Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: The Grand Announcement
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The final day of the Manju Grand Emperor Festival dawned.
When the sun hung high in the midday sky, the moment arrived to select the Great Night Emperor—the grand finale of the festival.
The foremost brewmasters of the world had brought their prized liquors, staking the pride of their regions and their own reputations.
These masterpieces were lined up side by side on the grand table.
As the time came to choose the finest among them, the Manju Association executives began sampling each one in turn.
No matter what they drank, they offered no verbal judgment, simply pouring and sipping the next.
Now it was a time of waiting.
Standing alongside the renowned brewmasters, Byeok Jangho was so tense that his back was ramrod straight, frozen like a statue.
'Do I even belong here?'
As time dragged on, he felt his confidence ebbing away, shrinking inward.
The creators of world-famous elixirs like Golden Diamond Brew and Heaven-Earth Celestial Liquor stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
But he was merely a novice brewer who had inherited his family's distillery not long ago.
By every measure, he couldn't compare.
His head began to bow lower and lower until, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of someone.
'Hyeok the hero...!'
Amid the spectators, Hyeok Mulin gazed at him with an impassive face.
Their eyes met, and Hyeok Mulin simply gave a single nod.
Byeok Jangho froze for a moment, then his eyes began to shine.
'Right. Hyeok the hero believed in me, yet here I am doubting myself.'
Among all the people he'd met, no one possessed insight like Hyeok Mulin.
If such a man said he could do it, why not trust those words over his own doubts?
From Hyeok Mulin's gaze, Byeok Jangho drew hope, courage, and resolve.
With a completely transformed mindset, he waited—and at last, his turn came.
A plain liquor bottle, unmarked by any special pattern.
The Manju Association executive took it, poured shares for the others, and slowly brought his cup to his lips.
And in that instant...
"...!"
Some executives' eyes widened in shock as they pulled their cups away for the first time.
"This is...!"
At that moment, Gaebul spoke up to calm them.
"Don't forget the competition is still ongoing."
The executives flinched and clamped their mouths shut. They stared alternately at the cup and the bottle in silence.
As his turn passed without incident, Byeok Jangho let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn't long before the entire process concluded.
Having sampled every entry, the executives conferred—and reached a decision faster than usual.
"We will now announce the Great Night Emperor selected for this Manju Grand Emperor Festival."
Gaebul stepped forward at the front of the dais and continued.
"Among all the meetings held to choose past Great Night Emperors, this was the quickest to end. The result was unanimous—no deliberation needed."
"Unanimous?"
"One among all those masterpieces was chosen without question?"
"Is that even possible?"
As the crowd's astonishment rippled through, Gaebul revealed the winner.
"The Manju Grand Emperor Festival's supreme brew, worthy of being called the world's finest at this moment, is—!"
He glanced sideways briefly.
Then, lifting the plain bottle, Gaebul shouted.
"Falling Star Liquor, brewed by Craftsman Byeok!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
Cheers and thunderous applause erupted from the spectators, leaving Byeok Jangho's mind blank.
"My brew... was chosen as the Great Night Emperor?"
He'd resolved to hold his head high, hoping for decent praise at best.
But to surpass all others and claim the top spot?
He'd never dreamed of it.
A young upstart like him had ascended to the throne every brewer in the world dreamed of reaching just once in their lifetime.
Dazed and rooted to the spot, he barely registered Gaebul calling him.
"A magnificent brew. In my life, I've never encountered one like this—or even close. Care to give a brief explanation of Falling Star Liquor?"
Gaebul hadn't been able to hide his shock the moment he sipped it.
A bold metallic tang—not fishy—swept across his tongue, followed by a subtle, refreshing sweetness.
A faint effervescence prickled delicately, and as it slid down his throat, it felt like swallowing a shooting star, true to its name.
Afterward, warmth spread through his body, his meridians flowed smoothly, and the energy around his dantian surged stronger.
A pure, clean aftertaste lingered, laced with that mystical metallic note.
It was no ordinary liquor—he knew instantly. He desperately wanted another sip.
But as host, he'd barely restrained himself and chided the executives to continue.
"This liquor..."
Byeok Jangho, holding the Falling Star Liquor, spoke slowly.
"...owes its existence to Hyeok the hero's words."
Hyeok Mulin had recalled a brew from his past life and uttered one phrase.
'Iron taste.'
That sparked the image of iron pears in Byeok Jangho's mind.
Seeds that sprouted amid veins rich in premium ores.
He'd finely ground seven varieties alongside those iron pears, aged them, and finished with his unique brewing method. That was Falling Star Liquor.
It was his dream, bottled—a shooting star from the night sky.
Hearing this, Gaebul's gaze shifted back to Hyeok Mulin.
'Him again.'
One name had dominated every day of the festival. By now, the mere sight of Hyeok Mulin's face made him sick of it.
But today marked the end.
In the end, the choice would fall to the Council Leader, deciding his fate thereafter.
With that thought, Gaebul addressed Byeok Jangho.
"Congratulations. As Great Night Emperor, you'll share a drinking session with the Council Leader tonight. Have extra Falling Star ready?"
"Yes, it's prepared."
"Good."
Nodding, Gaebul called out to everyone.
"Those who earned tokens in the festival's competition, ascend the dais now!"
Hyeok Mulin, Cheon Sumyeong, and the man who'd received a token from Cheon Sumyeong carefully stepped up.
Gaebul noted the tokens in their hands and grasped the situation at once.
'They bought it, I suppose.'
He brushed it off as inconsequential.
No detailed explanations had been given anyway, and the ultimate winner was set.
And there was the one with two tokens.
"The supreme drinker with the highest score in this Manju Grand Emperor Festival, the Manju Master, is—!"
Gaebul pointed at Hyeok Mulin and proclaimed to the crowd.
"Hyeok Mulin!"
"Wooooooooo—!"
To liquor lovers, the title of supreme drinker was the pinnacle of envy. Respect filled their eyes.
Hyeok Mulin himself remained utterly indifferent.
Later, as he reunited with Byeok Jangho and descended the dais, Gaebul called out.
"Token holders and Craftsman Byeok, the brewer of the Great Night Emperor—head to Drunken Moon Hall at sunset."
"Yes!"
The man's eyes gleamed as he replied excitedly.
Cheon Sumyeong and Hyeok Mulin merely turned and walked down calmly.
As Hyeok Mulin stepped off, he meant to offer congratulations, but Byeok Jangho acted first.
He bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude.
"Without you, Hyeok the hero, I could never have stood here. Thank you again."
"Enough. Didn't you say the same before?"
"Gratitude is never enough, no matter how often expressed. It's the depth of my sincerity."
Well, no need to refuse sincere thanks.
Hyeok Mulin accepted it as is.
Moments later, as Byeok Jangho straightened, he ventured cautiously.
"Hyeok the hero, may I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"Among your ventures, do you handle distribution of goods?"
The Hyeok Mulin he'd seen wielded immense wealth and power.
His businesses must span many fields.
Hyeok Mulin answered promptly.
"Yes."
The Myriad Li Merchant Group was already trading rare wares, centered in Xinjiang rather than the Central Plains.
"As expected!"
Byeok Jangho brightened and stated his purpose plainly.
"Then, might I entrust the distribution of my future brews to you?"
"Handing over exclusive distribution rights?"
"Yes, exactly."
It was a proposal nothing but beneficial for Hyeok Mulin.
His fame would soar from the festival, destined to become the world's top brewer someday.
Exclusive handling of Byeok Jangho's liquors?
He could dictate their value, buyers, and markets at will.
Most brewers diversified distribution paths as a matter of course.
"Why give me that authority?"
Byeok Jangho smiled at the question.
"Because you, Hyeok the hero, understand my liquor's worth better than anyone—even better than I do, perhaps."
Trust in Hyeok Mulin.
Byeok Jangho had long since made up his mind.
Seeing that steadfast gaze, Hyeok Mulin smirked.
"Fine. I'll accept."
The world's greatest brewer, Master Mangwoo.
In this life, he'd entrusted his future to Hyeok Mulin.
As sunset faded and the sky turned black, Hyeok Mulin, Cheon Sumyeong, Byeok Jangho, and the man who'd gotten his token from Cheon Sumyeong waited before Drunken Moon Hall.
Despite the long delay, no Manju Association warriors had appeared.
Finally, Cheon Sumyeong spoke.
"We'll wait one more incense stick's time."
But fortunately, he didn't need to act on his impatience.
Gaebul arrived belatedly and led them inside.
Clack.
He opened a door to reveal a banquet in full spread.
Gaebul spoke as he held the door.
"Those with one token, wait here."
The core of this gathering was Craftsman Byeok, brewer of the Great Night Emperor, and Hyeok Mulin, named Manju Master.
Only they would share drinks with the Council Leader.
The man with one token and Cheon Sumyeong would merely sample the Council Leader's fine liquors here.
The man entered with a disappointed look, while Cheon Sumyeong proceeded without reaction.
He'd had no intent to meet the Council Leader anyway.
However...
'Three seats.'
Two token holders.
Yet three seats prepared. Cheon Sumyeong's lips curved faintly.
"Ho..."
With a hazy smile, he nodded to Hyeok Mulin.
"Go on."
Clack.
The door shut behind them. Hyeok Mulin and Byeok Jangho followed Gaebul further.
At last, he stopped before the final door.
After a deep breath, he called out softly.
"Council Leader. We've arrived."
"Enter."
A raspy male voice came from within. Gaebul stepped aside and opened the door.
Creak—
A low table came into view, laden with over a dozen liquor bottles. And in the seat of honor sat a middle-aged man.
He slowly raised his head, locking eyes directly with Hyeok Mulin.
"Come in."
Drunk Badge Maniac.
The Uncontrollable Liquor King.
The moment had come to face the mad calamity born of liquor.