Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Night of the Welcome Party (5)
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"Judging by your silence, it seems the reason you brought me here is even more important than I thought."
Is it some kind of secret or something?
Geon-ju added in a whisper, curving the corners of his eyes. Every word came out clear, without a single slurred syllable.
He was smiling, but it didn't look like the grin of someone drunk. If anything, it felt like a calculated smile meant to probe and disarm. His eyes were sharp and focused, his demeanor subtly off—nothing about him screamed intoxication.
Sa-yoon, doubting Geon-ju's state, pulled up the quest window.
'Current Relationship: Curiosity and Interest'
Sure enough, the blue window showing their relationship had lost the word "temporary" and any mention of favor.
His suspicion hardened into certainty, narrowing his eyes. He couldn't guess when Geon-ju had sobered up.
How much of it was real, and how much was an act?
Lost in thought, Sa-yoon let out a hollow chuckle. Nothing added up; it felt like he was facing a master actor.
But no matter how skilled the performer, they couldn't fool the system with mere pretense.
That meant Geon-ju had been genuinely drunk from the start. Then, at some point, the alcohol wore off. He hid it perfectly until now, choosing this moment to reveal it intentionally. To think he'd been played by this twenty-two-year-old rookie who had just awakened.
Is that why he'd felt so suspicious all along?
His instincts, honed sharp over ten years of rolling in the dirt, hadn't picked wrong this time either.
Geon-ju's cheeky yet audacious behavior had him clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Then he heard the voice calling him "Guild Leader."
Sa-yoon, who had been staring at the floor in thought, slowly lifted his gaze.
"If you're calling me, at least say something, pretty boy."
"You're the one who didn't answer, Guild Leader."
"So?"
It wasn't wrong, but he didn't like it, so he responded even more contrarily. Despite the insolent attitude that could offend anyone, Geon-ju's expression didn't change. He straightened his body, which had been half-leaning on the railing, and fully turned toward Sa-yoon.
"Am I right again this time?"
"About what."
"Before, I said you didn't seem like you wanted to kill me, and you still haven't. So, did I guess right again?"
"……."
"I'm starting to get curious. Can't you just tell me?"
His gentle questioning made him look like a meek lamb. But acting like a good dog now wouldn't hide the fox tail swishing behind him. In Sa-yoon's eyes, Geon-ju was still no loyal hound or sheep—he was a fox. Sa-yoon chuckled softly, a sneer akin to disdain.
"What makes you think that this time? What, did it show in my eyes again?"
"It didn't show. I just saw you really aren't going to kill me, so there must be some reason. If it were anyone else here instead of me, you'd have made a move already, but you haven't even lifted a hand."
"So what, are you protesting because you want me to hit you?"
"You know that's not it."
How much could he possibly know?
He tried interpreting it cynically on purpose, but Geon-ju's words held no flaw. As he said, if another guild member had wagged their tongue like that in front of him, his foot would have come up first, and they'd be dangling from the railing by their collar.
But Geon-ju wasn't a scarecrow on the railing.
That fact alone proved he was favoring him. He was usually lenient with capable guild members, but with Geon-ju, it was the person himself that mattered, so he couldn't touch him easily.
Sa-yoon grew curious about why Geon-ju had voiced something he could have just thought to himself.
"Why ask that? Want to hear something specific?"
"Not really. Just curious."
"That's it?"
"What else would there be…."
He trailed off languidly, as if switching tactics. Sa-yoon drummed the railing, lost in thought.
Honestly, he had no obligation to answer. It was a question with no benefit, and he didn't fully trust Geon-ju yet, so it wasn't a situation to speak freely.
As Sa-yoon finished his calculations and decided not to answer, Geon-ju spoke up again.
"I heard at the welcome party that usually, when people get dragged to the annex, they come out with a broken leg or two. But I walked out fine—all limbs intact, not a scratch. Others end up critically injured at their initiation, but mine felt like a casual guild tour. How could I not be curious?"
"……."
"No weird intentions. Can't you just be honest? Even you, as guild leader, would be curious in my shoes. Anyone would. Why you did it. Why the notoriously ruthless Night Rat leader is lenient with someone he's barely met."
It's all so incomprehensible.
Geon-ju, chattering like a drunk, rambled on in what might have been deduction or soliloquy. Sa-yoon listened silently to all the questions, then shifted his gaze to the wine glass.
The topic had gone awry, giving him a headache. Continuing like this would turn brotherly rapport into suspicion and hostility again, wasting the reason he'd come this far.
To avoid wasting time and souring relations, he needed to halt that unnecessarily sharp mind first. Spotting the perfect tool for the situation, Sa-yoon grabbed the liquor bottle from the terrace table. He snatched the neck and poured it full into the wine glass. Geon-ju shot him a puzzled look.
"What are you doing?"
"You don't look like you'll back off until I answer. They say you're stubborn, right?"
"You know me well."
"Wanna bet then?"
"A bet?"
"Finish this, and I'll tell you what you want so badly."
Sa-yoon nodded toward the wine glass. Seeing it filled to the brim, Geon-ju wrinkled his nose.
"…That?"
"What, can't handle it?"
His smooth question creased the smooth brow. Watching the handsome face crumple was more fun than expected. Sa-yoon shrugged at the pondering young man, still savoring his features with his eyes.
"Don't want to? Fine. No pressure."
"That's just telling me to drink and die."
"You won't die from that, pretty boy. Don't believe me? I'll go first. Then you drink."
Sa-yoon replied casually and downed the strong liquor without waiting. Each gulp made Geon-ju's eyes widen; by the time the glass was half-empty, they narrowed again.
Clink.
He drained it completely, upended the empty glass toward the floor, and smirked crookedly. At the blatant provocation, Geon-ju reacted.
"You really drank all that?"
"Did it for you since you seemed like you couldn't. Why?"
He answered shamelessly and refilled. Geon-ju sighed, muttering something childish, but Sa-yoon pretended not to hear.
"So, you in or not?"
He handed over the refilled glass. Geon-ju, eyeing it suspiciously, tilted it reluctantly. Sa-yoon's lips twitched.
The guy had already pounded drinks downstairs. He'd been drunk until moments ago; chugging more would knock him out cold in under ten minutes.
True to his all-or-nothing nature, Geon-ju dry-heaved once midway but powered through. He grimaced, wiping his mouth neatly. It was tidy, but sadly short-lived. Soon he coughed harshly, covering his mouth and bowing his head. Sa-yoon swallowed a surge of satisfaction at the trembling shoulders.
As the choking subsided, Geon-ju set the empty glass on the table and approached Sa-yoon. Booze breath hit on the wind. Sa-yoon steadied his coming shoulder.
"Out already?"
"No."
Geon-ju snapped back grumpily and stood straight. His gaze held bratty defiance or resentment.
"I won the bet. Time to tell me, right?"
"That desperate to know why I brought you?"
"It's nagging at me."
"What's nagging?"
"Similar to what I said earlier. So, why did you?"
He'd tried subtly steering the conversation, but it failed. His speech was slightly slurred like a drunk's, but he wasn't blackout wasted yet.
His tone had sharpened, though. True colors come out when drunk, huh.
Analyzing info for the report, Sa-yoon faced the persistent question. A bet was a bet, so he had to answer—but how?
Why did I bring him?
In the end, yes, to raise him. Yes, because he'd be useful. Yes, because I needed him and wanted to gain some favor. But Sa-yoon had no intention of handing over control by spilling everything. He crafted a vague response.
"Gut feeling."
"What gut feeling?"
"Felt like you'd hit the jackpot if I took you."
"……."
"Had to snag you—that kind of feeling."
Meeting his eyes straight, Sa-yoon watched suspicion cross his face.
"Talking like some agency CEO."
"How'd you know? Was gonna start a business."
"You drunk? Spouting nonsense."
His mouth ran free. Sa-yoon glared, swallowing what he'd say to another guild member—grab the collar, drag to the railing, play drop or not. This was favoritism on another level.
"That's really it?"
"Should I add that I plan to raise you?"
"Raise me?"
"Brought a promising kid—gotta develop him, right? I'll make you S-rank, pretty boy."
It was the truest thing he'd said, yet Geon-ju laughed like it was a joke. Sa-yoon added it was real, frowning.
"You've been duped your whole life. I'm serious about raising you."
"That's all?"
"The reason I brought you?"
"Yeah."
"Uh."
"…If the guild leader says so."
The conversation ended awkwardly. Though he'd wanted this, it felt anticlimactic for two shots of liquor. Sa-yoon pulled out a terrace chair and plopped down.
"You hounded me like you'd dig forever, and that's it?"
"What more do you want?"
"That's up to you."
"I have tons of suspicions. But…."
Don't feel like thinking now.
Seems a bit sloppy.
Habitually pouring, Sa-yoon looked up at the voice overhead. A man with a flushed, booze-reddened face covered by his palm blinked down. His blink speed had slowed visibly—he looked sleepy.
It was past 5 a.m. The sentimental night was brightening; time to put him to bed. Sa-yoon downed his glass like a sleeping pill and eyed the staggering Geon-ju.
"Sleepy?"
"Making me S-rank? Nice."
"You're wasted."
Chewing on their old chat now, his state was obvious. Sa-yoon grabbed his arm, slung it over his shoulder, and half-carried him inside. Muttering about cleaning up after drunks when he quit three years ago, laughter tickled his ear.
"Don't laugh. We're bonding."
"Then listen closer."
Geon-ju murmured low; Sa-yoon said nothing.
Once Geon-ju hit S-rank, who knew what the system would demand? Might order him killed after all this effort. Sa-yoon held back, swallowing a sigh as Geon-ju leaned heavier. He told him to walk straight, but responses stopped. Suddenly, full weight slumped on him. Biting his lip, Sa-yoon cursed under his breath and headed to the bed.
"You know you're getting special treatment, pretty boy."
It had been ages since he'd cleaned up after a drunk.