"Uncle Shunk, what are you doing lying here?" Diona came up to the drunk man passed out on the cat sofa, asking a question she already knew the answer to.
Hearing Diona's voice, Uncle Shunk slowly opened his eyes. His face was bright red, and he reeked of alcohol.
This man Diona called Uncle Shunk was an adventurer. Probably a retired one.
After all, he was old now. At his age, continuing to be an adventurer would be too dangerous.
Since he couldn't pursue his only hobby anymore, Uncle Shunk had turned to drinking instead. Especially Diona's drinks. Though the girl had a temper, her mixing skills were top notch.
"Hmm? What is it, Diona? Bringing your uncle another drink?"
Uncle Shunk slurred. It sounded like he was biting his tongue, probably from drinking too much.
"Yes, but this drink wasn't made by me. It was made by a beginner." Diona handed the rainbow drink to Uncle Shunk.
Consider it a lesson for him. At his age, instead of spending time with his wife and son, he came to Cat's Tail to drink. So irresponsible.
"Oh? How thoughtful." Uncle Shunk's trembling hands took the rainbow drink.
Without hesitation or suspicion, he downed the entire glass in one go. A true drinker.
Watching from behind the bar, Bonanus gave a thumbs up. That was a brave man.
She hadn't tasted the rainbow drink herself, but the system had given it the label "super terrible." That man was probably about to question his life choices.
Crash!
A few seconds later, Uncle Shunk's body trembled. The glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
In that moment, he felt like he had ascended to heaven. No, not heaven. He felt like he had seen Lord Barbatos himself.
"Ugh!" Uncle Shunk covered his mouth with both hands, stood up, and rushed toward the bathroom.
The other drinkers watched in confusion. Regulars at Cat's Tail knew that Uncle Shunk was a drinking machine. He never threw up.
This was a first.
"It actually works!" Diona's eyes sparkled with excitement. She was already calculating how much Mora she should offer for the recipe.
But she couldn't jump to conclusions yet. Uncle Shunk might have just drunk too much and needed to throw up.
She would wait until he came out and ask for his opinion.
---
A short while later
By the bathroom door
"I feel like I just met my ancestors." Uncle Shunk's legs wouldn't stop trembling. He looked completely drained.
"Uncle Shunk, how did that drink taste?" Diona rushed over, her soft paws clasped together, eagerly awaiting his answer.
"Ugh... Diona, whatever you do, don't let that beginner work as a bartender. That drink was atrocious." Uncle Shunk rubbed his aching head. It wasn't just bad. It was the worst thing he had ever tasted.
To put it simply, drinking that was like eating ten tons of shit. Not only could you not swallow it, you had to chew it a hundred and eighty times.
It really made you question your existence.
That rainbow drink was so terrible it gave you the illusion of ascending to heaven. A near death experience. But it only lasted a moment before fading away.
Thankfully, it wasn't poisonous. Otherwise, Uncle Shunk might have met his maker.
"Can you describe it in more detail?" Hearing the word "atrocious," Diona's eyes grew even brighter. Her tail wagged behind her.
"Please, don't remind me. I can still taste it." Uncle Shunk waved his hand. He sat back down on the cat sofa and rubbed his temples.
"Diona, give me a fruity drink to rinse my mouth." Uncle Shunk said, feeling miserable.
Diona immediately frowned. Uncle Shunk never learned his lesson. No matter what happened today, she wouldn't make him another drink.
Even if Ms. Margaret herself showed up.
She put her hands on her hips and said angrily, "You've had enough for today, Uncle. No more drinking. That's final."
She grabbed his arm, trying to drag him out of Cat's Tail.
But there was no way a little girl like Diona could drag a grown man who had just been drinking.
"You know how bad alcohol is for you. Instead of coming here to drink, you should spend time with your son. Train with him. Pass on your adventuring skills." Diona said loudly.
Hearing this, Uncle Shunk fell into thought. Diona had said similar things before, but he had never paid attention.
This time was different.
That rainbow drink had given him a near death experience. It only lasted a moment, but in that moment, the only things he thought about were his wife and son.
If he died like this, what would happen to them?
---
A few minutes later
"I finally understand. Diona was right." Uncle Shunk tapped his head. He was useless.
He had fallen into despair because he couldn't go on adventures anymore. What a pathetic man. His despair had also shifted the financial burden onto his wife.
He was trash.
He punched his thigh hard, picked up his fallen hat, and put it back on. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"Thank you, Diona. I know what I need to do now."
Uncle Shunk stood up and walked toward the exit. He had never felt so clear-headed in his life. As a man, he finally knew what he had to do.
Seeing that the worst drink could change a person, Diona nodded happily. She hurried back behind the bar and found Bonanus.
"That recipe really works! Can you give it to me? I can pay you!" Diona's tail wagged excitedly. Bonanus really wanted to reach out and pinch it.
"Of course. But you have to let me touch your ears." Bonanus pulled the rainbow drink recipe out of her space and waved it teasingly.
Diona hesitated for a second. Then she nodded firmly. "Fine... fine! If it means getting the recipe for the worst drink, I'll endure it!"
Bonanus just smiled. She wasn't that cruel. If she was going to touch Diona's ears, she wanted the girl to do it willingly.
"Just kidding. Think of this recipe as a welcome gift. A token of friendship."
Bonanus handed over the recipe. It wasn't expensive anyway. Making friends with a Vision wielder was never a loss.
Diona hesitated for a moment, then took the recipe and carefully put it in her pocket. She put her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, and said in her usual tsundere tone,
"Fine. I accept. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too!" Bonanus grinned back.