Clock (2)

This time, I recall Rurin’s reaction when I first introduced the sauna. She was like a startled puppy, unable to adapt to the dense steam.

“What is this?”

This was Rurin’s first line when she encountered the sauna. She started waving her hands frantically, trying to clear the thick steam.

“Don’t wave your hands like that. They say it’s good for your skin.”

“Is that true?”

When I told her the truth, she stopped, startled, and tried to inhale the steam, acting ridiculously.

“Whoa, it’s hot!”

“It’s good for your skin, but it’s not going to help if you eat it.”

“Then what?”

“Give it to your skin. Literally, to your skin. Just sit quietly like me and let the steam soak in.”

“Oh? Does it really make your skin better?”

I remember how cute she looked with her eyes sparkling.

Of course, now Rurin is completely adapted to the sauna and doesn’t react much.

“To you…! Hehe.”

At first, she was timid, sitting quietly because of the heat, but now she lies on my thigh and giggles as soon as she enters.

Soon, sweat pours out. Rurin doesn’t mind the sweat and keeps poking my stomach playfully.

Eventually, sweat beads form on Rurin’s lips and fall.

Oh, wait. Get a grip.

My thoughts went in a strange direction. I pressed my face with both hands and shook my head before standing up.

Rurin, who was lying on my thigh, lifted her head as well.

“Where are you going?”

“To get some food.”

“Food?”

“Just stay here.”

Soon, I returned with smoked eggs and soda. Traditionally, eggs and soda are must-haves at a Korean sauna.

Similarly, in Japan, which has a developed bathing culture, uncooked egg yolks are popular, but in Korea, baked eggs like megbansok eggs are the staple of saunas.

Of course, the eggs I’m talking about here are Palenque eggs. We call them eggs for convenience.

When I first introduced these snacks after making the sauna, Rurin showed a slight interest and then lay down again.

“These are tasty when you eat them while sweating.”

“Hmm, it’s not bad, but it’s not extraordinary either!”

Rurin only knows boiled eggs, and these are baked eggs.

I shoved a peeled black egg into Rurin’s mouth.

The round egg stopped halfway into Rurin’s mouth.

“Ummphh!”

“I have no idea what you’re saying, just eat it.”

I helped her sit up, and she reached out for the egg, looking at it curiously.

“Why is this one black? Is it rotten?”

“No, it’s not. It’s baked. That’s why.”

“Oh, it’s not white.”

With a curious expression, Rurin opened her mouth wide and bit half of the egg.

“This seems a bit chewier than a regular boiled one.”

“Right? Here, have this too.”

Then I handed her a can of soda. Rurin opened it.

But it soon turned into a disaster.

Fizz!

Apparently, the Luruns had shaken it while bringing it, and as soon as the can was opened, the soda shot up.

Rurin watched the fountain, then her face was attacked by the soda, and she went berserk.

“Why do food items keep attacking me!”

Fortunately, the bathhouse is nearby, so cleaning up isn’t difficult. I took the angry, stomping dragon to the bathhouse and rinsed her off.

She kept raising her hands and bouncing around, but after washing and seating her back in the sauna, she soon calmed down.

This time, I handed her a soda that was already opened properly.

“Puahaha!”

Feeling wronged by the attack, Rurin started eating the eggs more aggressively.

She eats well. Very well.

She chewed the eggs heartily and washed them down with soda. It was literally a breath of fresh air for her throat.

Rurin continued this until she ate three smoked eggs. I ate two and then had the Luruns clean up the eggs and soda cans.

“Now that we’ve eaten, how about a contest to see who can last the longest?”

“Last the longest?”

“Yeah, I’ll have the Luruns raise the temperature. We’ll stoke the fire and have a contest. If you’re scared, you can give up now.”

“Is that so? You’re a fool. Of course, I’ll win.”

“Our dear Rurin has no patience, so I’ll obviously win.”

“You! Who told you such nonsense?”

“Didn’t hear it from anyone. Just my experience.”

Rurin shook her head wildly. Her trademark move of denying everything first.

But contrary to her thoughts, our fight began to turn into what one might call a dogfight.

Rurin showed immense patience today, sitting quietly and enduring without thinking of leaving.

She lowered her head and endured the heat.

Seeing her like that, I thought that if we continued, our health might be affected while trying to be healthy.

But I couldn’t declare defeat either, so I thought of another way.

“Alright, from now on, blowing is allowed.”

“Blowing?”

“Like this.”

Rurin, with her face covered in sweat, looked at me, turning red. Of course, it wasn’t from embarrassment.

I gently blew on Rurin’s eyes.

“Kya hahaha! It’s ticklish! What is this? This isn’t an attack.”

Then, when she let her guard down, I blew into her ear. She flinched and looked at me.

“Huh? Somehow it got hotter.”

Feeling wronged by just taking it, Rurin tried to blow on me too.

Of course, I dodged. Rurin started wriggling wildly. Blowing into her ear seemed to have triggered something.

She started to struggle to endure it.

“Rurin, did you know?”

“What? Don’t talk to me, it’s hard to endure!”

“It’s not good for your skin if you stay too long.”

“……”

“You.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a cheater!”

Rurin grabbed my head and shook it wildly, then started running outside.

“I don’t want bad skin!”

“Go outside and pour cold water!”

Anyway, it’s a win. Hehe.

But it’s hot.

It’s a somewhat empty victory.

I followed Rurin outside.

The village where the dwarves had newly settled.

They built the village with the money they earned from building the lair.

Because of the good reputation, other dwarves living elsewhere also gathered, and now it’s become quite a large village.

I asked the dwarf chief to introduce me to the most skilled and wise dwarf among the nearby dwarves.

I was able to get the information immediately.

And now I’ve arrived at the small house in the forest where the dwarf lives.

It took quite a long time to find it, like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s almost like he’s living in seclusion.

According to the chief, the dwarf is quite old.

“He might not accept the request, but try meeting him. He is the most skilled.”

That was the chief’s message to me.

Does it mean he’s eccentric?

But if he’s a craftsman, he can’t help but be curious about the bait I offer.

“Why are dwarves always in such places when we need to find them?”

“That’s true.”

Rurin moves sluggishly, looking annoyed.

Yet she stubbornly sticks to my back, clutching my clothes, walking as if she might collapse.

It’s never because a dragon lacks stamina. That’s just her expressing annoyance and possibly a form of coercion.

Telling her to stay in the lair won’t work. It’s still a mystery why she could coolly leave my side during the adult ceremony.

Of course, I realized.

If Rurin doesn’t stick to me like this, I get even more anxious.

It’s a funny relationship.

“Is anyone there? Mr. Randol of the dwarf clan?”

I called out to the dwarf in front of a rundown hut in the forest. But there was no answer.

The gate was wide open. As I stepped inside, I saw the dwarf with broad shoulders and a short stature lying in the yard.

I approached in shock.

But soon I heard mumbling.

“Liquor, liquooor, liquor is good. I love liquor.”

Beside him were countless jars of liquor. The smell of alcohol filled the air in broad daylight.

The dwarf was drinking while lying down. No matter how much dwarves love alcohol, this was excessive.

Rurin didn’t even approach the dwarf, holding her nose and sitting on a distant rock, swinging her legs and watching me.

As long as she follows me, she won’t interfere. Unless something bothers her, Rurin is usually in observer mode. Of course, what bothers her is very subjective and changes constantly.

Taking advantage of Rurin’s quietness, I called the dwarf.

“Are you Mr. Randol?”

“Randol or whatever! Liquor! Liquor… hehe, liquor.”

Randol, still lying down, reached for another jar. So I took it away. He might die if he drinks more in this state.

“What’s this! Liquooor! Liquor! The liquor’s gone! Liquor!”

We couldn’t communicate. He didn’t even recognize my presence.

Rurin, still in observer mode but feeling frustrated, approached and kicked the dwarf.

Thud!

The dwarf stopped reaching for the liquor and passed out.

“You, when someone’s lost it, you have to knock them out. That’s how they come to their senses.”

She dusted off her hands after the aggressive act.

“Why are you dusting your hands off when you didn’t even use them? There’s no time for dust to settle.”

“Just, it looks cool. It’s the finishing touch. Hehe.”

I have nothing to say. But in this case, it’s better. He’ll come to his senses when he wakes up like that.

I made dried pollock soup.

I summoned a camping stove set and made hangover soup by frying dried pollock, adding various vegetables, seasonings, and tofu.

The dwarf still didn’t wake up.

By the time the sun was setting.

Rurin, who had been dozing off next to me while I studied the clock’s blueprints and various materials, raised her eyebrows and woke up.

“Why hasn’t he woken up yet? I want to go play in the lair.”

“Yeah, right. He almost seems dead.”

“I’ll pour water! I heard you pour water in situations like this. Or should I use a mind spell?”

“No, no, let’s wait a bit more.”

Rurin, who had already fetched a bucket of water and was carrying it on her head, pouted at my words. Then she suddenly started acting.

“Oh, oh! I tripped on a rock!”

Sigh.

I held my forehead. I’ve thought this before, but she’s really bad at acting.

There’s no rock. She tripped in mid-air.

Rurin pretended to fall and poured the water on the dwarf.

The dwarf got drenched, and Rurin almost fell but regained her balance with a tumble.

“Whew, I almost fell!”

She wiped her forehead and pretended to sigh in relief.

So I ignored her.

The water’s already been poured.

Anyway, I checked the dwarf. He shivered and lifted his head. Finally, he was awake.