Chapter 131
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Time Attack
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"...Doesn't this outfit feel a bit strange? Heroes Kim So-jeong and Oh Hyun-ah insisted so strongly that I had to wear this out, so I did... but it feels too revealing."
"Yeah? Looks pretty to me."
If this were Korea, the sleeveless top might've seemed a little chilly. But this was Vietnam, with its warmer climate than Korea.
"Then I'm glad. It's my first time in a style like this, so it feels a bit awkward."
Tanya said that, but Minguk thought it suited her casual look perfectly. If he had to nitpick something that didn't fit, it was that these weren't her own clothes...
'Bigger than I expected. Hyun-ah and So-jeong noona aren't exactly small, though...'
It wasn't a problem. When it came to bust size, it seemed like the East just couldn't keep up with the West—universal truth.
"Got any place in mind?"
"Of course. Isn't it a woman's duty to lead the man on a date? I did some research ahead of time. And I got recommendations from the others too."
"A woman's duty? Ah..."
Minguk nodded at Tanya's words. Half a year into this world, he was starting to just roll with it. He was gradually getting used to the common sense here.
"More people out and about than I thought."
"The Vietnamese government seems to be putting in a lot of effort to ease people's anxieties."
Even with dungeon breaks and war against darkness monsters raging, downtown Hanoi buzzed with life. The raid teams dispatched from countries worldwide were probably giving everyone a sense of security.
"Hope that's the case... Garuda's the real issue."
"That's got everyone talking, from what I hear. The World Hero Association's requesting more raid teams from each country. Even the clan I used to be in is sending their second string here."
"Probably for those 【B】-rank dungeons, right?"
"Exactly. With timers ticking down on more and more of them, both the Vietnamese government and the Association must be on edge."
The World Hero Association had figured handling 【B】-rank dungeons from breaks wouldn't be tough.
Minguk had thought the same. Even if this world's raid teams weren't top-tier, sheer specs could crush them—no strategy or leadership required.
But then Garuda's clones showed up, special monsters that threw everything into chaos. Their insane attack power demanded top-notch judgment and movement from every team member—nothing like a standard boss of the same rank.
"Ah, is it okay if we do this?"
As they chatted while walking, Tanya glanced at Minguk, then took his hand and draped it over her shoulder. Possible only because Minguk was tall.
"It might look a little shy..."
"Nah, I'm fine."
Men in this world shied away from skinship, but Minguk was the opposite. And this felt more like a date. Walking with Tanya—not some cartel girl—was a tad awkward, but a mindset shift made it no big deal.
The spot Tanya led him to after leaving the hotel was a swanky restaurant. Minguk's eyes quickly scanned the sign.
"Looks pricey."
He'd adapted to this world's norms somewhat, but he still had that working-class frugality. Busy with raids, and all his earnings gone on class stones and gear—no helping it.
"This is no issue at all. Besides, I've been wanting to treat you to a meal like this, Raid Leader. My cut from the Hanoi deployment was huge."
"Well, if you say so..."
She must've reserved ahead—they were seated right away.
Tanya, beaming, rattled off orders to the manager. The prices looked steep, but she didn't hesitate a bit.
Makes sense for a hero—especially one handling 【B】-ranks like in GGW. This was pocket change. Her final order: the chef's recommended wine.
"...Wine?"
"Yes. Don't like it?"
"Nah, it's not that. You sure about booze?"
"Hahaha! How's wine booze? Real booze is..."
Minguk scratched his head awkwardly as Tanya rambled on. Right—her homeland was Russia. Where they chugged vodka like water.
A place where 400km isn't far, minus 40 isn't cold, and under 40% ABV isn't booze. Home of alcohol warriors forged in extremes.
Korea's soju champs turned into "kids who like juice" there. That was Tanya's Russia.
Naturally, wine was just throat-lube juice to her. Orders done, they chatted lightly while waiting for food.
"What, your first date?"
Minguk blinked in surprise. Awakened hero Tanya was model-pretty—world-class.
"Yes. Russian men are even scarcer than in Korea. Probably the rarest worldwide. Our brutal winters weed out the weak ones. So I'm really looking forward to today."
"Uh, um..."
Tanya kept explaining.
Men were so few that when she—mana-awakened—went to Moscow for Hero Academy, it was her first time seeing one.
Even her rural hometown had a wildly skewed gender ratio.
How countries like that didn't collapse was the real mystery.
'Maybe I should step up...'
No, they might be on the brink, and he just didn't know. Come to think of it, TV ads and debates about men stepping up for humanity's survival popped up often.
True to its upscale rep, the food was delicious.
On par with meals with chaebol heirs like Kim Tae-yeon or Jo Soo-young. Tanya smiled as Minguk dug in.
"To your taste?"
"Yeah, it's good. Where'd you find this place?"
"Other raid heroes recommended it. They all planned to come here when they had downtime."
"Everyone's beat, but they still wanna hit spots like this."
"Isn't that the perk of being a hero?"
Even as she spoke, Tanya savored her wine—no, gulpededit like water. Minguk's glass, meanwhile, hadn't budged.
He never drank water with meals anyway, but with Tanya ordering wine, she seemed concerned.
"Not to your taste? Want some soda instead?"
"No, it's fine. I just don't drink much, but normally..."
Minguk shook his head with a grin at her worried look.
Russians might be booze legends, but he wasn't letting her baby him. Back in college, he'd downed murky makgeolli-soda mixes by the pitcher—full-fledged drinker cred.
"N-no need to push yourself."
Tanya's eyes widened as he sipped his wine, protesting. But that only poked his pride more. Wine's a challenge?!
"It's cool. I hold my liquor fine. Probably as good as you, TT."
"Hahaha! Raid Leader, you joke well too. Even Russian guys pass out after one vodka."
Her casual jab at his tolerance made Minguk's lips twitch. This date might need to start with shots.
"Besides..."
"Next round: booze?"
Tanya hummed at his challenge, then nodded. No reason to refuse.
She'd planned the classic—dinner, movie, coffee—but booze sounded good. She was craving something stiff anyway.
Post-meal, they hit not some dive bar, but a spot slinging premium vodka and such.
"My treat, Raid Leader! Drink whatever!"
Tanya grinned. Thus began the battle of the bottles between the two.
Minguk started strong, buoyed by hero stamina and old glory. But he couldn't match a Russian hero bear.
As time passed, he flushed hot, head fuzzy. Tanya? Just rosy cheeks, cool as ever.
"Russia's unbeatable, huh..."
Minguk leaned back on the sofa, relaxing. Private room—no prying eyes.
"Hahaha! Raid Leader holds it like a man! Better than Giselle, at least."
"You drank with Giselle?"
"Of course. Foreign merc in GGW, right? We mercs bonded over drinks."
Raid leader vibes? Minguk felt glad—they were building camaraderie without him.
As he reached for a cocktail, Tanya sidled up and hugged him tight. Her full chest squished his arm.
"Booze hits different with a guy."
"Date starting with dinner and ending boozed-up—cool with that? You had more plans, right?"
"It's fine. Your rewards won't end after one, right?"
Minguk just gaped at her casual assumption. Then—her thumb slipped into his mouth.
"And your reward for me starts now. You knew what could happen bringing us here, didn't you?"
With that, Tanya chugged straight from the bottle—movie-heroine style. Then kissed him, full-force.
Heavy on the alcohol, intense.
"Mm... Mmph."
First date with a guy, yet zero hesitation on skinship.
Minguk welcomed her probing tongue. Buzzed brain, and he never turned down a girl coming to him.
After their fierce, saliva-swapping kiss, Tanya eyed him triumphantly. Raid Leader was a mess—putty in her hands.
"Body's heating up. You good?"
"Yeah... Felt good."
"Wanna do something even better?"
Even dizzy, he knew what she meant.
Straddling him, Tanya took another swig from the bottle. Then another long, sticky kiss—alcohol seeping into their skin.