Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Trouble Always Happens at Drinking Parties (3)
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-Your resolve is lacking.
-You used to be much more desperate before... Could it be because of that incident?
-I get that your heart's troubled, but there's no helping it.
-Don't slack off. Does it make sense for the future head of Jinmok Group to fail at taming even a single high-level spirit?
I'm exhausted.
Rubbing her sore shoulders, she entered the dormitory room.
-Thud.
Her hiking backpack dropped limply at the entrance. Looking half-dead, Azalea let out a big yawn and opened the fridge.
"Chocolate..."
She took out some chocolate from the fridge and popped it into her mouth. A sweet satisfaction washed over her.
She rolled the chocolate around in her mouth, savoring the taste for a long while.
Then she roughly stripped off her damp clothes and flopped onto the bed.
The blanket, which usually felt ordinary, was like heaven right now.
"Haaah...!"
During the recent mentor session, she'd had to endure a murderous schedule on Spirit Mountain.
Strength training was basic, and she'd completed dozens of mana circuit overload exercises for mana enhancement training.
On top of that, woodification adaptation training...
Azalea drowsily closed her eyes in a hazy state.
'I should shower.'
But she was too sleepy. No choice.
After the grueling schedule and long flight, she didn't want to lift a finger.
'...I'll shower tomorrow. It's a holiday anyway.'
Today was Friday. Elite Class might call cadets, but they usually didn't on weekends.
Skipping once or twice should be fine.
As she drifted off into sleep with those thoughts, her consciousness began to fade.
At that moment.
-Ring ring ring~
The bell sound startled her, making her body twitch like a quaking aspen.
"Ugh. Who the hell is calling at this hour?"
Rubbing her half-closed eyes, she checked her smartphone screen.
[Siwoo]
......Jeong Si-woo.
"Ah."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
Now that revenge was over, he was a guy who left only guilt rather than friendship.
Of course, he wasn't bad.
Siwoo was a good person by any measure.
The Jeong Si-woo she knew was someone who could readily offer kindness to anyone.
Azalea just couldn't face him like before.
No matter how she spun it, she'd tried to use his honor and power as she pleased. Even she thought her crimes were vile.
Because of that guilt, she couldn't treat him sincerely.
So, she ended up wearing a mask like last time.
Forcing casual speech. Playfully joking around.
Azalea wasn't one to casually use informal speech with others. She rarely joked either.
She preferred respectful formal speech, slowly getting to know each other.
In short, the bubbly side she'd shown Siwoo until now was all fake.
It was just an act, the most important weapon in human relationships, created to advance their bond.
But weapons don't always work for good.
-Click.
[Hey, hey Azalea. You back safe?]
A familiar voice came through.
Azalea removed the phone from her ear and cleared her throat.
Then she spoke in a frivolous tone, like talking to a childhood friend.
"Yeah, what's up."
[Nothing much, we're drinking and heading to round two. Wanna come?]
Drinking...
She'd drink tomorrow, but she was too tired now.
This time, it was sincere.
"......I just got back, you jerk."
[For real? It's super fun here though.]
"Mm, I wanna sleep."
She wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear, lay back on the bed, and closed her eyes.
She planned to hang up and crash.
[We even called Siheon for once. Aw...]
Then she heard a man's name.
'Lee Si-heon?'
That name was unforgettable, even in death.
The man who approached her first when she was skeptical of relationships.
The crazy, bizarre guy who jumped into danger just to be friends.
And lately... the one she thought of most.
Ah. Sleep gone.
Azalea licked her dry lips and replied nonchalantly.
"Where?"
Today. Did she have cute clothes?
*****
The karaoke spot for round two had a very familiar vibe.
It was like they'd ripped a Korean facility straight out.
More karaoke lounge or room bar than straight-up noraebang.
A decently spacious room with sofas, tables, dedicated kiosks. No windows, great soundproofing—no worry about noise leaking.
"Who wants drinks?"
Siwoo cheerfully poured as soon as we sat. Amazed, I raised my hand.
"Me."
"Okay. Next."
"Chocolate milk for me."
"Me too."
Bead shot her hand up yelling for chocolate milk, and Su-young beside me chimed in.
The guys who'd come because Azalea was joining mostly wanted booze.
Soon after ordering, heaps of snacks and drinks arrived.
Now, who grabs the mic first...
"Who wants to sing?"
Siwoo tossed it out.
I stayed silent—no songs I could sing.
On old Earth, I'd belt a ballad I knew, but this world? Nothing familiar.
I'd learned a few from NerdTube marathons.
But could I sing them? Eh. Even if I tried, I'd suck.
"Me, me!"
Luckily, the others seemed into it.
"Then Bead first, go around?"
Ah.
I fiddled with my smartphone left-handed, status window right-handed.
Pull a gacha now—maybe get a singing trait?
Devilish Voice or something.
While hunting songs to belt, Bead's started.
[Ice T? Bead Rain.]
Totally unknown song and melody. Face stiffening in panic, Siwoo offered a shot.
"Cheers."
...Drink first.
-Clink!
One soju shot.
Grabbed some fish cake.
Soon Bead's lively voice tickled my ears.
"Scream it out!!!"
"Woo!"
Siwoo clapped and cheered. That's the social butterfly vibe, so I joined.
Seeing the hype, Bead giggled "Puhihi," then sang seriously.
"'Cause you're in this world..."
Her beautiful voice filled the room.
We clapped sporadically, tilting glasses.
The guys stared entranced at Bead's serious side, clashing with her usual bubbly image.
"Not reserving?"
Su-young poked my shoulder with her finger.
Turning, she bit her straw, offering the remote.
Couldn't input a song I'd butcher, so honesty.
"I can't sing."
"Aw, it's fine. Pick one."
Her kind words sometimes burden.
Lips pursed in determination, she burst out laughing.
"Pfft, what's that face? Just drink."
Su-young raised her glass.
"Cheers, quick quick."
-Clink.
Drinking nonstop, my head got fuzzy.
Chatting, mixing with guys.
This world's booze hit hard—felt extra drunk.
After pouring and downing for a while.
Bead's second song ended; a big guy took the stage.
Bead scooted next to me, flashing a V-sign.
"Hey hey, how was I?"
"Uh, you sang well."
"Puhihihi."
Behind giggling Bead, a fresh, peppy melody.
That signature otaku vibe from years of experience.
Mid-chat with Bead, I blankly stared at the guy.
【 Aah Tsukai I - Sakurambo 】
Otaku confirmed.
'Crazy.'
"Suuup—"
He inhaled deeply—
"AICHIYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
And unleashed his massive singing power like a scream.
*****
Makeup. Cute dress!
The most important thing today with him was.
'Drinks with friends!'
Dragging her sleepy body up, dressed primly, Azalea boldly flung open the karaoke door.
-Creak.
The sight that greeted her was.
"Atashi Sakurambo!"
If she had to describe it: a pit of despair.
A chubby otaku belting J-pop at full volume first, followed by guys cracking up.
Behind, Siwoo and Su-young with wry smiles.
Bead cheerfully shook the tambourine,
Siheon chuckled like it was hilarious.
Azalea froze, then spotted Siheon's mask and beamed.
Sit next to him. Complain with friends over drinks.
When the mood ripens, shift from friends to close friends!
That single desire brought her here.
But another girl already sat beside him.
Snuggling close, even.
"Azalea came?"
"Huh? Oh yeah."
Answering Siwoo's question vaguely, Azalea stared blankly at Siheon.
That girl... Kim Soo-young?
Why was she acting all chummy with Siheon?
'They must've just met today.'
Siheon gazed at the distant otaku, flashing a rare smile.
He can smile like that too.
While thinking that, their closeness irked her. Fine for longtime pal Bead, but Su-young? Shocking.
Compared her distance to Siheon with Su-young's.
Gloomy for a sec, then steeled herself.
Gotta get close quick.
Isn't that why she came drinking?
"Azalea, why standing there zoning out?"
Startled by Siwoo's voice, Azalea widened her eyes.
The guys next to him pointed at seats.
"Here. Sit here."
Opposite Siheon entirely.
Hated it, but couldn't refuse.
"Y-yeah, sure."
She sat by some nameless guy.
Felt prying eyes, but whatever.
Came to bond, got exiled instead.
-Clink!
Su-young and Siheon clinked glasses. Bead and Siwoo joined, but Azalea's eyes saw only them.
Something... felt off.
"You drinking? Informal okay?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa, bold."
"And let's drink."
Needed something to soothe her burning gut.
Without looking, she clinked the filling glass he offered and downed it.
One, two. Three shots.
Wet her chest, not her mouth.
"Whoa, you drink like a pro?"
"She's good."
Neighbor guys half-amazed, half-freaked.
Azalea rubbed her forehead lightly, held out her glass.
"One more."
"Hey, you okay? You said you were tired."
"Whatever."
Ignoring Siwoo's protest, she drank. Buzz hit, but polished speech held.
Just drank.
"Azalea?"
"Fill it."
Two bottles straight to her stomach?
Tiredness made vision blur bit by bit.
'...Ugh.'
Realized she was drunk too late.
Vision tilted slightly.
A whispering voice near her ear.
-Azalea? What's up with her suddenly?
-Stress probably. Yeah, we dragged her when she's beat. Too pushy.
-Yeah... Sigh, feel bad now?
Siheon defending her. Still a pushover.
'Good guy.'
Embarrassingly wholesome compared to yesterday's mess.
Unlike her, always exploiting others. Yet she wanted closeness.
Truly selfish bitch.
With booze thoughts, she closed her eyes.
-Siheon.
-...Yeah...?
-......Gonna... do it.
Large hands gripped her ankles.
Broad back brushed her chin; instinctively rubbed cheek against it.
Body rocked up and down rhythmically.
Lifted heavy eyelids; vision swayed.
Sidewalk blocks visible.
Cold dawn air woke her mind.
Piggybacked by someone.
"Ugh."
Headache groan; the guy carrying her spoke.
"Awake?"
"......Huh?"
Even drunk, she recognized the voice. Eyes wide.
"Siheon?"
"Formal to the end."
Slightly slurred Siheon looked brighter, like he'd shed worries.
As if alcohol shook off his cares.
"Feeling better now?"