Afterparty (2)
[Gulp, gulp, gulp!]
Aqua pressed the glass to her lips and drained it in one go.
[Sniff, sniff, sniff!]
Jeong Ri-on's three sylphs buried their noses in the glasses filled with crystal dew and greedily inhaled the aroma. Sylphs couldn't consume liquids—they could only partake in the scents of food. Once the aroma fully dissipated, they called it "all eaten up."
Aqua emptied her second glass and reached for the third. She held the glass in hand and stared intently at the sylphs for a moment. When the sylphs, midway through their second glasses, noticed her gaze and turned their heads, Aqua smirked.
[You're slow.]
It was sweet revenge. With a perfectly casual expression, she brought the third glass to her lips.
[Sl-slow...?]
[Us...?]
[The friends of the wind, rulers of the open sky, slow...?]
The sylphs trembled in outrage and exchanged glances. Nodding vigorously with furious faces, they plunged their noses back into the crystal dew. Soon, one sylph peeled off.
[Ugh, no more cinnamon scent...!]
[Number Three!]
[Focus, Number Two! We're fighting for the honor of all sylphs!]
The sylphs pushed through and cleared their second glasses. They shoved the now aroma-less glasses aside and dove into the third.
[Grr...! Number One, I can't take any more ginger scent...!]
[Just hold on a bit longer! We can do this!]
[Ahh, I can see the Spirit King...]
[No! Don't cross that river!]
Pathetic cheers aside, the second sylph retched and collapsed. Meanwhile, Aqua was already downing her fifth glass.
The lone remaining sylph gazed solemnly at her fallen comrades, then steeled herself toward Aqua.
[I will never give up!]
She plunged her nose into the crystal dew. Splash! Whether from poor aim or sheer force, her head dunked right in. She went limp on the spot.
I fished the sylph out of the glass.
[Huuuugh...]
Her eyes were spinning—her stomach must have been in utter turmoil.
[What is this? Dying over something this trivial?]
Aqua, having drained her fifth glass, planted her hands on her hips triumphantly.
[My victory!]
Aqua, now tinged with an indescribably bizarre hue, lifted her head proudly.
[As expected of Lady Aqua!]
[So cool!]
[Lady Aqua drinks beverages like a champ!]
The undines, practically Aqua's fan club, chanted her name enthusiastically from the table.
[Hehehe!]
Fountains sprouted from Aqua's shoulders.
"Aigoo..."
Jeong Ri-on shook his head as he approached. He scooped up the sylphs, who were sprawled on the floor like they were waiting for death.
"Challenging a water spirit to a drinking contest."
He tucked them into a small pouch he was carrying. Now that I looked, it seemed designed as their carrier.
[Hmph!]
Aqua tilted her chin up at Jeong Ri-on. He chuckled and patted her head.
"Does beating mid-tier sylphs make a Spirit King this happy?"
[Weren't there three of you?]
"...No argument there."
Aqua swatted his hand away and quickly straightened her hair with both hands. Jeong Ri-on glanced at me and nodded toward the balcony.
"Care to talk for a sec?"
Jang Gilsan was out there too. Looked like the three of us had something to discuss.
[Lady Aqua!]
[Lady Aqua!]
The undines clambered onto the table and toddled over to her.
[Heehee! Come here, everyone!]
I smiled at the sight and headed to the balcony.
* * *
Jang Gilsan stood alone on the balcony, facing the breeze. I followed Jeong Ri-on out.
"What's up?"
Jeong Ri-on closed the balcony door. "Do you remember the name Han Dong-su?"
I rummaged through my mental contacts. It rang a bell, but nothing specific came up.
"The staffer who offered you the ad model gig at the water park?"
"Ah!"
That clicked. It was after Aqua's surfing boot camp, when we'd played at the water park. The guy who'd been impressed by us and asked us to model for an ad. Niagara had been priority back then, so I'd turned him down.
Jeong Ri-on grinned. "Your schedule's free now. Time to shoot that ad."
I blinked in surprise. "An ad?"
"Yeah. Water park promo. Gotta get it out before summer ends."
Me and Aqua in an ad. The words felt surreal. But one issue nagged first.
Everyone knew Phoenix Resort belonged to Phoenix Guild. If I shot their promo, people would assume I was a Phoenix hunter.
Ads are usually done by guild members.
I planned to go freelance as a spirit user—freelancers could advertise for any guild. But with me, Jeong Ri-on, and Jang Gilsan—Phoenix and Union Guilds—it could get awkward. I'd told them I wouldn't join either.
"So." I turned to Jang Gilsan. "You being here means you're okay with the shoot?"
He nodded. "We'll shoot ours too."
I didn't follow. "One ad for Phoenix, one for Union? Two ads total?"
"Problem solved."
His usual deadpan tone. Yeah, that fixed it.
I stared at them, dumbfounded. Me and Aqua in two ads? With Korea's top guilds?
No joking on their faces—just waiting for my okay.
Then it hit me again: my position.
Korea's first Spirit King contractor.
We weren't fully there power-wise yet, but Niagara's relic from the Spirit Realm gave it legitimacy. Acting clueless would diminish Aqua.
I shoved aside my inner awkwardness and smiled. "Guess I should call you two my sponsors now?"
Glad acceptance.
* * *
As night deepened, the guests left. I pulled out the sashimi I'd set aside. Time for round two with friends.
We gathered around a low table, chopsticks flying.
"Whoa, so fresh!"
"Seafront sashimi has this nutty savoriness..."
Han Areum and Han Deuri, the Seoul country bumpkins, chatted.
"Sunbae, what's this fish?"
"Rockfish."
"This one?"
"Flatfish."
"And this?"
"Sea bass."
"Oh, so this is sea bass."
Han Areum poked a piece and held it to the light, marveling.
"Know rockfish?"
"Not that rockfish from the 'Why rockfish?' song?"
Her random quip cracked me up. She beamed, satisfied, dipped it in sauce, and popped it in.
"Mmm!"
She covered her mouth, giggling at the taste. I took a piece, lightly soy-dipped it. The fresh chewiness danced on my tongue.
Hours later, still this texture.
Maybe the fridge maturation added umami.
[Chit!]
Mandu scarfed his share eagerly.
"It just calls for drinks!"
Han Areum grabbed her soju. Unlike me, the siblings enjoyed booze.
[Oh! Cheers time!]
Aqua clutched her cola with both hands. Couldn't let her down, so I lifted mine—suddenly all eyes on me.
The mood screamed toast speech. I chuckled, gave a light shake.
"Cheers."
No need for long thanks among us. Smiles spread.
"Cheers!"
[Cheers!]
Glasses clinked merrily; gulps followed.
"Kuh..."
"Kuhuh..."
Han Areum and Han Deuri grimaced dramatically, chopsticks darting to the next bite. Their appetites cleared the plate fast. No worries, though—plenty of spicy stew fixings for 20 servings.
I set a pot on the burner, added the broth, fish bones, and radish Uncle'd packed.
[Wait!]
Aqua jumped in.
[I'll cast a spell to make the stew delicious!]
She cupped her hands to her chest.
Whoosh!
Supreme Healing Water poured into the pot.
"Aqua's treating her friends right."
[Heeheehee!]
I gently stroked her cheek. Watching the healing-water-packed stew boil, the siblings swallowed hard.
"That's the cosmetic stuff, right?"
"Yeah. Millions, tens of millions per bottle."
"Safe to eat?"
"Kinda iffy?"
"Give it to our skin."
"Time for some face pampering after sunscreen hell."
They plotted slathering stew on their faces.
"Don't mess with food."
"But Healing Water deserves respect!"
"Hear hear!"
Stronger pushback than expected—especially from Han Areum.
"You into that stuff?"
"What girl isn't skin-obsessed? Even grannies slap on lotion!"
Knowing Healing Water's price and women's frenzy for it, I shut up.
[Want Healing Water? I'll massage you tomorrow!]
"M-massage?"
Han Areum perked up. "From Aqua?"
[Yep. But...]
"You've been hogging that, sunbae? No wonder you looked extra handsome lately!"
"Uh... thanks...?"
She eyed me with betrayal and thick envy, then hugged Aqua tight, whispering.
"Aqua, live with unnie? I'll treat you way better than Hyunwoo sunbae."
[Heeheehee! Sorry. You're nice, but Hyunwoo's the best!]
Han Areum feigned hurt. "Wah, Aqua dumped me."
[Don't cry!]
Aqua hugged back, patting her. Han Areum blinked, then melted into the comfort.
Meanwhile, the stew boiled over.
"Whoa...!"
"Best dish tonight?"
Eyes wide, they inhaled it, booze forgotten. Aqua beamed.
[Hehehe. Eat slow! More if needed!]
In the end, they devoured it like a meal.
"Ate like champs."
"Gonna gain weight..."
Han Areum rubbed her bloated belly belatedly.
"It's fine, noona. Tasty food's zero calories."
"How bland have your meals been?"
We laughed and chatted. Then a sudden spirit presence—turned to see a wild gnome from the Spirit Realm in the living room.
[Oh?]
Aqua toddled over.
[What brings you here?]
The gnome handed her a baked-brick-like object inscribed with writing. I read over her shoulder.
~Summons~
~New Spirit King, return to the Spirit Realm and prove yourself worthy of the position~