Absolute Regression Chapter 132

Episode 132: I’ll pay for the drinks today.

The owner of the Pungryu tavern, Jo Chun-bae, welcomed me. He was so happy to see me that I felt sorry for him, as if he had come back to life from the dead.

“It’s so nice to see you back. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you.”

“Master, have you made a lot of money so far?”

“I earned a lot. I am earning well thanks to you, sir.”

Thanks to the Hwangcheon-gak Sojibu, which was thought to last only for a while and then disappear, Magachon has been purified a lot. In particular, since there are almost no drunkards who cause trouble or leave without paying, it has become very easy to do business.

“You’ll have to prepare a lot of alcohol today.”

“Because it’s been a long time since we last met.”

“That’s not it. A new drinker will be coming today.”

“Are you a drinker?”

“You’ll know when you see it later.”

I went up to this floor.

There were only Seo Dae-ryong and Jang-ho there. Jang-ho suddenly got up and greeted me.

“long time no see.”

“How have you been?”

I held his thick hand tightly.

“Now that the Demon Lords have settled down, things are easier than before. If you have anything you want me to do, just let me know.”

Jangho’s gaze toward me remains unchanged.

Even if you come back a year later, or even ten years later, those eyes won’t change.

A person who repays ten for one, a person who repays ten and still feels that he has not fully repaid the debt – that is a person like Jangho.

That is why I will keep this noble loyalty. I want to raise him to be a big tree and rest in the shade of that lush tree. I have no intention of sitting on the stump that remains and reminiscing about the past.

Seo Dae-ryong said as he exchanged greetings with Jang-ho.

“I told the general and this man who was coming later. A little while ago, this man said he had urgent business and went back.”

Even without saying anything, I could tell why she was missing. There wouldn’t be any problems if I were there, but she must have worried about the one-in-a-million-case scenario. She’s still more concerned about me than she is about having fun. She’s probably sweating in the training room right now.

“And I told Your Majesty the King about what happened earlier in the day.”

I still feel the heat that hasn’t cooled down from Seo Dae-ryong. It’s hotter than before. Because unresolved emotions tend to grow inside the heart.

“You told me to drink and take shots, didn’t you? You should also vent all your emotions today.”

“And then what if I die?”

“The second person will become the general lord here.”

Jang Ho smiled faintly and filled Seo Dae Ryong’s glass with alcohol. He knew that his silent support was a great source of strength for Seo Dae Ryong. The reason Seo Dae Ryong took Jang Ho as an example was probably because he found this aspect of Jang Ho so attractive.

After everyone emptied their drinks at the reunion, I said something to Seo Dae-ryong that he absolutely needed to hear.

“It’s natural to be afraid. If you’re afraid, you should be afraid. Your instincts work best when you’re afraid of scary things. You need to know exactly what you’re afraid of, when and how you react, and your limits.”

While they were talking about this and that, two people came into the tavern. They were Chwi-ma and Yeo-bin.

Jo Chun-bae, who found out who the guest was, was truly surprised. And he was happier than any other visit from a demon. He expressed his joy beyond the meaning of welcoming a drunkard as a guest while selling alcohol.

“It’s an honor to have you come to me, Elder Daechwima!”

He bowed and greeted me.

When they found out that the guest who entered was drunk, the guests nearby held their breath.

The horse looked around and said.

“You guys are my favorite people in the world. Drink up! I’ll pay for the drinks tonight.”

The drinkers cheered at his words.

I shouted as I watched the scene from the second floor.

“He’s handsome! He’s the most handsome among the Amazons!”

The horse looked up at me and smiled.

“I’ll double the drinks and snacks for that person!”

At those words, compliments on his handsomeness poured in from all sides.

“There too! That seat too! Give it all to me!”

Applause erupted and the drinkers cheered. The distance between the Amazon and the drinkers at the Pungryu tavern was as wide as a cliff, and Chuma had narrowed it down in an instant.

Even the drunkard went to the place where he was standing on the way to this floor and poured him a drink. The drunkard received the drink with trembling hands, but it was a moment he would brag about for the rest of his life. There were cheers and envy from all sides.

Seeing him quickly blend in with the drinkers and hang out together made me think that he was really drunk.

The drunkard who swept through the first floor came up to this floor.

“Lee Gongja, I’m here.”

“welcome.”

Chwima brought Yeobin to the weaklings.

“This is Yeobin, my subordinate and one of the three great drunkards of Daechurim.”

Seo Dae-ryong and Jang Ho greeted Chwi-ma and Yeo-bin.

After exchanging greetings, we sat down together.

“I heard that the Duke of Yi’s escort has become more beautiful, but I can’t see him today. What a shame. I should have shown you this handsome face!”

Chwima knew a lot about me. I thought he might even know Seodaeryong and Jangho.

“It seems that your highness the drunkard is really just a prejudice.”

“What does it mean?”

“Don’t you think that people who like alcohol are usually not well-informed?”

“Since I spend a lot of time drunk, I should be well informed!”

“That’s true, but most drinkers don’t live like that.”

Suddenly, this thought occurred to me. If I peel off his prejudices layer by layer, I might finally be able to see the person that is Chwima.

“Your Majesty, do you drink well?”

“Yes I do like it.”

She answered my question briefly. She seemed a little stiffer than when she greeted me at Daechurim. She seemed to be cautious because she was in front of a horse.

I glanced at Seo Dae-ryong. He was nervously watching Chwi-ma and Yeo-bin.

I sent a message to Seo Dae-ryong.

-When are you going to come out?

-Is there anything that could ruin the mood right from the start of a drinking party?

-If you’re going to do it, do it now. If you do it while drunk, you could really die.

-Please don’t pour alcohol on my grave. Just plant the flowers I grow.

I don’t know if Seo Dae-ryong will hold it in or if he will bring it up when drunk. I believe that whether he holds it in or brings it up, it will be a helpful experience for him.

At that moment, Jo Chun-bae came up with alcohol. It was a bottle of alcohol I had never seen before.

“This is a special drink that I’ve been saving to give to you when you visit our tavern someday.”

Then, the horse sniffed and opened its eyes wide.

“Phoenix Dongju?”

“Wow! You can tell just by smell! That’s really amazing.”

“How could I not know about this exquisite liquor brewed with over two hundred medicinal herbs? How did you obtain this precious liquor?”

“I once worked at a brewery in Guizhou. The teacher who taught me at that time gave me this as a gift when we left.”

“Can you give me this precious wine?”

“I am a liquor seller in front of Cheonmasingyo. Who would you like to give this liquor to? I have been waiting for today.”

“Thank you.”

I pretended to be mad and shouted at Jo Chun-bae.

“Master! I’ve come here so often and you never gave me anything!”

Then Jo Chun-bae said with a smile.

“This is a drink for those who really know their way around.”

At least this drink seemed to have been saved for the chance encounter. He expressed his gratitude to me while saying so.

“Thanks to you, I have achieved a lifelong dream. Thank you.”

Chwima poured us each a glass of Bonghwangdongju. He also poured some for Jo Chun-bae, who stubbornly refused to drink.

“Go downstairs and share the remaining alcohol with everyone.”

The moment I heard that, I was secretly impressed by Chwima. I didn’t know what kind of person he was, but at least I thought that his heart was amazing for willingly sharing this precious liquor with drinkers.

“Thank you, everyone will love it.”

Sure enough, a moment later, cheers erupted from downstairs.

“Come on, let’s have a drink too!”

The drunkard raised his glass and everyone in the tavern toasted along with him.

Whether it was because of the Mingju or the atmosphere, the taste of the alcohol was amazing.

“Thanks to you, I had a good drink.”

“Is it because of me? It’s because of this Confucius.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come to this tavern, so in the end, it’s all thanks to you.”

He is a person who knows how to make people feel good. The reason I don’t often use flattery on him is because he makes me feel good first.

When Chwima drank three glasses of alcohol in succession, I said.

“Please have some snacks.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the chopsticks in front of him floated up slightly. I had floated them in the empty water.

Then the chopsticks went down again. This time, Chwima lowered them into the empty water.

The chopsticks went up and down, and our battle of internal energy began.

Seo Dae-ryong, Jang-ho, and Yeo-bin watched this situation with slightly tense faces.

The internal energy of the horse was stronger than I thought. Of course, I could have defeated him with my internal energy, but I gave in and retreated to a certain extent.

The chopsticks were placed on the table.

“Lee Gongja, your internal energy is amazing.”

“You said that drinking alcohol makes you three times stronger?”

After drinking the alcohol placed in front of me, I lifted my chopsticks again.

This time, Chwima didn’t use his internal energy to stop it. He picked up his chopsticks and ate his side dish as if he had lost.

“Is it okay now?”

“Okay.”

“It was the same last time. Why is this man so obsessed with side dishes?”

“It’s not a question of men or women. It’s not a question of whether you’re a man or a woman. It’s just a question of health.”

“If you eat some snacks, you can drink less alcohol.”

“That’s what I’m telling you to do. You must have at least one side dish for every three glasses of alcohol.”

At that moment, I saw Yeo-bin slightly bowing her head toward me. It was a gesture of gratitude. From that look, I could feel that she truly cherished Chwi-ma.

The drunkard asked me.

“Why do you take such good care of my health?”

After a moment, I spoke to him.

“I don’t know what kind of relationship we’ll have yet. If we become good friends, what if you die from alcoholism?”

“What? Me? Dying from a bottle of alcohol?”

He laughed harder than he had ever laughed since he met me, but I didn’t laugh.

“You are such a strange person.”

“In what way?”

“You’re the only person in my life who’s ever worried about me getting a drinker. No one I meet from now on will worry about that.”

“There must be others around besides me. It’s just that you are having a hard time and can’t tell me.”

“Okay, let’s say that’s true. What if we become enemies? Wouldn’t it be better to die early from alcoholism?”

“I don’t want to see you making excuses like that. If I have to die, I want to die by my sword. Even though we’re enemies?”

The atmosphere froze for a moment due to the somewhat harsh words, but Chwima didn’t feel bad at all. Instead, he smiled and drank his alcohol. And he ate the side dish as if it was a treat. Okay? Yes!

The atmosphere at the drinking party became even better. After drinking a few glasses of alcohol, Seo Dae-ryong sent a message.

―From now on, even if you tease me about being a coward, I will admit it. Please add cowardice to my introduction.

It was a decision to hold back. It wouldn’t have been easy to step forward and pour cold water on this exciting atmosphere led by Chuma.

―I can’t help but think of reasons why I shouldn’t be brave. He deserved to die anyway, so I wonder if it’s really worth going this far. I also think that even the mobsters were ordered to do this. If I were to argue, I’d have to go to Chwima, but if I did, I’d probably die.

-Hey, coward.

Seo Dae-ryong, who was looking down at his glass, raised his head and looked at me.

I held out my glass. What words are needed at a time like this? You grow as you go through these and other things.

Seo Dae-ryong smiled faintly and toasted my glass.

Chwima, who was watching the scene, spoke to Seodaeryong.

“Are you the disciple of Blood Heavenly Sword?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He doesn’t get along well with Blood Heavenly Demon. What will happen? He might mock Blood Heavenly Demon or make fun of Seo Dae-ryong.

But then something came out that broke those expectations.

“You feel good.”

“yes?”

“I feel okay as an unmanned person. I’ll do better in the future.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

Seo Dae-ryong, who was very nervous about what to say, was flustered. He didn’t know that Chwima would praise him like this. However, his expression brightened as if he felt good after hearing the compliment.

As we were drinking and laughing together, our eyes met and an embarrassing sound came out.

―Yes, that’s me! From now on, the next best demon lord after Master is Chuma. That’s me! What can I do with something that’s good?

-I didn’t say anything.

We drank again. As expected, drinking alcohol and getting drunk makes you feel better. Seo Dae-ryong, as well as Jang Ho, were drinking happily while chatting with Yeo-bin about various things.

We must not forget. Chwima is a person who can change the atmosphere of a drinking party with a joke or a hand gesture, and we are at that drinking party. We must not forget that he is a person who has made his own history with alcohol.

When we were laughing and chatting like that and the mood was at its best, Chwima asked me.

“So, what do you think? Are we going to be brothers now?”

At his words, the three people present turned their gazes to me and Chwima. It was not easy to see the Ma-Zone suggesting that the blood relatives of Cheon-Ma be friendly with each other.

Drunkard, what is your intention in saying this to me? Is it the vain sincerity of a drunkard that will disappear when he sobers up? Or is it a thoroughly calculated plan?

At that moment, the bustling tavern became quiet.

I looked down and saw someone entering the tavern.

Even I did not expect him to come here. The person who came in with a long sword and a cold aura was none other than Hyeolcheon Doma.

Bloodthirsty Horse, who had walked slowly up to this floor, sat down between me and the horse and spoke.

“Let me have a drink too.”