Chapter 40: Ainmoseuni

Thud.

Minho collapsed weakly onto his side, adopting a pose reminiscent of the Little Mermaid.

“A-are you all right!”

Kasia carefully placed her finger beneath Minho’s nose.

“Phew… He’s breathing. That’s a relief.”

There was a reason Kasia acted so cautiously.

It was because of the warnings about Ainmosni, handed down for generations among the Elf race.

First, never eat the root.

Second, never touch your nose.

The root was known to be highly toxic—eat it without knowing, and you’d waste away, eventually losing your life.

That part was understandable.

But why not touch your nose?

Kasia was puzzled when she first heard it.

It wasn’t “don’t smell it,” but specifically “don’t touch your nose.”

She later found out there was a reason.

The surface of Ainmosni is covered in powder that induces drowsiness, but the powder is heavy and doesn’t spread far.

So normally, you wouldn’t inhale much of it.

But if your nose itches and you touch it, things are different.

The powder gets sucked right into your body as you breathe, and if you inhale a lot, it can cause irregular heartbeat—or, in severe cases, even cardiac arrest.

Before she knew it, Minho had fallen into a deep sleep, snoring softly through his nose.

Seeing his peaceful, smiling face as he slept, Kasia couldn’t bring herself to wake him. She quietly sat down beside him.

Gently, she lifted Minho’s head and placed it on her thigh, careful not to disturb him.

“Hmn…”

Minho instinctively snuggled closer to Kasia’s lap, seeking a more comfortable position.

“Sleep well. I’ll wait for you.”

Looking at Minho’s slumbering face, Kasia felt a sudden urge.

She gently stroked Minho’s hair.

Then, passing over his sharp, well-shaped nose, she caressed his cheek.

Doing something she couldn’t normally do, she felt happiness and satisfaction blossom inside her.

After an hour, Kasia’s leg began to go numb.

When she tried to slip her leg out, Minho hugged her knee tighter, refusing to let go.

“Ngh. I’ll wait just a little longer…”

Even so, her hand never stopped moving.

She continued to stroke his head.

After two hours, Kasia could no longer endure and gently pushed Minho’s head off her lap.

“Ugh…! He hasn’t slept in days, and now he doesn’t even think of waking up.”

She massaged her thigh, hoping to restore circulation and ease the tingling.

“It’s time to get up! We need to go back. It’s already been hours.”

No matter how much she shook him, Minho didn’t budge.

He showed no sign of waking up.

In the end, Kasia raised her hand high and brought it down on his back.

SLAP!

“Wah! Wh-what was that?!”

A stinging sensation bloomed across his back.

He looked around to get his bearings and saw Kasia’s pouting face.

He twisted his arms behind him, trying to rub his stinging back, but he couldn’t reach, whether from above or below.

“Have you forgotten why we came here?”

“Here?”

The sharp wake-up call had cleared his head, but he still didn’t fully grasp the situation.

This wasn’t his home or the Porti Field, but a place filled with unfamiliar plants.

It was Eliya.

“Ah, right, we came looking for that plant that’s supposed to help with insomnia. What was it… Insomnia?”

To think I finally got a sweet sleep after days, only to be woken up by a back-smack spike? That’s rough.

“Hmph. You should’ve slept in moderation. Do you know how many hours it’s been? And that’s Ainmosni, too.”

“…How many hours?”

I felt a little bitter, but she had a point.

It felt like I’d just closed my eyes for a moment, but apparently, two hours had passed.

And Kasia’s legs were still so numb she couldn’t even get up.

“Uh… thanks, Kasia.”

I realized I’d been sleeping with my head on Kasia’s lap.

“How was the effect of Ainmosni?”

“It’s incredible. All the fatigue I’d built up from not sleeping seems to have vanished.”

Having experienced it firsthand, Ainmosni’s effects were definite.

I’d only slept for a bit(?), yet my body felt refreshed and my mind was crystal clear.

I had to secure some right away.

A true remedy for insomnia, the chronic ailment of modern people!

I took out the small cloth bag I’d folded up to carry soil and began filling it with dirt.

“You’re taking the soil, too?”

“When I tried growing Porti before, I realized something. What if it doesn’t grow again? I need to be prepared for that, so I’m taking everything I can.”

Back then, even with good soil and water, the Porti didn’t grow much at all.

But once I used ordinary soil and water, it grew vigorously.

This time, I planned to study the ecology of Ainmosni’s natural habitat in advance.

Even when my nose itched, I resisted the urge and pulled out Ainmosni plants by the roots, placing them in my bag.

It had been a sweet, deep sleep, but I didn’t want to end up unconscious again.

After collecting as much Ainmosni as I could, we walked back to the Elf Village.

The Elves were gathered in the plaza, all looking visibly weary.

“The Elves don’t look too happy. Did something happen while we were gone?”

“Indeed. I wonder why everyone is gathered?”

As soon as they heard our voices, the Elves’ attention snapped toward us.

“You’re back!”

“Report to the Chieftain, quickly!”

“I’ll go! I’ll tell him!”

The exhausted faces from moments before vanished, replaced by bright, lively expressions.

A young Elf shouted,

“We’ve been waiting forever! Why did you take so long?”

“Waiting? Why were you waiting?”

“The Chieftain said we’d all eat meat together once Minho and Kasia returned.”

Now it made sense.

Though the habitat was far, they’d expected us to return quickly after gathering, so they’d waited to eat together.

But since hours had passed, they’d grown tired and hungry, and worried as well.

Pffft!

I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry. At first you all insisted you don’t eat meat, but now the thought of you waiting quietly just for meat is kind of… adorable.”

“It’s not just about the meat! Hmph.”

N-not that I don’t like meat, though!

A tone oddly reminiscent of a tsundere.

‘Kasia does that sometimes, too. Maybe it’s a tribe-wide trait?’

I hadn’t noticed at first, but perhaps this race was just shy by nature.

“You’ve returned. I’ve been waiting.”

The Chieftain appeared.

At his arrival, the Elves hurriedly moved to prepare the banquet, all working efficiently in perfect order.

Notably, they set out the stone grill and started the fire right away—they looked like professionals.

“Hello.”

“So, did you bring new kinds of meat today?”

The Chieftain asked about the meat first.

It seemed the entire tribe was obsessed with eating meat.

Shouldn’t you start with a greeting?

“Yes, I brought three types: beef, pork, and chicken.”

At the Chieftain’s signal, the Elves immediately placed the meats on the hot stone.

Sizzle—

“So, when can we Elves go to Earth?”

“The law… The migration permit hasn’t been approved yet, but if you wait a bit longer, it should be soon.”

“I see. No need to rush. Just make sure we’re prepared so there won’t be any issues after migration.”

“Have you finished all preparations for migration?”

“What is there to prepare? We’re a people who live with nature. As long as nature exists, anywhere can be our home.”

What an answer—like a sage.

Acquiring a mountain for them had definitely been the right move.

Though, it wasn’t me who bought it, but a powerful group who transferred it over.

As we chatted, the meat finished cooking.

Just as I was about to pick up a piece and put it in my mouth, the Chieftain reached out to stop me.

‘Huh? Does he not want me to eat? Don’t tell me, is he being stingy when I’m the one who brought it…’

“Don’t eat yet.”

Kari Nu, the Elf who’d been around since our arrival in Eliya—perhaps the Chieftain’s secretary or deputy—appeared, carrying a pot (a huge jar) as big as a person.

“This is wine brewed by our Elves. I’ve been wanting to serve it to you ever since you first visited Eliya.”

“Wow! Really? I’m looking forward to it.”

In the past, I might’ve thought, ‘Wine is wine, what’s the big deal?’ and not expected much, but now it was different.

After tasting the Dwarves’ Thousand-Year Brew, I’d come to appreciate good liquor, and now I was very curious to try the Elves’ wine.

“Can you handle your drink?”

“I’m not great, but I can manage a bit.”

It felt like a craftsman testing his son-in-law’s drinking capacity.

Thankfully, my answer seemed to satisfy the Chieftain.

He nodded and personally scooped the wine into a cup woven from leaves.

“This is ‘Lokokla,’ a drink passed down through our tribe. Try it.”

“Yes.”

The other Elves stopped eating and watched me, eager to see my reaction.

Let’s see what it’s like.

I took the leaf cup in both hands and sniffed the aroma.

A sweet, subtle scent of flowers filled the air, like walking through a beautiful garden in bloom.

It wasn’t as crisp and refreshing as the Dwarves’ Thousand-Year Brew, but—

‘Pass!’

Curiously, something white floated inside the drink.

It looked like aloe pulp or something similar.

‘What’s this? Fruit pulp?’

The aroma alone had already won me over, but was the taste up to par?

I took a big gulp.

‘Sweet.’

Was the drink sweet, or was it just that I was in the mood for alcohol today? Either way, it clung to my palate.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Wow… It’s really good. The bouquet is especially nice, and every time I chew on the fruit pulp inside, a burst of tart and sweet flavor pops in my mouth.”

The Chieftain smiled contentedly, apparently pleased with my answer.

Now, my top two drinks were the Thousand-Year Brew and Lokokla.

The Thousand-Year Brew was invigorating and crisp, while Lokokla, made from fruits, was tangy and sweet—enough to make my mouth water.

And just like with the Thousand-Year Brew, there was no alcoholic burn, so it didn’t feel intoxicating at all.

I felt like even people who couldn’t handle alcohol would be able to enjoy this drink easily.

“All these meats are delicious.”

“I’m glad you like them.”

“Yes. All the meat in Eliya is tasteless.”

Are there animals here?

I don’t remember seeing any.

Though I hadn’t explored the whole place.

“Father, the meats people on Earth eat are different.”

“Hmm? Isn’t meat just the flesh of living things?”

What was the difference?

I was curious about Kasia’s answer, as she’d experienced both Earth and Eliya.

“The meat here refers to the flesh of insect monsters, but on Earth, it means the flesh of livestock.”

I-insect monsters?

Ugh!

“Livestock? You mean there are specific creatures you’re allowed to eat?”

“Yes. On Earth, only animals raised with good feed and in healthy conditions are cooked and eaten. It’s a world of gourmet cuisine.”

“Ho, that’s really intriguing.”

One drink, then two, then three.

We chatted over drinks about Earth, Eliya, and all sorts of things, but honestly, it felt more like drinking juice than wine.

‘Am I already drunk? Why do I feel like this? Is today just a day when alcohol agrees with me?’

No matter how much I drank, I didn’t feel intoxicated.

The wine was tasty, the food delicious.

“So, what do you think of my daughter Kasia—as a woman?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Father! What kind of question is that…!”

Suddenly, I was wide awake.

Was this really a bonding session between father-in-law and son-in-law?

Embarrassed, I glanced at Kasia. Whether from the alcohol or embarrassment, her face was flushed bright red.

But I was still completely clear-headed…!

“Kasia is both beautiful and kind-hearted. She’s never forgotten the favor I did her as a child, and she’s always trying to repay it.”

A textbook, rational answer devoid of emotion.

The Chieftain seemed visibly disappointed.

Maybe he’d asked, thinking I was tipsy enough to answer honestly?

“I see… Well, have another drink.”

Now that I thought about it, the Chieftain’s speech was starting to slur, and his face had turned red.

He was definitely drunk.

‘Wait, so it is possible to get drunk from this wine?’

The lively noise around us suggested the other Elves were getting tipsy, too.

Meanwhile, as a man who considered himself an average drinker back in Korea, I was still completely sober in Eliya.

Even when the Chieftain started asking tricky questions like “Tell me Kasia’s worst flaw,” I could deflect and answer with a clear head.

Eventually, the Chieftain and the other Elves passed out, slumped over the table in a drunken stupor.

“Maybe, in this world, I’m the strongest drinker…?”

As I looked around, my eyes met Kasia’s.

“That’s strange… I’ve never been able to handle alcohol, but I don’t feel the slightest bit drunk.”

“Huh, you too? Me too!”

We’d had drinks together a few times back on Earth.

Maybe that’s why my tolerance increased?

If the Elf race as a whole was weak to alcohol, then it was only natural that their own wine wouldn’t get them drunk.

They probably didn’t brew strong alcohol since no one could drink it anyway.

“Good work today. Once the migration is approved, let’s meet again.”

“Let’s do that. I never knew Elves couldn’t handle their drink.”

Maybe it was because they lived only in the forest, but the more I learned, the more I realized how innocent and cute this race was.

‘At this rate, the alcohol content can’t even be 3%. That’s lower than beer.’

Leaving the sleeping Elves behind, Kasia and I returned to Earth.