The Hangover
“How is this any of your business?”
“……Huh?”
Hana Lin froze at Kim Ilshin’s words. She stood there, momentarily dazed, before resuming her walk as if nothing had happened. She asked, “…What is that supposed to mean?”
“…….”
Silence followed. When no answer came despite her waiting, Hana Lin asked again.
“Well? I asked you what that meant.”
But again, there was no reply.
“Hey, answer me…!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Hana Lin looked up, and only then did she discover that Kim Ilshin had lost consciousness.
“……*Sigh*.”
The mood suddenly plummeted. With a heavy sigh, Hana Lin supported Kim Ilshin and opened the bedroom door. She went inside, laid him on the bed, and sat on a chair nearby. Originally, she had intended to leave immediately after tucking him in, but she couldn't do that now.
“…He didn’t collapse because he was sick, did he?”
A sudden wave of anxiety stopped her in her tracks. He had consumed beer much stronger than the ordinary kind, on top of drinking so much Captain W; it would be strange if his body wasn't suffering. Even if he were a dwarf like Park Gwang-seok, Kim Ilshin was human, and he couldn't be safe from dangers like acute alcohol poisoning. Even if superhumans who had mastered mana possessed bodies superior to ordinary people, they weren't invincible.
Hana Lin stood up and placed her hand under Kim Ilshin’s nose. Fortunately, his breathing was steady and regular. There didn't seem to be anything wrong. He was truly sleeping like the dead. Still, she felt she should keep watching him, just in case.
Sitting back down, Hana Lin pulled out a notebook and began to read. She had intended to review the stabilization process for the Hyeonwol sword in her spare time. Since the permit to use the Mountain Range Workshop would likely be issued soon, it was no exaggeration to say that everything now depended on her hands. Hana Lin began to focus immediately, though she didn't forget to check on Kim Ilshin’s condition every once in a while.
About an hour passed when a memory suddenly surfaced.
‘“How is this any of your business……” that’s what he said.’
The words he had spoken while she was supporting him to this place were still circling in her mind.
‘Does that mean I’m not a stranger to him…?’
Stranger, outsider, someone else. Hana Lin had lived a life accustomed to such words. She had lost her family in her early childhood, and she had never formed a personal connection with anyone she met afterward. Ironically, the biggest reason for this was her exceptional talent. Because her talent had stood out from a young age, the dwarves around her evaluated her only as a blacksmith. Even Hwang Deok-soo was just someone she was closer to than others; he was still an outsider. He was a mayor who was kind to everyone, after all. Even the humans she met after leaving Jangsan-gul only maintained the relationship of shop owner and customer. Those who occasionally approached her only did so because they wanted to use her.
Because of this, Hana Lin had lived in a world of her own until now, and she had long since become accustomed to loneliness. But Kim Ilshin had just said it. That it wasn't someone else’s business. She didn't know the exact meaning, but it was true that her heart had felt a bit touched when she heard those words.
‘……I don’t know. Let’s just keep reviewing.’
Overcome by a sudden, inexplicable shyness, Hana Lin fixed her gaze on her notebook.
Scratch. Scratch.
A long time passed after that, and until the morning sun rose, Hana Lin continued to keep watch by Kim Ilshin’s side.
“…Ugh.”
Waking from a deep sleep, I opened my eyes to see the ceiling of a room bathed in bright, sunny light. Naturally, it was a ceiling I had never seen before. I clutched my throbbing head and sat up. My stomach was aching, and I desperately needed a hangover cure. I stared blankly ahead, recalling my memories before falling asleep.
‘I won the drinking contest, and then Hana Lin supported me as we went upstairs. And then we were talking about something… and I must have fallen asleep then. So Hana Lin must have brought me here.’
Since my mind had been clear until the very end, there were no mistakes or missing gaps. The hangover didn't seem as severe as I had thought, either. Aside from my head and stomach hurting a little, there were no problems. It was the kind of hangover that would be fine after a short rest and a meal.
‘At this level, it’s basically non-existent.’
Considering the amount of alcohol I had consumed, it was a great stroke of luck to end up like this. Even with a superhuman body, it would be difficult to be this fine after drinking 45 glasses of beer and 7 glasses of Captain W. It seemed my [Strength(A)] and [Regeneration(A)] talents had worked hard while I slept.
‘First, let’s drink some water….’
Just as I was about to move to quench my thirst, Hana Lin, who had approached the bedside at some point, held out a cup with steam rising from it. Judging by the sweet smell, it seemed to be honey water.
“…Thanks.”
I took the cup and immediately took a sip. The honey water had a sweet yet slightly sour taste.
‘This is amazing.’
The drink Hana Lin gave me didn't seem like the ordinary honey water I knew. As soon as I drank it, my aching stomach settled all at once. It felt as if it were coating my throat and stomach firmly.
“It’s a dwarf-made hangover cure. All dwarves drink this after they’ve been drinking.”
As expected, it wasn't just honey water. As a race that lived with alcohol, the efficacy of their hangover cure was in a different league from those on the market. I was even curious why they didn't mass-produce and sell it. With a hangover cure of this level, they could rake in the money.
“It’s not that we don’t sell it; we can’t. The ingredients are expensive, and we have to make them one by one.”
Hearing that, it was an item that didn't fit the conditions for external sales. ‘Well, if they could sell it, they would have done so already.’ With such idle thoughts, I finished the rest of the hangover cure. Thanks to the excellent effect of the remedy, all the hangover symptoms that had been building up in my body vanished. It felt like my overall physical condition would be fully recovered after a short rest.
“Did the permit for the Mountain Range Workshop come out?”
When I asked while setting the cup down on the side table, Hana Lin answered immediately.
“It’s already out, and I’ve finished preparing for the work. Now, all that’s left is for you to come and we can start.”
“Really? That’s fast.”
I thought the drinking contest had lasted until dawn, but the permit was already out, and she had even finished the preparations. Even if dwarves were known for their fast work, I wondered if this was even possible.
“Get ready and come out right away. If you’re not careful, we might not be able to finish within today.”
“You seem to be in too much of a hurry.”
Starting the work quickly was something I welcomed, but there was no need to rush like that. Since we had left the Academy for this place on Friday night, it was now Saturday morning. I still had a day left until the day I had to return, so I should have had some leeway.
“……Do you even know what day of the week it is today?”
“…Isn’t it Saturday?”
“*Hoo*….”
Hearing my answer, Hana Lin shook her head and sighed.
“Today is Sunday.”
“……Huh?”
“I said today is Sunday. You slept all through Saturday and only just woke up now.”
“…….”
It was a fact I hadn't even imagined. No wonder my body felt strangely good despite drinking so much. It was because I had literally spent the entire day sleeping, which was why I was at least somewhat sane.
“I’ll go out first, so come out as soon as you’re ready.”
Saying that, Hana Lin went outside, and I immediately went into the bathroom to start showering.
After finishing my preparations, I came out of the tavern and saw Hana Lin waiting in front of it.
“You came quickly. Let’s head out right away.”
“Yeah.”
Kim Ilshin and Hana Lin began to walk toward the Mountain Range Workshop at the northern end of Jangsan-gul. The morning in Jangsan-gul was not much different from the scenery I had seen on Friday night. It seemed as if the scenery here would never change, no matter the time. As I was walking down the road, I spotted a group of dwarves running from the street on the other side.
“It collapsed again? How many times is this now!”
“Think about that later and let’s just get going!”
They were all running toward the entrance, holding shovels and pickaxes. Hearing their conversation, it seemed a mine outside Jangsan-gul had collapsed.
“Why does that keep happening lately?”
“Exactly. There weren't even any earthquakes or heavy rains.”
Hearing the conversation of the passing citizens, I immediately recalled what was happening.
‘Is it starting already?’
A giant rock spirit was sealed in Mt. Geumgang, where the dwarves had settled. It was a very violent and powerful creature, so it would be dangerous if it were released, but there would be no problem as long as the seal wasn't disturbed. However, the dwarves had stimulated it while building Jangsan-gul and various mines. The spirit, having partially broken free from the seal, was causing such abnormal phenomena as it tossed and turned.
‘Still, it’s fine for now.’
The time for the rock spirit to fully awaken was still a long way off. There was no need to worry just yet.
‘Let’s just focus on the stabilization work.’
Having finished those thoughts, I continued to walk toward the Mountain Range Workshop.