Chapter 703
When I reflect on how I came to like alcohol, the first thing that pops into my mind is my red-faced master, like a lantern.
“Drink. And forget everything about the academy.”
“But I’m only fourteen.”
“Once you have your coming-of-age ceremony, you’re just like any other adult.”
My master, Maria, who was an alcoholic.
She was the kind of irresponsible person who would hand me a drink anytime during her research.
“If you want to be recognized as a human, act like one. Show your weaknesses. Don’t just float around like a shadowy ghost, barely there.”
She called me a ghost while braiding my hair.
A ghost that could wander freely in the vast world more than anyone else.
But a ghost that could never affect human affairs.
Drraa-drrraa-
Master Maria spun the globe so fast the borders blurred.
“Just because you think you’re faster than others, don’t kid yourself into thinking everyone else is slow. The faster you move, the more the world spins against you, and the moment you lose your balance in that speed, you’re not going anywhere.”
When she stopped the globe, countries, mountains, and seas became clear.
“First, stop and think. Where do you want to go?”
Master Maria was an exception who remembered everything like I did.
And I heard she spent over ten years in a state of idiocy since she was born.
People with perfect memory can easily lose track of the present.
If a lazy brain fixates on vivid moments…
We can’t live in the present, constantly feeling like the memories of the future are flowing in.
I solved this problem by forming new memories that confirmed state changes since I was four years old.
But perhaps it was too bothersome to live that way.
So Master Maria always kept alcohol close as a solution.
Like pressing the save button in a game.
The loading times back then felt as cozy as cotton candy, and I couldn’t help but become addicted.
*
“Drinking was a mistake, but why did you try to lie to Dad too? It’s not anger that comes first, but sadness.”
“I’m sorry…”
A heavy atmosphere settled over the camping site.
“Can you honestly tell me where and when you drank? I won’t say a word about what you share today.”
I glanced at Saetbyeol.
She was evasively avoiding my gaze.
“When we went to Norway. Just a little hot wine.”
“That wasn’t too long ago, was it? It was when you went with Saetbyeol and Luri.”
“Hahaha…”
“Saetbyeol, come sit over here.”
“I’m sorry! I just thought Na-me Unni looked too stressed, so I bought it for her…!”
In the end, it was a totally honest confession from Cheon Saetbyeol.
Professor Cheon sat with his arms crossed on a camping chair.
“Did you just drink that delicious thing without any snacks?”
“Uh? No, we had reindeer hot dogs with it… the place usually sells them as a set.”
“Hahahaha.”
“What?”
He suddenly burst out laughing.
“Looks like the daughters went to eat something tasty without Dad. Make sure to take me along next time. I like hot dogs and mulled wine too.”
“Oh, Dad…?”
“Let’s go together! I’ll be an adult next year, so I can drink legally!”
“Right! Saetbyeol is becoming an adult too. You can’t just buy her stuff on demand, Na-me. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Thank you all for telling the truth. And I feel bad for ruining the mood on Na-me’s birthday celebration.”
Professor Cheon was trying his best to lift the downtrodden atmosphere.
But my heart feels uneasy…
It felt like I was deceiving Dad twice, making my chest tighten.
A hot wine or two bought from the street would have been forgivable.
But that’s not the case.
I ran to Dad, who had gone to set up the tent.
Hug-
I hugged him from behind and leaned my head against his back.
“Na-me? I’m sorry about today, on your birthday. But as a parent, isn’t it my duty to stop my young daughter from drinking? I’m just worried.”
“Dad, can I tell you two things?”
Then Professor Cheon turned around and squatted down to meet my eyes.
Signaling he was ready to listen anytime.
I suppressed the surging emotions and continued calmly.
“There have been times I’ve lost myself.”
“Lost yourself? What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain, but I feel like I’m standing still in one place while my body moves on its own. Like a game character. I open the door and step outside, yet it feels like I’m still inside the house. I don’t even feel awkward about it, because the decision to go outside was mine.”
“Ah… that must have been frightening…”
My heart sank.
How did he know right away? He could never understand what it feels like…
When Professor Cheon stroked my head, my words began to flow out.
“Yeah, it was scary. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to follow my own body. I was scared that if I regained my consciousness, I’d be sent back to the capsule of the past.”
“So that’s why you drank? To reclaim your present body?”
“How do you know… so accurately? You can’t relate to what I said at all…”
“I can’t relate, but I can understand you well when I look at Na-me. Because I’m your dad.”
“I really like to drink. If I could, I would want to drink every day. But then you would be upset, Dad. So…”
“It’s okay. If it’s tough, you don’t have to say more. Dad won’t be disappointed or upset just because Na-me had a drink.”
Suddenly, I felt ridiculous.
Myself for endlessly repeating the same words like a parrot.
What was so scary about being betrayed by others?
I’m weak.
“Actually, this isn’t the first time.”
“Yeah.”
“A long time ago, I turned grape juice into wine through ethanol fermentation magic and drank it. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, I see. It’s alright. How much did you struggle inside to the point where tears were almost falling?”
“I don’t cry over things like this…”
I scratched my itchy nose.
I’m not crying.
It’s just this overly sensitive body that’s crying.
“Also, when I went to the winery, I had Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2017.”
“What, what?”
“The 2017 monopole from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti… but I only drank half a bottle, okay!?”
“If you only drank half a bottle, what happened to the rest?”
“I poured it down the toilet. I couldn’t finish it.”
Professor Cheon’s expression of incredulity was quite a sight.
I awkwardly giggled and buried my face in his embrace.
“Please say happy birthday.”
“… Happy birthday, Na-me.”
*
The tent is set up! The cooking setup is complete!
We decided to have a simple lunch with bibim-myun and kong-guksu.
For side dishes, grilled vegetables, sausages, and chicken skewers were on standby.
My role was to prevent Nureongi from sneaking off with our food.
“Nureongi, want some watermelon? Watermelon?”
Woofwoofwoof!
With a pitiful whimper, Nureongi asked for some food.
Anyone would think I had starved him all morning.
After tossing a piece of watermelon to Nureongi, I peeked at the grill.
“Wow, the chicken skewers are well-grilled. Saetbyeol, just one bite!”
“There’s no chicken skewers for someone who’s thrown 50 million won down the toilet!”
“Whaaaat?”
Saetbyeol was in full-on sulk mode after hearing this from Dad.
“I can drink Romanée-Conti well, you know.”
“I’ll buy you the same kind later.”
“Really? You promised! Here you go.”
“Hey, what if you give me something burnt? I want that one.”
“Try saying ‘give it to me’.”
“Give it to me!”
Hehehehehe.
“Don’t stall, just hurry up and give it!”
I downed a teriyaki chicken skewer and a refreshing bowl of kong-guksu.
I wonder if everyone will be full enough to enjoy the evening barbecue party.
“Wanna go swimming?”
“Let’s go.”
There’s a clean swimming pool that the camping site owner maintains.
Just as I hurriedly changed into my swimsuit inside the tent…
Wubwubwubwub!
Luri was flailing, seemingly at a loss.
It seems her horn got caught in her swimsuit.
“Phew! Thanks to you, I’m saved.”
“Luri, doesn’t it seem like your swimsuit got a little smaller?”
“It’s snug in the groin, but it’s not to the point of discomfort.”
“That’s acceptable then.”
“Your standards are weird, both of you!”
The camping site was relatively empty and quiet.
Some kids gathered to swim after having lunch, just like us.
“Mom! That girl has white hair!”
“Ha ha, you’re right? That girl has horns too!”
It seems the little kids were mostly interested in Saetbyeol and Luri.
After all, they looked like they’d pop out of a theme park.
Just then…
Tap tap-
A little toddler, about four years old, tugged at my clothes.
“Dad says to eat this.”
“Huh? Uh, I’ll eat it well?”
It was a Haribo gummy with a sticky note attached.
[Happy birthday, NoName! I sent my kid so they wouldn’t disturb our fun family trip haha.]
I glanced around.
Most parents were watching me closely from near the pool.
I retrieved a pack of chocolate from the cooler and slung it over my shoulder.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to say hi. Dad, come with me.”
Then I made my way to the site where other camping guests were.
“Excuse me! Chocolate delivery here!”
“Ah, NoName! You really didn’t have to do this!”
“It’s a thank-you. Thank you for the birthday wishes.”
Hearing the news, more and more people came to the pool.
I decided I needed to rush around and greet everyone.
*
Chiiing-
As the blazing sun dropped towards the rocky mountains…
Delicious meats sizzled on the hot grill.
“So when are you going to the United States?”
“Two days from now is the last day of the Heavenly Demon Tournament filming. I’m thinking I’ll go after my schedule ends, around Monday.”
“Aww, just four days left.”
I was planning to go to Texas alone.
Saetbyeol was busy preparing for entrance exams, and Professor Cheon had to facilitate Luri’s transfer to the academy.
Especially Cheon Saetbyeol won’t even have time to come and see the national exchange tournament due to her first practical assessment.
After we finish our one-night, two-day camping trip tomorrow, it’s time to say goodbye.
“Why have you decided to take on the role of coach?”
“I’m just curious. I can’t wait to see the great results if I teach.”
It was finally time to prove that the way I taught heroes in my past life was not wrong.
“I’ve forgotten the name, but I wish the deceased to rest in peace.”
“Alain Beiga. I’ve told you so many times, how can you forget?”
“I’m just not good at remembering foreign names for some reason.”
Thud-
Luri dropped some meat on the ground.
“Put the fallen pieces on that tray.”
Just then, as Nureongi dashed between the chairs, Luri bared her fangs.
Get lost.
“Grr!”
“Nom.”
“Hey, don’t eat! That’s dirty from the ground.”
I adjusted Alain Beiga’s standings from the top 32 to the top 16.
As a player and head coach, if I achieve perfect results, I will become a legend in the Magic Battle.
“Na-me Unni, are you going to start a broadcast?”
“Oh, a broadcast? Dad, can I go live now?”
“Sure, people are probably waiting to see when you’ll show up.”
Doo doo doo-
“Hold on, I need to take this call.”
I walked over the gravel.
It was a call from Luxembourg.
At first, I thought they were reminding me about the schedule.
“Hello? What? Is it okay? Yes, yes….”
With a serious look, I hung up and bit my lip.
This was no small matter.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well…”
I hung up the phone, my expression growing somber.
“Apparently, Alain Beiga was in a car accident. And he’s severely injured, like they say he’ll be out for about 18 weeks…”
With less than ten weeks until the opening ceremony of the national exchange tournament.