Chapter 15
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Beginner Heroes
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Sizzle.
Lin Sha watched the meat begin to cook with a satisfied smile, tongs in hand as the delicious aroma filled the air. Beside her, Yuna was handing out spoons, chopsticks, and forks to the group.
Minguk had found a decent restaurant, but the place they'd ended up was none other than a pork loin specialist.
The reason? The price of the meat.
'What the hell? Pork loin for fifty bucks a serving—and that's just two hundred grams? What is this, suckling pig?'
Minguk's eyes shook with confusion as he stared at the meat sizzling on the grill. It was an insane price. Pork belly was even pricier. If pork was like this, he couldn't even imagine beef. At least chicken prices weren't much different from his old world...
"Meat's always been a bit expensive, right? Chicken's still mass-farmed in huge facilities thanks to tech advances..."
Hyun-ah's voice reached Minguk's ears as he dazedly stared at the grill. Lin Sha jumped right in.
"It's all because of those dark monsters, anyway."
The dark monsters' invasion of Earth had shrunk grazing lands, driving up meat prices directly. If new tech hadn't been developed and the ongoing wars hadn't thinned the population, the whole world might have starved, meat a distant dream.
"Still, America defending the Great Plains from the dark monsters is the biggest reason we can eat meat at all."
Ashlyn said it casually as she picked at her salad with effortless chopsticks. Pride filled her face at the mention of her homeland.
It was easy to understand Ashlyn's pride—America was the world's last bastion. It was packed with skilled heroes like grains of sand, and their raid teams were top-tier.
You could count on one hand the major battles or raids against dark monsters where American raid teams weren't involved. China was similar. Their heroes might lag behind America's in skill, but sheer numbers let them overwhelm monsters with bodies.
"What about our country?"
"We're considered a raid powerhouse... sort of."
Hyun-ah trailed off. From what he'd heard, the bar was pretty vague. Korea was a powerhouse, but twenty nations above them had stronger raid forces. Compared to America or China? No contest.
"...So why are Lin Sha and Ashlyn taking the Raid Qualification Exam here in Korea? Don't America and China have way better infrastructure?"
Minguk asked, suddenly curious, looking between Ashlyn and Lin Sha.
"I graduated from Hero Academy in America. But there were no teams there for me to join, so I came to Korea. And Seoul's one of the few big cities that's held out against monster attacks, right? I wanted to feel city life."
"Same here. I wanted that city vibe too. Truth is, kinda embarrassing, but I flunked every Hero Academy exam in China's major cities. Seoul's was just barely reserve list."
Minguk nodded, surprised by the new info. The meat was ready now, so he picked up his chopsticks.
"Still... meat is truth."
He'd thought it was too pricey, but that didn't stop the meat itself from being delicious. Then, a shot glass appeared before him.
"Come on, Raid Leader! Drink with me?"
"Ch-Cheap Soju?"
Minguk's eyes widened at the bottle in Ashlyn's hand. This stuff was here too? He'd drunk it just days ago...
Something in Minguk's reaction made Ashlyn look concerned.
"Is soju too strong for guys? Want me to order beer? Or mix it with soda?"
"...What?"
Minguk's face twitched. Like he'd heard something unforgivable. His limit was three bottles—not bad for a drinker. No woman around him could match that.
"Gimme that."
He practically snatched the bottle from Ashlyn, snapped the cap off with a flick of his wrist, and glanced around—everyone had shot glasses ready.
"First round to our hardworking tank."
Starting with Hyun-ah, then Ashlyn, Lin Sha, and...
"Can you even drink?"
"Yep! I graduated Hero Academy too. This much is fine."
Yuna beamed. Minguk poured for her too. No one objected, so it must be okay. He'd started on soju in middle school himself.
Eighty percent full—not overflowing, not skimpy. Perfect golden ratio. Glasses raised, eyes turned to Minguk again.
'Perks of being Raid Leader?'
They all looked expectant for his toast. Weirdly, nearby tables were staring too. Women everywhere in this man-scarce world. All those eyes on him made Minguk flush, but he couldn't disappoint his team.
"To passing the Raid Qualification Exam. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Drinking culture was the same everywhere. Glasses clinked, alcohol burned down throats.
"Ahh..."
Long time no drink—pure bliss. Tasted the same here or there. Yuna, sitting beside him, picked up meat with chopsticks and fed it to him.
No need, but her natural motion had him eating reflexively.
"I'm good. I'll eat next time."
"I wanted to feed you once. Raid Leader bro works so hard."
"That's not even hard."
Minguk shrugged. Honestly, B-9 or C-2 were cakewalks for him.
'Still, Uradius was a pain. Time to fight easier stuff, clear my head.'
Hanging with newbies felt like running an academy party—fun. Watching what he suspected was a talent like Hyun-ah grow? Satisfying.
"Another round?"
"You know it."
Minguk grabbed his glass as Ashlyn held up the bottle. He had something to tell them anyway.
"Oh, don't forget—tomorrow, assemble by 2 PM. We're tackling B-9 dungeon."
"Same difficulty as Red Goblin Citadel?"
"Checked online—two rank-3 monsters, plus three more rank-2s."
Five boss-class monsters total. Same difficulty as Red Goblin Citadel meant each was probably less dangerous than Patu or Kuwala.
Still, he'd check their patterns at home. Low-difficulty dungeon, so Hero sites would have info.
"Beating those leaves just two more for Raid Quals?"
"Five. Count Yuna too."
"Whoops."
Lin Sha repeated her earlier slip. Then Ashlyn shoved a bottle his way.
"Raid Leader, another?"
Ashlyn grinned, cheeks flushed. As Minguk lifted his glass—
"...Isn't that too much, Ashlyn? He's a guy, y'know?"
"Psh. This much? And he's not just a guy—he's a hero. Like us. H.e.r.o."
She emphasized the "O," nodding subtly at Minguk. A secret signal just for him. Staring blankly, realization hit—
'W-Wait... Is this...?'
Late twenties, but Ashlyn looked younger. Face like Mia Malkova, who'd lit up his nights once. And now she was signaling him.
He swallowed. But Hyun-ah was here. He could have a hot night without Ashlyn. But...
Minguk's eyes roamed Ashlyn's body. Hyun-ah was stacked, but Western development was next level. Ashlyn seemed sexually liberated too.
Man privileges in this world? Undressing her would be easy. She'd probably strip herself.
"Shall we drink?"
But Hyun-ah nagged at him. They lived together, after all. It'll work out, he thought, downing the shot. But Ashlyn and Hyun-ah started racing instead.
"...Unnie! Another bottle of soju here!"
Empty bottles piled under the table fast, culprits the two who'd been eyeing each other.
"Drink up, Ashlyn."
"Hyun-ah, aren't you going too hard?"
"This is nothing. Hey! Why's unnie acting up? You wanted to drink."
"......"
Watching their showdown, Minguk eyed his glass. Five-plus empties, and he'd barely hit five shots. Feeling sidelined, he poked Yuna's shoulder.
"Those two always get like that when they drink? They chug."
"...Huh? It's 'cause of you, bro."
"Me? What'd I do?"
Yuna's wide eyes left Minguk baffled. Anyway, their contest ended in a draw—four bottles each, heroic wipeout.
"What do we do with these two?"
"Shove Ashlyn in a motel. You live with Hyun-ah, right Minguk? Take her home."
"Haa..."
Minguk sighed at Lin Sha's words, looking down at the dead-to-the-world pair. No signs of waking.
"Ah, I barely got a few shots in..."
His limit was three bottles, but they'd only cracked one and a half. Just getting buzzed when the mood died. Lin Sha slid in smoothly.
"Grab a room and keep drinking? Stick those two in separate ones."
"Yeah?"
Minguk nodded. Sounded good.
"Oh, I'm in too!"
"Cool. You're with us."
Yuna didn't wanna go home early tonight either. After-parties built bonds. Team felt closer.
They piggybacked the zonked Hyun-ah and Ashlyn—Yuna and Lin Sha handled it. Minguk offered, but they refused.
Guy carrying girl looks bad, apparently. Absurd, but they insisted, so he backed off.
Cool night breeze felt nice on the walk to the motel.
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