake while admiring it.

Karula: Sake you drink alone is a treat, but in my opinion, sake you drink together is much better. Would you be interested?

Akuta: Huh...

Akuta: (I meant to stay hidden, but this calls for a change of plan. I'll get her to confess directly while she's drunk.)

Akuta: Rather than waiting for a thief who's probably not going to come, I'd rather drink with you.

Karula: I recognize you there. Then-

Akuta: Aah, wait. I got some special sake on hand.

Karula: Oh, I see you planned to drink from the start.

Akuta: Yeah. ...You can have the first cup. I'm sure you'll like it.

Karula: Fufu, it must be quite the exceptional sake for you to say that. I can't wait.

Karula: Please accept this as a token of gratitude.

Akuta: ...Woh. Have mine in return.

Karula: Fufu. I can feel the flavor spreading through me... I enjoy it.

Akuta: Glad you like it.

Akuta: (Of course you do. There's silver vine in there, even a strong sake enjoyer like you would fall for it.)

Akuta: Aah, delicious. I could keep drinking it forever.

Akuta: The way you drink says a lot about how much you like it. No need to hold back. Go ahead, have as many as you'd like.

Karula: How considerate...

Karula: Heh, I wonder what you're like drunk. Woman and flowers are dyed in red, you know.

Akuta: Fufu, aren't you a lecher?

Akuta: (She really is gulping it down... This is pretty high in alcohol, she should've been drunk from the start normally.)

Karula kept on drinking more sake, without showing any sign of slowing down.

Akuta: (She's as calm as ever... Did I give her the wrong jug?)

Akuta: (I don't see any other explanation to her face not changing in color in the slightest. I'll have to make sure.)

Akuta chose a moment when Karula had put her jug down to pour its contents into his own cup.

Akuta: !!

Akuta: (Urgh... I know I'm the one who made it, but I didn't think it would be this intense...)

Karula: Fufu, what a brisk drinker. Here, your cup is empty.

Akuta: T-Thanks...

Akuta's consciousness was fading due to the sheer intensity of the liquor.

Karula: My?

As he was barely holding on, something could be heard cracking.

Karula: How could I allow myself to drop my cup, such carelessness.

Karula: It cannot be helped, we shall now share the same cup.

Karula: Hm, gulp, gulp...

After snatching his cup away, filling and emptying it in an instant, she held out the now empty cup to him.

Akuta: ...Me too?

Karula: Yes. That is what I'm implying.

Akuta: (Did she drop her own on purpose? This will go on until one of us collapse- Damn, she got me!)

Akuta: Hm, gulp, gulp... Pwah!

Karula: How impressive. My turn...

Akuta: (Crap... I won't...)

Akuta: (Hold on much...)

Akuta: (......)

Akuta: Uh...

Akuta: Where am I...?

Akuta: Urgh...!

As soon as he stood up, Akuta was struck with a strong headache.

Karula: You shouldn't move so carelessly.

Akuta: Ka...rula...? Why are you-

Akuta: !!

Karula: I just told you, what an unreasonable man.

Her words were sharp, but her gaze was kind.

Akuta: I just realized, I can feel something soft under my head... This is your lap, isn't it?

Akuta: ...I can't believe how well you can hold your liquor.

Karula: My, so it genuinely was special sake only for me.

Akuta: Yeah, to catch your thieving butt.

Akuta: I thought I'd arrest you while you were dead drunk- At least that was the plan.

Akuta: Jeez... How did it end up like this.

Akuta: So you weren't aware? The Giriyagina cannot become intoxicated no matter the strength of the alcohol.

Akuta: What... did you... If only I knew it from the start, this would've been avoided...

Karula: Fufu, I must give you my thanks. The sake from this cellar was delicious.

Akuta: You actually did it...

Involuntary shifting his gaze towards Karula, she smiled discreetly.

Karula: Please do not worry. I plan to work enough so that I can repay all the sake I drank.

Karula: ...If you would accept the heads of slain enemies, that is.

Akuta: Sounds dangerous. But well, I'll be looking forward to your work, it'll profit me too.

Akuta: Not that I would expect a free spirit like you to be bound by anyone.

Akuta: I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just that I wouldn't find it unthinkable for you to up and disappear one day.

Karula: My, I may not look like it, but I have a strong sense of duty. I will not run away until I have repaid my debt.

Karula: ...I will obviously require payment in sake however, but considering my strength, I would say this is a cheap fee.

Akuta: Come on, that's a low blow...

Akuta: Work to repay your sake. He who does not work, neither shall he drink.

Karula: Fufu, as it is coming from you.

Karula: Yes. You can expect great feats.