Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 78
Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing — Chapter 78
The liquor that gave this tavern its name was ‘Oak Barrel Pickles.’
An ordinary person would feel their whole body pickling in an oak barrel the moment they drank one glass, and even famed heavyweights of drinking were said to crawl on all fours like a dog after two or three glasses.
“Hey, isn’t that a bit harsh on the young master?”
“Nah. Better to cut him off after one.”
The patrons watched their match with keen interest.
Meanwhile, Lion—the center of everyone’s attention—was…
completely at ease.
He had come prepared!
[Sobriety Potion]
- Protects your liver like the rabbit of old legend!
- Chug before drinking! No amount of alcohol will get you drunk!
And—
[Hangover Relief Potion]
- No matter what or how much you drink, this makes you tomorrow’s winner!
- Effect is even better when used with the Sobriety Potion!
The effects were simple.
Drinking the ‘Sobriety Potion’ beforehand made you immune to intoxication regardless of the alcohol you consumed.
Then, drinking the Hangover Relief Potion after finishing your night could prevent the dreaded pounding hangover.
‘Sort of like a modern-day “Condition 808,” I guess.’
Of course, that was a beverage and this was a potion, so the effects were worlds apart.
The dwarf, Giant’s Stride, who hadn’t a clue about any of this, picked up the bottle and filled Lion’s glass to the brim.
The oak-colored liquor filled the glass, and Lion took the bottle and poured the same amount.
Lion raised his glass.
And—
The two cups clinked cheerfully, a few drops splashing to the floor and emitting a rich oaky aroma.
And so, one drink.
“Kwaaah!”
Stride let out a deep breath at the sharp sensation that unmistakably mapped out his esophagus and stomach.
The smell of alcohol already wafted strongly from him.
In contrast, Lion.
‘Feels just like drinking water.’
Was thoroughly enjoying the potion’s effects!
He could taste the slightly bitter edge of the alcohol, the aroma of aged liquor, and even the subtle sweetness and tanginess—yet there was no sensation of getting drunk.
There wasn’t even any heat in his throat, nor any slight tingling on his tongue.
If he could have used this before the possession, he could have cut down on the most wasteful half-day morning leave in the world…
‘Well, these days 365 days a year are a holiday, anyway.’
In any case, Lion had one goal.
To wait for Stride to get drunk and naturally enter the village!
And so, a second drink.
A third.
When over half the bottle was gone.
“S-So, that sword, you see… my brother…”
“Right. I see.”
“That sword, it isn’t an ordinary sword…”
“I’m listening.”
Sober as could be, Lion listened to the utterly intoxicated dwarf’s story.
He had already won the bet, and on top of that, he’d come to learn the dwarf’s name and a brief outline of his circumstances.
His name was ‘Giant’s Stride.’ Apparently it hadn’t been his name at birth, but he grew so incredibly fast day by day that his parents gave him a new name.
He had an older brother named Mudu, who took really good care of him, but one day left.
That threw the family into disarray, and then the story about how relatives, shocked by the Bydantis Succession Struggle a few years back, fought over stopping weapon production.
“Sickening! To use my babies, that I made, to slaughter our own kind!”
“I made swords to defend! I don’t want to make weapons that kill!”
“But then what do we live on!”
“Is there any guarantee those swords won’t one day attack us? If my own child is ever stabbed by a sword I forged…!”
“Outwardly, we said it was to make the best weapons. But in truth, hic, it was really this.”
Even as chief, he was losing the volcanic passion he once had.
“I’m a washout as chief. Sniffle.”
He’d even ended up seeing the dwarf drunk and crying.
‘I hadn’t intended to learn this much about his situation.’
In any case, he’d just listened to all the stories one could tell under the influence of alcohol.
Having heard Stride out, Lion slowly rose from his seat.
At his perfectly sober appearance, the onlookers collectively dropped their jaws.
“Whoa!”
“Wow, he drinks like a fish! A total fish!”
“Is this young master living like there’s no tomorrow? The hangover from this stuff is terrible!”
[Achievement ‘Down the Hatch’ completed.]
- Resistance probability to various status ailments increases by 3.
He got an achievement into the bargain.
“I think it’s time we leave. I’ll see you home.”
“Puuu…”
Stride breathed out heavily, his mind fuzzy, and rose from his seat.
The tavern keeper looked at him with a pitying expression.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that fellow drunk. I’ll put the drinks on his tab.”
“What’re you saying…! I, I haven’t lost yet… the tab…”
Mumbling incoherently, Stride ultimately had to leave the tavern leaning on Lion.
Well, he wanted to, but…
“Nngh!”
It was utterly impossible with Lion’s strength.
Within a few steps Stride was about to topple over, and he couldn’t possibly support Stride’s weight!
‘This is an unforeseen situation.’
Lion thought, half-crushed under Stride’s body.
He was about to call for Elvia or ‘the coachman’ when…
“Need some help?”
A flat voice came from nearby.
* * *
“Nnngh…”
Giant’s Stride held his splitting head and pushed himself up.
He had no memory of how he’d gotten back here.
So… he’d definitely started a drinking bet with some young master.
Hmm…
Mmm…
Fragmented memories surfaced, but no matter how hard he thought, he could not remember exactly what had happened.
It felt like the memories had been scooped out along with the alcohol.
But what was this?
His stomach felt oddly refreshed…
“Huh?”
Come to think of it, his eyes were swollen, too.
Had he cried?
Him, of all people?
At that realization, his eyes snapped open and his body shot upright.
What followed was.
“Blaaargh!”
The price of excessive drinking was miserable.
Stride clamped a hand over his mouth and sprinted to the bathroom.
After vomiting his guts out, unaware of anyone else in the house.
“Ah. You’re up.”
He discovered the young master he’d been drinking with yesterday peacefully eating fruit in his own house.
Not only that…
“F-Father? Mother?”
His father, whom he had stopped speaking to after a huge fight over village matters, was there personally peeling fruit for him, and his mother was contentedly serving snacks.
He gaped at the shocking sight.
…Why?
Why was that young master here?
Why were his parents acting like this?
And above all.
“It’s so delicious.”
“Oh my, I’m so glad. Have more! Hohoho!”
How was that young master blending in so naturally?
Stride stood there blankly watching the scene before hesitantly asking.
“What in the world is going on here?”
“This esteemed guest brought you home when you were drunk.”
His father answered for him as he peeled fruit with his thick hands.
“Urk…”
I really messed up.
A dwarf getting drunk is laughable enough, but on top of that, bringing someone into the closed-off village.
He’d definitely get an earful from his father, the former chief…
“Please don’t be too hard on him. He got that drunk on my account.”
“Hoho. Is that so?”
“…Huh?”
He wasn’t getting scolded.
Instead, it was smoothly brushed off.
“Our esteemed guest seems to be strong against drink as well.”
“Haha, I’m not strong. I got lucky this time.”
As he blankly watched this casual banter again, Lion abruptly tossed something to him.
“Oh?”
“A potion good for hangovers. Drink it in one go.”
It was a Hangover Relief Potion.
“Is this sort of thing even among potions?”
It was a bit puzzling, but it didn’t feel problematic. Without much thought, Stride gulped down the potion.
Swaaa…
He felt his body, ragged from the alcohol, be thoroughly patched up.
On top of that, his throbbing head and blurry vision cleared right up!
“…That’s one hell of an effect.”
The young master was more remarkable than he’d thought.
“S-So, what exactly happened while I was asleep?”
When he asked, his mother opened her hand and showed him something.
“This…!”
He couldn’t not recognize it.
This was the first ring he’d ever made, back in his childhood.
The ring was lumpy and showed its age, but oddly enough, there was no tarnish on it.
As if someone had carefully maintained it.
His body and thoughts ground to a halt as soon as that realization hit.
Because the past came flooding back.
“Brother! Can’t you not go? Or let me come with you.”
“My brother. You’re the only one who can lead this village.”
He recalled a time long ago, when he hadn’t even properly grown a beard yet.
That is, the day his older brother Mudu left to pursue his dream.
“Then at least take this with you.”
He’d handed over a ring he’d made in a time when he still couldn’t hammer properly.
Its appearance was so ugly it could hardly be called a ring, and it was rough, as if it hadn’t been finished well.
“If you ever miss home, you have to come visit with this ring! Promise me!”
It had already been over ten years since Mudu took that ring and left the village.
Naturally, Mudu hadn’t come back, and while he and his family missed him, they gradually forgot about him.
An occasional mention of ‘he must be living well somewhere’ was the extent of it.
So why was this here…
“Don’t tell me.”
Had something happened to his brother?
“He’s not, so quit the pitiful act and come sit down.”
Luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case.
At his father’s words, Stride awkwardly took a seat.
He sat, but…
“…”
A long silence stretched on.
It was awkward.
Because of the recent incident, he’d raised his voice at his parents, too.
Of course, he’d thought he should apologize first, but…
the words just wouldn’t come.
He also felt that apologizing was pointless when the issue wasn’t even resolved yet.
But then.
“I’m sorry.”
An unexpected statement reached him.
Stride’s head, which had been bowed, shot up.
“What?”
“I heard everything. How hard it’s been for you.”
Stride’s face instantly flushed bright red.
Apparently, he’d told them every mistake he’d made while drunk.
He was ashamed.
But… truthfully, maybe he had wanted someone to tell them.
Stride was all rough and burly, but he had a soft heart.
“Knowing better than anyone how hard you struggle with outside affairs, I, as the former chief, acted too harshly.”
“…No, Father. It’s not—*sniff*—as if anything’s been resolved yet.”
Stride answered calmly, struggling to hold back tears.
“The dwarves of the village haven’t gathered their opinions yet.”
“Ah, that. You needn’t worry about it.”
“…Pardon?”
The dwarf smoothed his graying beard and let out a hearty laugh for the first time in a while.
“The village dwarves who saw Mudu’s belonging were greatly inspired.”
“Inspired, sir?”
Was it because of that young master’s sword?
“First, go out and see for yourself.”
Stride hesitated, then went outside to check the situation.
And he couldn’t help but be astonished.
Because from the smithy of the dwarf village, which had been as cold as ice, hot heat was flowing out!
“W-What in the world?”
He had no idea what had happened.
Stride walked back in and stood before Lion.
“What did you do?”
Having watched all of this, Lion lightly shrugged his shoulders.
“I didn’t do anything. I simply…”
He had shown them Mudu’s tool set.
A single piece of new inspiration.
That was the gift Lion had brought to this place.