Chapter 48

EP.48 The Saint Who Fulfilled Her Wish

Thud,

The sound of an empty soju bottle being placed on the table.

"No, what do we do? Are you okay?"

"Shouldn't you go to the bathroom and throw it all up?"

"It's because everyone ignores the Saint, isn't it? Oh, but you drink well."

"That's true. You seem to be doing better than expected…."

"I've seen people blow their trumpets a few times, but this is the first time I've seen someone do a one-shot. You're really bold."

The team members were shocked by my actions.

Until then, I didn't understand what the problem was, and I was only thinking that maybe it was a bit wrong to drink alone instead of drinking with everyone.

"Here, have this. At least have this."

The paladin placed a few pieces of the meat he had been grilling on my plate,

and I quickly picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

It was worth starving until dinner; the meat was delicious.

"Much better than dog food…."

You might think I was talking nonsense after drinking for a while,

but it was really true.

Compared to the dry and tasteless dog food mixed with tap water,

it was a completely different level of deliciousness.

I wanted to shove a piece of beef in front of my past self, who thought it was edible.

"Dog food?"

While everyone laughed it off as a joke or nonsense,

the paladin, for some reason, asked me with a slightly stiff face.

But when I stared at him, he quickly averted his gaze.

"Excuse me."

The voice calling me this time didn't come from the team members.

It was two unfamiliar men who approached from behind me.

What do they want?

Without answering, I stared at them, and they started to explain their request in a rambling manner.

"We lost a game and have to get drinks as a penalty."

"Would it be okay if we could get some drinks from you?"

When the paladin tried to intervene, they said in a different tone,

"No, from this person."

The team members gave them a look, but they seemed to only care about me.

Their eyes were full of desire, and they even showed a stubborn side.

It wasn't a particularly welcome appearance.

But I didn't want to ruin the mood.

If I give them what they want, will they leave quietly?

It would be cruel to turn away someone who mustered the courage to come.

I asked the paladin first.

"Is it okay to give them some?"

"Huh? Yes, it's up to the Saint…."

With his permission,

I gave them the soju without hesitation.

"…."

"…."

"Miss, usually you should drink with them…."

"Why?"

They came to get drinks from the next table because they wanted to drink but didn't have enough money, right?

It's not that I looked easy to take advantage of, but maybe I looked like someone who would listen to their request.

…Judging from their reaction,

it didn't seem to be the case.

Then why?

"Because, because you drink from a cup, right? And there's meaning in receiving it from you…?"

"Is that so?"

Does the taste of the drink change if I pour it?

It's an emotion I can't understand.

That's why insiders are like this.

I didn't have such emotions and didn't particularly want to fit in.

They tried to say more,

but with my firm attitude, they reluctantly returned to their table.

The paladin, who was grilling meat, brought over a cup.

He poured the soju into my cup,

but it was less than half full.

"…."

Will this even do anything?

Do you really have to drink from a cup?

Sigh.

I gave a clear look of dissatisfaction as I stared at the soju cup,

and he, noticing my expression, reluctantly filled it up more.

More.

More, more, more, more.

Pour more.

Maybe he heard my mental plea, but he hesitated, clearly wondering if it was okay to make me drink more.

It felt like he was treating me like a child.

This won't get me drunk.

I nodded in satisfaction when the cup was almost full.

The cup, now brimming with soju, looked like it might spill over,

but my body, with its excellent balance, managed to lift it without spilling a drop.

And one-shot.

"Delicious…."

Was it the rising alcohol, or the pleasant atmosphere of the place,

that made me smile uncontrollably?

Everyone's eyes were on me, laughing.

Did I have something on my face?

The faces of people who seemed to be enchanted by me were a bit ridiculous.

I laughed at them,

they looked at me again,

and laughed, and looked at me….

It was a bit embarrassing.

It was awkward to tell them to stop looking because I was embarrassed.

The cycle, like a tape being played over and over, finally broke when I had drunk seven cups of soju.

It was when I had finished a whole bottle by myself.

The paladin, who had been filling my cup as if possessed, suddenly realized the bottle was empty and let out a surprised "Oh!"

"What, how much are you drinking!"

"…."

You were the one who poured it.

It's not something you should say.

But it's delicious.

I want to drink more.

The thought came out without hesitation.

"Give me more."

"No."

"No?"

Why?

"You've had too much."

"No?"

"If you get drunk, it's, um, awkward…."

"No?"

"…."

"No?"

"…Maybe it's not impossible."

He was speaking in circles, but it ultimately meant yes.

Yay.

The paladin ordered more soju.

The healer, who had been watching the situation with bated breath, said to him,

"You're being too nice!"

"What do you mean?"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Hey, let's all have a drink."

The warm atmosphere, despite the strange incident, didn't seem to cool down.

Alcohol is the best.

Everyone was in high spirits, sharing stories, talking about the competition, asking about each other's personal lives, ordering more meat, and drinking more.

It was a bit noisy, but it's a meat restaurant, so it's okay.

While I was enjoying the beef grilled by the paladin,

someone asked me, noticing how I was savoring every bite,

"You eat so well. Isn't your stomach going to burst, Saint?"

It's because it's delicious.

And it might sound a bit disgusting,

or maybe even pretentious,

… but it tastes even better because I'm not paying for it.

"Wow, I'm so full I can't eat anymore."

"But you should still drink. Sir."

"I'm already drinking. Drink! Give me a hint."

Everyone was so full that they were just drinking, but the act of grilling meat continued.

Obviously, it was because of me.

"Miss, do you not gain weight even if you eat like that?"

"It's not about gaining weight. You eat so well."

"Wow, should we order another bowl of rice?"

"Let's have cold noodles. Cold noodles. How about it, Saint? Is it okay?"

The way people looked at me had changed a bit.

It's like those people who post videos of themselves eating a lot.

When you see them, you think, "Wow, how can they eat so much? How does it all fit in their body?" That's how they were looking at me.

Did I eat too much?

But what can I do if it's delicious?

As I continued to eat with my chopsticks, the paladin looked at me with a worried expression.

People were just curious, but his reaction was a bit different.

It felt like he was treating me like a cracked glass cup.

His cautious response, as if he was handling someone who might die if he took his eyes off them,

wasn't exactly a bad feeling.

But, it didn't suit me.

Isn't there too much of a gap between the game and reality?

This isn't something I should say, but.

Moreover,

"Meat."

"Yes."

One word, and he would worry, hesitate, and put meat on my plate.

Isn't it better to drink too much and have a problem than to not drink at all?

So, one more cup.

"Alcohol."

"Yes."

"What are you two doing? Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"I want to pour a drink for you too, Miss."

"Pour it for me."

"Eh."

"What's with the 'eh'?"

"Is it the same for you and him?"

"What's different?"

"Appearance. Don't you know?"

"That's true…."

"Let's all have a drink. Saint, you too. Seohyun, take a break from grilling and have a drink."

"Yes."

So, another cup.

If there's a place where meat and alcohol are abundant, this must be it.

Laughing, chatting, giving hints to get more meat, and asking for more alcohol.

When I laugh, everyone laughs,

and they're all worried about my feelings,

trying to please me….

Huh.

I suddenly froze, overwhelmed by a strange sensation.

It was a sense of déjà vu.

The situation felt vividly familiar, as if I had experienced it before.

But I knew.

My past self couldn't have experienced this.

It wasn't self-pity or self-loathing,

but just a natural feeling.

Laughing and chatting with people,

it feels so easy now,

but before I came into this body,

when I was filled with self-loathing,

I didn't have the courage,

and even if I did,

I would have been treated with pity,

which I couldn't bear,

and I would have left the place,

imagining