Hungover Homecoming and Mystic Rewards

"I'm never drinking again." "Ugh... what time is it...?"

I clutched my pounding head and sat up, finding myself in a house made of rough sandstone. Still inside the tower? My clear time's gotta be insane. I might have to challenge the same floor again after leaving this one.

...But where the hell am I?

It looked like something out of a TV travel show—those ones focused on world cultures. Definitely not the resistance camp, at least. The vibe screamed that village where we'd gone to hunt the black mage. But I had no memory of barging into someone's house. What did I do yesterday after taking down the black mage...?

"Ah."

The villagers had thrown a feast to celebrate, and I'd gone all out on the booze. Flashes of my drunken antics flooded my mind. Damn it, why do I remember these things so crystal clear...?

So this must be the village chief's place.

"Oh, you're awake?"

A familiar voice. It was Kim Ha-yeon. She hadn't touched the booze much, apparently, and greeted me looking perfectly fine. Wait—if she's sober, does that mean she watched all my embarrassing bullshit with a clear head?

Seeing her brought back yesterday's haze: me, blackout drunk, clinging to her and begging for hugs...

...I'm screwed.

Three months—no, generously five months—worth of teasing ammo, all in one night.

Kim Ha-yeon walked over, set down a glass of water, and started revving up the mockery.

"You were like a total kid—no alcohol tolerance at all. And you were acting all tough about it last night?"

"Ahem..."

"Know the proof on what you drank?"

No clue. I think I passed out after about seven glasses... So, like soju level? I'm not some heavy drinker, so I had no gauge on how strong that jujube palm wine was.

...Plus, my head throbbed too much to think ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠straight.

"They said it's just homemade village brew. No distillation, so around 5%?"

"What...? 5%?"

So I blacked out on a few glasses of wine...?

I wasn't some booze snob, but passing out on 5% proof wasn't normal. Was it the body change? The image of me yesterday, draped over Kim Ha-yeon and whining, was horrifying.

"No more booze for me. No more booze. No more booze..."

"It'd be okay once in a while, right?"

I shot her a baffled look, and she started rambling excuses.

"I-I mean, they said even kids drink jujube palm wine here. It's good for your liver, boosts immunity, eye health, diet..."

"...Can we just get outta the tower first?"

Her listing off the health benefits made my head spin worse. I craved Seoul's fresh air over this sandstorm-filled tower. To a city kid, smog is fresh air, mmhm.

With Kim Ha-yeon supporting me, we stepped outside, and every villager's eyes locked on us. Some bowed in thanks; others pushed for statues of the "two brave adventurers."

...They wouldn't actually build them, right?

As we headed out amid their enthusiastic send-off, the couple who'd first asked for help approached.

"Dragon-nim, thank you for avenging our daughter..."

"This is meager, but our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thanks. A heirloom passed down in our family."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The item from the couple was a gem—orange? Yellow? Hard to tell. Name's Desert Topaz, I guess?

I peered at it closely, and the familiar hologram popped up.

The status window just showed the name—no details. Like that Desert Ruby before. Why so secretive? Just spill it already.

At least it popped up, so it's an item. Oh yeah, I've got a walking strategy guide.

I held out the Desert Topaz to Kim Ha-yeon. "Hmm... looks like an item, but no description?"

"What? You're not my strategy guide anymore?"

"...What do you take me for? Never seen it."

Extra reward, and even she doesn't know? Mystic-difficulty exclusive? If so, no info anywhere. Who's else clearing Mystic besides me?

Anyway, these desert gems' secrets probably reveal as I climb higher. Tower dropped 'em, so the tower knows.

Time to bail. I flapped hard toward the resistance camp, clear on hold.

I figured gem hints would come while climbing, but I found answers faster—figured out their use.

After mopping up the last puppets for clear.

A whopping 38-hour clear time, yet my score crushed second place. How much do they weight Mystic points?

Glad I held rank. No monster kills meant no magistones, but I got something better: Ring of the Forgotten Royal Family.

I stared at the perfectly sized ring. Had to check status—takes time.

No description mentioned it, but five slots. Instinct said: slot the desert gems.

Desert Ruby snapped into a matching slot like a magnet. Ring status updated entirely.

"Ooh...!"

As expected, new effect. Brutal 30-day cooldown, but death ward? Top-tier for hunters dancing on death's edge.

Gems unlock effects—I slotted the Topaz without hesitation.

Defensive again, but defense? You can never have enough.

Slipped the ring on my right index finger, hit exit on the now-pointless tower.

Bursted out amid colorful lights—long time no see.

"Whoa... fresh air at last."

"Yep, nothing refreshes a Seoulite like smog."

I whipped out my phone—hunter habit. No signal in towers/gates.

Only told ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seol-ah my plans, so maybe one message?

...More than expected.

Flow was simple: "Have fun!" then panic since I usually did one-day clears but took two.

Heading home might mean facing Seol-ah's manic affection.

Kim Ha-yeon checked her phone too, face turning serious—unlike me.

"What? Everything okay?"

"Nah... kinda awkward contact."

Probably her old tower party. Sigh, so Lee Ha-neul and Kim Ha-yeon's expedition ends solo again?

"...Guess I can't join climbs for a bit."

Wait, that was half-joking. Bummer. Lousy guide, but good company.

Oh well. B-ranks are busy.

Bade her farewell, threaded dark alleys to our cozy home.

"Phew... nervous."

Seol-ah probably waited, violent love incoming.

Wait, why tense entering my house?

Anyway, psyched up, opened the door.

"You're finally back!!!"

Oh crap. Needed more prep.

"I missed this chonky tail..."

"..."

Not me—the tail? Fits the reptile-obsessed psycho.

She glomped me. No clue why, but it felt like home.

Take it back. Might abandon this house?

Just fought a black monster in tower—now facing gross black bug.

"There! Under the sink...!"

"Kyyyaaaah!"

"If you're home, at least clean!"

"I did...! I did...!"

Seol-ah shivered, protesting innocence at the cockroach.

Old house? Yeah, cheap Seoul outlier. Hunter cash made flaws glaring.

Yielded house to roach, waited out exterminators outside with Seol-ah.

"Sigh..."

"What now...?"

Calmed by fresh air, situation sucked: house infested, comfy home clothes showing dragon traits.

Inbyeol had pics, but I hid enough—no instant ID.

Pondering shelter, Seol-ah slyly pulled phone.

"Oppa, photo of this fit okay...?"

"...Knock yourself out."

Dolphin shorts, tank top—only ultra-comfy stuff.

Underwear-level bliss; could hit convenience store like this.

Irresistible. Her phone clicked endlessly till satisfied.

"Inbyeol okay...?"

"Lemme see first."

Just me standing. Fine for public.

"Hehe, hehahaha!"

"You still on Inbyeol?"

Not rank 1 or rare gear—why brag this?

Bored, watched her account.

"Wanna see mine? Gallery's..."

"Gallery?"

Even influencers have communities?

"Yeah! Stuffed with cuties!"

"Ah."

"Curated masterpieces filling the feed."

...To me, multi-angle shots of me in situations.

Who views this? But reactions differed.

Huh, total opposite of Hunter Gallery vibes.

Scrolling Inbyeol, saw bell icon at 99+.

"Why ignore that?"

"Eh? It's fine...!"

"What is it?"

Snatched her phone—DM flood.

Some positive, but tons sleazy. Jailbait risks galore.

"I block as they come... but too many..."

Yep, world's the same everywhere.