Lee Hayul's Head Lowered in Embarrassment
Lee Hayul lowered his head, embarrassed by his late reaction. Those watching him couldn't help but feel warmth in their hearts, as though they were floating in a tender mood.
Everyone knew about Lee Hayul's trauma.
During the post-first semester ceremony, when he was offered alcohol, many people noticed his body stiffening, clearly uncomfortable. Those who offered him the drink tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but eventually withdrew, understanding his discomfort.
Lee Hayul had a deep trauma associated with alcohol and cigarettes. The details of his childhood were unknown to most, but it was clear that his trauma was severe. Even the faintest trace of something resembling alcohol on Atra's body made him nauseous and faint.
[“I brought this for everyone to drink.”]
[“So we can enjoy it with the meal.”]
Despite his trauma, Lee Hayul handed the alcohol to everyone personally. His hand was stiff, awkwardly shaking the bottle as he presented it.
This stirred up complex emotions in everyone.
How should this feeling be described?
It was like a dog that had been hurt by its previous owner, growling at everything, but then one day, it approached timidly, rubbing against its owner and showing affection.
It was clear that he was trying to push past his alcohol trauma, showing trust in the people around him.
How could anyone not be touched by that?
“Oh! This is Terragrand Mountain's liquor!”
Riana, whose gaze was filled with warmth and emotion, suddenly raised her voice.
Riana, known for her notorious love for alcohol, had spotted the label on the liquor bottle placed on the table.
“...You’re something else...”
Atra, sitting next to her, frowned.
The atmosphere, which had been sweet and warm, was suddenly broken by the drunkenness of Riana.
As Atra furrowed her brow and shot a disapproving look, Riana excitedly pointed at the bottle.
“Terragrand! This is liquor that’s impossible to find, even in the market!”
“Terragrand...? Isn’t that the city that’s been gone for a long time?”
“It’s been gone for at least 40 years. The city was wiped out by a second-tier dungeon rampage. It was the place where they produced superhuman-only liquors. Since then, it’s been nearly impossible to find anything from there!”
[“...Really?”]
[“I just heard it was honey liquor, so I brought it.”]
Lee Hayul tilted his head. He tried to recall, but he didn’t remember any force called Terragrand.
When he had to decide what alcohol to bring for dinner, Lee Hayul, who knew nothing about alcohol, had only focused on the word "honey" and picked it up.
“Really, really, can we drink this...?”
His eyes sparkled as he looked at the bottle of alcohol, but soon he nervously glanced at Lee Hayul, unsure.
[“Yes, it’s really fine.”]
[“Professor is fine with it.”]
Lee Hayul smiled gently, as if to reassure everyone. His face lit up so brightly that it seemed to brighten the whole room.
Immediately, like before, the space around them widened, and from the gap, the winged robe appeared and brought out enough glasses for everyone.
There were six glasses, none for Lee Hayul or Lee Seoyul.
Lee Seoyul was obviously excluded, and Lee Hayul himself couldn’t bring himself to drink, let alone enjoy the taste.
“Wow, wow...!”
Riana’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Her throat trembled as her mouth watered.
Superhumans are known for their strong immune systems, so they don’t get drunk easily. For that reason, liquors specifically brewed for superhumans are sold as premium items.
Riana, renowned as a liquor connoisseur, was no exception. She drank a lot but didn’t get drunk easily, enjoying liquor as if it were water when she was at her peak.
However, Riana hadn’t touched alcohol in months.
No, she hadn’t even been near a bar!
All because of Lee Hayul!
Her previously friendly and approachable demeanor turned cold when she realized that Lee Hayul, the student she had taken care of, showed a deep aversion to alcohol, especially the smell.
She tried to hide it, but the shock she felt was real.
Knowing this, she couldn't bring herself to drink, which made her avoid alcohol altogether.
Therefore, it was inevitable that Riana's eyes would sparkle when Lee Hayul, the one responsible for her forced abstinence, directly offered her alcohol.
[“Here.”]
Lee Hayul gently placed the glasses in front of everyone before taking the bottle in his hands.
Though he had never hosted a drinking session before, he understood that he was supposed to pour the alcohol for everyone.
The cold, smooth feeling of the bottle in his hand seemed to resist him.
Though it had special material and preservation magic engraved on it, emphasizing that it came from another world, it still felt like a cold glass bottle.
Despite that, the thought of alcohol itself made him uneasy.
Pop!
The cork came off with a cheerful sound and a smooth feeling.
The sound was faint. There was no smell, but Lee Hayul couldn’t help but feel a strange repulsion, his shoulders tensing slightly.
His head spun for a moment.
It's okay...
But he didn’t feel too afraid.
He trusted the people around him.
He knew that even if they drank, they wouldn't change.
Even if they let loose and got drunk, they wouldn’t turn into the kind of people who would pressure him.
It’s okay.
Reaffirming that belief, Lee Hayul's body relaxed. His hunched back straightened, and the rapid pulse in his chest returned to normal.
Whew, whew...
He took a deep breath and steeled himself.
Then, he slowly poured the alcohol into the glasses in front of him.
...Glasses, plural?
His hand paused as he noticed the glasses were not just one but several.
There were six glasses. Everyone, except for him and Lee Seoyul, had their glasses out.
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Lee Jiyeon, who had been hesitant to drink, subtly presented her glass as well, making Lee Hayul chuckle at the awkwardness.
Nonetheless, the gaze directed at him was full of expectation. As if asking, Aren’t you going to pour for me first?
...
As he noticed the eyes on him, Lee Hayul subtly opened the space again.
From within, his winged robe came out with five more bottles of the same liquor.
“Ah.”
Someone muttered in surprise.
Chirp...
Immediately, the six glasses were filled with honey liquor, all at the same time. The timing, amount, and speed were perfectly synchronized.
With the power of his observation, he calculated everything perfectly, though one person at the table made a sour expression.
...
As expected, the dinner progressed smoothly and comfortably.
It was easy to see why. It was difficult to find discomfort when the table was filled with such delicious and varied food.
"Wait, is this sauce...?"
Elia, who had picked up a bagel, looked surprised as she took a bite. The taste in her mouth was oddly familiar.
[“That’s the recipe Elia gave me.”]
Lee Seoyul responded, feeding her a small piece of meat.
[“I was told it’s a common dish in my hometown...”]
“Wow... this tastes better than mine. And I’m sorry, I should’ve helped finish setting up sooner...”
[“There’s no need to apologize.”]
[“I’m just happy you’re enjoying it.”]
The food on the table was tailored to each person’s taste, ensuring everyone enjoyed their meal.
Though Lee Hayul’s sense of taste was limited, his observation powers allowed him to adjust every dish perfectly. And with his extensive experience, his cooking skills were top-tier.
He had crafted each dish specifically for those sitting at the table, ensuring the perfect balance of flavors for each person.
The alcohol Lee Hayul had retrieved was also a rare find. Though he had simply chosen what seemed the best, it was all high-quality liquor that would be hard to find even in the marketplace.
The combination of good food and drink made the meal enjoyable for everyone.
Moreover, whenever anyone needed something, Lee Hayul quickly noticed and brought it out from his spatial pocket.
“...”
“...”
Of course, there were a few sparks flying at the table, notably between Hong Yeonhwa and Atra. Despite their fight and all the tension, they were still uncomfortable with each other.
They were both merely staying silent because they were aware of Lee Hayul’s presence.
‘...What is this?’
As everyone ate and enjoyed the rare liquor, Lee Jiyeon, who had been fiddling with her utensils, glanced down at her gratin.
The dish, though a bit deformed from being eaten several times, still looked mouthwatering.
‘This is really good...’
Lee Jiyeon thought, her spoon trembling slightly as she chewed. The rich taste of sweet potatoes with cheese, combined with the savory flavor of the potatoes, perfectly complemented the burst of corn's sweetness.
The food was prepared exactly to her liking.
‘How did he know I like gratin? No, it must be a coincidence. But then again, everyone else seems to like it too...’
Though still slightly puzzled, Lee Jiyeon couldn’t help but enjoy the meal. It tasted even better than what her family’s chef made.
Despite the mixed feelings, it was undeniably delicious.
Glug.
The drink was also to her liking. The honey liquor, a product of a long-gone force, was a perfect match for her taste.
It was incredibly sweet, yet didn’t overwhelm her. It was smooth, with a clean finish. The faint aftertaste lingered pleasantly.
Lee Jiyeon had always loved honey. Whenever she felt bloated, she would mix honey in water, and when she was younger, she would sneak into her family's apiary to gorge on honey.
Though it wasn’t something explicitly mentioned in the original story, Lee Hayul had unintentionally prepared a meal and drink that perfectly matched her preferences.
Everything on the table was delicious, and the liquor was satisfying.
And the sweet scent of honey in the air was just as alluring. It was almost intoxicating, enough to make Lee Hayul’s strong resolve begin to waver.
The source of the scent, however, wasn’t the liquor.
“Ahem...”
As Lee Jiyeon discreetly swallowed her saliva, she turned her gaze towards the source of the honey fragrance.
This wasn’t an unusual occurrence. Most of the people at the table had their eyes on it as well.
[“Seoyul, is the food good?”]
“Yes! Dad’s food is the best!”
‘Hehe.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Now, take another bite.’
“Ahh...”
Lee Hayul, who had drawn everyone’s attention, smiled broadly. It was a rare sight, even in these cheerful days.
Without realizing it, several people felt a stirring of desire as they watched him, though he remained oblivious to it.
His face, smooth and pale like milk, was flushed red. Even the nape of his neck was heated, a single bead of sweat trickling down.
Anyone could see he was drunk.
Though he hadn’t had a drop to drink, the effects of the alcohol were already apparent.
Lee Hayul was weak against alcohol.
Though he might deny it, that was the truth.
Of course, it wasn’t a normal weakness.
His strange body, neither fully spiritual nor physical, made him conditionally weak to alcohol.
When he maintained high alertness, most superhumans could drink without getting drunk, but once he lowered his guard, it made him especially vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. He could get drunk from just the scent.
[“Oh, Seoyul is eating well, huh?”]
[“So good~”]
Right now, Lee Hayul had no guard up. That’s why the alcohol hit him quickly and strongly. But his sense of reason was still intact.
The reason was simple.
Seoyul was sitting on his lap.
Even though he judged himself to be unworthy, he still felt responsible for protecting Seoyul. Therefore, he couldn’t afford to show any weakness in front of her.
This thought kept the alcohol-induced haze at bay.
“Hmph.”
Seoyul also understood this. She could feel the threatening, lascivious gazes coming from the others.
These were the lecherous gazes of those who dared to eye her father.
So, since the meal began, Seoyul hadn’t left Lee Hayul’s side, determined to protect him from those lecherous gazes.
No matter how bold they were, they would never dare act on their impulses in front of a parent.
‘How dare they.’
With this resolve, Seoyul stayed glued to Lee Hayul, refusing to leave him.
‘Huh? Why are my eyes...?’
But suddenly, Seoyul’s vision blurred. Her sight seemed to ripple, and her consciousness began to fade.
‘Ah.’
Seoyul opened her mouth in confusion.
Lately, she’d been eating more and sleeping a lot, all due to her accelerated growth.
And right now, the warmth from the food Lee Hayul had carefully prepared filled her up perfectly.
Her mind was growing drowsy, and her willpower struggled to keep her alert.
‘Wait... this isn’t the time.’
But despite her resolve, her consciousness continued to drift.
Seoyul’s eyelids slowly closed.
In her dimming vision, Lee Hayul leaned toward Hong Yeonhwa, and a shadowy hand brushed past her waist.