Eggs Benedict and Alcohol's Confessions
Alcohol is such a strange drink. It acts like a truth serum, drawing out people's raw emotions, or sometimes like a potion of courage that amplifies their weaknesses. Hell, it can even spark new life between a man and a woman—so maybe booze really is the philosophers' stone those alchemists were always chasing.
But most folks let excessive drinking cloud their judgment, creating black history moments they don't even remember. Take this pitiful girl in front of me right now: she's been consumed by bone-deep regret over yesterday's events, head bowed so low she can't even lift it.
"Um... Na Hyun-ah, come on, lift your head. I'm really okay, I swear."
"Nooo!! I'm just like some gross sea cucumber or sea anemone!!"
Na Hyun had been in perfect dogeza position for a full hour now. She wasn't even twitching—I was starting to wonder if she'd turned to stone. Long story short: after yesterday's unfortunate accident left her bed unusable, I'd brought her back to our place. The blanket she'd been using was a total mess anyway, and I couldn't just leave a kid in that state alone.
We'd crashed through the night, and while I popped out to the market in town this morning, Na Hyun woke up totally confused and wandered around our living room. Once I gave her the rough rundown, we ended up here.
It was a bit over the top, sure... but if I were in her shoes, I'd probably be the same. Finally losing patience, I crouched down to eye level, grabbed her shoulders, and gave her a gentle shake.
"Na Hyun-ah, enough already. Time to get up. How long are you gonna stay like this?"
"Sniff... B-but..."
When she finally looked up, her eyes were so swollen from crying they looked like ping-pong balls. I gave her a wry smile and spoke as softly as I could.
"Stuff like that happens when you drink. Don't beat yourself up over it. Hey, did you wash up at least? I couldn't help with that part."
"N-no! If I let you help me that far, I'd really be done for!!"
I almost asked done for how? but her determination not to be more of a burden came through loud and clear. She seemed calmed down enough now, so time to prep lunch.
"Okay, go wash up first then. I left some spare clothes by the shower."
"...Y-yes... Thank you so much... sniff."
If Na Hyun were a bunnykin, her ears would be drooping flat right now. I guided the mopey little bun to the bathroom, then headed to the kitchen. Lunch today was Yoon Ra-yoon's request: Eggs Benedict. As the name suggests, it's an American-style breakfast centered around eggs.
First up, the star: hollandaise sauce. Word is, it's trickier than it looks. You temper egg yolks in warm water like a bain-marie, then slowly whisk in melted butter. Mess it up, and the butter solidifies or the yolks cook. Gotta whip it fast with a whisk...
Who the hell wants to do that kind of labor first thing in the morning? Humans are tool-using animals, after all. We've got blenders for a reason.
I melted the butter I'd bought that morning and chilled it quick in the fridge. Then I separated half a carton of eggs into yolks and whites.
"Might fail, so let's start with half."
Temperature's key, so I warmed the blender jar in hot water first, dried it off, added the yolks and lemon juice, blended, then drizzled in the chilled butter bit by bit. Just like in the video—thick and creamy sauce achieved.
"Nice, sauce is done... Oh right, salt."
Forgot the seasoning and spices. Pepper's all I've got for spices anyway... Almost made it low-sodium by accident. Added them at the end so I wouldn't forget.
Next, toasted English muffins, crisped-up bacon and spinach. Then poached eggs. Boiling water with vinegar and salt to help the eggs hold shape. Test run: cracked one into a ladle and poached it.
"Hmm... How am I supposed to do fifteen like this?"
"Unni... I'm all washed up now..."
Lost in poaching woes, I looked up to see Na Hyun shuffling over in an oversized T-shirt. It fit me fine, but on her it was baggy. And since I'd given her dolphin shorts, she was rocking a total missing-pants look.
"Uh... H-how's the size?"
"...A bit big, but wearable. More importantly, unni, are you making lunch right now?"
"Yeah! Don't worry, I'm making enough for you too."
"N-no, it's not that... Um, can I help with anything...?"
"Nah, it's fine. Just poaching eggs left."
"R-really...? Well, yeah, I'm not exactly helper material... Can't even take care of myself, so who am I to butt in... I'll just sit quietly in the corner like a dead mouse, not bothering anyone..."
"Th-then, wanna pre-stack the toppings on the muffins for me?"
I gave her a pointless task no one needed help with, and her face brightened as she scooted closer. She replicated my sample perfectly, no margin for error.
What can I say... Her self-loathing is kinda scary. After stacking away beside me for a while, Na Hyun hesitantly spoke up.
"But unni, what are you making?"
"Eggs Benedict. Ra-yoon wanted it."
"Whoa, unni, you must be an amazing cook."
"Nah? I'm not that good. This is my first time even trying it."
"...That's even more impressive?"
"You think?"
Just follow the recipe—easy. No real skill needed; do what it says and you can't screw it up. Anyway, poaching was getting tedious. Hmm... This is what mana is for.
I finished one, switched to a big wide pot, and cracked multiple eggs at once. Infused mana around each to hold their shape. Boom—perfect poached eggs in bulk, fast.
Na Hyun watched the whole thing with wide-eyed wonder.
"Unni, aren't you being too modest?"
"Huh? About what?"
"Poaching one egg is hard enough, but you're doing a bunch at once."
"Oh, that? Just a mana hack."
"...A hack?"
"Nothing fancy. Thin mana membrane around the eggs does it. It's advanced, sure... but you could pick it up with practice, Na Hyun-ah."
She looked like she didn't buy it at all. For real, though? No faith? Sighing, I grabbed a raw egg, cracked it into the air—not a dish—and Na Hyun freaked.
"U-unni!! What are you doing?! Quick, the... plate?!"
The egg hovered perfectly round in midair, mana-coated and floating. Her eyes went saucer-wide.
"H-how...?"
"Told ya. Coat with mana. I practiced with water in a cup back in the day."
"For real?"
"Duh. Why would I lie to you? Want me to teach you after lunch?"
"Th-then I could poach a bunch too?"
"Well... It's not meant for that, but... yeah, master it and you could."
This is actually an advanced form of the [Reinforcement] skill here... Meant for precise mana control training. But if she wants to use it that way, no skin off my back.
"Wonder when Ra-yoon's coming. It's about that time..."
Already noon, no word from her. Starting to worry something happened on the way.
"Oh, should I text her?"
Ding-dong—
Right as I was about to say sure, the doorbell rang like it was waiting. Classic Ra-yoon move.
"Must be Ra-yoon. But why ring?"
I'd given her the door code—no need. Someone else maybe?
"I'll check. You keep cooking, unni."
"Cool, thanks!"
Na Hyun headed to the entrance. Moments later, the door lock clicked open, the door swung wide, and an unexpected voice hit my ears.
"Huh? Na Hyun-ah, what are you doing here...?"
"E-eh? S-Sunbae-nim?!"
Sunbae? Who the heck...? Na Hyun's "senior." Curiosity piqued, I left the kitchen and peeked at the entrance. There stood two flustered people eyeing each other: a guy and a girl.
The man's identity: Lee Dae-gun, manager of this pension—our house. His sudden visit caught me off guard too.
"Oh? Manager, what's up so suddenly...?"
"Unni! Sorry, I'm super late, right?"
From behind the dazed manager boomed Ra-yoon's cheerful voice. She was hauling mystery boxes too.
"Mom heard I was coming to your place again and stuffed me with all this. Dae-gun ajusshi helped carry per her request."
"Ahh, gotcha."
...So that's it. But what's the deal between the manager and Na Hyun? She looks like a middle-schooler at most; he's built like he could do 500 push-ups easy. Total silver-bracelet-required mismatch to any onlooker.