Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Drunken Confessions (3)
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The inn was quiet, empty except for the mother-daughter pair and me.
Pop!
A cheerful sound rang out as the cork was pulled from the bottle.
Dwarf-brewed liquor was on the pricier side among alcohols, so aside from the times I'd served it to Zirnier, I hadn't opened it much myself.
"Eek."
Ellie wrinkled her nose and pinched it shut the moment the potent aroma began wafting through the air.
"The smell's weird."
"Weird smell?"
I chuckled at her cute reaction and asked back. Ellie shook her head vigorously up and down.
It was certainly a strong scent.
Dwarf liquor was harsh enough that you could say people drank it just to get drunk, and the smell wasn't great either.
But surprisingly, plenty sought it out for that fiery yet refreshing gulp down the throat and its uniquely addictive flavor.
Zirnier swears by this stuff too.
In short, booze for hardcore drinkers.
"Might be a bit much for a kid, though?"
"Hmph! I-I'm an 'adult' now too! Booze is totally easy for me! I'm a full-fledged 'grown-up'!"
Ellie put heavy emphasis on "adult" and "grown-up."
You could tell just by looking at her body—no need for her to stress it.
Top 1% elf-grade breasts.
I'd felt it bone-deep while stamping praise on her hips: Ellie had an outstanding figure, even among adult women capable of ovulation.
She might even go ten rounds against the walking sex symbol Diana and come out three wins, seven losses.
I handed the bottle to Diana.
"Diana, pour for Ellie first. They say you learn the ropes from your parents, right?"
Diana looked a little surprised at that.
"P-Parents..."
After a moment recalling her duty as a mother, Diana took the bottle.
"Ellie."
"...Y-Yes!"
Ellie lifted her glass with a slightly tense expression.
It was a bit larger than a soju cup—about the size of a straight glass.
Clear liquid like water poured from the bottle, filling it halfway.
As the glass filled, Ellie's face took on a strange tension.
Next, Ellie took the bottle from Diana and filled her glass too.
A full pour, right to the brim.
"F-Filling it up lots is good, right?"
"..."
I didn't know much about this world's pouring customs either.
Even working at the tavern, I'd mostly hauled beer kegs—I rarely saw people sipping from glasses like this.
Zirnier always went full glass or straight from the bottle.
"...I'm fine with it."
Diana didn't object, so it seemed okay.
With the mother and daughter's glasses filled, it was my turn.
Casually holding out my glass to Ellie, who had the bottle.
"Hehe. Mister. You wanna drink what I pour for you?"
Ellie asked with a smug look.
That grin got under my skin somehow. I immediately shifted my glass.
"Diana, your glass seems too full. Let me take a bit off—"
"Ahh! I-I'll pour for you! Take it from me!"
Only then did Ellie fill my glass.
She looked even more tense and focused than when receiving from Diana.
I gave a wry smile at the liquor filled to the limit of surface tension.
Three glasses lined up full under the table.
Diana's simple side dishes made an impressive spread too.
"To celebrate Balkan returning from the Labyrinth, and Ellie's academy graduation in advance."
"Cheers!"
Diana's brief toast was followed by the clink of glasses.
The real drinking session had begun.
Nothing erases the distance between people quite like alcohol.
Like any drinking party, the slightly awkward conversation between the mother and daughter started deepening as they emptied the bottle.
Each clink of glasses and swallow loosened the tangled stories and emotions bit by bit.
Three years without contact had been far too long, after all.
There were so many unspoken words twisted up inside them, so many unresolved feelings.
But the pair unraveled the knotted threads together, little by little, sharing their stories.
They couldn't resolve everything in one night, but if they kept having sessions like this, the emotions might sort themselves out sooner than expected.
This is family.
I listened to their talk like background music, sinking into a warm contentment.
To me, raised without parents, scenes like this were always fresh... and enviable.
I thought of my one and only family.
Nam Soeun. My sole little sister.
Where the hell did you go...?
A hollow ache settled in one corner of my heart.
Bitter loneliness gnawed at my emotions and mind.
Glug glug—
The sound of my glass filling came from right in front.
Half-full with liquor.
"Something wrong? Your face looks down..."
I looked up to see Diana—cheeks slightly flushed—gazing at me with worry.
"...No, nothing. Just a dizzy spell. More importantly, Ellie... ah."
No need to even ask Diana.
"Ugh... hips... mm... so biiiig... Misteerrr..."
Right beside me, Ellie had face-planted on the table and tapped out.
What the hell is she dreaming about?
Ellie, who'd boasted she was a grown-up and downed them confidently, hadn't even made five glasses before alcohol claimed victory.
"She went down after chugging so eagerly."
"Hehe. She'll learn as she drinks, right?"
Diana smiled softly, a bit tipsy herself.
Her flushed cheeks were redder, her smile warmer and looser.
Beautiful.
A fact I'd always known, but tonight she seemed even prettier than usual. Was I getting tipsy too?
"Shall we keep drinking, just us?"
Diana glanced at Ellie for a moment, then tilted her glass invitingly.
I couldn't refuse that temptation.
"Drinking with you would be my honor, Diana."
Her lips curved mischievously wide at my words.
This time, I filled Diana's glass halfway.
Clink—
The clear, crisp toast rang out, and we emptied our glasses again.
We shared bites of her snacks now and then, chatting away.
Mostly about the Labyrinth or the inn.
"...I see. So that happened again..."
When I mentioned the horror on the fifth floor, Diana's expression darkened briefly, but it faded quickly.
"By the way, how are things with the others lately? Settling in well to Labyrinth City?"
Diana changed the subject.
It had been nearly five months since I'd tripped into this world.
To adapt to Labyrinth City—where modern common sense didn't apply—and to descend the Labyrinth, I'd poured in tons of effort.
The biggest help? People, naturally.
I thought of those around me.
Diana. Ellie. Edelbert. Seriph. Zirnier. Juwel. Joey Hogg. Ramel. Hitorisu...
Benefactors, benefactor's daughter, mentor, saintess, business partner, comrades.
I recalled those who'd left briefly or the unknowns too.
Pet maso slave Kakchi, Jermi, armor knight...
In that short time, I'd met and parted from so many.
Without them, I wouldn't be who I am now.
"Yeah. Lots of people helped out, so I've managed to settle in somehow."
"Good to hear. Who... mainly helped you?"
Without much thought, I named the big contributors at Diana's question.
"Without Edelbert, I'd lack combat experience. Without Zirnier, no good weapon."
Ellie was handling the vital portal analysis too.
Seriph's miracles had been huge.
Separate from trust, the help was undeniable fact.
"...And me."
A murmur so faint it barely registered.
I looked up to see Diana with a bitter expression.
"...To Balkan, I'm... no help at all..."
Her cheeks flushed from drink, lips pressed thin as if tasting defeat.
Eyelashes quivering.
Her reddened eyes were damper than before.
My heart plummeted.
"Just... just someone who feeds you and gives you a place to stay..."
"No! Absolutely not!"
I shouted urgently. A ridiculous misunderstanding.
From Diana's view, I'd listed everyone but her.
She might think she really was useless, just a cook and landlord.
But that wasn't true.
I gripped her trembling right hand firmly with both of mine.
"The reason I didn't group you with the others is because you've helped me far more than anyone."
Who handed warm soup to the me nearly raped by thugs and dumped in an alley?
Who helped me fully with all her heart to carve a place in this world?
Who enveloped me warmly after brutal Labyrinth runs, tending my mental wounds?
All Diana.
In truth, in this brutal Labyrinth City, Diana was the only one I could fully trust.
I poured my heart into every word, every sentence, so my goodwill and affection reached her unfiltered.
"You're the only one in this world I trust completely."
At that, Diana's half-lidded eyes snapped wide open.
Her beautiful amber eyes glistened with emotion, shining brighter.
The reflection in Diana's eyes: a man with a shattered helmet.
Yes. The helmet.
To tear down psychological walls between people, you start by baring your face.
In my case, it came last, but that had its merits.
If the walls crumbled first and hearts connected, then no matter the looks, it proved they saw my inner self.
No more masks before Diana.
"I hope this proves I trust you completely."
"Balkan. What..."
I smiled at her flustered face.
Then, reached for the helmet.
Diana's eyes widened gradually.
She seemed to guess what I was about to do.
Click.
The clasp released with a sound in the silent inn.
Carefully, I removed the helmet.
On Diana's lower abdomen, a pink womb tattoo surfaced.