Batman followed Merkel deeper into the mine. The two found a relatively quiet corner, where there was a bonfire and two log stumps serving as chairs.
Batman and Merkel sat facing each other. Merkel pulled over the grill beside him, threaded two mushrooms onto the skewers in the middle, and lit the fire. As he grilled them, he said:
"I get hungry much more slowly here than in reality. When I get busy, I don't even have time to eat. Over the last three days, I've only had two meals. Try this—it tastes far better than the rotten leaves the mine hands out."
Batman took the mushroom skewer Merkel offered him. Having just received treatment from the Serpent Demon Elder, he did not actually feel hungry, but the mushrooms gave off an enticing aroma that awakened the human instinct to eat. Batman bit into the juicy flesh of a mushroom, and its fresh fragrance flooded his nose, making him sigh comfortably.
Merkel brought over two cups, poured a small packet of powder into them, then took out a kettle and filled them with water. The instant the water went in, it let out a fizz, and bubbles rose inside the cups.
He handed one to Batman and said, "This is water mixed with a little Flame Powder. Flame Powder heats the water and gives it an effect similar to alcohol. I think it's pretty good. Want to try it?"
Batman narrowed his eyes at the surface of the liquid. It looked a little like the foam on beer, and it smelled sour and fermented as well. After taking a small sip, Batman found that compared to beer, it was more like heavily carbonated vodka.
He had no interest in alcohol, so he set the cup aside. Merkel, however, took a