Drunken Farewell and X-Ray Eyes
Pink *The previous chapter has been revised. If you read the old version, please go back and reread it, then leave some feedback!!
“Kiyaaah~!”
After finally wrapping up this goddamn frustrating dungeon raid, my raid party and I were back at the North Sea Ice Palace, enjoying a feast.
Now that all the hard work was done, all that was left was for me, the new palace lord, to commend my party members for their efforts.
We were heading out anyway, so might as well get properly wasted before we go, right?
“Kya! The cold keeps the booze from going lukewarm!”
“Tank, try some of this.”
“Isn't that spicy as fuck? Get it away from me.”
“Tch.”
Everyone was having a blast in their own ways.
Some were gossiping with close buddies, others were nursing their drinks alone to unwind from the exhausting day.
I was enjoying the feast in my own special way.
“Ugh, it is chilly out here.”
I grabbed some booze and snacks and stepped outside.
Staying inside was awkward because the raid hunters kept pouring me drinks, praising my hard work.
I got why I was the star of the party after everything I'd pulled off in this raid.
But for an introvert like me, it was a bit uncomfortable.
Plus, I had someone specific to meet outside.
“Why'd you take so long?”
“I'm the star of the party. Bailing right at the start would've been rude.”
In the snowy night of the North Sea, waiting for me was Yu-jin, daughter of one of the three great families and my advisor during my time here.
Cheonam Guild folks or Association seniors? I could see them anytime outside.
So better spend time with people I'd never see again.
Hell, I'd grown kinda attached during the dungeon run.
“Han Yu-wol went inside first?”
“Yeah! She told me to come greet you in this freezing weather?!”
“You're not even that cold, stop exaggerating.”
“One slip in weather like this and you'd freeze to death?”
She was a skilled martial artist, so no way she'd actually freeze, but it was her usual over-the-top reaction.
I used to wonder why she acted like that, but now... I'd kinda miss it.
Savoring the lingering vibes, I followed Yu-jin into the room, where two women were seated.
“Palace Lord, you've arrived.”
“I told you not to use formal speech.”
“This is comfortable for me.”
One was the room's owner, Han Yu-wol, and the other...
“...It's been a while.”
...was Baek Ye-hwa, the sole surviving blood relative of the previous palace lord.
I'd rescued her from a prison-like iron cage during the sweep of the remaining masked goons with Cheonam Guild.
She was naked, surrounded by herbs that had special effects on women. If we'd been even a little later, she would've had a rough time.
In a way, I was her lifesaver.
“No injuries?”
“No.... Thank you for helping.”
“No big deal.”
Truth be told, I couldn't say I had great feelings toward her.
She'd caused me plenty of regressions, and we had bad blood from the palace lord selection ceremony.
Still, I'd beaten her ass good, and seeing her betrayed by people she trusted made me pity her enough to let it slide.
“Alright, let's have fun today and forget all the past bullshit cleanly.”
“Understood, Palace Lord.”
“Got it.”
“Cheers!”
And so the four of us knocked back drinks and partied hard.
Talking, drinking, laughing, chatting—it was my personal farewell bash.
But soon, I sensed something was off.
“Um... Palace Lord, are you drunk?”
“Huh? Nahhh?”
“Your face is super red...”
My tongue was slurring, head spinning.
One glance in the mirror showed a beet-red woman staring back at me drowsily.
Full-on wasted. Guess my tolerance tanked along with turning into a girl.
Last time at drinks with Hyeji sunbae and the deputy, I'd only had one beer, so I had no clue about my new limit.
Who knew I'd turn into an alcohol lightweight?
But if I stopped now, no risk of screwing up while drunk.
“Fuck it! More booze!!”
Problem was, drunk me had zero self-control.
I chugged like there was no tomorrow, ignoring limits.
“Ugh... can't breathe...”
“What the hell, where am I?”
When I came to, I was in bed, hugging a sleeping Kim Hyeji.
“...Sion?”
“Oh... you're awake?”
Her forehead wrinkled hard the second our eyes met.
Yeah, I'm fucked.
“Do that one more time and you're really getting it!”
“Sorry...”
I got royally chewed out, as expected.
She'd let this slide as a newbie-to-society mistake, but next time? No mercy.
'No more drinking from now on...'
I'd never properly tested it, but my tolerance was pathetically low.
Unlike my guy days downing six bottles of soju, anything over a certain proof hit me like a truck.
But something else bugged me more.
“Sunbae, hate to say it, but when I groped... it felt smaller than it looks...”
“You little—!”
“Eek! Sorry!!”
The soft skin and peachy scent from hugging her body. And amid that, a surprisingly modest handful.
Hyeji sunbae was one charming lady.
“But I think small ones are cute too!”
“Kyaaah!! Shut up!!”
With the raid over, the record device off, and most party members asleep, an unknown woman's scream echoed through the palace.
Dungeon Clear Congratulations!
A blue holographic window popped up in front of every raid member.
The snowy North Sea plains we stood on were now the asphalt streets of Korea.
Barely time to get emotional about home sweet home before another system window appeared.
Rewards will be distributed differentially based on dungeon raid contribution!
“Finally!!”
“Fuck yeah, gimme that A-rank skill!”
The moment everyone had been waiting for: rewards.
As always, distributed based on contribution.
Unlike Dan-gun Guild, Association members could claim rewards proportional to their contribution too.
Possible because Cheonam Guild and the Association teamed up directly for this raid.
“I think I did pretty well this time. Fingers crossed?”
“My contribution's higher than yours.”
The party buzzed with excitement, bantering.
Contribution wasn't always clear-cut, so maybe I'd snag something decent.
That's what they were hoping.
But everyone knew who'd top the list.
Raid Contribution Rankings
1st: Jeong Sion / Contribution: 47%
There I was, smack at the top, as expected.
For a measly C-rank hunter in an A-rank dungeon, 47% was insane, but no one objected.
Well, one person did.
“What the fuck, only 47%?!”
Me.
I captured Baek Ye-hwa, won the palace lord ceremony, sniffed out the masked bastards' plan, stopped the avalanche! I did everything!
Why only 47%?!
I thought teaming with Cheonam would mean some easy honey, but nope—I carried the hardest.
“Sigh... life's shit no matter how hard you try.”
I got it, rationally.
Large party meant more splitting, plus heavy hitters like I-hwa and Juyeong put in work.
I was just whining 'cause it felt low for my sweat.
Still, time to claim what's mine.
'Check rewards.'
With that intent, the raid rewards popped up.
◈ Condenses extreme yin cold energy in the palm and unleashes it in a single strike. The Bingbaek (Ice Soul) aura permeates deep into the opponent's meridians, freezing blood flow and forcibly blocking internal energy circulation.
◈ Special Effect: Ice-attribute awakeners gain increased critical hit chance.
My raid reward: an A-rank martial arts skill.
Martial skills outperform regular ones on average, so basically A+ rank.
'Now I can fight barehanded.'
Rare A-rank combat skill—super satisfying.
But not done yet. One more kicker.
C-rank Skill: Geumsang Cheomhwa (Adding flowers to brocade) has activated!
Geumsang Cheomhwa, from my first raid dungeon, Green Devil's Lair.
Useless in combat or daily life, but gold for hunters.
Acquire additional rewards proportional to raid rewards!
Extra loot post-raid.
Higher contribution = better extras. Expectations high.
Grants additional effect to Cheonrian (A) as reward!
“Oh, skill upgrade?”
The extra: enhancement to Cheonrian from this raid.
C-rank reward, so no massive change, but profit's profit.
“Let's test it.”
I activated the upgraded Cheonrian without much thought.
“Huh, what the hell.”
Total letdown.
Field of view, range, dynamic vision—nothing changed.
“What even got upgraded...?”
“Something wrong?”
“Oh, sunbae.”
Turning back in disappointment, I saw Hyeji—and panicked hard.
She was walking toward me buck naked!
“Kyaaak! Pervert!!”
“Me?! What nonsense now...”
I slapped hands over my eyes to preserve her dignity.
But through the gaps... I. Could. Still. See.
Better proportions than expected, broad shoulders.
And pink!!
“Uwaaaah!!!”
“What is wrong with you?!”
Couldn't meet her eyes as she shook my shoulders.
Not staring elsewhere either, but anyway.
I rolled my eyes to figure out the cause.
Soon, a system window naturally appeared.
Cheonrian (A) sees through objects the user desires.
'I didn't fucking want that, you psycho!'
Suddenly, the peaceful North Sea felt nostalgic.