Overgeared: Saharan Successor

Chapter 58: Hangover

As Mathias stepped away from the cameras and bright lights of the studio, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The interview was finally over, and he could feel the slight weight of public expectation begin to lift from his shoulders. Despite being used to the noise and attention, something about facing the world's gaze, especially Odin, could get under his skin.

Just as he began to head toward the exit, Peter Shelmaru, the interview host, jogged up behind him, holding a glossy folder. His usual professional demeanor was replaced by something a bit more personal, some vulnerability or awkwardness. 

Maybe it was that. He couldn't tell, but then a small, almost sheepish smile on his face.

"Mathias, hey," Shelmaru began, slightly out of breath, "I know this might be a bit awkward, but… could I ask you for a favor?"

Mathias raised an eyebrow, curious. "Sure, Peter. What's up?"

Shelmaru opened the folder to reveal an impressive piece of merchandise: an intricately detailed poster of Odin in his full Black Knight Armor. This limited-edition item is sold only through Leviathan's official store. 

The armor was depicted in stunning detail, the blackened steel gleaming ominously, with red veins of energy pulsing through the gauntlets and chest plate. The helm sat at Odin's feet, revealing Mathias's face underneath, his eyes fierce with determination.

"My son is a huge fan of yours," Shelmaru continued, holding the poster with both hands. 

"He's been following your journey since the early days. It would mean the world to him if you could sign this."

Mathias smiled, genuinely touched by the gesture. He took the poster, running his fingers over the glossy surface. "I didn't realize your son was into Satisfy World."

Shelmaru chuckled. "Oh, he's obsessed. He's actually ranked top 1000 in PvP… not bad for a 17-year-old."

Mathias grinned and took the pen that Shelmaru offered. "That's impressive. Tell him to keep pushing, maybe one day he'll be challenging me in-game."

He carefully signed his name on the lower corner of the poster, adding a small message for Shelmaru's son: Keep aiming for the top. Never stop challenging yourself. Then, with a flourish, he added his signature, Odin.

"There you go, Peter," Mathias said, returning the poster. "Hope your son likes it."

Shelmaru accepted the signed poster as if it were a treasure. "Thanks, Mathias. This'll make his day."

"No problem at all," Mathias replied. "I'm glad I could do that."

Just as Shelmaru began to walk away, Helen, the show's producer, approached. She was dressed elegantly, with sharp eyes and a confident stride. A subtle, playful smile graced her lips as she addressed Mathias.

"So, Mathias, you have any plans for tonight?" she asked, her tone casual but with an unmistakable undertone of interest. "I know a fantastic place downtown, if you're interested in grabbing dinner. It would be great to chat more… off the record."

Ever polite Mathias gave her a warm smile but shook his head slightly. "Thanks for the offer, Helen. But I have plans tonight. I'm meeting up with some friends for dinner."

Helen's smile didn't falter, but she gave a small, understanding nod. "Ah, of course. Can't stand in the way of a man with plans. But… maybe next time?"

Mathias chuckled softly, appreciative of her easygoing attitude. "Maybe next time. You know where to find me."

With that, Helen gave a small wave and turned back toward the control room while Mathias, Enzo, and Luca headed for the exit.

The three of them made their way through Bucharest's bustling streets, finally arriving at the Japanese restaurant. It was an exclusive place frequented by the city's elite, business moguls, celebrities, and politicians alike. 

As they entered, they were greeted by a wave of warmth, the glow of soft lantern light creating an intimate and inviting ambiance. The scent of fresh fish and rich soy filled the air, and the tables were set elegantly, adorned with platters of sushi rolls and bottles of sake.

Enzo and Luca, always alert but blending into the relaxed atmosphere, flanked Mathias as they were escorted to their table. Tonight wasn't about being Odin, the leader of Leviathan, or even the Satisfy World celebrity. Tonight was just about being Mathias, surrounded by friends, and enjoying a quiet night in good company.

Seated around a large table were a mixture of people: some of his closest friends, university buddies, and a few players from Satisfy World who had become friends over time. 

At the far end of the table sat Vlad, or as he was known in Satisfy World, Malakai, 'The Angel of Death.' A smirk tugged at the corner of Malakai's lips when he noticed Mathias approaching, his deep brown eyes gleaming with their usual mischievousness. 

They'd been friends since university, back when Mathias was the shy, socially awkward, introverted guy, and Malakai was the more charismatic and outgoing. Who would have thought that they'd be sitting together years later, both guys who made it big time inside the New World?

"Look who finally decided to show up," Malakai teased as Mathias approached the table, his voice light but playful.

"Blame the cameras, not me," Mathias shot back with a grin, offering his hand as Malakai stood to greet him properly.

The two exchanged a firm handshake, the kind shared between old friends who'd been through a lot together, both in real life and within the virtual world. As they shook hands, Malakai pulled Mathias into a quick, brotherly hug, patting him on the back before letting go.

"It's good to see you, man," Malakai said as they both took their seats. "You've not forgotten to hit the gym and keep yourself healthy after getting all 'famous' lately."

"Busy doesn't even begin to cover it," Mathias replied, settling into his chair. He glanced around the table quickly, nodding at his other friends, most of whom had already started on their beers. "But it's good to take a break finally. I needed this."

His other friends from university, some of whom he hadn't seen in a while, smiled and raised their glasses toward him, welcoming him with hearty cheers. He waved at them, chuckling as he took it all in.

Enzo and Luca, his bodyguards, sat further down the table, keeping their usual vigilance but blending in well with the lively conversation. Enzo had already found his niche, making everyone laugh with exaggerated impersonations of Shelmaru's lisp from the interview.

"And then he goes 'Ma-chi-ass Cron-quist,'" Enzo teased, exaggerating the pronunciation with a wide grin.

Luca chuckled, taking a sip of his water, while the others laughed heartily, their faces flushed from the beer they had been drinking.

"Hey, Enzo, cut the guy some slack," Mathias said, grinning. "I think he was nervous."

"Nervous? That guy? Please," Enzo retorted. "He talks for a living, and he can't even get your name right!"

Mathias shook his head, amused. "Well, at least I got through the interview without him calling me the 'final villain' of Satisfy. That's a win in my book."

Luca, who was staying sober as the designated driver for the night, chimed in. "Honestly, the whole 'final villain' thing is hilarious. Do people really think you're going to take over the world in-game?"

Malakai leaned in, chuckling, "You have no idea. While they were going crazy about Mathias back when he was only a Black Knight, now with his viral vid, the internet's been going wild with theories ever since that video dropped."

"I mean, half of Leviathan's Discord is just people trying to figure out what the red aura really is. Those normies are going crazy."

Mathias laughed, shaking his head. "Let them theorize. It makes for good entertainment, and the more they speculate, the more we stay relevant."

Turning back to Malakai, Mathias leaned in. "So, how's the guild's 'Shadow Guard' holding up without me running everything from the side? Are you enjoying the promotion as Captain?"

Malakai took a long sip from his beer, setting the glass down with a thud as he sighed deeply. His expression shifted into mock exasperation as he slumped slightly in his chair, eyeing Mathias with a playful grin.

"Oh, enjoying it, am I?" Malakai began, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, sure, man, it's been an absolute breeze. You know, just juggling hundreds of guild members, trying to keep everyone in line while running our little spy network without a hitch. Because, you know, I'm totally the Director of the CIA or something."

Mathias smirked, sensing where this was headed. "Well, you do have that air of authority about you, Vlad. You could pull off the whole secret-agent-in-charge look."

Malakai rolled his eyes dramatically, leaning forward. "Oh, please. If I'm a secret agent, I must've missed the part where I get a cool suit and a license to kill. Instead, all I've got is a bunch of whiny recruits asking me for more information about enemy guild movements and players going rogue every other day."

He lgroaned though it was clear he was only half-serious. "Do you have any idea how many complaints I've had to deal with since you ghosted the server?"

"Every time some idiot leaks our intel, I have to step in and clean up the mess. And don't even get me started on the recruitment process. Half these players can't even keep their mouths shut about basic strategies."

Mathias chuckled, raising his hands defensively. "Hey, you're the one who wanted the promotion inside Aesir since you were getting jealous that everyone had a fancy role, and I was ignoring it, remember?"

Malakai shot him a look, still grinning. "Wanted the promotion? Dude, I was voluntold. One day I'm happily slashing away at mobs and handling my own, and the next thing I know, boom, I'm suddenly the 'Captain of the Shadow Guard.' No warning, no heads-up, just 'Here, Vlad, take the wheel.'"

"Okay, okay," Mathias laughed. "But you've got to admit, you're doing a great job. The guild's still standing, and no major disasters have happened while I've been away. That's got to count for something."

Malakai sighed theatrically, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I'm just too good at this job for my own good. But seriously, man, managing intel operations for the guild is no joke. It's like trying to keep a bunch of teenagers from spilling secrets in a high school cafeteria. I swear, some of these players don't know the meaning of discretion."

"I don't envy you," Mathias admitted, shaking his head. "But I trust you with it for a reason. You've got the right instincts. Plus, it's good practice for when you eventually take over the Empire's Eclipse Organisation, right?"

Malakai snorted, shaking his head with a grin. "Yeah, well, I'll leave the world domination plans to you, 'Odin.' You be the Sun and me the Moon. I'm just trying to make sure we don't get overrun by rival guilds before you come back to save the day."

Mathias raised his glass, smirking. "Here's to you, Captain. You might not be the CIA, but you're definitely the best Shadow Guard we've got."

Malakai clinked his beer against Mathias's glass, laughing as he did. "I'll drink to that. Just don't forget to take some of this workload back, alright? I'm not cut out to be the next Odin. That's all you. I'm not a nerd to micromanage everything like you did back in university."

Mathias grinned, taking a sip of his drink. "Don't worry. We'll think of something. Don't hurry to send your resignation letter, you'll be begging for your old position back."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," Malakai replied with a chuckle, settling back into his seat as the conversation around the table resumed, the warm camaraderie filling the air once more.

As the laughter died down between Mathias and Malakai, the rest of the table's conversation grew louder. Mathias found himself pulled into the easygoing banter of his old university friends. 

The group of six or so close-knit friends, engineers, economists, and some working in completely different fields had all taken their seats, sipping on beers and nibbling on the first round of sushi. 

They had been through a lot together, from stressful all-nighters in the dorms to mind-numbing group projects that Mathias usually had to rescue at the last second.

One of his friends, Petru, leaned across the table, smirking as he pulled out his phone. "Yo, Mathias, check this out." He swiped through a few photos and handed his phone over. "That's my little guy. Born just a few months ago. Can you believe it? I'm a dad now."

Mathias took the phone, looking at the chubby-cheeked baby bundled up in a blanket, his eyes lighting up. "Congrats, man! He's adorable." He handed the phone back with a grin. "Didn't know you had it in you."

"Neither did I!" Petru said with a hearty laugh. "It's all been a blur—diapers, crying at 3 a.m., barely any sleep. Honestly, I miss the dorm days, when our only problem was how much beer we could sneak into the fridge before the RA found out."

Tudor, sitting next to Petru, raised his glass. "To simpler times, boys! Remember those days in the dorms when the only thing we had to worry about was finishing a League match before class?"

Mathias chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, and somehow you always had enough energy to trash-talk all night long."

"Hey," Tudor said, grinning, "trash talk is an art form. Besides, you never seemed to mind when we were drunk, and you were frantically doing all the CAD designs for our projects."

The table erupted into laughter, some guys smacking it as they remembered those sleepless nights in their shared dorm. Alex, another one of the group, leaned forward, his cheeks slightly flushed from the beer. 

"Man, those were the days. Mathias would be in the corner, hunched over his laptop, tweaking some Solid model while we were shotgunning beers, while also chugging some cans of beer. Then, the next morning, he'd be like, 'Here, I finished the FEA analysis and twitched your drawings. Make sure to read the report and my pointers in case the professor asks you questions.' And we'd just sign off like we did something."

"Yeah," Matei chimed in, shaking his head in mock disbelief, "meanwhile we're barely keeping our eyes open, and Mathias is pulling off some god-tier-level design work. I swear, if it wasn't for him, half of us wouldn't have graduated on time."

Mathias raised his hands defensively. "Hey, you guys did your part… eventually."

"Eventually?" Radu, sitting at the far end of the table, scoffed. "Dude, let's be real. You were the one holding us together. You saved our asses more times than I can count. And now look at you—Mr. Worldwide, being the Hero of this new virtual world, while we're still here trying to figure out how to convince our wives to let us have a weekend off."

Malakai snorted into his beer. "Radu's got a point. Look at us now—Petru's changing diapers, Tudor's still trash-talking, and me? I'm stuck with managing a group of teen adults who are acting like highschool gossip queens, while you're over here living the life of a superstar."

"And don't forget," Radu grinned, "Tudor's trash-talking doesn't work on his wife. I bet she's got him on a short leash."

The group laughed as Tudor threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, hey, I've learned my lesson! Happy wife, happy life, right?"

"Yeah, sure," Matei quipped, "until she finds out you spent all weekend on Satisfy World instead of helping out with the baby."

Alex leaned back, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face. "Man, I miss those days. No responsibilities, no bills, just the smell of cheap pizza and the sound of you guys yelling at the screen during our all-nighters. It's crazy to think how much things have changed."

Mathias nodded, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over him. "Yeah, but at the same time, look at where we are now. Sure, we've got responsibilities, but we've also got families, careers. And even though dealing with all the craziness that comes with Satisfy World,, I wouldn't trade those nights in the dorms for anything."

"Agreed," said Petru, raising his glass once more. "To the old days—and to not letting adulthood completely ruin our fun."

Everyone raised their glasses, a cheer of agreement echoing through the table as they toasted to the past, the present, and the future.

***

As the elevator doors slid open with a quiet chime, Luca guided Mathias into his apartment room, slightly stumbling. The expansive living room, bathed in the soft glow of city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, felt like a welcome retreat after the long night out. 

Mathias, head buzzing and cheeks flushed, leaned heavily on Luca's shoulder, struggling to keep his balance. Equally tipsy but managing to walk somewhat on his own, Enzo trailed behind, muttering something incoherent about Malakai and his iron-clad liver.

Luca, the only sober member of the trio, was unfazed as he maneuvered Mathias toward the nearest couch, gently lowering him onto the cushions. "Are you alright there, boss?" he asked, his amusement flickering.

Mathias let out a low groan, covering his eyes with one hand as if to shield himself from the spinning room. "Yeah, yeah, just... get me the cabbage juice, Luca," he said, his voice slurring slightly. 

He made a vague gesture toward the kitchen. "Before the room spins me into oblivion."

Luca smirked and shook his head. "Sure thing, hang tight. I'll be right back."

As Luca disappeared into the kitchen, Mathias closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the couch. 

His body felt heavy, the alcohol still coursing through him, but despite the hangover creeping in, he couldn't help but smile. It had been a good night since it was a rare occurrence for him now that he was so busy with Satisfy World and life, in general, to gather up the old squad and share a beer at the pub.

The brief escape from the pressures of his world felt like a much-needed breather.

Enzo stumbled over to the armchair across from Mathias, flopping dramatically with a sigh. "Bro, fetch me a cup too," he called out, voice slightly hoarse from the night's festivities. "This Malakai guy, man, he's a hard nut to crack. High alcohol tolerance."

Mathias snorted, cracking one eye open to look at Enzo. "Who made you compete with him, you dumbass? You don't know bastard like I do. Back in university, he was a notorious fuckboy." He grinned lazily, shaking his head. "He's like one of those Japanese hosts, you know, the ones serving alcohol to girls for easy bucks."

Enzo raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk. "Wait, seriously? Malakai? The guild's Captain of the Shadow Guard was a ladies' man back in the day?"

"Hell yeah," Mathias chuckled, shifting on the couch. "He'd be out almost every night, charming the hell out of anyone who'd listen. He had this ridiculous habit of turning anything into a competition—even drinking. I don't think anyone could keep up with him, not back then."

Luca returned with two cups of cabbage juice, setting them down on the coffee table in front of Mathias and Enzo. He glanced between them, eyebrows raised as he caught the tail end of the conversation. "Malakai, a fuckboy? Guess that explains why he never mentions his 'glory days' during guild meetings."

Mathias laughed softly, though it quickly turned into a groan as his head throbbed again. He reached for the cup, lifting it to his lips and grimacing at the bitter, earthy taste of the cabbage juice. It wasn't pleasant, but he knew it would help with the hangover. "Trust me, Vlad had his fair share of stories. He's calmed down a lot now—probably the only reason we trust him to run anything in the guild."

Enzo chuckled, grabbing his cup and downing the juice in one gulp, grimacing as well. "Man, I need to learn that guy's secrets. I barely survived tonight, and I'm supposed to be the one with a strong liver."

Luca, leaning against the kitchen counter, watched them with an amused smile. "Maybe don't challenge a guy who's got years of experience under his belt, Enzo. You're not in his league."

Enzo waved his hand dismissively, though the playful glint in his eyes suggested he'd take on the challenge again if given the chance. "Bah, I'll get him next time. Tonight was just a warm-up."

Now feeling slightly better with the juice in his system, Mathias sat up straighter, stretching his arms over his head with a groan. "I swear, I thought I left these kinds of nights behind after university. But nope. Same shit, different decade."

Luca laughed, walking over to pick up the empty cups. "Guess some things never change, huh? At least you made it back here in one piece."

"Thanks to you," Mathias said, giving Luca a grateful nod. "If it weren't for you being the sober one, Enzo and I would probably be passed out in some alley by now."

Enzo shot a mock glare at Luca. "Speak for yourself, Mathias. I could've found my way back. Maybe."

"Sure," Luca said, rolling his eyes. "Next time, you get to be the designated driver, Enzo."

Enzo scoffed, stretching his legs out. "Nah, man. I'm a better drunk than a sober driver. You know it."

The three shared a laugh, the exhaustion from the night slowly settling in. 

Mathias leaned back onto the couch, eyes half-closed as the room began to stop spinning. "I'm too old for this shit," he muttered, though the smile on his face betrayed him. "Next time, someone else takes the fall for my old college friends' drinking challenges."

Luca chuckled as he walked toward the hallway, ready to retire for the night. "Sounds like a plan, boss. But knowing you, you'll be back at it next week."

Mathias groaned, already dreading the inevitable. "You're probably right. But for now... I'm going to sleep this off."

With a final chuckle, Luca disappeared down the hall, leaving Mathias and Enzo to nurse the remnants of their hangovers. 

As Mathias sank deeper into the plush couch, a soft, familiar sound reached his ears, a "meow" that brought a smile to his face. 

He opened his eyes just in time to see Luna, his Russian Blue cat, padding across the living room floor. Her velvety gray fur shimmered in the dim light, and her intelligent green eyes fixed on him with concern as if she could sense his weariness from the long night out.

Luna hopped onto the couch beside him, her small, warm body curling against his side. She nuzzled his arm, her purring a comforting vibration against his skin. Mathias chuckled softly, reaching out to gently scratch behind her ears. 

"Hey, Luna. I'm okay, just a bit... well, hungover." He laughed, though the sound was weak.

Luna seemed to understand that her master needed some comfort. She nestled closer, her purring intensifying as if to say, I've got you, don't worry.

Mathias let out a long, contented sigh, feeling a little better with his loyal companion by his side.

Before he let himself drift off completely, Mathias reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. 

He unlocked it, his fingers sluggish from the alcohol, and quickly found Mi-Jung's chat. He didn't want her to worry, knowing she'd appreciate knowing he was back home safe.

His fingers tapped out a message. As hard as it was with his cloudy mind, he had to use the autocorrect feature to have it without too many typos.

— "Hey love, just got back home. Luca got me and Enzo back safe, no need to worry. It was a long day, and I'm wiped out, so I'm going to head straight to bed. I miss you. Talk tomorrow. Good night, Mi-Jung."

Given the time difference between Bucharest and Seoul, he knew she'd likely be fast asleep, but it felt good to let her know he was alright. 

Luna let out another quiet "meow," as if encouraging him to get some rest finally. Mathias smiled and gave her one last affectionate pat. "Alright, Luna, time for bed," he muttered.

He pushed himself up from the couch, albeit unsteady, and scooped up Luna in his arms. She let out a contented purr as he carried her toward the bedroom. As he reached his room, he set Luna down gently on the bed, where she immediately made herself comfortable, curling up into a ball near his pillow.

Mathias changed into something more comfortable, a tired sigh escaping his lips as he lay down beside Luna. 

His body finally relaxed, sinking into the soft sheets as the last remnants of the night's chaos faded into the background.