Hangover Soup and Sudden Disappearances
In the dorm supervisor’s room that Breeder had left empty—
“Haaaah…! This is seriously refreshing!”
“Really…! It feels like everything’s been cleared out!”
“Gulp, gulp, gulp!”
“Hey, what are you doing drinking it all by yourself…?! How are we supposed to eat the meat?!”
“Here! Give me more broth!”
“I only drank the broth, so why is sweat pouring down…?”
“And cooking meat in the broth is fun and delicious?!”
“I think it’s a bit greasy for me……”
“Then try mixing in some of that red sauce they gave us! It’s super spicy!”
“Slurp, gulp! Gulp…!”
“Kyaaah…!!!”
Exclamations of relief echoed throughout the student cafeteria. After everyone downed the hot broth, they all reacted the exact same way, as if they had planned it in advance. It was the kind of reaction that spoke of considerable experience. The kind that came when a knot in one’s chest finally unraveled. And no wonder—most of the voices belonged to first- and second-years who had been forced to drink the night before.
“Phew…! Now I feel alive again!”
Tina, a first-year, also lifted her bowl and let out a refreshing sigh with her youthful face.
“Oppa? Breeder oppa…? W-where on earth……?”
But not every student was enjoying the hangover cure. Right beside Tina, a flustered voice rang out. Its owner showed no interest whatsoever in the steaming broth in front of her.
“A-and… where did the wraith Derke left behind go, desu-yong? I can’t sense it at all……?!”
“Derke, are you okay? You haven’t taken a single bite since earlier.”
Tina tilted her head and glanced at her roommate, who had been wearing a deeply troubled expression for a while now.
“Huuu……”
“Derke? Don’t tell me you’re still not sober?”
The girl who had complained of an upset stomach since morning was now just muttering to herself without even lifting a spoon. Of course Tina would be worried.
“O-oppa…! Breeder oppa disappeared, desu-yong-!”
“Huh? What do you mean the teacher disappeared?”
“This isn’t the time to be eating-! Tina? Derke’s going to go look first, desu-yong…!”
—Thud!
With those words, Derke shot up from her seat. A hangover cure was the last thing she needed right now. The moment she thought of Breeder’s whereabouts, the alcohol had completely left her system.
Oppa disappeared without a word…? That’s absolutely impossible, desu-yong-!
That aside, what happened to the wraith??? Something must have happened to oppa, desu-yong-!
What if… what if something dangerous happened to Breeder oppa…?!
—Tap, tap, tap!
Derke quickly turned on her heel and headed toward the dormitory, her anxiety growing with every step. She was determined to find the Breeder who had vanished without a single word.
“Hmm? Ramji? Is that true?”
“It is-! I received the recipe from Breeder this morning…! Do you not like it?”
“No, of course not. It was just my first time tasting it, so I was a little curious. Hehe, but as expected, it was Breeder’s work.”
In the kitchen behind the student cafeteria, Sofia and Ramji stood facing each other. Their previous meeting had been quite serious, but today the atmosphere was completely different. If anything, it felt warm and friendly. Sofia even ended her sentences with soft chuckles and wore a gentle smile. She looked thoroughly satisfied.
“I’m honored that the young ladies enjoyed it…! Breeder did say it would be perfect for a hangover!”
“Hmph, let’s give that honor back to Breeder.”
Sofia smiled brightly, her halo shining warmly. Her expression was almost maternal, yet there was also a hint of pride—as if she herself had prepared today’s broth.
As expected of Breeder. He prepared it while thinking of everyone…… He really is a warm-hearted person.
Haah, I still don’t know what Breeder’s true identity is, but one thing is certain… he’s someone I could easily fall for♡
—Flash, flash!
The area behind Sofia’s head gradually turned red. Before long, a pink halo glowed around her. She was recalling the events behind the temple from the previous day, her heart racing as she remembered the unforgettable, thrilling moments she had shared with Breeder.
I don’t think I can face Breeder right now. What is this embarrassing feeling……?
That was the real reason Sofia had stopped by the kitchen. She wanted to see the face of the person who had created this milky-white broth.
“Miss, are you all right…? Your face is bright red. You look like you have a fever-!”
“Haat…? I-it must be because it’s the kitchen. It’s a little warm in here.”
“What are you saying…? The fire under the pot has been off for a while now—”
“Mmm…! More importantly, Ramji? Where is Breeder right now? I thought someone as kind as him would have stayed to help with serving until the end……”
Sofia’s true target was Breeder all along. She turned her head this way and that, searching for the man with whom she had shared sincere feelings the day before.
Just like Derke, the moment Sofia tasted the special lunch menu, she had immediately thought of him.
“Breeder left a while ago-!”
“Oh? Is that so? Do you know where he went?”
“He didn’t say anything specific, so I’m not sure! Still, it seemed like…… he had an important and urgent appointment-!”
“Haa? Something more important than me?”
“Chirp…? He never said that—”
“Well, I understand. I’ll be on my way then.”
—Click, click…!
Completely smitten with Breeder, Sofia interpreted Ramji’s words however she pleased and strode straight out of the cafeteria. An important appointment on a rare day off? We’ve only just started seeing each other. Of course I thought he would come find me first. I was sure he would ask me on our first date……
I can’t let this go. I need to see with my own eyes what could possibly be more important than me.
And if that appointment involves another female…… I absolutely won’t hold back this time!
Dormitory, third floor, third-year private room. Most students had left for a late lunch.
“Howawa, now it finally feels like a weekend. This semester’s been way too intense from the very first week.”
Raylin’s voice echoed down the quiet third-floor hallway. A grumbling monologue had slipped through the slightly open door of her private room.
—Knock, knock, knock!
Creaaak…!
The moment her words escaped, a knock sounded at the door.
“Raylin? How long are you planning to stay in bed? Aren’t you going to eat? Even the fourth-year seniors have all gone out.”
“Huh? Sairin unni?”
Sairin, who had been walking down the hallway for a late meal, opened the door and stepped inside after hearing Raylin’s muttering. Raylin sat up with an awkward expression. The two sisters, possessing opposite attributes of water and fire, were not particularly close. That said, they were not on bad terms either. Sairin, despite never showing it outwardly, would occasionally look after her younger sister—the one who had hatched five hours after her.
“Why are you so surprised? Come on, let’s go out together.”
“Nah~ I just want to rest today.”
“You must be exhausted from training every day. That’s exactly when you need to eat properly. Come on.”
“No. I’m not eating. Too bothersome.”
“Tsk, you’re not a child……”
Sairin frowned with her narrow eyes and shook her head. She had tried to approach Raylin warmly for once, only to be flatly rejected. A subtle tension hung between them, like oil and water that refused to mix.
“You eat a lot, unni. I really don’t feel like eating today~!”
“Oh? Don’t tell me…… you’re going to see that servant again?”
“Howawa-?! H-how did you know?”
“Raylin, you keep treating that servant like he’s Shaolin. You should stop. It’s disrespectful to Shaolin.”
“Hmph, it’s not like that at all?! I know that much~!”
“If you know so well, then why are you skipping meals just to go see his face? You’ve been acting suspicious lately.”
“Ah, I told you it’s not like that?! At first I did think that way, but not anymore! I just like the white puppy himself……!”
Raylin raised her voice in protest at Sairin’s suspicion.
—Bang!
She kicked the door open and stormed out of the room, clearly unwilling to hear any more of Sairin’s nagging. Then, with her back turned to Sairin, she crossed the hallway.
“Raylin? If you truly like that servant for who he is, maybe you shouldn’t use that nickname ‘white puppy’ anymore?”
“Tch…! That’s my choice! What does it matter what I call him?! You don’t even know how I feel!”
—Thud, thud, thud…!
Feeling as though she had been struck right in the heart, Raylin raised her voice and hurried down the stairs. Sairin watched her go with narrowed eyes and muttered, “Haa, I was a fool to think she’d grown more mature. She’s still exactly the same as before.”
Sairin unni is so annoying. She usually ignores me, but now she wants to act like a big sister?
Paying no mind to that, Raylin grumbled to herself as she reached the first floor in one go. She had a specific reason for coming down.
—Knock, knock, knock…!
Click!
“White puppy~! Are you in there-?!”
It was obvious. She had come to check the dorm supervisor’s room. She intended to finish what they had started the night before, which had been interrupted by Indra’s intrusion.
“”……?!””
The moment the door opened, she sensed a presence. The lights were off, making it quite dark inside, but a faint silhouette was moving within.
“I knew you were here?! Perfect. Remember the pact we made last night? So about today’s kiss—”
“…Raylin? What did you just say? A kiss?”
“A pact?! Breeder oppa really is a playboy, desu-yong…! Kissing someone else in the meantime-?!”
Unfortunately, the presence inside the dorm supervisor’s room did not belong to Breeder at all.
“Howawa-?! S-senior?! And Derke too? Uh… why is everyone here at this hour……?!”