After endlessly chugging over 200 cocktails, Shia stumbled through the streets at night, resembling a dancing fool.
To someone watching, it would be a sight full of flavor.
To another, she looked like a crazy lady.
And to yet another, it seemed utterly ridiculous.
Why should she care about others’ gazes?
As long as she was having fun, that was all that mattered—romance, joy, and happiness!
“Hehe, hii… Bingu-yahhh… what are you doing here…?”
“Unnie, that’s not me—it’s the telephone pole.”
“Eh…!?”
Turning her shocked face toward Yeonhwa, who spoke from a distance, Shia blinked between the pole she was clutching and her.
“You’re definitely Yeonseo unnie’s granddaughter! You can teleport too! When did you get here?”
“…..”
Yeonhwa, watching from behind, could do nothing but awkwardly follow Shia around.
Shia, who was experiencing cocktails for the first time, showed reactions similar to a child tasting chocolate milk or cola for the first time. She was both endearing and impossible to control. Besides, today was a day she should get slightly tipsy.
Alcohol was a dire necessity when haunted by memories she’d rather forget.
“Be careful you don’t fall. Take it slow…”
“Hehe, a convenience store!”
“Unnie!!”
However, Shia’s antics were beyond Yeonhwa’s imagination.
○○○○
A part-timer, having sufficiently rested for the night shift, braced themselves for incoming nuisances.
This convenience store was perfectly situated in the middle of a bustling area, surrounded by Returnee Shelters, dining halls, and various pubs.
It could be considered the busiest and largest entertainment district in Korea.
From a store owner’s perspective, it was a goose that laid golden eggs. Yet, from a part-timer’s viewpoint, it felt like hell.
In fact, no part-timer lasted more than two weeks here, let alone a month.
“Ah, at least I’m just steps away from my place, and they doubled my pay for me…”
This store experienced drunks and nuisances daily, including a regular with a bushy beard who often came in with coins from the 20th century demanding soju.
Even at double pay, putting up with them every single day led to burnout.
“Ah, if I had known… I should have had more fun when I was young.”
The part-timer sighed, filling up empty beer shelves.
Next door was a bar lined with entertainment spots, so why did wasted people come here to buy so much booze?
Thankful it was a weekday, the part-timer breathed a sigh of relief.
Fridays and Saturdays were the real hell.
The ratio of nuisances was unlike anything during the week, with customer numbers exceeding five times as many.
They had called the police numerous times and experienced many bizarre situations, but the worst remained drunken Hunters.
Typically, Hunters didn’t get drunk, but their tolerance was just above that of an average person—they were still human.
Drunk awakened ones were indeed a true disaster for the part-timer.
How chaotic would it be if an Awakened One, with strength surpassing that of a normal person, passed out completely?
There were positives, though.
Hunter decorum wasn’t just for show; one time, a Hunter who got completely blitzed, after recovering from a hangover, sincerely apologized and handed the part-timer 5 million won.
Had the part-timer been furious enough to report that Hunter to the Hunter Association, the repercussions wouldn’t have directly affected the Hunter, but reputation among civilians and peers was crucial for Hunters.
Screwing up while hammered, it was wise of the Hunter to apologize, especially with cash involved.
Anyway, the part-timer was captivated by the hefty money and continued dealing with nuisance customers while working diligently.
There may have been many hard days, but with effort, luck might eventually come again, right?
Of course, luck wasn’t easily obtained or frequent.
“The miraculous lady is not broadcasting again… Yujin is off too? How unusual. Cheon Ah-Young is taking a break today after her last content. Damn it, nothing to watch while working.”
Ding-dong.
“Welcome… Huh!?”
At that moment, still scrolling through their smart watch, the part-timer robotically responded to the doorbell, but ended up gasping.
“Hehe… hehehe…”
It was massive.
No, saying it was massive didn’t do it justice.
The gigantic, pure white thing radiated a motherly aura, not enhanced by any artificial methods. Its movements were completely natural.
More comforting than a goddess of the earth, holier than a mother of the heavens, this gigantic pouch shook the young part-timer’s mind.
“Hehehe, part-timerrrr, part-timeee…”
Is that… Isia…?
After accidentally encountering the drunken miracle lady, the part-timer pinched their own skin to see if they were dreaming.
Pain confirmed it wasn’t a dream.
Isia, known as the Miracle Lady.
The part-timer, who was a huge fan of various Hunter streamers, recognized her well.
They had subscribed after watching her devour Centipede Dragon Fried when she was still a mere streamer.
But to meet her like this in person? To be face to face with the drunken miracle lady? No way!
Shia staggered between the aisles; the part-timer stood up wanting to take in her for just a moment longer.
‘Did she come alone…?’
But actually, isn’t she surprisingly weak against alcohol?
On her streaming broadcast when she was stealing cabbages from Yeonseo’s grandmother, she claimed poison didn’t affect her… but maybe alcohol did.
“Hu, hu, huuu, aaaaahhhh….”
“Eh…?”
Suddenly hearing a wailing sound, the part-timer rushed out to check.
“What’s going on…?”
“Beer is sooooo… little…”
What?
Looking at the beer in the refrigerator, it seemed perfectly fine.
What’s going on?
Honestly, they briefly imagined the worst-case scenario where the drunken Isia might start breaking bottles and chugging down without paying, but…
“Beer is toooooo little….”
“Eh…”
The part-timer stared at the beers in the fridge.
Having just unpacked a whole box, there were at least eight types in the fridge, including leftover beer from yesterday.
Combined, that must be around 36 cans.
“Too fewwwww. Huuaaaa… beer is too fewww…”
“……”
Why is she crying?
Is she really crying because there’s not enough beer?
“Huuaaa… huuhuh…”
Facing a perplexing situation, the part-timer felt something stir within while watching Shia, who had plopped down in front of the fridge weeping.
Let’s be honest.
It was overwhelmingly weird to see the Miracle Lady, Isia, in this state.
Her natural good looks were stunning enough, but seeing her shake that massive pouch and sob was something they had only seen on streams. Of course, mostly it was a concept or a joke.
Anyway, even on screen, she radiated something immense, but seeing a real-life version of Isia weeping right in front of them left the part-timer almost breathless.
“Um…”
“Huuaaa…”
“There’s more beer in the storeroom… should I get it for you?”
“Oh, really?”
Her crying stopped, and she tilted her head, which was oddly cute.
Even looking at that massive pouch of hers felt odd, and she looked more like a demon or a succubus than a saint, yet somehow she felt strangely childlike, which was fascinating.
Ding-dong.
“Welcome.”
“Hah, haha… there you are…”
The new arrival was a blue-haired woman.
Though not as stunning as the Miracle Lady, she had a pretty solid build and radiated an aura very different from an ordinary civilian, indicating she was likely a Hunter.
The part-timer couldn’t shake the feeling they’d seen her somewhere before but couldn’t recall where. She looked like a new Hunter.
“My friends are causing trouble. I’m sorry.”
The blue-haired woman lightly patted Shia’s shoulder to lift her up while holding over five bags from a nearby convenience store.
Inside those bags were various snacks and a wide assortment of beers and soju sold at convenience stores.
Could it be she went to other convenience stores before coming here?
“Could you give me any spare beers or alcohol you might have?”
“…All of it? There must be over 100 cans…”
“We don’t have many at the other stores; that’s why I came here. I think this’ll still be insufficient.”
Judging from the last broadcast, she had eaten over 60 bowls of beef bone soup by herself, and still managed to order chicken after that.
Even intoxicated, it didn’t seem plausible for Isia to not eat all of it.
What a pity! If only she had broadcasted this, Shia’s drunken antics would have become quite the hit on the gallery!
“Ah, sure! I’ll get it right away!”
Lifting Shia, the blue-haired woman said, and the part-timer hurried to the stockroom and loaded up the cart with beer.
‘At least 150 cans of beer and over 20 bottles of soju—all that fits in here…?’
For now, let’s just do as instructed.
As they exited the stockroom, Shia was swaying, tightly holding the blue-haired woman’s hand, appearing dazed.
And coming from her waist were five thick, prominent tentacles—Isia’s signature which frequently appeared on her streams—now sitting still, while the blue-haired woman hung the bags on the tentacles like Christmas ornaments.
“Just leave the beer boxes as they are.”
“They’ll probably taste bad being warm…”
“That’s okay. I’m an Ice Element Awakened One.”
“Oh! So you’re a Hunter!”
A miracle lady and an Ice Element Hunter…
The part-timer felt resolved to search for them later on the Hunter Gallery.
As they began to ring up the beers, Shia occasionally caught Shia with a side glance.
Her face appeared dazed, eyes blinking slowly as the tentacles embraced the beer boxes and bags like treasures.
It would be odd if her gaze didn’t wander…
“Hey, part-timer…”
“Yes?”
“Are you alone?”
Uh, am I?
Suddenly, what on earth?
“Huh, hick…!”
“……..”
“Hang in thereee…”
Receiving comfort from Shia, the part-timer felt their body stiffen.
Shia’s face was exceptionally beautiful up close, to the point that one could hardly believe she was human.
As if her beauty alone could overshadow everything else, the radiant silver hair and perfectly crafted features made sure even the harshest critiques about her beauty were far from exaggeration.
‘Wow, she’s just ridiculously beautiful…’
“Hang in there, hang in there…”
“Ah, yes! Thank you!”
[b]Miracle – Great Healing[/b]
“Oh, uh?!”
“Hang in there… huh, huh, being alone is lonely…”
Suddenly overwhelmed by a stream of white energy pouring over them, the part-timer’s eyes widened.
They had never expected to receive Great Healing from the miracle lady, something they’d only seen on streams.
And surely the miracle that could even revive a dead wyvern was real, as the part-timer felt their previous fatigue ease as if they’d been reborn.
Their stiff neck, blurry vision, and tight shoulders—all improved!
“Hang in there, hang in there… Huh, huh…”
“Alright, let’s go, unnie. The part-timer is having a hard time.”
And thus, the miracle lady, with bags of goodies and beer boxes dangling from her tentacles, wobbled out of the convenience store.
“I’m sorry that my unnie caused trouble.”
Nah, it was actually wonderful.
There aren’t many days that compare to this—a real reward.
Honestly, they felt incredibly grateful to have their body healed.
“Please take this too, to keep your spirits up.”
“Ah, that’s okay…”
“Just take it, please. Today’s been a rather sad day for my unnie.”
“Thank you.”
As the blue-haired woman handed over a stack of cash, the part-timer bowed their head in gratitude.
Just a glance told that it was at least over 1 million won.
Curious about what had made the Miracle Lady so sad, but as a civilian and mere part-timer, they didn’t feel comfortable asking.
“Unnie! Let’s go together! No more holding onto telephone poles!”
Ah, I should have taken a picture…
A late wave of regret washed over them, but they figured that this valuable experience would stay in mind for a long time.
○○○○
The Han River Waterfront.
After the Great Rift, the Han River Park was closed for a long while.
Over 20 dungeons opened along the Han, causing the river’s ecosystem to be largely overrun by monsters emerging from the depths.
Thankfully, by the 2070s, Hunters worked to clear the areas, returning the Han River waterfront and parks to the citizens.
Glug, glug, glug…
“Bah! This tastes terrible!”
“…That’s what happens when you drink beer right after cocktails.”
After chugging over 200 expensive, sweet cocktails, switching to bitter, cheap beer would indeed taste bad.
“Hehe, it’s delicious…”
But after saying it tasted bad, in less than 10 minutes of sitting on the Han’s grass with 15 cans empty, it looked more like she was enjoying herself.
That being said, Shia had a hearty appetite for almost anything that wasn’t some bizarre dish.
Yeonhwa, being a Hunter herself, could manage better than an ordinary person, but even she was reduced to simply sipping on beer after a certain point.
At least beer was like water, so it wasn’t really a problem to consume.
“Hehehe, look Yeonhwa… I mixed Jack Daniel’s with beer…”
That sounds horrendously disgusting…
“Eheeee… gulp… gulp!”
As expected, Shia grimaced as she drank the concoction.
Still, seeing her finish it in one shot seemed to indicate it couldn’t have tasted that horrible.
“Unnie.”
“Huh…?”
“Feeling a bit better now?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah… Bingu, um, thanks to you, I feel much better. Like, really!”
As she said that, Shia finished another beer in one go.
Drinking a whole can at once, even if it tasted worse than cocktails, clearly meant it wasn’t all that bad after all.
“If I hadn’t had you, I would’ve been cooped up alone in my room, crying like a pathetic loser… hick… hick…”
“Unnie, look this way. You’re making your pretty face a mess. Come on, blow your nose.”
“Huh…”
Using a tissue to clean Shia’s face, Yeonhwa found herself smiling unconsciously.
Taking care of a drunkard was both tiring and annoying—it often made one want to curse…
But seeing her sister wanting to help each other made this incredibly fun.
Especially watching her sister, who probably rivaled their grandmother in strength, wobble around in a drunken state was quite a rare sight.
“I… want to play a little longer… together…”
“Together with what?”
“Menelapie… Teresa… just once more, right here, together, want to play…”
“Are you talking about others while I’m here?”
“Ah… sorry…”
Still, it was clear to Yeonhwa how deeply those two meant to Shia.
They had fought together against the Demon King, from life to death, becoming comrades. For Shia, who had lived in that previous world for over 60 years, those two were family and friends.
After over 60 years there, it was difficult to imagine forgetting someone so significant.
“….Ah, Yeonhwa, just wait a little here…”
“Yes?”
“I feel sorry…”
Suddenly springing up, Yeonhwa tilted her head in confusion.
Where was she going…?
BAM!!!
Then, with a massive display of power, Shia leaped straight into the Han River, leaving Yeonhwa dumbfounded.
Splash!
“Unnie!?!!”
What on earth is she doing!?
She had said she was feeling drunk, but now she was truly acting crazy!
Just as she was about to take off her coat and jump in, the next moment, Shia burst out of the water like a missile.
There was a water monster known as the ‘Lava Longwhisker Whale.’
First discovered at the bottom of the Amazon River, this monster was as massive as a whale, covered in sharp spikes. However, it was classified as a gentle giant.
This creature emerged from an erosion dungeon connected to rivers and oceans, able to inhabit not just the sea but freshwater and even lava—after the Hunter’s efforts, it had been peacefully coexisting in the Han for some time.
Incredibly delicious, but also incredibly difficult to catch due to its mass, unless it did direct harm, the Hunter Association left them be.
Plus, its tender meat did not easily spoil, making it a registered edible monster.
[Waaahhhh!]
“Kyahhhhh!”
The monster cried out as Shia’s tentacles grabbed hold of it soaring out of the water.
“…What the?”
Am I dreaming?
As Shia’s tentacles quickly chewed up the Lava Longwhisker Whale, she dragged it back toward the Han River waterfront where Yeonhwa stood.
Meanwhile, with the power of her Miracle, it seemed she had purified any blood or impurities from the whale, leaving it clean.
“…..What on earth is happening here, unnie?”
“Hehehe.”
What’s with that giggle?
Yeonhwa wanted to ask but couldn’t find the words to say it aloud.
“It’s food!”
“…..”
Is it?
“Delicious snacks!”
“….”
With a glint of rejection reflected back, as Shia began to cry once again, she broke into tears.
“Huh, huh… you rejected my heart! Huuuuuaaaahhh!”
“Stop it already…”
Truly, this sister was something else…
That day, Yeonhwa discovered that fresh slices of Lava Longwhisker Whale paired excellently with Jack Daniel’s—a fact she can’t say she wanted to know.
