Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Drinking Party (2)
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The oil was sizzling on the heated grill. Crimson pork belly shrank and sizzled as people cheerfully picked up lettuce leaves. Some banged spoons against the earthenware pot of doenjang jjigae while chatting away, others flushed red in the face shouted for another round of soju. Right in the middle of the bustling restaurant, we quietly placed meat on the grill and raised our first glasses.
"Alright then. To celebrate Su-hyeon here's safe return..."
Yu-jeong sunbae joked as she poured soju into my glass. It had been ages since I'd last had a drink. I carefully lifted my glass the moment it was filled. The clink of glasses was faintly audible, drowned out by the hiss of grilling meat.
"Cheers."
Yu-jeong sunbae was the type who smiled a lot. After clinking glasses, she said it with a grin, then burst into laughter again. I downed my soju and winced. Yu-jeong sunbae emptied her glass too, shook her head with a grimace, and flipped the cooking meat once.
Yu-jeong sunbae spoke up.
"How was your first real Hunter gig today?"
"Tougher than I expected."
"Right? Totally different from what you see on TV, huh?"
"Yeah."
I'd once dreamed of becoming a farmer. A simple life with nature as my companion. Waking up in the morning to a cute dog wagging its tail in the yard, heading to the barn where a cow moos and points at the haystack with its nose. Leisurely plowing under the warm sun, and before I knew it, lunchtime rolls around—I eat the packed lunch I'd prepared and pass the time.
The farmer in my imagination was some mysterious figure wrapped in vague romance and favorable distortions. Then one summer, helping relatives in the countryside, I felt the reality of a farmer's life and had to shelve that romantic dream.
"Way different from TV."
The daily life of S-Rank Hunters on TV was nothing like mine. I hadn't expected riches and glory, but the hardships woven into the job were beyond what I'd imagined. I wasn't disappointed with the work itself, but it was true—a dazed feeling lingered in my chest, like waking from a dream.
Yu-jeong sunbae poured herself another glass. When I tried to pour for her, she shook her head. She seemed the type who liked pouring her own. She set the soju bottle down with a clunk, then raised her glass. Mine was still empty. She watched me pour my own with a steady gaze.
Then she spoke.
"That nickname. Super embarrassing, right?"
I nearly dropped the soju bottle at her words. I hadn't expected her to bring up my nickname like that. The drinking crowd was still chattering away, but to me, only Yu-jeong sunbae's voice rang crystal clear. I forced a neutral expression and replied.
"Yeah. Gotta change it soon. I heard... I can when I hit B-Rank."
"Gonna lay low until then?"
"Yeah."
I planned to live as quietly as possible. Better to fade into the background than run around as Ada Bomber. Train quietly, rack up achievements quietly, join a decent guild, and just live as an ordinary Hunter.
Yu-jeong sunbae fiddled with her glass and downed another shot. No toast, so I awkwardly followed suit. The second glass on an empty stomach burned.
"You can't do that."
Yu-jeong sunbae set her glass down firmly. On her second glass, her face was already flushing a bit. Not getting her point, I had to ask.
"Huh?"
"If you do that, nothing's gonna happen. Nothing at all. If you don't have a cool name, better to be a cheerful idiot instead. To hit B-Rank, you need big commissions—but who'd hand those to some Hunter with a weird name and no track record?"
Thinking about it, she was right. Say there's a C-Rank Gate mission for rare materials. Between a Hunter with a normal nickname and Ada Bomber Jeong Su-hyeon, both unknowns—the former gets the trust every time. Nobody wants to work with someone whose name feels off from the start. Yu-jeong sunbae continued.
"I want you to own your nickname more, Su-hyeon."
"...Ada Bomber?"
Even whispering drew glances from a few people. Yu-jeong sunbae flushed, feeling the stares, and said.
"......Don't say it so loud here."
"Sorry."
Yu-jeong sunbae glanced around like a spy. No one seemed to care about what she'd said.
"Anyway, that's my point. You're hiding your nickname too much. Hunters need to promote themselves, but if you hide, nothing happens. Better to spread your name a bit. Like that Black Dragon Clan incident—you settled to avoid the news, right?"
I couldn't respond. She'd nailed it. Sure, I wanted to avoid pointless fights with a giant guild like Black Dragon Clan, but I was scared of my name spreading too. Yu-jeong sunbae went on.
"Grab chances when they come. I really want you to succeed. You've got talent, and you're my first mentee."
"Yu-jeong sunbae really seems like a good person. Honestly, I worried my nickname made my mentor hate me."
Yu-jeong sunbae knocked back another glass. I lost count. Despite claiming she was a lightweight, she was downing them steadily. Her face was reddening bit by bit.
Yu-jeong sunbae said.
"I've told you over and over."
I'd heard this before. When I'd called her a good person, she'd laughed and said something like this.
"I'm not that good. Su-hyeon. I'm super selfish, bad, and rotten. Getting close to you? Great for recruiting Ichie later, and since you've got skills, better to network early. All politics. No such thing as free relationships."
Yu-jeong sunbae grinned wickedly. She seemed pretty drunk.
"Still, Yu-jeong sunbae is a good person to me."
"Me? I'm super selfish?"
Yu-jeong sunbae pressed. Her face was bright red. She blinked, tilting her head. She's drunk, I thought. Me too—my eyes felt a little glassy.
"Everyone's selfish like that. Wanting personal gain is natural. But Yu-jeong sunbae smiled at me when I was shrinking over my nickname. Gave me confidence, advice on what to do next. No matter how much you beat yourself up as a bad person, to me, you're really good."
Yu-jeong sunbae clamped her mouth shut and stared at me. The meat was crisping up. I startled, scooping some onto her plate.
"Sunbae. Meat's burning. Meat."
She just stared at the meat on her plate. Overcooked but still edible. Yu-jeong sunbae picked up a piece. I watched, since I couldn't really eat until she did.
She grabbed a lettuce leaf, topped it with meat, added green onion salad, garlic, ssamjang, and chili. Thick pork belly went on next, folded neatly like a lotus leaf lunchbox, and offered to me. I pulled back in surprise. Yu-jeong sunbae said.
"You said I'm good. Here's your reward."
"R-Reward?"
"Reward. Eat it quick. Arm's gonna fall off. Hot."
Her arm hovered over the blazing grill. Searing heat bathed it. I nodded frantically, took the ssam, and ate. The pork belly—crispy texture mixed with rich fat—was heavenly after so long.
Yu-jeong sunbae laughed watching me chew thoroughly. Her smile seemed much more relaxed. We polished off three servings of pork belly. She said eat more, but I couldn't impose.
Yu-jeong sunbae clinked her last glass with a laugh. I smiled back.
At the counter, we wobbled drunkenly. Yu-jeong sunbae walked like a puppet. She fumbled her wallet, thrusting card and body forward. I grabbed her in alarm.
Yu-jeong sunbae always smelled nice.
"That'll be 42,000 won."
"Thanks."
I took the card for her, supported her as we shuffled out. Yu-jeong sunbae just blinked, no resistance. No drunk driving, so call a designated driver at the car.
A few steps in, Yu-jeong sunbae looked up at me. Head tilted, cheeks rosy, eyes misty. My heart pounded. She said.
"......Tired."
I fought a dizzy haze. She's drunk. Dragging her off now would be wrong. I said.
"I'll call a driver. Head home quick and..."
Yu-jeong sunbae spun suddenly. Pinned me to the wall, hands planted. Like a spider ensnaring prey, her hand circled my neck. She rose on tiptoes, eyes closing. Lips met lips. Soju and perfume mingled. Soft, wet lips mashed and pressed. Stunned, I could only stare at Yu-jeong sunbae.
Avoiding my gaze, she murmured.
"......Tired, I said."
I turned. Down the bar street, a motel strip gleamed. I gently took her hand and started walking. Yu-jeong sunbae clung close, face flushed. I couldn't tell if this was dream or reality.
*******
Paid for the motel, headed upstairs. The modest room matched the day rate. She circled it once, then perched tentatively on the bed. Stroking it like fresh canvas, she looked at me awkwardly.
"Y-You go shower first."
I nodded and entered the bathroom. Under the shower, brushing teeth—this all felt like a dream. Finished, robed up, and out. Yu-jeong sunbae silently slipped past into the shower. Just brushing by stiffened me below. She avoided my eyes. Door shut, revealing her rigid back and graceful hip silhouette in shadow. Watching her pretty legs as she slid off panties, I could barely contain my excitement.
Water poured. Steam rose around her hazy silhouette draining on the floor. I sat on the bed, listening. So tense.
Does Yu-jeong sunbae have experience? First time for me—can I do okay? I eyed the mirror. My body looked scrawny. Wanted to impress on my first go. Wish my muscles popped more, looked stronger.
Any way? Workout now? Sit-ups for some abs?
Then, a brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
I called out to the Omnipotent Being in my heart.
'Omnipotent Being. Omnipotent Being.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Truly, after such a long time, you have awakened me.] A familiar voice resounded in my chest.