The sharp scent of tobacco lingered at the tip of my nose, along with the familiar fragrance of the Thousand Sun Plum Blossoms.
It was a scent that put my mind at ease. A stabilizing aroma.
Maybe that’s why? Even though the alcohol had my head spinning, not an ounce of worry crossed my mind.
I felt nothing but comfort.
When I lived as a poor orphan, I envied it so much.
It was the feeling I imagined when I saw other girls protected by adults.
And now, where had I experienced something so similar to this comfort before?
Ah, yes.
It was definitely when I received the letter from ‘Mister’.
Without realizing it, Sayoon reached out toward the scent and murmured.
“…Mister…”
I’ve never seen him in person, but is this what Mister’s scent smells like?
With my eyes closed, I savored that sense of peace.
Then, as I felt the scent fading away, I momentarily lost consciousness and woke up.
“…Ayayay…”
I groaned, my head threatening to burst with pain. A familiar voice then rang in my ears.
“Oh dear. You were drinking for the first time and what did you do? Just gulped down whatever was given to you?”
“Ugh… Yoohee Senior Sister…?”
My nose was numb, and my head was throbbing. As I spoke weakly, I heard a lively laugh beside me.
“Haha! I really didn’t expect you to get drunk from just that, did you?”
“Ah… Chaeran…”
“You were calling me ‘Elder Sister’ earlier? Now it’s ‘Chaeran’ again?”
“U-um… Did I say that?”
As a flustered Sayoon stammered, Chaeran shrugged her shoulders.
“Actually, I was lying.”
“…..”
“Hehe. Are you okay? Here. Drink this.”
The black-haired girl, a cheerful and lively disciple of Moonjeong, smiled as she offered me a cup. Upon receiving it, I took a sip and, perhaps because of its sweet and refreshing taste, I downed it in one go.
“Puhahaa… What is this?”
“Honey water. The Innkeeper provided it. Now, eat this too.”
What she handed me was a packet of white powder. To my bewilderment, Yoohee smirked.
“They say it’s a hangover remedy. We’re in an inn, you know? They always keep some around for the drunkards here.”
“Ah… Innkeeper…”
Finally, my senses started to return.
I definitely had my first drink, enchanted by its sweetness as I gulped it down without thinking.
And what happened next?
I went to another table to thank other Senior Sisters, giggling like an idiot, before moving to another spot.
And in the very end…
“Ah… Ahhh…”
I clearly remembered.
I went to where the Master and Senior Sister were.
And I approached the innkeeper, Yu Wol…
Whining for alcohol while giggling like a fool…
“Uwaaaahhh…”
Only then did the recollection strike her, wishing she could hide in a mouse hole.
She wanted to kick off the covers draped over her.
Especially if it had all just been a dream.
How could she be so rude to the heavenly Master and Senior Sister, not to mention the ever-helpful Innkeeper!
How could I commit such a faux pas in front of the same Master, Senior Sister, and the ever-helpful Innkeeper!
Yoohee smiled and said to Sayoon, who was shivering with shame and guilt more than the hangover’s pain.
“Don’t worry. You didn’t make such a scene to make the Innkeeper frown. It was actually kind of cute!”
“Yeah, yeah! And the Innkeeper isn’t the type to get angry over something like that!”
If both Yoohee and Chaeran are saying it’s fine, can it really be okay?
Sayoon peeked out from beneath the blankets like a frightened rabbit. Yoohee, extending her hand with medicine, stood up.
“But you woke up not too long ago. The banquet is still going on, and the Innkeeper is probably down there, so you can go down and see her. If it’s really weighing on your mind, how about you apologize?”
“Y-yes, yes!”
Sayoon hurriedly took the medicine. Chaeran smiled brightly at her.
“You can use your internal energy to shake off the effects of the alcohol. I think that’s also a part of Hongseong Divine Art. Haven’t you learned that yet?”
Sayoon looked at Yoohee, who nodded.
Looking at her with a glum expression, Sayoon thought seriously.
I need to learn that quickly.
And I should avoid alcohol as much as possible in the future.
Sayoon, along with Chaeran and Yoohee, descended, fidgeting nervously. Chaekin giggled at her.
“Are you doing okay?”
“Yeeeah… Thank you for worrying, Senior Chaekin… and Master.”
“Hoho, our cute little junior.”
With a face going red, the Sword Saint reached out. As Sayoon approached hesitantly, the Sword Saint embraced her and ruffled her hair.
“It’s tough because of this incompetent Master, right? I’m so sorry. So sorry…”
“Huh? M-Master…?”
“Just stay like this. It seems like your Master is in a good mood.”
On the side, Hongryeon spoke calmly while sipping her drink.
She seemed to have been drinking for a while now, and her expression hadn’t changed at all, making it look like she was quite strong with alcohol.
“And remember, you should only drink enough that you can handle.”
Without realizing it, Sayoon glanced at the Sword Saint.
Unlike her usual blank face, Na Yerin was smiling brightly with a flushed face.
It was a rare sight to see the Sword Saint laugh, and it was quite nice, but it seemed to contradict what Hongryeon had just said.
“Master is usually fine after just a little bit, and if she wants, she can shake off the effects right away.”
Seeing the Sword Saint cling to her and ruffle her hair, it seemed unlikely, but since these were the words of the revered Senior Sister, how could she deny them?
Moreover, witnessing her wobbling around yet maintaining perfect posture, she almost didn’t seem drunk at all.
“Alright, our Ryun too. Aaaah~.”
“Yup-yup.”
As the Sword Saint fed her meat with chopsticks, Hongryeon chuckled. Opening her mouth, she accepted it happily.
Hongryeon chuckled at the Sword Saint feeding her. She opened her mouth and accepted the food.
Seemingly pleased, the Sword Saint patted Hongryeon on the head before getting up.
“We should give our cute, lovely, and proud disciples a drink too…”
And while wobbling a bit, she managed to walk without bumping into anything, which was quite impressive.
“But do you want to rest more?”
“Ah. Well, I’m a bit awake now… but what about the Innkeeper?”
“Oh, they went to the backyard to smoke a bit.”
“Ah, then I’ll go check!”
Flustered, Sayoon rushed outside.
It was a night with the moon rising.
The now cool night air brushed against her skin, creating a pleasant chill.
Sayoon saw a man sitting on the long bench in the familiar backyard of the inn.
Bathed in moonlight, he was holding a cigarette and sitting with his arms crossed as if lost in thought.
As she gazed at the man, who was sharply glinting his eyes amidst the hazy smoke, Sayoon cautiously approached him.
“Hmm? You’re awake?”
Upon noticing Sayoon, Yu Wol lowered his cigarette. He waved his fan to disperse the smell of smoke, and Sayoon awkwardly smiled.
“Ah. I’m fine.”
“Really? You should rest a bit more.”
“I’ve, um, rested enough.”
“I see.”
A brief silence fell, but it didn’t feel awkward. Oddly enough, it felt comfortable, and Sayoon lowered her head.
“I’m sorry about earlier!”
“What for?”
He genuinely didn’t seem to know, rather than teasing her.
Sayoon, hesitantly lifting her head, pondered what to say.
Flapping her arms in embarrassment, she finally let out a big sigh.
“Um… I was drunk.”
“It’s fine. You didn’t make a huge mistake.”
“Still.”
Yu Wol chuckled at her drooping demeanor. He then patted the end of the long bench, and Sayoon hesitated before sitting there.
“Hongryeon said she plans to teach you how to drink soon.”
“Not you, Master?”
“You’ll probably be learning alongside.”
“Hahaha…”
Well, if Hongryeon decided that, then it would be so.
Silence enveloped them again.
Then, to break that silence, a slightly clumsy yet pleasant melody floated from inside the inn where Geumum and Moonjeong were singing.
As Sayoon gazed blankly at that direction, just as she was about to speak, Yu Wol beat her to it.
“By the way, you called me Mister earlier.”
Sayoon flinched, her shoulders tensing up.
Only then did she remember, and her face turned as red as a tomato as she became even flustered.
With a face as red as a radish, I fumbled even more.
“Ah, um, you see… I’m really sorry! It’s, uh, actually quite rude of me… but there’s always someone who’s been watching over me and helping me.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They’re a really wonderful person, like a light to me… I must have unconsciously thought of you as that person, Innkeeper…”
“Haha, is that so?”
“Yes. I was an orphan… other than the Master and the Senior Sisters of Hongseong, I hadn’t received love or attention from anyone. But this person worries about me. Without any reason, without any prejudice…”
Looking up at the sky, Sayoon recalled the first time she received a letter from ‘Mister.’ The happiness from that moment never got old no matter how many times she replayed it.
“And so, I accidentally… I’m really sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. It could happen.”
Yuwol simply smiled comfortably. In response to his demeanor, Sayoon chuckled awkwardly.
Even if she was a bit tipsy, mistaking someone for someone else was quite a faux pas, yet Yuwol understood her, showing what an outstanding person he was.
“Uh, and I’m always thankful to you, Innkeeper! I mean it!”
“Thank you for thinking that way. Now, hurry back in and enjoy the feast. It seems everyone’s singing and having a good time. You could feel happiness in that, right?”
“Ah… uh…”
“There’s nothing embarrassing about being happy. And remember, it’s never too much to express gratitude.”
“Yes…”
A song that began with a few voices was merging into many. Missing out on that heat, excitement, and joy would be a shame.
Thus, Yuwol urged Sayoon to go inside, and as she stood up, she asked, “What about you, Innkeeper?”
He simply raised his smoking pipe without a word. Nodding, Sayoon was about to enter but stopped.
Yuwol’s words echoed in her mind. It’s never too much to express gratitude.
So, she politely bowed.
“Um, and… always, thank you for everything, Innkeeper.”
Receiving her heartfelt thanks, Yuwol filled his pipe with herbs, lit it, and simply smiled comfortably.
*
I watched Sayoon head inside and couldn’t suppress my pride.
I couldn’t get enough!!
Give me more!!
By the way, if we’re considering the first part finished, then at least until mid-next year, it should just be side events unrelated to the main story… It’s likely there won’t be any special threats, right?
I nodded, thinking about the scenario of the second part connected to when the first part ended, which we had researched and pieced together.
Alright.
I should take this opportunity to develop Sayoon more.
To do that…
“…First, I need some elixir.”
I need to get my hands on some elixir.
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