Chapter 62: Damn Alcohol (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 62: Damn Alcohol (1)
It’s a strange feeling.
Even more so because I can't quite define the emotion I'm feeling right now.
So as soon as I got to the pub, I started downing one glass after another of soju mixed with beer. Only then did I realize I'd overlooked one crucial fact.
“…Hic!”
This body isn't the body of Son Si-woo, who used to be called a heavyweight drinker because he could hold his liquor so well.
Racking my brain, I remembered the only time this body had ever tasted alcohol was when he'd turned twenty and, out of curiosity, bought some beer and soju from a convenience store to drink alone in his room.
And even then, he'd thrown it all out after one sip, deciding he didn't like the taste.
“Daaamn iiit...”
My tongue is getting twisted.
The drinks I'd downed one after another made me feel like my whole body was soaked in alcohol.
My mind feels clear, but my body seems to be slipping out of my control.
“Hey, why are you suddenly chugging so much?”
Along with the chiding words, something popped into my open mouth.
I closed my mouth and chewed. I could taste the salty batter and feel the texture of the tender chicken.
Did she put a piece of chicken in my mouth so I'd at least eat something while drinking?
Her motive is obviously to get on my good side so she can use me, but still, it's not bad being taken care of.
“Thanksh...”
What's with this stupid way of talking?
I'd meant to just say a simple 'thank you,' but my twisted tongue added a weird lilt to it on its own.
“Hey.”
“Huh...?”
When I lifted my head, I saw Shin Yu-jeong's expression.
Judging by her faintly furrowed brow, something was bothering her.
“Are you chugging all this because you're pissed that I told you to give up on that senior earlier?”
“No, that's not it...”
Give up on her or whatever... I never had feelings for her in the first place. What is this girl talking about?
...Then again, I guess it might have looked that way to an outsider.
After all, this body has no connection whatsoever to Son Seo-yeon.
“Or is it because of her?”
“Her who...? Na-eun?”
Where Shin Yu-jeong gestured with her chin, Im Na-eun was surrounded by seniors, drinking.
She'd been called over to one table after another as soon as we got to the pub, and now she'd ended up over there.
She's going to get drunk if she drinks every glass they offer... I wonder if she'll be okay.
“Why Na-eun...?”
When I asked in a curious tone, she turned her head slightly and trailed off.
“No, it's just... it seemed like you were kind of into her, too...”
“Hmm...”
Has she just been sitting next to me, watching where I look?
I can feel her jealousy, which has gotten much worse lately.
Which is a good thing for me.
Her growing jealousy is proof that the dynamic between us is reversing.
“We just met today, there's nothing to like or dislike. I just thought she seemed like a cheerful person, that's all.”
“Hmph... Is that so?”
My answer seemed to satisfy her, as a strange smile played on her lips.
That's one of the reasons this body used to be so scared of Shin Yu-jeong.
The way her emotions show so clearly on her face.
You could say it makes her a very honest person, but when someone so openly shows their dislike, there's nothing more terrifying.
“Hey guys, mind if I sit here for a bit?”
As I was watching her smile, a soft voice suddenly spoke up.
I turned my head to see a woman standing there, looking our way as she tucked her long hair behind her ear.
A woman in a beige skirt that revealed the line of her hips and a white t-shirt that similarly clung to her curves.
A pretty face with an innocent smile.
She looks familiar.
One of the female seniors who cheered when I introduced myself.
“Senior, why are you here...?”
Shin Yu-jeong's expression hardened as she grew wary of the senior.
“Why else? I came to have a drink with our new freshman.”
With that, she casually sat down across from me.
“Ah...”
Shin Yu-jeong looked dumbfounded.
That's just how people are. It's much easier and more comfortable to turn someone away before they sit down than after.
“Freshman, do you know my name?”
The senior rested her arms on the table and leaned her upper body slightly forward as she asked me.
Her cleavage was faintly visible.
Is it a man's unavoidable instinct to look, even when the intention is so obvious...?
“No, I don't...”
As I trailed off with an awkward smile, the senior smiled gently and spoke.
“It's Ye-jin. Jo Ye-jin. Don't you forget it, okay?”
“Yes, I'll remember.”
After briefly introducing herself, Jo Ye-jin casually reached for the soju bottle, then put on a slightly sullen expression.
“Ah... looks like this soju has been out for a while. I'm a lightweight, so I can't drink it unless it's cold...”
Then, she subtly glanced at Shin Yu-jeong.
“Yu-jeong, sorry to ask, but could you go grab a new bottle of soju from over there?”
“...You could just call a waiter.”
“Aw, come on. Look how many of us there are. I'd feel bad calling them over and over again, you know?”
Aha. I see what this is.
She's trying to get rid of Shin Yu-jeong, who's clearly in her way, right?
Wow, this is interesting.
“...Fine.”
Aw, no fun.
I thought Shin Yu-jeong would snap back with her usual nerve, but I guess because she's a senior... she can't seem to stand up to her.
I grabbed the arm of Shin Yu-jeong, who was sluggishly getting up with an annoyed look on her face.
“...What?”
Her gaze immediately filled with subtle expectation.
Her blatant hope that I would resolve this situation was practically boring into me.
I held out my hand toward the bewildered-looking Jo Ye-jin.
“I can make the soju cold for you. Could you hand it to me for a second?”
“Huh? Oh... sure.”
I took the half-empty soju bottle and drew on my mana.
It's completely useless in combat, but there's one spell that's quite handy in situations like this.
「Chilling Hand.」
The spell's name is literally Chilling Hand.
They call it Chilling Hand in other countries, and that's how it's translated in our Korean magic tomes.
As you can tell from the intuitive name, it's a spell that adds a chill to your hand.
This useful little spell also performed brilliantly back when I used it to cool down the ajumma's hot body.
The chill immediately transferred to the soju bottle in my hand.
I pushed a little more mana into it, and the lukewarm soju became so cold that a thin layer of slushy ice formed inside.
This should be good enough.
“Let me pour you a glass, senior.”
“Oh, sure...!”
Jo Ye-jin, who had been staring blankly, hurriedly lifted her glass.
After setting down her now-full glass, she took the bottle from my hand and filled my empty glass to the brim.
Then she said in a suggestive tone,
“Shall we do a toast?”
“Sure.”
Before that, though, I also poured some soju into Shin Yu-jeong's empty glass.
To subtly give off the nuance that I was looking out for her.
“Let's get along well from now on, okay?”
“Yes, you too.”
We lightly clinked our glasses, and I downed the contents in one go.
I felt the buzz that had briefly subsided creeping back up on me.
This won't do.
I should probably step outside for some fresh air.
“I'm just going to step out for some air.”
“Aw, but we were just getting started.”
“I'll only be a minute.”
“Well, I'll be waiting, so you have to come back quickly, okay?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Leaving Jo Ye-jin and Shin Yu-jeong behind, I went outside alone.
I sat on a bench where an ashtray had been left and took a deep breath.
“Phew.”
That's better.
“My mood's all over the place...”
Today was a real emotional rollercoaster.
I was excited about the university entrance ceremony, then tense because of the villain attack...
But honestly, the most dramatic shift was because of Son Seo-yeon.
“To think I'd run into her here...”
It left me with a lot of questions, but frankly, I was happy to see her.
No matter how much I resolved to live a new life, how could I forget my past life in an instant?
“Hehehe, that kid.”
Still, there was a part of me that felt proud.
Blood really is thicker than water; she was the strongest of all the students there.
At this rate, I think our Seo-yeon might just lead the future of South Korea.
“When did she get so big?”
My feeling of pride instantly plummeted, and I became depressed.
“Yeah...”
When did she grow up so much?
“Her dad had no idea...”
I wonder if Ju-hee knew.
“Sigh.”
I hung my head and let out a deep sigh.
Forget it.
What's the point of thinking about it now?
“Right, it's enough just to see that she's living well.”
Both Ju-hee and Seo-yeon.
I don't wish them ill.
Whatever happened at the end.
Ju-hee was my beloved wife, and Seo-yeon was my daughter.
Let's not be bitter.
I've seen that they're living well, so now I just have to live even better than I am now.
That's all that matters, right?
“Yeah, that's enough.”
As I was trying to get a grip on my rapidly changing emotions, I sensed someone nearby.
I started to get up, thinking it was a senior who'd come out for a smoke, but then I saw a familiar face.
Son Seo-yeon, the very person I'd just been thinking about, was standing in front of me with an awkward expression.
“Uh... hi.”
What's with that lifeless greeting? It's like she has zero social skills.
I was taken aback for a moment but quickly responded naturally.
“Came out to take a break?”
“...Yeah.”
I can tell, even after just this one exchange.
This kid's communication skills are practically zero.
Oh, my daughter...
It's a shame, but there's nothing I can do.
That's something she has to overcome on her own.
“Well, enjoy your break. I'm done with mine.”
To be honest, I wanted to talk a little more with the kid I hadn't spoken to in so long.
But I quickly realized.
The moment I chose to live in this body, the bond between us was severed.
If I kept talking to her, I felt like the doting father sleeping inside me would burst out.
I'd start pointing things out, teaching her, and end up coddling her.
I walked past her coldly.
Hoping this was the right path.