Drinking Competition
“Ruman. Do you think unconditionally covering for him is a good thing? As I said, Ren is my…”
“Jenox-ssi. Please say something. This fellow is so strict with his younger brother.”
When Ruman made a troubled smile and cheekily asked, Jenox quickly spoke up.
He also didn’t want to keep receiving apologies from a boy much smaller than himself. Perhaps it was because he’d glimpsed the grievance on that pale face.
Why did I even point it out in the first place!
Jenox was now at the point of feeling a bit sorry for Ren.
Because it belatedly occurred to him that he might have made too much of a scene when people were already staring like spectators.
“He apologized very politely. This boy. Receiving two apologies isn’t something I should do as an adult. Really now.”
Jenox cleared his throat.
“…Is that so.”
Temarr glared at Ruman, but Ruman only shrugged his shoulders.
“Then the misunderstanding is cleared up now, right?!”
Delshu jumped in.
“It seems so, little miss.”
When Ruman smiled kindly, Delshu was so pleased she didn’t know what to do.
“Hey! Do you like people who look like that?! His eyes are just scary because they flash…”
“Ah. How upsetting. To say my eyes are scary.”
“Hey! Bashua! Can’t you be quiet?! You look like bread dough…”
“Bread dough?! This girl thinks she can talk rudely just because she’s pretty!”
Delshu and Bashua started fighting.
“Ooh, they’re fighting!”
“Fight, fight!”
Regardless of the shadow falling over Jenox’s face, the village children were thoroughly excited.
“Jenox-ssi. Still, I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, so let me treat you to a meal at least.”
“Well now. You don’t have to…”
Jenox, who had been pondering, nodded.
“Since this is also fate, then let’s eat some alcohol and meat together.”
“Yes. Please come to the inn where we’re staying.”
“Where are you staying?”
“We’re staying at ‘The Blue Dragon’s Inn.'”
“The beer there is really excellent.”
“If you don’t mind, let’s go together with the others too.”
“Would that be alright? They’re quite the eaters…”
“Hey, Jenox! Trying to hog the good stuff for yourself?!”
“They’re offering to buy, how can we refuse! They clearly look like noble folks, so them treating the likes of us won’t even make a dent!”
“Let’s go.”
“Haha. Yes. Then I’ll shamelessly accept the meal.”
“I want to go too!”
“Me too!”
Delshu and Bashua, who had been growling and fighting with each other, also raised their hands together amicably.
Ren now had an angry expression.
Where is the money coming from to treat everyone! They didn’t believe his words and made him apologize! Now again he’s being pushed aside. If it’s going to be like this, don’t come running while calling my name! He thought Hyung had changed—he vaguely thought Hyung was paying more attention to him—but he hasn’t changed at all!
Still, Ren had changed. Rather than barging into Hyung while shouting, he chose to swallow his anger while fuming. What made that possible was…
“Ren.”
“……”
“Come here.”
It was probably because Ruman looked out for Ren.
Ruman quietly called Ren who was standing still just glaring at the ground. When Ren raised his head, he gestured. He told the boy and girl talking to him to wait a bit, then gestured while looking only at Ren. Telling him to come here.
Ren’s lips twisted. His eyes became moist then he scrunched up his face fiercely.
His hurt pride showed clearly, but Ruman decided to pretend not to notice.
“Hurry.”
When he urged once more, Ren walked over with a thud thud thud expression showing he didn’t want to. Ruman stroked Ren’s head.
“I was worried.”
“What is there to worry about.”
If even his grumbling is cute, would that be a problem?
Ruman completely forgot why he’d rushed out of the inn earlier and just smiled. Temarr was busy talking with Jenox and the villagers. He even let the village children hang on his arms to play.
Temarr, that foolish bastard.
Ruman clicked his tongue internally and continued speaking.
“I was worried Jenox-ssi might get hurt.”
“What?!”
“Hahaha! I was worried Ren might bite Jenox-ssi hard.”
Because his voice was very serious, it was hard to tell if it was sincere or joking. Ren couldn’t bring himself to say it wasn’t true. If a fight had broken out, he might have actually bitten.
“…Annoying.”
“Ren, are you sulking?”
“I’m not. Why would I? Why would I sulk at Ruman?? What are you to me??”
Ugh. That last remark hurt a bit.
He’d teased for nothing and got it back double. Suppressing his stinging insides, Ruman quickly soothed Ren. A smile like warm spring breeze hung on his lips. The direction that breeze was blowing was naturally toward Ren.
In this brief moment, Ruman decided to be satisfied with Ren’s expression that only he could see.
Temarr, such a fool. Children grow up in a flash and there might not be much time left to see Ren like this. If you only deal with adults, you’ll miss it all.
If it had been his feelings when he first met at the cabin, Ruman would have informed poor Temarr of this fact, but unfortunately the current Ruman had no intention of telling him.
Just because you’re the older brother doesn’t mean you need to know everything about your younger brother.
Ruman wanted to know Ren, including the things Temarr didn’t know.
Temarr’s eyes swept over the two. Displeasure appeared on his cheek then disappeared.
***
The village turned into an unexpected festival atmosphere. Most of the villagers who had gathered from the shopping district followed Temarr to <The Blue Dragon’s Inn>.
The inn’s owner grandmother was angry at the suddenly flooding crowd.
“Why are you all swarming here! Don’t you all have work?”
“That handsome young man today is treating everyone!”
“Whooo! Applause!”
The inn resounded with men’s voices. When applause overlapped, ears rang as if thunder was striking.
“Roast pig here!”
“Same for me!”
“Give me beer.”
“Tomi!”
“Going, going!”
Everyone without exception shouted for food and alcohol and the atmosphere quickly heated up. The villagers chatted among themselves while glancing at Ren’s party once each time.
Ren tried to go upstairs, but was caught by Temarr.
“Hyung, there’s no need for me to be here. I’m uncomfortable.”
Eek. How could I say such a thing!
Ren, who had calmly said he was uncomfortable, was shocked at himself. Temarr was shocked, Ruman was shocked, and so was Gepetto who had been pacing anxiously in front of the inn before being pushed inside.
For Ren to tell Temarr he’s uncomfortable, how could this be!?
“D-did you two perhaps fight?”
Gepetto asked quietly while reading the situation.
“Temarr did something to make him angry.”
Ruman placed his hand on Gepetto’s shoulder and nodded. Subtly taking Ren’s side.
“It’s a gathering for everyone to mingle. You should experience this too.”
“…No, I don’t want…”
“Wouldn’t it be good to experience it while Hyung is here?”
“…Okay.”
“Oh, really.”
Ruman and Gepetto groaned simultaneously.
Ren, who they thought was becoming a rebel, became a gentle younger brother again. Even as Ren jutted out his lips sulkily, he obediently let Temarr lead him by the hand and sat nicely in a chair.
His heart seemed to have melted at Temarr’s gentle voice and the word ‘Hyung.’ Look at those flushed cheeks…
“Temarr, shall we have a drinking competition today?”
“How unusual, coming from you.”
Temarr raised his eyebrow pointedly.
For Temarr who didn’t express emotions well, this was quite a big change. Ren stared at Temarr with a surprised face.
“Still, I should drink with you before leaving. Isn’t that right, comrade?”
Ruman put his arm around Temarr’s shoulder.
Ren and Gepetto, who hadn’t realized Ruman was tall because of Temarr who was tall but also had a tremendous build, widened their eyes. Looking at them like this, the two were similar in height.
“Ha. Don’t back out, Ruman.”
“Of course not.”
This annoying Temarr. Ruman intended to at least give him a hangover before leaving. Ruman, who normally only drank expensive alcohol, decided to follow Temarr’s lead just for today. I’ll have to mix plenty of strong liquor into that beer that only fills the stomach without getting you drunk. I’ll suffer from a hangover too, but that’s for later.
Ruman smiled a dangerous yet beautiful smile. The smile he makes when he’s scheming. Temarr was so absurd he laughed.
Screech.
Ruman pulled out the chair across from Ren and sat down. Gepetto also quickly planted his bottom in a chair.
“Gepetto, please take Ren upstairs after he eats dinner later. If we pass out, just leave us.”
“Pardon? How can I do that. I’ll escort you to your room… Hmm. Since I can’t escort you, I’ll at least cover you with blankets.”
Gepetto changed his words. With builds like that, even supporting them would be difficult, so how could he move them up the stairs to their room? It seemed it wouldn’t be easy even if four or five adult men swarmed together.
Ruman, who had left the food orders to Temarr and Gepetto, winked at Ren. He didn’t care even when Ren wrinkled his nose bridge.
“Here, roast pig and beer! Please enjoy!”
“Thank you for the food.”
“Phew.”
Tomi, who had set down the food and turned around, hesitantly approached Ren. Blood stains that hadn’t been wiped off showed on his philtrum. Regardless, Ren, who had no interest in others, was making clumsy knife work.
“Ah. If you grip it like this and cut…”
“I don’t need it!”
“Ren.”
“Ah! Sorry for interfering. Um, this, you know, it’s popular with the kids. I’m, I’m giving it specially so… Um, ahem. If it’s okay, would you like to with me…”
“Tomi—!”
“Hup. Going!!”
Tomi was a boy who wasn’t affected by prickliness. He seemed unfazed even though Ren had swatted his hand away. Rather, Ren was flustered. He’d unknowingly gotten irritated from shyness and discomfort, but when the other person apologized, he became too embarrassed. It wasn’t that he wanted to be irritated… it was just that people suddenly approaching made him uncomfortable.
Ren looked at the toy Tomi had left on the table. Am I old enough to play with this kind of thing!
But it was a toy he’d never seen before in his life. Curiosity showed in Ren’s eyes.
“Hey, Temarr! Let’s not interfere in the boys’ business. Didn’t you hear earlier? They called us ahjussi.”
“……”
Temarr didn’t respond and just gulped down his beer. His Adam’s apple went up and down several times, and the beer that had been sloshing full in the mug was left with only foam.
“Tomi! One more beer here!”
Ruman pulled out strong liquor from his bosom. The bottle containing the strong liquor had a dangerous substance marking. Gepetto’s eyes sparkled looking at the bottle.
“Let’s mix and drink. Drinking only beer is boring after all. Right, Temarr?”
“Your old habits are showing.”
Temarr clicked his tongue. However, he didn’t stop Ruman from mixing in the strong liquor.
