Episode 14
A Nice Drunkard
Cassis, a village always covered in heavy snow.
“Good morning, Mister! Can I have tomato soup with two meatballs, please?”
“You’re so polite, I’ll give you an extra meatball!”
“Wow! Thank you! I’ll come again!”
“Yes~ Enjoy your meal.”
The village chief smiled as he watched the shop owner being kind to the child.
“We were really foolish. The Kabellu was always here with us, but instead, we fed and sheltered that witch. I should’ve kicked her out sooner. See? Now that she’s gone, the village feels alive again.”
“You’re right, Father. Ever since we drove the witch away, the snow isn’t as heavy, and more merchants are visiting. It proves all those disasters were her fault.”
The chief’s daughter-in-law laughed proudly.
Nearby, a child happily eating fish cake raised his hands.
“Mom, I want more fish cake.”
“You do? Go ask the man for another one.”
“Yay! Mister, can I have more please?”
The child ran off with a few coins in hand. The chief and his daughter-in-law laughed, saying how cute he was.
But just then—
A blinding light lit up the village like a giant lamp. Everyone stopped talking and looked up.
A huge magic circle covered the sky. Complicated shapes swirled like claw marks, and a dark seal glowed above. Red eyes gleamed in the shadows.
“…Huzga Dias?”
Thud. The chief’s cane dropped. The woman covered her mouth in fear. The child froze, the fishcake falling from his hand.
Huz stared down coldly from above, his blood-red eyes calm and emotionless—like a beast thinking about how to hunt, or a reaper deciding the punishment.
Then, he smiled faintly.
“It’s time to die, you bastards.”
Right after, a pillar of light blasted down from the magic circle. It hit the village and spread out, swallowing the ground and forest around it.
Boom!!
The earth shook, the sky tore open, and the sun broke through the clouds.
The light pillar shrank slowly, until it vanished like a thread.
“…You deserved this.”
Beneath the fading dust, a deep hole opened—so wide and dark it seemed bottomless. Huz looked into it coldly.
“It’s the best ending for you.”
The magic he used was a forbidden spell—the strongest of all black magic. It didn’t just kill; it destroyed the soul, erasing it forever.
It was against Unus’ will, and he would be punished someday.
“…I don’t care.”
He didn’t regret it. Those people had hurt her—and that was enough.
Huz turned and walked away as the wind blew behind him.
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I must’ve fallen asleep on my stomach, because when I opened my eyes, it was already midnight.
I stretched and yawned loudly.
Outside the tent, I heard some noise. The smell of firewood came in, and I saw a soft red glow in the darkness. A shadow stretched across the ground.
‘Is that Huz?’
I crawled forward and peeked out.
Sure enough, it was Huz, sitting in a simple chair made of woven grass.
‘When did he get here?’
I was about to greet him, but stopped.
Huz was staring into the fire, looking deep in thought. He muttered something I couldn’t understand, then shook his head as if clearing his mind.
I didn’t want to disturb him.
‘…He’s really handsome.’
His face, lit by the fire, looked smooth and perfect. Even with shadows, his features were balanced and striking.
He must’ve noticed my gaze. His pale, blank eyes turned toward me—then filled with life.
He smiled like a child.
“Snow White, you’re awake?”
For a second, I just stared in confusion. What’s up with him? He seems so… different. Maybe he’s gone crazy?
Huz tilted his head. I quickly pulled myself together and smiled.
“Yeah. When did you get here?”
“Three or four hours ago, maybe? You were out cold.”
He hummed and tossed more wood into the fire. Flames danced higher, as if happy to be fed.
Now I was seriously concerned. Did he lose his mind during his rampage? What’s with that cheerful tone?
“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy, Snow White.”
Oops. Was it that obvious?
“Oh, am I really crazy? Maybe a little… but I’m fine for now.”
He shrugged and took a sip from a glass bottle. I noticed the golden liquid inside.
‘What’s he drinking?’
He saw me looking. “Don’t worry, it’s Kaoliang liquor.”
“What’s that?”
“A really strong alcohol. About 50%.”
So that’s why he’s acting like this… he’s drunk!
“If the alcohol is strong, does that make you drunk faster?”
“Yup.”
“Is 50% a lot?”
“Hic. Yeah. Especially if you drink it straight like this.”
“But you seem fine.”
“I’m half-undead. Undead have slow blood flow, so we don’t get drunk easily.”
A natural drinker, huh? He smiled and took another sip. I sat cross-legged and leaned closer.
“Hey, can I try a sip—?”
“Nope. Come back when you’re older.”
He waved his hand firmly. I felt a little offended.
“I’m 22.”
“If you look like a kid, you’re a kid.”
Wow, so responsible for a murderer. I muttered under my breath and hugged myself—it was cold.
Just then, a tan blanket appeared in front of me.
“Cover up.”
“Huh?”
“The temperature drops fast in Kabellu. Take it.”
“…Oh.”
I hesitated, then took the blanket.
“T-Thanks.”
Huz looked away like he hadn’t heard me. I wrapped myself in the blanket, feeling something strange inside.
‘He’s… a nice drunk.’
Unexpected. It wasn’t bad—but still awkward.
Once I was bundled up, he started drinking again. I squatted nearby and watched him.
He was really different when drunk.
Usually, he was sharp and dangerous, like a hunting beast. But now, he was loose and relaxed, like a string gone soft. He mumbled strange words and took long, slow breaths.
I peeked at his flushed face.
His purple-toned cheeks made his pale skin look dreamy instead of creepy.
‘If he looked like this all the time, people would be obsessed with him.’
But in reality, no one would dare.
He finished one bottle and opened another. I finally noticed the pile of empty bottles beside him.
‘He drank all that?!’
Even I, who knew little about alcohol, was shocked.
‘Should I stop him? Wait… no. Better not.’
Drunk people are unpredictable—and this one is a killer. Safer to leave him be.
‘Actually, I kinda want to see how drunk he gets.’
Just the thought of Huz, an undead killer, lying sick from alcohol made me chuckle.
“Snow White.”
“Yeah?”
He tilted his head.
“Smile.”
“…Huh?”
“Come on. Smile.”
I blinked. Where did this come from?
“Right now?”
“Yes. Let me see.”
Feeling awkward, I smiled weirdly.
“…What kind of smile is that?”
“You told me to smile.”
“Not that kind. Smile like this.”
He gave a small, real smile. His cold eyes softened, and his lips curved gently. It was… charming.
“Try it.”
His deep voice gave me chills. I copied him.
“…?”
He stared blankly.
The silence was painful. Was my smile that bad?
I tried again.
He clicked his tongue.
“Still ugly.”
“W-What?”
He reached out and pinched my cheek.
“You look like a squished bun. Or a wrinkled snowman. Which suits you better?”
“No, wait—”
“Yeah, a bun fits you. Warm and round.”
He pinched my other cheek, laughing.
“Our Snow White is ugly. You look like a rabbit. Gonna collect all the ugly nicknames in the world?”
My cheeks got tugged back and forth. It didn’t hurt, but being teased like this made me mad.
“Ah no ug leh!” (I’m not ugly!)
“Pft—what’s that voice?!”
Well duh, you’re pulling my face! Huz laughed so hard, his whole body shook.
“Are you a baby? Should I give you a rattle? Want your pacifier?”
Ugh! He’s loving this way too much! I wanted to smack him, but… I didn’t.
When I saw his innocent smile, my anger faded.
‘Well, if it makes him happy…’
I sighed and gave up.
“Finh. I’ll leth yu ush ma che eks.” (Fine. You can use my cheeks.)
I twisted my words on purpose. Huz fell over laughing.
After a while, he wiped his tears and said:
“Then I won’t hold back.”
