But, Little One.
As I lay in bed resting, Damballa crawled under the covers and spoke.
"Yes."
[What exactly do you mean by 'cause a commotion'? Explain it to me.]
I hesitated, not fully grasping her words.
Explain what causing a commotion meant? All I wanted was for her to stir things up literally—to draw attention away.
Damballa climbed up my arm and continued.
[I'm asking how much of a commotion would be ideal. For example, smashing buildings or... people...]
Boom—!
At that moment, a thunderous crash echoed from the living room.
It wasn't some minor clatter like someone tripping or a bottle tipping over. Something had genuinely shattered or collapsed.
Startled, I couldn't even respond to Damballa before bolting out of the room.
And there, in the living room, utter pandemonium unfolded.
"Whoa? I can't keep my balance!"
"Hey, Kang Dae-man! You crazy bastard, get up!"
"Haha, hey! Kang Dae-man! Why're you lying there?"
"Dunno. My head... my head hurts..."
"Ah, fuck. Hey, why's no one listening to me...!"
"Ha... sigh."
Kang Dae-man lay sprawled starfish-style on the floor, while Ma Yu-hyeon slapped his cheeks trying to rouse him.
Han Su-ryeon clutched her stomach, cackling at the sight of Kang Dae-man.
Kang Dae-man grimaced, clutching his head in agony, and Yeo Min-seo was inexplicably bawling her eyes out.
Seong Ha-yeon, who seemed the least affected, watched the chaos with a sigh.
Kim Jin-seo leaned against the wall, steadying her breathing as she fought to regain her senses.
It was a total disaster.
I couldn't fathom how these kids, who were fine just moments ago, had suddenly lost it.
My eyes scanned the scattered liquor bottles on the floor.
They'd drunk plenty, but the real culprit seemed to be the stuff from Yeom Man-geun's factory.
They weren't drunk on booze—they were drunk on the Intoxication Spell.
I'd specifically told them not to touch it.
"Hey."
"......"
I called out to Ma Yu-hyeon, but he didn't respond.
He just kept his eyes downcast.
*
Seong Ha-yeon observed the entire scene.
Ma Yu-hyeon and Han Su-ryeon had gotten wasted first, followed by Yeo Min-seo and Kang Dae-man.
Kim Jin-seo hadn't even drunk any, yet she was completely out of it.
Among everyone there, calling Seong Ha-yeon the most sober wasn't an exaggeration.
The chaos began when Kim Jin-seo cracked open a bottle and promptly collapsed.
"Acting all tough alone, and what? No dice. Who the hell passes out just from sniffing booze?"
"This the ultimate weapon? Knocks people out with the smell alone?"
"Uh... guys, shouldn't we wake Jin-seo up?"
Yeo Min-seo, Ma Yu-hyeon, and Han Su-ryeon tossed barbs at the fallen Kim Jin-seo one after another.
Seong Ha-yeon wrinkled her nose, sniffing the air.
A strange smell wafted through.
The living room reeked of alcohol, leaving no room for other scents, yet something eerie and ominous lingered.
She'd smelled it before. When was it?
She tried to recall, but the buzz—or the rowdy atmosphere—made it elusive.
"No way! Kim Jin-seo's dead!"
Kang Dae-man's shout snapped her from her thoughts.
He looked genuinely terrified, face ashen as he lurched to his feet.
Ma Yu-hyeon grabbed him.
"Hey, she's not dead. Look, she's breathing."
"For real! Thought she was gone—phew, what a relief!"
"No, guys. We should at least get her up and into bed or something..."
"Nah, she'll wake up on her own. Not our fault she's wasted. Blame her weak tolerance."
Yeo Min-seo held back Han Su-ryeon, who was trying to lift Kim Jin-seo.
The drunk girl's eyes narrowed aggressively.
"Dropping one right off the bat... This the ultimate weapon? Game on!"
Ma Yu-hyeon, thrilled, tilted a bottle back.
Yeo Min-seo, watching, spoke up.
"But what's the proof on that?"
Ma Yu-hyeon twisted the bottle, squinting at the label, then shrugged.
"20, 25... 30? 35? Hell if I know."
"What the fuck, it's not battle power—why's it keep climbing?"
"Nah, it's not printed? Did I miss it?"
"Hey, we gotta know the proof..."
"Dunno~ Just drink~."
Ma Yu-hyeon filled their glasses, refilling as they emptied, repeating the cycle endlessly.
Seong Ha-yeon sipped a few herself.
Unique aroma, decent taste—tolerable.
But after three glasses, the kids' states shifted rapidly.
From focused drinking to surrendering to the haze.
"There's an age for going off the rails. Do it wrong, and it's pointless. No fun."
"Ah, this asshole's at it again... Hey, how much was this? More than you said?"
"Ugh... Guys, this... this ain't booze. Feels like poison."
"Big trouble. Muscles melting away."
Led by Ma Yu-hyeon, they rambled incoherently.
Eyes glazed, foolish grins plastered on.
They'd been fine—then suddenly snapped.
Seong Ha-yeon held it together best.
Her head spun lightly, cheeks flushed, but no babble.
Ma Yu-hyeon seemed okay too, but he'd been tipsy from the start—heavy drinker.
"How much was it again? 70... something?"
"Fuck, booze pricier than my monthly pay..."
"Alcohol breaks down proteins..."
"Haha, hahaha...!"
A few more rounds, and they were beyond saving.
Ma Yu-hyeon lined up his bottles, tallying costs.
Yeo Min-seo gaped at the price, then teared up talking part-time woes—pitiful, wronged.
Kang Dae-man griped about losing muscle but kept drinking.
Han Su-ryeon burst into manic laughter.
Kim Jin-seo stirred late but wobbled against the wall, still dazed.
By then, even Seong Ha-yeon wasn't fully sober.
But she clung to enough clarity to fake it.
She gripped her wits.
"You guys look tiny all of a sudden."
Kang Dae-man crossed his arms, scanning the drunks.
The rowdy buzz hushed briefly.
Han Su-ryeon's bubbly laugh broke the silence.
"What? Haha, hey! You're just too huge!"
"Yeah, Dae-man's pretty big."
"Ugh, Kang Dae-man! Talking about me and you kill the vibe. Why ruin it..."
Han Su-ryeon laughed, Ma Yu-hyeon agreed, Yeo Min-seo sobbed.
Kang Dae-man nodded, rising.
"Right... Am I too big now? Worth pursuing strength."
He flexed; thick muscles bulged under his shirt.
Han Su-ryeon cheered, Yeo Min-seo and Seong Ha-yeon recoiled.
Ma Yu-hyeon gaped in awe.
Then Kang Dae-man swayed.
"Wait, this ain't bigger—it's..."
Thud—!
He crashed down.
Snacks crumpled, liquor spilled everywhere.
Kang Dae-man blinked awake but failed to rise.
"Whoa? Can't balance!"
That's when I emerged from the bedroom.
Yeo Min-seo in tears, Han Su-ryeon cackling madly, Ma Yu-hyeon heaving Kang Dae-man up, Kim Jin-seo staggering against the wall.
My face hardened at the sight.
I spoke to Ma Yu-hyeon; the unbreakable guy averted his eyes first, cowed.
Seong Ha-yeon found that shocking, but something else stunned her more.
"Ah, up! Finally feel alive!"
Kang Dae-man stood—still drunk, bound to topple again.
Last spill was minor; this could be catastrophe.
I approached him.
Tap.
Whatever I did, Seong Ha-yeon missed it.
I just neared; a crisp sound, and Kang Dae-man's eyes rolled back.
His massive frame pitched forward.
I caught the fainted giant.
"He's wasted."
Casually, I carried him to a bedroom, then returned to clean the mess—snacks, spills.
Yeo Min-seo, wiping drunk tears, scowled.
"Hey, what're you doing! Don't clean!"
Tap.
Thud.
Yeo Min-seo collapsed too.
Not passing out from booze.
I'd done something.
Rumors said he trained extreme body techniques sparring active heretic inquisitors...
Just rumors—unverified.
He was all rumors, no substance from the talkers.
Seong Ha-yeon didn't know him either.
"She's wasted too. Han Su-ryeon, take her to a room."
"Ah, sure."
Han Su-ryeon nodded at my order.
Seong Ha-yeon eyed my unnervingly calm demeanor.
Incomprehensible guy.
She recalled her father speaking of me.
"Don't get close, don't antagonize or hate. Just... stay away."
He trailed off.
"Please, Ha-yeon..."
His voice trembled—unprecedented frailty.
At first, she thought I was Purifying Blood.
Political marriage material—loathed it.
But learning me, she was glad—then learned I wasn't.
Then what was I?
Father always seemed invincible, fearless.
Yet he feared only me—irrationally.
What the hell was I?
"......What exactly are you?"
Buoyed by booze, Seong Ha-yeon asked.
My cold gaze swept her, but she stared back squarely.
No better chance.
(To be continued next time)