Chapter 267: Aaaargh…! No…!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 267: Aaaargh…! No…!
It was the early hours of the morning, a time when most living things were still fast asleep.
Park A-ram suddenly jolted awake. A pleasant scent wafted around her, but a subtle throb of a headache made her clutch her head.
“Ah, ugh. Huh?”
Wait, what happened? I remember the cadets and I having a blast teasing Kang So-hyun yesterday… right?
Ah, just thinking about it makes me laugh.
Kang So-hyun acts all cool, but he’s surprisingly petty. It’s actually kind of cute.
He got all sulky just because I teased him a bit. Of course, even that side of him is strangely charming—
— Unnie, why have you been staring at So-hyun’s face all day?
“No, what kind of crazy talk is that? Park A-ram! Get a grip! Seriously!”
The sudden memory of Cathy’s face snapped her out of her pleasant reverie.
I mean, come on. It’s not like I like Kang So-hyun or anything. I just think he’s cute.
It’s ‘like,’ not ‘love.’
Yeah. Besides, super pretty guys aren’t even my type to begin with, right?
It’s just that, you know? There are still some lingering side effects from the brainwashing, so my eyes just follow him occasionally. Yeah, that’s it.
This isn’t betraying Cathy, and it’s definitely not love.
“…Tsk.”
She wondered why she was making excuses to an empty room. It made her look like she actually had something to hide.
“Anyway, what happened after that…?”
Right, it was starting to come back to her.
She had been teasing him, and just as Kang So-hyun was about to get seriously annoyed, Cadet Baek Seol and Cadet Ha-ru showed up with an improved version of the Hero Drink.
And then, surely…
Right, Kang So-hyun begged for mercy, so the rest of them decided to drink it instead. Cathy didn’t drink because she said she had to wait for an opportunity, and the other cadets seemed hesitant, worried they’d end up like Kang So-hyun. So, she had planned to skip it too.
But then Baek Seol started teasing her, bringing up that story of when she got wasted and calling her an alcohol wimp. She’d argued that the previous stuff was just too strong and that the improved version wouldn’t be a problem, so she drank it.
Ah, right. No wonder my head hurts.
…But what happened after that? I know I knocked back a few and got drunk, but the memories are strangely fuzzy. Or maybe I just don’t want to remember?
Let’s see, it was definitely…
— Pwahahaha! Kang So-hyun got drunk off just this and caused that much of a scene?! God, he’s so damn cute.
…Wait.
— What?! You think I’m drunk too?! No way! Not a chance! If you want to get me drunk with this, bring five times as much! Honestly! Hah!
Uh-oh.
— I’ll have to prove it! Fine! Everyone, follow me! I’ll show you just how well I can drink!
Shit. You crazy bitch.
Seriously, what the hell are you doing in front of the cadets? Do you get hives if you don’t cause an accident involving alcohol every year?!
I’m never drinking again. Seriously, never. At this rate, I’m going to cause a massive disaster next time.
Drunken antics, my ass. Seriously. I should have listened when Cathy told me to stop…!
Phew, anyway, it doesn’t seem like I drank much more after that. I must have come back and crashed once I came to my senses. So, it’s not the worst-case scenario.
I showed the kids a pathetic side of me, but I’ll just bribe them to forget it. No, I’ll just tell them not to speak of it.
Just as she was about to settle the matter in her mind, Park A-ram tilted her head in confusion again.
She knew the cause of the headache now.
But then, what was this pleasant scent tickling the tip of her nose, and what exactly was she clutching so tightly?
The moment another memory began to surface alongside a sharp throb of pain…
— Ah, what? How boring. You’re all leaving? Are you really all going?! Fine, then. Come with me, Kang So-hyun!
Park A-ram felt a cold sweat begin to soak her back.
No, no. Shit. It can’t be. It’s not that, right?
— Me…?
— Haha, you know you don’t have a choice, right? If you don’t want an F, follow me!
— Unnie, So-hyun needs to rest. I’ll go with you instead…
— My little sweetheart! I know you’re looking out for me, Cathy, but the kids won’t believe what you say! Haha! Besides, Kang So-hyun and I, huh?! As fellow victims of the same pain, we need to have a little chat!
It can’t be.
— …No.
— Huh? What do you mean, ‘no’? Are you saying you can’t follow me because I’m an unreliable adult? Huh? I feel like I might just hand out an F!
Stop it, seriously. Park A-ram! What kind of woman are you?! It was obvious Cathy was looking for a chance to spirit him away!
Why did you have to butt in and ruin everything?!
— Unnie!
— Professor, I’ll just be the sacrifice. I’ll go with her, make sure she doesn’t drink anymore, and put her to bed, so don’t worry.
— Haha, that’s the spirit, Kang So-hyun! Gosh, you’re so cute! Good, good! Let’s drink some more!
— …I said I’m not drinking.
Shit. Is there a Dark Park A-ram inside me? Is my drunk self a completely different personality?! Why?! No, then… shit, is this scent I’m smelling Kang So-hyun? Did Kang So-hyun stay up all night taking care of me before leaving?!
This is insane. Truly insane.
What do I say to Cathy tomorrow—no, is it today? Alcohol is the enemy. The absolute enemy…!
— Huh? Kang So-hyun, where are you going?
— Stop drinking. You can’t even get drunk off beer.
— Ah, that’s why I brought you here, to prove I’m not drunk~
Wait, there’s more? Huh? There’s more after this? Someone please just erase my memories, seriously…!
— Hehe, don’t be like that, come here. I’ll listen to your troubles and stuff.
— …Please ask me again when you’re sober.
— Ah, there are things you just can’t say when you’re sober~ Come on!
— Ah! Wait! Seriously, get away! Are you really using mana to reinforce your physical strength right now?!
— Hehe! You can’t leave! Stop acting up and come here! And learn the majesty of drinking while lying in bed!
You’re so pathetic…! Why the hell are you drinking in bed!
She wanted to turn away from her own hideousness, but having come this far, she couldn’t stop the memories from returning.
— Fine, Professor, I get that you’re not drunk. Can you let me go now?
— Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You’re lying in bed with a beauty. Ah, is Kang So-hyun kicking away his good fortune again? You little coward.
— Actually, right now, you’re the textbook definition of a drunkard.
— …You know, Kang So-hyun.
— Yes, what now.
— You look kind of delicious today.
…Wait.
— …Pardon?
— A student just wandering into a professor’s house… I won’t even be able to make an excuse for this, right? Exactly.
— Are you perhaps drunk? No, wait. You are drunk. I’m leaving now.
— Aah, you can’t even take a joke! I’m not going to eat you, so don’t worry! You’re so cute!
Shit. I wasn’t about to cause a disaster; I already did. I already did.
— …I’m really going now.
— …Do you hate me too?
— What?
— No, sorry. I’m sorry. Just… yeah, that’s how it is for a witch, right? I know we’re not exactly welcome. How pretty could a whore who sold her soul to a devil be?
— Could you please stop using that pity-party cheat code?
— You know, Kang So-hyun. I’m cold. You’re cold too, right?
— …It’s summer… no, ah. Yes. Fine. So, since it’s cold, should we warm each other up or something?
— You catch on quick. As expected. My eyes didn’t fail me.
— Huh?
— The world is so damn cold to us. I’m saying we should at least keep each other warm.
— …Sigh.
— Haha, don’t sigh, come here.
No.
No, no.
No, no, no, no.
Shit, what do you mean ‘come here’?! Are you crazy?! Park A-ram, if you’ve been drinking, just go the hell to sleep!
— Let’s see, two people covered in scars… let’s hold each other until our bones crush. Come here.
I’m screwed.
Did I do it? Did I lay a hand on a cadet? No, putting that aside, did I lay a hand on my friend’s man?!
Park A-ram, you absolute piece of trash. If there’s an award for Trash Professor of the Year, it’s mine!
— Ah, it’s warm. I’m sleepy. Goodnight.
Ah, no. After that, I just fell asleep because it smelled good and was warm. Good, I didn’t cross the line, so it’s fine. Let’s stay calm.
Come to think of it, I’m still wearing the same clothes I had on before I slept. I didn’t take them off. It’s okay.
Phew.
Of course. Why would I lay a hand on my friend’s man!
“…Excuse me.”
…Wait, hold on. Just a second. If that’s the case, and I fell asleep just like that, then surely this thing I’m holding right now…
“I’ve been trying to say this for a while.”
She forced her creaking neck to turn, and there she saw an incredibly handsome face.
“If you’re awake now, please let go. Professor.”
“Ah, ahaha.”
Long black hair, red eyes that were vivid even in the dark room.
Handsome and strangely alluring… no, that wasn’t it. He looked considerably annoyed.
It was Kang So-hyun. Yes, it was Kang So-hyun.
So, what happened was: I got drunk, dragged a cadet here against his will, drank in bed, acted like a nuisance, tried to seduce him, and then fell asleep first?
And I even held onto him so he couldn’t go back to the dormitory, using him as a pillow.
Hahaha.
“I’m sorry, Kang So-hyun.”
Should I kill myself? Ah, right, I’m immortal. I can’t even do that.
“…Why? Do I not need to hold you until your bones crush anymore? Hmm?”
“Shit, I’m so sorry, Kang So-hyun…!!!! I’ll explain everything to Cathy! What time is it right now?!”
“Three in the morning.”
“What time did we get here…?”
“It’s been about three hours since I started being treated like a pillow.”
“…I’ll let the dormitory know.”
“And?”
“I’ll make sure there are absolutely no misunderstandings with the other cadets. No, I will make sure of it.”
“And?”
“If I ever drink a Hero Drink again, I’ll become your younger sister.”
“…Okay. I’d like to do more, but I have to go soon because it’s almost time for my dawn training. I can go now, right?”
“Of course. I’m so damn sorry. I’ll walk you out.”
“…No thanks. Who knows what’ll happen if you get drunk again.”
“Aargh…! No, seriously, no! I’m not the kind of woman who just does that to anyone when I’m drunk! But it’s not like I have feelings for you either, Kang So-hyun!”
“…It seems like you’re not fully sober yet, so I’ll make some hangover soup with whatever ingredients you have before I head out.”
“Stop! Don’t look at me with those eyes! At least listen to my excuse! Please?! Kang So-hyun…!!! Don’t look through the fridge with such emotionless eyes…!!!”
* * *
After that, he really did make hangover soup—likely with the intent of making her feel as embarrassed as possible—before heading off to train.
Actually, as a superhuman, missing a night or two of sleep didn’t really affect him much.
He could at least manage a training session.
“Ah, but you know, Kang So-hyun, you’re really something. It’s a bit awkward saying this myself, but I’m pretty popular, you know? And you didn’t lay a finger on me?”
For the record, when he said he was going to train, the professor had downed the hot hangover soup in one go and followed him out.
…Judging by the way she was joking, she seemed to be feeling a bit better, but the way she kept glancing at him suggested she was still quite embarrassed.
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Huh? Yeah, go ahead.”
“I have normal sexual preferences.”
“You little brat, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Huh? Just because I’m being humble, you’re crossing the line now?”
“Should I tell Professor Cathy?”
“Shit. Fine, I was wrong!”
…Right. I have normal sexual preferences.
— Let’s see, two people covered in scars… let’s hold each other until our bones crush. Come here.
The fact that she looked pretty for a moment back then… that was just a temporary lapse in judgment.
Let’s go with that.