The Finale of the Weekend Banquet
Hyunwoo had recently been raking in a lot of cash, so he was able to book an upscale restaurant.
"You reserved a nice place...?"
"It's a pretty atmospheric Japanese spot, right? It was tough to get a reservation. Luckily, I pulled some strings with my master."
The restaurant had a garden out back. Even though they were all high earners in the Acacia Guild, places like this were rare treats, drawing awed gasps from the group. Somehow, it felt a bit embarrassing.
Suddenly dragging us out on a weekend killed the mood at first. But this place makes it worth it.
Even for big earners, more money always meant better things. It was upscale enough that no one griped about being summoned on a weekend.
"Ahem, I think you all know why we're gathered here. There was that conflict with Se-eun and the rest of you, right? Let's have a reflection session about it."
"A reflection session?"
Hyunwoo didn't want to sound too pitiful, but duty called.
Whatever, even if that cute little mouth spits out harsh words, it's no big deal.
But expectations were subverted.
"Lately, don't you all feel like our party's in crisis? If not, then we're basically already there. Why? Because we're on the brink of internal strife, which is way more dangerous than any external threat. As the saying goes, an enemy within is far deadlier than one outside."
The mild-mannered Hyunwoo turned out to be surprisingly chatty—and fast-talking. The worst part? His precise pronunciation and diction.
"Oh, of course, I'm not calling you all internal enemies. I just hate seeing you fight among yourselves. Got it? First off, I have something to say to Se-eun."
In an instant, the restaurant turned into hell. There was no tuning out that barrage of nagging delivered with crystal-clear enunciation….
"Se-eun, they say farmed fugu has no poison. Wild fugu build up toxins by eating microbe-filled seawater, but farmed ones just eat feed, so no toxins. You get me? The more venomously you act, Se-eun, the more venomous everyone else has to get in response."
"Wha... why bring that up now?"
"But even farmed fugu can develop poison if it contacts wild fugu. See? That's my point."
"Ah, aha."
This insane nagging…. Everyone's heads were starting to spin. Maybe the food would calm things down? They all earnestly awaited it.
"We'll set the dishes now."
Thankfully, the full course arrived quickly. As the table filled up, Hyunwoo finally shut his trap.
"Eat while you listen."
"What."
"What I want to say is simple: no need to be so prickly. The more bad blood you spew at each other, the more wounds you inflict. Got it?! This isn't just idle chatter. It's sincere advice for our party's survival."
It was pure hell. Even with food out, Hyunwoo wouldn't touch his own, just kept droning on….
Whether it was true or not was secondary; that nonstop mumbling felt utterly horrific.
My ears are gonna bleed.
The nagging didn't stop even after the main course. Dragged out on a golden weekend for this, the party's stress levels were off the charts.
"Finally, one last thing—oh... sorry. Call from Master. Excuse me a sec. She's the one sponsoring this dinner, so I have to take it."
"Phew…."
No one complained about the abrupt exit. If anything, they were grateful to the Sword Saint….
"Ugh, right in the middle of talking…. Hello?"
"Hyunwoo, it's your big sis. Wanna come to the next room?"
"Next room? Don't tell me you're here right now…."
It was spot on. Ryu Ga-eul was grinning ear-to-ear, boozing solo….
"M-Master."
"Stay put."
"This is a public place... This kinda thing is trouble."
"Knew you'd say that, so I rented the whole place for the day. No staff, no interruptions."
"Haha, ha…."
Then, as if it were the most natural thing, Ryu Ga-eul dragged her disciple to her seat and spread her legs wide.
"What're you waiting for, you little shit? Suck it."
"Pardon?"
"Don't just sit there. Get to sucking."
"W-Wait. This is too fast…. Whoa!"
In the end, Park Hyunwoo succumbed to Ryu Ga-eul's forceful demeanor.
After Hyunwoo left, the party atmosphere warmed right up.
"He's surprisingly talkative."
Respect for Hyunwoo remained strong. Doubting his contributions in the party with that tiny frame? That'd make you less than human.
"Yeah... How does that little body produce such a tone?"
"Kinda curious. He's usually so quiet."
Talkative Hyunwoo was a disaster. And like survivors of any great ordeal, an unspoken bond formed among the party members.
"That call's gonna drag on."
"Anyone here knows the Sword Saint's temper."
Everyone in the industry knew Ryu Ga-eul's foul personality. So no one dreamed that, right next door, Hyunwoo was eating her out, sprawled beneath her, gasping for air.
Whatever the case, dinner proceeded merrily. With a common enemy, no reason to bicker.
"I've been too rude to you all. Sorry about that. Truth is, I got kicked from my old party…."
"Huh? Someone as skilled as you?"
"My level shot up too fast. I took EXP as rewards to climb Babel higher, and it backfired."
Too big a level gap means no EXP share. They'd all heard how Hyunwoo's rapid rise once wrecked a party, so it clicked instantly.
"Level too high for the others to keep up. Booted me out."
"Different from those expulsion tropes…."
"Expulsion tropes? Oh, comics. Dunno the details, but yeah, that's it."
Ties mended in no time. The women bonded, booze flowed, and talk turned lewd naturally.
Players had raging libidos. Like superior beings craving to propagate, near-superhumans were sex incarnate.
"...Honestly, Hyunwoo could do it."
Park Se-eun said it, and the rest agreed instantly.
"Not usually my type... Fighting makes 'em all dried up down there? But Hyunwoo? Kinda does it."
"You're not alone!"
"Ahem, height's a minus. But if he begged for sex, I'd bow and deliver."
The sake at fancy Japanese spots? Delicious and potent. Lewd whispers flowed that'd never surface sober.
"His small build sparks protectiveness more than lust."
"Maternal instinct?"
"Nah, just plain lust."
"Fair point?"
"Oh, uh... I gotta confess something."
Mid-flow, Chae-young decided to spill her slip-up.
"I... found porn with a guy who looks just like Hyunwoo."
"Oho, that's why you spaced out? Like some pubescent kid. Bingeing porn all night."
"Ahem! Not the point."
"True, not important. How identical?"
The screen she showed stunned everyone. A guy with Hyunwoo's exact build starred in it….
"Whoa... Dead ringer. Twins?"
"Nah, only child. Still, another dude built like that."
Necklace glamour kept anyone from suspecting it was him. Just a strong lookalike.
"...Looks like you all chatted a lot while I was gone."
"Ack!"
By then, call-ended Hyunwoo slipped back in, drenched in sweat for some reason.
"Sh-Should we keep eating?"
Post-call Hyunwoo was eerily quiet. Thanks to that, everyone enjoyed a happy meal. Hyunwoo fought the lingering aftershocks rippling through his body, cursing his master inwardly.