Drunken Tag with the Elders
Choi Yeon tilted her head at me, still standing there unmoving.
"Eugene, aren't you gonna run?"
"I'm worried you might get serious about it."
"Huh? Isn't it bad if I go all out?"
She kept tilting her head like she genuinely didn't get what the problem was, and I let out a sigh.
"You think an Awakener charging at full strength against seven-year-olds is gonna be fair? It's just playing around. Tease 'em—let 'em think they're about to get caught, then barely slip away at the last second."
"Ah."
Only after I explained it that thoroughly did she finally nod in understanding.
"Got it. Nice and slow. Don't catch 'em. Right?"
"Yeah. You can do it."
"Mm-hmm."
With her nodding confidently, I relaxed a bit and stepped aside.
"Oh, Eugene."
"What."
"When you catch me, you gotta go easy too?"
"On me?"
For a split second, I wanted to tell her to come at me with everything if she could actually catch me. But remembering we were at the Blue House, I nodded instead.
"Just don't mess up the surrounding grass."
"That all?"
"Yeah."
Even we could get in trouble for wrecking the garden.
"Close your eyes and count to ten."
"Got it. Ten... nine..."
I casually scanned the area while she started counting slowly. The open space offered barely any hiding spots—just a few bushes that might work for kids. I sighed, eyeing them.
In the end, I'll be the only one running.
"Zero... here I come."
The moment she opened her eyes, a gust swept through the garden.
"Hey—!"
Despite my warning not to go full throttle, she blasted after me at insane speed right from the start.
"Run like that and you'll ruin the grass!"
"Nah, I'm being careful."
"What?!"
I dodged her lunging grabs while checking the lawn under her feet. She was layering her aura thin to cushion the impacts. Smart—it'd prevent the ground from cratering on every step or burst of acceleration.
"Oh, playing it like that, huh?"
I focused my own aura at my toes, keeping it soft and springy. The ground felt plush, like I was a cat padding around. A small tweak, but the difference was dramatic—my reactions sharpened, movements freer.
"How'd you copy that so fast?"
"Forgot who I am? Heir to the Aura Style!"
Softening aura was something I'd already learned from Gwak Chunsik. Applying it was child's play.
So now, it wasn't about fleeing—it was evasion. I backpedaled, slipping past her constant grabs for my openings.
"Waaah! Sis and bro are playing without us!"
"No fair! No fair!"
Two kids puffed out their cheeks from behind the bushes, glared at us, then turned away with a huff.
"Jiyoon! Let's play by ourselves!"
"Yeah, Yeon!"
They'd apparently bonded in the bushes, chatting back and forth while shooting us looks. But for kids declaring independence, they weren't moving an inch. I shot Choi Yeon a glance and mouthed quietly.
...Go catch the kids quick.
Now?
Now! They're signaling for you to chase. Not full speed like before—slow! Tease 'em!
Got it.
She pivoted from me and charged the kids. They shrieked with glee—"Kyaa!"—and bolted across the lawn.
"Choi Yeon! At least scare 'em a little when you catch 'em!"
Just following silently made her look like a creep! Thankfully, she glanced back at my shout and called out to them.
"Yeah... I'm gonna get you all!"
"You're caught! Run, Yeon!"
"Kyaa~!"
Yeah, that worked way better for playing with kids. I watched the three dashing around excitedly, then quietly backed away.
Perfect. If I slip out now, they'll tire themselves out.
About ten minutes of that, and...
"Gotcha."
Choi Yeon scooped up both kids at once, ending the game.
"Hee hee hee..."
"That was fun..."
Sweat-drenched but beaming, the kids panted happily. I was surprised—not that she knew how, but she was actually great with them. As I watched, she turned to me.
"Eugene. Feels like training. Speed control—it's clicking."
A genius gaining enlightenment from tag with kids. I couldn't help a dry chuckle.
What kinda monster gets breakthroughs playing with seven-year-olds?
Then—
"Oh, looks like fun!"
Hic.
A familiar voice, hiccup and all. I turned to see Gwak Chunsik—face even redder than usual—leading a bowed Choi Seonho and the President out here.
"...Elder?"
Hic.
How much had this guy drunk?
"Can't you aura away the buzz? Get it together."
"Hey! Then why drink? Hic! Right, Mr. President?"
Hic hic. Yeah, yeah. Can't use that sorcery when the President's drinking toooo~.
"Heh heh. Heh heh."
How long were we gone? All three were smashed.
"...Grandpa?"
Ugh? Oh! My pretty granddaughter. Choi Yeon. Yeon-ie!
"...Drank a lot?"
A little! Juuust a little!
Why did these big shots turn into sloshed messes whenever they got together? Last party was chaos too, apparently. Yeah, I got it now—they just loved cutting loose like this.
"That looked fun... Hic! Wanna play?"
Gwak Chunsik suddenly pitched the weird idea our way.
"Us playing tag with you elders? That work?"
"Me too! Me too!"
Choi Seonho shot his hand up like a kid.
"Hey, Mr. President. You in?"
Weaker tolerance than the other two, apparently—the President waved it off, staggered back, and plopped on the grass.
Aw... tsk tsk. Young buck... Fine! Just us two!
President out, so tag boiled down to the two elders.
"Have fun, you two. We'll sit this out."
Tag against the world's strongest drunk geezers? What a suicide mission. Choi Yeon shook her head too, uninterested. Watching us, Choi Seonho grinned.
"Too bad. Planned a gift for survivors."
"...A gift?"
From him, said so confidently?
"Aye. Not just any—from the Sword Sage. Intrigued now, Calione boy?"
Who wouldn't be?
"If the Sword Sage offers, it can't be ordinary. I accept."
"Eugene, really tag with Grandpa?"
"Good chance."
Not his usual cool self—drunk off his ass. Winnable.
For me, anyway.
"...If you do, I will too."
"You too?"
"Yeah. If you're confident, it's possible."
Sharp as ever on stuff like this.
"Great! Two players—rules time. We move on one leg only. If either touches ground, or we don't catch you in ten minutes, we lose. Caught? We win."
Hic. Hic.
They synced up, lifting one foot each like it was choreographed.
"Ready—"
"Or not—?"
Drunk elders hopping like grasshoppers. Horror movie setup, but reality was scarier—one Aura Master, one Sword Immortal.
"Choi Yeon."
"Yeah."
"Help each other if one's in danger."
"Yeah."
The President had scooped up the kids to keep 'em safe and raised his hand skyward.
"Staaart!"
—Boom!
They kicked off the air and vanished.
"Scatter!"
Clumping up meant a pincer. We split, and as expected, each elder latched onto one of us.
"Hahaha! Always wondered! Calione, how good is the kid you brag about?!"
Supposed to be tag, but Choi Seonho cocked a fist and threw a straight punch my way.
"That's not a tag!"
"Ain't holding back! Gwahaha!"
"That's not the point—!"
Power dialed down, sure, but air cracked as his fist grazed my cheek.
"That'd be lights out minimum!"
"Then you lose!"
Drunk and restraint gone wild?
"Come on! What now? You're done!"
Second punch incoming.
"I've got ways!"
Rules: evade for ten minutes or make their feet touch. Meaning...
——KABOOM!!
Weapons fair game!
"Krahahaha! Hot-blooded!"
Point-blank shotgun? He blocked with a grin like it was nothing. Monster physique, as expected.
But key: the recoil shoved him back. His raised knee was my target—second mag.
"Force the foot down? Won't work!"
He tanked the barrage on his knee, smirking. Whatever. I was already booking it.
"...Recoil dodge? Ha, clever."
No tech eats that monster now. Flee, probe gaps—that's best. Holstered shotgun, drew Tommy gun, sprayed to buy time.
He body-tanked every bullet, hopping after me. Terrifying.
"If that's your block... disappointing."
"Then disappoint solo."
Distance to it closed plenty.
"Choi Yeon!"
"Ready!"
She thrust hands forward, prepped for Gwak Chunsik. He chuckled at her not fleeing.
"Giving up alr—huh?"
But.
"Grandpa~!"
I slammed it onto his back—his body froze.
"Yeon-ie?"
Urk! Grandpa stinks of booze! Hate it!
Yeon grimaced, clinging to his back. Baseball-slide style, Choi Yeon grabbed his leg and yanked down hard.
"W-wait!"
Thud.
Gwak Chunsik. His leg hit the dirt, face blank with shock.