Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Hungover Regrets
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"I have no idea what you're implying with those words."
"Hehe, who knows. What could it be?"
Her eyes were usually filled with nothing but mischief.
But right now...
Even as I met her gaze head-on...
I couldn't read the thoughts hidden in those eyes.
"No way. Multiple wives? You'd get stabbed just for saying that out there."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Can I ask one thing?"
"What is it."
"Is 'no' because you don't want to?"
"......"
"Or because you can't?"
Hwangbo Seyul or me.
We were both nicely buzzed already.
She looked up at me with narrowed eyes.
Her face beaming with a grin.
And to that...
What had I answered, again.
*
It was a familiar ceiling.
My head hurt.
Even though I was lying still, it felt like someone was grabbing and shaking my body.
A hangover ravaged Jegal Yeong's entire frame.
'How much did I drink yesterday......?'
Yi Se-woong keep pouring shots.
"Senior, take your time drinking."
That one remark had been the trigger.
Words Yi Se-woong had tossed out without much thought.
Once Hwangbo Seyul piled on the provocation...
I clearly remembered downing shot after shot, unable to hold back.
The problem was what came after.
'This has to be a dream......'
The day after drinking.
When is it the most terrifying?
When you remember nothing?
When you clearly remember every mistake you made?
Neither.
The answer is 'when you vaguely remember.'
When hazy memories of acting like a drunken fool surface...
But the crucial scenes have gaping holes.
That's the worst.
If nothing comes to mind?
You can apologize for the memory lapse and move on.
If you remember everything?
You can plan in advance how and where to apologize.
'How did I end up......'
Of course, Jegal Yeong's case was neither.
I vaguely recalled causing a drunken scene...
But I couldn't pinpoint what I'd said or how far I'd gone.
Nothing I could confirm until I saw the two of them.
That was driving Jegal Yeong mad.
'At least I made it home somehow.'
Thank goodness.
If I'd opened my eyes to find myself in Hwangbo Seyul's place—or somewhere even more unimaginable—she wouldn't have been able to endure it.
'I didn't say anything weird, did I?'
That was what Jegal Yeong feared most.
The secret she'd kept buried in her heart.
She'd bound her growing feelings for Yi Se-woong with reason.
Alcohol makes recklessness feel like courage.
What if she'd let even a sliver of those feelings slip to Yi Se-woong while drunk?
Jegal Yeong prayed that a thread of reason had remained, that she hadn't committed that one sin.
'Groaning like this won't help.'
What needed doing was clear.
Jegal Yeong circulated her inner energy fully to expel the alcohol.
Even with the lingering heaviness, she prepared for work.
Avoiding it changed nothing.
To face last night's blunder, she left her room.
*
Pretending to be calm was key.
She still didn't know.
Maybe she'd just gotten a little tipsy and rambled a bit.
Considering how mischievously Hwangbo Seyul and Yi Se-woong usually teased her, it might have ended there.
Jegal Yeong still clung to that hope.
"Ah, Junior! Up early, huh!"
"Senior......"
Hwangbo Seyul greeted her with a delighted smile the moment she saw her.
Maybe it really was nothing?
She hoped it was just needless worry.
"Did you get home safe yesterday?"
"Huh? Junior, you don't remember the end?"
"Well, it had been a while since I drank, so I got wasted......"
"That happens! You passed out flat midway, so carrying you home was a workout!"
"You brought me back, Senior?"
"Yeah. You were out cold, not even knowing who was carrying you. Be careful next time you drink!"
So that's what happened.
My homing instinct hadn't kicked in—Senior had brought me.
What a foolish thing at my age.
"Sorry. I must've been an ugly sight."
"No biggie. Isn't it common sense for team members to assist the leader? This is nothing!"
"Still."
"But then you probably don't remember that either?"
That?
Why choose such a vague term.
As Hwangbo Seyul trailed off, Jegal Yeong trembled in anxiety.
"What do you mean......?"
"You must've been really smashed. It was one passionate confession. Even I might've needed liquid courage!"
Confession?
Did I hear that wrong just now?
A word that shouldn't intrude on this conversation popped out.
"A confession?"
"Yep! I figured you'd remember that much."
"What confession did I......? Did I spill all my screw-ups?"
"No? Junior, did you do something wrong to me?"
"N-no! I just can't piece together what I said."
"Hmm, no memory at all, huh. After screaming it with such fiery eyes."
She had no clue.
No, she'd faintly sensed it from Hwangbo Seyul's tone.
She just denied reality, hoping it wasn't that.
"But it was unexpected! I thought you were so strait-laced. Who knew you harbored feelings for Double Junior."
"!"
"It had my heart racing. 'Yi Se-woong. Is it wrong for me to like you?' Kyaa~"
"N-no way."
"You wouldn't let go until I answered, had me sweating bullets."
"Uwaaaah!"
Jegal Yeong, you idiot.
You finally did it.
I knew it from when you started falling for your close dongsaeng's man.
What now.
Pretend we don't exist to each other?
In the dizzying spin of her head...
Jegal Yeong desperately sought an answer.
But her sharp mind only painfully confirmed one fact: some things were impossible.
This deed had crossed an irreversible river.
"What's up, Senior. You're more energetic than I thought?"
"Ah, Double Junior! Good morning!"
"Yeah...... But why the racket first thing in the morning?"
"Junior says she doesn't remember yesterday. So I'm kindly filling her in!"
"Oh, yesterday. Makes sense. You drank a ton."
"It was insane, right?"
"Totally."
Yi Se-woong appeared.
Jegal Yeong lacked the courage to look his way.
What expression was he wearing now.
To her, Yi Se-woong's tone oddly felt mocking.
"I thought we'd gotten pretty close, but who knew you hated me that much, Senior."
"Huh?"
"Double Junior! She said she hates you for not noticing her feelings!"
"What's that supposed to mean. She was just clinging and venting."
"Ah, Double Junior! Don't say it like that!"
Yi Se-woong's words about her hating him.
Hwangbo Seyul frantically trying to shut him up.
Her eyes subtly avoiding Jegal Yeong's gaze.
Putting it together, Jegal Yeong reached a conclusion.
"Senior? Where are you going?"
"Ah, haha! Just realized I need to clock in on time—left something at home!"
"Stay right there. Don't we need to talk?"
"T-talk? What on earth do you want to discuss?"
"A deep, bodily conversation!"
"Uwah!"
Hwangbo Seyul fleeing with lightness skill.
Jegal Yeong swiftly formed hand seals.
"Wait! Junior! A barrier?!"
"Come here, now?"
"Double Junior! Help!"
"I don't know the details, but seems like Senior messed up?"
It was time for punishment.
*
I knew it.
While carrying the passed-out Jegal Yeong home, Hwangbo Seyul had plotted how to tease her tomorrow.
Obviously some silly lie to mess with Jegal Yeong.
"Uuu, Junior. Too harsh......"
"You deserve it, Senior!"
Hwangbo Seyul whining pitifully at Jegal Yeong.
She was bound by Jegal Yeong's liquor spell, rolling on the floor.
Covered in dust from Jegal Yeong's scolding(?).
I didn't feel particularly sorry for her.
She had to pay for her mischief.
"But what did Senior Hwangbo say to deserve being tied up like that?"
"Nothing!"
"Kuhk, I only spoke the truth......"
"Senior, be quiet!"
She whined verbally...
But mischief still sparkled in Hwangbo Seyul's eyes.
Those eyes.
Still unreadable.
"Sorry."
"Huh? For what."
"I should've set an example, but I got blackout drunk. No excuse."
"Pfft, anyone can get carried away. Why apologize so stiffly? We're not outsiders."
"But......"
Jegal Yeong spoke glumly, like a criminal.
No, she passed out before causing real trouble.
"Well, it was a bit shocking. 'You find Senior ridiculous? Huh?' Like that."
"Kuh......"
"Who knew you didn't know how much I respect you. No need to mention age."
"That's not—"
"Or did that make you feel ridiculed too? If so, let me apologize first. May I have permission to ask if I offended you?"
"Euk......"
Taking it seriously would just embarrass Jegal Yeong pointlessly.
Better to tease playfully and move on.
"Do this once more and I'll let it go. C'mon, repeat after me. 'Why are you doing thiiiis~'."
"Just kill me......"
"C'mon, we haven't even started?"
Truth be told, it was kinda fun.
When else would I see prim Jegal Yeong so humble.
Of course.
"Fine, my bad!"
"Senior?"
"No choice now, gotta eliminate you all......"
"Her eyes look dangerous?"
"No witnesses means perfect assassination. Right? Yeah, unavoidable."
"Wait!"
I'd enjoyed it too much, flipping Jegal Yeong's switch.
But it livened the mood without awkwardness.
*
"A mission?"
"Yeah. Direct orders from the Division Leader."
"Right after long vacation, straight to a mission. Figures."
Only after their tussle did Jegal Yeong calm down.
Finally, we heard about the mission we'd been assigned.
"Division Leader wanted to start us easy. But this one......"
"Don't tell me."
"Yeah. Rumors say the Demonic Cult's involved. Figured we'd be better since we've faced them before."
Demonic Cult, huh.
Well now.
That pulled at my interest.