Chapter 09
After work, I headed to a restaurant near the clinic.
It was my regular spot, famous for its Azrahel carp dishes. I often came here to enjoy drinks with Bri.
“Boss, two orders of Azrahel fried carp and two dark beers, please!”
I sat at the table and placed the order, and soon the friendly owner appeared with four glasses of dark beer, smiling.
“The other two are on the house for our hardworking healer.”
Ahh, this is why being a healer is worth it. Seeing the cold dark beer made my mouth water.
The first glass was a one-shot!
As I gulped down the refreshing dark beer, I noticed people entering the restaurant in healer uniforms.
“Oh? Senior Kae? Oh… Senior Bri!”
The bald clinic director, some senior colleagues, a few peers, and even the new healers! Seeing us, they waved cheerfully.
Damn it, this ruins the mood. Do I really have to see my workplace superiors here too?
Just eat quickly and leave.
I reluctantly nodded to them, but the bald clinic director, oblivious, came over to my table.
“Ah! Kae, you’re here! I was just about to treat my hardworking colleagues! Join us!”
Join… join them? No, I’ll decline. What if I choke while drinking?
I was about to refuse sharply when the director called the others over.
“Everyone! Come sit here!”
Hearing that, the colleagues standing at the entrance all moved toward my table.
“I’ll sit next to Senior Kae!”
A newcomer smiled brightly and sat next to me, linking arms with mine.
“Hahaha! Hey, boss! Also, bring a bottle of 30-year-old Kelantunya wine!”
The clinic director laughed heartily and called the restaurant owner to order the premium wine.
With the table full of colleagues and premium alcohol ordered by the director, I couldn’t refuse to join.
Ah, whatever. Let’s eat and enjoy.
I raised my glass with a benevolent heart.
As the first and second drinks went down, the alcohol buzz began to lift my spirits.
Hahaha, how could anyone tell me to cut short such a joyful drinking session! Apostle-sama, really!
“This drink is just for you, Kae! I specially dedicate it to you, so drink as much as you like today!”
The supervisor, who usually forced me to work overtime every day, handed me a bottle of premium alcohol. Instantly, all my resentment vanished.
“Ah! Thank you!”
I repeatedly drank the poured drink.
Bri, sitting beside me, poked my side, but I couldn’t figure out why. When I shrugged and looked at her, she pressed her forehead in exasperation.
“Senior Kae! I’m amazing at making drinks, you know!”
At that moment, the newcomer sitting beside me looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“Oh? Really? Show me then!”
Hearing that, the clinic director encouraged the newcomer. The newcomer smiled brightly and began mixing various drinks.
“Ta-da! Mika’s special drink! Hehe!”
The newcomer handed me a glass.
Hmm… The color was murky, and it didn’t look particularly appetizing, but since the newcomer always admired me, I couldn’t refuse.
So, I reluctantly took a sip.
A sweet taste filled my mouth. Whoa! This is delicious!
My eyes widened in surprise.
I immediately gulped down the entire glass.
“Wow! Mika, this is amazing!”
I praised her in astonishment, and Mika cheered even louder.
“Yay! I’ll make you more!”
Mika happily continued making drinks. Beer, wine, and some mysterious liquors kept coming, and my mind started spinning. The world seemed dizzy and whirling.
Then… blackout.
“Ugh… my head.”
I opened my eyes groggily, rubbing my head in a splitting headache.
The familiar ceiling of my room greeted me. My whole body ached as if I’d been beaten, my mouth was parched, and the scent of strong alcohol rose from deep within me.
What on earth happened? I tried to think, but my mind wouldn’t cooperate.
Ah, I drank with my colleagues yesterday.
A hangover.
I hope I didn’t do anything stupid…
I staggered and went out. Bri, my roommate, was already at the table having breakfast. Seeing me, she started laughing hysterically.
“Hehehe… hahahaha!”
Ha, if she’s laughing at me, something definitely happened yesterday.
Feeling unease creeping up, I staggered to the table and asked,
“Why are you laughing?”
She laughed even harder, wiping tears from her eyes, and asked me,
“You really don’t remember yesterday?”
Yes… My head hurts so much I can’t remember a thing. What happened…? I wanted to say, but the throbbing pain kept my mouth shut, and I collapsed onto the table.
Bri kept giggling, then spoke cheerfully,
“It might be better that you don’t remember. You threw up on Senior Sandal yesterday.”
Sandal…? Who’s Sandal…? As I staggered to wash my face, a senior healer I always greeted kindly for seven years came to mind.
I threw up on that person?
At that, a vague memory started to resurface.
“Kae, Kae! Wake up, are you okay?”
Someone shook my shoulder.
Ah… who is it? I cautiously opened my eyes, clinging to my wavering mind.
It was Senior Sandal, looking troubled.
Sandal, always kind to me, didn’t look happy at all.
“Why did you drink so much? If the Apostle knew…”
Sandal was scolding someone.
“Get up, Kae. You shouldn’t stay here. Let’s go home.”
Sandal grabbed my arm to pull me along.
“Uh… senior~ you can’t hold my arm like that.”
…I’ve been feeling awful since earlier!
But my words only stayed muffled in my mouth.
And then…
Uweeeeeek!
…!
I vomited right onto Senior Sandal’s healer uniform.
Hahaha… ruined.
I buried my face in despair.
“Of course, that’s not all. Remember tapping the director’s head?”
Bri’s words made me raise my head.
Tapping the supervisor’s head?
Faint memories surfaced: a round, shiny object reflecting torchlight.
“Wow! Look, a gourd! There’s a gourd here too!”
The smooth gourd looked perfect to tap, so I tapped it repeatedly.
The more I tapped, the louder the cheers around me sounded, making me even more excited to continue tapping.
That… was a person’s head. The supervisor’s head.
The shame crashed over me again, and I buried my head in the table. A small shock brought another forgotten memory.
“Hahaha, sorry… Director! I… accidentally, hic… threw up on your head! Hic! I thought it was a gourd! Hic… but your head got plenty of nutrients, so your hair will grow now! Hahaha!”
A bad premonition hovered.
“B… Bri… it can’t be… right? Tell me it’s not true.”
“What? You vomited on someone sensitive about their hair… then said the nutrients will help their hair grow?”
Aaaargh! I’m definitely insane.
This is total humiliation. Most colleagues, from newcomers to seniors, were there. Could I even go to work like this?
“Kae, alcohol is the root of all evil, the start of disease. When demons are busy seeking humans, alcohol is sent instead. Isn’t that the root of all evil? Keeping away from alcohol is the right path.”
I remembered the Apostle always reciting the teachings of the Terina Church.
Apostle-sama, you were right. Alcohol is the devil’s food.
But it was too late to regret. The river had been crossed.
I ran to the bathroom, waves of nausea hitting me, thinking:
I must quit drinking. Alcohol, out! From now on, if I drink, I’m a dog!
Ugh!
I staggered to work, still suffering from the hangover. Thankfully, it was the afternoon shift.
After several bouts of vomiting, my body was almost depleted. But work couldn’t wait, so I braced my shaking mind and headed to the clinic.
After changing into my healer uniform and walking to the treatment room, passing colleagues looked at me with concern.
“Kae, are you feeling okay?”
“You really shouldn’t drink so much.”
My stomach was in turmoil from alcohol, and my head burned from embarrassment under everyone’s gaze. I was in a bind.
The most difficult moment was the meeting with the director and all the healers.
When I entered the meeting room, all eyes turned toward me and the director. Surprisingly, the director looked calm.
“Let’s start the meeting.”
The director seemed unaffected. Presenting last week’s clinic report and this week’s plans was just as usual.
Maybe it’s over…?
But that was just my illusion.
“Lastly, this is regarding the dispatch to the Dorkan region…”
At the director’s words, everyone went quiet.
Though it was a place with frequent monster appearances, this time a monster legion had appeared. The risk of the work was obviously higher.
Even with a call for volunteers, no one applied.
The director looked at me and smiled slightly.
A chill ran down my spine, sweat trickling.
Could it be…?
“This time, Kae will go.”
